Heartkeeper

It's morning already. I woke up and stretched my body here and there. Then I walked to the window and opened the curtains so that the sun would come into my room. Just when I was about to take a deep breath...

"DANIEL, WAKE UP! YOU HAVE A SOCCER CLUB TO ATTEND REMEMBER??" shouted my mom, furiously.

Wait. I haven't woken up fully. I still feel that my life is scattered in pieces and I have to put them all together. Soccer. Club. Today.

"OH MY GOD."

I rushed downstairs to the only bathroom we have in this house. Took a quick shower and entered the dining room, grabbed the sandwich my dad was about to eat, went back upstairs to grab my bag and stuffs, and left the house, yelling to the people inside. And uhm, Sorry, Dad.

~~~~~~

FU! The bus was late for 2 minutes. The moment it reached the bus stop i was heading to, I immediately got on my feet again and ran inside the gate. I saw the huge AN Seoul billboard on my way inside. I had to stop and look around, making sure where the soccer field is. I spotted a bunch of people gathering in the middle of a soccer field just a few meters around me. And there was this woman, no.. girl? Whatever. Among all those guys I saw this girl who was probably looking at me. I gulped and ran over to the field.

"Great. Just when I was supposed to begin my speech, another kid came. What's your name, boy?" asked the girl. She looks older than me but so young at the same time. She has this wise and noona-ish feeling every time I take a glance at her.

She clapped in front of my face. "Your name?"

"Uh.." I coughed a few miserable coughs. "Niel. Ahn Daniel."

"And what are you here for? Auditioning for a new boy group perhaps called Teen Top? You are way too pretty for soccer." she asked sarcastically, which actually made the guys burst out laughing.

"Shut your mouths."

The guys went solemn again. "Sorry I'm late. I came here because yesterday I got a letter saying that I'm accepted as one of the new trainees for AN Seoul, and..."

"Enough. Get in line."

I took a space beside this Taylor Lautner looking guy and dropped my bag beside my feet. The girl then started speaking.

"Good morning, to all AN Seoul trainees. My name is Bielle. Don't you ever ask my age, you just need to know that I am older than you, and I am your coach. Until you guys reach the top, and of course, you all need to find a new coach because I am trained for trainees. And I hope all twenty four of you, build a team bond and respect each other. I don't want any cases, or fights, whatsoever, happening in the area of AN Seoul. It's none of my business if it's outside, though."

The guys beside me smirked and whispered to each other. I just took a deep breath and continued to listen to her. She gave a short speech about how will we live in this boarding soccer school, how we'll gonna train, and more stuffs.

"That's all the basics you should know so far, any questions?" she asked.

The Taylor Lautner guy raised his hand. Bielle raised her eyebrow telling him to speak. "Uh.. what do we call you? Can we.. uhm.. Noona?"

The rest of the team burst out into laughter again and since I don't wanna look so stupid, I joined laughing even though I didn't get what's so funny about that question.

Bielle, however, put on a small smirk and walked up to the guy beside me. The laughter immediately faded away. "You don't call your guy coaches with Hyung, do you? Then don't you 'Noona' me! Somebody can figure out a suitable name?" she asked looking to the others. Nobody answered.

"Coach Bielle?"

She turned and looked at me. For a second I was like whoa who had the guts to answer her. But then stupidly, I realized it was my own voice.

She walked and stopped right in front of me. I found out that I was probably just 5 centimeters taller than her. She gave a fake smile which looked so real to me.

"I accept that suggestion, thank you. Now if there are no more questions, I'll lead you to your dorms inside. Follow me, and keep quiet."

I exhaled and felt a pat on my back. It was that Taylor guy.

"Good job, boy! By the way I'm Minsoo. But the boys call me CAP."

I looked behind where he pointed at. I saw four other guys, around my age, waving and trying to catch up.

Nice, day 1 and I got buddies already. Can't wait for tomorrow.

~~~~~

I looked at the door in front of me. The list of my name and my roommates were pasted on it.

Bang Minsoo
Lee Chanhee
Lee Byunghun
Ahn Daniel
Yoo Changhyun
Choi Jonghyun

"What the? Six boys in one room?" I asked myself.

"You might better come inside and take a bed you want before the magnaes get it first," said CAP. He peeked to me from the door and went back inside. I sighed and carried my bag, entering the room.

"Oh come on, L.Joe. That's my place. I took it first."

"But CAP, you didn't put your things on your bed. I did. So now this is my place. You can sleep below me ^^"

The blonde guy, the one called L.Joe, smiled and pointed to the bed below him. CAP made a heavy sigh and threw himself on his bed, leaving a victory smile on L.Joe's face.

"I'll sleep on the top bed okay, Ricky?"

Ricky just nodded and threw his belongings on the bed. Now there is only one bunk bed left. In the middle, near the window. While the other two which are already occupied, are close to the wall.

"So.. you wanna sleep on the top bed, or...?"

I turned around and saw this friendly looking guy. "I'll take the top bed, thanks," I replied.

He smiled and introduced himself. "By the way I'm Chunji, nice to meet you. All five of us come from the same school, and I guess it's not a big deal to have you as our extra roommate. Right, guys?" Chunji looked around at his friends. Some nodded, and some showed their thumbs up.

"Whoa, thanks. You guys can call me Niel," I said, half bowing to all of them.

We were then organizing our stuffs and chatting, and stuff, when someone knocked on the door and before we could ask or even open it to see who's there, the person came inside our room. Just when CAP was about to change, he had his shirt half up open.

"Hold that, CAP," said Bielle. CAP put back his shirt on. Bielle cleared her throat and continued. "Listen, in case you guys don't know the rules, or haven't read it. Handphones and laptops are prohibited. As well as smoking, I mean, you guys aren't even legal to smoke or drink. These rules are just like typical, I know. But none of you want to run around the field 10 times without wearing a shirt, right?"

Bielle looked at all of us. We nodded simultaneously. Bielle smiled and I swear I just saw the best smile from a girl. So far.

"Great. Lunch will be ready in half an hour. Just go unpack and be at the food hall without me calling you all again," Bielle turned around, making her ponytail swished gently, and closed the door.

The other five guys just continued doing their thing while I was still standing there, frozen, I guess.

"Hey buddy, what's wrong?" asked Chunji.

"Did you just see that?" I asked back.

CAP raised his eyebrow. "Bielle noona's smile!" I said, making all of them gasp.

"Whoa, you're not supposed to call her noona, remember?" L.Joe looked at me from the top bed. I shrugged.

"Who cares, she's not even here," I replied. Chunji smirked.

"Yeah? What about her smile then?" He asked.

I climbed up to my bed and opened my bag. "No. Nothing, never mind."

The two magnaes elbowed each other. "Hyung, you're not having a crush on our coach, right?"

Nope. I mean not yet.

~~~~~

It's lunch time. My roommates and I went to the food hall 5 minutes early, and I saw Bielle already standing there, holding some files. She wore this white suit that makes her look like a doctor. I don't really get it. But every time one of the trainees grab a plate, she would check on them.

As usual, I was last to grab a tray. I am practically last at everything among my roommates. Maybe I'm just lame like that. When I reached the end of the counter - just imagine ordering at Hoka Hoka Bento and there are people serving food you want - Bielle stopped me and looked at my tray.

"Give him a bowl of soup," she said.

"But I don't want it."

"But you have to eat it, Daniel."

They way she said my name is so.. I don't know. It's hard to describe. It sounded nagging and cutesy at the same time. It made me fell for the soup. But I got curious.

"Uhm.. Coach Bielle?"

"Yes, Daniel?"

Sometimes I just wish she stops calling me with my almost full name.

"Why are you checking on our foods?" I just had the guts to ask her about it.

"I'm your coach, as well as a nutrition expert. I don't want my soccer players get sick just because of wrong food. Now off you go, you're blocking the queue."

I bowed and walked quickly to catch up to my buddies. Coach Bielle is just so different from any other girl I've met. I mean she sounds like my mom and dad put together. Soft and bold at the same time. But, hell no. I don't want to imagine her being one of my parents. Nope.

~~~~~

The next day, we started training. We did a few warm ups and gathered in the middle of the field. Coach Bielle gave a few instructions, and divided the trainees into two groups. And there was this somehow foreign looking guy at the edge of the field. We found out that he was the referee.

The game started. Coach Bielle watched from afar, sometimes yelling at us when we did a mistake. At first the game went smoothly and no foul was made. There was this time when the ball was heading to my direction, I was about to do a heading but one of our opponent blocked me. I fell to the ground, and had myself elbowed. Right on my nose.

The referee blew the whistle and ran over to me. I could see his name tag at this close.

Son Dongwoon.

"Niel, you okay?" he asked.

I touched my nose and it bleed. "I'm fine, it's okay."

My friends started to gather around and asked what's wrong. I convinced them that I'm okay and wiped the blood clean. The referee blew the whistle again, and the game resumed.

I took a peek at Coach Bielle's direction. She was covering her head since it's so shiny, and I'm pretty sure she looked a bit worried. I smiled, and kept going on with the game.

~~~~~

We were chilling at our room when L.Joe came inside, panting. I raised my eyebrow, curious about what he is going to say.

"Niel.."

"Yeah?"

"Coach Bielle called you. She said she needs to see you, and that you should come to her office," said L.Joe.

I flashbacked every single little thing I have done, thinking what probably have I done wrong, and I started imagining myself running around the field at night, topless.

"One more thing.." continued L.Joe, "she said NOW."

CAP chuckled and sat on his bed. I nodded and reached for the door.

"Wait. Where's her office again?" I asked.

L.Joe was a bit surprised. "You don't know? Gosh I thought you were her stan. It's at the 2nd floor, first door on the left."

"Right."

I went outside, still thinking what I've done.

~~~~~

I knocked on the door and opened it before anyone could say come in. I took a peek, and there was Bielle sitting on her chair, talking to someone in front of her. And when that guy turned around to look at the door, I gasped and bowed immediately.

"L.Joe said I ought to see you?" I asked politely to her.

She gave a smile. "Come in, Daniel."

"We'll talk about this later," said the guy who was talking to her, raising from his chair, greeted me with a nod, and headed for the door.

"Dongwoon," called Bielle. He stopped and turned back. "Never mind, I'll call you," she said. Dongwoon smiled and went outside.

Coach Bielle and Dongwoon hyung? I mean, the referee at our game? They must be talking about AN Seoul. Nothing much. Yeah. Damn it, why am I thinking about different things?

Bielle stood from her seat, leaned forward and touched my chin. For a moment I was stoned. And then she tilted my head up and examined my nose. Knowing I didn't give any reaction, she touched my nose softly. "Does it hurt?"

"No," I quickly answered.

"Why are you so nervous? I called not to give you detention, I just wanted to check up on you. I saw your nose bleeding during the game. You sure you're okay?" she asked in a very different tone, different from what usually she sounds like when she yells at us at the field.

"It's not that severe so I guess I'm okay," I answered.

Why is my heart beating so fast? It's just our coach. And our nutrition expert. Why am I feeling so different, something I have never felt before?

"Thank goodness then. Be careful on the next game okay. The other team likes to play rough so you better watch out. Oh and here.."

She opened her desk and took out two small boxes of vitamins. "Take these before you go to sleep. And you could share with your roommates too. I'm a bit worried since you are all so young, and facing the other team which are older than you guys, seems a bit tough."

I took the boxes and looked at Bielle. "Thank you, Coach," I said, smiling.

"Awww, you're so sweet. You're welcome, you can go back to your room now."

I nodded, stood up and bowed at her, and went back to my room. She seems so nice and different. I wonder if she acts like this to Dongwoon hyung too?

~~~~~

Days and weeks went by. It feels so fast, we will be playing in a real game in a few months. At least that's what Coach Bielle said. And each day, seeing her at the field, in the food hall, makes me feel uneasy. Chunji said I may have a crush on her, since he experienced crushing on a noona before, and he said that he acted just like I am now. But seriously, Coach Bielle?

When it comes to practice games, the referee was always Dongwoon hyung. Of course with Coach Bielle watching from the bench. I remembered Coach's words very well and managed to finish the game without getting hurt. The usually furious and violent Coach Bielle, has now transformed to a wise and gentle coach. CAP said he misses her shouting and yelling. I replied by saying I'm okay with both. ^^

So now I eat all my foods without picking. My roommates and I still take the same vitamins that our coach gave to us. And each day Chunji kept convincing me that I have a crush on our coach which kinda pisses me off and the magnaes would start teasing me as well. Well, if it's really a crush, I don't have to tell her. Or should I?

~~~~~

Changjo came rushing inside our room, panting and gasping for air. I was playing cards with L.Joe, Ricky, CAP and Chunji. And we all looked at Changjo with a confused face.

"Now what have you done wrong, magnae?" asked CAP. He always had this leader charisma, which made us point him to be responsible for us, all six of us.

"I did nothing wrong... I think.." Changjo looked panic and Ricky dragged him to sit with us. "What happened?" asked Chunji.

"The gossip... was right.." said Changjo, still trying to breath slowly.

I made a frown. "What gossip?"

L.Joe snapped his fingers. "You mean the Bielle noona and Dongwoon hyung gossip?"

"What?" I asked in a really high note since I was shocked.

Chunji burst out laughing. "OMG NIEL you sound like a girl, don't scream like that."

"But I'm not screaming."

"And now you're whining," teased CAP. Everybody laughed. I scoffed and looked at Changjo.

"What gossip?"

"Something is really going on with those two. Bielle noona and Dongwoon hyung. I think they are secret lovers or something," explained Changjo in doubt.

"WHAT?"

This time I sounded a bit more manly. Everyone was curious and gathered closer.

"So I was walking past Bielle noona's office, right. And then..."

Flashback - Changjo's POV

"I think I can't hold this. But I can't leave my team just to go to the hospital! I will be fine, Dongwoon. Trust me."

I stopped walking when I heard Bielle noona's voice from the inside. I went closer to the door and listened carefully.

"Bielle, I don't want you to collapse in the middle of coaching them. That would ruin your pride. Also it would make me bothered. You need to see the doctor."

What the? Dongwoon hyung? Collapse? Doctor? What are they...

"Fine, I'll go. Then who will replace me while I'm gone?" Bielle noona's voice sounded a bit weak, and she coughed several times.

"I'll get Doojoon hyung to come. I have to accompany you to the doctor," said Dongwoon.

"How many times should I say that I will be fine going there alone?" Bielle noona said almost half shouting, but coughed a few times again.

"Stop shouting, your condition would get worse. It's my responsibility as your..."

OMG I should tell Niel now! Bielle noona and Dongwoon hyung have a relationship!!

End of flashback - back to Niel's POV

"WHAT THE..." shrieked L.Joe, surprisingly.

"So Changjo.. you mean.. you're taking a conclusion that.. that Bielle noona has a relationship with Dongwoon hyung.. and..." Ricky hung up his speech.

"Got pregnant by him?" continued CAP.

"And is going to the hospital to check on her baby?" said Chunji.

I was too shocked even to give a damn comment. My mouth was wide open. My eyes were saying that this is impossible. Changjo looked at me.

"Hyung, you okay?"

"No. This can't be. You must be wrong, Changjo. Don't just easily conclude something! Besides, this means that you are saying that our coach is.. is.. AH WHATEVER!" I threw the pillow that was on my lap. I stood up and scattered the cards and climbed onto my bed.

"Face it, Niel. Bielle noona is mature enough. And I think she looks great with Dongwoon hyung. No wonder they..."

CAP stopped talking when I showed my head and glared at him. I stretched out my hands.

"GIVE ME MY PILLOW."

~~~~~

The next few days, Changjo was actually right. Coach Bielle wasn't there to train us. There was Doojoon hyung instead. We kept playing nicely, though. And I tried hard to get rid of my bad mood. As long as I have the soccer ball with me, I would concentrate on playing and forget about it. But the moment I pass the ball to one of the guys from our team, either CAP or Chunji would suddenly pop up beside me and keep teasing.

"I thought you had a crush on Bielle noona?"

"When are you going to tell her?"

"Do you still like her knowing the fact that she is now pregnant?"

"OH SHUT UP!" I shouted. My roommates stopped but laughed secretly.

Doojoon hyung blew the whistle, signing that the game is over. He walked up to me and gave a pat on my back.

"Your playing wasn't as good as yesterday. Is there anything wrong?" he asked.

"I'm fine," I said, not looking back to him. It was so obvious I acted so unfriendly. No wonder he could find out I was in a really bad mood.

"Hey, let's go to the canteen and get a few cold drinks, okay?" he said, tapping my shoulder and then walked quickly in front of me.

I took a deep breath and followed. When I reached the canteen, Doojoon hyung was already there holding two cold cans of Pocari Sweat.

"Thanks, hyung," I said, grabbing the can.

"No problem. By the way Bielle called today and asked about you guys.."

"Coach Bielle? She called?" I pulled back the can I was holding, just to ask and confirm before I drink.

"Yep. She was asking how is the team doing. And she asked about you too, personally. She said that the last day she was here, you seem so unfriendly. What happened? She's really curious, you know," Doojoon hyung chugged down his drink.

I can't tell about Bielle noona's pregnancy, right? I mean Doojoon hyung probably doesn't know about this, and if I tell him, I would look so stupid and Bielle noona would be so furious. What should I do?

"Can I visit her at the hospital?" I asked.

Doojoon hyung looked at me a bit surprised. "Well. Sure. I think she's already strong enough to talk again."

"What do you mean?"

"Her asthma relapsed and it was quite severe. Oh, you guys don't know she has asthma, am I right? Well she does, and a few days ago she just got a cold and didn't give a damn with it. Unfortunately it got worse and made her asthma relapse. Dongwoon said it was even hard for her to breathe. It's a pity, right? A great coach like her..." Doojoon explained the whole thing while playing with his can.

Asthma? Relapse? So she isn't pregnant? GOSH I'm gonna get Changjo right after I get back from the hospital.

~~~~~

"So she's not pregnant?" Changjo blinked a few times and looked really like a fool.

"NO! Doojoon hyung said to me that Dongwoon hyung is her closest relative, her cousin, so he's responsible to take care of Bielle noona coaching here! AISH you magnae! You are really a troublesome. I nearly said something stupid in front of Doojoon hyung, a wrong information from you. Luckily he explained it first before I could even ask! If not, I would be kicked out from this place forever."

My roommates all looked at me and laughed out so hard after my short speech. My face was red. I almost got humiliated.

"OMG Hyung I'm sorry. I promise next time if I overhear again, I would hear it until it finishes. I thought Dongwoon hyung was going to say 'It's my responsibility as your husband to be' HAHAHAHAHA I'm so stupid. Niel hyung please forgive me, okay? What can I do for you to forgive me? But hey at least you didn't got humiliated after all, right? Kekekeke~"

Changjo kept chuckling. I took a deep breath and messed up his hair. "Fine, it's okay. Next time I won't believe any gossips from you!"

The other guys finally stopped laughing. CAP shuffled the cards that we were playing, and looked at me.

"So are you gonna tell her?"

~~~~~

It was 8pm. The night was clear with stars blinking in the dark. OMG this sounds so cheeky. I was so nervous. Coach Bielle called and wanted to see me at the bench near the field. So there I was, walking with my hands tucked inside my jacket. Coach Bielle was already sitting there, looking up to the sky.

"Hey," she greeted me as soon as she saw me walking towards her.

"Can I sit next to you, Coach?"

She smiled and nodded. I looked away to hide my blushed face. She somehow still looked a bit weak.

"So how are you while I was gone? Nothing big must happen in three days, right?" she asked.

"I was doing.. okay. Just got a little moody," I answered. Nope. I can't tell her about that false news Changjo told us. It's so stupid.

"Why? Perhaps.. PMS?" she asked.

I found it funny and laughed at her question. She followed laughing softly, but coughed at the end.

"Are you okay?"

She looked at me right in the eyes. "I missed you, Daniel."

KABOOM~

Okay it just felt that my heart exploded. I haven't seen her for three days, got mad at her for a false news, and now I'm sitting next to her, this night, and she said that she missed me? WHOA WHOA. I should be dreaming.

I pinched my left thigh. Ouch. Okay this is real.

"Dongwoon nagged so much at the hospital. He said I couldn't take care of myself and that I have always been a troublesome to him. I know he was just joking at that moment. But somehow he reminds me of my team. Our team in AN Seoul. You."

I carefully turned to look at her, and got a bit shocked that she was already looking at me. She smiled so warmly.

"If from now on I'll let you call me 'noona', do you know what it means?" she asked.

WAIT LET ME THINK. If she lets me call her 'noona', then would we be like in a.. noona-dongsaeng plain relationship? Or is she a psychic that could read my mind? Does she know that I still have a crush on her?

"Daniel?" she called, waiting for my response.

"Noona," I looked at her. She looked so calm and smiled. "In a team, in a soccer team, we have a goalkeeper, don't we?"

She looked a bit confused. "Yes?"

"Well, my position is not a goalkeeper in our team. But I was wondering, would it be okay if I get a position as your heartkeeper?"

I tried to keep looking in her eyes. If someone held a mirror in front of me, I would probably laugh at my own self, looking at my nervous and blushed face. I'm confessing now, I guess.

I waited for her to at least say yes or something. I had this feeling that she would accept me. But she just smiled at me. My hands were shaking, probably because I was so nervous and it was extremely cold.

She reached for my hand that was inside my jacket pocket. She blew it and rubbed her hands, then she held my hand so tightly, it felt so warm.

"Keep my heart and don't let other players take them away. Okay?"

I smiled at her and bent my head down. She messed up my hair playfully. I moved to sit closer to her. She rested her head on my shoulder and we gazed the stars. That cold night turned into a warm and calming one.

~~~~~

THE END