Students were packing their bags as the class ended. 

Park Soo-bin waited by the open door as the volleyball team captain, Kwon Ji-woong, walked down the hallway. Ji-woong had arrived early for Seo Seung-ho. 

He checked the inside of the room before he faced Soo-bin. He bowed his head.

"Hi, Park Soo-bin," he said. "Are these two fighting again?"

Soo-bin bowed his head.

"Hi, Kwon Ji-woong," Soo-bin said. "Not right now, but they can at any moment. The professor punished them, and they are doing the same project."

"What?" Ji-woong asked. "Seung-ho told me they fought in the pool last night."

"Yeah," Soo-bin said. "We barely separated them. Hyo-bin had a black eye last week, and this time Seung-ho's chin is bruised. It will be great if they finish this before they get expelled. Look at them."

The remaining students walked out the door and left the classroom empty. Hyo-bin had stayed in his seat until the noise died down. 

He stood up and walked over to Seung-ho.

"Happy now, rich kid? We've gotta do this project together because of your whining." 

"Is it my whining or your cluelessness? I'll give you a moment to think. Yaa, right, you don't have a brain to think with," Seung-ho said.

"Shut up and hand me your fucking phone, nepobaby."

"I've got your number saved, poor bastard. I'll call you."

"I'll make you eat those words, Seo Seung-ho."

"Just get out of my face, Choi Hyo-bin," Seung-ho said. Then he swung his bag over his shoulder and turned his back. He headed for the door while Hyo-bin stayed by the desks. 

—

The late afternoon sky turned a hazy gray when the school day ended. The streetlights had already come on along the campus roads.

Hyo-bin and Soo-bin walked from the main building toward the aquatic center for swim practice. A cold wind hit them before they stepped inside the facility.

Inside the locker room, they found Seung-ho. He was standing by the metal benches. 

Soo-bin bowed before Hyo-bin could notice, and Seung-ho returned the gesture silently.

Hyo-bin shoved his backpack into his open locker.

"Wait here," he said without looking back.

He crossed the room and stopped right in front of Seung-ho. The two of them stared at each other in silence for a few seconds.

"Why is your chin bruised?" Hyo-bin asked. "Did you fall out of bed because you dreamed about beating my time last night?"

"No," Seung-ho said. "A stray dog bit me."

Hyo-bin had finally found his excuse and shoved his right hand hard into Seung-ho's chest. The impact sent Seung-ho backward, and his spine hit the metal lockers with a loud crash. 

He recovered fast and shoved Hyo-bin back.

Soo-bin rushed across the room and wedged himself between them.

"Ya, ya! Enough! What the hell do you want from each other?" Soo-bin asked.

He pushed their shoulders apart and looked at both of them.

"I'm speaking as your team captain right now," he said. "If you keep this up, you are both gonna have a serious problem with me!"

Hyo-bin grabbed his bag from his locker and stormed out the door.

Seung-ho kicked the metal frame of the nearest locker.

"Fuck!" he said.

"Calm down a little, okay?" Soo-bin said.

He turned around and chased after his friend.

"Hyo-bin!" he said loudly.

He found Hyo-bin just outside the building. 

Hyo-bin stood by the concrete wall, and his body shook with anger.

"Ya, what's your problem?" Soo-bin asked.

The coach walked out of the main office and spotted them before Hyo-bin could answer.

"Guys, get inside now," he said.

Both boys bowed their heads. Soo-bin grabbed his friend's arm and dragged him back inside the locker room. 

Seung-ho was locking his door when they entered. He had already put on his swimsuit and put his goggles on his head. He grabbed his towel and walked toward the pool area.

He stopped near the doors and kept his back to the room.

"I'm sick of you and your endless grudge, Choi Hyo-bin," he said.

Then he pushed the metal open and left the room. 

Hyo-bin watched his back until the doors swung shut. He threw his bag into his locker for the second time and stared down at the floor tiles.