Offside

“Offside! Number 24!” the referee bellows as you come to your senses.

“Substitution! Number 24, Mahusay, out! Number 8, Lee, in!”

As much as you want to question your coach’s decision of subbing you out, the anger on her face has you thinking it’s better to accept it.

“Jamie, come on! You look lost out there! You’re lucky this is just a friendly exhibition match.”

“Sorry coach.” you have no excuse. All you can do is apologize.

“Are you homesick or something?” One of your teammates on the bench asks. “You seem to have a lot on your mind.”

A lot on your mind. That’s a fucking understatement. If only they knew what was actually going through your brain right now. If only they knew about what happened that morning.

It’s been half a minute since Yeji first pulled you in for a kiss. You had all that time to pull away and stop this.

But you didn’t.

Instead, your hands migrate from the wall on either side of her head to her waist. On instinct, you lift her up and her legs wrap around your waist. Her hands move from your cheeks to your back as you carry her and pin her against the wall.

Don’t get confused (though at this point you already are), mere seconds ago you were fuming mad. You were already erupting at Yeji after months of pent up frustrations and anger finally make you hit your boiling point.

But now?

Now you can’t seem to pull your lips away from hers. You can’t seem to stop your hands from holding her and roaming around her lean and petite body. You can’t stop yourself from thinking how good she tastes, how right it feels when she holds you and you hold her.

Your legs start moving on their own, carrying Yeji across the apartment and into the dining area. There, you sit her on top of the kitchen counter, neither of your lips separate on the move. Your hands become restless, exploring the rest of her body. Hers does the same, caressing every inch of your torso before resting on the hem of your shirt. Yours on the other hand brushes against the waistband of her shorts.

Yeji grabs the hem of your shirt, ready to pull it up and off of you.

Your fingers breach the waistband of her shorts and panties, stopping just inches away from her core.

It would be the peak of this moment of passion. The penultimate scene.

But then it happens.

The quick moment of hesitation. The one second where your brains regain control and ask “What the actual fuck is happening?”

That's when the two of you come crashing back down to earth.

That’s when the two of you are brought back to reality.

Yeji lets go of your shirt.

Your hand retreats from her shorts.

You both pull away from the kiss. Eyes meeting, filled with more questions than answers. Neither of you move, Yeji still sitting on the counter in between your arms that are flanking her. For a few minutes, no words are said. That is, until Yeji breaks the silence.

“I… uh… have to get to the group schedule.” she mumbles as she hops off from the kitchen counter. You move to the side and let her through.

“Yeah… I… uh… have practice. I have to go too.” You reply.

The awkwardness of the situation fills the atmosphere between you two. Yeji clumsily gathers her things, the ones she dropped when you cornered her and she kissed you. When she does, she speeds out of Ryujin’s apartment, hands covering her still red cheeks.

When the door shuts after Yeji leaves, you're left alone in your girlfriend’s apartment. Sitting in confusion with half a bowl of soggy cereal.