TO THE DREAM
(This story is written in play format. Character names are fictional and bear no resemblance to real persons, living or dead.)*
**NEWS BROADCAST** *(breaking from radios/TV)*
**ANNOUNCER:** *"This year's Olympics will commence in four months! Show love for your country—and that's all for today!"*
**SCENE: OLYMPIC TRAINING GYM**
**LEE MIN-JI:** *(annoyed)* Didn't I tell you to stop following me? Use that free time to train! Are you *sure* you're a boxer?
**KANG JI-SUK:** *(grinning)* What do you mean? I'll represent my country gloriously! Ah… I can *feel* the ladies screaming my name. Aren't I pretty?
**LEE MIN-JI:** *(disappointed)* I can't believe a person like you is a boxing prodigy. I'll only believe it when I see you fight elites from *outside* this place. And—
**WOOOSH!** *(Ji-Suk suddenly bursts into a cartwheel)*
**LEE MIN-JI:** *(startled)* What the hell?! You scared me!
**KANG JI-SUK:** *(laughing)* Damn, gymnastics chicks are always the best. Not my fault you're a scaredy-cat.
**LEE MIN-JI:** Fuck you, pervert.
**BACKGROUND TEXT (BT):** *Min-ji (taekwondo) and Ji-suk (boxing) met at the Olympic training site.*
*(Min-ji peeks into the boxing sector as they pause nearby.)*
**LEE MIN-JI:** *(whispers)* Wow, who's *that* handsome guy? Do you know him?
**KANG JI-SUK:** *(leans in)* Nope. First time seeing him. And isn't taekwondo practice on the *opposite* side?
**LEE MIN-JI:** I can do whatever I want! My coach is over there talking to yours—don't disturb me.
**KANG JI-SUK:** Do whatever you want, but stop yelling at me!
*(Min-ji checks herself in a mirror, fixes her hair, and enters the boxing gym.)*
**LEE MIN-JI:** *(cheerful)* Good afternoon, Coach Kim!
**COACH KIM:** Min-ji? What are you doing here?
**LEE MIN-JI:** *(bows)* Coach Lee, good afternoon to you too, sir.
**COACH LEE:** Evening. Don't stress—you're here with Ji-suk, aren't you?
**LEE MIN-JI:** Yes! I saw you both, so I thought I'd say hello.
*(Both coaches smile in unison.)*
**LEE MIN-JI:** *(pointing)* Who's that over there?
**COACH LEE:** *(waves the stranger over)* This is Ahn Dong-goo. He's Turkmen *and* Korean.
**LEE MIN-JI:** *(confused)* Turk… Turkey?
**AHN DONG-GOO:** *(shyly)* Turkmenistan. Not Turkey.
**KANG JI-SUK:** *(skeptical)* Why's he here if he's from… wherever you said?
**COACH LEE:** His father is Korean—and a dear friend of mine.
**LEE MIN-JI:** *(smiling)* Ah, okay! *(shakes Dong-goo's hand softly)* See you around, Dong-goo.
*(She exits the gym. Ji-suk follows, sulking.)*
**KANG JI-SUK:** *(mocking)* "Dong-goo…" Seriously? You've never spoken to *me* like that.
**LEE MIN-JI:** Why would I?
**KANG JI-SUK:** Wow. Just… *wow*.
**LEE MIN-JI:** *(grinning)* Who knows? Maybe I'll make *him* fall for me.