WOPE Ch 11

Hooyoung stayed up almost all night next to his grandmother, who did not respond. The creak creak squeaking, uncomfortable bed did not feel uncomfortable at all. It felt like he had gone back to his college days when he and his grandmother lived together. Although his grandmother’s voice, which would have said, “My my, our pretty one must have a lot to say today,” even when he chattered away earnestly, could not be heard, it was still a great gain just to feel at peace.

He thought hard all night. He felt frustrated with himself. Liking Junwook was one thing, wanting to be good at basketball was another, and not wanting to receive help was yet another. He had always wanted to be mature in front of Junwook, and he was ashamed that he had failed to do so. He had wanted to solve things on his own without saying anything, but in the end, he had not only received help from Junwook but had also hurt his feelings.

‘…What if I say I like you. Then what about you, do you like me too?’

‘If you’re the Lee Hooyoung I want?’

Was he waiting? Looking back on his encounters with Junwook from the very beginning, it seemed so. Junwook was changing little by little. Before, he had always been playful and slick, but since that day, it felt like his affection had gone beyond tenderness to a deeper interest in him. Even though Junwook had said that if he didn’t say he liked him and ask him to repay the debt, they would still be in a sponsor relationship, it had deepened. He was curious about his every move and poured his attention into him.

How did I not know? How did I not realize his attitude had deepened even while his words still called it a sponsorship?

“…Grandma, I think I need to grow up.”

Hooyoung whispered softly. It was a small voice that neither his grandmother nor the other people in the hospital room could hear.

Hooyoung, who woke up rubbing his eyes, met with his grandmother’s attending physician in the morning. What the doctor said had not changed from last time. That it was time to make a decision, to let him know when he was mentally prepared. That even if she kept holding on, it would not be for very long. At first, hearing such things had been upsetting, but now he had come to accept them calmly. It seemed that time was indeed the best medicine.

“Trying not to trouble her grandson until the very end.”

Hooyoung gently stroked his grandmother’s hair once.

“…I hope you’re not in pain, Grandma. Would it be better to let you go now? Grandma, is that what you want?”

Hooyoung stayed at the hospital all day, organizing his thoughts. About his basketball, about his grandmother, and most importantly, about Junwook. He could no longer deny the fact that the most important thing was Junwook. Because Junwook was the one he thought of most when he played basketball, and because if his grandmother were no longer in this world, the most important person would be Junwook.

During his school days when he was upset about not growing taller, his grandmother would pile his rice bowl like a mountain and tell him every day. Our pretty one, eat a lot and grow up big and strong. Got it? While his friends sought out all sorts of methods to grow, like growth plate tests and herbal medicine, his grandmother, who did not know much about such things, believed that he could grow just by eating a lot of rice.

“Grandma.”

Hooyoung, who was about to leave before it got dark, slung his bag over his shoulder and called out to his grandmother softly.

“I’ll grow up. I’ll grow up big and strong.”

So please wait just a little longer. I’ll grow up a little more and then come to send you off, Grandma. Hooyoung, even after getting ready to leave, stood watch by his grandmother’s side for a long time before leaving the hospital room.

At the hospital entrance, Hooyoung hesitated for a moment. He remembered what Junwook had said yesterday, that he should definitely take a taxi. The way to the dormitory by bus from here was clear, but he decided to try taking a taxi. A taxi is more comfortable, and he did say he would take one again. He didn’t want to break his promise with Junwook, even if he wasn’t there beside him.

It was when Hooyoung was pondering yesterday’s conversation and thinking about where would be a good place to catch a taxi. He saw a familiar silhouette in the parking lot next to the road. As far as he knew, there was only one man who was about a handspan taller than him, with long,뻗은 limbs and a handsome face. The only person who made his heart pound every time he smiled, with his deep eyes and a refreshing set to his mouth, was Junwook.

Hooyoung stood still in his spot and looked at Junwook from a distance. Who knows how long he had been there, standing with both hands in his pockets, leaning against a car. The thigh-length gray coat suited him incredibly well. He didn’t even contact me, what was he going to do if we didn’t meet. He talked as if he wouldn’t come. Yesterday, the thought of seeing Junwook again because he was coming to pick him up had felt extremely awkward and reluctant, but seeing him like this now……. Hooyoung pointlessly pressed down on his bangs. He was suddenly so overwhelmed he could not bear it.

Then, their eyes met. It was quite a distance, but they could clearly tell they were looking at each other. While Hooyoung couldn’t keep his lips still, Junwook did not move an inch. All he did was slightly straighten the body that had been leaning against the car. There was no phone call, nor did he beckon him over. He could feel an unspoken message, telling him to do as he wished. That he could go alone, or he could come to him.

The way Junwook stood there without saying a word was so solid that it put his mind at ease. A smile slowly spread across Hooyoung’s face. He had only come to pick him up, yet it felt as if he would always be standing firm behind him. His legs moved on their own. He walked slowly at first, then his stride widened, and after crossing the street, he finally started to run lightly. He couldn’t resist the urge to get there quickly.

Gradually, Junwook’s face became clearer. A faint smile, just like his own, was slowly spreading.

“Why are you coming over so happily. I was imagining everything, including you ignoring me and walking past.”

“…You didn’t say you were coming.”

“I never said that. I only said if you don’t want to, you can take a taxi.”

It was truly a world of difference from yesterday. Yesterday, he had wanted to avoid seeing him and being with him, but now, it couldn’t be better. It was a good thing they had been apart yesterday. It was a really good thing he had spent the night thinking next to his grandmother.

“Are you going with me?”

“…Yes.”

There was no reason to refuse. As Hooyoung nodded, Junwook, with a satisfied face, opened the passenger door.

“Get in.”

“Yes.”

Hooyoung quickly got into the car. Laughter kept leaking out.

“Why are you smiling like that. Making a person’s heart flutter.”

Junwook said as he slowly turned the car around. The two inside the car both had bright faces, as if they had forgotten all about yesterday. Of course, one could say they were a little calmer than usual, but neither Hooyoung nor Junwook paid it much mind.

“…Oh, does it make your heart flutter?”

At Hooyoung’s question, Junwook’s eyes widened slightly as he looked to the side. Hooyoung’s eyes were twinkling.

“It does. It always has.”

At those words, Hooyoung took a deep breath and then exhaled, pulling the corners of his mouth up even higher. The bag on his lap that he had been carrying since yesterday did not feel heavy at all, and Junwook’s car did not feel uncomfortable at all. The definition of this relationship that had always tormented a corner of his heart even when he was so very happy to be with him, and the thought that he did not want to receive help, were forgotten. It would be a lie to say he had forgotten everything completely, but it was certain that the feelings he had for Junwook were taking precedence.

Uncharacteristically for a Sunday evening, the car drove smoothly down the road. Hooyoung could not fight off the encroaching drowsiness and closed his eyes on the way. He felt his bangs being touched from time to time, but he was too deep in sleep to open his eyes. When he opened his eyes to a soft voice calling him, they had already almost arrived. The familiar scenery of the training center could be seen outside the window.

“I was going to take you to the dorm, but I thought there would be too many eyes. You never know if some of the team staff are still around.”

Hooyoung was so embarrassed that Junwook’s words didn’t register. Whether the head coach or the general manager was still there or not, right now all he could think about was how deeply he had slept. You’re not supposed to sleep next to the person driving. Embarrassed that he had slept through the entire ride, Hooyoung fiddled with the nape of his neck. He didn’t have any sleep habits like talking in his sleep or drooling, but he was worried for no reason. After all, there’s a difference between sleeping lying straight in a bed.

“I tried to hold it in, but it didn’t work out well.”

“You did well. You kept nodding off, so I tilted your seat back so you could sleep comfortably. If I hadn’t reclined it, you would have slammed your head into the dashboard.”

It must have been Junwook’s hand that he felt on his bangs. He was a little embarrassed about having nodded off, but he was relieved that nothing happened.

“…Um, you know.”

After a moment of silence, Hooyoung called out to Junwook with a determined look on his face.

“Yes, I know.”

Junwook’s gentle reply came back.

“So, what if, um…”

Hooyoung began to speak slowly, trying hard to organize his words properly in his head. He wanted to speak clearly and fluently, but just getting the words out was already a struggle. Junwook leaned his head on the steering wheel and looked to the side as if to say, go on. A big person leaning his head on the steering wheel might look shabby, but Junwook just looked handsome. Hooyoung, who had been staring blankly at Junwook for a moment, quickly shook his head and came to his senses. He thought he heard a small laugh from the side, but he deliberately ignored it.

“If we had just, just decided to become boyfriends.”

Without any of this talk about saying you like me, about asking for help, what if we had just decided to become boyfriends. This was the topic he had thought about while lying on the creaking bed all night. What if Junwook had just said, let’s date, without such talk, and he had quickly nodded his head.

“If we had?”

“You would have still tried to help me with everything, right?”

“Yes.”

It was an answer without a shred of hesitation. It was exactly as he had expected. If they had become boyfriends, Junwook would have been even more insistent on paying off all his debts. He might have even resolved it without telling him. And if that had happened, it would have been hard for him to bear. He would have agonized over why he was paying it off, wondering if he wasn’t being accepted for who he was. He might have fallen into self-loathing for not being able to resolve his debt on his own.

So, this relationship probably would not have lasted long, and he would have let it go. Regardless of his feelings of liking Junwook. He had lived his whole life that way. He had to ignore the emotions that ate away at him just to endure. He had to pretend not to hear the stories—that kid supposedly received so much in donations, debt collectors supposedly came all the way to the school, he supposedly has no parents—and focus only on basketball to be able to endure it at all. They were problems beyond what he could solve, so it was difficult to face and confront them.

Hooyoung, who had been looking straight ahead, cautiously looked to the side and met a gaze that was not wavering in the slightest. Hooyoung stared at Junwook for a moment without a word. It was the kind of gaze that seemed like it would be watching him from somewhere even if he lost his way and wandered. They were facing each other, but it felt more correct to say he was basking in that gaze rather than just looking. It was warm.

“…By any chance, are you waiting?”

A small, whisper-like voice came out. Even though he had thought it would be so, he lacked the confidence to actually say it out loud. But as if he had understood the completely out-of-the-blue question, Junwook smiled. It was the refreshing smile that Hooyoung liked, with his eyes slightly curved and the corners of his mouth turned up high.

“I was wondering if you couldn’t sleep because you were uncomfortable, but it looks like you came back after studying. That’s right. I’m waiting, a whole lot.”

Until he was ready to accept it. Until he said he liked him, and asked for his help.

“Even if I say I really hate those things, I mean, buying me a car and paying off my debt…”

“I don’t want to be a pathetic guy who stands by and watches his boyfriend struggle. I’m already older than you, why are you trying to make me not just a cradle robber, but a pathetic and shameless cradle robber?”

The word ‘boyfriend’ was heart-fluttering, and the word ‘robber’ was amusing. Hooyoung smiled slightly, following Junwook.

“…In that case. Can you wait just a little longer?”

He had promised his grandmother that he would grow up big and strong. He decided not to feel the pressure of having to solve all his problems by himself unconditionally anymore. Because he now knew that Junwook wanting to help because he hated seeing him struggle was not out of pity, not to buy his body, but because he also liked him.

“It was hard to wait so I kept rushing you.”

Junwook’s right hand, which had been on the steering wheel, extended out towards Hooyoung. Hooyoung pulled his body slightly closer, allowing Junwook’s hand to touch his face. A hand, so warm it was hot, caressed his cheek.

“Seeing you today, it seems I won’t have to wait for long.”

But there was still more to say. Hooyoung bit his lower lip for a moment, then spoke again with difficulty.

“So for the time being… I want to focus only on basketball.”

At those words, Junwook’s face hardened slightly, but thankfully, the hand on his cheek did not move away.

“Saying it in a way I can’t even refuse. How did you know I was thinking of persuading you well and taking you home with me.”

At Junwook’s playful words, wrinkling his nose, Hooyoung laughed again. He was much more relaxed.

“If I get good at basketball and the team moves back up, then, then I think I’ll have the courage.”

He wanted to at least be good at basketball and stand by his side as a cool player. Even if he couldn’t do other things, Junwook couldn’t help him with his plays on the court. Although it was a team Junwook had created for him with Taehoon’s trade, it was still his responsibility to get the team back to the top. If he could at least do that well, he felt it would be much easier to lean on Junwook.

“If you just wait a little longer…”

“Will you come soon?”

“Yes.”

Really. Because I really want to go to you soon. He swallowed the rest of his words. Even if he didn’t say it, Junwook always knew everything.

Junwook’s hand did not leave easily. What was funny was that Hooyoung, who had asked for a little time to focus and work hard, also had no thought of pulling his face away from the hand. From tomorrow, he would have to run ragged with the newly traded players, so now was the most leisurely time he had. Perhaps that was why he kept procrastinating, saying, just a little more, just a little more.

“About your grandmother.”

Grandmother? At the sudden topic, Hooyoung’s eyes widened as he looked at Junwook.

“I looked into transferring her to another hospital or if there were better options.”

Hooyoung smiled faintly and shook his head. It was not to refuse his help, but because he knew well that there was nothing more that could be done. Even if Junwook looked into it a hundred ways, what couldn’t be done, couldn’t be done. At one point, Hooyoung had also looked into saving his grandmother, even if it meant taking on more private loans.

“…Thank you, though.”

He was not sure about other things, but for this, he was truly grateful. Instead of a reply, Junwook caressed his face a little more with his hand.

“I’ll go back to the dorm now.”

“Should I walk you there? Want to walk together?”

“There are a lot of cameras if we go out here. It’s okay.”

As Hooyoung said that and moved his hand away, Junwook let out a disappointed sound, “Ah.”

“It’s really great that Lee Hooyoung is gradually growing up, really great, but…”

“…I’m all grown up, you know.”

Hooyoung replied with a sharp frown. He had told his grandmother he would grow up big and strong, but he didn’t want to seem like a child to Junwook. Well, it seemed he already saw him that way.

“The thought of having to poke my thigh with a needle for the time being is horrifying, really.”

“…You’ll be able to do it well.”

“This is so annoying.”

Junwook buried his face in the steering wheel. He seemed genuinely disappointed, which made Hooyoung feel a little, actually, a lot, good.

“You’re getting revenge on me, aren’t you. You could have asked me to wait while we were dating, but you’re deliberately making me practice abstinence too.”

“W-well, they say it’s fine if you exercise hard. To release it through exercise…”

At Hooyoung’s teasing words, which he said while rubbing the back of his neck, Junwook let out a disbelieving scoff.

“How can you say such a thing without thinking about the aftermath of me exercising hard?”

Hooyoung finally laughed out loud. All the awkwardness had disappeared, and they were slowly returning to how they usually were. If they said goodbye like they normally did, he felt they could greet each other with brighter smiles when they met again.

“I’ll get going.”

It was when Hooyoung, unaware of how wistful his own face was, finally managed to grab his bag and open the car door. A few memories struck Hooyoung’s mind.

“Hooyoung-ah?”

As Hooyoung stopped, one foot out the door, Junwook sensed something was wrong and called out to him. But Hooyoung couldn’t answer right away. He just had a strong feeling that he absolutely could not leave just like this.

“What’s wrong?”

Thud. Hooyoung hurriedly closed the door and sat back down. His expression was so urgent and desperate that Junwook became serious along with him.

“Why. Did something happen? What is it.”

“Th-th-that is!”

Hooyoung’s voice echoed loudly inside the car. It might have been the loudest Junwook had ever heard Hooyoung’s voice.

“…Is it okay to message you sometimes?!”

“Huh?”

“I think we should, should at least keep in co-contact!”

Junwook, who was about to agree with a delighted expression, narrowed his eyes for a moment and looked at Hooyoung.

“This is suspicious.”

Hooyoung quickly fixed his expression, but he had already been caught by Junwook.

“What is it. Why did you suddenly think of that.”

“No, it’s just, if we don’t even contact each other, it, it seems too much…”

He tried to look away and feign innocence, but he could not escape Junwook’s radar.

“What’s this, are you not going to tell me properly?”

“That is…”

No, of all things, he didn’t know why that video came to mind at such an important moment. It was when he had been waiting all day for Junwook’s call after he had suddenly come into the locker room and told him to answer his phone. Unable to overcome his curiosity, he had watched a video where a man, with only his voice audible, had clearly said.

‘Chairman Eun Changshik’s youngest son, Mr. Eun Junwook, is said to have enjoyed a lavish lifestyle based on his handsome looks and immense wealth…’

‘According to an informant, his love life was never-ending, and there were many instances where the family had to quietly resolve issues stemming from it.’

As Hooyoung stared with a completely frozen face, Junwook, seemingly frustrated, pressed him.

“Are you not going to tell me? You, this is exactly the same as when you got caught masturbating at my place. Suspicious.”

“When did I, and it’s not like that!”

“Then what is it? I’m not letting you go until you tell me.”

When Junwook grabbed his wrist and said that, Hooyoung’s lips parted and closed. He had no idea how to say it. It took him a long while to think of the right word.

“Sur, surveillance…”

Not understanding what he meant, Junwook just knitted his eyebrows and was silent for a moment. Then, just as Hooyoung had suddenly remembered that video, Junwook also very suddenly understood the flow.

“Hey!”

“I-I’ll contact you. Take c-care…”

Quickly pulling his hand away, Hooyoung scrambled out of the car without even finishing his sentence. He heard an angry voice saying something behind him, but he ran without looking back. Strangely, he couldn’t stop laughing.

That night, after returning to the dorm, Hooyoung resolved that he had to practice basketball really hard, and confess to Junwook quickly. He went to bed, determined to double his practice load starting tomorrow to somehow make it to the playoffs and the championship finals. Never dreaming that he would be seeking out Junwook much sooner than he thought.

🏀

There are many factors that determine the outcome of a basketball game, but one of the most important ones is the ‘turnover,’ in other words, a mistake made during the offense. Things like throwing a pass over the receiver’s head and just losing the ball in the air, having the ball stolen in the middle of a clumsy dribble, or failing to attack within the allotted time. The moment one is committed, possession of the ball immediately goes to the opponent, so a single slip-up could change the entire flow of the game.

Recently, the HG Big Whales had executed a sudden trade. Changing the team’s starting lineup, which they had worked hard to set during the off-season, meant that a whole season’s plan had been overturned. In basketball terms, it was no different from committing a turnover in a close-game situation.

“Bbi-bbi! Here!”

Hojin, who anyone could see had piled his plate with a mountain of rice, raised his hand high and called for Hooyoung.

“…You don’t have to call me like that, I’m sitting in front of you.”

Hooyoung, burdened by the sudden attention on him, quickly sat down and spoke through clenched teeth. Usually, people sat with those they were close to from the same year, so the group of people who sat together was pretty much fixed.

“Hey, Jaeik hyung is really much better than I thought.”

“Oh, really.”

Hooyoung nodded his head vigorously, agreeing with Hojin’s words. Jaeik was the player who had joined the team in a trade for Taehoon.

“No, I’m telling you…”

Hojin, who was stuffing a mushroom pancake into his mouth and munching away, leaned his body way forward and lowered his voice as if he were about to share a secret.

“They said from above that if the trade wasn’t done properly, they would fire the General Manager.”

Ah. It was a story he knew well. They had said that beyond firing the GM, they would put the team up for sale. Hooyoung knew more of the hidden behind-the-scenes story, but he quietly drank his bean sprout soup.

The main dish today was braised cutlassfish, and although he had tried to pick a substantial and large piece, he felt strangely unsatisfied. The memory of the giant piece of cutlassfish, the size of a person’s face, that he had seen in Junwook’s freezer flickered before his eyes. He remembered how his heart had pounded when he saw it after opening the freezer out of curiosity. He had thought to himself that whenever that cutlassfish was cooked, he absolutely, absolutely had to be there. The actual owner, Junwook, didn’t even know what was in his refrigerator and freezer, but he knew more.

Ah, I miss him. Hooyoung, in the middle of eating, made a glum face. He had not yet contacted Junwook since that day.

“Hey, what’s with the long face in front of the rice you love so much? This is rice, rice. The rice that Bbi-bbi loves.”

Hojin waved his hand back and forth in front of Hooyoung’s face.

“Anyway, giving away that bastard Lee Taehoon and getting Jaeik hyung and Dongkyu hyung-nim is a decent trade. Honestly, when you think about Jaeik hyung in college, he was freaking awesome. He even got an MVP award.”

Even in college, Jaeik was a promising prospect, but he was a player who couldn’t properly find his place in the pros. As his scoring output dwindled, his time warming the bench increased, pushed out of the competition for a starting position. The general manager acquired this player along with a journeyman2) veteran named Han Dongkyu. It was a one-for-two trade.

“I heard the GM initially demanded a first-round draft pick for next season on top of it. I guess trades are supposed to be done shamelessly, with a thick skin like that.”

“It just means Taehoon hyung’s ceiling is that high.”

“You want to take that bastard’s side?”

“…I’m not taking his side, I’m evaluating him coolly.”

“That’s the same thing!”

Basketball reporters and fan communities poured out malicious comments, saying it was a trade where the Big Whales lost out by a long shot and that this season was ruined, but the players, including Hooyoung, did not think so. At first, they were very anxious, but after practicing together once, their minds completely changed. It was the perfect card for the Big Whales.

“Jaeik hyung’s defense is really so good. I remember him being a scorer3) in college.”

“I know, right! It’s insane. If Jaeik hyung just locks down the defense and hits one shot when he’s open in the corner, it’s game over. They say his shooting touch is dead, but that’s something he can gradually bring back up.”

Hooyoung completely agreed with Hojin’s words. If there was a turnover, they just had to run again. They had to run back desperately to defend so that the possession they gave up didn’t turn into points, and then score a goal again. While undergoing intense training these past few days, Hooyoung had gained confidence in the team. He felt like they could do well.

“Huh? Is that our team owner over there?”

“Where?”

At Hojin’s gesture, Hooyoung whipped his head around. On the cafeteria monitor, an internal promotional video for the parent company, HG Group, was playing. Junwook’s eldest brother, the chairman, appeared the most, but Junwook was also seen from time to time.

“Wow, I guess chaebols really attend parties like that. Maybe because our owner is the youngest, he looks like an actor.”

That’s right. He looks like an actor. On the screen, Junwook, wearing a bow tie, stood behind his eldest brother. Hooyoung’s eyes were glued to the monitor.

“What country is that? It looks really cool.”

“It’s Las Vegas.”

As soon as Hojin’s words ended, Hooyoung’s crisp answer came out. Hojin, who hadn’t expected an answer, and Hooyoung, who had spoken reflexively, stared at each other in surprise.

“What the, Bbi-bbi, you’re scary. Since when could you tell what city it is just by looking at the background?”

…It wasn’t that he knew just by looking, but rather things he had learned from searching every day, curious about where Junwook was and what he was doing. Junwook had recently gone to Las Vegas, USA, with his eldest brother, the chairman, to attend a corporate event. Hooyoung feigned ignorance and picked up a piece of radish from the braised cutlassfish.

“You got a text on your phone.”

When a notification popped up on his phone, which was on the table, Hojin noticed it first and pointed with his hand. It was probably a spam message about a loan, but Hooyoung picked up the phone anyway.

“I don’t know why they keep sending me texts saying I can get a loan when they’d hang up in a second if I actually asked for one.”

“…Sometimes when you make those self-deprecating jokes, I really don’t know how I should react.”

At Hojin’s words, Hooyoung giggled, but his face changed slightly when he saw who sent the message. It wasn’t that he became serious, but rather a shy face, as if he didn’t know where to put his eyes, nose, and mouth.

“What’s with that weird smile?”

“…They say they’ll give me a loan even if I have a lot of debt.”

“Suspicious. You’re really dating someone, aren’t you. People usually twitch their nostrils and smile while looking at their phone when they get a girlfriend.”

“It’s not a girlfriend, so stop talking nonsense and eat your rice, your rice.”

Since Junwook was a man, he wasn’t a girlfriend. Hooyoung, who had almost finished his meal, put down his spoon and chopsticks and held his phone. He heard Hojin say, “Do you really read your loan texts that diligently?” but he cleanly ignored it. It had been a while. Despite the fuss he made about contacting him with such bravado, Hooyoung had not yet sent a single message first. The team’s issues were the priority, so he did his best in basketball first.

[You said you’d be watching me?]

The message Junwook sent ended with those five words. Still, he could clearly imagine what kind of voice, what kind of expression he had when sending it. Soon, another message arrived. This time, it was a photo. Junwook, in the same outfit from the cafeteria monitor, was escorting a woman in a dress.

[You’re jealous.]

Hooyoung was not swayed. He wasn’t jealous at all. He already knew who the woman standing next to Junwook was. It was the wife of a senator related to HG Group’s plan to build a semiconductor factory in the United States. The senator was late due to a minor fender bender, so his wife arrived first, and at Chairman Eun’s suggestion, Junwook escorted her. The senator and his wife were said to be a lovebird couple with two daughters and one son.

Every time a photo appeared, he had looked each one up. In fact, he even knew all about the senator couple’s college love story. He hadn’t even replied then, but another message with an attached photo arrived.

[You must be jealous. You must feel like you’re going crazy.]

In this picture, Junwook was holding a wine glass with a very handsome blond man, smiling at the camera. Of course, just like with the first picture, he wasn’t jealous, nor did he feel like he was going crazy. The blond man was the son of an executive at HG’s local branch, who had accompanied his father to the event. It was a find he had made by looking up the local American newspaper and running it through a translator.

Hooyoung felt embarrassed for no reason and touched the spot under his nose with his hand. Even though there was no way Junwook would know that he pathetically searched for this stuff every night, he felt like stomping his feet on the floor. He was the one who said he would focus on basketball, so he kicked his blankets every night, finding it ridiculous that he was searching so earnestly.

Should I reply, or not? Hooyoung, who was about to move his hand at any moment, hesitated. If he replied now, all his efforts to hold back from contacting him would go up in smoke… If he replied, Junwook would surely drag the conversation on, and after that, it was obvious that they would continue to exchange messages, leading to phone calls, and then meeting up.

Hmm, what should I do. But ignoring it is also a bit… While Hooyoung was contemplating, another message from Junwook arrived.

[I’ll be sure to watch the game. If you want to keep an eye on me, contact me.]

At the words that didn’t necessarily expect a reply, Hooyoung smiled brightly. He didn’t know how Junwook knew everything and did this for him even when he wasn’t actually watching him. His heart felt at ease. The person who wanted him to do well in basketball more than anyone and for the team to win was Junwook.

“Do loan sharks send porn these days or something? Look at your face, it’s gross…”

“If you’re done eating, get up. Let’s take an hour-long nap and then get ready for the game.”

As Hooyoung kicked his chair back and stood up, Hojin stood up with him, saying, “You really don’t seem to be in your right mind lately. You’re weird.” He only checked the last message that came while he was clearing his tray later.

[Ah, one more thing. If you don’t wear that inner shirt that comes down to your arms just because we’re not meeting, you better believe I’ll go to the arena and flip everything over. And… what about wearing leggings too? A lot of players wear them.]

He didn’t reply to this either, but that night, Hooyoung played the game wearing leggings under his uniform shorts. 19 points, 7 assists. It was a satisfying stat line for the first time in a while.

After the major trade that changed the team’s core player, the Big Whales faltered for a while. Even with hard training, they were not players who had continuously matched their timing, so many mistakes were made in the beginning. Perhaps because of that, in the latter half of the third round, they almost dropped to fourth place, let alone maintaining third. However, as they reached the end of the third round, the newly organized Big Whales began to charge up terrifyingly, and from the last game of the third round, they seized victory as if they were a team that did not know defeat.

The characteristic of a team that is doing well is that even when they are losing by a large margin, they somehow feel like they are going to win, and even when there are consecutive turnovers, all sorts of strange shots go in, creating points. The Big Whales were exactly like that these days. With a winning streak, they instantly reclaimed second place and were eventually aiming for first place again.

The stars of the fourth round, as chosen by reporters, were undoubtedly the HG Big Whales, who were on a six-game winning streak, and articles analyzing the reasons for the Big Whales’ rebound were pouring out daily. The interesting thing was that most of the articles reached a similar conclusion.

[Second-year point guard Lee Hooyoung has become the center of the Big Whales and an irreplaceable ace.]

It was a sentence no one could deny.

🏀

Junwook had recently emerged as the public face of HG Group. It was not a result that Junwook or the group had intended; it was simply because his eldest brother, the chairman, preferred to take Junwook with him everywhere.

“Wow, please let me go now. Why are you so desperate to take me everywhere?”

“You punk, you have no idea how convenient it is to have you around. When we go golfing, even if I play a little poorly, you usually play well for me. And you’re such a smooth talker, so at events, I can just leave things to you and deal with the important people. And most of all…”

When his eldest brother’s voice turned serious and stern, Junwook looked to the side. Strangely, he felt expectant.

“I’m not bored.”

“…Aish, seriously.”

“If I had my way, I’d want to bring Hyungwook too. But he has a lot to do, and a lot to be responsible for.”

“You think I don’t have work?! Who was it that made me sit here and work!”

No matter how old he got, the youngest was still the youngest. In Chairman Eun’s eyes, Junwook was just cute, and he reached out and lightly smacked the back of Junwook’s head. Openly sulking from that one smack, Junwook turned his back completely to his hyung and looked at his phone. Throughout the business trip, Junwook had his phone in his hand the entire time.

“No, I’m just asking because I’m genuinely curious, Junwook-ah.”

“Please don’t be curious, sir.”

“What’s so busy with the sports team and foundation work that you can’t put your phone down? For that stuff, isn’t it just a matter of reviewing, saying ‘spend a lot of money,’ and giving your approval? That’s why I put you there, so you could start without any pressure.”

“Ah, I attend all the meetings and oppose what needs to be opposed. I also work hard to come up with alternatives.”

“I’m sure you do. Gosh, our cute youngest.”

Junwook made an ‘ugh’ face at his eldest brother, but the chairman chuckled heartily, finding even that cute.

“Suhwan must be having a hard time because of you. Make sure you give him a good bonus separately.”

Junwook’s mastery in teasing Hooyoung was all learned from his hyungs. Getting worked up would only lead to more teasing, so not responding at all was the answer.

“So what are you so busy with? What’s so urgent?”

“Nothing urgent, just checking if the puppy I’m raising is doing well. I have to check every single day to feel at ease.”

“…What? You’re raising a dog? You? You, who never showed any interest in any animal—dog, cat, rabbit—while growing up?”

Junwook just shrugged and kept his mouth shut. Chairman Eun, dying of curiosity, forgot his dignity and craned his neck to peek at Junwook’s phone, but Junwook absolutely would not show him.

“No, then, while you’re on this business trip, what, is Suhwan watching it? And what about when you go to work? Don’t tell me you take the dog to the company?”

“Ah, if I did, it would have already reached hyung’s ears! And we’re not living together yet. Uh, um… a training center? I sent it to a training center now.”

“…No, how long have you had it that you already sent it to a training center? Is it a large breed? Or did you adopt a dog that’s already grown a bit?”

“Don’t be curious and just watch some basketball, Mr. Chairman.”

Junwook, who had been staring at his phone, suddenly shot up and deftly connected his phone to the TV in the room.

“You’re going to watch Korean basketball all the way in America?”

“Yeah, the Big Whales are doing well these days. You remember that player Lee Hooyoung from the opening game, right? He’s gone absolutely crazy, I tell you.”

Chairman Eun, unaware that he was being made to watch the Big Whales game because of Junwook’s doting fondness, cheered along enthusiastically. And while the chairman got excited, shouting “Yeah!”, “That’s it! Wow!”, Junwook watched with his arms crossed and a grim face like some kind of coach, and by the time the game ended, he grimly declared he was going back to Korea.

By the time Junwook boarded the plane to Korea, Korea was entering a period of sub-zero temperatures in earnest. It was the time when the fun of indoor sports reached its peak.

Korean professional basketball typically held its regular season from October to March over six months, with the playoffs in April. This season, which began when a cool breeze was blowing, had crossed over into the new year, welcoming a winter that required padded jackets. In reality, most players didn’t have much of a sentimental feeling about the new year. They would offer new year’s greetings to the fans on the team’s social media or at the game venue, but their minds were filled with nothing but thoughts of basketball.

January was the period for the fourth round, the most important of the season. The upper, middle, and lower tiers were mostly decided at this time. The HG Big Whales rebounded in this fourth round and eventually rose to second place. This was to say that Hooyoung had no time to spare for the new year. He would sleep and wake up to a new year, and after a few away games, January was almost over.

Even after the “Aren’t you jealous?” message, Junwook would send a message whenever he was about to be forgotten. They were all messages that didn’t expect a reply, just him saying what he wanted to say.

[happy new year.]

This was a message that came on January 1st.

[Congratulations. I’ve been thinking, how about we continue the wish-granting thing. My secretary says that when your favorite does well, you want to break walls and destroy apartments and stuff like that?]

A message came without fail on the day he recorded a career-high 28 points. It was so unexpected that Junwook used the word ‘favorite’ that he screenshotted it and saved it as a photo.

[You know, I was just thinking in the shower… other gyms have shower stall partitions, right? It was just our place that was old, right? Surely, in the 21st-century modern society, they don’t use such open showers that fail to protect the players’ human rights, do they? There must be partitions, right? …Crazy, I can’t sleep.]

There was also one that came very randomly in the middle of the night. Still harping on about the shower room. It’s not like they were kids anymore, and now, even without partitions, they were too busy washing up quickly and getting out to care about anyone else’s naked body.

[Don’t let anyone take it from you, make sure you eat the most.]

It was the day after their sixth consecutive win. At first, he didn’t know what it meant, but he understood belatedly when he went to the cafeteria to eat. The general manager, whose mouth had been stretched from ear to ear these days, greeted the players wearing an apron in the cafeteria.

“Our owner said the Big Whales are doing so well these days and sent this because we’re working hard! Now, everyone eat a lot, and let’s go for a 7-game, 8-game winning streak. Huh? Aigoo, our ace Bbi-bbi! Bbi-bbi, eat and then eat some more! Got it? Eat twice, three times. There’s a huuuuuuge amount!”

The general manager grilled abalone, the head coach grilled eel, and the senior assistant coach grilled Korean beef, handing them out to the players. It seemed they were going to use it for a promotional article, as someone was taking pictures from the side. Only then did Hooyoung understand Junwook’s message and ate until his stomach was about to burst. Since he was told to eat the most, he didn’t pick at his food and pushed in as much of everything as he could. Restorative food was certainly restorative food, as he could feel his strength was different the next day. Though, this too was not confirmed by any numerical value.

He hadn’t gotten used to this situation where only Junwook sent messages. He always wanted to reply and wanted to call. But he felt it wasn’t the right time yet, so Hooyoung would pick up his phone and just agonize over it every time, eventually putting it down. He had a goal he had set for himself. It wasn’t a grand goal like winning the championship and receiving the MVP award to stand next to Junwook. There were countless players who retired without a single championship ring after their pro debut, so setting the championship and MVP as a goal meant he might not know when he would ever meet Junwook.

For the team to reclaim the number one spot. This was the most realistic and best goal he could achieve. Even though he hadn’t intended for the team division and subsequent trade caused by Taehoon, he felt he was not without responsibility. In that process, they had dropped from first to third place, so it was his role to put them back up. Of course, the rankings could be overturned again after that, but if he just got them to first place, in the fifth and sixth rounds, they would be fighting for the top spot, and the probability of dropping to the middle tier was low.

With not many games left in the fourth round, the gap between the Big Whales and the first-place team was just one game. If the first-place team lost and the Big Whales won, they would be tied for first. After that, if the first-place team lost again and the Big Whales won more, they would become the sole first-place team.

I’ll contact him the day we become the sole first-place team. I’ll reply to the last message as if it’s nothing.

These were Hooyoung’s inner thoughts as he sat in the locker room before the game, looking at his phone. He had already decided what he would say when they met again. He decided to tell him that he liked him, and that if he helped him, he would work even harder at basketball to become a good player.

Hooyoung suddenly counted the days. Two years ago, around this time, he had met Junwook in America. The time he had run away to Korea, certain that they would never meet again, felt like a very long time ago.

“Hey, Bbi-bbi! Let’s go in!”

Dongkyu, who had been traded and become a member of the team, passed by, tapping Hooyoung’s shoulder. At over 195cm tall, with a large build unlike a basketball player, and even a beard, the nickname fans gave him was ‘mountain bandit’. When they first met, Hooyoung had been completely intimidated by Dongkyu’s appearance and thought he was scary, but as time went by, he came to trust and follow him. He was old, and as a journeyman who had moved teams several times, he didn’t have a huge presence on the court, but he had the power to bring the players together. Hooyoung, too, strangely had a tendency to rely on Dongkyu.

He was about to put down his phone and go to the court. Just then, his phone vibrated. Hooyoung picked up his phone with a face full of anticipation, but it wasn’t Junwook. Nor was it one of the loan-offer texts that came several times a day. It was someone who contacted him as consistently as Junwook.

[Hey, Hooyoung-ah. You’re here, damn huge. Oof, getting more handsome by the day, huh?]

The photo the loan shark sent was of the promotional picture hung largely on the outer wall of the home arena. Which meant that this man had come to today’s game.

“…What is this.”

Hooyoung had been feeling a definite sense of puzzlement these days. Compared to last year, his contact had become more frequent. It wasn’t even about the debt; he often sent meaningless texts just to say hi. Why? They weren’t the kind of things a loan shark would say, like ‘When are you going to pay off the debt?’ or ‘Can you get a salary increase next year?’. On some days, he would send a screenshot of an article, and on other days, he would contact him after seeing an interview that aired during a game.

[I’ll be waiting after it’s over, so let’s grab a bite. You have tomorrow off, right?]

A bite to eat? Won’t I get indigestion? That’s scary… After checking the content, Hooyoung lifted his head and looked back and forth between the clock on the wall and his phone. He wanted to think about this text for a bit, but he had to go out and warm up quickly. It was best to strictly follow the routine that had been established during the winning streak.

Hooyoung ended up sending a short reply, ‘Yes’. In truth, he couldn’t refuse anyway. Junwook, the team owner, was the boss, but the loan shark he owed a debt to was also the boss. He had never once refused by saying, “No, I don’t want to.” Well, it’s not like he had to answer when the man just yelled and threatened him.

He felt a bit uneasy, but the game was the priority, so Hooyoung shook his head slightly and left the locker room. He couldn’t let his concentration be stolen by something else. First place was not far away. A little more, and he could contact Junwook. Then he wouldn’t have to contact the man anymore. If he once again said that he would handle his own debt, Junwook might get really disappointed and suggest they end things first.

He had promised his grandmother he would grow up big and strong, and he had asked Junwook to wait. As the team gradually found its footing and his confidence in his play grew, he certainly felt himself becoming more and more unburdened. He wanted to quickly get to first place and receive the things Junwook gave him with a smile. He didn’t want to be shameless, but he thought Junwook would prefer him smiling over having a glum face. Because it was Junwook.

As Hooyoung entered the court, the spectators who had come in early all shouted and applauded. It was a welcome for the star of the six-game winning streak. These days, Hooyoung, who thought more about having fun and doing whatever he wanted rather than feeling the pressure to do well, smiled brightly and stepped onto the court.

The HG Big Whales won again today. It was their first 7-game winning streak in a whopping four years.

The players who had just finished the game gathered in a circle in the locker room. A recent change was that on days they won a game, the head coach wouldn’t necessarily come in, and they would wrap up with the players having a brief chat amongst themselves. This atmosphere was surprisingly led by Dongkyu, who had come through the trade. There was a separate captain, but since Dongkyu was the oldest and had the most experience, he naturally became the locker room leader. The original captain didn’t have any particular complaints and followed along. He knew that Dongkyu’s seniority was more effective in comforting and motivating the players.

“Alright, alright, I know everyone’s in a good mood because the winning streak is continuing, but.”

Hooyoung listened intently to Dongkyu’s words as he lifted his jersey to wipe the sweat from his face.

“Let’s always keep in mind that it’s difficult to keep winning until the very end. A truly strong team is one that endures well the defeat that comes after a winning streak.”

Yes! The players answered loudly with one heart and one mind.

“We have about 18, 19 games left now. On the days we can, we win for sure, and on the days we lose, we overcome it well and…”

As he trailed off, the eyes of the players who had been looking at the floor rose and gathered on Dongkyu.

“Let’s clinch the regular season championship in the early part of the sixth round!”

The players stomped their feet, shouting so loudly the locker room seemed to shake. It was a powerful force that would have startled anyone passing by outside. That was how much the team’s atmosphere was soaring.

The players, who had been enjoying the excited atmosphere for a while, went in to shower one by one, and Hooyoung, sitting in his spot, finally remembered the loan shark he had forgotten about during the game and looked for his phone. A few more messages had arrived.

[Hey, this is crazy! You’re so damn good, for reallol Wow, shit, it’s so rewarding to have raised you, I tell you?]

[You know my car, right? It’s in the parking lot, so come therelol]

What does he mean he raised me? It’s true he cut me some slack, but… Hooyoung thought for a long time while looking at the loan shark’s text. He knew the man’s car, but did he really have to ride in it? He hadn’t been driving while not meeting Junwook, so of course, he didn’t have his car with him. So it made the most sense to travel in the man’s car, but it felt strangely uneasy. It wasn’t the first time he’d ridden in it, but it felt that way. If I get in that car here, there will definitely be people who see. It was obvious just from how the players had been interested last time.

Out of habit, Hooyoung’s finger moved to Junwook’s messages. Staring blankly at the messages he sent had become one of his daily routines lately. Then, he suddenly remembered. What had Junwook said when he bought him the car?

‘Don’t get into any other car besides that car or my car.’

He had told him not to get into other cars. He had said, with a completely serious face, that only Junwook’s car, his car, and the team’s car were allowed.

No, I mean, if I didn’t remember, it would be one thing, but… Hooyoung rubbed his chest area. Now that it had come to this, he was terrified of getting into the man’s flashy car. It seemed his guts only grew when he was playing basketball; he was suddenly scared that Junwook, who he didn’t even know was in Korea or not, would find out. Hooyoung hurriedly called the man.

—Oh, you coming out?

“…Um, that’s not it.”

—Then what.

Being scared of Junwook and being scared of the loan shark were different feelings. The memories of trembling from all sorts of things since he was young were so strong that his mind would go blank if the man showed even a hint of sternness. The image of his guardians, his grandmother and grandfather, getting on their knees and begging with their hands clasped together, had left a very long-lasting afterimage.

“If you tell me where to meet, I’ll go there…”

—Why? It’s comfortable if we go in my car.

As his voice got smaller, the man replied coldly. Hooyoung anxiously picked at a non-existent hangnail on his fingernail.

“The car is too nice…”

—What?

“Last time you came, all the hyungs were staring at it. Saying it’s a really expensive and nice car…”

Hooyoung squeezed his eyes shut and said it. If he still told him to get in after this, he would have no choice but to, but he said it with the feeling of at least trying.