7MoH 3.2

16. After party

After the break ended, the finals finally began. It was truly a moment that would determine the fate of the Mathlete Society.

As is characteristic of tournaments, the draw played a significant role. Pacific Heights, whom they faced in the semifinals, had been such a strong team that Townsend County High School, their opponent in the finals, seemed relatively easier. But there was no room for complacency.

There was even more tension in the competition hall than during the semifinals. As problems were announced and rounds progressed, the atmosphere grew increasingly heated.

“The dot product of the vectors is 36!”

“Wincrest, that’s correct!”

“The natural logarithm of e is 1!”

“Townsend County takes this point!”

“The slant height of the cone is 13!”

“Wincrest gets it right again!”

Wincrest pushed hard from the beginning, widening the score gap.

“Yes! Wincrest! Let’s go, Warriors!”

Jeong-in shouted the answer, and Chase’s enthusiastic cheer echoed throughout the competition hall.

“Warriors” referred to Wincrest’s athletes, meaning “fighters.” It didn’t quite match the Mathlete Society members, who were more like a gathering of herbivores. But it was enough to boost their morale. Today, at least, they felt like warriors too.

For the nerds who were moved by the promise of varsity jackets if they won, the encouragement from the varsity team captain and quarterback held special meaning.

With the score gap widened to 5 points, the two teams were now facing the final round. If they got this question right, Wincrest would secure the championship.

The host explained in a calm but tense voice.

“This is a 3-point question. If Wincrest gets this right, they win regardless of the remaining questions. On the other hand, if Townsend County gets it right, they’ll have one more chance to seize victory in the next round.”

A heavy tension flowed through the venue.

The Mathlete Society members were overwhelmed with extreme tension as they faced the victory that was just within reach. Everyone was frozen, barely able to breathe properly and looking strained. At that moment, Justin leaned toward Jeong-in and whispered.

“Jay, ask Chase Prescott to take his shirt off. Some of the kids on that team would completely lose focus.”

“What? Pfft…”

Jeong-in burst into laughter with a bewildered face. Others also giggled and laughed. A short joke instantly eased the tense atmosphere.

Jeong-in turned his head to look at Chase.

With a serious expression, Chase was shaking his elegantly crossed legs. He kept rubbing his palms as if they were sweaty and even took deep breaths, a far cry from his usual relaxed and confident attitude.

Seeing him seemingly more nervous than himself, Jeong-in felt a sense of calmness wash over him.

The certainty that he wasn’t alone, that someone was by his side, brought stability to his mind. He never knew that sharing tension with someone could feel so reassuring.

Chase probably thought his booming cheers and shouts could encourage Jeong-in. But for Jeong-in, Chase’s mere presence was already giving him enough courage.

“Now, the problem will be displayed on the screen.”

With the host’s words, the problem appeared on the central screen.

It was a creative problem using graph theory to find the number of triangles with side length 3 in a graph with specific conditions. It wasn’t just simple calculation but required logical thinking and pattern recognition.

The competition hall instantly fell silent. Only the faint sound of pencils brushing against paper and tension-suppressed breathing could be heard.

Jeong-in felt like his brain was spinning as if he had chugged Red Bull on an empty stomach. He quickly narrowed down the possible cases while analyzing the given pattern.

There was no time to review. At the very moment his analysis was complete, Jeong-in reached for the buzzer without hesitation.

The host pointed at Jeong-in.

“Wincrest! Your answer?”

“Ten!”

Before the host’s confirmation, a player from the opposing team who had just reached the answer collapsed onto the desk. It was a good sign.

“Correct! We have this year’s winning school! Wincrest High School’s Mathlete Society!”

The competition hall was instantly filled with cheers and applause. The Mathlete Society members, unable to contain their joy, hugged each other and jumped up and down.

The host’s closing remarks echoed, signaling the official end of the competition.

The Wincrest team took hold of the championship trophy and took commemorative photos with a large check. Amidst cheers and applause, the competition successfully concluded.

Back in the waiting room, they exchanged high-fives and congratulations in excitement and joy. Laughter never ceased as the afterglow of victory lingered.

Jeong-in quietly slipped out from among them in the excited atmosphere.

As soon as he opened the waiting room door, he found the person he was looking for. Chase was leaning against the wall in front of the waiting room.

Leisurely waiting with his hands in his pockets, Chase pushed himself off the wall and slowly walked toward Jeong-in.

“Well, look who it is. The hero who got the final question right in the math competition finals.”

Jeong-in burst into a soft laugh at Chase’s words.

“Now that you’re a champion, someone like me probably doesn’t even catch your eye.”

At Chase’s playful words, Jeong-in narrowed his eyes as if searching his memory and put on a serious expression.

“Sorry, but have you seen my manager? What was your name again… Chester?”

“Wow, that’s harsh.”

Chase placed his hand on his chest as if shocked and pretended to be hurt.

After a round of laughter, warm gazes were exchanged.

“Congratulations. This brings you one step closer to Harvard.”

“…Thank you.”

“So what’s next? Is everyone going to an after party?”

At his matter of fact tone, Jeong-in laughed again.

“We don’t do after-parties.”

“Really?”

Chase tilted his head, looking surprised. Wasn’t there supposed to be an after party following events like this?

A rave dance party until dawn at someone’s lake house, shooting short-form videos, playing drinking games with paper cups, and finishing with skinny dipping by jumping naked into the lake…

Having lived in a world where such things were completely normal, he knew far too little about the world of nerds.

“Everyone just goes home. Those whose parents came leave with them, and the rest take the school bus back.”

At Jeong-in’s words, Chase seemed lost in thought for a moment, then slightly raised the corner of his mouth and said.

“Then, let’s do it together, just the two of us.”

“Do what?”

“The after party.”

Jeong-in quietly looked up at Chase. His heart pounded heavily as if his entire body was resonating.

It was still hard to believe. The fact that this person was here.

It was hard to believe that the same person who had recited speeches on the podium wearing a blue graduation gown, the varsity team quarterback who ran roughly across the grass field, the very person Jeong-in had been secretly watching from behind for years, actually liked him back.

“You don’t need to take the school bus, right? Let’s go in my car.”

Jeong-in nodded at Chase’s natural words, as if they had always been close.

“Do you have any luggage to bring?”

“I have a bag. In the waiting room.”

Chase said he would get it and asked Jeong-in to wait a moment. It wouldn’t be hard to recognize since it was the same bag Jeong-in had left on the terrace on the day of the charity event.

The moment Chase entered the waiting room, the noisy space fell silent again.

The Mathlete Society members, who despite having “Society” in their name weren’t particularly sociable, froze in unison. It was like a lion had intruded into a herbivore zone.

“Hey! Chase Prescott!”

Justin was the one who broke the silence. He approached with a triumphant stride and without hesitation placed his hand squarely on Chase’s shoulder.

Gasp. Collective intakes of breath burst from around the waiting room. Is that allowed? Tension crossed the faces of those exchanging unspoken questions with their eyes.

“Justin.”

The height difference between the two was nearly 30cm. Justin would have needed to stand on tiptoes to put his arm around Chase’s shoulder, but Chase nonchalantly bent his knees to make a mannerly stance. Once again, the waiting room stirred.

“You did well earlier, didn’t you? -1?”

“You saw? Haha, it was nothing.”

“Nothing? Your reflexes were amazing. Ever thought about joining the football team? Our slot receiver is a bit weak.”

Everyone, including Rajesh, the club president, stared at Justin with their mouths wide open at the casual conversation between the two. Justin was in high spirits. It felt like his whole body was tingling, like wearing a scratchy wool sweater knitted by a grandmother.

He liked Chase Prescott more and more.

Prescott had already noticed that Justin was trying to show off their friendship. Nevertheless, he was playing along with composure.

“Thanks for sending sandwiches for us too. We enjoyed them.”

“I’m glad,” Chase said with a gentle smile.

“Jay went outside.”

“I know. I came to get his bag.”

“Ohhh…”

Justin nodded meaningfully with narrowed eyes. Chase was acting quite like Jeong-in’s boyfriend. After a series of small and large misalignments, the two had undoubtedly become a couple.

Justin suddenly changed his attitude and put on a stern expression. Then he threatened in a low voice that only Chase could hear.

“You’d better do right by him. If you hurt my friend, I’ll build a killer robot and send it after you.”

Justin brought his index and middle fingers to his eyes, then moved his hand to point at Chase. It was a silent warning of ‘I’m watching you.’

“As if I wouldn’t.”

Chase bowed politely with a playful smile. Justin shrugged with a feeling of superiority, as if he were in a higher position.

“Good. I’ll be counting on you, Chase Prescott.”

“By the way, could you use either Chase or Prescott, not both?”

At Chase’s words, Justin glanced at him nervously. Then he cautiously tried calling him.

“Press…?”

There was a subtle hierarchy even in the way his name was called. Only his varsity teammates called him “Press” for short. Justin had wanted to call him that someday to pretend they were close, but never dreamed the opportunity would come.

“Yeah, I like that.”

Justin’s face, which had been worried about making a mistake or causing offense, instantly brightened. Maybe Chase was unexpectedly easy to get along with.

Justin was in a great mood.

“If you need any help, just let me know! I know Jay better than anyone else in the world!”

Chase’s face subtly hardened at Justin’s boastful words. It was exactly the serious face Justin had worried might appear when he called him “Press.”

“Be careful with words like that, Justin. I’m quite jealous.”

Chase instantly returned his expression to normal. His face, which had been coldly frozen just moments ago, was once again covered with a relaxed smile.

He lightly patted Justin’s instinctively hunched shoulders a couple of times and said in a voice tinged with laughter.

“Just kidding.”

Chase, looking around the waiting room, spotted Jeong-in’s bag and picked it up.

Before leaving, he didn’t forget to give Justin one more friendly greeting.

“See you, Justin.”

“Y-yeah.”

Justin gently stroked his chest as he stared at the closing door. The warning-like words Chase had just said were definitely not a joke.

Chase hung Jeong-in’s bag over one shoulder and walked leisurely toward the entrance. Jeong-in was gently shaking his hands in front of the restroom. Water droplets splashed as his white hands waved.

When asked what he was doing, Jeong-in replied with a troubled expression.

“There are no paper towels.”

In that moment, a playful smile appeared on Chase’s face. Without saying anything, he grabbed both of Jeong-in’s wrists and brought them to the front of his shirt.

“Dry them here.”

The soft touch of the shirt brushed against his fingertips. Jeong-in’s eyes widened at Chase’s unexpected action.

“Huh? What are you doing!”

Jeong-in shouted with a startled face. But Chase paid no attention and rubbed Jeong-in’s hands against his shirt, moving them with his own strength.

Jeong-in’s face quickly turned red. The firm chest and contours of abdominal muscles felt through his palms were far too vivid.

Chase continued until his shirt became damp and the moisture disappeared from Jeong-in’s hands. Some passing students glanced at them, with a few giggling at the unusual scene.

“That’s better. Let’s go.”

Chase naturally interlaced his fingers between Jeong-in’s, holding his hand. There was not the slightest hesitation in his movement as he took Jeong-in’s hand in such a public place. Jeong-in, startled, shook his captured hand.

“C-could we let go of this before we go?”

“No. I don’t think so.”

Jeong-in momentarily blanked out, seeing that handsome face smiling at him while tilting his head.

He briefly wondered if he’d be able to properly get angry at that face if they ever had a fight. But he quickly dismissed the thought, remembering his own temperament that had once provoked and mocked Chase during English composition class, eventually making him storm out of his seat.

“Give me my bag.”

Jeong-in said, reaching for his bag that Chase was carrying.

Chase gently shook his head.

“It’s fine. I’ll carry it for you.”

Throughout their walk to his car, Jeong-in felt something strange. The source of this discomfort wasn’t clear, but a corner of his mind felt oddly uneasy.

Only when they reached the car and Chase opened the passenger door for him did Jeong-in realize the nature of that feeling. It was a feeling he had experienced once before, the feeling that Chase was treating him the same way he treated the people he used to date.

Jeong-in firmly pulled his hand free from Chase’s grip. He wanted to make something clear to him.

“Chase, I’m different from the people you’ve dated before.”

The pleasant smile on Chase’s face slowly faded at Jeong-in’s words.

“You mean I don’t need to carry your bag or open the car door for you.”

Chase looked at Jeong-in steadily with a serious face that was neither light nor playful, and asked,

“Why do you think I’m doing that?”

“…Huh?”

“Do you think I’m trying to look mannerly? Or because you look weak?”

Jeong-in didn’t offer any particular rebuttal, but his expression clearly showed that if it wasn’t those reasons, what else could it be?

Chase continued while holding the passenger window he had opened wide.

“It’s not because I think you’re weak. It’s because I like you. I want to carry even the air for you if it feels heavy.”

“Uh…”

With a face that turned bright red at the unexpected words, Jeong-in didn’t know what to do and quickly climbed into the passenger seat. He looked like a rabbit hurriedly hiding in the bushes.

Finding his reaction cute, Chase let out a small laugh. Before starting the engine after getting into the driver’s seat, he added,

“For your information, I’ve never carried anyone’s bag unless it looked seriously heavy, and I’ve never opened the passenger door for anyone except elderly ladies.”

“…”

“Jeong-in, are you an elderly lady?”

“…I get what you’re saying. Stop it.”

Jeong-in made a sulky face, having needlessly felt insecure only to be nicely countered. Chase gently stroked Jeong-in’s rounded, puffy cheeks as if even that sulky look was lovely, then started the car.

* * *

It takes about 30-40 minutes from the University of California, Irvine campus to Belacove.

[Welcome to Belacove, where blue waves and golden sunsets dwell.]

After passing the sign announcing their arrival in Belacove and driving a few minutes more, they arrived at a large chain store with a symbolic red target-shaped logo. It was a place stocked with everything from daily necessities to furniture and electronics, somewhere Jeong-in visited once or twice a month with his mother.

Jeong-in asked Chase with a puzzled expression as he parked in the lot.

“Why here?”

Chase calmly answered while unfastening his seatbelt.

“I need a few things. Let’s go.”

What on earth was this after party? Jeong-in followed him in confusion.

As soon as they entered, Chase grabbed a large cart.

Inside the store, an announcement was playing, informing customers that there were 30 minutes until closing time and encouraging self-checkout.

Chase headed straight for the interior goods section and picked up a picnic mat, placing it in the cart. He then casually grabbed a cushion and tossed it into the cart.

Jeong-in couldn’t understand why he suddenly started buying room decoration items. To Jeong-in, it seemed like he was just putting things in the cart on a whim. Unable to stand by any longer, Jeong-in lightly pulled on the sleeve of Chase’s suit jacket with subtle restraint.

“Prescott.”

Chase shook off Jeong-in’s hand on his sleeve with an indifferent face, not even looking at him. Jeong-in quickly realized what he was displeased about and what he wanted.

With a short sigh, Jeong-in grabbed his sleeve again.

“Chase.”

“Yes?”

Only then did Chase turn toward Jeong-in as if being called for the first time.

“What are you doing? Just get what we really need.”

“Hmm… should I?”

He rubbed his chin with one hand as if lost in thought for a moment, then broke into a playful smile. Without any warning, he suddenly lifted Jeong-in up. Jeong-in flailed his hands in surprise, but by then Chase had already placed him inside the cart.

“What are you doing!”

Jeong-in cried out in surprise, but Chase nonchalantly shrugged. Jeong-in’s legs dangled outside the metal frame of the cart.

“You said to only get what’s absolutely necessary.”

Jeong-in was dumbfounded and incredulous, but eventually burst into laughter. Although he knew it was against public manners, he didn’t get out of the cart. At least for today, he wanted to just go along with whatever Chase did.

Chase pushed the cart with Jeong-in in it, casually walking around the store. This time he added a soft, fluffy blanket to the cart.

“What’s this for?”

“It gets cold late at night.”

Jeong-in’s eyes widened at Chase’s casual answer.

“Late at night? I’m already past my curfew… Will it take long?”

Jeong-in asked in a rather worried voice, and Chase let out a laugh of disbelief.

“Jeong-in. What did you think an after party was?”

Looking at Jeong-in, who was looking up with a troubled face, Chase opened his mouth again with an expression as if he was in a great dilemma.

“What should I do? I have no intention of taking you home early tonight.”

Jeong-in’s startled blinking looked adorable. Chase burst into laughter without even realizing it. Was I always this quick to laugh? He felt strange to himself.

It was clear that Jeong-in had never experienced anything like this. He had probably never stayed out partying until dawn and then dozed off in class the next day, nor had he ever imagined such a life.

After contemplating for a moment, Jeong-in rummaged through his pocket and pulled out his phone.

“Hold on. Let me send my mom a message saying I’ll be late.”

Jeong-in’s face showed a determined expression as he tapped on the screen. Watching him, Chase felt his heart pounding wildly.

What decision had Jeong-in just made? How far was he willing to go?

“Sent it. Did you get everything you need?”

Jeong-in sighed deeply as he put his phone away, as if he had overcome a difficult hurdle. Chase shook his head at him as if to say “not even close.”

“No, now we need to go to the grocery section. Let’s go!”

Chase hopped onto the cart like a child playing Superman and pushed off hard with his foot. As the wheels rolled quickly, Jeong-in let out a small scream.

“Aah! Too fast!”

“Isn’t it fun?”

“Don’t get on too! It’s going to break!”

Despite his protests, Jeong-in’s face was full of laughter. The two raced down the store aisle, giggling like children. When they turned a corner, they came face to face with a uniformed store manager, and only after receiving his disapproving look did they get off the cart.

Standing side by side, they repeatedly apologized, promising not to do it again. As soon as the manager disappeared, they both burst into laughter.

After adding potato chips and drinks to their cart in the food section, they finished checking out just before closing time and headed to the parking lot.

“Shall we go then?”

The silver convertible smoothly merged onto the road after leaving the store’s parking lot. Jeong-in still had no idea where Chase was taking him. His face showed curiosity mixed with a hint of anxiety.

“Am I being kidnapped? Should I jump out?”

Despite asking several times, Chase just smiled.

Finally giving up on finding out their destination, Jeong-in looked at the passing scenery outside the window. As he watched the streetlights and dim lights of shops swiftly passing through the darkness, he quietly imagined how this night might end, but couldn’t picture anything specific.

Soon, the car turned onto a narrow road. The trees on both sides grew denser, and the streetlights became more spaced out. After passing the last streetlight, only the car’s headlights illuminated their surroundings.

The car, moving slowly along the narrow lane, finally stopped. Jeong-in’s gaze fixed on the massive iron gate blocking their way. A warning sign reading “Private Property: No Trespassing” was attached to the barred gate.

The sign rattled whenever the wind blew. The iron gate swayed with it, making a faint creaking sound. The atmosphere was somewhat eerie, almost like a scene from a horror movie.

When Chase unbuckled his seatbelt and was about to get out, Jeong-in instinctively grabbed his sleeve.

“W-where are you going!”

Finding Jeong-in’s obvious fear cute, Chase grabbed the back of his head, pulled him close, and lightly kissed his forehead. Then, with a calm smile, he got out of the driver’s seat.

“Chase! Chase!”

Jeong-in reflexively leaned out the window and called out in a hushed voice.

Chase walked to the gate without hesitation. With a key from who knows where, he skillfully unlocked the padlock and unwound the chain wrapped around the gate.

After pushing the gate fully open and returning, Chase casually drove the car inside. Jeong-in’s face turned pale, suddenly becoming an accomplice to trespassing.

“T-this is private property! Can we just enter like this?”

Jeong-in knew how dangerous it was to enter private property without permission in America. In the worst case, it wouldn’t be surprising if a property owner with a gun appeared.

Chase calmed Jeong-in with a gentle tone.

“It’s Prescott property. Don’t worry.”

“What? Why didn’t you say so earlier!”

“Then I wouldn’t have seen that cute expression.”

Only after punching Chase’s arm once did Jeong-in breathe a sigh of relief.

Now with the leisure to look around, Jeong-in turned his head from side to side. A wide, deep forest path passed by outside the car window. The silhouettes of trees faintly visible in the darkness and the sound of leaves rustling in the wind created an even more desolate atmosphere.

Meanwhile, the car went deeper inside, and finally came to a stop.

Click. When Chase turned off the engine, even the headlights went out. Their surroundings were engulfed in perfect darkness.

“Wait a moment.”

Despite the dark night, Chase seemed as familiar with the place as if it were his own backyard. He got out of the car, came around to the passenger side, and opened the door.

Jeong-in stepped out of the car, his face still full of wariness. An unfamiliar space, unfamiliar air. As he glanced around, surveying the surroundings completely immersed in darkness, Chase suavely suggested,

“Since it’s dark anyway, want to close your eyes?”

“W-what are you planning to do?”

Chase gave a mischievous smile to the suddenly tense Jeong-in.

“Exactly what you’re thinking. I’m going to sell you to human traffickers.”

Jeong-in gave Chase a light glare as if to say “don’t talk nonsense.”

“Come on, hold onto me and close your eyes.”

Chase naturally extended one arm like a gentleman escorting his partner at a ball. Jeong-in hesitated momentarily before lightly placing his arm on Chase’s and closing his eyes.

“No peeking.”

It was a playful voice but with an implicit threat.

“Okay.”

Answering with a smile, Jeong-in kept his eyes tightly closed and followed his lead, taking a step forward.