7MoH 1.14

Justin’s house always overflowed with bustling yet warm energy. Of course, Jeong-in and his mother got along wonderfully too, but the energy here was different.

Just as they were walking down Palm Grove Drive, Justin spoke as if a brilliant idea had just struck him.

“Jay, I have a great idea! Why don’t you come on the campus tour with me?”

“Huh? Me?”

Jeong-in had planned to go with his mom during the summer vacation. Seeing Jeong-in pondering the sudden proposal, Justin enthusiastically continued,

“You and me! Taking over Cambridge!”

MIT and Harvard are very close. Both are located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, about 2 miles apart—just a 5-minute drive. So Justin had already applied for campus tours at both schools.

“It would be fun to go together. Right?”

“I don’t know.”

“Think about it. You said you can now earn your community service points through tutoring. I checked the website. The application form is still open. Today’s the deadline.”

“…Okay. I’ll have to ask my mom though.”

“Yahoo!”

Justin jumped up and down excitedly.

Just then, a pickup truck passed by them. Several surfboards were loaded in the back, and upbeat music played loudly enough to be heard from the street. The truck that was driving past them suddenly stopped with a screech.

Brian Cole leaned his face out of the open passenger window. Alex Martinez sat in the driver’s seat. Brian lowered his sunglasses slightly as he looked at Jeong-in.

“I know that face! You’re Thompson’s adopted kid, right? Jesse?”

“It’s Jay.”

Jeong-in corrected him briefly. Ever since the incident on the sledge at the training ground and the custody commotion with Chase in the cafeteria, they would greet Jeong-in whenever they saw him, acting as if they knew him well.

“Anyway, we’re having a party at the beach. Surfing too. Come if you want! Your husband will be there!”

As soon as Brian finished speaking, the truck immediately sped away. Justin, watching the disappearing truck, said in a mocking voice,

“You think we’d fall for that? They’d just make fun of us if we actually went.”

That was something they had experienced several times. Being given invitations to parties that didn’t exist when they showed up, or being given the wrong dress code and becoming the laughing stock after dressing up as Star Trek characters.

After being tricked a couple of times, neither Justin nor Jeong-in fell for such talk anymore.

“People like that would never include us in their group.”

Jeong-in nodded bitterly at Justin’s words.

They continued on to the retro game shop and played the games they were curious about. Justin was excited as he rented several newly released games.

As the sunset cast a red glow over Palm Grove Drive, the two parted ways. Justin headed home first while Jeong-in walked slowly, turning onto Willow Street.

If he continued straight down this road, he would reach his house. And in the opposite direction, Cedar Brook Street led to the beach.

As he walked, Jeong-in suddenly recalled photos he’d seen on Chase Prescott’s Instagram account. Him waxing and caring for his surfboard, his brightly smiling face with the beach as a backdrop. Perhaps if he went to the beach now, he might see Chase surfing.

Jeong-in deliberated as if standing at a crossroads in life.

He suddenly remembered what Justin’s grandmother had said. If you play with fire, you’ll end up getting burned.

Could this be the kind of dangerous game that would hurt him?

Get a grip, Lim Jeong-in. If you go to the beach, you’ll truly be an idiot. Do you want to be an uninvited guest? You’ve felt that feeling countless times since you came here seven years ago.

Numerous thoughts raced through Jeong-in’s mind.

But the path he eventually chose was Cedar Brook Street.

***

Jeong-in cautiously made his way to the beach, conscious of people’s gazes.

The sandy beach was already filled with the heat of a lively party. Bonfires blazed in various spots, and people gathered around them in small groups, laughing and chatting.

People sat on beach towels, talking, or stood on the sand, dancing and singing. The pounding beat of the music from the speakers mingled with the sound of the waves, heightening the party atmosphere.

“Look at those guys. Do they think this is the Top Gun set?”

At someone’s amused voice, Jeong-in’s gaze naturally turned toward the ocean. Familiar faces from school were playing volleyball.

Shirtless and passing the ball back and forth, they all boasted athletic, muscular physiques. Their toned bodies without an ounce of fat made it seem as though there were physical requirements one needed to meet to fit in with them.

There was a sense of uninhibited freedom in the way they fearlessly dove onto the sand or jumped into the water without hesitation when the ball flew toward the ocean. The cheers and laughter from around them enhanced that freedom even more.

Jeong-in’s gaze was drawn like a magnet toward Chase Prescott, who was smiling more brilliantly than the summer sun.

His golden hair, tinged with sunset, glistened as it fell across his forehead. The casual way he brushed it back with one hand looked effortless.

As he deflected the ball, the muscles from his shoulders to his forearms tensed visibly, creating contours. His broad back, dusted with dry sand, gleamed with a healthy shine.

Lost in his staring, Jeong-in came to his senses when he heard women’s voices nearby.

“Look at Chase. Isn’t he totally like a Ralph Lauren summer campaign?”

Right next to where Jeong-in stood, women were sitting on a blanket with ethnic prints, warming themselves by a bonfire and chatting. They included several cheerleaders and even the head of the broadcasting club—all belonging to the popular crowd.

They were playing the “Never Have I Ever” game. Multiple people would hold out their fingers and take turns saying experiences they’ve never had, and those who had those experiences would fold a finger. The person with the most fingers remaining at the end would be the winner. If they didn’t want to fold a finger, they could drink a penalty shot instead.

Jeong-in had seen Koreans playing a similar drinking game in a Korean drama on Netflix. It was quite fascinating. Though people looked different, their thinking seemed quite similar everywhere.

One of them playfully stated a proposition,

“I’ve done it with one of them over there.”

As the conversation became more private, Jeong-in felt uncomfortable continuing to listen and moved away. He positioned himself a bit more distant from the crowd, where he could observe them as an onlooker.

Just then, Chase, who was jumping high to hit the ball, turned his gaze towards Jeong-in. Although they were far apart, Jeong-in had the illusion that their eyes met for a moment.

Jeong-in regretted it belatedly. He was afraid that Chase would laugh at a nerd like him hanging around in a place like this. He felt pathetic, like a hyena sniffing around the edges of a group he couldn’t join, hoping for scraps.

As he turned to leave the beach, a voice called from behind.

“Jay?”

It was Chase’s voice. Jeong-in pretended not to hear and hurried his steps.

“Jay!”

This time the voice came from closer. As he had noticed before, Chase had a somewhat persistent temperament.

“Jay!”

Pretending not to hear again and continuing to walk, Jeong-in stopped abruptly when Chase called out like this,

“Jayrin!”

“I told you not to call me that!”

Turning around in a huff, Jeong-in found Chase standing right in front of him. They were so close that they could feel each other’s breath. Chase’s broad chest filled Jeong-in’s vision.

“Then don’t react when I do.”

Chase looked down at Jeong-in with a sly smile at the corner of his mouth. A clear droplet falling from the tip of his wet golden hair dampened the toe of Jeong-in’s sneaker.

Chase’s hand gently grabbed Jeong-in’s arm. His slender arm, whose heaviest burden was usually textbooks or a laptop, seemed to fit entirely within Chase’s large hand.

“Did you come to see me?”

Jeong-in belatedly realized he hadn’t prepared an excuse for if he was discovered. Saying he was just passing by wouldn’t work given the location.

“I-I ran into Brian Cole by chance… he said there was a party and told me to come…”

“What? It’s Brian this time?”

Chase pouted with a clearly dissatisfied expression. Jeong-in didn’t know how to respond and just looked around.

“And here I thought you came to see me.”

Jeong-in’s brow furrowed slightly at the sulky tone. Shouldn’t he be saying that to a girl he was interested in? Guys usually don’t say that to each other because it’s awkward. One thing was certain: Chase Prescott was guilty. He should be sentenced to prison.

“Where were you going just now?”

“Just… home.”

“Don’t go. Let’s hang out together. Okay?”

Chase’s hand, which had been holding Jeong-in’s forearm, moved down to his wrist. Jeong-in could feel the warmth through the sleeve of his plaid shirt. Though Jeong-in still hesitated, Chase was as resolute as someone who had already made up his mind.

“I…”

“You never know. On the way back, I might return that notebook to you. Hmm?”

When he brought up the shame book, Jeong-in reluctantly nodded and followed Chase. No, even if he hadn’t mentioned it, could he have refused to the end? Jeong-in couldn’t be sure himself.

Chase led Jeong-in toward the ocean and asked,

“Do you have anything that can’t get wet?”

“I-I have my phone in my bag…”

Before he could finish speaking, Chase removed the crossbody bag Jeong-in was wearing and tossed it next to some of his friends sitting nearby. Jeong-in screamed and reached out toward his flying bag.

“No, wait! I can’t swim! And I don’t want my shoes to get wet…”

Jeong-in was wearing canvas shoes. He didn’t like the gritty feeling of sand getting inside them, and he certainly didn’t want to walk all the way home with wet feet, making squeaking sounds with each step.

“Hey, you made it!” 

Brian Cole waved at Jeong-in, acting familiar. Alex Martinez beside him nodded his head too. A strange sense of elevation captivated Jeong-in. It felt like he had become one of them.

Before coming here, even when he was in Korea, Jeong-in had been far from cool. This experience was unfamiliar to him. The feeling of being welcomed into the mainstream and blending in naturally with the group.

Chase positioned Jeong-in where he could clearly see his friends who were still passing the ball around.

“Cheer for me from here. Oh, and why don’t you take off your shoes? It’s okay to get your feet a little wet.”

“…”

Jeong-in stood there, unable to decide one way or the other.

He had a cautious personality, and no matter how comfortable he’d become with English, he often forgot what to say when flustered. Seeing Jeong-in only moving his lips, Chase added,

“Don’t cheer for anyone else. Got it?”

Chase left those words behind and jumped back into his group of friends. Reflected sunlight scattered across his golden hair.

He knew California guys tended to be laid-back and less formal when dealing with people, but Chase Prescott seemed particularly extreme among them. His attitude was such that it could make even other guys confused.

Shaking his head, Jeong-in carefully sat down on the sandy beach.

When he took off his canvas shoes and turned them upside down, the sand smoothly slipped out. Since he had already taken them off, he removed his socks too and neatly placed them inside his shoes. Then he buried his feet in the sand. The warm, grainy sensation of sand between his toes was pleasant.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d leisurely enjoyed the feeling of sand at the beach like this.

The setting sun gently kissed Jeong-in’s cheeks as it descended. Jeong-in took off his glasses to better feel the wind brushing against his face. The salty breeze tickled his forehead and gently seeped between his scalp.

It felt like the cool air was calmly caressing even his mind. A subtle smile spread across Jeong-in’s lips.

He thought this was reward enough, aside from seeing Chase. He hadn’t experienced this kind of relaxation in quite a while.

Jeong-in wiggled his bare feet buried in the sand, rested his chin on his arms that were hugging his knees, and closed his eyes tightly. The beach noise reached him like whispers.

“Chase, what are you doing! Catch it! I said catch it!”

“…Ah! Sorry!”

“Who daydreams during a match?”

How much time had passed? When Jeong-in opened his eyes again, the game was already over.

It seemed Chase’s team had lost, as they agreed to buy pizza. An excited Brian Cole made a call to place the order.

Chase brushed back his wet hair, high-fived his friends, and cracked jokes. For a moment, his gaze passed over Jeong-in. Fearing their eyes might meet, he quickly turned his head away.

Chase approached with a sulky expression and plopped down next to Jeong-in.

“I lost because of you.”

He didn’t know Chase Prescott had a habit of blaming his mistakes on innocent bystanders. Despite receiving this unexpected criticism, Jeong-in just laughed softly.

Just then, an orange frisbee flew in from somewhere and landed right in front of Jeong-in’s feet. Along with it, someone shouted from a distance.

“Hey! Could you throw that back?”

Jeong-in picked up the frisbee and threw it with all his might. However, the misdirected frisbee flew toward the ocean and landed on the water’s surface. Jeong-in stared blankly at the frisbee bobbing on the waves.

“Ah…”

Without hesitation, Chase stood up and dove into the sea. He grabbed the frisbee before the waves could carry it further away and returned to shore.

Glistening streaks of water flowed down his inverted-triangle shoulders, toned chest, and deeply divided abs, following the contours of his distinct muscles. It felt like watching the protagonist’s entrance scene in a youth movie.

Jeong-in burst out laughing unconsciously as he watched the golden-haired Chase return with the frisbee.

It was common to see people throwing frisbees here. But when Jeong-in was a child in Korea, he thought frisbees were only for dogs to play with.

“Why are you laughing?”

Chase asked as he approached Jeong-in after throwing the frisbee back to its owner.

“It’s nothing.”

“Why were you laughing though?”

But Chase persisted and asked again. Realizing once more Chase’s tenacious character, Jeong-in spoke honestly as if giving up.

“The way you retrieved the frisbee was kind of… like a Golden Retriever.”

“What?”

Chase burst out laughing as if he was dumbfounded. Then, as if deliberately trying to act more like a dog, he shook his head vigorously, scattering water droplets from his hair. Then he brought his face close to Jeong-in’s.

“Then you should pet me.”

As if entranced, Jeong-in reached out and placed his hand on his golden hair, tinged with the sunset. For a moment, he felt as if he had fallen under a spell.

The dry parts of his scalp were fluffy, while the wet lower parts were smooth and cool. Jeong-in’s fingertips gently brushed through his hair and scalp. As if savoring the touch of his caress, Chase’s blue eyes narrowed slightly.

“Prescott, you’re… strange.”

Words flowed out before Jeong-in even realized it.