7MoH 2.9

As soon as his hand was grabbed, Justin twisted his body and screamed. Judging by Chase’s sly smile as he refused to let go, it seemed deliberate.

Justin, having barely survived the handshake, shook his painful hand vigorously. Chase cast a suspicious glance at him and asked,

“So who was that handsome guy with the killer abs you mentioned?”

Jeong-in narrowed his eyes and interrupted the conversation that seemed to exclude only him.

“Handsome guy with killer abs? What have you two been talking about?”

“The guy whose hobby is parkour and who also competes in the Academic Decathlon. The one who goes to Midtown High.”

Jeong-in didn’t know who Jonathan was, but he immediately realized who Chase was talking about.

“Midtown High… Oh, are you talking about Peter Parker?”

Chase’s brow furrowed deeply. One eyebrow rose in disapproval.

“Who’s this Peter guy?”

Jeong-in burst into laughter at his serious, jealousy-tinged voice.

“Peter Parker. Spider-Man.”

“Ah…”

Chase exhaled what sounded like a hollow laugh of exasperation. A sense of emptiness washed over him, the character he had been so jealous of and searched for was merely a comic book protagonist.

Just as the realization of being deceived hit him, another thought crossed Chase’s mind.

“Wait… Was it you? Who co-wrote that Red Book?”

“Hic!”

Startled, Justin began to hiccup.

“Sh-sh-sh-shame book, hic, I never wrote anything like that.”

“Shame book? It even has a title? Oh, so that’s what those Chinese characters meant. I knew Jay didn’t write it alone. There were two different handwritings.”

“Hic!”

This hiccup was practically a confession. Jeong-in stood beside him, fidgeting with his hands, not knowing what to do.

Facing the two nerds who couldn’t even tell a simple lie naturally, Chase put his hand to his forehead and burst into a resigned laugh.

“I thought so… It didn’t seem like Jay would write something like the vestigial organ theory. Sure enough, there was a co-author.”

This time Chase extended his hand to Justin, offering a handshake.

“I’m Chase Prescott, an avid reader of the shame book. I was deeply impressed.”

Justin glanced nervously at Chase’s face. He wasn’t angry or being sarcastic. Rather, he had the expression of a fan meeting the author of a book he truly enjoyed. This gave Justin courage.

“Then… could I ask which part resonated with you the most?”

“Justin!”

Jeong-in urgently jabbed Justin in the side. Justin shrugged as if to say ‘what’s the harm now?’ and Chase let out a short laugh before answering Justin’s question.

“There were so many impressive passages that it’s hard to point them all out. Let’s save the book club meeting for another time. Could I borrow Jay for today?”

“Fine. I’ll allow it.”

Jeong-in exhaled sharply through his nose, incredulous at the conversation the two were having without involving him, the actual person in question. But Chase paid no mind, grabbing Jeong-in’s wrist and leading him below the stands.

Being dragged away in confusion, Jeong-in waved goodbye to Justin with his free hand, and Justin waved back with a satisfied expression.

“Where are we going?”

Jeong-in asked, catching his breath. But Chase walked on without saying a word. Due to their height difference, Jeong-in had to take three almost running steps for every two of Chase’s strides.

Chase’s hand, which had been around Jeong-in’s wrist, moved down slightly and held his hand. Perhaps because the game had just ended, his hand was burning hot. Jeong-in could feel the pulsing heartbeat as if it were beating against his palm.

“You were amazing, Chase!”

“Prescott, you were incredible today!”

Almost everyone they passed in the hallway offered Chase congratulations. However, no one seemed to find it strange that the two were walking hand in hand. The preconceptions created by the name Chase Prescott naturally protected them. Jeong-in wasn’t sure whether to feel bitter about this situation or be grateful for it.

“Jay!”

A bright voice called from behind. Turning around, they saw Madison Wilkes approaching with a radiant smile, dressed in her cheerleader uniform. She made no attempt to hide her delight at seeing Jeong-in.

“You came to watch the game too?”

At Madison’s surprised tone, Jeong-in awkwardly replied, “Yeah,” while fidgeting with the back of his hair. Madison’s face showed anticipation.

“You must have seen me. How was I?”

“You were great. But that backflip looked a bit dangerous.”

“That’s nothing special.”

Madison smiled confidently, lifting her chin.

“How’s your knee? Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”

Jeong-in asked, remembering she had undergone surgery. At that moment, Chase’s grip on Jeong-in’s hand tightened noticeably. Jeong-in glanced down at their hands but dismissed it as his imagination and turned his attention back to Madison.

“This much is fine. Do you think I’m that fragile? Despite appearances, I’m Wincrest’s top flyer.”

Though she was bragging, Madison seemed genuinely touched by his concern.

“Madison, don’t you need to go? I think the cheer squad is gathering.”

Chase spoke up, as if unable to hold back. His tone pretended to be friendly, but there was a subtly sharp nuance mixed in.

“Really? I’ll just tell them I went to the bathroom or something.”

Unfortunately, Madison didn’t seem to catch that nuance and replied nonchalantly. Then she continued talking to Jeong-in.

“Did you eat the chocolate?”

“Yes. It was really delicious. And thanks for the locker.”

“It was nothing. See you around.”

Seemingly satisfied with Jeong-in’s response, Madison waved goodbye with a contented face and walked past.

Chase narrowed his brow and fired questions impatiently.

“Chocolate? What chocolate? What locker? What’s all that about?”

Jeong-in answered each question with a calm expression.

“A few days ago, I came to school and found my locker decorated. There was even a postcard inside. I didn’t know who did it, but it was Madison. I also received flowers and chocolate.”

Jeong-in smiled gently, as if recalling when he first checked his locker. In contrast, Chase’s face contorted as if he had just drunk spoiled milk.

He remembered Max saying that Madison had asked Jeong-in to prom. He had thought it was just a casual invitation, but it seemed more serious than he expected.

“That’s… quite romantic.”

Chase was at a loss for words. His own awkward confession came back to haunt him, slapping him on the back of the head once again.

“If we need to date for me to talk and laugh with you like before, then fine. Let’s date.”

What kind of idiot asks someone out like that? Jeong-in deserved to hear something more beautiful, warm, and romantic. He had botched the first button thoroughly. The thought that this statement would remain in Jeong-in’s memory for life as his first proposal filled him with deep frustration.

“So… what did Madison say?”

“She asked me to go to prom with her.”

Chase’s throat went dry.

“And? What did you say?”

“I can’t go anyway. I have a math competition that day.”

“Really?”

The moment he heard Jeong-in couldn’t go, a bright smile appeared on Chase’s face.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Me?”

“You’re smiling.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Look in a mirror, Prescott.”

“Chay.”

“…”

Still uncomfortable with that nickname, Jeong-in firmly closed his mouth. It still seemed to feel foreign to him.

“I told Vivian not to call me that anymore. If you want, I’ll tell my mom not to use it either. So only you can call me that.”

Jeong-in looked up at Chase in disbelief. As those slightly upturned dark eyes looked at him, Chase felt an inexplicable ticklish sensation and repeatedly punched his thigh with his fist.

Jeong-in didn’t answer immediately, and Chase continued to persuade him like a persistent salesman.

“Jay and Chay. They go well together, like two peas in a pod.”

Finally, a small voice escaped from between Jeong-in’s lips.

“…Chay.”

“Yes!”

Chase’s voice echoed down the hallway. Watching him cheer just for being called by his name, Jeong-in couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

With a visibly lighter expression, Chase took Jeong-in’s hand again. This time there was neither hesitation nor rushing.

The locker room he was led to was extremely noisy. In the air mixed with the smell of sweat, grass, and dirt, players were still shouting occasionally and giving high-fives, apparently not yet recovered from the excitement.

Naked bodies were visible here and there. Chase sat Jeong-in down on the bench in front of his locker, noticing that Jeong-in didn’t know where to look.

“I-I’ll just wait outside.”

As Jeong-in tried to stand up, Chase pressed down on his shoulders.

“No. What would I do if you run away?”

Chase watched Jeong-in, who was looking down at his feet in embarrassment, as he grabbed the hem of his jersey and slowly pulled it up. After removing his shirt, he bent his arms backward to unbuckle his shoulder pads. The pads fell off.

Jeong-in briefly lifted his head and saw Chase’s back. The curves of his back muscles were visible through the thin compression shirt. His inverted triangle back was large and bulging with muscles. Golden hair, wet with sweat, clung to the nape of his neck.

Chase, having removed even his compression shirt, breathed heavily as he undid the waistband of his pants. Jeong-in quickly lowered his gaze to the floor.

While he was staring endlessly at the pattern engraved in the linoleum floor, an elongated triangular black plastic object dropped in front of Jeong-in’s canvas shoes.

“Oops… Could you pick that up for me?”

The black cup with ‘XL’ written on it was unmistakably what everyone thought it was. An athletic cup, also called a groin protector. Jeong-in’s confused gaze fixed on that black plastic.

Why is the size written on here? How embarrassing.

Not wanting to seem overly sensitive, Jeong-in used his thumb and index finger like tweezers to pick up the cup. The lukewarm warmth against his fingers made him feel even stranger, and he threw it back with a “Ugh, here!” 

Chase’s low laughter could be heard. It seemed certain he had done it on purpose to tease Jeong-in, even though he could have picked it up himself.

“I’ll go shower. Wait just a moment.”

Even at that simple gesture of gently squeezing his shoulder, Jeong-in stiffened in surprise.

Even after Chase disappeared into the shower room, Jeong-in still couldn’t lift his head and kept staring at the floor. His neck was becoming painfully stiff from being bent down so long.

Briefly lifting his head to stretch his neck, he saw Chase approaching from the shower. His large body filled the entire view. He had only a white towel wrapped around his lower body.

Seeing Jeong-in quickly bow his head again, Chase said with disappointment,

“You won’t look. This was your chance to erase that infamy written in the notebook.”

Not forgetting to tease Jeong-in once more, Chase leisurely changed his clothes. The sound of fabric brushing against skin could be heard.

A unique fragrance spread around them, a mix of fresh soap, powdery deodorant, and a hint of woody skin scent.

Jeong-in unconsciously inhaled that scent and closed his eyes. It was Chase’s distinctive smell, boyish yet manly.

“I’m dressed.”

Chase looked like his usual self. T-shirt, jeans, and his usual varsity jacket. But perhaps because of his excellent physique, he didn’t look plain. With golden hair and Mediterranean blue eyes, he needed no other accessories.

“Let’s go.”

Chase extended his hand, and after a brief hesitation, Jeong-in took it and stood up.

As soon as they stepped into the hallway, Chase casually put his arm around Jeong-in’s waist. His large hand wrapped around Jeong-in’s side and waist. His actions were extremely natural and uninhibited. Having made up his mind, he didn’t hesitate. He didn’t care who might see or what they might say.

But Jeong-in was different. At the touch of someone else’s hand on a part of him that no one except his mother had touched during occasional hugs, Jeong-in jumped in surprise and shook off Chase’s hand. Then he frantically looked around.

It was a bit of an overreaction to what was just light physical contact. Chase shrugged a bit awkwardly.

At that time, Chase didn’t know this was just the beginning of what he would experience going forward.

Chase led Jeong-in to the parking lot. He reached out to open the passenger door, but Jeong-in’s movement to block him was even quicker.

“I don’t need doors opened for me.”

Jeong-in’s voice was calm, but there seemed to be a subtle edge hidden in that short sentence.

The word ‘I’ lingered in his ears unusually long. It sounded as if he was trying to distinguish himself from others who had sat in this seat before.

Chase felt a little unfair as Jeong-in was so special that he didn’t know what to do, but he didn’t want to nitpick words on their first date.

He was halfway into the driver’s seat when he suddenly stopped moving.

“What’s wrong?”

Jeong-in looked up at him with a puzzled face. Chase was getting out of the driver’s seat, pulling both legs back out of the car.

“Sorry, I think I forgot something. Could you wait a moment?”

After replying “Okay,” Jeong-in casually rummaged through his bag. Then he took out a book and opened it on his lap. The cover of the book had a sticker from the school library and the corners were worn and frayed, proving the years it had been handled by people.

As if not wanting to waste even a brief moment of waiting, his white fingertips turning the pages were neat and careful.

A gentle smile formed on Chase’s lips at this sight, so characteristic of Jeong-in.

Chase walked quickly into the school building. After passing row after row of lockers along the hallway, the place where he stopped was none other than in front of Jeong-in’s locker.

Indeed, someone had decorated Jeong-in’s once-empty locker with postcards and stickers. Among them, the message written on one postcard particularly caught his eye.

[Intelligence is true sexiness]

Chase’s eyebrows gradually furrowed as he saw that postcard secured with a heart-shaped sticker. He agreed with the statement too. But now, Jeong-in’s sexiness should be known only to him. It was no longer Madison’s business.

After staring at that message for a long time, he finally reached out and tore off the postcard.

The postcard was instantly crumpled in his hand. Walking down the hallway with an expressionless face, he casually swung his arm in front of a trash can. The paper, balled up like a ball, left his hand and fell accurately into the trash can.

Only then did he feel like something tangled somewhere in his chest had loosened a bit.

* * *

Just as Chase’s car began to accelerate along Bellevue Avenue, Jeong-in asked while holding back his hair flying in the wind,

“Where are we going?”

Was it this nice to be bound by the word ‘we’? Chase’s smile deepened at the word that came from Jeong-in, who always used ‘you’ or ‘I’ as the subject.

“I’m hungry. Let’s get dinner.”

Jeong-in nodded, as if thinking it made sense considering all the movement during the game.

Soon after, they arrived at a diner with a familiar sign they had visited before. The rustic neon sign reading ‘Sally’s Diner’ illuminated the surroundings with a hazy glow.

A clear bell sound rang out as they opened the door. The place was much busier than last time. The window seat where they had sat before was already taken, and only a table in the very corner was quietly empty.

“Let’s sit there.”

Jeong-in followed Chase’s suggestion and passed through the crowded tables. Just then, someone stopped Chase.

“Oh? Aren’t you the Wincrest quarterback? Today’s game was great!”

Next to the man who greeted Chase warmly sat a family in a cheerful atmosphere. Judging by the face paint still visible on a child’s face, they must have all come from watching the game.

“That dropback before throwing was an exquisite choice! Let me pay for your table’s meal!”

“No, that’s fine.”

“Then at least let me buy you drinks!”

Chase politely declined with a smile. Encouragement and praise poured in from another table that had overheard the conversation.

Jeong-in sat down following Chase, with a dazed expression as if he had become a celebrity’s manager.

Not long after, a waitress approached, and Chase ordered a tremendous amount again.

“Two cheeseburgers, one order of fries—the largest size. One chocolate milkshake and one vanilla. Oh, and waffles and apple pie too. Desserts are separate.”

Jeong-in smiled watching him order. This time there was no need to ask who else was coming. He already knew how much Chase could eat.

After finishing his order, Chase slightly lifted his chin as if it were Jeong-in’s turn.

“I’ll have a grilled cheese sandwich and iced tea, please.”

“Is that enough for dinner? You’re as light as a feather because you eat so little.”

When Jeong-in frowned slightly, Chase quickly changed his stance.

“Okay. I won’t say things like that.”

After the waitress left, Jeong-in inadvertently looked around the store and something in one corner caught his eye.

“Oh? That’s…”

“An old-fashioned jukebox.”

Jeong-in rose from his seat as if drawn to it and approached the machine.

The faded mint-colored machine was covered with glass, and the lower part displayed a dense list of old songs.

Jeong-in pressed his face close to the glass and peered inside. Record discs with faded paper labels were lined up as if sleeping peacefully.

“I can’t believe these still exist.”

Chase, who had approached without Jeong-in noticing, stood behind him with his hands on either side of the jukebox. Jeong-in found himself trapped between Chase’s arms.

“…Do you have to stand there?”

Chase pretended not to hear Jeong-in’s words and leaned his head closer. His cheek brushed against Jeong-in’s ear. His chest was pressed firmly against Jeong-in’s back.

“Should I ask if it works?”

Chase spoke right next to Jeong-in’s ear. His low, soft voice seemed to wrap around his neck like velvet and seep into his ear.

With his face flushed, Jeong-in nodded. Chase gently stroked Jeong-in’s head, apparently finding it cute that he answered like a child with just a nod.

While Chase went to the counter, Jeong-in caught his breath. His heart was racing madly, and he felt like he couldn’t breathe. Despite hearing that personal space was valued in this country’s culture, that didn’t seem to apply to Chase.

Jeong-in looked down at the jukebox again. The chrome that hadn’t lost its shine and the rounded glass perfectly captured the analog sensibility. It might just be a non-functioning retro prop.

Shortly after, Chase returned. The small coins in his hand jingled lightly.

“What song would you like to hear?”

“It works?”

Jeong-in scanned the yellowed labels with eyes sparkling with excitement. He examined each title one by one, but didn’t recognize any songs. Well, he barely knew current songs, let alone old ones.

Chase suggested to the hesitant Jeong-in,

“Have you heard this one, ‘Sugar Coated Melody’ by Frankie Halloway?”

“The title sounds familiar, but I don’t know what song it is.”

“Then let’s listen to it.”

As if wanting Jeong-in to experience this moment, Chase handed him the coin.

When Jeong-in inserted the coin into the slot, the jukebox lit up. The ‘Select’ button glowed green, and Jeong-in pressed a combination of alphabet and number buttons.

As if awakening from sleep, clicking sounds came from inside the machine as a robotic arm slowly searched for the record. After a creaking sound, a black record was placed on the turntable. A gentle static noise characteristic of analog spread as the needle touched the disc.

The next moment, a melody both familiar and strange filled the space through the old speakers.

『Oh, like honey on my lips, my sweet darling』

“Ah! This song!”

It was a song he knew, even if he couldn’t connect it to the title. The very song he had heard countless times in various media including TV, beginning with lyrics about being intoxicated by sweet lips. It was the melody that played in the background of every scene where a man and woman approached each other intimately yet tenderly.

Chase looked down at Jeong-in’s hand resting on the jukebox. It was a pale, delicate hand. He slowly raised his hand and overlapped it with Jeong-in’s. Jeong-in trembled slightly.

Chase also shivered a little. The soft touch and subtle warmth of the small hand trapped in his palm made waves ripple inside his chest.

A strange current created by the flowing music enveloped the space between them. The lyrics pleading for love, even the small noise characteristic of old records from the ancient jukebox, created a somewhat tender atmosphere.

However, this atmosphere didn’t last long. Jeong-in, who seemed uncomfortable with this unfamiliar type of skinship, finally pulled his hand away.

“Um, the food should be coming out. Let’s go.”

Jeong-in ducked under Chase’s arm, hunching his shoulders and hurrying back to the table. Chase was left alone, bewildered.

The song was still playing from the jukebox, which was steeped in the romance of the past.

『Hold me one more time. I need your love』

***

When they went to the counter after finishing their meal, they discovered someone had already paid for their entire table.

Was it that man who had greeted Chase? Jeong-in felt a new appreciation for what it meant to live as a celebrity. But Chase seemed accustomed to such gestures, simply shrugging lightly and leading Jeong-in to the parking lot.

Back in his car, Jeong-in tilted his head back to look at the sky fully exposed through the convertible top. Stars densely packed the sky, shining as if they might pour down.

“Wow, the North Star. It’s so bright today.”

Jeong-in’s gaze was directed at the North Star, which was unusually brilliant tonight. But when Chase glanced over, he wasn’t looking at the sky but at Jeong-in.

Chase slowed the car, hoping this moment would last even a little longer.

“Do you know something?”

Jeong-in spoke softly, still staring at the sky with his head tilted back.

“In a thousand years, the North Star will no longer point exactly north.”

Jeong-in’s voice was neat and calm as usual, but there was something tender and melancholic seeping through.

“That’s what happens when you calculate the movement of Earth’s rotational axis.”

But right now, Chase didn’t care about tilting rotational axes. What mattered to him was Jeong-in. This moment, with Jeong-in chattering comfortably, was everything to him.

“It seems like nothing truly remains unchanged.”

Listening to Jeong-in’s continued words, Chase felt his heavy heartbeat reverberating throughout his body. He didn’t care how the world changed. A selfish wish suddenly pushed into his heart, that this moment with Jeong-in could last forever.

He had never met anyone like this before.

Both in appearance and intellect, Jeong-in constantly surprised him.

Someone who made him feel more comfortable than anyone else, yet sometimes, like now, made his heart flutter madly. How could one person do all of that?

Where on earth had someone like this appeared from? How could such a person exist?

Just thinking about it made his chest feel so full that he could barely breathe.

Despite his wish for time to stop, his car had already turned onto Willow Street and stopped in front of a cozy two-story house with light seeping through the windows.

As if he had no intention of leaving right away, Chase turned off the engine completely. When the headlights went out, darkness enveloped the car. Only a distant streetlight glowed faintly, while inside the car, silence and gentle darkness flowed.

Chase turned toward Jeong-in. His left hand still on the steering wheel, his right hand resting on the passenger seat headrest. And he quietly captured Jeong-in’s face in his eyes. His small face without any sharp angles was as delicate and beautiful as if God had crafted it with special care.

Raising the corners of his lips slightly, Chase said in a low and soft voice.

“You’re in big trouble now. What are you going to do? You’re going to be incredibly happy from now on.”

It was a slightly playful comment, but with clear sincerity.

Jeong-in blinked his wide-open eyes as if asking what that meant. His unusually large dark pupils were as clear as if drawn.

When will those glasses of his ever get fixed? I can’t let everyone see that face. Having such thoughts, Chase realized he was quite a possessive person.

“I’ll really treat you well.”

Chase’s hand cupped Jeong-in’s cheek. It was a warm, gentle, and extremely careful touch.

Turning Jeong-in’s face slightly toward him, Chase slowly leaned in.

His gaze slid down from Jeong-in’s eyes to a bit lower. Jeong-in’s lips were softly gleaming even in the darkness.

Chase’s large hand covering Jeong-in’s cheek was big enough to cover his ear as well. His fingertips, buried among the black hair, pressed slightly.

Looking at him now, Jeong-in had not only a small face but a small head overall. It was amazing to think that intelligent brain was inside. That it could think, speak, calculate, and make decisions. Now everything seemed mysterious.

Chase lowered his eyes and carefully tilted his head to avoid their noses bumping. It was just when they could feel each other’s breath.

“Wait.”

Jeong-in’s palm abruptly inserted itself between them. Chase opened his eyes, and immediately met glass-like pupils.

Like raising a shield, Jeong-in had brought the back of his hand to his lips and was blinking with wide-open eyes.

“W-what are you trying to do right now?”

Jeong-in asked, his voice muffled against the back of his hand. Chase froze, unable to either advance or retreat.

“Obviously…”

“Were you trying to… kiss me?”

“…Maybe?”

“Why?”

As if time had stopped, they both froze in place. Jeong-in pressed his head firmly against the headrest and said,

“W-we’re not even officially dating yet.”

“…We’re not?”

Chase put on a deliberately confused face. His reaction made Jeong-in even more flustered.

“You never said anything like that!”

“Do I have to say it out loud?”

In Korea, people officially establish romantic relationships through explicitly saying they are ‘dating,’ and even commemorate the first day as day one.

In contrast, while Americans often celebrate various anniversaries like first dates and first kisses, it’s rare to set an exact starting date for a relationship and count from there.

But Jeong-in didn’t know about their culture. Until now, he hadn’t needed to know.

“Then how do you know if two people are dating?”

Jeong-in asked, still keeping his hand against his lips.

“If you need some kind of declaration, should I do it now? I, Chase Alexander Prescott, accept thee, Jay Lim, as my beloved…”

“No! That’s not what I meant…”

Jeong-in hurriedly stopped Chase. He felt like something was going seriously off track.

“…”

“…”

Silence hung between them for a moment.

From Chase’s perspective, Jeong-in seemed prone to anxiety. He preferred to be prepared rather than relaxed, and favored clarity over ambiguity. If that was the case, Chase needed to be clear for him.

“I really like you, Jay Lim. I want to call you Jeong-in as soon as possible.”

The name ‘Jeong-in’ meant ‘Beloved,’ he had been told. Perhaps that’s why he hesitated to use it casually. Chase had been thinking that if he and Jeong-in ever became proper lovers, he would want to call him by that name.

“So, Jay. Will you be my boyfriend?”