PUCKD Ch 65

“Yes?”

“Before, you treated me like someone who was only concerned with boosting club performance by selling players’ private lives.”

“…I apologized for that then.”

“I did receive an apology.”

Junghyun chuckled faintly.

“But it wasn’t an apology for not trusting me.”

Hojae’s mouth clamped shut, struck by the truth.

The apology he had given then was forced, done purely to ask for help with Doomin’s situation. He must have been so obvious about lying that he even received a taunt about being a bad politician.

As Hojae kept his mouth shut and stared ahead, Junghyun let out a small laugh.

“I’m just kidding. I think you have a call. Answer it.”

His phone in his pocket vibrated. Hojae checked the caller ID, confirmed it was Doomin, and answered the phone.

—Hojae Hojae, are you coming? I’m so sorry, but could you pick up a small tub of gochujang on your way?

“Gochujang?”

—Yeah, yeah. I just realized we don’t have anything to dip the meat in. Ah, if you want ssamjang, buy that too! Ah, geez. Ji Minchul next to me says to buy instant rice too. That’s really not me.

“Alright. Then I’ll be a little late.”

—Okay!

Immediately after the call ended, Hojae saw Junghyun change lanes. It was a different direction from what the navigation was indicating. Since Hojae had taken the call right next to him, Junghyun must have heard the other person’s voice.

“Shall we stop by a warehouse-style mart nearby for a moment? Ask Mr. Doomin if he needs anything else.”

Hojae’s eyes rolled.

The warehouse-style mart was the nearest large supermarket, but the items Doomin mentioned could easily be found at a nearby convenience store.

However, instead of pointing that out, he texted Doomin as instructed. He was secretly pleased that he would have a little more time alone with Kwon Junghyun.

It took about 10 more minutes to reach the mart. Hojae glanced at the remaining time on the navigation and brought up a topic that had been lingering in his mind since the interview with reporter Park Hana.

“I heard today that you once waited a long time to get an autograph on a uniform… When exactly was that?”

At his words, the eyes fixed on the front windshield turned back to Hojae.

“Ah. Did reporter Park Hana mention that? It was when Mr. Hojae was with the Montreal Highlights.”

“Did you get it?”

“I waited for a long time, but it turned out the place I was waiting was a different exit. I didn’t even see Mr. Hojae leave, let alone get an autograph.”

“Ah…”

Hojae let out a small gasp, feeling more disappointed than Junghyun did. He was genuinely disappointed. If he had met Junghyun then, he might have remembered him even when he first saw him in Seoul.

“But I did get an autographed uniform.”

Hojae widened his eyes slightly and looked over, not expecting the story to continue. Junghyun turned the steering wheel with one hand and smiled faintly, seemingly recalling the moment.

“I was lingering nearby, feeling regretful, when someone approached me and asked in Korean if I was a fan of number 86. You know, you’re glad to meet fellow Koreans when you’re abroad.”

“…”

“That person said they were also a fan of Mr. Hojae, so we talked for a bit. Then the topic of me not getting an autograph came up. And that person just gave me the autographed uniform they had.”

“Just gave it?”

“Yes. I offered to pay for the uniform, but they adamantly refused. They said they could get another one themselves. I think they were a Korean living in Montreal. I struck gold.”

“Ah…”

Junghyun tapped the steering wheel with his finger while waiting at a traffic light.

“I should get an autograph on a Blue Wolves uniform before the season ends.”

“…”

Hojae turned his eyes and looked at his profile again.

There was a bitter taste lingering at the end of his voice. As if he was someone he wouldn’t see again after this season.

Winning the league championship was necessary to renew the contract with MJ Sports Group, so it wouldn’t be easy, but there was still half the season left. He was slightly displeased that Junghyun was speaking like this already.

“Why the rush? We’ll be the MJ Blue Wolves next year, too.”

His voice came out slightly sulky. Junghyun only made a peculiar expression and didn’t reply.

Arriving at the warehouse-style mart, the two first gathered the items Doomin had requested. The task of pushing the cart fell to Hojae. When Junghyun naturally started pushing the cart, Hojae instinctively took the handle away.

Since it was almost Christmas, the mart was overflowing with all kinds of Christmas decorations and gifts. Shin Hojae leaned his elbow on the cart and walked slowly, watching Junghyun’s back ahead of him.

Unlike himself, who was dressed casually after the game, Junghyun in his suit looked exactly like an office worker who stopped by the mart after work. The black coat that reached his thighs suited him well.

Just then, Junghyun suddenly turned around. Hojae quickly averted his gaze and pretended to be looking at the toilet paper on the shelf.

3-ply rolls, 5-ply rolls, non-fluorescent, no coloring… They all looked similar, but there were so many types. Junghyun approached and asked,

“Does Mr. Doomin need toilet paper too?”

“Huh? Yes, well.”

He replied, and at the same time, put the cheapest bundle of toilet paper rolls into the cart. A good idea suddenly struck him, and he didn’t forget to add,

“As a housewarming gift, too.”

“A gift?”

“Yes. People often give toilet paper for housewarmings. It means ‘may things go smoothly,’ or something like that.”

“Ah, is that so…?”

Junghyun, with a slightly awkward expression, glanced at the price tag that read 5,190 won and then showed Hojae what he was holding.

“Then let’s say Mr. Hojae bought this, too.”

It was a premium whiskey packaged in a red checkered box, likely a Christmas edition. The price tag was not clearly visible because Junghyun was covering it, but it was clear that the number had six digits.

“They won’t believe I bought it anyway.”

“Why not?”

“It’s too expensive.”

“Your friends helped out a lot on the day of your father’s funeral. They’ll understand if you say it’s a token of gratitude.”

At the mention of gratitude, Hojae’s hand, which had been about to take the box, paused. In the end, he placed the whiskey bottle back in the cart.

He was grateful to Doomin and Minchul, of course, but if this could be a token of gratitude with alcohol, he wanted to extend it to Junghyun as well.

“Then I’ll pay for this, too.”

“I saw at the team dinner that everyone drinks heavily. One bottle might not be enough. Should we get two more?”

“What?”

His voice rose at that comment. The whiskey he had just checked was priced in the 300,000 won range. Junghyun burst out laughing, seemingly amused by his blatant reaction.

“I’ll buy this one, and Mr. Hojae can buy several bottles of cheaper liquor.”

“…”

“I feel bad being invited to a housewarming and not preparing a gift.”

Shin Hojae kept silent and watched him put relatively cheaper spirits into the cart. Since he was choosing them without hesitation, they seemed to be drinks he had tried before.

Come to think of it, is his condition okay now? He suddenly recalled Junghyun not touching alcohol during the Tohoku away game.

Because Junghyun was slightly bowing his head, Hojae could look down at the back of his neck. His back hair was very neatly trimmed, suggesting he had recently gotten a haircut.

Shin Hojae felt his mouth dry for no reason and moistened his lips with his tongue. It was then that he caught the scent of dry grass in his nostrils. It was a familiar smell.

“You’re wearing perfume today, too.”

He hadn’t intended to ask, but the words slipped out unconsciously. He regretted asking, but Junghyun straightened up and replied casually.

“I put it on this morning, is it still noticeable?”

“Yes. It’s quite strong.”

“Oh, is it bothersome?”

“Not exactly, but…”

“It will be less noticeable later when I take off my coat inside. I tend to spray it on my outerwear.”

“Yes, well. Then…”

Not knowing how to respond, Hojae vaguely mumbled his answer. He hadn’t meant that the scent was too strong and he disliked it. He had merely been curious if Junghyun had reapplied it just before meeting him.

He realized he tends to be a bit negative. Or was it because of the way he had acted all this time?

Hojae simply scratched his cheek and pushed the cart toward where Junghyun was heading.

Yook Doomin’s new home was a rooftop apartment not far from his old studio. Unlike his previous officetel, this was an older villa without an elevator.

Therefore, the two had to carry their full load of groceries up six flights of stairs. Hojae carried all the items, leaving only one bundle of toilet paper rolls for Junghyun to hold.

Doomin’s room was a place that seemed to have taken only the latter, sentimental aspect of the negative and emotional connotations associated with the term ‘rooftop apartment’ and developed it further.

It looked even wider than his old studio and even had a small attached room. Doomin said he used that as a filming room and workspace.

Most importantly, the rooftop, which Doomin emphasized was a ‘rooftop, not an upstairs,’ was quite spacious, and the night view from there was rather picturesque.

It was the kind of house Doomin, who prioritized atmosphere over practicality, would like.

After looking around the house, Hojae felt a slight sense of relief.

He had expected it would be a decent place since Minchul had helped him look for it, but he had been worried because he had been practically forced out of his previous home.

The house tour finished in less than two minutes, and four people crowded into the small kitchen to organize the groceries. Doomin found the largest item, the bundle of toilet paper, and snatched one out.

“Oh, Hojae Hojae. What is this cheap toilet paper? My goodness, if it didn’t say toilet paper, I’d think it was sandpaper. You didn’t bring this as a housewarming gift, did you?”

“I did.”

“Hey, take it back! Don’t you know if you wipe your butt with something like this it’ll turn red? My butt is sensitive, you know! Oh, CEO! You shouldn’t have bought all this. I told you to come empty-handed!”

Doomin, who had been speaking harshly, discovered the whiskey bottle in the bag and spoke to Junghyun with exaggerated affection.

It was like Jekyll and Hyde. Shin Hojae scoffed and gestured with his chin toward the liquor bottles Doomin was clutching closely.

“I bought those, too. As gifts.”

“What? Johnnie Walk* Blue? You did?”

“No, the other ones next to it. The Johnnie Walk* is the CEO’s.”

“Right, as I thought. I’ll enjoy it, CEO!”

“…”

The disdained alcohol was worth a decent amount if combined, but saying so would make him look too petty in front of Kwon Junghyun, so he decided to keep quiet.

Since there was nothing that could be called a dining table inside the house, they decided to eat outside.

Outside, a blue plastic table like those found in convenience stores, four plastic chairs without backs, and a portable burner and frying pan were set up on the table.

It had the definite atmosphere of a street food stall. Hojae felt uneasy for Junghyun and glanced at him while tearing open a pair of wooden chopsticks.

As far as he remembered, hadn’t Junghyun always sipped expensive-looking drinks in fancy places? He looked like he had no experience grilling meat in a place like this.

If only this bright blue plastic table wasn’t here… Hojae was blaming the innocent table when the surroundings suddenly became tinted yellow.

“Ta-da! How is it, how is it, how is it? Isn’t it awesome? I knew I wanted to do this the moment I saw this house!”

Doomin seemed quite pleased, holding a switch in his hand and even snorting vigorously.

He looked behind him and saw that the globe lights installed on the clothesline had been turned on. When they were looking at the rooftop earlier, he hadn’t even noticed how dark it was outside.

The single string of globe lights didn’t completely hide the cheap atmosphere, but surprisingly, it wasn’t completely ineffective.

Junghyun’s face, which had been looking slightly awkward until just now, brightened up like a lit bulb.

His lips were slightly turned up, and the yellowish light of the bulb seemed to twinkle in his eyes, which formed a slight arc.

Hojae stared, mesmerized, until Doomin spoke to him.