WOPE Ch 3

The man brought out wine and fruit. It was Hooyoung’s first time having wine, so he drank it without knowing what it tasted like, and he nibbled on the pineapple and oranges, finding them delicious. The man barely touched the wine or the fruit.

“By the way,” Hooyoung began.

“Yeah?”

“I’ve been wondering since we met, why do you speak so informally?”

The man chuckled again, even though it wasn’t a particularly funny question. The beer and wine, consumed one after the other, were getting to Hooyoung, who usually didn’t drink much. So, he just picked a random fight. His mind raced, unsure what to do next, and he was bothered by the man just sitting there, smiling.

“I figured I’m older than you?”

So what? Even if you are, it can’t be by much. Hooyoung muttered under his breath, too timid to say it out loud.

“You readily came to my house when I asked.”

The man, who had been sitting on a different sofa, stood up.

“When I asked if you wanted to do it after drinking or showering, you cluelessly said you’d do both.”

Ah, was that it? As Hooyoung tried to recall the man’s exact words, the man took the wine glass from his hand, placed it on the table, and approached.

“And after saying you’d shower, you came out covered from head to toe. I bet you even put on your underwear, didn’t you?”

The man pressed close, almost as if to embrace him, wrapping his arms around Hooyoung and slipping a hand into the back of his pants. Hooyoung flinched and tried to pull away, but the man’s hand was faster. His fingers caught the waistband of Hooyoung’s underwear, snapping it with a twang.

“You’re clearly a newbie, a kid. Can’t I speak informally?”

Hooyoung, speechless, let the man lay him down on the sofa. His shirt was pulled off and tossed behind the sofa, and his pants zipper was immediately undone. He gasped in surprise at the suddenness of it all, and the man’s lips immediately descended upon his.

It was Hooyoung’s first kiss, his first time with a man. What followed was his first time having sex, the beginning of his first transgression, the prelude to a memory he would revisit again and again back in Korea.

🏀

“Hey, Beep Beep! Are you going to focus or not?!”

The coach’s exasperated voice cut through the air, directed at Hooyoung, who was shooting. The ball, failing to arc properly, fell far short of the rim. Hooyoung, panting, rested his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.

Since lunchtime, since leaving the office, Hooyoung had been a mess. Even during weight training, which he usually struggled with due to his body type that didn’t build muscle easily, he’d been scolded for being unfocused.

“You’re making maybe one out of ten shots! Do you think the coaches have all the time in the world to pick up your balls?!”

Evening training was usually voluntary, but the coaches were always there to help the players. They were well aware of Hooyoung’s unusually erratic shooting today. His shots were either too short or too long, and even when they seemed good, they mostly bounced off the rim. Hooyoung hung his head, his face grim.

“Sorry.”

“If you’re tired, just rest. You’ll hurt yourself if you force it.”

Hooyoung shook his head. He couldn’t rest; he still had work to do. Resting now would be no different from giving up.

“Or at least sit down for a bit. Take a break and come back. You were doing fine this morning, what’s wrong?”

The coach’s tone was firm, as if he would kick Hooyoung out of the gym if he refused this time. Hooyoung finally relented and stepped aside, intending to sit down for a moment. He glanced at his phone on the bench and saw several unread messages. They were probably from the loan sharks, so he didn’t check them. He was in the middle of training, so he could legitimately ignore them for now.

It was all because of that man, Eun Junwook. If he hadn’t run into him at the event yesterday, his salary negotiations and practice would have gone smoothly. His efforts to pretend the encounter hadn’t happened, to convince himself they wouldn’t meet again, had been in vain. His mind, filled with worries about money and Eun Junwook, made it difficult to concentrate on basketball. No matter what he did, his thoughts returned to the man after a few minutes.

Regardless of Hooyoung’s worries, the gym was heated with the players’ energy. Even with the air conditioning on, the players, feeling the heat, were taking off their shirts. Some were shirtless, some, like Hooyoung, stubbornly kept their shirts on, some wore their full uniforms even during voluntary practice, and the coaches wore matching tracksuits. People of all shapes and sizes filled the court.

The sounds of bouncing balls and the swish of the net filled the air. Then, men in suits began to enter the gym. At the front was the general manager, wearing a neatly tied necktie he hadn’t worn earlier in the day.

“…What’s going on? Was there another meeting scheduled today?”

The assistant coach looked around for another coach, a puzzled expression on his face.

“Huh? Nah, if there was, the head coach wouldn’t have left.”

The sound of bouncing balls gradually subsided. The players, including Hooyoung, all turned their attention towards the entrance.

“Hey, don’t mind us and keep practicing! We’ll just take a quick look around!”

The general manager’s exaggeratedly loud voice sounded unusually different. Telling people not to mind them only drew more attention. Everyone resumed dribbling, but they kept stealing glances towards the entrance. The group in suits headed towards the stands, as if they were there to inspect the facilities.

Hooyoung, having rested enough, also glanced in their direction before attempting to stand up again. He had been about to, but the moment he saw a particular person, he couldn’t look away. He made eye contact with the man at the center of the group. Hmm? Hooyoung blinked several times, his face blank with surprise.

Junwook, dressed in a sharp suit, was looking at him. Even while listening to the person next to him explaining something, his eyes remained fixed on Hooyoung. The general manager, the front office staff, and the people following behind were all paying attention to Junwook, but his attention was solely focused on Hooyoung in the middle of the court.

Hooyoung’s gaze darted nervously before settling. There were no towering waves or warm ocean breezes, but strangely, he couldn’t tear his eyes away, just like the day they first met. Perhaps it was because he’d been thinking about him constantly, whether positively or negatively.

“Let’s focus, everyone!”

Sensing the presence of important figures, the coach clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. The group, led by the general manager, continued their conversation as they walked along the stands. The general manager’s hand pointed here and there, seemingly explaining things about the basketball team.

“Beep Beep!”

Hooyoung quickly caught the ball thrown towards him. Seeing Hooyoung still staring blankly at the visitors, the coach called out to him again, urging him to resume practice.

Shortly after Hooyoung stood up, Junwook took a seat in the stands. The general manager’s eyes widened slightly, and the others seemed a little flustered. They hadn’t expected Junwook, who they thought would just take a quick look around, to suddenly sit down. They were all surprised, then one by one, they settled into their seats. The general manager seemed almost pleased. It was a golden opportunity if the head of HG Sports showed a particular interest in basketball. Having a large parent company had its advantages, but with so many sports teams under their umbrella, teams with poor performance often went unnoticed.

“Focus, focus!”

“Yes, sir.”

Seeing Junwook and the general manager’s group sitting in the stands, a desperate look appeared in the coach’s eyes. He hadn’t anticipated they would sit down and watch, so he kept sending frantic signals to Hooyoung to perform well. Why this side of the court, where he was training one-on-one with Hooyoung, when there were other players shooting on the opposite side? He clearly regretted calling Hooyoung back, who had been resting because he wasn’t feeling his shots.

Hooyoung bounced lightly and swung his arms to loosen up. He knew who was sitting in the stands, not far away. It was time to truly focus. He didn’t know what would happen next, but regardless of the outcome, all he had was basketball. His life might be shaken by the presence of Eun Junwook, but his basketball couldn’t be.

With renewed focus, Hooyoung started to move. He glanced once at the standing coach, once at the obstacle set up on the court, then leaped into the air. He straightened his legs and extended his arms. Hooyoung was known for his clean shooting form.

“Good!”

The coach’s voice boomed. Hooyoung ran again. He glanced at the coach, then at the obstacle. The basketball left his hands and swished through the net. A clean shot, the net barely moving.

“See! You can do it! One more time!”

The distracting thoughts gradually faded from his mind. Even as he moved quickly, he was no longer conscious of the gaze fixed on him.

Hooyoung didn’t miss a single shot.

Hooyoung left the gym before his teammates and headed to the locker room. There wasn’t much to clean up after night training, so he and Hojin took turns. It was Hojin’s turn today.

Sitting in front of his locker, Hooyoung sighed deeply and untied his shoelaces. His feet were tired after running non-stop since morning. The basketball shoes provided by the team once a month were a good brand, but they didn’t always fit perfectly. He planned to buy shoes from a different brand with his own money once he was more established in the professional league, once his salary increased, once he could save a little more from his allowance.

I need to do well this season and get a raise. And increase my allowance next year. Hooyoung thought, wiping the sweat from his forehead. His overall practice tonight had been a mess, but he’d focused incredibly well towards the end. He’d been so engrossed that he only remembered who was sitting in the stands after the coach patted him on the back for his good work. And at that moment, he felt a strange sense of anticipation. He didn’t understand why, but he was curious about the expression on Junwook’s face.

When he turned around, full of anticipation, the stands were empty. Junwook seemed to have left.

“Why sit down if you’re just going to leave? Making me nervous for nothing. It’s not like he was going to ‘wait and see’ or something.”

Hooyoung muttered as he took off his shoes. He seemed to have sweated more than usual, probably from the nervous energy. He’d pulled his almost soaked practice shirt up to his chest and removed one arm when the locker room door burst open. Assuming it was one of his seniors, he looked up, then froze. The feet at the door wore black dress shoes, not large basketball shoes. And black suit pants, not bare legs or leggings.

Slowly, Hooyoung straightened up and raised his gaze. His eyes traveled up the long legs, past the neatly buttoned jacket, to the familiar face. A face he knew well, with a straight nose and a well-defined mouth.

“Uh, no, wait, that’s not…that’s not what…”

Hooyoung was startled by the sudden intrusion, caught half-undressed. His other arm, which he had been about to pull out of his shirt, was awkwardly suspended, and his hand fluttered, unsure whether to continue undressing or put the shirt back on. His eyebrows furrowed in his flustered state. While Hooyoung frantically tried to cover his exposed skin, Junwook, unmoving, slowly raked his gaze over Hooyoung’s body.

“Uh, um…”

Hooyoung gulped nervously, the sound echoing in the locker room. But Junwook, who had barged in, remained silent. He just stood there, looking down at Hooyoung.

Look away, or stop staring so intently. Hooyoung thought, struggling to put his shirt back on. It clung to his sweaty skin, but he forced his arm through, regardless of how stretched out it became. If it were just a teammate, he wouldn’t be embarrassed even if he were completely naked, but not in front of this man. Showing even a sliver of skin felt different. This was the first, and only, man who evoked these kinds of feelings in him.

After a prolonged silence, Junwook finally spoke.

“…Nothing to say?”

Hooyoung’s eyes darted nervously. Something to say? What? After this absurd reunion after a year and a half, the first thing he says is “nothing to say?” Hooyoung, unable to come up with anything, just rolled his eyes.

“Really nothing?”

“He-hello…”

Uh, that’s not right. Hooyoung, shrinking under the man’s gaze, started to greet him, but seeing Junwook’s expression sharpen, he clamped his mouth shut. Junwook let out a short, exasperated sigh.

“Why didn’t you answer?”

Didn’t answer what? Hooyoung frowned, confused.

“Why didn’t you answer my calls?”

“…What?”

Hooyoung was about to ask what calls he was talking about when he suddenly realized what Junwook meant. He had an inkling, but he wasn’t sure.

“What calls… uh, no, that is…”

Seeing Junwook frown openly, Hooyoung faltered again. It seemed he was indeed referring to that, but he didn’t know how to respond. He looked at Junwook with a troubled expression, but the man seemed unwilling to move until he received an answer.

“That is… back then… I didn’t mean to… I mean… I’m sorry…”

“Hey.”

Junwook cut him off mid-sentence. A laser-like gaze followed. Hooyoung flinched and sighed softly.

🏀

After spending his first night at the man’s house, Hooyoung continued to stay in contact with him. Or rather, he continued their conversations, their interactions, their physical relationship. Each day was so enjoyable that as the basketball team’s final free period approached, he didn’t think about anything else. They met in the afternoons after training, went for drives, and had sex at the man’s house, first every three days, then every other day.

When night came and he tried to leave, the man would say things like, “Stay the night,” or “I’ll make sure you’re not late for class in the morning.” These sweet words became increasingly difficult to refuse, or rather, he didn’t want to refuse them. Using the excuse that he didn’t want to waste time with his boring teammates, he naturally settled into the man’s house. He didn’t have classes for a while, and he’d be bored on the weekends anyway… he’d rationalize, the real reason obvious.

He suddenly came to his senses the day before he was supposed to return to Korea.

Even with his eyes closed, Hooyoung was awakened by the sunlight streaming in. He blinked and looked around. The man wasn’t there; he must have already gotten up.

“Ugh…”

He groaned involuntarily. His body ached all over. He’d recently learned that sex could be more physically taxing than a full day of training. Did it use different muscles? But he always stretched… Hooyoung rotated his wrist, which had been held captive all night, and picked up his phone after several days of neglect.

He’d barely looked at his phone in the past few days. He saw countless messages in the team group chat. It was too much to read, so he decided to just check his personal messages.

[Hey Lee Hooyoung~~ Having fun?]

[Dude~ We’re going to the beach today lol. Lee Hooyoung, are you even alive? At least send a dot~!]

[This dude is a master of ignoring messages lol. What are you even doing? Anyway, we’ll assume you’re having fun.]

[Damn Hooyoung, now I understand why you wanted to do your own thing. I went to Disneyland, and it was so embarrassing. Three two-meter tall dudes wearing Mickey and Minnie headbands taking pictures. We’re crazy lol. Anyway, you know we’re flying back the day after tomorrow, right? You didn’t forget, did you? See you at the airport. You have to come~~ We need to win the championship~~]

Below the messages he’d read but not replied to, he saw the most recent one, sent a few hours ago.

[Hey hey Lee Hooyoung… You know we’re leaving tomorrow, right? I’m lying to the coaches and the manager, saying I’m in contact with you, but I’m starting to get scared… ㅠㅠ.]

[I told them you’d be at the airport. Dude, I’m freaking out ㅠ]

[Hey hey hey hey Lee Hooyoung, let’s meet at the airport?? Okay?? If you ignore me, I’ll know what that means?!!??]

Hooyoung, who had been reading with one eye open, rubbed his other eye and slowly sat up. He felt like he was back in school after a long holiday break. For the first couple of days, it felt like the break would last forever, but in the blink of an eye, it was time to go back to school. It was the same now. He’d been avoiding reality, and now it was already time to return to Korea.

How could he have forgotten? Just how out of it had he been? He shuddered. If he’d ignored the messages like he did yesterday, he might have missed his flight. He was suddenly wide awake, as if someone had smacked him upside the head. He’d been so caught up in the man that he’d forgotten about basketball. What did he have besides basketball?

Time had flown by so quickly. Each day had been so full that he couldn’t believe how fast time had passed. But he only had one day left. After today, it was time to return to reality. Just as Hooyoung’s face began to cloud over, a soft knock followed by the opening of the door interrupted his thoughts.

“You’re awake? Did you sleep well?”

The man, appearing in the doorway, looked perfect as always. A smile involuntarily spread across Hooyoung’s face. The man was a switch that flipped between his reality and fantasy. He wanted to act indifferent, but he couldn’t. He kept smiling, a tingling sensation spreading through him. Even now, his toes curled under the covers.

“I asked if you slept well? Good morning.”

The man greeted him again, as if prompting a response. A bright smile graced his lips. His straight, white teeth were always visible when he smiled. …Damn, even his teeth are good-looking.

“…Good morning.”

“Good. Come out when you’re ready. Toast is okay? I have fruit too.”

“Okay.”

He placed his phone back on the table and was about to get out of bed when he paused, looking back at the door. The man, dressed in a dark-colored cotton t-shirt and linen pants, was still standing there with a smile, holding the door open.

“What?”

At the man’s question, Hooyoung blinked. He’d been so exhausted that he barely remembered showering and had practically passed out, so he was still naked under the covers. He couldn’t get out of bed without revealing himself unless the man left the room. Of course, they’d had sex, so the man had seen every inch of him, but he still didn’t want to walk around naked in front of him.

It was strange. Growing up as an athlete, he’d seen it all with his teammates. They often showered together and walked around without underwear. They frequently went to saunas, and even though they covered themselves with towels, there were countless times they’d playfully pull them off each other. But it was different with this man. He was too embarrassed.

“Uh, could you… no, that’s not… are you not going to leave?”

He wasn’t usually someone who stuttered, but he found himself thinking twice, three times before speaking.

“Do you want me to leave?”

The man was blunt. He didn’t know if it was because he was used to the professional world or if it was his personality, but he was always confident. That was one of the qualities Hooyoung admired and lacked.

“Why? Because you’re not wearing anything?”

As the man entered the room with a teasing smile, Hooyoung flinched and pulled the covers higher. The blanket, which had been around his waist, rose to cover his chest, and he heard the man stifle a laugh.

“Uh, uh, don’t come closer.”

As the man approached, Hooyoung’s voice dropped to a near whisper, and he burrowed deeper under the covers.

“Why? Let me see.”

“No, no! No, this… this isn’t right…”

The man started tugging at the blanket, trying to pull it away. Hooyoung frantically clung to it, but there was a clear disadvantage to being under the covers. Soon, the blanket was pulled away.

“Ah, no! Hey!”

As Hooyoung desperately clung to the last bit of the blanket, struggling to maintain some semblance of modesty, the man’s laughter grew louder. He seemed amused, but Hooyoung’s ears burned with embarrassment. In his desperation to cover his front, his backside was exposed. With every movement, his rounded buttocks jiggled. The man wouldn’t know, but they were natural apple hips, sculpted from over a decade of training.

“Whoa!”

The man suddenly pulled Hooyoung out of bed, almost carrying him.

Even though he’d been awake for a while, Hooyoung was mortified. The man’s mischievous hands were all over his buttocks, kneading and then playfully slapping. The sound of his flesh being smacked echoed loudly.

“Do you do any other workouts?”

“…What?!”

Hooyoung’s head snapped up. His heart pounded, even though he knew the man wouldn’t know. This is why you shouldn’t do things that make you feel guilty.

“You have a slim frame, but your butt is amazing. Is that natural?”

It wasn’t natural. It was the result of running for 40 minutes straight. And he wasn’t slim by choice. Amateur players rarely did weight training because they were still growing. Hooyoung, sensitive about his height, avoided it even more.

“I think it’s normal… I don’t know.”

Hooyoung brushed off the question, then anxiously observed the man’s reaction, wondering if his answer sounded strange. Fortunately, the man didn’t seem to think much of it. He was too busy kneading Hooyoung’s buttocks, as if he were touching them for the first time. He seemed like a child encountering a fluffy toy for the first time, and at the same time, like a mischievous adult man skillfully teasing him.

“Ah, hurry up and leave. I’ll get dressed and come out.”

His hands pushed the man away firmly, but his words lacked conviction. The hand that had been on his buttocks was now slowly inching its way inwards.

“Ugh, that tickles!”

Making a sound that was somewhere between a laugh and a groan, Hooyoung squirmed, trying to avoid the man’s hand and cover himself. The man started laughing. If anyone heard them, they’d wonder what was so amusing between two men.

For Hooyoung, these days felt like a dream. He felt guilty towards his deceased grandfather and his grandmother back in Korea, but these were days of uninterrupted happiness, unlike anything he’d experienced in Korea. From the moment he woke up to the moment he fell asleep, he felt no worry, no anxiety.

As Hooyoung stubbornly clung to the blanket, refusing to let go, the man playfully swatted his backside. A smacking sound echoed through the room, both embarrassing and suggestive.

“I’ll let you off the hook since it’s morning.”

If I weren’t just waking up, I could easily overpower you. Hooyoung grumbled to himself. Even if the man was taller, he was an athlete; he didn’t like losing in a battle of strength. It was a matter of pride.

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

“You said something.”

As Hooyoung tried to make a quick escape to the bathroom, the man caught him from behind, pulling him close. He pressed his face against Hooyoung’s, his lips brushing his ear, then started nibbling on his earlobe. Hooyoung’s stomach flipped. He felt an unbearable tingling sensation all over.

“Ah!”

As a last resort, Hooyoung let go of the blanket, grabbed the man’s arm with both hands, and bit down hard. While the man recoiled in surprise, Hooyoung darted into the bathroom.

“Wow, you’re small, but fast.”

The man, rubbing the spot where Hooyoung had bitten him, watched him run, a smile still playing on his lips. He didn’t seem to be in pain; he looked rather pleased at the sight of Hooyoung’s naked backside as he ran.

Hooyoung entered the bathroom, double- and triple-checking the lock before stepping into the shower. He’d been about to gather his thoughts when the man’s intrusion had scattered them. The problem was, whenever the man was near, he wanted to avoid him. Hooyoung turned on the warm water and reached for the shampoo, now familiar after almost ten days of use.

He didn’t really need to organize his thoughts. He already knew the answer, he just didn’t want to acknowledge it. The man was handsome, charming, close to his ideal type, someone he’d been willing to reveal his hidden desires to, but regardless of his feelings, he had to face reality. He had to leave now, while he still felt a tinge of regret. If he stayed any longer, he knew he wouldn’t want to leave. He couldn’t go back to Korea with lingering feelings for someone in America.

This joy, this happiness in America, was just a mirage. He’d met the man about two weeks after arriving in America, so it was a three-week mirage. And the last ten days had been a heavenly paradise mirage. He needed to be content with this and return to his place.

Back to Korea. Back to his grandmother. Back to where basketball was. Not as an ordinary exchange student in America, but as Lee Hooyoung, in the midst of fierce competition.

Hooyoung, dressed in clothes he’d randomly picked from the man’s closet, walked into the dining room and sat down. Toasted bread and bagels, sunny-side-up eggs, and sliced sausages were arranged on a plate, with various cream cheeses and jams on the side. It wasn’t a feast, but it was a sufficient breakfast.

“Where did you find those clothes? I think those are from my college days.”

The man, pouring juice, glanced at Hooyoung and commented.

“What about these clothes?”

The clothes hanging visibly seemed to be the man’s usual attire, so he’d chosen something from the back of the closet. He’d simply picked something loose and comfortable. Now he noticed a familiar university logo on the chest.

“Did you go there? You must have been a good student.”

He seemed rich, and now it seemed he was smart too. He has it all. Hooyoung thought with a small sigh of admiration, then grabbed the butter and spread it generously on his toast.

He was pretending to be nonchalant, but inside, he was churning. He had to leave for Korea tomorrow. How should he say it? Should he be honest? Their relationship had begun with a lie, fabricated for a fleeting escape, so he couldn’t be honest about anything. No, he didn’t have the courage to be honest. The difference between a carefree exchange student from a wealthy family and a desperately poor athlete with an uncertain future was too stark. He didn’t want to shatter this illusion, a lie he’d started because he wanted to experience a different life.

Strangely, while staying at the man’s house, neither of them crossed a certain line. They’d had sex, but they hadn’t asked about each other’s names or occupations. It was essentially a one-night stand that had extended a bit longer, so they avoided delving deeper. And even if they suddenly decided to get to know each other better, he wouldn’t have the courage to reveal the truth. He was going to be a professional player, and even though it wasn’t a widely known sport, it was a career that involved media attention.

“What?”

The man asked, noticing Hooyoung stealing glances at him while munching on his toast with butter and apricot jam.

“Nothing.”

“What do you mean nothing? Am I that handsome? Is my face making your heart flutter?”

The man knew he was attractive. He flaunted it with a smile, and strangely, it wasn’t annoying. He’d been caught staring at the man, mesmerized by his looks, more than once. Are you staring too much? At that one comment, his face would flush with embarrassment, and the man would move closer, playfully patting his head and asking, “Why are you so shy?” Even considering his age, the man must have been experienced in relationships. He handled Hooyoung skillfully.

Hooyoung simply smiled.

“What’s your major?”

“Huh?”

Taken aback by a question he’d never been asked before, Hooyoung quickly took a gulp of juice. He frantically tried to recall if he’d mentioned his major during their conversation on the beach when they first met.

“Just something normal. Something everyone does.”

“Not engineering or science?”

“No.”

His answer was vague enough to be considered a lie. Feeling a pang of guilt, Hooyoung shifted his feet under the table, rubbing them together nervously. Why ask this now? Couldn’t he have waited one more day?

“Exchange programs are usually for a semester, right?”

“Yes.”

Is that right? Spreading jam on his bread, Hooyoung nodded.

“Should we eat out tonight?”

“Uh, staying home is fine too.”

They’d barely left the house in the past ten days. Just for neighborhood walks, grocery shopping, or to the man’s front yard and small pool. He didn’t know what the man did for a living, but he seemed to work from home, occasionally taking calls. So, he stuck to his initial assumption that the man worked in the entertainment industry, like in the movies.

“…You don’t look like it, but you’re quite the horndog.”

Hooyoung choked on his juice, startled by the man’s words.

“How did you come to that conclusion? If we go out, you have to drive and everything, I’m just thinking of you!”

“Your reaction makes me want to tease you more.”

It seemed best not to respond. He’d realized the man had a natural talent for teasing.

“How about tomorrow night then? I have something to do tomorrow, but how about we have dinner somewhere nice after I get back?”

Huh? He’s going out? Hooyoung blinked, looking down at his plate. He was so focused on the man leaving that he didn’t realize the dinner invitation was a suggestion for a proper date. This kind of relationship was completely new to him, and more importantly, he was preoccupied with the fact that he had to leave tomorrow.

“Actually, I think I have to go to school tomorrow for a bit…”

He tried to sound as casual as possible. Unable to meet the man’s gaze, he lowered his head and stuffed his mouth with toast.

“Really? I thought you said you didn’t have classes.”

“…There’s a school gathering. They said it’s important and that I have to be there tomorrow.”

He was surprisingly good at lying. The words flowed smoothly when he needed them to.

“Perfect. What time will it be over? I’ll pick you up.”

“What?”

He looked up, and the man, checking his watch, seemed genuinely serious.

“You’ll pick me up?”

“Yeah, for dinner. Why, is that a problem?”

Why does he sound so casual? Hooyoung suddenly felt a cold sweat coming on. The man spoke as if it were a given that they would return to his house after dinner. The assumption both pricked his conscience and made his heart flutter with anticipation.

“It’s hard to get around here without a car. I’ll pick you up.”

Hooyoung couldn’t say anything. The man seemed to be observing him in the sudden silence.

“I’ll park far away. So there’s no… awkwardness.”

The man’s cautious, considerate words finally made Hooyoung laugh. The man could be playfully suggestive, but he was also thoughtful at crucial moments. He was a good person.

The next day, the man dropped him off near his school early in the morning. He said he’d contact him after he was done and that they’d see each other in the afternoon, then left. After watching the man’s car disappear, Hooyoung hurried back to the dormitory. He was grateful that he’d been training at this school, using their gym and dormitory, even though he wasn’t an exchange student.

He collected his belongings and headed straight to the airport. The coach and manager, surprised by his sudden reappearance after no contact, each gave him a smack on the back, and his teammates yelled, demanding to know where he’d been and what he’d been doing. Hojin, who had been covering for him, whispered every curse word imaginable in his ear. He bowed his head apologetically to the coach and manager, but he couldn’t respond properly to Hojin or his other teammates.

“Lee Hooyoung, you crazy bastard. You almost gave me a heart attack. You owe me at least two assists per game this season. Got it?”

“Sorry, sorry.”

Hooyoung mumbled halfhearted apologies, then just stared blankly ahead. He consciously tried to avoid looking at his phone. By the time they’d eaten, checked their luggage, and entered the airport, it was already afternoon. While everyone excitedly browsed the duty-free shops, he sat quietly on a chair near the gate, even though he had plenty of time. He still had the extra money he’d brought, intending to spend it with the man, but he didn’t feel like buying anything or even walking around.

Soon, his phone started vibrating intensely in his pocket. He quickly took it out, switched it to silent mode, and put it back. After 20-30 minutes, it rang again. He tried to ignore it, but the persistent vibrations drew stares from people around him. Finally, he took it out and pressed the end call button. Ending the call like this would make it obvious he was avoiding it. He knew this was the end, but he was filled with regret. Now that the moment of departure had arrived, he wanted to cling to this fleeting connection.

The phone rang again. He switched it to silent mode and just stared at it until the ringing stopped. The unsaved American number flashed on the screen. He still couldn’t answer.

As his friends returned from shopping and the boarding announcement for the flight to Korea played, the phone rang again. He could have ignored it, but he held it in his hand, prolonging the moment.

“What, is that a call? It’s an American number.”

“Do they have spam calls there too?”

“Of course, idiot.”

His teammates commented, seeing him fixated on his phone, but he didn’t respond.

“Hey, Hooyoung, do you know that person?”

“…No.”

People started lining up to board, starting from the front row. It was time to make a decision. Hooyoung, staring intently at his phone screen, resolutely pressed the power button and turned it off. He switched back to the Korean SIM card he’d used before purchasing a local SIM card upon arrival in America. This would sever all contact with the man. He could go back to how things were before, as if they’d never met.

After all, the man lived in America, and he lived in Korea.

🏀

In a basketball game, when players get tangled up and the ball goes out of bounds, the game is stopped to determine who last touched the ball. If the referees can’t determine it visually, they review the video footage. In crucial moments, where every second counts, this one call can determine possession, making everyone tense.

Hooyoung felt like he was in a similar situation, waiting for a touch-out call. He’d fallen with an opponent, reaching for the ball, and though he wasn’t sure who touched it last, he’d yelled, “Our ball!” But the video replay showed the ball going out off his hand, giving the opponent possession. That had been the turning point, and they’d lost the game. A situation where it would have been better if he hadn’t reached for the ball at all. He hadn’t intended for it to happen, but he’d messed up.

“Why didn’t you answer my calls?”

So the man standing before him was asking why he hadn’t answered his calls a year and a half ago, back in America.

“That is… because it was time for me to return to Korea… that day was… the day I had to leave…”

Hooyoung’s voice trailed off, and he lowered his gaze. That’s how it was. He hadn’t expected the man to ask him now. No, he hadn’t anticipated a situation where he would have to explain himself.

“So that day was supposed to be the end? You were planning to leave from the beginning?”

The man’s tone was chillingly cold, but strangely, it was filled with resentment, as if Hooyoung had abandoned him. Well, he had, but to call it abandoning… Hooyoung was confused. We both… no, you too, treated it casually, like a one-night stand, didn’t you?

“No, that’s…”

“That’s what?”

The man’s gaze was far more intense than it had been at the hotel event yesterday. It pierced through him.

“Did you enjoy playing with me?”

“What? Me? When did I play… no, that doesn’t make sense…”

“You played me. You said you were an exchange student. You said you had to finish the semester before leaving.”

At those words, Hooyoung stared at Junwook, speechless, then slowly opened his mouth.

“…Did you look me up?”

“…Of course, I did. You disappeared without a word.”

Hooyoung’s heart sank. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from Junwook. He’d thought Junwook would just curse him out, consider it bad luck, and move on. He hadn’t expected him to actually look for him.

“After the third call, I had a feeling. Ah, he’s ignoring me on purpose. This is clearly him ending things. But I still looked. I was annoyed that you’d run away after being in my house. I didn’t know your name, but you said you were an exchange student, and I knew which school you went to, so I thought it wouldn’t be difficult.”

There was no way any information would have come up. The basketball team had simply been using the school’s gym and dormitory facilities.

“I never imagined you’d be on the basketball team. Well, who would have thought that?”

Junwook’s smile now was completely different from the one he’d seen in America. It was the same smile, but it wasn’t kind or gentle. There was no warmth, only a chilling coldness.

Silence fell over the locker room again, and Hooyoung’s shoulders slumped. He had nothing more to say.

“Turns out you were a basketball player, you became a professional, and now you’re on my team?”

Overwhelmed by tension, Hooyoung mindlessly rubbed his thigh with his fingers. Junwook’s gaze raked over him from head to toe.

As they stood there in a tense standoff, a knock echoed through the room, followed by the opening of the door.

“Mr. Eun? Practice is over.”

“Yeah.”

Junwook and Hooyoung’s eyes met again briefly.

“I’ll call you, so answer.”

Hooyoung remained silent.

“Try disappearing on me again.”

With those words, Junwook swiftly left the locker room. Shortly after the door slammed shut, he heard the sound of his teammates approaching.

“…I can’t disappear even if I wanted to.”

Hooyoung muttered under his breath, words he couldn’t utter in front of Junwook.

Feeling drained, as if swept away by a storm, Hooyoung took off his socks just as his teammates piled into the locker room.

“Huh? Beep Beep, you came in earlier, didn’t you? What were you doing, not showering yet?”

“…I was on my phone. Lost track of time.”

As a rookie, he tended to be cautious and respectful, no matter what his seniors said. They seemed to think his pale complexion was due to being tired and overwhelmed.

“Are you going to shower at the dorm?”

“You guys go ahead. I’ll shower later, or I’ll shower at the dorm.”

His teammates, who were going home, needed to shower now, but Hooyoung, who lived in the dorm right next door, didn’t have to. He usually gave up his turn anyway, so he considered going straight to the dorm and picked up his phone.

He saw a flood of messages.

[How did the negotiations go? Why haven’t you said anything?]

[Why aren’t you answering my calls? Night training?]

[Contact me when you’re done. I’m on my way.]

Ha. Hooyoung sighed deeply and leaned back. My life is a mess. It seemed he wouldn’t be going straight to the dorm after all. Today seemed like the day he was destined to meet everyone he’d been avoiding. He started taking off his uniform again, resigned to waiting for his turn to shower.

When will he call? How did he get my number? As the owner, it probably wasn’t difficult. Did he just get my number? Or did he find out everything else? Did he know his parents were deceased, that he was poor, that he’d received numerous sponsorships? Well, everyone in the basketball world knew about Lee Hooyoung’s situation. So, he must know about the lies too.

Hooyoung’s shoulders slumped as he walked towards the showers.

The HG Group’s H Center was a large complex that included a rehabilitation hospital next door and an HG Group training center behind it.

“Please go ahead, Mr. Eun.”

The general managers of the various sports teams and related executives all came out to see Junwook off. Junwook was staying in a separate house behind the training center while in Suji. He found it bothersome that they were all seeing him off when he was just going to a nearby residence, but he forced a smile and got into the car.

“He’s good.”

Suhwan, who was driving instead of a chauffeur since Junwook hadn’t officially taken over yet, spoke with a smile. Although officially his secretary, they’d been together since America, so their relationship wasn’t a typical superior-subordinate one. They weren’t close enough to speak informally, but they were almost friends.

“What do you know about whether he’s good or not?”

Junwook’s expression was sullen.

“The chairman was apparently very pleased with your enthusiasm, Mr. Eun. To quote him directly, ‘That Junwook, I knew he could do it if he put his mind to it.’”

“He forced me into this after I said I’d go back after Father’s 49th day memorial, and now he’s being all talkative. Even my older brother has become an old man.”

“Honestly, I was surprised too. I thought you’d stall until your inauguration day, but then you suddenly decided to come to work this morning. And now that you’ve decided to do it, why not do it with a smile? You can’t be a grasshopper forever.”

“What are you talking about? I was planning to live as a grasshopper for the rest of my life.”

“How can you live as a grasshopper? The former chairman just spoiled you because he loved his youngest son so much, letting you do whatever you wanted. You had to start working eventually. And it’s not like he gave you a difficult position with performance pressure.”

Even though it was late, the roads were jammed. Suhwan craned his neck to see, and the parking lot was filled with athletes from various sports, including basketball and volleyball, all leaving after their training sessions. Ah, it’s going to take a while to get out. Suhwan sighed deeply.

“Well, you do suit being a grasshopper a bit too well. You could easily walk for 20 minutes, but you insist on driving. All these cars are trying to leave, but we’re going in the opposite direction. If only one person would sacrifice themselves, it would be so much easier!”

“Ah, be quiet. My head is already pounding, stop babbling. Bringing you back from America with me was the biggest mistake of my life.”

“You brought me here for your convenience.”

“Ah, Bae Suhwan!”

Junwook kicked the back of the driver’s seat repeatedly. Even as the seat shook, Suhwan just chuckled, amused.

“By the way, who is that player? Who is he that you demanded his profile that night, and made me spy on him like a thief today?”

Suhwan glanced at Junwook through the rearview mirror, gauging his reaction. Despite his seemingly easygoing nature, Junwook had a sharp side, so he had to choose his words carefully.

“Stop being nosy. Don’t you know the meaning of privacy?”

Should I just walk? Junwook thought, looking at the congested parking lot entrance. It would look ridiculous to walk while everyone else was driving, but sitting in traffic was frustrating. He didn’t want to tell people he was staying at the training center. The tie, which he disliked wearing, was starting to choke him, and his headache was intensifying.

“Everything is privacy with you, huh?!”

Suhwan, gripping the steering wheel with both hands and leaning forward, suddenly straightened up, as if he’d seen something.

“It’s that player! Right?!”

Junwook, who had been massaging his temples, heard Suhwan’s words and glanced up dismissively, then froze. He saw the very person responsible for his headache, the one who’d been on his mind since yesterday.

Hooyoung, dressed in a team logo t-shirt and training pants, was standing at the entrance, seemingly waiting for someone.

“His hair is so flowy, he’s a pretty boy, a real pretty boy. I heard those types are popular in Korea, right?”

Junwook, captivated by Hooyoung, didn’t even hear Suhwan’s muttering. He was dying to know why Hooyoung wasn’t leaving, what he was waiting for with such an anxious expression. …How can he look so…soft? Junwook swallowed a comment he couldn’t voice, devouring Hooyoung with his eyes.

“Whoa, nice car. That would look better in Santa Monica than here.”

Suhwan, a car enthusiast, spoke with sparkling eyes. Even in this parking lot filled with imported cars owned by high-earning athletes, a flashy, imported sports car stood out, pulling up in front of Hooyoung with a roar.

“Korea is smaller than America, but it seems to have way more nice cars. Do only rich people buy them? Speaking of which, that player is still young, but he seems to have quite the network, doesn’t he? Mr. Eun was looking for him, and now the owner of that car is picking him up.”

Secretary Bae craned his neck, trying to get a look at the driver inside the car. The windows were heavily tinted, but the driver’s side window was rolled down. He couldn’t see the driver’s face, but he saw a hand holding a cigarette outside the window.

“He must have a lot of rich friends.”

Junwook’s expression turned complex, even without Suhwan’s commentary. It definitely wasn’t a positive change. As soon as the car stopped, Hooyoung got in, as if he’d been expecting it. He looked completely at ease, like this was a regular occurrence.

“Well, well.”

“What?”

Suhwan turned around, saw Junwook’s expression, and frowned. What’s with that weird look? Why is he acting like that? Why are his eyes blazing like that? He looks like he’s about to combust.

“I thought he was a naive little colt, but he’s a sly nine-tailed fox hiding in the kitchen.”

“…What the hell does that even mean?”

Suhwan scratched his chest, completely bewildered. A naive colt? A nine-tailed fox? What was with these expressions, directed at a young player who looked like he’d just stepped out of a cartoon?

“Ah, what am I going to do with him?”

“It’s not ‘him,’ it’s Lee Hooyoung.”

“Just listen. Don’t respond.”

Suhwan closed his mouth at the sound of Junwook’s strained voice. It was time to pretend he couldn’t hear anything. Ah, that innocent young rookie had no idea Mr. Eun was glaring at him as if he wanted to devour him.

“He acts all innocent, but he’s playing with people, smiling sweetly whenever he’s treated well.”

Hmm, he’s refreshing-looking, but I’ve never seen him smile sweetly. Suhwan leaned forward, peering at the flashy car ahead of them.

“I need to know if he climbed a ladder or took an elevator to get to that kitchen.”

What’s a ladder, what’s an elevator? Doesn’t it only matter that he’s in the kitchen? Even though he tried to ignore it, he couldn’t help but hear Junwook’s muttering. Suhwan scratched his neck near his tie.

“Ah, but if you handle him wrong, he might just clam up and disappear.”

Hearing this, Suhwan couldn’t ignore it any longer. This was his job.

“…I’m really sorry, but I have a bad feeling about this. You’re not planning to… mess with a player on your own team, are you?”

Suhwan instinctively turned to look at Junwook in the backseat. But Junwook didn’t seem to be listening.

“Mr. Eun? This isn’t America. You’re not just some guy playing around anymore. You have a position, you’re a public figure. If something happens, it’ll affect the chairman too. …Mr. Eun? Can you hear me?!”

“Would it be better to coax him and then devour him?”

“Ah, Mr. Eun!”

“Or would it be better to just cook him up and steam him my way?”

“Ah, this is crazy.”

“Tell my brother, and you’re dead.”

Suhwan closed his eyes, looking at the still-congested parking lot ahead. He muttered to himself, reminding himself of his top priority for tomorrow: Lee Hooyoung. He needed to find out everything about Lee Hooyoung, down to the last detail, so he could handle any situation that might arise.