WOPE Ch 4

Contrary to Junwook’s soaring imagination, the atmosphere inside the car was not very convivial. As soon as he sat in the passenger seat, Hooyoung gave a quick bow and immediately fastened his seatbelt, staring straight ahead.

“Did night training go well?”

“Yes.”

It had been over seven years since Hooyoung first met the man sitting in the driver’s seat. The man, who kept insisting Hooyoung call him “hyung” (older brother), looked quite young, but from their first encounter, he had been accompanied by a string of men who looked at least ten years older than him. He probably held a fairly high position within the organization.

“Your annual salary? Seeing as you haven’t contacted me directly, I assume you didn’t get a raise?”

Hooyoung’s heart started pounding as if it would burst out of his chest. It was a completely different kind of pounding than when he saw Junwook, but truthfully, he was more nervous now. A chill ran down his spine, and he suddenly felt cold. Just being near the man from the organization that lent out money at high-interest rates made him tremble. He couldn’t help but be scared, knowing this man was supposedly above the thugs who had demolished homes, threatened grandparents, and caused a ruckus by showing up at schools. When he was younger, he felt like he would wet himself just by making eye contact with them.

“Your silence confirms you didn’t get a raise, huh?”

The man honked the horn aggressively, driving menacingly out of the parking lot. Hooyoung huddled in his seat, worried that one of his senior teammates might be among the cars swerving out of the way, and that they might see who was in that horribly driven car.

“That’s…”

It was also true that the lenders were overlooking things because it was a high-income job, even if the interest was increasing. Every time the man next to him answered the phone and instructed someone to go somewhere, Hooyoung felt suffocated.

“That’s? That’s what? Hey, you want to eat some tteokbokki?”

The man, driving out onto the street, spoke upon seeing a street food stall.

“Huh? No, I’m okay.”

“Hey, aren’t athletes supposed to eat whenever they get a chance? Hyung will buy it for you, man.”

I should eat healthy food, not just eat whenever I get a chance. As usual, Hooyoung swallowed his words and, bowing his head, got out of the car that was haphazardly parked on the street.

“Auntie! One tteokbokki here, one sundae, and some fish cakes and fried food too!”

At the man’s swaggering tone, everyone inside the food stall looked at them, but no one reprimanded him. Hooyoung stood awkwardly beside him. The proximity to the H Center kept bothering him. He was getting increasingly scared he might run into someone he knew.

“So, that’s what?”

“Yes, yes?”

“You started to say something but stopped. That’s, what?”

“Ah.”

Even with the delicious tteokbokki and sundae in front of him, Hooyoung couldn’t eat and just gulped. The man was already busy moving his hands, stuffing his mouth with food.

“That’s, because of the team’s situation, it was reduced a little…”

“A little?”

The man, with sundae in his mouth, turned his head to look at Hooyoung.

“A little? What?”

“…It was reduced. By about ten million won.”

The man, momentarily paused, soon started moving his mouth busily again. As Hooyoung just stood still, observing the man’s reaction, the man, dipping fried food into the tteokbokki sauce, gestured to him.

“Hey, eat. Eat first. How are you going to do any body checking being this frail?”

“Yes.”

Hooyoung forced a piece of tteokbokki into his mouth. The man didn’t say anything for a while and just stuffed food into his mouth. Then, seemingly full, he rinsed his mouth with the fish cake broth and looked at Hooyoung again. Hooyoung felt as though the flour tteokbokki was piling up in his throat in real time, so conscious was he of the man’s gaze.

“Hey.”

The man chuckled. It was a very creepy and unpleasant laugh.

“What are you going to do? You have to pay off your debts as quickly as possible and at least secure a house for yourself by the time you retire. Huh? You have a long way to go, but what are you going to do if your salary gets cut already in your second year? Huh?”

As the man spoke slowly, looking down at him, Hooyoung found it difficult to manage his expression. It was a statement that clearly reminded him of his situation while crushing his pride. Even though he was eating tteokbokki with his mouth, he felt slimy and uncomfortable as if the sticky gochujang sauce had covered his entire body.

“We, well, we can just hold on to you until your athletic career is over and get all our money back. But what are you going to do? Really, this hyung is worried about you, worried about you.”

Tsk tsk. As the man clicked his tongue loudly and openly, the pitiful gazes of the stall owner and the people standing around were directed at Hooyoung.

“Ah, but don’t be so cutely conscious of it. Eat, eat. It’s okay, you can earn more. Wow, Auntie! These fish cakes are freaking delicious!”

Hooyoung’s face and ears flushed crimson. With every breath, a wave of misery washed over him.

🏀

A few weeks passed by very quickly. It was a typical off-season routine. With about a month and a half left before the season opener, the team was sweating it out day after day. Hooyoung was living like a machine, waking up early in the morning, doing morning training, followed by afternoon weight training, and then night training.

“Are you going to take a nap?”

Hojin asked Hooyoung as they returned to the dormitory together after their meal. The room Hooyoung was currently living in was originally a double room assigned to both him and Hojin. Even though Hooyoung went home after practice, Hojin also used the room during rest hours.

“Yeah, I have to.”

Daytime rest was important for athletes. Even a short nap could greatly help with fatigue recovery, so Hooyoung, who always did his best when it came to cost-free body management methods, meticulously followed this routine.

“I’m going out for a bit.”

“Where are you going?”

Do bigger bodies get less tired? Hooyoung, who had showered at the gym and was ready to sleep immediately, wriggled into bed and looked at Hojin. He was so excited about something that he dried his damp hair with a hairdryer and then spent a long time styling it with a comb and wax.

“I went on a blind date recently, remember?”

“Ah. Still, wouldn’t it be better to rest now and meet her in the evening? You have to train again in the evening.”

Hooyoung, pulling the blanket up to his chin, spoke with only his eyes showing. Hojin playfully poked the blanket a few times.

“She wants to meet now.”

“Don’t come back late. The coach is sharp, he’ll know if you lie.”

“Okay, okay. You’re stating the obvious! I’m going!”

Hojin let out a strange, “Heh heh,” chuckle, fully styled, and quickly disappeared. At the sound of him rushing out, Hooyoung checked if the door was closed properly and then lay down on the bed, picking up his phone. There wasn’t much difference from when he checked it in the morning. No calls, no texts, and of course, no missed calls.

‘I’ll call, so answer.’

He’d spoken as if it were some kind of declaration of war, yet there had been no contact since then. Hooyoung ruffled his fluffy, dry hair and buried his face in his pillow. He wanted to scream.

He had already failed at being indifferent. These days, he was practically sleeping with his phone in his arms. He checked his phone as soon as he woke up, and again as soon as he entered the locker room after training. He didn’t know why Junwook had said he would call, but he was already hooked.

The words, “I looked for you after you went silent,” kept echoing in his mind. Because of those words, he couldn’t stop thinking about the person who had said them. Once he’d dealt with telling the loan shark about his salary, there was no room for any other thoughts. They kept coming back to him even when he was playing basketball, disrupting his focus.

To begin with, what happened in the US was an unforgettable experience in his life, and the relationship he had with Junwook was the first time he’d ever felt that way.

Hooyoung, nibbling at a hangnail, stared intently at his phone. The bright phone screen remained silent in the darkness created by the blackout curtains.

The atmosphere was completely different from what he’d seen in the US, but the appearance that had captivated him at first glance remained the same. No, with his hair swept back and dressed in a suit, he seemed much more refined and mature. How old is he? Why did he only come back to Korea now? The curiosity he had suppressed for the past few weeks exploded. Hooyoung chose to open the internet browser on his phone instead of closing his eyes.

Eun Junwook. While his brain was still dominated by the thought of whether this was okay, his nimble fingers quickly typed the three syllables into the green portal site.

Hmm. The name appeared, but there were no pictures yet.

“…Thirty-four?!”

Seeing him in a suit, he definitely looked like a working professional, but he hadn’t expected a ten-year age gap. Hooyoung scratched his head with his fingers. He really didn’t look that old.

There were many articles and much information about his older brothers who had taken over as chairmen, but there were only a few articles about Junwook himself. They were all recent articles about him returning from the US and officially starting to work. The main content was that he had acquired shares through inheritance, had been registered as an internal director, and was making official moves in the foundation and sports business.

Hooyoung pursed and unpursed his lips, then searched again on a different site. Oh… They were fan-made videos, so they weren’t one hundred percent reliable, but there were quite a few search results. His nimble and now also nosy fingers clicked on each video, not missing a single one.

One video showed a masked person claiming that Junwook was the son most cherished by the deceased Chairman Eun Changsik. Another video, in a distorted, robotic voice, claimed that he was a terrible scoundrel and that there had never been any intention to bring him back to Korea. In a different video, with only a voice, there was even a suggestion that Junwook was an illegitimate child. Otherwise, there would be no reason to keep him in the US all that time.

“Mr. Eun Junwook, the youngest son of Chairman Eun Changsik, enjoyed a lavish lifestyle based on his handsome appearance and immense wealth…”

Hooyoung mumbled the subtitles appearing on the screen.

“According to informed sources, there were constant issues regarding his love life, and many of these were quietly resolved by the family.”

What? Really? Hooyoung’s brows furrowed. Even though he had thought while searching that he shouldn’t believe everything and should filter the information appropriately, he was already quite immersed. He was a playboy? Despite usually valuing his daytime rest highly, Hooyoung’s nap was no longer a priority.

“Ugh!”

Startled by the sudden ringing, Hooyoung dropped his phone and grabbed his nose with a strange sound. Ouch. It hurt so much that tears welled up in his eyes.

“Damn it, who is it?”

Hooyoung fumbled for his phone, determined to give the caller a piece of his mind if it was a spam or survey call. His nose bridge, hit dead-on, really hurt. An unknown number was displayed on the phone screen.

“Hello?!”

A slightly irritated voice escaped his lips. He’d expected to hear, “This is the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office,” or, “Respected citizens, greetings,” but the other party remained silent. In that moment, Hooyoung realized who was calling. There was someone who had promised to call. He had momentarily forgotten, engrossed in his frantic searching, but this was the person who had made him cling to his phone.

His heart started pounding as if it would jump out of his chest. Even though he knew it was unlikely, he was as startled as if the man had seen through his feelings. The sound of his heart pounding seemed louder than the ringtone.

“…Hello.”

Concerned about his annoyed tone, Hooyoung hesitantly spoke again, and a scoff came from the other end of the line. It seemed his anticipation had shown, and Hooyoung’s face flushed red even though no one was there to see it. He was completely defeated. In sports, it’s called a battle of nerves, but he had lowered his tail in defeat before even properly engaging. It was the worst attitude an athlete could have.

—Waiting, were we?

Junwook, having succeeded in taking the initiative without saying a word, spoke in a leisurely tone laced with subtle teasing.

“No, no I wasn’t.”

Only after the words left his mouth did Hooyoung frown, realizing his mistake. By answering so quickly, he had given himself away even more. He could hear the familiar shouts of his coaches ringing in his ears. You have to play basketball with your head, not just throw your body around, you small fry!

—You were totally waiting, what do you mean no?

His mouth clamped shut. It seemed better not to say anything more.

—A business trip suddenly came up, I just didn’t have the time.

I see. He didn’t have time. Hooyoung, nodding in understanding, abruptly shook his head in surprise. Why am I agreeing with him? Get a grip.

“Why…”

—Why?

He didn’t know why he shrunk like this with just a word from Junwook. Was it because he was a high-ranking person who could control him, or because he knew about his secret crush on a man, or because he was someone who made his heart race just by thinking about him?

“I was wondering why you called…”

At his drawn-out question, Junwook hummed. It seemed like he wasn’t pleased. Hooyoung gulped, hoping it wouldn’t be audible.

—This is so hard.

“Yes?”

—Forget it.

He asked back at the cryptic remark, but Junwook cut him off sharply.

—What time does your training end? Around the same time as when I saw you before?

It was always around the same time after night training. But why? Was he asking to meet? Hooyoung raised his hand and rubbed his rapidly beating chest. If he didn’t calm down, even this would be revealed. It was difficult to answer. If he simply said yes, wouldn’t it seem like he was anticipating a meeting?

—I asked if it’s around that time.

“…Yes.”

—Alright.

With that, the call ended abruptly. Hooyoung, who had been waiting for the next words, belatedly looked at his phone, but it was already disconnected. What the… It felt a bit anticlimactic. He felt like he was the only one who had strange expectations.

The emotions he was feeling now were difficult to explain. He was scared but his heart fluttered, apprehensive yet curious. The man was always captivating. He smiled well, was kind, and had such a sense of humor that every action he made sent shivers down Hooyoung’s spine.

Hooyoung only learned the reason why Junwook had asked about his training schedule after returning to the dorm after his night practice. He had just finished a refreshing shower and was pouting, recalling the blandly concluded phone call with Junwook, when a call came from an unknown number. His heart skipped a beat, but seeing the area code instead of a mobile number, he abandoned any expectations.

“Hello.”

He answered politely, thinking it might be a call from the team’s office.

—Come out.

It was Junwook. Hooyoung, who was standing in front of his bed, turned his head towards the window. He could see the wide parking lot below, but there was no sign of anyone.

—I said, come out.

Was he somewhere he couldn’t be seen? No, would it be okay to meet outside? This wasn’t the US, there were many eyes here, would it be okay to just meet like this? While Hooyoung was rolling his eyes, the impatient Junwook urged him again.

—I’ll make sure nothing you’re worried about happens, just come out.

“…Okay.”

He answered with difficulty and was about to hang up when Junwook added,

—Don’t hang up, come out while we’re on the phone.

“Huh?”

What did that even mean? Hooyoung was wearing the team’s short-sleeved t-shirt and shorts that reached his thighs, clothes he wore inside the dormitory. They weren’t strange clothes to wear out on a summer night, but they weren’t exactly suitable attire for meeting Junwook.

“…I need to change.”

A brief silence followed on the other end of the line.

—Why, were you naked?

Hooyoung’s toes curled slightly at the lowered tone. Junwook was Hooyoung’s first and only sexual partner. If he had been talking to Hojin or someone else, it wouldn’t have been like this at all, but in conversations with Junwook, the atmosphere changed readily, even in such trivial situations.

“No, it’s just that these are too casual…”

—So, you want to change? Keep the call going. I think I’d like that, too.

It was such a kind and brazen statement. Although Hooyoung knew he should flatly refuse and say he would just go out as he was, he couldn’t bring himself to speak up.

“I’ll just, I’ll just go out like this.”

He hurriedly put on his shoes and opened the door, stepping outside. He could hear, “Ah, that’s a shame,” from the other end of the line.

Hooyoung’s footsteps echoed through the empty hallway. The players, coaches, and team staff had all left for the day, leaving Hooyoung alone inside. Hooyoung, who rarely went out at this hour, shivered, feeling strangely unnerved.

“…Where should I go?”

—I’ll tell you once you come outside.

The night air was noticeably cooler, perhaps because the hottest days of summer had passed. Hooyoung shook his head, sweeping aside his slightly fluttering bangs, and looked around as he exited the entrance. As expected, there was no one in sight.

“I’m outside.”

—Turn around the building. Do you know the road to the HG Training Center? I think it’s the hospital on the left and the training center on the right from there.

“Yes, I know.”

He didn’t know what it was used for, but he knew where it was. Hooyoung walked slowly. He was a little scared. Was he going to be taken to some secluded place? Why a secluded place? They could just meet in the car. Why did he want to keep the call going? All sorts of thoughts raced through his mind.

—How was your day? Did training go well?

Junwook’s voice interrupted Hooyoung’s wandering thoughts.

“Just, the same as always…”

Why ask such a thing? Wasn’t it too mundane a question? As if they were people who talked on the phone yesterday and today. It was a tone that made him mistakenly think they might even talk tomorrow.

He was almost near the training center, and when he looked at the building, there wasn’t a single light on. It seemed deserted. Was that why they were meeting here?

—Did you come to the US for training before?

“…The last training camp in college.”

Hooyoung replied cautiously.

“I’m almost at the training center…”

Hooyoung quickly changed the subject. He didn’t want to talk about what happened in the US. He was embarrassed about pretending to be someone else on a whim, and he didn’t want to explain why he did it because it would involve revealing his pathetic circumstances. It was embarrassing and hurt his pride.

—You need to walk further. Keep going past the training center, there’s a walking path inside. Follow that path straight ahead.

“…Okay.”

Hooyoung replied softly and continued walking. He wasn’t entirely confident, but he didn’t think Junwook would take him anywhere strange.

The walking path, which he had never been on before, was nice. Tall trees towered as if to block out the sky, and the sounds of summer night insects chirped. The cool breeze felt pleasant against his skin.

—Why aren’t you asking where I’m telling you to go?

Hmm… Hooyoung couldn’t answer easily.

“I figured it wouldn’t be anywhere bad…”

He just told a lie that Junwook would want to hear. To be honest, it was because he wasn’t in a position to question. Technically, it was the team owner, someone higher up than even the general manager, giving him instructions. What player would disobey? Of course, he also had a tiny personal feeling he wanted to hide.

After walking for quite a while to where Junwook had directed him, he reached a dead end. It looked like the path continued, but it was blocked by an iron gate. Right next to it was what looked like a security guard post. Perhaps because it was past evening hours, there was no one there.

“I’ve reached the end, but I don’t think I can go any further. It’s closed.”

Upon hearing this, Junwook instructed him to enter the security post and enter the provided passcode. He fumbled a bit, but soon the large iron gate creaked open to both sides.

Wow. There was a place like this here. It was like a space straight out of a drama. It was beautiful, like a miniature park. Lush grass and trees filled the space, and vibrant flowers were everywhere.

—It’s a place built for the executives. Just come to the end of the path.

“Okay.”

The long call ended there. Hooyoung slowly walked through the deserted area. The more he learned, the more Junwook seemed like someone from a different world. No, was it actually a different world? Well, either way, it was a world that had nothing to do with him. Like in the US, it would be better not to get involved at all.

After walking far enough that the last building he’d seen was out of sight, a much larger and grander building came into view. He immediately knew that this was his destination. Just as Hooyoung’s pace began to slow, the door opened as if on cue.

“Here.”

In that instant, Hooyoung couldn’t help but stop walking. He felt mesmerized. It felt like he had gone back a year and a half, like he was back in the US. Junwook, dressed casually with his hair styled naturally, looked exactly the same as he did back then. The stranger who seemed so distant and difficult to approach was gone, replaced by the person he knew.

“Come in.”

Seeing him frozen, Junwook gestured and called out, but Hooyoung’s feet wouldn’t move easily. Standing in front of the large, impressive building that seemed straight out of a drama, he realized something. The problem wasn’t that Junwook was from a different world, but that he already knew that otherworldly Junwook.

Stepping inside the house, Hooyoung was strangely stiff. The interior was impeccably clean, like a model home. Junwook chuckled softly at the sight of Hooyoung standing rigidly, and Hooyoung, curious about the laughter, turned to look at him.

“No, it’s because you’re barefoot.”

Hooyoung remembered that he had just slipped his feet into his sneakers in his rush to leave. Looking down, he saw his pale, bare feet resting ungracefully on the herringbone patterned wooden floor. They weren’t dirty since he had just showered before leaving, but he felt embarrassed and rubbed his feet against the floor. He glanced at Junwook, who was wearing socks and slippers, making the comparison even more stark.

“I didn’t know I’d be coming inside…”

“I know. I’ll get you some slippers.”

Junwook retrieved slippers from somewhere in the shoe closet and placed them in front of Hooyoung’s feet. The process of slipping his feet into the slippers felt strangely slow. Hooyoung was conscious of Junwook staring at him. Why was he staring like that when they weren’t even that dirty? It was embarrassing.

“What were you doing?”

“…Nothing much. I came back to the dorm, showered, and rested.”

“Sit down.”

At Junwook’s gesture, Hooyoung went and sat on the sofa. He felt uncomfortable. Not because he disliked it, but because they had been intimate in this house before, and it kept bringing back other thoughts, making him uneasy. The fact that they were alone in this spacious house had been on his mind since he stepped inside, making his mouth dry.

“Should I get you something to drink and eat?”

Now that he thought about it, Junwook’s attitude was different from when he had come to the locker room. He had definitely been angry then, as if he was going to scold him, but today he was rather gentle. Why? Hooyoung subtly glanced towards where Junwook had gone. The white-toned kitchen, connected to the living room, was visible at a glance. Junwook was busy opening and closing the refrigerator door, searching for something, and then opening and closing cabinets.

Wow, it’s fully stocked. Hooyoung inwardly expressed pure admiration as he saw the refrigerator and cabinets packed full. Even in this tense moment, these were things that could capture his attention.

“Hello.”

Junwook, who was pouring juice into a glass, answered the phone.

“I got home safely, and I ate. Ah, why is little hyung doing this too? Do you think I’m a child?”

Family, maybe. Even in his blunt tone, the underlying intimacy couldn’t be hidden.

“I keep telling you not to worry, but you keep doing this. No, I said I would do it myself, but sister-in-law has already chosen people to take care of the cleaning and the food? If you do this too, hyung, it’s really difficult for me. Please stop. The refrigerator is about to burst. Seriously, I eat out most of the time, so why did you fill it up so much? It’s such a waste.”

I’m envious. His friends and seniors who lived alone were the same. Unmarried players often received a lot of nourishing food from their parents. When Hooyoung was younger, he had envied his friends whose mothers would come to even away games with food. Very occasionally, when he looked particularly pitiful alone, they would take him to a restaurant with them, and in the next game, he would repay them by giving their sons lots of assists to help them score. It was Hooyoung’s own way of showing gratitude.

“Huh? What is there? Ginseng, what?”

He was the youngest, born much later than his siblings, but it seemed like he had a good relationship with his brothers. Hooyoung looked around the house, then glanced at his own attire, which was very out of place in this setting, as he waited for Junwook. What was he going to talk about? Why did he call him all the way here? Would Junwook be nervous like he was? Seeing him talking on the phone so casually, it didn’t seem likely.

“Ginseng? Ginseng tea? Do I look like a frail old man who’s lost all his energy? Hyung, why are you acting like an old man? Seriously, why did you send such a precious thing here? You should drink it, hyung, you.”

Wow, ginseng. Hooyoung’s eyes sparkled. He tended to put anything considered healthy into his mouth. So chaebols just ate ginseng regularly? If he wasn’t going to drink it, he wished he would just give it to him.

“I’ll return it to whoever sent it, so you know. Just leave it here if you want to watch it rot. I’m hanging up now. I’m busy.”

Ugh, nagging, nagging. Junwook put down his phone, shaking his head, and came back out. Hooyoung’s eyes naturally followed the tray in Junwook’s hands. There was no ginseng tea, but there was a glass of orange juice, a small bowl of obviously expensive fruit, and luxurious-looking cookies.

“Sorry. I knew you were done with practice, but if I don’t answer, I’ll get bombarded with nagging.”

“No, it’s okay. Thank you.”

He bowed his head slightly in gratitude, and Junwook’s disapproving gaze briefly swept over him without his knowledge. Sitting close together like this brought back the uncomfortable and awkward atmosphere. Hooyoung just stared blankly, not touching the juice or anything else. As if needing something to fidget with, Hooyoung scratched the hem of his shorts with his hand, hidden from Junwook’s view.

“Your body seems a bit more toned.”

“Yes?”

Hooyoung’s head shot up. Junwook was looking at his body with a nonchalant expression. He was scrutinizing him so thoroughly that Hooyoung knew exactly where his gaze was lingering. His cool eyes, with their subtle double eyelids, swept over his forearms peeking out from under his short-sleeved t-shirt, then rested on his thighs exposed by his shorts. They briefly grazed his bare ankles and seemed to assess his hips resting on the sofa.

Hooyoung’s heart, which had seemed to calm down a bit, started pounding again, thump, thump. When a familiar face looked at him with that familiar gaze, he couldn’t help but tremble. The inside of his thighs tingled, and his toes tickled.

“You’ve gone red.”

At Junwook’s teasing remark, Hooyoung hurriedly grabbed the juice and gulped it down.

“Um…”

“Huh? Eat something else too. You like these kinds of things, don’t you?”

The bowl beautifully arranged with fruit and cookies was slid towards Hooyoung. Did he like these? He usually avoided overly sweet snacks.

Ah… In the US, that is, at the man’s house, he had tried almost every single one of the snacks because they were all new to him. He had assumed the snacks would also be high-end since everything else in the house was. He must have remembered that.

“Why, why did you want to see me?!”

Oops. His voice rose, betraying his nervousness.

“Ah, that is, I’m not complaining or anything.”

“I get it, so calm down.”

Junwook spoke leisurely, watching Hooyoung flustered and at a loss. He even had the composure to spear a peach slice with a fork and offer it to him. He had simply taken the pre-cut peaches from the refrigerator and arranged them on a plate, but it looked quite impressive.

“Why do you think I called you?”

At Junwook’s question, Hooyoung just blinked his eyes open and closed. He felt like he should choose his words carefully, but more than that, he was conscious of the eyes staring at him, making him pause like a fool.

‘Why does he keep doing this?’

Hooyoung came to his senses belatedly. It felt as if someone had grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and stopped him in his tracks.

He was overly focused on the personal aspects of their relationship when they were now professionally involved as well. This was Korea. It wasn’t the US where he could pretend to be someone else. Here, he carried the weight of countless debts on one shoulder and his grandmother’s medical expenses on the other. He should be more concerned about the potential disadvantages of his relationship with this man than the strange feelings he had for him. He needed to be aware of his place.

“…I’ll make sure you don’t have anything to worry about.”

Junwook’s face, which had held a languid smile, stiffened slightly. Uh oh… Hooyoung’s face, watching his reaction, stiffened as well. His head retreated slightly, like a turtle. Had he misjudged the timing?

“That, what happened in the US, no one knows. Even the friends who went with me, I haven’t told anyone. So you don’t have to worry at all.”

Whew. Junwook sighed and leaned back against the sofa. His body was still facing Hooyoung, one hand supporting his head.

“I’m worried about something else.”

“Yes?”

The shrunken Hooyoung asked back, but Junwook didn’t answer what he was worried about.

“No one knows?”

“Yes. Really, no one knows. No one will know in the future, and I’ll never act like I know anything. I promise. I can even write a pledge if you need.”

“A pledge, my foot. Don’t talk nonsense and just eat.”

Seeing Junwook’s displeasure, Hooyoung quickly shoved the peach slice into his mouth. He had to be obedient. His heart was fluttering with mixed emotions, but the thought that he shouldn’t forget the reality of their situation struck him hard. The man in front of him was now the team owner. The ultimate boss, the super boss. If things went wrong now, his career as a player would be as good as over.

“I didn’t call you to talk about that. It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, and I thought I was too harsh last time, so I called you to apologize in person.”

“Oh…”

Hooyoung was speechless. His mind was in turmoil. His feelings for Junwook were becoming increasingly complex. It would have been better if he’d made him write a pledge not to reveal what happened in the US, or threatened to make his life difficult if his actions caused harm to the company. But an apology?

This was the problem. He was drawn to his relaxed demeanor and good looks, but what truly captivated him was his kind and affectionate personality. Even when he wanted to ignore it and be indifferent, he couldn’t. He didn’t want to be swayed by his emotions, yet he couldn’t help it.

“You don’t have to apologize…”

“I’ll be living here for a while.”

Should I get you more juice? Junwook dropped the bombshell and stood up. Hooyoung was dumbfounded, unsure what he had just heard. Living? Where? Here? Why? Why would someone with a perfectly good house in Seoul live here?

“Why?”

Hooyoung followed Junwook with his eyes as he moved around the kitchen.

“Because of work.”

Ah. Hooyoung nodded as if relieved. Junwook was pouring a different juice into a new glass.

“And because you’re here.”

Hooyoung’s eyes widened as if they would pop out. His heart, which had seemed to be calming down, began to race again. What? What did he mean? Why would he say something like that?

“About the US. Why did you lie?”

Returning to the living room, Junwook placed the new glass in front of Hooyoung and asked in a casual tone, as if making small talk, but Hooyoung’s face immediately darkened. There were several reasons, but being honest would make him seem too pathetic. You know, there are those people you don’t want to appear ridiculous or small in front of. So Hooyoung decided to state only a superficial reason.

“Basketball…”

As he slowly opened his mouth, which didn’t seem to want to cooperate, Junwook leaned in slightly, asking, “Huh?” A pleasant scent wafted towards him. It was refreshing and comforting, yet somehow too luxurious, a scent that didn’t seem to suit him. At the prompting sound of, “Basketball?” Hooyoung quickly collected himself.

“The draft was right around the corner, and I was worried it would become a, a blemish on my pro career…”

“Ah, a blemish?”

Junwook, picking up on the word “blemish,” rested his chin on his hand, which was propped up on the back of the sofa. He looked nonchalant, as if asking if he was being considered a blemish right now.

“…Around that time, my seniors and coaches always told me to be careful about everything. Even a small injury could label me as injury-prone and push me down the ranks, a single fight could make me seem like I had a bad personality and push me down again, dating or going on blind dates could make me seem like I liked to play around and wasn’t diligent, and push me down even further…”

As he spoke, it all sounded like excuses. But shouldn’t this be something he understood?

“It was such an important time for me…”

There were so many people who had expectations for his career, so many people who relied on him. It was a shame that the pressure he felt had exploded onto him like that, but he hadn’t known they would meet again like this. And anyway, since he now held his fate in his hands, wasn’t it not such a bad thing? Hooyoung kept these words to himself. Since meeting Junwook again, he had been swallowing his words more and more.

“Important time?”

“…Yes, well, so, I couldn’t help it.”

His head bowed involuntarily. Junwook, as if there was something fascinating to see, continued staring at him, his chin still resting on his hand. Feeling his gaze, Hooyoung’s head retreated further like a turtle’s, but Junwook didn’t stop. He crossed his legs, looking even more relaxed.

“So, how do you feel seeing me again?”

Why did it feel like he was asking even though he already knew the answer? Hooyoung lifted his head slightly to meet Junwook’s eyes. He didn’t know what kind of answer he was expecting, but he was watching him intently, as if determined to hear something. How did he feel? He was scared, bewildered by how things had turned out, and also, a little excited. Hooyoung’s toes wriggled inside his slippers.

“Huh? I asked how you feel.”

“Surprised, bewildered, and…”

“Is that all? You never thought about me after coming back to Korea?”

He had, but he couldn’t say so.

“I think you probably did.”

Hooyoung closed his mouth.

He knew that the power dynamic in this relationship, whether personal or professional, rested entirely with Junwook. If they had simply met by chance, not as a team owner and player, he would have honestly admitted that he had thought about him. But with their current entanglement, he had to consider the potential repercussions, and he also had to be mindful of Junwook’s intentions, which he couldn’t fully grasp.

Everything about him was tied to basketball, so even a small misstep could make everything disappear like a bubble. If Junwook was the first person Hooyoung had ever been attracted to, basketball was his life.

“Let me ask you this then. Do I still seem like a blemish to you now?”

“What? No?”

At his wide-eyed, horrified expression, Junwook grinned brightly.

“Then it’s fine. You thought about me after coming back to Korea, and I don’t seem like a blemish.”

“Huh?”

“Well, technically, I’m Lee Hooyoung’s boss, and we live close by.”

What was he trying to say? Hooyoung rubbed his sweaty palms on his pants. He just stared at Junwook’s mouth, anticipating the next words.

“Let’s see each other often. Like in the US.”

Blink. Hooyoung blinked his eyes open and closed. Thump. His heart raced.

See each other often? Like in the US?

It was hard to understand what he meant. No, he understood the words themselves, but he couldn’t grasp the meaning.

In the US, they saw each other whenever they wanted, kissed whenever they felt like it, and their bodies intertwined whenever they desired. He had simply followed the momentary pleasure without needing to reveal who he was or what kind of person he was. So was he suggesting they do that? Like that, like back then? But wasn’t it strange to say, “Let’s see each other often”? Why not, “Let’s meet,” or, “Do you want to meet?”

“Tell me if you need anything. I’ll help you if I can.”

“Huh? What does that…”

Help him? With what? His feelings, which had been swelling like a bubble gum, reached their limit and popped! Why would he say this, as if there was something he could ask for help with?

“I’m saying, as a player, Lee Hooyoung, you should try to get whatever you can from me? You said you were scared it would be a blemish on your career. I’m offering to be a bonus, not a blemish.”

Hooyoung found it hard to manage his expression. So, was this a suggestion to be his sex partner or sponsor, something like that? Even though he seemed like he had in the US, the words, “I’ll help you if I can,” no matter how much he thought about it, only sounded like that to him. He wasn’t suggesting they date officially or get to know each other slowly, but rather offering a meeting in exchange for something else. What was that if not being a sponsor?

He just remained silent, lost in thought. This might have been interpreted as a sign of agreement. He didn’t particularly want to speak.

He wanted to ask directly if he was offering to be his sponsor, to get confirmation, but he couldn’t muster the courage. The first reason was that he didn’t know if he was allowed to ask such a thing. The second, more cowardly reason, was that whatever it was, continuing to see him wasn’t bad for him, was it? If he refused here, he would be the only one to lose out, whether in terms of his career or his feelings.

He didn’t know why he was remembering this now, but Hooyoung thought of the herbal medicine he had received from a wealthy friend during his middle school basketball days, when he had been the smallest and skinniest.

His friend had been about to throw away the expensive herbal medicine his parents had bought him, saying it tasted awful, and Hooyoung had asked if he could have it. It had been so bitter and disgusting that he had to suppress his gag reflex to force it down. It was specifically tailored to his friend’s constitution, but when would he ever get to try something like this? He’d thought that it would probably do some good to at least one part of his body. He felt the same way now.

If it wasn’t for this opportunity, he probably wouldn’t have a chance to see this man again.

That night, Hooyoung only left Junwook’s house after finishing all the cookies and having another glass of juice. They didn’t have any deep conversations. Junwook, too, seemed to be focusing on slowly rebuilding their relationship, only bringing up light topics like how he had been and how his player life was going. But the occasional glances, the brief pauses in their conversation, and the glimpses of his casual demeanor, seen for the first time in a while, made Hooyoung’s heart flutter uncontrollably. He couldn’t hide his anticipation of what would happen next, what they would do next.

🏀

Most athletes have their own routines. Hooyoung was no exception. He had various routines, from his daily habits to his pre- and post-game rituals. Usually, he woke up 30 minutes before training, did some light stretching, brushed his teeth, and then left his room. Early in his professional debut, full of enthusiasm, he had tried to incorporate early morning workouts, but perhaps because he was a heavy sleeper, it was difficult to maintain. He eventually gave up after about two weeks because he felt like the fatigue was disrupting his body’s balance. It seemed that sticking to the routine he’d followed since he was young suited him best.

Recently, however, a new habit had been added to Hooyoung’s routine. It was too trivial to be called a routine, but too frequent to be dismissed as nothing. It happened almost every day.

“Hello.”

Hooyoung, fresh from brushing his teeth, wiped his mouth haphazardly and quickly picked up his phone. Even in his still sleepy voice, the underlying emotion couldn’t be masked. He didn’t want to admit it, but it was excitement.

—Oh, you’re done washing up?

“Yes.”

—See, I’m getting the timing right now.

Hooyoung chuckled softly. Junwook had a knack for making people misunderstand. It was too frequent contact for a sex partner or sponsor. Of course, due to his busy schedule, they rarely spoke more than once a day, but the texts were constant. Just like a couple starting out. Initially, he had wondered if this contact was also part of “seeing each other like in the US,” but as time went on, Hooyoung had no time for such thoughts. With his already hectic training schedule, the sudden addition of Junwook had made him extremely busy and preoccupied.

“Are you going to work?”

Hooyoung was only twenty-four, having graduated from college just last year. Moreover, during his prime school and college years, he hadn’t dated even once, focusing solely on basketball. This situation of exchanging messages with someone every day was a first for him. Furthermore, this person was someone he had been attracted to at first sight, someone he had already been intimate with. He didn’t have the time to ponder how to define their relationship or what the implications were. He was simply swept along by the rush of emotions.

—No, I went to work earlier. What time do you think it is? I came back to Seoul yesterday. I can only slack off when I’m on a business trip and can take it easy.

Perhaps he didn’t want to think too deeply about it. He just liked having something else to focus on. Thinking about Junwook was the only thing he could do besides worrying about his performance, the pressure of his debts, and his sick grandmother.

Junwook was extremely busy. The day after he said he would be living here, he was off to Jeju Island. It seemed that with officially starting work in Korea, there were many places he had to show his face and many places that wanted him. They hadn’t properly met since that night, only talking on the phone.

—Anyway, so I’m going there today.

Hooyoung, who had the phone tucked between his shoulder and ear while changing into his training clothes, tilted his head slightly. He still wasn’t completely comfortable with him like he had been in the US. It was understandable. Back then, he had been ignorant of everything and their time together was limited, so he had simply followed his heart. Now, he couldn’t help but be more reserved. It was genuine sincerity stemming from his heart.

“…Are you coming today?”

—Yes.

“You’re not busy anymore?”

He barely managed to suppress the sudden urge to gulp, but even though it couldn’t have been audible, Junwook’s low chuckle came through the receiver.

—Yeah. I don’t have any business trips for a while, I just have to stay there, going back and forth between work and home, focusing on my own tasks, and besides, tomorrow is the weekend, and Lee Hooyoung doesn’t have training, right?

“Ah, yes.”

—Yes?

“Yes? Yes?!”

He was easily pushed and easily swayed. Whenever he talked to Junwook, Hooyoung felt like he became a clueless fool. Even though he was usually quite competent during training. As Junwook had said, today was Friday, the end of a week of training, and tomorrow was the start of his free weekend. Junwook, who had been busy with business trips and other things for two weeks, communicating only through calls, had also returned. The awkward distance between them had lessened considerably through their consistent phone calls.

—I’ll be heading in early. You can come over after training, just like last time. Don’t worry, there won’t be anyone in the security post after 5.

The words, “Don’t worry,” were so sweet that Hooyoung briefly entertained the audacious thought, just a thought, of skipping his night practice. This was something he had never even imagined during his entire basketball career.

There’s a phrase basketball players love to use during games: “and one.” When a foul is called simultaneously with a shot, and if the shot goes in, the basket counts, and the player gets one additional free throw due to the foul (the “and one”). There’s nothing better than getting an extra point. So, they chant, “And one!” all the time as if it were a magic spell, and whenever a defending player gets even slightly close, they commonly ask the referee, “Isn’t that a foul? Isn’t that an and one?”

“Whoa, what the heck, Bipi! He’s on fire today?!”

His teammates shouted from the bench. Hooyoung, in the middle of a practice game, was already on his fourth “and one.” It wasn’t that the foul calls were generous, but rather that all of Hooyoung’s strange shots were going in. Even shots thrown off-balance in mid-air after being fouled were swishing through the net, drawing admiration from everyone.

“Wow, Bipi’s throwing a lot of circus shots today. Giving everyone a good show.”

It was an off-season practice game against a college basketball team. With the difference in skill level, the professional team was naturally expected to win, but it was still a remarkable performance considering his playing time of just over 15 minutes. He was simply in great condition.

Hooyoung, receiving the substitution signal, came off the court with a bright smile. He high-fived his teammates on the bench one by one and sat down cheerfully. Even he was satisfied with his performance today.

“Bipi! You seem even faster somehow.”

Hojin nudged his shoulder and whispered.

“I have to be fast, since I’m short.”

He spoke gruffly, pretending to be indifferent, but he was a little thrilled. It was his first off-season experiencing systematic body conditioning as a professional. Although the trainers had said he didn’t seem to be the type to build muscle easily, he had worked hard to gain muscle that best suited his physique and playing style. He wasn’t sure if it was gradually taking effect, but he definitely felt more power in his running and shooting today.

“You little Bipi! You’ve been eating something good on your own, haven’t you? Confess. The team’s been giving you special supplements since you’re the ace, right?!”

Hojin, tall both standing and sitting, leaned in close, his ear practically glued to Hooyoung’s.

“Ah, what are you talking about?”

Hooyoung waved his hand dismissively as if shooing away an annoying mosquito. Supplements? He couldn’t even afford a common multivitamin.

“Stop! Don’t bother me.”

“No, you’ve been in a good mood lately. Did your grandmother get any better?”

“Hey, hey, the coach is calling you.”

Hooyoung, seeing the coach and assistant coaches gesturing first, slapped Hojin’s thigh repeatedly, urging him to go. Hojin, startled, hurriedly took off his shirt and stood up. The practice game against the college team was a valuable opportunity for sixth men like Hojin to get more playing time.

Had he really been that noticeably happy? Hooyoung wondered as he wiped the sweat from his face with a towel. His buoyant mood, pleased with his light and agile body, subsided abruptly. If he had to point to a noticeable recent change, it seemed that his relationship and interactions with Junwook had a greater impact than his consistent training. He was a little excited and thrilled, but it felt strange to admit that those things had improved his play.

Hojin bringing up his grandmother also contributed to his subdued mood. The thought that he had been more focused on communicating with Junwook than his grandmother, who should always be his top priority, made him feel strange. It was all difficult to explain clearly.

“Bipi!”

“Yes!”

The coach’s loud call erased all distracting thoughts. He was still too young to think about multiple things at once, and too busy just trying to keep up with what was right in front of him.

Returning to his dorm after completing his night training, Hooyoung showered and changed clothes. He didn’t make the mistake of wearing shabby loungewear like last time. Although he didn’t have many clothes, he chose a clean t-shirt and cotton pants. He also made sure to put on his cleanest and softest socks, the memory of his bare feet being embarrassing still vivid.

It was obvious that he would be sleeping with Junwook today. Because Junwook had said they would see each other like in the US. That was how their relationship had started, and that was why it continued. It would be absurd if they didn’t do anything tonight.

Hooyoung decided to let his feelings of excitement coexist with the reality of their unavoidable relationship. He had lived his whole life as the underdog. The underdog had his own way of doing things. If everything, from beginning to end, was dictated by the dominant party, the underdog had to find satisfaction within those confines. Others might call it rationalization, but this was the underdog’s way.

[I’m leaving now.]

As soon as he sent the message, the read notification popped up. Stepping out in his sneakers, he was greeted by the dark hallway. Like any other Friday night, it was deserted.

Most players didn’t do much night training on Friday evenings during the off-season. They left early to spend the weekend with their families or partners. He was always alone in this large clubhouse on weekends. He sometimes visited his grandmother, and occasionally met with Hojin or his college friends, but he overwhelmingly spent his weekends inside. Going out meant spending money.

He didn’t get lost, having been there once before. The path felt familiar, like he had walked it countless times. His heart wasn’t pounding like crazy as it had on his first visit. He thought it might be because he had gotten somewhat used to it through their constant communication, or perhaps he had gained a strange confidence because his day had gone so smoothly.

The center and the training center were also quiet, as expected on a Friday. As Junwook had said, there was no one in the security post at the entrance. In addition to the innermost building where Junwook was staying, there were two other detached buildings, which were also quiet both then and now. He had probably been called over because they were empty, but the buildings seemed too nice to be left vacant.

“You’re here?”

The door opened as if he had been watching for his arrival. Junwook, leaning against the door with one hand, looked impressive as always. He had a slight smile, making it seem like he had been waiting for him, whether it was true or not. That night, when he first came here, both his heart and his steps had stopped, but today, they quickened instead. Hooyoung lengthened his stride, quickly approaching him. He forced his legs, which wanted to run, to calm down.

“Come in.”

Junwook opened the door wider, letting him in, and gently stroked the back of his head. The house was cool, as if the air conditioning had been turned on beforehand. As Hooyoung lowered his head to hide his flushed face and began to take off his shoes, Junwook spoke.

“You did your night training too? Did it go well?”

Hooyoung, who had taken off one shoe, flinched and looked up, meeting Junwook’s eyes.

“Why?”

Hooyoung hesitated, his mouth opening and closing.

“Even after all those phone calls, you’re still so awkward. Just tell me.”

Junwook lightly flicked his index and middle fingers against Hooyoung’s forehead. His clear, blemish-free skin, round eyes, and round nose tip didn’t fit the image of an athlete in a contact sport.

“Why?”

Junwook’s hand brushed back the hair falling over Hooyoung’s forehead. Reuniting with someone he had been intimate with was always precarious like this. They weren’t strangers, yet there was a certain unfamiliarity, and an odd tension hung between them whenever things felt a bit awkward.

“…It feels like you’re inspecting me.”

“Huh? Well, uh…”

He had asked if his training went well because he had just come from practice, but given Junwook’s position, Hooyoung couldn’t take it lightly. He’d hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was okay to say that, and then just blurted it out, but Junwook didn’t seem offended. He chuckled and moved the hand that had been stroking his hair down to caress his cheek.

“Just be one or the other, a fox or a puppy, just one.”

“Yes?”

He asked back, not quite catching the murmured words, but Junwook didn’t answer and gently pushed him towards the living room. Hooyoung, still struggling with his other shoe, managed to take it off and stumbled backward as he was pushed.

“What, does it feel like the team owner is inspecting whether a player trained hard or not?”

“I know it’s not like that, but still…”

Junwook, leading him to the sofa by his wrist, naturally, as if it were a prearranged agreement, tried to pull Hooyoung onto his lap.

“Oh, oh! Wait a second.”

Even though he knew what they were going to do today, even though the awkwardness had subsided somewhat, this close physical contact had been a while. He couldn’t help but fluster, even if he didn’t want to.

“Why?”

Why? Wouldn’t it be stranger to just casually sit on his lap? Or not? Did people at this age like being bold? Or was it just Junwook’s personal preference? Was he like this before? As Hooyoung stared at him with a slightly confused expression, Junwook let out a small laugh and quickly pulled him onto his lap.

Hooyoung’s face flushed a little, but he settled down comfortably. Junwook liked physical affection. Hooyoung had spent every single day of the ten days of free time given at the end of his training camp in the US at Junwook’s house. Even while sleeping, Junwook would hold him close, and when they were sitting together, he would often lean against him. He would stare at him and then touch him. Hooyoung would be momentarily flustered, but then he would quietly lean into the touch. Because he liked it.

“Feels good, right?”

“Yes.”

At the immediate reply, Junwook grinned.

“See, doing this definitely makes you more comfortable.”

“Not really, extremely, but it kind of does…”

The kind and affectionate man from the US, whose name he hadn’t needed to know, and Junwook, the team owner in an expensive suit he’d seen in Korea, were flickering before his eyes. This would probably be the burden and worry he would have to carry throughout his relationship with Junwook. He wanted to forget it easily, but it would pop up unexpectedly, making him feel uneasy.

“I’m not asking as the team owner, and I’m not in a position to be curious about how a mere player’s training went. I’m asking because I’m curious about Lee Hooyoung. Did training go well? Was it fun?”

Large hands began to caress his body smoothly, like a snake slithering over a wall. Players patted and nudged each other all the time, praising each other’s good work, but Hooyoung couldn’t understand why Junwook’s touch felt different. Was it because he was sitting on his lap, making eye contact? Or was it because the hand that had been stroking the back of his head was now slowly tracing down his back, over his hips, and around his buttocks and pelvis?

“It went well. It was fun…”

“What did you do?”

“Today we had a practice game against Hongseodae, ate here, and then did night training…”

Hooyoung gathered the courage to place his hand on Junwook’s shoulder. His frame was naturally broad and firm, and it felt good to the touch. If he had a frame like this, even though he was small, it would have been much more advantageous for playing.

“Did you score a lot? I heard you’re the ace.”

Hooyoung’s eyes widened.

“You looked into it?”

“Yeah. I was curious. They say you’re a genius? First pick in the first round.”

A smile spread across Hooyoung’s face. Praise was always nice, but somehow, being praised by Junwook felt different. His tension melted away in an instant. Hooyoung himself didn’t realize it, but his body leaned closer to Junwook. Junwook’s hands behind him became busier.

“My body felt good today, so I played well. I didn’t play much, but I scored quite a bit and received a lot of praise.”

“Really?”

As his expression relaxed, so did his body. The gently caressing hands suddenly lifted Hooyoung up and softly laid him down on the sofa.

“Um, excuse me.”

He hadn’t known what to call him in the US, so he had just used generic terms like, “Excuse me,” or “Hey you.” Now he knew who he was, but still didn’t know what to call him, so Hooyoung just blurted out whatever came to mind. Junwook, busy slipping his hands under his clothes and caressing him, didn’t seem to mind.

“Yeah.”

While maintaining eye contact with Hooyoung, his hands continued to explore his body, muttering, “You’ve definitely changed, much firmer. You used to be much softer.”

“You came that day.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

Junwook, having already shed his own shirt, leaned close over Hooyoung and asked,

“When?”

“The day you came to the locker room…”

“Ah, yeah.”

Junwook, about to kiss him, suddenly pulled back and grinned. Hooyoung straightened up, following his movement. His hands were still unconsciously resting on Junwook’s shoulders. He had a lean and toned physique, but now that his bare skin was exposed, his broad frame was clearly visible, making the touch even more pleasant.

“Did you see me that day? Practicing?”

The day Junwook had suddenly appeared and taken a seat in the stands during his night practice. He’d finished a set, focused on his training, and when he turned around, Junwook was gone. He had barged into the locker room later and met him there, but he had been curious about Junwook’s expression at that moment when he had turned around. How had he seen him playing basketball? It felt awkward to ask directly, so he had to bring it up now, when they were a little more comfortable, when his mind was slightly captivated.

Junwook probably had a lot going for him, with his family, his career, and everything else, but all Hooyoung had to show was basketball. It was the only thing that could add a little weight to his side in their acknowledged unequal relationship. He just wanted Junwook to see him as impressive.

“I did.”

Junwook stared at Hooyoung and then gently stroked his face. His eyes were shining so brightly, as if expecting a certain answer, that he couldn’t help but reach out. Why were his eyes so bright and endearing, like a little puppy?

“You were good. All your shots were going in. Your dribbling was incredibly fast, too.”

Just as Hooyoung’s eyes crinkled and his lips curved upwards at the praise he had wanted to hear, Junwook pulled him into a tight embrace. As Junwook lay back, Hooyoung ended up on top of him. Their lips met and their mouths intertwined passionately. It was their first kiss in exactly a year and a half.

Hooyoung cupped Junwook’s cheeks and deepened the kiss. When lying on top of each other like this, the person on top usually led the kiss, and Hooyoung was doing quite well. He had learned everything from his first kiss to holding someone’s cheeks while kissing and intertwining tongues from Junwook. He remembered Junwook gently easing the mood so he wouldn’t feel embarrassed when he was just awkwardly pressing their lips together.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

During a brief pause for breath, Junwook asked, as if confirming. Their lips were almost touching, a wet moment where it was impossible to tell whose saliva was whose. At their age, well-acquainted with the acts of intimacy between naked bodies, this wet moment couldn’t be described as innocent, but it was slightly sensual, slightly arousing. He hadn’t been entirely sure what would happen next, what Junwook wanted from him since they’d met again, but at this moment, the next steps were clear. They would take off the rest of their clothes, their lips would meet again, and they would touch each other’s bodies.

“…I like it.”

Whether dissatisfied with Hooyoung leading the kiss or wanting to change positions, Junwook gripped his waist and sat up. Hooyoung was now sitting facing him on his lap.

Sexual desire was what allowed people to act wildly without a single drop of alcohol. However, Junwook was a thirty-four-year-old who could skillfully control it, while Hooyoung was a twenty-four-year-old whose body wasn’t entirely under his control. As the half-lidded Hooyoung leaned in for another kiss, Junwook quickly pulled his face back, preventing it.

“…”

Hooyoung pouted and tried to pull Junwook’s face towards him again. Junwook dodged again.

“Why…”

Seeing his eyes drooping, almost spilling onto his cheeks, Junwook chuckled softly and reached up to caress his cheek.

“Well.”

“…Why are you stopping me?”

He was stopping the kiss, but his other hand, the one not holding his face, had slipped inside his shirt. The gentle caress of his bare back sent shivers down his spine.

Many people had stroked his back like this. His grandmother, countless coaches, and even more teammates and seniors had touched and caressed his back throughout his life. But none of them had evoked this feeling. This ticklish feeling in his chest, the burning sensation in his stomach. The feeling of wanting to be touched more, wanting other places to be touched.

Finding Hooyoung’s squirming amusing, Junwook, who had been stroking his back with a smile, brought his hand forward.

“You’ve gotten a bit firmer, but you still don’t have a six-pack. I kind of like it this way, too.”

He should have responded to the playful remark, but Hooyoung didn’t have time. The hand that had been on his stomach moved upwards before he could even finish speaking. A gulp echoed as Hooyoung swallowed. Junwook chuckled again, but the hand that had moved up to his chest didn’t retreat.

“Don’t you work on your chest muscles? This is the same.”

Junwook asked, kneading his chest as if he were kneading dough. He felt like there would definitely be red handprints on his chest if he took his shirt off. It didn’t hurt. He was just busy suppressing his gasps, his chest constricting under the strong, firm grip, which would then soften as if asking if he’d hurt him. He didn’t need to check to know that his nipples, being rolled between Junwook’s fingers, were already hard and erect.

“Huh? Don’t you work on them?”

“…I don’t, I don’t know.”

When Junwook pinched his nipple hard, Hooyoung’s waist bucked involuntarily. He should have said that guards, who needed to shoot, focused more on strength training and balance exercises rather than bulking up, but he couldn’t focus enough to form the words. He was much more eager to continue what they were doing. He’d never thought he would act so lustful. He had often been told he seemed like a prude, and asked if he was even an athlete.

A thumb began to rub his nipple sensually. It traced a circle around the hardened, goosebump-covered skin and then pressed down on his nipple, meeting Hooyoung’s gaze. The peak of his chest tingled where all his nerves were concentrated.

“Would the bed be better?”

Hooyoung didn’t mind whether it was the bed or the sofa, so he just nodded and leaned in, finally capturing Junwook’s lips again. It was a short, light kiss, but he was satisfied that Junwook didn’t pull away this time. As Junwook chuckled at each of Hooyoung’s moves and slid his hand further inside his shirt to take it off, his hand brushed against something.

“You’re completely impatient, uh…”

Junwook stopped mid-sentence as his hand landed somewhere. His eyes, which had been relaxed until now, narrowed slightly as he looked at Hooyoung. Hooyoung, who had been almost melting against him, sensed something was wrong and widened his eyes questioningly.

“…Why?”

Junwook’s expression was strange. His raised eyebrows conveyed a look of bewilderment. Hooyoung, clueless, just blinked. What could possibly make him stop mid-kiss, in the middle of undressing him? Then, Junwook’s hand, still inside his shirt, moved again from the spot where it had stopped. However, the movement was slightly different from before. The hand that had been sticky and clinging was now tentatively exploring, as if checking something.

Huh? What was he checking? It was his armpit, but he had just showered, he hadn’t even broken a sweat yet, so why… Hooyoung’s eyes widened. His body froze.

“Uh…”

Junwook’s expression turned strange, his head tilting slightly.

“Uh, uh… W-wait a second!”

The startled Hooyoung almost yelled. He scrambled to get away, but Junwook was a fraction of a second faster. He grabbed Hooyoung’s arm as he nearly threw himself off the sofa.

“You…”

“No! Don’t say anything!”

Hooyoung cut him off. His face burned crimson. It was something he hadn’t even thought about because it had become so natural. There had been a change in his body after returning from the US that Junwook didn’t know about.

“I, I, that is, let me explain.”

“Why isn’t it there?”

Junwook seemed to be both amused and perplexed. His grip on Hooyoung’s arm tightened considerably.

“It was there before. It was there in the US, definitely.”

That was right. It had been there then, but it wasn’t there now.

“Why isn’t there anything in your armpit?”

At the words that finally escaped Junwook’s lips, Hooyoung could only open and close his mouth wordlessly, like a fish out of water. That’s right, there was no hair. Not a single one, not even a trace.

“Hey.”

As the nearly crimson-faced Hooyoung stammered, Junwook made the first move. Before Hooyoung could even wriggle away, he pushed him back onto the sofa and started undressing him. In a blink, his t-shirt was somewhere on the living room floor.

“No, that is!”

Junwook easily overpowered the professional athlete and pinned his arms above his head. Hooyoung’s armpits were exposed, white and smooth without a trace of hair. Hooyoung turned his head sharply, avoiding Junwook’s gaze.

“If you don’t tell me quickly, I’ll start imagining things.”

What kind of things? Hooyoung felt like crying, as if he had been mistaken for some kind of pervert. That was the extent of his thoughts.

“That is… the guys kept…”

“Guys?”

Junwook’s expression hardened further with each word Hooyoung uttered.

“You said you were focused on basketball before the draft.”

“Yes? Yes.”

Why was he bringing that up? Mortified by his exposed armpit, Hooyoung answered vaguely.

“But you had time to play around with other guys?”

“What?”

Hooyoung frowned slightly. He couldn’t understand what Junwook was saying at all. Why was he talking about other guys and playing around? Junwook’s grip on his wrists tightened painfully. Was he angry because there was no hair? Did he prefer having hair? Hooyoung’s face fell dramatically.

“…Do you like it better with hair?”

What was he saying? Junwook looked utterly bewildered.

“Whether I like it or not is a different issue.”

Junwook, sitting on top of him, preventing him from moving, urged him to speak quickly. His eyes kept flicking between Hooyoung’s face and his smooth, white armpits.

“Are you going to tell me or not?”

How could he just casually explain with him glaring like that? Especially about such a sensitive issue. Feeling strangely wronged, Hooyoung fidgeted with his lips before finally speaking.

“That is, because I sweat a lot… I often get rashes and things like heat rash…”

Even though basketball was an indoor sport played with heaters in the winter and air conditioning in the summer, he sweat profusely when running around like crazy. It was commonplace for players to slip on the sweat on the court. And the most troublesome areas were the hairy parts. This was a problem not only for him but for all players with sensitive skin.