By Zephyria 
A severe sprain appearing to be between grade 2 and 3.
This was the team doctor’s initial opinion after observing the injured area visually. Saying that the details would be known after an examination, he left to prepare the diagnostic equipment. Left alone in the infirmary, Aaron, who had stretched his leg out on the bed and leaned his back against the metal headboard, muttered in a tone as nonchalant as his posture.
“I guess I can’t go to the A Match again.”
“…That’s not the only thing.”
With a grade 2 sprain, it would take at least four weeks for Aaron to return, no matter how fast his recovery speed was. If it were a grade 3 sprain where the ligament was completely torn… at this point in mid-March, it would be a season-out.
Je-rim, leaning his elbows on the edge of the bed, buried his face in his palms. Seeing Je-rim unable to hide his distress, Aaron laughed softly.
“Ever since I got injured last time, this ankle has been giving me trouble… it was bound to happen. It’s actually a relief it happened early. If I recover well, I can play from the Champions quarterfinals onward.”
“By ‘last time,’ do you mean that Portugal friendly?”
“No, even before that. When I was sidelined for the season. Come to think of it, it was around this time then, too.”
“…”
Je-rim bit his lip hard enough to make a cracking sound. Imagining Aaron suffering from an even more serious injury in a place where he wasn’t present, an indescribable emotion surged within him.
It was a different kind of feeling from what he had felt the day before the variety show filming, when he saw Aaron recount his injury story so calmly. Would it be appropriate to describe it as his heart tightening to the point of rattling?
Because of this… he didn’t know why he had boasted that he would accept Aaron if he proved himself. He had delayed the timing because he feared that dating Aaron during this most critical period would make him lose his focus again, but whether they dated or not, didn’t he end up losing his focus whenever it came to problems involving Aaron?
He had tried not to like him in the first place for fear of this… but that was a settled matter, not worth thinking about further. It was a worry he had discarded the moment he personally uttered the words that he would give in.
What could he do when he felt anxious every time words suggesting an end came from the mouth of a man he thought he had broken up with ages ago, and Aaron said he hadn’t met anyone because he couldn’t find anyone he was attracted to other than his first love for ten years? Whether it turned into a disaster or a success, he had to start over.
But for this season at least, he couldn’t let it become a disaster. With about two months left until the end of the season, it would be a waste of everything they had achieved to mess it up now. Because they had both worked truly hard. Both Aaron and himself.
So… he wished this guy would stop getting hurt.
When Aaron was injured, it was a great loss in terms of strength, but since it also made the mental state of Je-rim, another pillar of the team, as soft as tofu, it was a double loss for Sefton. Je-rim glanced at the ankle wrapped in bandages and pressed down on the corner of his lips that were curling up.
“…Are you happy? What’s so funny that you’re smirking?”
He had made the other person’s insides a mess. Repeated ankle injuries were fatal for a player, so Aaron’s own insides must be a mess too; Je-rim couldn’t understand why he was laughing. Nevertheless, Aaron pulled Je-rim’s hand and kissed it as if nipping it, his eyes curving.
“Yeah. Sometimes, when you can’t hide how much you like me like this… I feel like I’m going crazy because I love it.”
Hit right where it hurt, Je-rim subtly avoided his gaze.
“…Even if we were just teammates, of course I would have been worried…”
“You should have seen your expression when you were scolding Reman for falling with me earlier.”
Aaron poked at the thing Je-rim had been mindful of second only to the injury. Reflecting on his previous behavior, which had been more like pouring out rage than giving a lecture, Je-rim let his eyelids droop weakly.
“…Was I a bit too harsh?”
“What do you mean ‘a bit’? But it was cool. I like it.”
“No, stop giving me answers that sound like you’ve lost your mind and be serious…”
“Is there a need to be serious? You already know the answer anyway.”
Though his lips were smiling, his amber eyes held a calm light. That gaze seemed to provide the answer while simultaneously soothing him, telling him not to blame himself. To Je-rim, who let out a groan of distress, Aaron added secretively, as if making a confession.
“And… actually, I poked him a bit first in the restroom. Maybe that’s why Reman got excited too…”
“You little bastard!”
Je-rim immediately slapped Aaron’s lips, which he had been tenderly touching. Aaron grabbed Je-rim’s wrist and hurriedly pretended to be weak.
“Je-rim, I’m a patient.”
“What did you say to poke him? Just what the hell did you do? Right, I knew you’d be like this. I knew you’d eventually pay back in full. That mouth of yours!”
The thought flashed through his mind that he had to fix this habit once and for all. Unswayed by Aaron’s aegyo, Je-rim raised his other hand and smacked Aaron’s back. He had expected that Aaron wouldn’t have just given career counseling, but if the expression ‘poked’ came out of that mouth, he wondered just how much he had rubbed the other person’s nerves raw.
The guilt of having been excessively angry at Reman without knowing this made Je-rim even more furious. He couldn’t shake the unpleasant feeling that, as the captain, he had let his private emotions lead him to vent his anger. And on a kid who followed him around because he liked him…
It was then.
“…Can I come in for a moment?”
A faint voice and a knock were heard together from outside the infirmary. To welcome the sudden visitor, Je-rim sat back down in the chair. Aaron, rubbing his reddened lips with the back of his hand, gave permission.
“Come in.”
Whether he had been sternly scolded by Coach Verdi or simply felt ashamed, Reman had his head bowed low. Approaching right in front of Aaron and Je-rim with polite steps, Reman offered an apology.
“I’m sorry, Reyes, and Jerry. I was wrong. Without any excuse, I…”
Aaron gave a small tilt of his chin, as if telling Je-rim to speak first. Je-rim stole a glance at the red eyes faintly visible above the bowed face and lightly patted Reman’s back.
“What did the coach say? Did you have a good talk?”
“Yeah, he said he’ll handle it quietly, so I should reflect on my actions…”
“Right, I heard the gist of it from Aaron. You probably had a lot built up over time, but… forget it. You’ve already heard this kind of lecture from the coach. Talk among yourselves.”
There was no need to add more nagging, and anything further was Aaron’s part. As Je-rim stood up to make space, Aaron looked up at Reman, swinging his injured leg gently.
“So you’ve stolen my starting spot for a while, huh?”
“Aaron!”
There was no need to speak to someone who came to apologize in that manner. As Je-rim tried to stop him, Reman blocked him.
“…I didn’t intend for that to happen, though you might not believe it. Anyway, I’m sorry. I’ll definitely make it up to you personally.”
“I don’t have a hobby of taking pocket change.”
Aaron chuckled as if it were ridiculous and continued in an arrogant posture with his arms crossed.
“Since you’ve taken it, try your best. Then I might as well forgive you.”
At that, both Je-rim and Reman stared at Aaron with bewildered eyes. Aaron calmly accepted the two pairs of obvious, piercing gazes.
“I came to Sefton to win the Big Ear with Je-rim. But as you can see, I’m missing the entire quarter-finals because of you, so don’t you think you should take responsibility?”
“…Is that really all you want?”
“What do you mean ‘all’? Isn’t the match result the most important thing for a player?”
“…….”
Seeing Reman’s mouth crumple as if he were about to cry again, Je-rim quietly left the infirmary. It was no longer an atmosphere he could be involved in. Every time this happened, Je-rim felt anew that Aaron didn’t hold the position of National Team captain just for show. After waiting for a while, Reman finally opened the door and stepped out.
Leading the slumped-shouldered Reman to sit beside him, Je-rim cleared his throat to bring up the words he hadn’t finished.
“Sorry. I was excited earlier and said some harsh things… Wait, your elbow is bleeding.”
“Ah, uh-huh. It’s okay, this much is….”
Only then did he notice Reman’s elbow soaked in blood. Red stains were visible through the loosely wrapped bandages and his sleeve. It seemed blood was still flowing despite having been staunched once. He finally remembered William mentioning that the bleeding needed to be stopped.
Thinking back, both of them had fallen so hard that Aaron’s ankle, caught in between, had twisted; there was no way only one of them would be unscathed. Feeling guilty, Je-rim made a bigger fuss and grabbed Reman’s arm.
“What do you mean it’s okay! Isn’t it torn? Give me your arm.”
Je-rim lifted a piece of his clothing and rolled it into his palm, and just as he was about to wipe away the blood seeping from under the bandage, Reman jerked his arm away. An awkward silence flowed between them for a while.
“…From now on, I’d like you to refrain from things like stroking my head or touching me… It’s absolutely not because I dislike Jerry….”
For once, Reman broke the silence first. After hesitating while conveying his thoughts, he took a breath and looked straight at Je-rim.
“Is the offer still valid—the one where you told me to speak up if I was confident I could handle the aftermath? Is it okay to do it now?”
“…Do it.”
It was obvious how nervous he was, as his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down repeatedly. Je-rim waited in silence until that constantly moving Adam’s apple vibrated with a low voice.
“I like you. You probably already knew…. Not in the sense of liking you as a teammate or respecting you as a Sunbae…. No, at first I thought it was admiration.”
“…….”
“But it wasn’t that kind of feeling. I only realized it after coming to Sefton because I wanted to play with you.”
Unlike someone confessing, a bitter smile spread across Reman’s face.
“And I’ve decided to accept… that Jerry can never feel the same way about me.”
“…That’s right. I can’t like you in that way. I’ve never even thought about it. I’m sorry.”
In contrast, Je-rim’s face was devoid of even a faint trace of a smile. Since he was the one who told him to speak up when he was confident he could handle the aftermath, it was now Je-rim’s turn to handle it. Seriously.
“I’m sorry for reacting emotionally earlier, for only looking after Aaron when you were hurt too, and for rejecting you now. I want to express this in better words, but things like this need to be firm.”
“Yeah… I know. That’s what I liked about you.”
“Why are there so many people with peculiar tastes around me? I don’t understand.”
Je-rim grumbled, truly unable to comprehend why Reman was smiling and saying he liked that, despite having a face that looked like he could cry at any moment. Moreover, why did he choose to suffer emotionally by liking someone like him? At that, Reman began to chuckle openly. Seeing his face look much more relaxed, Je-rim donned his playfulness once again.
“Anyway, since you confessed, that means you’re confident you can handle the aftermath, right?”
Quickly grasping the hidden meaning of the question, Reman nodded vigorously.
“I’ll work hard. I’ll play with everything I’ve got until Reyes is fully recovered. Of course, I won’t do anything to put Jerry in a difficult position from now on. I’ll be careful not to make a mistake like today again.”
“Right, good bo— ah.”
Je-rim, who had habitually tried to stroke his head, paused the moment Reman leaned far back. Reman sat with a slight distance between them and reminded him once more.
“So I hope Jerry also pays attention to the things I requested earlier.”
“Sorry. I’ll be careful. But a handshake is okay, right?”
“Uh-huh.”
Soon, a dry handshake followed.
“Good luck with the A Match. Be careful, and extra careful about injuries. Get your elbow treated before you go.”
“Yeah, you too, Jerry.”
Even that, the time their hands held and shook, was but a fleeting moment. Reman stood up, being the first to pull away his hand, which was still stained with grass and dust. Je-rim offered a quiet word of encouragement to Reman’s back.
“Aaron said this too… but I think you’ll become the greatest among forwards your age. So keep working hard.”
“Yeah, thanks. Well then… bye.”
They would see each other again in two weeks at most, but it wasn’t just his imagination that it sounded like a final farewell. While he would continue to face Reman in the future, they certainly couldn’t return to the relationship they had before, so in a sense, it was the end. However, it was a quite refreshing end.
“Phew….”
Leaning the back of his head against the hard wall with his gaze toward the ceiling, Je-rim let out a long sigh. Aaron’s injury remained a distressing problem, but this particular sigh was one of relief.
With this, most of the major problems that had been giving Je-rim a headache recently were resolved. Aaron, the subtle dip in performance, the second leg against Tavarona, and even the issue with Reman.
Now, only one remained….
“Seriously, why did you do that, Coach….”
If only such an unpleasant incident hadn’t happened, he would have lived his life serving him as a lifelong respected mentor and a reliable business partner. Muttering to himself—something he rarely did—Je-rim steeled his heart.
It was time to resolve the final remaining problem.
✲✲✲
The results of Aaron’s detailed examination were delivered only after Je-rim arrived in Korea.
Severe grade 2 sprain. Expected return period: 6 to 8 weeks. The hopeful news was that the ligament wasn’t completely ruptured, so surgery wasn’t necessary, and that Aaron’s physical recovery ability was monstrously good. As soon as the news of Aaron’s injury broke, the fans naturally went wild.
Injury at this time??
What the fuck is this??
⤷ Ah fuck, seriously, what is this
⤷ This is driving me crazy, doesn’t this mean he’s out for almost two months? Ha;;
⤷⤷ No no, Aaron’s recovery is on the better side, so it won’t take two months,,
What kind of training were they doing
Is the manager crazy? Is saying it was an injury during training all there is? Shouldn’t he be fired?
⤷ Exactly fr, what kind of training did they do right before the A Match for an ankle to go out;
⤷ There are so many ways to ruin a team, damn it
⤷ Verdi never did this… let’s wait for the official conference for now
Fired? What fired, you clueless idiots
You want to fire Verdi at a time when even Aaron is out? ㅋㅋㅋ Stop being so brain-dead
⤷ True, I know everyone’s angry,, but if the manager is fired now, the Champions and Cup are all gone too
⤷ Verdi has been with our team for years, it’s too early to talk about firing him just because one player got injured
⤷ Isn’t Aaron more than just ‘one player’?
⤷ Verdi isn’t the kind of manager to be fired over something like this. Do you think he’d be called a master for nothing?
But don’t you think the club is being too tight-lipped?
They’re too quiet for the ace to be injured right before the Champions quarter-finals. Hmm..
⤷ I saw they already announced they won’t take any interviews or related questions except for the official conference
⤷ What is it really? Feels fishy…
It’s just a rumor, but
There’s a rumor going around locally that he fought with Reman during training and they both got injured
⤷ ???? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
⤷ That is way too much of a rumor
⤷ I would’ve believed it a bit more if the rumor was that he fought with Jerry
⤷ Our Reman is a softie,, he’s the type to shyly roll around even when it’s time for a PK,,
Reman got hurt too
Looking at the photos of him entering Germany, he has a bandage on his arm… Hmm?
⤷ Gungye- (Predicting)
⤷ Delete this and stop talking nonsense
Usually, if they’re in the same position, they can’t get along
Just saying lol
⤷ That’s true, just look at Reman and Song Yeo-bin ㅋㅋㅋ
⤷ Reman pushed Yeo-bin out at his previous team, and now that he’s been pushed out by Aaron, did he hold a grudge?
⤷ If you’re going to do such disgusting Gungye-ing, go get a divine revelation before you blabber
⤷⤷ Just ignore the troll, it’s obviously fans of other players flocking in for fun ㅋㅋㅋ
What do we do about the quarter-finals?
I’m so anxious I can’t sleep….
⤷ What do you mean what do we do, we trust Ban Je-rim and go
⤷ I’m not that worried, we have Je-rim, and Reman, Song, and Liam’s form has been top-tier lately
⤷ Except for Jerry, the other midfielders always do the basics ㅇㅇ the defense is also okay okay
Everyone seems to have forgotten
Last season we made it to the runners-up even without Aaron. Let’s not worry about just the quarter-finals
⤷ True
⤷ Right, we accumulated points so well in the league that 1st place is the default, and for the Cup, if we drop out, it can’t be helped… as long as Aaron returns safely
⤷ We can’t drop out of the Cup, we made it to the semi-finals ㅠㅠ
⤷ But the April schedule is such hell that it’s realistically impossible for Reman to run around alone..
⤷ Since we’ve lifted the Cup once, it’s right to focus on the Champions this time
Don’t make me laugh, it’s time to lift it twice ㅡㅡ Focus on the league, Cup, and Champions all together
Who cares about reality? We’ll overcome it
Of course, not me, but the players of Sefton
⤷ Of course, they’re guys getting paid astronomical weekly wages, they have to overcome it
⤷ Stop whining and just put your heads down and run
⤷ Everyone, just think of it as filming a regression novel like last season
⤷ When it’s hard, look at your bank account~
Je-rim, let’s go
We aren’t the ones lifting the Big Ear
You’re the one lifting it
⤷ Our Jerry actually performs better when things are a bit difficult ㅇㅇ
⤷ Ban Je-rim-ssi, please lead this club,,
Je-rim briefly scanned one page of the reactions on the site he usually browsed and then turned off the phone screen. He didn’t know where or how the rumor that Aaron and Reman fought and got injured had leaked, but seeing as it was a mix of half-truth and half-lie, it seemed he didn’t need to worry much about it.
‘For now, it seems the manager decided to take all the blame on himself….’
Deciding to buy some good traditional liquor on his way back, he looked at the clock on the wall. He had barely managed to slip away by boldly claiming he would join the company dinner by 8 PM at the latest, but it was already 7. Je-rim sat alone in Ju-han’s office, swallowing his irritation at the sound of the ticking second hand.
Still, he thought he would come today. Was he really planning to go all the way to the bottom? Although he had sent a text in a threatening tone to call Ju-han out, he didn’t actually have the desire to carry out that threat. Just as Je-rim’s conflict deepened, the door swung open. It was the moment the long-awaited person finally appeared.
“Aren’t you too late? I came as soon as the match ended.”
“…Je-rim.”
Ju-han’s haggard complexion and the beard that looked as if he hadn’t shaved for several days were the first things to enter his sight. However, instead of adding words of worry or greeting, Je-rim placed a bottle of mineral water in the seat opposite him and gestured with his chin.
“Sit.”
They were no longer in a relationship where they could affectionately hug and exchange jokes as greetings. Ju-han also sat down in the chair without any particular response. Je-rim rested his arms on the table and waited for Ju-han to speak first. However, even after a long time, only the clicking sound of the clock hands continued to grate on his nerves.
He must have appeared here because he was prepared to confess everything, so why did he keep disappointing him until the end? Eventually, unable to bear it, Je-rim asked openly.
“Why did you do it?”
“…….”
“Did you think you’d never be caught for the rest of your life?”
He had many questions for the mentor he once respected. He wondered why the romance of a disciple who was only 18 years old was so bothersome that he secretly cut the relationship, and the fact that he had hidden that truth for over ten years…. He wanted to ask if he hadn’t been anxious that he might be caught while acting as his agent and living like family.
If he had rather openly urged him at the time not to lose his mind over something like romance and to use the opportunity to end it, or if he had told him early on that he had interfered in the middle, he wouldn’t have felt this level of betrayal. The fact that the only mentor he had respected and followed for over ten years had been deceiving him was more disappointing to Je-rim than anything else.
Ju-han gripped a handful of his hair and let go, his lips merely twitching. Je-rim considered pressing for an answer, but seeing Ju-han wipe his face with a distressed hand, he changed his mind and decided to wait patiently. Ju-han would need some time to choose his words. And then, his chapped lips slowly began to open.
“…I thought I would never have to face Reyes again anyway. Until he suddenly transferred over…. I thought at the time that not facing him anymore would be the better direction for you.”
“Why is it the CEO who decides what is a good direction or a bad direction?”
“Because you were young back then! Unstable, thoughtless, immature… and on top of that, it was the worst possible time….”
Ju-han, who hadn’t been able to meet Je-rim’s eyes at all, suddenly lifted his head, his eyes flashing.
“Think back to how you acted. Do you think I could have avoided worrying? You hesitated to transfer, and even after transferring, you were out of it, always complaining about being tired for no reason!”
“…….”
Since he knew best how much of a mess he had been back then, he had nothing to say in response. Toward Je-rim, who lowered his gaze slightly as if agreeing, a series of excuses that sounded like pleas followed.
“It was worrying enough that my disciple suddenly changed into a different person, but the reason was a heartbreak? And the partner was a man? With what heart was I supposed to watch this. Should I have told you to go back to Tavarona and try to make things work with Reyes again?”
Je-rim let out an answer along with a sigh.
“…There was also the option of just pretending not to know.”
“You want me to leave a guy who was influencing you so negatively? Ban Je-rim, you know very well how important that period was for you.”
There were no errors in what Ju-han was saying. It was a more important period in Je-rim’s life than any other, it was true that he was being profoundly influenced by Aaron whether in a good way or a bad way, and it was also a valid argument that as a mentor, he couldn’t just leave his struggling disciple alone.
Ju-han seemed to want to argue that he had simply acted similarly to a parent who secretly scolds a child’s lover to break them up because the child, facing the CSAT, was too distracted by romance to study.
At the time, Je-rim was facing a hurdle incomparable to the CSAT: successfully adapting to a first-division club he had just entered by changing leagues, while simultaneously proving to everyone that he continued to have value as a professional. Thus, Ju-han’s argument possessed a certain persuasiveness.
That is, if one only listened to it superficially.
“Transferring to Newum was the right choice, and since you survived the competition after transferring, you are in this position now. Reyes was a guy who was of no help to you during that time. You were falling apart because of a mere puppy love….”
“So you intentionally made us drift apart? Purely out of worry for me?”
As his disappointment reached its peak, his tone naturally became agitated. If he had been young, he would have been swayed by Ju-han’s argument and thought, ‘Coach must have done it out of a pure heart of worry for me!’ but unfortunately, his head had grown too large now.
Of course, a heart that worried for his disciple must have existed. It must have, but the biggest reason was probably….
“Whether it was because of Aaron or whatever, if I collapsed due to mental issues, the effort Coach put into me would have gone to waste, so that was probably what you feared most. Am I wrong?”
“…….”
The percentage of players who are hailed as geniuses in the youth system but are sidelined in the professional world. The percentage of those who aren’t sidelined immediately but disappear after a brief flash of attention due to mental management or injury issues. If the sum of these two percentages was 9, the percentage of players who consistently demonstrate their capabilities from youth to professional would be 1. This doesn’t even include the percentage of those who successfully transition from youth to professional.
One must pass through the eye of a needle, and again, and again, to reach the same position as the players currently playing at Sefton. It was something possible only by enduring every single day in a blood-drying competition and always overcoming it. And among them, Je-rim belonged to the special category. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to describe him as the only masterpiece among Ju-han’s disciples.
He couldn’t bear to watch his masterpiece, which he had raised with painstaking effort, struggle because his mental state was shattered over mere love. Because if his masterpiece collapsed, he himself would collapse as well.
Honestly, he couldn’t just condemn Ju-han. Even if it had been his mother, she would have acted similarly in Ju-han’s situation. Given her personality, she wouldn’t have been able to interfere secretly in the middle, but instead, she would have held onto her son and dried his blood every day, telling him to pull himself together for her sake. Ju-han had simply chosen a more decisive and certain method….
He could understand.
I can understand, but I cannot forgive him right now. Too much time had passed while Aaron and I were drifting apart, and for too long, Ju-han had been deceiving me. No matter how much I had lived like family with Ju-han for over twenty years, it seemed I couldn’t forgive him until this sense of disappointment and betrayal completely subsided.
After draining a bottle of water in one go, Je-rim sprang up from his seat.
“…I’m terminating my agency contract. From now on, I’ll only work with Chang-sik Hyung. I can’t work with an agent who has a history of invading my privacy. I trust that the CEO has no objections to this decision.”
If it had been anyone other than Ju-han, he would have severed their personal relationship along with the business one, but for now….
It was better to decide on such matters after cooling off. Words spoken or judgments made in the heat of emotion usually lead to regret. His bond with Ju-han wasn’t so light that it could be cut off instantly; he needed time. Likely a considerable amount of time.
‘Ah, so that’s why Aaron…’
It was the moment he finally understood Aaron’s words from back then, when Aaron had asked for time until his excitement subsided. Forcing himself to compose a face stained with all sorts of emotions, Je-rim tossed the empty bottle into the trash can just before leaving the office. He stared blankly as the bottle spun around the circular rim before popping inside, then suddenly added as if remembering something.
“You probably did it thinking that if you just pushed me away from Aaron, I’d be able to shake everything else off and be fine again on my own, but….”
A bitter smile appeared on his damp lips.
“That was a complete miscalculation. I couldn’t let go of my lingering feelings even until the World Cup, which is why that disaster happened in the end.”
As he looked back at Ju-han, intentionally using vague expressions, a middle-aged man sat there with a hollow expression. He seemed to realize immediately what the “disaster” at the World Cup referred to.
Je-rim recalled Ju-han, who had been bedridden and refusing food and water even more than he had at the time. He remembered how Ju-han had comforted him more than anyone else, telling him never to look at social media and that the people cursing him were all just idiots.
“It’s true that Aaron has had a huge influence on me, then and now. I was scared of that, so I tried not to like him anymore… anyway. It’s true that I made a fool of myself back then.”
“But,” Je-rim’s voice wavered.
“Even if you hadn’t worried so much, I wouldn’t have overturned everything by saying I’d go back to Tavarona and quit it all. Even at that unstable, immature, and naive young age, I knew enough to realize how much sincerity and time the coach poured into providing a stable foundation for his student.”
With a final tribute to his mentor, he turned around again. A weary voice called his name from behind, but he did not look back.
“…Je-rim-ah….”
“Stay healthy. …I hope we don’t see each other personally for a while.”
With that, he quietly closed the door and left.
“You said you’d join us soon, but is this your version of ‘soon’?”
Jealousy and jeers poured toward Je-rim, who appeared at the company dinner an hour after the appointed time. Je-rim plopped down next to Yeo-bin, pushing aside a cumbersome cushion.
“I came even though I’m not in the mood to laugh and chat. That should be enough.”
“Is something wrong?”
“…I don’t know. Sigh, just give me some meat.”
As Je-rim picked up his chopsticks, Hee-jun, who had been diligently grilling the meat, asked urgently.
“Hyung, what about the rice, stew, and soju?”
“Hee-jun, are you crazy? Your Hyung is a man who has to play in the Champions.”
If he ate that trio of crazy carbohydrate and sodium monsters along with the meat, it was obvious he’d be removed from the Starting Lineup the moment Coach Verdi found out. Looking at the grill with the intention of eating a few pieces of meat, Je-rim frowned deeply.
“This is supposed to be a national team dinner, and we’re eating pork…. Order beef. Top-grade Hanwoo. My treat.”
The moment Je-rim finished speaking, cushions flew from all directions and all sorts of screams filled the room. Even though they must have already filled their stomachs, the way they went wild at the mere mention of beef made them look like a pack of hyenas that hadn’t eaten in days. The guys sitting next to Je-rim hugged him tightly, pouring out praise.
They called him the world’s most handsome man, a god of football, and insisted that this year’s Ballon d’Or would definitely be him. While listening to praises that were already proven true to some extent, Je-rim picked through the pork neck on the grill with his Hubaes dangling from his sides. Yeo-bin, who had been watching from the side, pushed the Hubaes away and poked Je-rim in the ribs.
“Seriously, what is going on with you? They say when a person does something out of character, they’re about to die….”
“I’ve bought meals often. How stingy do you think I am?”
“Not beef, though. Not beef. If you feed all these bastards top-grade Hanwoo… it’ll easily cost five million won.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine.”
As a change of pace, he wanted to make this kind of investment in his cute Hubaes and the few remaining Sunbaes. And for his old friend, Yeo-bin.
Come to think of it, Yeo-bin was also signed to Ju-han’s agency. While he was debating whether to tell him or not, the table filled up with plates of beef boasting a bright red hue. He must have ordered beef tartare as well, as the savory scent of sesame oil soon filled the air.
Even though it was all food he liked, for some reason, he didn’t feel like eating today. After eating a few pieces of meat carefully grilled by the Hubaes, Je-rim immediately put down his chopsticks and handed his card to Yeo-bin.
“You pay with this card and give it to Mrs. Hwang later. I have to go first.”
As he pretended to go to the restroom and secretly slipped out, Yeo-bin chased after him and grabbed his sleeve.
“Hey, Ban Je-rim! Seriously, what is it? Why are you like this?”
“I told you. I’m not in the mood to laugh and chat. I can’t even swallow the meat….”
“Is it because of your husband… no, because of Reyes’ injury?”
“No, you idiot. Stop digging. I’ll tell you later when things are sorted out.”
To tell him that he planned to leave Ju-han’s agency, he would have to explain why the relationship had soured…. No matter how close he was with Yeo-bin, he wasn’t mentally prepared to reveal that he had actually dated the guy Yeo-bin jokingly called his husband, and that they were planning to date again soon.
Yeo-bin glared displeasedly at his friend, who kept his mouth shut, saying he had no intention of telling him for now. Still, he didn’t seem inclined to ask further. Knowing that prying was useless and giving up cleanly was exactly like someone who boasted a long-standing friendship.
“Hang in there. We all decided to gather and watch the Champions final. Make sure you win this time so you don’t lose face in front of the Hubaes.”
“…Yeah, thanks.”
It had been a truly terrible day, but hearing his friend’s encouragement made Je-rim feel a bit better, and he let out a small chuckle. The early spring night breeze, which still felt chilly, and the faint scent of spring flowers mixed in the air also helped change his mood. He liked that every time he came to Korea, the seasons had shifted so abruptly, even if it felt bittersweet.
“I’m home.”
He had intentionally walked home to get rid of the smell of meat clinging to him and to clear his gloomy mood. His mother, who was sitting in the living room watching TV, greeted Je-rim warmly.
“You said you had a company dinner, but you’re home early?”
“I just left halfway. Where’s Je-ah?”
“She said she’s hanging out with friends after work. Did you say you’re leaving on a flight tomorrow evening?”
Je-rim tossed his bag near the bedroom door and stretched. He wondered why his body felt strangely exhausted even though it was only 10 PM, then realized his schedule warranted it and relaxed. Between the match, Ju-han, and the dinner, it was only natural to be tired.
“Yeah. Ugh, I’m sleepy. I should wash up and sleep…. Ah, I reserved a nice restaurant for lunch tomorrow, so dress like a lady of the house. You know that coat and bag I bought you last time?”
Before leaving for England, the routine of having a meal at a fancy restaurant with his mother and Je-ah had become an unspoken rule. His mother nodded at Je-rim’s request and suddenly stood up to hand him a manila envelope.
“Honestly, I got it. Also, CEO Kang stopped by our house for a moment earlier….”
“…Why did the CEO?”
“He said he forgot to give this to you. But he looked quite worn out. I wonder if something happened? We have plenty of red ginseng at home, should I send some….”
His mother mumbled words that were half-question, half-monologue, and turned her gaze back to the TV screen. Je-rim quietly took the envelope and, without checking the contents, tossed it where he had thrown his bag. Only after showering did he sit on the edge of the bed and open the envelope.
When he turned the envelope upside down and shook it, the documents held by a clip slid out first. Along with them came a note scribbled on a Post-it and a mysterious USB drive. Checking the note first, Je-rim narrowed his eyes.
[I’m sorry]
“…….”
He put the note back in the envelope and scanned through the documents one by one. They were papers regarding the termination of the contract with the agency and the new personal agent contract he needed to sign with Chang-sik. After putting those back in the envelope as well, only the acorn-sized USB remained lying on the blanket.
Je-rim brought his laptop and connected the USB. A folder opened containing a single audio file.
“What is this.”
The filename seemed to be a combination of year, month, and day. If his guess was correct, it was an audio file recorded or created in late July, 11 years ago. Late July, 11 years ago, 11 years ago, late July….
‘…The guy who threw all my voice messages, texts, calls, and DMs into the trash, yet acted as if nothing had happened without a change in expression even when we ran into each other—of course I thought he was mocking me.’
Suddenly, a premonition flashed like lightning. As if possessed, he clicked the audio file. Sure enough, Aaron’s voice, slightly younger than it was now, immediately flowed out.
Along with cute nonsense about how the scandal that broke this time was absolutely not what Je-rim thought, and how it was impossible to cheat because no one else even caught his eye, a detailed explanation followed that the partner in the scandal was actually his own sibling.
I know you can’t believe this explanation without evidence. But please, just give me a chance to talk. Please contact me as soon as you get off the plane. I’m begging you. I absolutely cannot end things with you like this. …Don’t you feel the same?
Je-rim listened silently to the various ramblings that followed. His lips were red and raw from biting them so hard.
I’m sorry I couldn’t bless you with a smiling face at the end. I acted too selfishly. It’s a bit late, but sincerely… congratulations on becoming a pro, my heaven. Let’s both play hard in our respective leagues. If we do, the day will come when we can play together again. I’ll be waiting for that day to come.
Fuck.
Ah, and this has nothing to do with the promise we made. Because we haven’t broken up yet. So Je-rim, please… contact me when you hear this. Okay? I love you.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
An intense pressure surged within him, telling him he had to meet Aaron right this second. He missed Aaron so much he couldn’t stand it. He wanted to give an answer right now to the voice message he had heard far too late. They had missed each other countless times already… this time, this time for sure, right now.
Now, there was no longer any risk of being ignored if he reached out first, nor was there any need for pointless worries about being afraid of liking Aaron too much. He already liked him so fucking much that he’d ended up in this state, so fuck the worries. He had to meet Aaron in that time. There was nothing left to fear or worry about.
When he came to his senses, he was stuffing his things into a bag like a madman. He packed the documents Ju-han had sent in the envelope and took the USB with it, still plugged into the laptop. After shoving everything into a Boston bag, Je-rim threw on his coat and hat and flung open the bedroom door as if he were about to break it. His mother, still sitting in the living room watching TV, jumped in surprise and stared at him.
“You scared me! I thought you were sleep—”
“I’m leaving. I’ll send the address of the restaurant I reserved for tomorrow to Je-ah, so you two have a delicious lunch and stay healthy. Ah, this is allowance for Je-ah, and this is allowance for you, Mrs. Hwang.”
He pulled out two envelopes that he had originally planned to hand over politely at tomorrow’s meal and thrust them into his mother’s hands. His mother, bewildered as she took the money envelopes, jumped when she saw her son’s face.
“What, what? Wait, what’s wrong with your eyes? Did you perhaps cry—”
“Something urgent came up, so I have to go to England right now. I’ll call you when I arrive.”
“Wait a minute, you!”
Leaving his protesting mother behind, Je-rim took out his phone. To get to the airport at this hour, he had to call a taxi. He could book the plane ticket in the taxi.
He knew there was exactly one dawn flight to England, so he’d book whatever was available, whether business or economy. Normally, he insisted on first class for condition management, but now was not the time to be picky. As for the first-class ticket he’d already booked for tomorrow… whatever, if it’s non-refundable, he’d just lose the money.
While frantically calling a taxi and rushing out of the house, Je-rim meticulously planned. His mind raced, pondering how to meet Aaron using the fastest and most efficient route. He had never imagined in his thirty years of life that he would one day truly feel the cliché expression of “missing someone so much it feels like going crazy.”
When he arrived in England on the dawn flight, the cloudy morning sunlight greeted him. He drove the car the chauffeur had provided in advance and raced to Aaron’s house. Strangely, every traffic light he encountered was green. Thanks to that, he arrived faster than expected and leaped out of the car.
As soon as Aaron saw Je-rim’s car enter his driveway, he appeared at the front door as if he had been waiting, appearing the moment Je-rim stepped out of the car.
“Je-rim, why so suddenly…. No, more importantly, how did you get here so fast?”
His hair was messy as if he had just woken up, and the arm holding the crutch looked uncomfortable. His ankle was still in a cast, and his expression was more bewildered than Je-rim had ever seen. Too tired to think or give a long explanation, Je-rim grabbed Aaron’s cheeks, pulled him down to eye level, and kissed him.
Aaron, who initially widened his eyes in surprise, soon threw away his crutch and responded passionately to the kiss. For the sake of Aaron’s uncomfortable leg, Je-rim stood rigid, acting as a support, and wrapped his arms around Aaron’s neck. The fingertips wrapped around the back of Aaron’s neck were trembling slightly.
And while staring directly into the amber eyes that were sparkling like a dream, he gave the answer that had been unintentionally delayed. It was an answer that had taken a full 11 years.
“…I absolutely cannot end things with you like this either.”
At the answer that lacked any context, Aaron’s pupils wavered, unable to find their bearings. Je-rim kissed him again and whispered.
“I’m sorry the answer is so late….”
Repeating “I’m sorry” incessantly, he repeatedly pressed and released his lips against Aaron’s after every apology. As the short kisses continued, the slight trembling gradually stopped. Both Je-rim’s fingertips and Aaron’s eyes.
Eventually, Aaron grinned as if he had understood the context hidden within Je-rim’s rambling confession. The corners of his mouth curled up refreshingly, his slender eyes curved softly, and the bridge of his nose wrinkled slightly. His characteristic decadent impression transformed into that of a mischievous boy.
The face that Je-rim had been unable to erase from his subconscious even during the ten years they were apart was smiling with the expression Je-rim loved most.
“…It’s okay. It’s not that late. In fact, it’s faster than I expected.”
And so, Je-rim had no choice but to smile with the expression Aaron loved most.
✲✲✲
Perhaps it was because he had pushed his body to the limit without sleep for nearly two full days. As soon as the long-awaited meeting was achieved, the tension broke and sleep began to pour over him. Since he hadn’t slept a wink on the plane, excited by the thought of meeting Aaron, his body had already reached its limit. Je-rim brushed off Aaron’s suggestion to eat before sleeping and barely managed to shower before lying in bed.
The moment he let go of consciousness, his eyes began to flutter shut. Since it had been so long, he wanted to do this and that besides just kissing and pecking…. After today, he’d have to prepare for the insane match schedule, so he wouldn’t even dare to have sex….
Contrary to his thoughts, the fingers hugging Aaron like a body pillow didn’t budge an inch. Still, he struggled to keep his eyes open to talk to Aaron for just a bit longer. After hearing Je-rim’s full explanation, Aaron asked back in a soft voice.
“So you’re saying the culprit was that CEO?”
“Yeah.”
“No wonder it was strange how he ran away the moment he saw me last time. He wasn’t like that before.”
At Aaron’s words, Je-rim barely managed to lift his gaze and look at him.
“When on earth did you run into the CEO in the past?”
“When things were really noisy regarding your joining the club, that person came to visit. I ran into you together back then. Don’t you remember?”
“Uh….”
How did he remember all of that? As Je-rim trailed off, feeling the opacity of his own memory compared to Aaron’s, Aaron let out a low chuckle.
“Well, it was just a passing encounter. But after that, he came to visit separately and bought me football boots, saying thank you for being close with you. He said it seemed like you relied on me a lot emotionally….”
“…….”
“That’s why I remember. By the way, why did you keep my voice message for so long before handing it over?”
“…I don’t know.”
As Ju-han’s name continued to be mentioned, a corner of his heart grew uncomfortable, and Je-rim intentionally cut the topic short with a vague answer. Even though, deep down, he knew the reason.
It was likely an expression of guilt. Although he had a strong goal-oriented side, he was by no means naturally evil or someone incapable of feeling a prick of conscience. He might have deleted all the simple messages, but he probably couldn’t bring himself to touch the voice recording, which was saturated with Aaron’s desperate appeals and pleas. Moreover….
“Maybe it was too poignant, even for an older guy like me to listen to, to just delete it.”
Je-rim giggled as he kissed Aaron’s chin. Aaron, for once, couldn’t hide his embarrassment.
“…Ah, this is why I said it was actually a relief that I didn’t hear it.”
“Hearing your childhood voice after all this time, you were fucking cute. Back then, you didn’t have tattoos, and your personality was a bit more….”
“Don’t make me get jealous of my past self.”
Je-rim fluttered the sheets, pinned down by Aaron’s weight. The guy who had been hugged quietly suddenly shifted his weight to crush him, leaving Je-rim with no proper way to resist. Trapping Je-rim in his arms so he couldn’t move an inch, Aaron pressed his lips against Je-rim’s forehead in a series of pecks.
“Do you hate the tattoos? Should I remove them?”
“Hey, I heard that really hurts. Forget it.”
“If you hate them, I’ll remove them. It’s your body now. Is the pain more important?”
“It’s not that I hate them. Your tattoos are actually kind of cool. How much does it cost to get something like this? Maybe I should try it too.”
While he generally held a negative perception of tattoos, he thought that clean drawings and patterns without colorful hues, like Aaron’s, might be okay. As Je-rim asked while stroking Aaron’s arm, Aaron murmured, rubbing his cheek against Je-rim’s chest.
“…I’d prefer it if you didn’t….”
“You’re a funny bastard. It’s okay for you, but not for me?”
“It would be a waste…. On such a perfect body….”
“…Are you trying to seduce me into having sex right now?”
“…Forget it, I’m not even going to talk. Your way of thinking just completely rotted as you became an adult.”
“No, whose fault is all this….”
It felt unfair to hear that from a guy who would get hard even with a light kiss. A guy who, even when the mood wasn’t right, would lose his mind the moment there was slight physical contact and pounce like a beast in heat….
Furthermore, he could feel a heavy volume in the lower body area even now. Je-rim was currently barely holding on with sheer willpower in a body that wouldn’t be strange if he fainted right this second, so he didn’t have the energy to get an erection, but Aaron seemed to have plenty of energy despite the cast on his ankle. Of course, it wasn’t like he’d injured his dick.
Anyway, seeing as he was criticizing him while standing tall and proud, it seemed he had no intention of pounding away at a Ju-han who was exhausted to death. Perhaps he was considering the fact that Je-rim would have to work hard in his stead during the month of April while he was sidelined.
Je-rim, who was very slightly willing to give in if Aaron seduced him, unconsciously licked his lips and asked about the injury that had been on his mind.
“How’s your ankle?”
“It’s fine. At the latest, I’ll be able to join properly starting from the second leg of the semi-finals.”
“Aren’t you a bit too confident? What if we get knocked out in the quarter-finals while you’re gone?”
“Knocked out? You? Now that’s a story that makes no sense.”
Aaron turned back and lay down beside Je-rim. Then, sharing the same pillow, he whispered from a distance so close their foreheads almost touched.
“You’re going to make my dream come true, right?”
“…Yeah, definitely.”
Since he wanted to lift the Big Ear together with him that badly, he had to do it; what else could he do? His original goal of retiring quickly after lifting the Big Ear didn’t even cross his mind now. He only had the desire to lift the trophy together for Aaron’s sake. His eyes, which had been hazy with sleep, sparkled in this moment.
Looking at his own reflection in Aaron’s pupils, just as he became intoxicated by the thought that he was making a usable expression for once, his lips were tenderly devoured again. Je-rim obediently opened his mouth, snapping up and swallowing Aaron’s tongue, and narrowed his eyes.
He wanted to avoid falling asleep while kissing. He wasn’t some patient…. He ran his hand through the deep dark-brown hair, teasingly biting the soft tip of the tongue that was thoroughly scanning the inside of his mouth. Every time he did, a faint laugh vibrated through the throat.
Just before the atmosphere reached its peak, Je-rim suddenly felt he had to make this one request; he spat out Aaron’s tongue and tilted his head back.
“Wait, but don’t forget. Remember I said I have no intention of dating right before the Champions? The Champions isn’t over yet.”
Having flown here like a madman the moment he heard the voice message from 11 years ago, the ‘certainty’ Aaron spoke of was already overflowing. However, he was also firm in his belief that he had no mind to leisurely date until the final was successfully concluded.
Winning the Champions League is a difficult goal that can never be achieved if either he or Aaron is lost in the sweet dreams of romance or if their discipline slackens. Therefore, it was right to focus on the matches rather than dating for the next two months. Especially during the month of April while Aaron was injured.
Only then would they be able to face a future where they lift the Big Ear together, as Aaron wished. He wondered if it was a bit cruel to ask for a bit more waiting before dating a guy who claimed he couldn’t even meet other people for 10 years because he couldn’t forget him, but this was something Je-rim absolutely could not compromise on.
Because he liked him enough to want to make Aaron’s long-held dream come true, no matter what it took. If possible, he wanted to restart their relationship cleanly and refreshingly after fulfilling Aaron’s long-held dream.
Well, if asked to explain how what he was doing with Aaron right now was any different from dating… he wasn’t confident he could explain it. But still, meeting without clearly defining the name of the relationship and meeting after defining it were strictly different things.
‘No. Did we even break up face-to-face in the first place? I just woke up and realized it was over.’
Since it had ended so vaguely last time that he didn’t even know exactly when it ended, as Aaron said, he planned to do his best this time so they both knew exactly when they started again. He wanted to whisper to the lover who had waited for a whole 11 years while holding the trophy together.
Thank you for letting us start again….
Of course, something more stylish than that. He hadn’t thought of what cool line to say yet. And naturally, all of this would happen after they achieved their most important and common primary goal first.
Even while sleepy, Je-rim emphasized once more with clear pronunciation.
“Keep it in mind. I have no intention of dating until I win the Champions. This is separate from the fact that I like you.”
“…Do you have to destroy the mood by saying that right now to feel satisfied? Or are you doing this on purpose? Don’t worry, I won’t ask to do it while holding onto a guy who’s like a sick jellyfish.”
Aaron let out a deep sigh right in his face. No matter how limp his body had become from fatigue, the insulting comparison to a sick jellyfish made Je-rim’s eyes flare.
“Why don’t you realize that your rude way of speaking destroys the mood even more? Why the hell did you become such an unpleasant human being?”
“I was always like this to people who weren’t you. You just didn’t know back then.”
But as soon as he heard the following answer, Je-rim’s frown smoothed out. He couldn’t stay angry when he gave such a cute answer….
“You’re saying you played coy to seduce me in a very romantic way.”
“It wasn’t playing coy; back then, I’d get stupid whenever I saw you, so my tongue wouldn’t move right. And if you treat the person you like unpleasantly, aren’t you a crazy bastard?”
“…Are you saying you don’t like me now? Or that you are that crazy bastard? What are you trying to say?”
“That I’m that crazy bastard. I was away from you for too long, so my head went a bit crazy from the hardship. So you have to take responsibility.”
It wasn’t as if they were having a particularly fascinating conversation, but he couldn’t stop grinning. Sleep was also becoming irresistibly overwhelming. Having just had a burst of temper, the little strength he had left drained away. Lacking the strength to even lift his eyelids that were closing of their own accord, Je-rim murmured slowly with his eyes half-closed.
“It’s true that we… were apart for a long time. I really can’t remember the promise I made with you, no matter what I do.”
Seeing as it was mentioned in the voice message, it must have been an important promise. He remembered the promise to lift the Big Ear together because Aaron mentioned it so often, but as for the other one, he couldn’t even find a clue no matter how hard he tried to recall.
As Aaron brushed back the hair of the struggling Je-rim, he added as if he had suddenly remembered.
“…Come to think of it, you were drinking back then, right.”
“When was I? Ah, during the Easter festival?”
“Yeah. Well, I didn’t know until I came to Sefton that you’re the type to black out after three glasses of beer….”
What happened during the Easter festival? Since there were so many festivals he had toured around with Aaron, various memories were mixed up and confusing. The only clear memory related to the Easter festival was that he had passed out the next day because he mistook Clara for lemonade and drank it. Also, the fact that he suffered from headaches and nausea for two straight days.
Naturally, Aaron had secretly taken care of him. The memory of Aaron stroking his back and chatting softly until he fell asleep while he complained that he couldn’t sleep because his head throbbed and his stomach churned remained vivid. What was so pretty about a lover lying down with a hangover….
Je-rim gradually lost consciousness while entrusting his body to Aaron’s embrace, just like back then. At his bedside, a voice that had dropped a tone and decreased in volume continued intermittently.
“Still, you figure this one out. The boss fight is still left; it’s no fun if I reveal everything now.”
“So stingy…. Give me a hint at least….”
He had just finished babbling, barely moving his lips that refused to detach. Aaron, covering Je-rim’s eyes with his large hand, whispered while leaving a kiss so light it was hard to tell if it had even touched.
“The fact that I’m here is the hint.”
I can wait as long as it takes for you to remember, so sleep now. He wasn’t sure if the last whisper was a dream or reality. It was because Aaron appeared in his dream just as his consciousness became hazy.
A face younger than the one he saw right before falling asleep was wearing an awkward expression. Looking closely, he seemed bewildered, or perhaps he didn’t know what to do because he was so happy. Je-rim firmly cupped the guy’s cheeks and extended his hand to the ears to block the night breeze that had a chilly feel.
The soft earlobe, which he didn’t know was hot because of the cold or heated for another reason, touched the tip of his finger. Even that sensation was so cute that he, wearing a foolish smile, murmured something. The background was strangely blurry and the surroundings were deathly silent, making him feel as if he were watching an old silent movie.
Then, the moment he got goosebumps from the sensation of the ground beneath his feet giving way, various noises rushed in all at once as if the mute button had been deactivated. The moon floating above Aaron’s head and the shapes of the streetlamps and walls behind him became clear, and his own voice suddenly pierced his ears.
‘…I guess I must like you enough to make such an absurd request.’
When he opened his eyes, a thin crescent moon was hanging in the middle of the dark night sky, just like in the dream.
✲✲✲
No, seriously, what was that request?
Je-rim rotated his stiff neck with a crack, chewing over the dream he had a few days ago. Having played league matches every three or four days since the first day of April, his entire body was creaking. He hadn’t played full time in every match, but he was exhausted regardless.
It was because he remained in a state of constant mental tension whether he played the match or not. Thanks to accumulating league points well, he had created a decent gap with Molden, who was currently second, but letting his guard down was forbidden. April is the period when every club fights terrifyingly for one last desperate push, and since Molden had been eliminated quickly from both the FA Cup and the Champions League, their stamina management issue had vanished.
In other words, unlike Sefton, which had no choice but to rotate players for a few matches, Molden could commit all their strength to league matches and catch up on points. Because of this, Je-rim was hypersensitive to every match result. He didn’t want to repeat the nightmare of losing first place to a rival team like last year. Well, it was more bearable than the nightmare of losing the Champions League final to the team his ex-boyfriend belonged to….
‘…Last season was definitely cursed.’
To think a season existed where he experienced those two nightmares simultaneously. And to think it hadn’t even been a full year. He wondered if the ‘nine-year jinx’ his mother worried about had actually worked.
Anyway, to avoid experiencing that shitty situation ever again, Je-rim spent every given holiday shut in his house analyzing matches and conserving strength. During this period, he didn’t even have time to whine about being lonely eating dinner alone or being bored at home.
Perhaps because Aaron knew those struggles better than anyone, he didn’t express any particular dissatisfaction even though they hadn’t met privately since the day Je-rim fell asleep frantically at his house. If anything, it was Je-rim who felt the regret.
Knowing it would get this busy, why didn’t he just have sex on that day, which was the only opportunity….
‘How many months has it been since I did it?’
Since they hadn’t done it since last Christmas Eve, has it been almost four months of abstinence? Wow, crazy…. Je-rim felt like he was going crazy from recent sexual frustration, wondering how Aaron was holding out.
Even if he only enjoyed it for a bit before fainting, he should have done it that day.
He had nailed down that dating was a no-go for now, but as for sex… wouldn’t that be okay? Hadn’t they already been sex partners before? So he should have just done it when the mood was right that day.
It wasn’t a regret one should have the day before the first leg of the quarter-finals, especially ahead of a press conference with the coach, but the accumulated frustration was hard to bear. If he hadn’t done it for years, it would be one thing, but they had been doing it whenever their eyes met until just before Christmas, and then it had stopped abruptly from that day on, making it even worse….
Although it was exhausting to the point where he wanted to just close his eyes and faint when Aaron pushed him like a madman, the sex itself was always great. The problem was that he knew too well how good it felt and how pleasure surged every time they did it.
He loved the pressure that felt like his internal organs were being pushed up, with the inside of his stomach being stimulated instantly whenever he was poked and prodded. He also loved the lethargy that followed—the dull ache in his lower abdomen, the throbbing in his spine and pelvis, the blankness in his head, and the feeling of not wanting to lift a single finger. When Aaron’s face, full of excitement, filled his hazy vision… it was just perfect.
Despite his appearance becoming splendid after putting on the Danbok and receiving a bit of makeup, his face, which he had spent effort grooming, hardened as if dissatisfied because he was having dirty thoughts internally. He also tapped his legs. Coach Verdi, who was adjusting his tie beside him, asked.
“Jerry, what are you thinking about so deeply?”
“…It’s nothing.”
He couldn’t possibly say he was regretting breaking up with Aaron without having sex. Je-rim hurriedly brushed back his hair and fluttered the collar of his dress shirt, which didn’t have a tie on. Coach Verdi, who sprayed a strong perfume as a final step before heading to the press area, laughed heartily.
“Really? I thought you were trembling with worry about the press conference again.”
“No way.”
Since becoming a pro, he had done interviews and press conferences more than he had played matches. It meant he was sick and tired of these settings. As he barely swallowed a cough that threatened to burst out due to the perfume scent filling the waiting room and smiled brightly, a hand like a pot lid smacked Je-rim’s back.
“Good, keep that confident attitude. But don’t pick fights with the reporters like Aaron does….”
A voice with a rare tone of distress flowed from Coach Verdi’s mouth. Indeed, since Aaron had recently given another mind-boggling interview and was moderately embroiled in controversy, it was understandable.
A few days ago, Aaron, who had recovered enough to walk without crutches, showed his face at a league match held at Sefton Stadium. The camera persistently focused on him sitting in the stands throughout the game, and reporters fought tooth and nail to stop him for an interview just as he was trying to leave quietly after greeting his teammates.
He answered questions about his recovery and condition smoothly enough, but the moment he heard the rumor that he had been injured in a fight with Reman, a sneer played on his lips. From that moment on, Je-rim swallowed hard. The answer that followed turned Je-rim’s anxiety into reality.
“It’s so baseless that it’s not even worth answering. Are you expecting some story about a secret power struggle inside the locker room? If that’s the case, I think your aptitude would be better suited for political or business reporting rather than sports.”
Ah, but maybe he doesn’t have the ability for that. Fortunately, the latter part was muttered at a volume only Je-rim, standing right next to him, could hear. It was thanks to Je-rim quickly pretending to sneeze to cover up the man’s reckless remark.
However, the answer he had already given was enough to spark gossip. Whether fortunately or unfortunately, because of Aaron’s colorful track record, the situation settled down relatively quickly with reactions like “He’s always been that way” or “The question itself was rude,” but…
“I’ll… have a word with him…”
For some reason, Je-rim, feeling apologetic on Aaron’s behalf, muttered awkwardly. He was a guy whose other work ethic was fine, but he was uniquely sharp with reporters. Je-rim understood that he had bad feelings toward the press after being hounded by them since he was young, but Aaron occasionally crossed the line.
“I feel so reassured having you here. Now, let’s get this over with quickly.”
Coach Verdi laughed boisterously, seemingly interpreting Je-rim’s apologetic demeanor as a manifestation of a captain’s responsibility. It wasn’t that; he just felt guilty, as if his own pet dog had gone for a walk and bitten a passerby.
My house… no, is he a dog I’m raising…?
Since the guy moved with a focus on Je-rim personally rather than the club, Sefton, the possessive “my” seemed more fitting than “our.” Well, that aspect was fine, but… as the team captain, it felt like an attitude that needed to be corrected…
Caught in a complex mix of emotions, Je-rim shook his head as he followed Coach Verdi to the press section. He organized his thoughts while a barrage of questions about tomorrow’s quarter-final and the return schedule of injured players poured toward Coach Verdi first.
He had already thought of answers for a few essential questions. As for the sudden, erratic questions thrown by reporters desperate for attention, he planned to dodge them vaguely. Since it was an official press conference with the coach, there shouldn’t be any overwhelmingly difficult questions.
If there was one question that was most expected yet most difficult to answer…
“Then, Ban, as the captain, how much of an impact do you expect Reyes’ injury to have on the team’s performance?”
“That’s an interesting question. It’s also one I expected would come up.”
As expected. The correlation between Aaron’s absence and the team’s performance. Je-rim playfully wrinkled his nose at the question that finally emerged amidst the mundane Q&A.
“There will obviously be an impact on our strength. Right now, Reman is dying trying to fill the hole left by his absence in the league matches. He’s become so scrawny lately that it’s almost pitiful to look at…”
As he added the joke in a cheerful tone, laughter erupted from various places in response. In contrast to the atmosphere of the venue, Je-rim immediately put on a serious expression and shrugged.
“But as you can see, Reman is fulfilling his role excellently, and the same goes for the other Sefton players. Just because Aaron is absent doesn’t mean we’ll lose a game we should win.”
The opponent for the quarter-finals was Billey FC, a team currently ranked 3rd in the same Premier League. Although Billey was a team that finished in the top 4 almost every season, they were ranked lower than Sefton, so Je-rim quickly added more to block any potential chatter.
“Ah, I trust you all understand that I don’t mean the match against Billey FC is a ‘game we’ll obviously win.’ Billey is a difficult opponent. I’m not arrogant enough to ignore a powerhouse we’ve clashed with countless times in the league.”
“I’m not arrogant, but…” Je-rim trailed off, then curled the corners of his mouth up confidently.
“That said, I’m not so lacking in confidence that I’d whine in advance, saying it’ll be hard because Aaron is gone, or that everyone is physically exhausted. Please watch tomorrow’s match with some popcorn and enjoy it. We’ll run with everything we’ve got for Aaron, who will return for the semi-finals. Of course, everyone at Sefton will.”
✲✲✲
I withdraw my support
Starting today, I leave the support relationship and become one body and soul with Ban Je-rim
An attack on Ban Je-rim is considered an attack on me
⤷ If Ban Je-rim speaks, I listen
⤷ If there are 7 billion Ban Je-rim fans in the world, then blah blah
⤷ Ban Je-rim, my love. Ban Je-rim, my light. Ban Je-rim, my life. Ban Je-rim, me.
⤷ God Je-rim
I knew it from the moment he said in the interview he’d run while thinking of his husband… our Jerry is going to have the match of his life…
⤷ Ah, I feel sorry for the Billey players who don’t know the beauty of love
1st leg 1 assist, 2nd leg 1 goal 2 assists, most big chances created, most opportunities created
Jerry, are you actually insane? If you keep this up, you’ll be nothing less than a Sefton legend
⤷ Sefton, get ready to build a statue of our Jerry
⤷ Just a statue? The entire stadium wall should be filled with portraits of Ban Je-rim
⤷ Just a mural? They should issue a coin with Ban Je-rim’s face on the front and his number on the back
Ah, today is a damn busy day
I’m already tired thinking about finding time to worship Ban Je-rim in between;;
⤷ Lmao
⤷ Build an altar with coins in advance
⤷ Worship is more important than work, I’m taking a day off lol
⤷ I have a free period lol
⤷ Fuck, you college students, please leave comments with some conscience
⤷ Wait, isn’t it midterms for college students right now? Are you watching Champions instead of studying? lol
Grades are nothing
As long as Jerry can lift the Big Ear, I don’t care if I get academic probation
⤷ Using Jerry as an excuse for everything lmao
⤷ But if I tell the professor I couldn’t study because I was watching Ban Je-rim’s match, would they understand?
⤷ My professor was late for the first period during the 2nd leg of the round of 16 because he fell asleep after the Sefton match ended in the morning…
Once upon a time,
He was cold as ice, saying the Big Ear isn’t for us to lift but for you to lift lol. Now he’s practically at the point where he’d wash Je-rim-ssi’s cleats if asked
⤷ Should I wash them with my hands or my mouth? Just say the word, Je-rim
⤷ I only said that because I was worried Jerry’s mental would get injured since Aaron got injured T_T I briefly forgot about his vibranium steel mental…
⤷ You blasphemous fools, repent
But seriously, the passing lanes are truly
Elegant… is it too much to call it that?
⤷ I was amazed the whole time watching how he finds and sends those passing lanes T_T
⤷ I have no idea how he sent that last assist pass. How on earth did he do that?
⤷ Fr, the ball curved inward like there was a magnet attached to Reman
⤷ It’s a secret technique only our God of Football can pull off
Just how good is his leg power?
The passes literally split the earth;; and they’re even accurate;; Ban Je-rim, who is he even
⤷ Simply the God of Football. Pass Master. Football Wizard. A great figure of Korea who lit up the 21st century.
⤷ Not just leg power, but his vision, creativity, judgment, speed, work rate, and press resistance are just insane
Whenever Je-rim gets the ball,
It’s thrilling to see the other players’ eyes change
⤷ Fr fr, suddenly everyone puts in full effort and awakens like they’ve been injected with adrenaline
⤷ That’s a Sefton specialty, running with gritted teeth once Ban Je-rim starts the attack
⤷ The opposing team is relaxed and then suddenly scrambles to catch up lol. Man, this is why I watch football
Let’s praise the other players too, let’s lock them in a prison of praise
Everyone did so well today T_T Especially Reman and William T_T
⤷ Agreed, I won’t tell you to shave your beard for a while, William
⤷ Yeah, grow your beard as much as you want if that’s where your footballing skill is stored…
⤷ Reman feels like he leveled up in a short time? He’s definitely changed
Reman has become… calmer, I guess?
In the past, you could see him panic and wander when the ball came to him in urgent situations, but he doesn’t do that anymore
⤷ That was his biggest weakness… I’m so glad it’s fixed T_T
⤷ Right, it felt like his mental was eating away at all his other decent stats… but it’s gotten much better
I’ve watched Reman since his Bundesliga days, and his weak mental was so obvious
I couldn’t even say anything T_T But I always thought he’d be a great asset if only that part improved, so I always felt bad for him. I’m so glad. I hope he gets even better and becomes as huge as Aaron!!
⤷ If they feed him more experience and let him build clutch ability, he’ll devour everything after Aaron retires
⤷ But to feed him experience, he’d have to leave Sefton… T_T
⤷⤷ The player will handle that himself after the season. For now, let’s just cheer for Champions
⤷ The comment above is right. Let’s just praise Reman for scoring a brace
Is the story about Aaron and Reman fighting just going to fizzle out?
My dopamine was peaking T_T
⤷ Dopamine addict
OUT
⤷ You watch overseas football just for the dopamine?
⤷⤷ Yes
⤷⤷ lol, now that I write it, it’s true. But tone it down a bit
Don’t. Touch. Reman.
I didn’t even curse Reman during last year’s Champions final
Reman is. Our. Love.
⤷ The Reman Parents’ Association is here again
⤷ So historic, you’ve followed him since the Bundesliga, right?
⤷ Did you really not curse during last year’s final??
⤷ OP: Actually, I did a little
⤷⤷ What? Leave the Parents’ Association
Reman, Liam, and Jerry all scored across the two legs,
But Edson, that Pororo bastard, is the only one who didn’t score…? If you love playing that much, just play for the rest of your life and go to a club during the season
⤷ Pay back the transfer fee before you play —
⤷ Aaron was free, but Song-i cost over 100 billion… 100 billion isn’t some random dog’s name, fuck
⤷ Hahaha, he got an assist, so let’s let it slide
⤷ Hmm… putting the Choco Pie in and out, in and out
No matter how much I think about it, really
Scoring three goals in a rush 10 minutes before the end of the first half of the 2nd leg is insane lol. I can’t believe it even though I saw it with my own eyes
⤷ Even the scorers were evenly distributed: Liam, Reman, Jerry… and our great figure 『Ban Je-rim』 who was involved in all three goals
⤷ Is it time to worship again?
But Jerry really wants to play full time
He’s substituted around the 80th minute after doing everything, but his expression is bad. Isn’t it better to save stamina?
⤷ No player likes being substituted
⤷ Still, Je-rim is the type who doesn’t openly show annoyance lol
⤷ Jesus once kicked the bench because he was substituted early and was banned for a while lol
⤷⤷ He probably knelt before Coach Verdi and begged for forgiveness. After that, his inflated ego was cured and he became a loyal dog lol T_T
Ban Je-rim, seriously
Look at him chatting away without resting his mouth lol. I can already hear his voice
⤷ “Coach, I could have really played more. No, I’m not protesting, I know you were thinking of me, I know, but blah blah blah” babbling
⤷ Coach Verdi’s expression lol. That mysterious look… like he’s sorry, like he finds it cute, like he’s fed up…
⤷ Extreme Job: Coach Edition
Aaron must have watched the game too
He took a screenshot of Je-rim grumbling on the bench after being substituted and posted it lol
⤷ Even when injured, the support continues
⤷ Is that support or is he just teasing him? lol
⤷ He put a rabbit emoji… he probably posted it because it’s cute
⤷ Rabbit… Ban Je-rim? No matter how crazy he is for love, the moe-ification is a bit much… lol
So in Aaron’s eyes, this looks like a rabbit
(Dignified appearance of Sefton’s captain.jpg)
Wow… those love-blinded eyes are something else
⤷ I guess when you’re in love, your eyes go blind regardless of nationality
⤷ Regardless of nationality, but this is a bit extreme
⤷ Lmao, but Je-rim is handsome
⤷ A jaguar or a black panther maybe, but a rabbit is… a bit much
One calls him a pig and the other calls him a rabbit
Absolute madness, absolute madness. Let’s see how far they go
⤷ Now I’m genuinely afraid they might go public with their relationship
⤷ Weren’t they already public??
⤷ How many times do I have to say it’s not dating but marriage? They’re a couple, ppyu ok?
Dating or whatever, just come back first
Your rabbit-like husband is running himself to death alone, Aaron Reyes
⤷ Pleaaaase come back. At this rate, your husband is going to remarry Reman-d-Song-Liam T_T
⤷ If he doesn’t return for the semi-finals, it’s a divorce
⤷ Let’s capture these comments and send them to Aaron
⤷⤷ Now he’ll fight his way back like Annabelle…
⤷⤷ Fuck, divorce?? Remarriage???? (throws off the cast)
Who’s the semi-final opponent?
In this state, if Aaron returns, I feel like we absolutely cannot lose
⤷ Essenfeldt…
⤷ OP: Ah…
Why Essenfeldt?? Are they a strong team??
They’re 4th in the Bundesliga right now
⤷ Their playstyle is probably damn rough and dirty
⤷ At their home, they just lock you in and beat you… but “beat” in the literal sense
⤷ The crowd sets off flares like crazy, almost like a mob
⤷ They play football filthily. If they score first, they absolutely lie down
⤷ Fr, the whole pitch becomes a bed for them
Essenfeldt = The team with the guy who gave Aaron a nasty tackle in the Porto friendly
Name: Manuel Caetano / Position: Center Back / Specialty: Back-tackles and elbow attacks
Profile end
⤷ Hul, crazy?
⤷ Ban Je-rim’s Death Note
Je-rim must be grinding his teeth right now
Trying to get revenge on that bastard who broke Aaron’s arm somehow
⤷ Lmao, Captain’s true love.. T_T
⤷ Since he turned on God-mode in the quarter-finals, it’s understandable if he turns on Rat-mode in the semi-finals
⤷ ?? You don’t play a match to win. You play to piss off the opponent
⤷ Fuck, this is already exciting
Did everyone forget Aaron’s temper?
He’s not the type of person to just stay quiet lol
⤷ William will probably bring out the sealed demon again
⤷ Sus, you should also kick the bench like those bed-football bastards do
Oh, this semi-final is going to be gold
I’m definitely taking a day off the day Aaron returns
⤷ Oh, this semi-final is going to be gold 22
⤷ Paying them back is good, but first we must win…
⤷ I’m not worried about winning lol
⤷ Two Gods of Football will be playing together, why worry unnecessarily?
⤷ Just worrying about the final is more than enough. Oh, come on, Final!
Values regarding work, effort, attitude, etc. Includes fan service, sincerity, smooth interpersonal relationships, and thorough self-management.