2 – Otra Vez

Even in the car heading to the airport, Je-rim couldn’t put down his phone. Usually, he suffered from severe motion sickness and would often wear an eye mask and sleep whenever he was in a car unless he was driving, but today, the feeling of hopelessness overcame the nausea. The way he scrolled through internet articles in a trance made it seem as if he were about to be sucked into the screen of the phone, which was smaller than his palm.

What kind of crazy bullshit is this? Is he talking out of arrogance because his life became boring since winning the league every season is the default, and he lifts the Pichichi, Ballon d’Or, and Big Ear like he’s eating a meal? Next.

It was an article with a large photo of a child in a Tavarona jersey crying. In reality, that photo was from when Tavarona was celebrating achieving two consecutive Champions League wins… But since using out-of-context photos for clickbait was a common practice in Korea, England, and Spain, he ignored it.

The content of the article itself was interesting. Thanks to the attached SNS reactions in Spanish, he could clearly see how the locals were reacting to this transfer.

“Be…trayal. Fucking disgusting. Ungrateful. Suddenly…”

Je-rim stumbled over the Spanish, which he hadn’t read in a while. He had dated people from Spanish-speaking cultures a few times, and there were quite a few players in the club who spoke Spanish, so he had reason to keep speaking the language, but it took some time to interpret internet posts riddled with all sorts of slang. After barely finishing the reading, he frowned.

“No, if you’re going to curse, just curse that bastard, why our team…”

‘Shitty club.’ That phrase stabbed at Je-rim’s heart. To be more precise, the gist was: why leave the world’s most prestigious club to go to such a shitty club?

Fuck, this is truly absurd. What shitty club in the world maintains a spot in the EPL Big Four and finishes 2nd in the league and as Champions runner-up this season?

Of course, it’s true that Sefton’s overall performance is lower than Tavarona’s. Sefton has no player who has won the Ballon d’Or (Je-rim was always only a nominee), and they aren’t a team that takes the league title for granted every season. But since the leagues are different to begin with, a definitive comparison was impossible.

Furthermore, the one who didn’t give a single penny in transfer fees to the club that raised him since his youth and bolted to another league as soon as he became a free agent was that guy, so why curse our innocent team? Did we lure him to come? Of course we did… but is there any team that wouldn’t approach a big fish released for free? Sefton simply won the competition.

‘Anyway, it’s a situation where he can’t avoid being cursed at.’

From a Tavarona fan’s perspective, Aaron’s transfer could only look incredibly spiteful. No team fan likes a player who transfers on a free agent deal—commonly known as a “free-run.” Especially since he was a product of that team’s youth system and was a guy who would have commanded an astronomical fee had he been transferred normally, it was only natural for them to be pissed.

So, if you’re going to curse, just curse that bastard Aaron. He really failed to show proper loyalty to the club that raised him since he was a kid. Seriously, a guy with no company loyalty just causes trouble in every direction. With a heavy sigh, Je-rim combatively scrolled down with his finger. He immediately grabbed the back of his neck, which felt stiff and tight.

“Ugh…”

“What’s wrong? Are you sick?”

Chang-sik, the agent who was driving instead of Je-rim, looked back at the passenger seat in surprise. Je-rim cracked his neck and muttered indifferently.

“No. I just hate it.”

“That Reyes is coming? Or the amulet your mother gave you?”

“Both.”

Je-rim puffed out his cheeks to let out a deep breath, wearing a grumpy expression. He hated both the “nine-year curse” amulet his mother had suddenly taken his wallet to sew into the inner lining this morning, and Aaron’s transfer.

What the hell is a nine-year curse, and what’s an amulet? To Je-rim, who didn’t believe in jinxes or any other superstitions, amulets were nothing more than a waste of money. However, since his mother had dragged her ailing body to a renowned shaman to get it personally, he couldn’t bring himself to reject it.

‘Son, they say you have to be especially careful in the second half of the year. Your fortune says you’ll suffer more mentally than physically. The shaman said an ill-fated connection from the past will hold you back. So please, make sure to carry the amulet, okay? Got it?’

…Moreover, hearing talk of an “ill-fated connection from the past” coinciding exactly with Aaron’s transfer made his trust in it rise just a tiny bit. In the end, Je-rim had brought the wallet along. Seeing Je-rim’s expression, Chang-sik smacked his lips and tried hard to soothe him.

“Still, they say the shaman who wrote your amulet is really gifted. It’s not like you lose anything by carrying it.”

“I just hate the fact that such an eyesore is in my wallet. Ah, seriously, what should I do about Mrs. Hwang’s fussing?”

“Stop fussing yourself. Stop looking at the articles. What’s the point of keeping reading? He’s already coming.”

“I’m reading because I still can’t believe it.”

“Right. You’ll see his face anyway once you get to the airport, then it’ll feel real.”

“Haaaa…”

Je-rim rotated his neck pillow forward and buried his jaw in the round cushion. Chang-sik’s point hit home.

Je-rim was currently heading to Incheon Airport to welcome the teammates, coach, and coaching staff who were about to land. Naturally, Aaron Reyes would be on that list of ‘teammates getting off the plane.’

He didn’t know what was so urgent that the guy transferred without a single loud noise regarding agreements or whatever, joining right from the first tour. Since he had played in the Euro right after last season ended, he could have come a bit more slowly.

Chang-sik seemed to be thinking something similar, as he brought up the topic.

“Don’t hate him so much; try to look at it as commendable. Even if he was eliminated in the Euro quarter-finals, didn’t Reyes barely get any rest?”

“……”

“Joining from the first pre-season tour… honestly. It’s not like he’s trying to prove his loyalty the moment he transfers.”

“…I don’t know. I don’t care…”

For the record, the pre-season training camp had already started the day before yesterday, but Je-rim’s schedule was to join the training from the day the teammates arrived in Korea. It was a consideration from Coach Verdi, who figured there was no need for Je-rim to travel back and forth since everyone would gather in England and come to Korea together anyway. Instead, he decided to wait at the airport first for fan service and media interviews.

Since this visit to Korea was decided solely for the sake of Ban Je-rim, the weight on his shoulders was heavy. It was also the first visit to Korea commemorating his appointment as captain since last season. As if to remind him of that, Chang-sik emphasized his words firmly.

“You have to do well during this visit. You know that, right?”

“I know.”

In contrast, Je-rim replied with a playfully mumbled voice, buried in his pillow. Holding the steering wheel with his left hand, Chang-sik beat his chest in frustration.

“I mean don’t fight! With Reyes…”

“Am I an elementary schooler? Do you think I’ll grab him by the collar the moment I see him at the airport?”

“Looking at the way you’re acting now, I think you just might.”

“I won’t. Do I want to get hit with eggs again?”

Je-rim chuckled, recalling the sensation of a cold raw egg slamming into his face at full speed, like a baseball thrown by the best left-handed pitcher in the Major Leagues. That person who threw the egg back then really should have started playing amateur baseball. It was a talent too good to waste.

While the person who had been showered in eggs was laughing, Chang-sik, who had only watched it through a screen, was the one who shuddered in shock.

“…Hey, don’t even mention the word ‘egg.’ It makes my skin crawl, seriously.”

Regardless of the expression, it was a word of concern. Je-rim took off the neck pillow, hung it around Chang-sik’s neck, and massaged his shoulders.

“It’s a joke, a joke. Even if I actually rolled around and fought with him at the airport, would the citizens of my country throw eggs at me? They’d throw them at him.”

“Well, that’s true.”

It had been ten years since the young player, who had been hit with eggs by his own countrymen for making a fatal mistake in the World Cup, had grown into one of the representative football players of Asia. Now, there was no one who would dare throw an egg at him just because he made a mistake. If they did, they’d be arrested immediately and their identity leaked.

And in a way, it had been a rehearsal. The eggs that flew at him back then had taken another form—booing—and hit Je-rim’s ears in every match. Whenever he played at an opposing team’s home, the moment he scored a goal or fell from a foul was the moment the entire stadium was covered in loud boos. Sometimes, trash even flew from the stands.

This was a hardship all football players experienced. Young players like Reman often lost their nerve and failed to show their true skill because of it. However, since Je-rim had received the unconventional gift of eggs first, he developed a strong mental state that remained unshaken by all sorts of boos he heard while playing in the Premier League.

The problem was that even with that strong mental state, Aaron Reyes’s transfer was simply not easy to accept…

No, seriously, why all of a sudden? The crazy bastard should have just renewed with Tavarona. How much of a weekly wage was he planning to suck out of our team that he endured until the end of his contract?

Generally, players who transfer as free agents are signed with higher weekly wages since no massive transfer fee was spent. And obviously, that guy isn’t a talent who would play for a mere low-hundred-million range weekly wage. He probably signed to receive more than Je-rim, who is currently the highest earner in the club…

‘Roughly how much do I get again?’

Calculating roughly with a basic weekly wage of 320,000 pounds plus appearance and victory bonuses, Je-rim began to worry about the club’s financial situation. The amount he received was already enormous, and if Aaron were added to that, he wondered if even a wealthy club like Sefton could handle it.

Because of this, his teammates often teased Je-rim, telling him to buy Sefton and become the owner when he retires. That was how much he cared for the team. And Chang-sik, knowing this very well, stimulated Je-rim’s company loyalty. Along with the overflowing sense of responsibility.

“Anyway, you’re the captain. The World Cup was already ten years ago. So put your ill feelings aside…”

“I intend to do that even without you telling me.”

Je-rim quickly cut off the nagging before it got longer. Perhaps it was because he had been managed by Kang Ju-han—his youth coach and current CEO of the agency—and Chang-sik for so long. Even now that he was in his late twenties, those two still lectured him sometimes just as they did when he was a teenage prospect.

“As the club captain, exclude personal feelings and respect your teammates, right? I’ll obviously keep to that much.”

He spoke the sentence he had repeated a hundred times in his mind since he heard the news of Aaron’s transfer. Although he hated Aaron, he had no intention of childishly growling over something from ten years ago with a guy he now shared the same table with.

Football is a team game. No matter how great individual capabilities are, if the teammates aren’t in sync, the team’s limit is set. To put it bluntly, the moment rumors of discord circulate within the same team, every defeat of that team becomes the fault of the players causing the discord.

The moment a pass is missed, all sorts of backtalk emerge—that they didn’t give the ball on purpose, or that they’re doing that because their heart has left the club—and if teammates actually fight, the locker room atmosphere becomes a mess, lowering the morale of other players. Naturally, it’s impossible to achieve good results like this.

Furthermore, Je-rim is the captain. A position like a medal gifted by the club and teammates before his retirement, which probably only had a few years left. He didn’t want to do something as unsightly as fighting with a colleague while wearing the captain’s armband. That’s why he had been doing image training every day since he heard the news of the transfer.

Imagining himself smiling and shaking hands with the guy under a barrage of flashing cameras with an expression that said, ‘We’re actually really close! The recent hand-shaking incident was a mistake!’ Imagining hugging him with a face that said, ‘I’m really glad to see this bastard!’ Stepping forward personally to tell the coach and teammates, ‘He’s my youth peer, so I’ll take care of him until he adjusts to the team!’… Fuck, I can’t do that last one.

“Blegh.”

“Are you motion sick? I told you to sleep instead of looking at your phone.”

As soon as he made a gagging sound from a physiological surge of nausea, Chang-sik clicked his tongue. He couldn’t bring himself to explain that it was because the thought of playing with Aaron until retirement felt dizzying, so he just nodded.

He hated it just imagining it, so would it actually be possible? Trying to push away the naturally arising doubt, Je-rim muttered as if brainwashing himself.

“We’ll… get along. Really, well. Dragging out something from ten years ago only makes me look childish.”

Back then, he was a teen, and the other guy was a teen. It was a childish episode that could only happen at such a young age. Moreover, seeing the guy reach out his hand during the last final, it seemed he had already completely forgotten the past; it hurt Je-rim’s pride to be the only one showing dislike over such a thing.

Because that guy didn’t care about the existence of Ban Je-rim in the slightest, he was able to make the choice to transfer to Sefton. Then, Je-rim should match that.

Thinking of it as a battle of pride, his Competitive Spirit surged, and his mind felt much more at ease. Je-rim opened a bottle of sparkling water and downed it in one go. Since he had filmed the CF himself, it was a sponsored item he received for this visit to Korea, but the taste was like crap. Despite that, as Je-rim drank it coolly, Chang-sik handed him a tissue and asked.

“Right… that’s it. That fits your personality. But why are you showing so much dislike?”

“Deciding to do it and hating it are separate issues.”

“Well, you did get a lot of hate because of him. I understand.”

“…I don’t hate him because of that.”

So to others, it looks like he hates him simply because of the incident that happened during the World Cup match. It’s a reasonable deduction, but… strictly speaking, it wasn’t. When Je-rim replied lukewarmly, Chang-sik’s eyes widened.

“Eh? Then why? You didn’t hate him because he scored that goal in the World Cup?”

“Hyung, I’m really not that childish of a bastard.”

Spain’s counterattack, which led from his own mistake, and Aaron, who scored a goal as if to show off in the process. It was a painful error, but would he have ground his teeth for ten years for a mere reason like that?

The mistake was his own problem—blanking out stupidly during his first starting debut in the World Cup and letting the ball slip—and similarly, scoring in his first debut was simply because Aaron did well. It would be stranger if a striker didn’t score when a golden opportunity came from an opponent’s mistake. Je-rim added indifferently.

“Actually, I would’ve been more pissed if he hadn’t scored that goal. I would’ve broken that bastard’s leg as soon as the match ended. So he could never play football again.”

“…Je-rim, if you’re going to cause a violence incident, tell me in advance. I’ll switch to another player.”

“Switch? Hyung, you can’t do without me.”

Currently, even considering all of Korea, no, all of Asia, where is there an athlete who makes more money than me? As he grinned playfully, Chang-sik made wrinkled folds on his chin. It was immediately after that he let out a weak, hollow laugh while making a distorted face.

“…You’re obnoxious, but cool. Hey, use that line in the next CF.”

“While drinking red ginseng?”

“But I’m really worried. Are you sure you can avoid causing any problems?”

Unable to stand the excessive worry, Je-rim puffed out his chest and boasted loudly.

“Ah, it’s a hypothesis, a hypothesis! I’m here now because I didn’t break it! When have you ever seen me openly cause an accident?”

“You’ve had a few scandals. Well, those aren’t exactly ‘accidents.’ But you’ve been too quiet these last few years.”

“That’s because I haven’t met anyone in a while. It’s a hassle…”

“That statement is truly obnoxious. Are you flexing because you’re handsome now? Dating is a hassle? At your age?”

“It’s a face worth flexing, isn’t it? The problem is that the people of the world recognize it too well.”

A gaze that seemed to ask ‘What kind of trash is this?’ poked his left cheek, but he ignored it. Instead, he crossed his arms, buried his body deep into the backrest, and closed his eyes.

“Anyway, you don’t have to worry. I’ll handle it well. I’m going to sleep, so wake me up when we arrive.”

“Okay, I trust you. If you have a problem, the CEO and I go bankrupt too. Your mother will faint again.”

“Gosh, there are too many burdens on my shoulders. From Mrs. Hwang to Agent Chang-sik-ssi and CEO Kang.”

As he massaged his shoulders, which felt stiff for no reason, a fist lightly touched his forearm.

“Stop whining. You’ve endured it all just fine anyway.”

“…Right. I have to endure it all.”

Even the kind of encouragement from a close Hyung was added to the weight on his shoulders.

The sudden transfer of Aaron, the burdensome visit to Korea, and this season, on which the end of his twenties and the fate of the team depended. He had to endure everything well. This time too. Familiarly tucking away the pressure he had felt like breathing since childhood, Je-rim forced himself to sleep.

✲✲✲

“Player Ban Je-rim! You’ll be playing matches with K-League players during this visit. With what mindset…”

“Did you happen to hear anything in advance regarding Reyes’s transfer?”

“Hyung! Hyuuung! I bought a jersey with your name on it! I love you, Hyung! Aaaaah!”

It’s chaotic. Je-rim waved his hand mechanically and pushed through the crowd. Being surrounded by a dozen massive bodyguards, clearing the path was easy.

Still, he stopped occasionally to sign for people who pushed through the gaps between the bodyguards to thrust jerseys and pens at him. It was because his heart felt uneasy ignoring a 150,000 won top with the surname ‘BAN’ clearly marked on it. It must have been hard to get since they’re always sold out.

“Thank you. I’ll play hard this season too, so please keep cheering for me. Reporters, please ask your questions later.”

He had finished the individual interviews as soon as he arrived at the airport, and all that remained was the short group interview in the hotel lobby after the players arrived.

Since only a small number of reporters were called for the individual interviews and all questions were decided in advance, he didn’t receive any difficult questions. This meant that in the group interview to follow shortly, he might frequently receive difficult questions like the one about Aaron Reyes’s transfer.

The only part he could hope for was the probability that all attention would be focused on Aaron, so there wouldn’t be many questions for him… Please. How could I have known whether that guy would transfer or not?

SNS

I unfollowed him and lived for ten years without seeing any news.

At the moment he was praying fervently, the arrival gate doors opened and familiar faces began to walk out in a crowd.

“Jerry! How have you been?”

“Boss!”

Standing at the front was Coach Verdi. The dignified Italian, who always wore a neat suit for important matches or events, grinned and hugged Je-rim. The strong scent of perfume was a bonus.

After that, familiar faces followed in a line. It seemed everyone had come except for a few of the Starting Players. Everyone’s skin was glossy, as if they had rested well during their vacation, but their expressions themselves weren’t very bright. It was likely because they were mindful of visiting Korea after finishing as runners-up in the Champions League.

Since the visit to Korea was decided, the teammates had boasted that they would definitely step on your home soil while holding the Big Ear. Moreover, some European colleagues were here because they had been eliminated early from the Euro that opened last month or were not included in the National Team call-up list due to injuries, so their feelings must have been complicated in various ways.

Reman, in particular, looked as if he had just paid some kind of heavy price. Unlike the others, he seemed unable to rest easy even during his vacation; the young man, barely twenty-two, had skin that looked dull and parched. Then again, with Aaron’s transfer, he was certain to be pushed out of the Starting Lineup from this Season onward, so it would be stranger if he weren’t distraught.

Je-rim silently stroked Reman’s hair, and as soon as his closest colleague approached, he pulled him into a shoulder hug and whispered softly.

“Will, look at the camera and smile.”

It was a preventative measure; if they all entered the country looking like they were attending a funeral, there was no telling what kind of controversy they might get swept up in. Although his tone had ended up sounding like a thug shaking someone down for money, William diligently carried out the request.

It was after they had successfully captured a photo of him smiling and shaking hands with the bushy-bearded man. The clicking of camera shutters, which had been steady, suddenly erupted into a rapid-fire barrage.

Still holding William’s hand, Je-rim awkwardly turned his head in the direction the cameras were pointing. Standing there was a striking handsome man, 6’4″ tall, leaning back in a slouching posture with a duffel bag slung over his shoulder.

Naturally, his aura was quite different from ten years ago. The boyishness that lingered faintly in Je-rim’s memory was nowhere to be found. Wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt emblazoned with Sefton’s golden crown logo, black tattoos were etched across his exposed forearms.

‘He already looks dangerous enough, why the hell did he get tattoos like that…?’

The moment Je-rim frowned, amber eyes that had been glancing around with curiosity locked onto him. The slender eyes widened for a split second before returning to an expressionless state. However, the gaze, which felt as if it were piercing through his face, showed no sign of shifting. Because the iris color was so light, the look in his eyes felt even more piercing.

Is that why his nickname became ‘Wolf’? Must be nice. Some people have nicknames like ‘Rat’…

Along with a useless sense of envy, a sudden surge of stubbornness rose within him, wondering if this rude bastard was picking a staring contest with the captain the moment he transferred in. Je-rim glared back, enthusiastically responding to the childish provocation. Unconsciously, he tightened his grip, squeezing William’s hand.

Then, William, the innocent victim of the situation, whispered.

“Let go. I have to go.”

“Don’t go…”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re like a teddy bear, so holding onto you is comforting.”

“Teddy bear? You’re making fun of me for gaining weight, aren’t you? You rude brat.”

William replied in an indignant voice and shook off Je-rim’s hand with heartless coldness. Just as his cast-off hand was aimlessly grasping at the air, Aaron, who had approached unnoticed, snatched it. A powerful grip was transmitted through the palm, as if he wouldn’t forgive him for shaking him off this time.

“Je-rim, it’s been a long time. How have you been?”

The man, who was gripping his hand as if intending to crush it, smiled brightly and asked after him in Spanish. There was a strong accent on the words ‘long time.’ Since it sounded sarcastic to anyone listening, Je-rim slightly lifted his head and stared intently at Aaron’s face.

Ah, I really didn’t want to fight. But his pride wouldn’t allow him to avoid a fight that was being brought to him first. But why the hell is he picking a fight the moment we see each other? I have more than enough reasons to hate Aaron, but this guy doesn’t really have any…

‘Wait, no.’

He had fought bitterly with Aaron while ending their youth career at Tavarona. It wasn’t a parting that left either of them with fond memories. So, the guy must have unfollowed him on social media the moment Je-rim did after being eliminated from the World Cup, as if he had been waiting for it.

On top of that, just a month or two ago, he had cursed and shaken off the hand offered by a man he hadn’t seen in ten years. It was only natural that the guy’s feelings toward him weren’t great.

But does he have to act like this? And to the captain of the team he now belongs to? What an ill-mannered brat. Having spent his life competing and rubbing shoulders with boys his age since childhood, Je-rim knew that in cases like this, one had to establish the hierarchy clearly. For a moment, he considered ignoring him, but then he changed his mind.

He had promised himself not to act childishly. Moreover, he didn’t know what kind of articles would be published if he showed signs of ignoring him or shook his hand off again. The way the loud shutter sounds and white flashes exploded like a nuclear bomb the moment Aaron grabbed his hand was proof enough.

“Uh, yeah, I’ve been doing great. And you?”

Instead, he smiled brightly while gripping the guy’s hand back as if to crush it. He intentionally answered in English. You transferred to an English Club, so use English, you bastard. Since he knew Aaron was proficient in English, he wasn’t worried about him not understanding.

Sure enough, Aaron, understanding immediately, covered his mouth with his free hand and whispered softly.

“I’ve been the same as always. Winning the league every time, lifting the Big Ear. Occasionally winning the Ballon d’Or.”

“Your rambling is damn long. Why don’t you go on and blabber about Spain winning the last World Cup too?”

“That’s a bit… too obnoxious. I’d feel bad discussing the World Cup in front of you.”

“Since when did you develop a conscience? Oh, congratulations… I mean, I’m sorry about the Euro quarter-final exit.”

“Just bad luck. I’m also sorry that Korea couldn’t win the Asian Cup last year.”

The way he talks has become absolutely insufferable.

To be honest, he was slightly flustered. Unconsciously recalling the Aaron of the past, Je-rim shook off the old memories after confirming once more that the man before him—his tone, his aura—had changed completely. They say mountains and rivers change in ten years; why should this guy be any different? In fact, it would be weirder if he were exactly the same.

‘But why the hell is this piece of shit acting so confident…?’

However, feeling this way was an act of force majeure. It’s not like they had ended things on a beautiful note.

He wanted to respond with a string of curses, but he held back, considering the surrounding eyes. To the reporters, it would only look like a heartwarming scene of two people reuniting after ten years, smiling and whispering to each other; he didn’t want to shatter that illusion.

Whether it was the same for the other man or not, Aaron, who didn’t blink an eye despite the pouring flashes, suddenly hugged Je-rim. It was a gesture clearly conscious of the cameras.

“Let’s get along well again, Je-rim.”

“…Sure. Welcome to Sefton. And to Korea.”

Je-rim patted the guy’s back hard and shouted loudly enough to echo through the airport. It was to put an end to the rumors of discord that had reignited the moment Aaron’s transfer news broke. Je-rim raised their joined hands high, shaking them stiffly as if to show them off, and walked away quickly.

Only after boarding the heavily tinted bus was he able to escape from thousands of pairs of eyes. As he found an empty seat and sat down, Aaron, who had been standing behind him, naturally sat next to him. Too tired to engage in any further psychological warfare, Je-rim immediately put on his eye mask.

Preparing for the airport since morning, being crowded by reporters, and immediately engaging in a power struggle with Aaron. This was a brief moment of freedom in a day of constant exhaustion. As he closed his eyes within the dark fabric, an indescribable peace washed over him. It was a sense of stability that made him instantly forget who was sitting next to him.

“Even the eye mask looks like it was designed specifically to provoke someone…”

Fortunately, Aaron didn’t go as far as to wake a sleeping (pretending to sleep) person just to sneer. He simply let out that monologue and radiated an aura of extreme discomfort with his entire body. Je-rim considered explaining that the puffy-frog-eyed mask was a gift from a fan, but decided to ignore him because he didn’t want to talk.

But that freedom didn’t last long. As the bus stopped at the hotel, the reporters’ cars followed in a line behind it. There was already a heap of reporters waiting at the hotel. As soon as they took their seats on the platform prepared in the lobby, flashes went off in succession.

Unlike at the airport, where the security guards kept some distance between them and the reporters, the flashes flickered right in front of his face, to put it slightly exaggeratedly. Je-rim, who had experienced countless times that one wrong blink could leave him immortalized in the ugliest way possible, kept his eyes wide open.

“I didn’t blink, did I? If you took a photo, please delete it. I’m at the age where I should be getting married soon.”

As he cracked a joke into the microphone, laughter erupted from all around.

“Do you happen to have plans to get married soon?”

“My heart is always more than ready.”

A mischievous question came from a reporter he was acquainted with. Since this was child’s play compared to the questions he had expected, Je-rim deflected it playfully. The coach and colleagues, hearing the translation, also laughed boisterously. Except for one person.

With a face that already looked decadent, a muscular body, tattoos covering one arm, and an expressionless face, the area where Aaron sat felt less like a hotel lobby and more like a back alley in Harlem. He looked like he should be beating up a lackey caught smuggling drugs rather than sitting through an interview.

‘What’s with him, since a while ago.’

If he transferred early and came to Korea only to make it obvious that he hated being here, what would happen to Je-rim’s prestige as the captain? Je-rim glanced at the side profile that looked even more handsome due to its unnecessary sharpness, then quickly fixed his gaze forward upon hearing a question directed at Coach Verdi.

It started with the common question of what he thought of the player Ban Je-rim.

“Jerry is an excellent player. He is also a key player who serves as the foundation of our team. We are also deeply moved to visit his hometown together.”

Je-rim nodded at the textbook answer and added a few mindless jokes. The reporters laughed and responded enthusiastically every time Je-rim spoke. A few colleagues who were particularly close to Je-rim even spoke their greetings in Korean. Naturally, the reaction from the crowd was explosive.

The atmosphere from the start of the group interview was very good. Je-rim felt inwardly relieved, hoping that the awkward questions he feared might be avoided on their own. This was because sports reporters often crossed the line with their questions in hopes of provoking a player into giving a flashy answer, which always made him sensitive.

Especially since Aaron’s transfer was a hot potato worldwide, he didn’t want to be linked to it and become a topic of gossip for no reason. Though he already was.

‘Still, let’s just get through the first visit to Korea smoothly, please.’

Knowing that everyone from his mother, who had a weak heart, to his father and siblings would be monitoring the reaction in real-time, his heart tightened even more. However, just as Je-rim was slowly relaxing as a few mundane questions and answers continued, a stern-looking reporter raised his hand and pointed to Aaron.

“Player Reyes, I am Kim Hyung-joo, a reporter from MBB. May I ask a question?”

A few seconds after the translation, Aaron nodded. Without hesitation, the reporter asked the very awkward question Je-rim had been worried about.

“You mentioned there was no particular reason for the sudden transfer. Still, I wonder if your friendship with player Ban Je-rim had even a minor influence on the transfer.”

What did it matter if he was involved in that guy’s transfer or not? The reporters all seemed to hope he was involved; would some windfall fall from the sky if he were? Just as Je-rim, barely managing his expression, looked at the reporter, Aaron spoke.

“I don’t quite understand the meaning of the question.”

“Ah, I mean…”

“Because there hasn’t really been any ‘friendship’ for a while. The conversation we had at the airport earlier was our first conversation in ten years. During the last Champions League final… we didn’t even have a proper conversation. As you know.”

“……”

Clap! Aaron slapped his left hand with his right. At a glance, it looked like he was clapping, but everyone present knew. It was a playful imitation of the gesture Je-rim had made when he shook off Aaron’s hand during the final.

At the answer that reignited the rumors of discord, even the translator paused for a moment to gauge the mood. The reporter who asked the question seemed not to have expected such an answer, his lips merely twitching with a bewildered expression. The man, who had thrown cold water on the surroundings with his staggering tongue, let out a laugh. Very meaningfully.

“Now that we’re teammates again, we should become close again. Again. Right, Captain?”

While delivering the short answer, Aaron repeated the word for ‘again’ several times, varying the expression in Spanish.

True to the guy who had once patiently taught him pronunciation, he babbled in perfect Spanish throughout, but when he pronounced ‘Captain,’ he intentionally narrowed his eyes slyly and said it in English, perfectly grating on Je-rim’s nerves.

Je-rim snatched the microphone from Aaron as if stealing it and smiled awkwardly.

“Haha, that’s right! Since we played in different leagues for so long, we had few opportunities to interact! But now it’s time to return to being close comrades-in-arms! I’m truly very glad to see you…”

Since he tried to cover everything with words that betrayed his true feelings, there was no way it would go well. In the end, he grit his teeth, his voice trailing off like a sigh.

Not long after the interview ended, it was almost inevitable that articles with titles like and <10 Years of Discord, Will it Continue or End? Red Light for Sefton> began to pop up like mushrooms.

Hyung Chang-sik

Are you crazy?? Is that guy a psycho? Ugh, crazy. And why the hell did you grip the other guy’s hand so tight? You said you’d handle it well.

As he held his throbbing forehead while looking at the internet articles, messages from Chang-sik poured in. For Je-rim, it was utterly unfair. The one who dropped the bomb in the interview was that guy, so why was he being dragged into it…

However, looking at the photos, it was true that he had been gripping Aaron’s hand as if crushing tofu, so he couldn’t be entirely indignant. Since Aaron’s skin was slightly darker for a white person, being from a Mediterranean village with strong sunlight, the paleness of the back of his hand stood out even more.

In contrast, on the back of Je-rim’s hand, which had white skin unlike someone who worked out, only blue veins bulged. Both had gripped each other’s hands as if wringing out a rag, but only one side showed signs of pain. This too was unfair, but he stopped because he could already guess the response he’d get if he explained in detail and whined to Chang-sik.

Sorry…

Instead, he had sent a sincere reply to comfort him, knowing that Chang-sik was probably breaking his back trying to clean up the articles right now.

“Jerry! I told you to take your key.”

William tossed a small rectangular envelope. Judging by the irritated tone, it seemed he had been calling him, but Je-rim hadn’t heard. Je-rim easily caught the envelope flying toward his brow and tickled the bushy beard with the corner of the envelope.

“Look at this guy being grumpy, how cute. But why on earth did you grow your beard this long? Truly a teddy bear…”

“Stop calling me a teddy bear! This kind of fat disappears as soon as the Season starts!”

“When did I say you were fat? Do you have some weird filter in your ears?”

Je-rim, genuinely feeling wronged, jumped. He didn’t know why he was facing so many unlucky and unfair things today. Was there a jinx on this visit to Korea? Just as he was about to argue that he hadn’t mentioned even the ‘F’ of ‘Fat’ and that the reason it sounded that way was because William was self-conscious about his own weight—

“Captain, I’d like you to make some time for me after you unpack.”

At the same time something heavy was placed on his shoulder, a chillingly low and languid voice reached him. Je-rim swallowed hard after confirming the tattoo on the forearm that had wrapped around his shoulder and was now dangling at his chest. Forcing himself to ignore the sticky voice clinging to his ear, he looked around.

The only person within earshot was William. William knew very well how uncomfortable Je-rim felt around Aaron, and he was someone Je-rim could ask to take care of the guy as vice-captain instead of him.

Just as Je-rim decided to shift the responsibility by thinking, ‘If you have something to say, talk to the vice-captain, William…’, Coach Verdi suddenly popped out, laughing loudly and patting both of their backs.

“You two look very close! Good, good.”

The coach must have heard the interview earlier, so Je-rim sincerely wanted to ask where on earth they looked close. The coach, who slightly pulled the stunned Je-rim, whispered quietly.

“As a former classmate and the captain, please take good care of him. It seems that friend is very shy.”

“What? Who is?”

“He didn’t say a word on the plane. When I asked, he said he isn’t good at English.”

“What? Are you talking about this bas— I mean, are you talking about Aaron?”

Who is shy and who isn’t good at English? Because it was so absurd, the question escaped in a cracked, high-pitched voice.

Long ago, around the time he first got to know Aaron, their conversations were conducted in a mix of two languages. Aaron in clumsy English, and Je-rim in clumsy Spanish. In an effort to converse longer and more deeply, they had both pushed themselves to become bilingual.

By the time Je-rim’s efforts had progressed to a level where he could speak Spanish fluently, Aaron’s English conversation skills had also improved significantly. The saying was truly accurate.

If you want to learn a language in a short time, get a lover of that nationality…

Of course, English wasn’t Je-rim’s native tongue, but as a metaphor. Thanks to his mother, who had been completely swayed by a coach’s premature excitement that he would definitely play in the Premier League, he had been taught English conversation as rigorously as football, making him fluent from a young age.

The immature romance that had ignited like a spark in their youth eventually burned out magnificently, leaving behind only one prize: proficiency in a second and third language. It had ended messily, like leftover ash, smelling strongly of acrid gunpowder. That was already over ten years ago. Now, so much time had passed that even the remaining ashes had been scattered by the wind.

Je-rim frowned slightly as he inadvertently recalled the first love he had kept buried. There wasn’t a speck of lingering affection or a desire to try again. He was simply a bit embarrassed remembering how childishly they had dated.

Seeing Je-rim’s expression, Coach Verdi kindly repeated what he had said, making the subject clear.

“Yes, about Aaron. He said he isn’t confident in his English. Moreover, it’s his first time in England, so he feels overwhelmed, but he said he’s relieved to have a friend from his youth days who can speak Spanish. He seems to rely on you quite a bit.”

“…Did he say that himself? That he’s shy and feels overwhelmed?”

“Mm.”

The coach readily affirmed, patting Aaron on the shoulder encouragingly as Aaron clung closely to Je-rim’s side. At this, Aaron tilted his head, his eyes curving into a smile. He looked as if he were smiling because the coach was cheering him on, but his expression suggested he had absolutely no idea what the two of them were talking about.

Watching that nonchalant act made the back of Je-rim’s neck stiffen, leaving him momentarily speechless. Aaron’s acting was absurd enough, but what was even more ridiculous was everything Coach Verdi said to describe him. Every single thing Aaron had supposedly said about himself was a complete lie.

‘There’s a limit to how shameless one can be.’

Shy, my foot. Having spent most of his mid-to-late teens with Aaron, regardless of their romance, Je-rim knew exactly how ill-suited that descriptor was for a human being like Aaron Reyes.

Though their personalities might have changed slightly over the years, their innate natures wouldn’t have. In the first place, someone who is truly shy wouldn’t be leisurely yawning with his arm draped over the shoulder of an ex-boyfriend he hasn’t seen in ten years—especially one with whom things ended so badly. Nor would they conduct an interview in that manner.

Furthermore, a guy who had been praised as a genius since he first picked up a spoon wouldn’t be on the verge of tears just because he moved leagues to a neighboring country.

Regarding his football skills, Aaron possessed a pride that bordered on arrogance, transcending mere self-confidence. In reality, he had the talent and skill to back it up. Je-rim, who had watched him since childhood, knew that better than anyone.

“You…”

Je-rim was about to snap at him to stop deceiving the manager of the team he belonged to. Just as Je-rim’s eyes sharpened, Coach Verdi burst into a hearty laugh. The complaint that was about to erupt vanished, buried by that cheerful laughter.

“That interview earlier was likely just a kind of mischievous joke between friends.”

“Um, Coach. That interview…”

Je-rim tried to subtly suggest that it wasn’t a joke, but that this damn guy had intentionally targeted him. However, Coach Verdi cut him off and spoke quickly in English mixed with an Italian accent. Due to the nature of the language, his tone sounded somewhat agitated.

“There may have been some room for misunderstanding in the content, but the conclusion is that he wants to be close again, isn’t it? And as he said, you should be close. You and Aaron will be the main pillars of our team’s attack. …Even if your relationship was a bit uncomfortable, make up. It won’t do for the striker and midfielder to be out of sync.”

“……”

Although a benevolent smile filled his face, this was a demand by any standard. A demand that allowed no room for rebuttal.

In a team, the manager is an absolute entity. Coach Verdi had a laid-back personality and usually joked around and stayed friendly with the players, but in moments like this, he was stricter and colder than anyone.

Je-rim stood with his arms politely folded. His lips, which had been about to chatter, snapped shut. Perhaps pleased with Je-rim’s quick change in attitude, the coach’s rapid tone softened.

“I’ll ask you once more to take good care of the newcomer. If nothing else, Jerry-ya, I always trust you.”

“…Yes.”

There was only one answer Je-rim could give to a manager who showed such unwavering trust. Carrying a massive burden on his shoulders, he trudged into his assigned room.

Je-rim let out a deep sigh because of the “piece of luggage” who had followed him into his room after asking for some time to unpack. He had been told to take good care of him, but that didn’t mean he had to carry him around like a pack animal. He shoved the arm wrapped around his shoulder away without hesitation.

“You said we’d talk after unpacking. Get out.”

Why did he lie about not knowing English? What on earth was he thinking during that interview? And why did he transfer here when neither of them had any good feelings left for the other? There were many things he wanted to ask, but there were also many things he didn’t. To be precise, he didn’t want to show that he cared about Aaron.

Thinking about having to rub shoulders with his ex-boyfriend for the next few years naturally brought back old memories. How it had ended, and how much of a psychological blow he had taken at the time. These were memories he didn’t particularly want to recall.

Moreover, if he started questioning him, the conversation would drag on, and they would likely end up fighting again… Je-rim was currently too exhausted and worn out to handle all that.

‘I’m tired to death.’

He had been run ragged by a relentless schedule since morning, and his energy had been drained from dealing with reporters. Despite his efforts to prevent any strange articles from appearing, the situation he feared had occurred thanks to that damn guy’s targeting.

He could already envision his mother making a fuss and contacting him once she saw the articles. She had undergone heart surgery a year ago, so he was taking extra care to ensure she wasn’t startled. His head already throbbed thinking about what excuse he’d have to make to reassure her.

And besides, asking questions wouldn’t undo what had already happened. In the end, it was a waste of time. While a petty desire for revenge existed—wanting to pay back the guy who had treated the end of their relationship with complete indifference—the former reason was stronger. A waste of time.

It would soon be time for dinner, and after dinner and a few chores, it would be time to sleep. And then there was tomorrow’s schedule. If he wanted to get some proper rest even just until tonight, he had to kick Aaron out immediately. Exhausted, Je-rim waved his hand again at the man who stood his ground as if he hadn’t heard the order to leave.

“I said get out. If you have something to say, do it later.”

“Are you getting married?”

An utterly random question flew and struck him in the back. Je-rim reflexively turned around. He didn’t even try to hide the bewilderment covering his face.

“What?”

“I asked if you’re getting married. You said you’re planning to marry soon. To whom, exactly?”

Had he seen some strange tabloid? Since he lived a life where simply having a friendly conversation with a woman in public led to articles like , he wondered if it was something like that.

But then, recalling the joke he had made in the previous interview, he narrowed his eyes slightly.

‘I’m at the age where I should be getting married.’

‘I have more than enough desire for it.’

It seemed those words, through translation, had been twisted into a tone suggesting he was getting married soon. Or that he was anxious to marry quickly. It was a truly absurd misunderstanding. It had been a joke purely to lighten the mood; Je-rim wasn’t even dreaming of marriage.

He had even quit dating after realizing that the relationships he started because he couldn’t bear occasional bouts of loneliness were like clothes that didn’t fit him, so marriage was out of the question. After retirement, if a time came when he could divert his attention—which was currently consumed by football—he might consider dating and marriage, but not now.

What he had learned while playing at love with that guy in his ignorant teens was that no activity was as mentally harmful as dating. For Je-rim, whose profession’s performance depended heavily on his mental state, mental management was essential, so he naturally distanced himself from romance.

And toward the man in front of him, who had given him that truth of life, Je-rim felt no desire to correct the misunderstanding. Let him believe whatever he wanted. Turning back toward the bed, Je-rim simply waved his hand. Even then, possessing a sense of responsibility as the captain, he rattled off a list of reminders.

“Instead of talking nonsense, go unpack and rest. Don’t sleep yet. Dinner is from six…”

“Same-sex marriage isn’t legal in Korea, is it?”

As soon as Je-rim took another step, a languid murmur drifted from behind him. He sounded genuinely curious. At the words that clearly indicated he believed Je-rim would marry a man, Je-rim stopped dead in his tracks.

‘Is he suggesting he’s the one who made me gay?’

The reason Je-rim, who had lived believing himself to be a firm heterosexual, had his first romance with a man—one who was 10cm taller than him and of a different nationality and race—was indeed because of Aaron, but that was a very special case.

The reasons why a relationship with Aaron was possible were: first, they were both young at sixteen; second, they lived intimately in a dormitory swarming with boys; and third, there was a reason that age was called the prime of youth. At an age when curiosity and sexual desire were boiling over, it was an irresistible force when a handsome and cute friend intentionally seduced him.

Furthermore, since both Je-rim and Aaron had been skipped ahead to the highest age group among the various youth teams, they couldn’t help but become close. Eating, sleeping, studying, and training. When you share every moment of your daily life from the moment you open your eyes until you close them, how could you not develop feelings?

The conclusion was that it was unfair to be misunderstood as someone who would obviously have a same-sex marriage. In fact, Je-rim had only dated women after breaking up with Aaron, so it was a stretch to call him gay, let alone bisexual. Since he had never felt sexual arousal toward any man other than Aaron, Aaron had simply been a very special case.

And who the hell is this guy to know whether same-sex marriage is legalized in another country? Seriously… While grumbling internally, the words that actually left his mouth were simple and blunt. It was a calculation that there was no need to feed a guy who had been dying to pick a fight since the airport.

“Yeah, I’m doing it with a woman, so mind your own business.”

“How? You love a man’s cock.”

At the response mixed with a scoff, as if finding it laughable, Je-rim finally turned around.

Don’t feed him, don’t feed him. His reason pleaded desperately, but his body, filled with rage, moved instinctively. The same mindset he had when an opposing team provoked him—enduring until he could avoid the referee’s eye, then secretly and definitely getting revenge—manifested once again.

Je-rim leaned against the wall, shifting his weight to one leg. A mocking smile was drawn perfectly on his face.

“Are you introducing yourself? You’re absolutely obsessed with it.”

“Yeah, we both are. Isn’t that why we dated?”

At the voice that laughed it off slyly, Je-rim’s eyes grew sharper. It was unfamiliar and unpleasant that the guy wasn’t losing a single word and was even adding more to the fire.

The guy must be angry about something to act like this, but Je-rim couldn’t fathom the reason. To say there was lingering resentment from their fight and breakup ten years ago, the way he mentioned the past was quite playful and friendly.

Then was he angry because Je-rim had brushed off his hand during the last final? That made even less sense. If he felt humiliated that his goodwill was ignored, he wouldn’t have transferred to Sefton in the first place, knowing full well that his ex was the captain.

It was too trivial a happening to talk about humiliation. Rationally, he would have felt bad, but a light war of nerves at the airport should have been enough; it wasn’t something that would make him keep biting others like a mad dog.

‘…What on earth is it?’

What the hell was this guy so angry about that he acted like someone who had spent the last ten years training in the art of talking like shit instead of playing football? After pondering for a moment, Je-rim suddenly felt a sense of futility and dropped the thought.

I’m not a kindergarten teacher; do I really need to know why this guy is angry? He probably just hates me. Everything becomes easier if I think that way, yet he was stubbornly clinging to the thought and agonizing over it.

Je-rim let out a heavy sigh, messing up his neatly set hair. His bangs fluttered up from the breath and then settled back down. Sweeping those bangs up again to clear his vision, Je-rim glared at Aaron and smirked.

“I haven’t touched a man since I broke up with you. Why are you treating me like you, you slut?”

Ah, I really didn’t want to fight. Even as he casually spat out the slur “slut,” he lamented secretly. Unfortunately, Je-rim also possessed the ability to speak infinitely vulgarly to those who provoked him, so the conversation eventually spiraled toward catastrophe.

Would they end up fighting again like old times, saying things they shouldn’t? But it didn’t matter. Back then, they liked each other, so the fights had a huge impact, but now it was just a bit annoying; there would be no emotional damage. No, wait, it would be infuriating to lose, so he had to win first.

However, contrary to his sharpened edge, Aaron’s following words drained the strength out of Je-rim.

“The first and the last? That sounds almost romantic.”

It seemed there was a built-in filter in that guy’s ears that automatically removed the word “slut.” Like William, who had a filter that over-interpreted everything as a self-deprecating remark…

At this unexpected, lunatic-like reaction, Je-rim lost his will to fight. It was the same logic as being able to take down a madman wielding a knife, but wanting to run away from a madman who suddenly strips naked and charges at you. Je-rim circled his finger by his temple and asked.

“Are you delirious because of jet lag? Should I call the team doctor?”

“I’m perfectly fine. Thanks for worrying.”

If it’s not jet lag, is it some other psychiatric issue? Come to think of it, he had heard somewhere that personality can become violent if there’s a problem with the brain. Since the guy headed the ball often, it would be better to believe that repeated impacts to the head had caused brain damage.

Ignoring the claim that he was fine, Je-rim nodded weakly. Having lost the desire to fight further, he was about to turn his back again when Aaron’s voice reached him once more.

“Je-rim, is that all you’re curious about? Whether I failed to adjust to the time difference?”

“What else should I be curious about? Your condition is directly linked to our team’s performance from now on, so of course I have to care.”

In other words, he had no interest in anything that didn’t affect the game. Honestly, he didn’t want to care whether the guy was bedridden with illness or mentally unstable, but regardless of personal feelings, Aaron was undoubtedly a talent who would be a massive asset to the team, so it couldn’t be helped.

‘I have to lift the Big Ear at least once before I retire…’

After lifting the trophies for the Premier League, Champions League, and the cup competitions, he would be able to retire without any hesitation. After transferring to Sefton, he had achieved the Premier League and cup titles, but the day he would win the Champions League seemed distant. Although they easily reached the main tournament, fitting their reputation as one of the Big Four, they frequently crashed out around the quarter-finals.

Still, the games had gone so well last season that he had secretly hoped this would be the year. When they broke through to the Champions League semi-finals, they were also first in the league, so he had been dreaming that even if they couldn’t achieve the Treble, they could lift two trophies simultaneously.

But the result for both was second place. Je-rim and the other Sefton players were quite devastated. They might have written off the Champions, but they thought they would at least win the league; however, in the final match of the season, a team that had been trailing Sefton by two points miraculously won, securing three points to overtake them. To make matters worse, the team that pulled off the reversal was Molden FC, Sefton’s long-standing rival, which sent the team’s atmosphere spiraling.

In such a situation, when a top-class striker like Aaron Reyes transferred in, it was only natural for the club and the fans to pin their hopes on him. Even the fellow players were no exception.

Everyone knew how difficult it was to find a proven striker, and how vital a striker with great finishing, physicality, and intuition was to a team. While Reman, the current starter, was certainly a talented asset, he lacked that decisive final blow, perhaps because of his young age.

When Je-rim first heard the news of Aaron’s transfer, he felt a visceral dislike that made his skin crawl, yet at the same time, a thought like, ‘Maybe this time it’s actually possible?’ crossed his mind. That was why he had vowed not to fight. Though that vow turned into a blank sheet of paper within a second of facing him…

‘I really shouldn’t fight him from now on.’

Recalling Aaron’s value anew made his heart naturally grow more generous. Before retirement, if he were to be a bit more greedy, the desire to lift the Big Ear before turning thirty was what drove Je-rim.

“Hey, let’s just stop—”

It was just as he was about to propose a reconciliation after a brief moment of self-reflection. Whether Aaron hadn’t seen Je-rim’s tentatively extended hand or was intentionally ignoring it, he crossed his arms. As if he had no desire to shake hands.

That gesture triggered a trauma buried deep within. Je-rim reflexively swallowed hard and quickly withdrew his hand before anyone could see.

The World Cup, held at the end of the year for the first time in history. His first debut for the National Team. A fatal mistake. The cause of which was…

Amber eyes, which Je-rim used to gaze at as if possessed when he was young because they were as mysterious and beautiful as sparkling jewels, stared intently at him. Facing him like this, Je-rim realized belatedly that the brightness of those eyes had dimmed slightly—very slightly—compared to before. Along with the fact that the emotion contained in those eyes was hostility.

“You really haven’t changed. You’re so oblivious it’s nauseating. How on earth are you the captain? It doesn’t suit your personality at all.”

Aaron spat out his response in a tone starkly different from before, condemning Je-rim. Earlier, though sarcastic, there had been a playful quality to his voice that kept it from feeling like a true attack, but now, the conversation was purely for the purpose of criticism.

Je-rim’s heart, which had been seeking a temporary truce, froze cold. The dark history that suddenly surfaced and Aaron’s brazen attitude hit him like a blow to the head.

Reconciliation with a bastard like this? He must have been possessed by the soul of a Buddha for a moment. Je-rim shoved his hands into his pants pockets and muttered in a menacing tone.

“Yeah, whatever. You’re as thick-skinned as ever, too.”

“I’m thick-skinned? No. You’re the one who’s thick-skinned, Bunny.”

“Who the hell is saying that to whom right now? And if you call me that nickname one more time—”

“Bunny. Now, what are you going to do?”

A sudden urge surged within Je-rim to punch the face of the man who was shrugging his shoulders with exaggerated movements. But if he did, he would surely scar that damn face—which was too handsome to hide—and Je-rim would be disciplined for assault within the club.

Then should he hit a spot that isn’t visible? Je-rim began to loosen up his hands, carefully observing the thighs or abdomen, areas covered even when wearing a uniform. Because he had heard the nickname Bunny for the first time in a while, his fingertips curled like grilled squid tentacles.

A spot that isn’t visible… the stomach or legs are definitely the best. The problem was that both were areas where a wrong hit could lead to serious trouble. If there were a guarantee that the injury would heal during the pre-season, he would have hit him a hundred times over, but what if something went wrong and he was injured to the point of missing an entire season?

Not only would the Big Ear fly away, but he wouldn’t be able to avoid disciplinary action. No, in that case, it wouldn’t be a disciplinary action; it would be a lawsuit.

After calculating various scenarios, Je-rim quietly suppressed his rage. If he swung his fist unable to overcome a momentary impulse, he had too much to lose. Instead, he panted heavily, huffing and puffing.

“Forget it. I’m too old to be this childish, fuck… Look, I don’t want to waste any more time on you. I’m not that interested. So let’s just be teammates. Okay?”

No matter how much the manager ordered them to get along again, it was impossible. The limit was being distant colleagues who didn’t contact each other privately and only saw each other during training and matches. He had barely managed to make the offer, tossing it out like trash because he didn’t even want to do that.

“Ha!”

A scoff of disbelief pierced Je-rim’s ears, and simultaneously, his shoulder was shoved roughly. Thump—the moment his entire back hit the wall, Aaron stepped in close and blocked Je-rim’s path. The man’s eyes flashed with a threatening light as he twisted the corners of his mouth into a sneer.

“Teammates? Don’t make me laugh. How could we ‘just’ be teammates?”

“And why the hell couldn’t we?”

“There are more than enough reasons. Do you just give handjobs to your teammates? Kiss them if you think they look cute?”

“Yeah, I do. Who says I only did that with you?”

Of course, he had never done such a thing. The mere imagination of doing that with his current colleagues at Sefton made him shudder with a nausea-inducing disgust. However, a childish desire to win the argument made him feign a confident attitude.

At the same time, a formidable grip tightened on his shoulder. Before him, Aaron was grinding his teeth with an expression that wouldn’t have been strange even if he killed someone right then and there.

“…You said you hadn’t seen any men other than me.”

“I said I hadn’t ‘seen’ them, I never said I hadn’t ‘done it’?”

Since breaking up with Aaron, he hadn’t dated or had sex with any men. Honestly, Je-rim’s way of thinking was completely skewed toward the idea that dating and sex could not be separate, so even when he dated women, he had never had a relationship that was just a sex partnership.

But he could fabricate any lie if it meant winning over Aaron. Receiving Je-rim’s boasting gaze head-on, Aaron took a deep breath as if enduring his anger, and then sneered.

“Fuck, and you’re the one calling someone a slut? Aren’t you the slut here?”

Uttering the word ‘slut,’ Aaron tapped Je-rim under the chin with his index finger, as if to clearly remind him who the target was. It was only natural that Je-rim’s eyes flipped at the gesture of being looked down upon like a puppy.

“Je-rim, exactly what do you think you’ve done so right that you’ve been… ugh!”

Je-rim had not a shred of intention to listen to any more of his teammate’s nonsense. He chose his fist as the means to end this insubordination. Even then, his reason urgently screamed that he must not hit the face, stomach, or legs, so he struck the shoulder blade with all his might as a compromise.

The moment he hit, a ‘crack!’ sound of a bone breaking was heard, which made him a bit anxious, but one hit wasn’t enough. The guy had good bone density and he had controlled his strength, so it probably didn’t break. Pretending to push Aaron’s shoulder away, Je-rim intentionally gripped the area he had hit as if to crush it before letting go. It was very satisfying to see that arrogant face contort right in front of him.

He had hit so hard that the bony parts of the back of Je-rim’s hand were all swollen red. He chewed on a curse while rubbing his stinging skin.

“You son of a bitch can’t even tell the difference between a joke and the truth. Are you on drugs?”

“…What part of this is a joke?”

“That you’re the only slut here, you fucker.”

Even though he had lied first about rolling around with colleagues, Je-rim felt extremely foul being branded a slut by an actual slut, so he raised his middle finger. Aaron, perhaps realizing that everything Je-rim had just spat out was nonsense, looked up at him in disbelief.

“I see your habit of scratching people’s nerves with pointless talk is still the same.”

“Yeah, and you’ve become a total prick. Right?”

“And how is it that you’re exactly the same even after ten years?”

“I’m not—”

“It feels unfamiliar right now, doesn’t it? Me talking back to you so clearly and sarcastically?”

“……”

Je-rim fell silent, hit right where it hurt by the words that cut off his protest. No matter how filthily they had broken up, they had been a quite obsessive couple before that, so the memories of their relationship remained vivid. He simply hadn’t had a reason to recall them; he had buried those memories at a depth where they could be scooped up whenever a trigger appeared.

Back then, Aaron was… surprisingly cute for his size, ignored everyone else but listened well to his lover, and though he was quite jealous, he was affectionate. He often said embarrassing things and called him nicknames like ‘my heaven’ or ‘my bunny,’ which always made Je-rim’s fingers curl.

For such a guy to appear after ten years and act like this, it was naturally unfamiliar. Of course, he knew that Aaron had only been obedient because he was playing coy in front of him, and that his original personality wasn’t that great. Just looking at his goal ceremonies or playstyle, one could naturally praise him for having a damn foul personality.

Whether it was deliberately provoking an opposing defender who failed to commit a foul, or scoring three or four goals to crush the opponent in a match where the opposing fans’ jeers were severe and then performing a taunting ceremony toward the opposing crowd. In short, he was absolutely not a good person.

Thinking about it, this was just his original personality, and since they had broken up ages ago, there was no need to play coy anymore, so he was just acting as he pleased. But…

“It would be. Because only the memories of me acting like an idiot would have remained in your head. Since you’re not interested in anything else, as your precious words put it, you’ve forgotten it all.”

Accusations flew one after another toward the silently standing Je-rim. As soon as he heard those words, Je-rim couldn’t hide the sneer that escaped and burst out laughing.

What the fuck does this bastard think he’s done to be this confident? The anger and unfairness that had been piling up since Aaron started condemning him finally exploded. Je-rim patted Aaron’s cheek with his palm and sneered.

“Aren’t you the one who forgot? As the captain, should I remind you how we ended? You cheated, Aaron Reyes.”

“…That. Sigh, you couldn’t possibly still…”

The man, who seemed to have nothing to say about this topic himself, hesitated for a long time before letting out a deep sigh and parting his lips slightly. It was then that the sound of someone knocking on the door from outside rang out exceptionally loud, cutting through the momentarily silent air of the room.

At the sudden visit of another person, both Je-rim and Aaron widened their eyes and turned their heads toward the door. Since they were in the middle of fighting intensely, speaking of things that could never be told to others, they couldn’t help but be startled.

When there was no answer from inside, the guest, who had now pressed the doorbell, mumbled into the intercom.

“Jerry. It’s me, Reman. Do you have a moment?”

“Reman Fritz?”

A hint of irritation seeped into Aaron’s voice as he muttered the full name. It seemed he was annoyed that his exciting fight time had been interrupted. What a joke. Je-rim, clicking his tongue openly, shouted loudly toward the front door to wait and began pushing Aaron’s shoulder.

He didn’t want anyone to see them both stuck in the same room with flushed faces, panting, without even having unpacked their luggage. But if he kicked Aaron out the door right now, Reman was right there. After thinking quickly, he decided to lock Aaron in the bathroom.

“Wait a minute!”

“Ugh! Je-rim, what are you doing?”

Je-rim roughly guided him to the corner, intentionally shoving the area he had hit earlier, making Aaron groan.

“Don’t press my shoulder, it hurts! Do you know how much my body is worth?”

“Worth what? Are you advertising that you’re a slut? And I’m just as expensive as you, you punk.”

Ignoring him, Je-rim pressed down firmly on his shoulder and dragged the large man to the bathroom, throwing him in front of it. Then, he opened the door himself and tilted his chin toward the opening.

“I have nothing more to hear from you. I’m not curious. It’s a relationship that ended ages ago, so you don’t need to bother making excuses.”

When he first found out through an article that Aaron had cheated, his anger had naturally soared to the top of his head. At that time, he had already transferred to England, so he wasn’t in a position to slap Aaron’s cheek.

And… honestly, although they hadn’t explicitly said they were breaking up, the relationship had already half-ended, making it an awkward position to demand answers. They had transferred while the resentment from their fights remained unresolved, and they hadn’t contacted each other for a while.

They had said they were taking time to think, but Je-rim knew inwardly. He knew this relationship could not be recovered. Even knowing that, he had been afraid to completely let go of the string of the relationship, clinging to the hope that neither of them had clearly said, ‘Let’s break up.’

‘It must be a tabloid, a denial article will come out soon, at least he’ll contact me personally to explain that it’s not true.’ He had tried to cool his head and wait, but there was no official statement, and the public only became more boisterous when it was revealed that the woman in the dating rumor was a famous Spanish actress, Gabriela Delgado.

‘Even Satan couldn’t be that cruel.’

Wasn’t it too much to make someone find out their relationship was completely over through a dating rumor with someone else? A young, handsome, top-prospect football player and a young, beautiful actress who had even broken into Hollywood. The dating rumor, which possessed all the elements the world would go crazy for, became an established fact as neither side denied it, spreading like wildfire.

When he eventually saw an article with a photo of Aaron and the woman hugging affectionately and stroking each other’s cheeks as if kissing, he had even dropped his phone and smashed it. He was angry, miserable, sorrowful, and his pride was wounded… In the midst of that, he felt even more sad as he thought that she, a woman, did indeed suit him better than he, a man, did.

But that was only back then; now he didn’t think anything of it. He couldn’t help but feel a momentary surge of anger when recalling it, but it wasn’t to the point of wanting to dig a hole and hide in it like before. Ten years had passed, after all.

Is there anything that fades as quickly as emotion? Je-rim no longer liked Aaron, nor was he hurt by his words or actions. And it would be the same for Aaron. Time hadn’t flowed only for Je-rim.

He saw the strength leave the hands of the man who had been gripping the doorframe, resisting entry. The eyes that had been blazing with a fierce light cooled instantly the moment Je-rim said it was a relationship that had ended ages ago.

“Fine, if that’s how you feel. Thanks for saving me the trouble of making excuses.”

“Yeah, sure. Stay shoved in the bathroom and be thankful to your heart’s content.”

He countered the sarcasm with sarcasm and waved his hand dismissively. It was a gesture meaning he would close the door himself, so the man should just get inside. Whether that half-hearted gesture, like shooing away pigeons gathered in a square, offended that noble temperament again, a wrinkle formed between Aaron’s brows.

“…Why are you specifically hiding me? Just how secret of a conversation are you planning to have with Reman Fritz? Oh, are you and Fritz ‘just’ teammates too?”

“Yeah. ‘Just’ teammates are going to have a secret conversation, so wouldn’t it look ridiculous if you, a new transfer, jumped in? Rookie, stay put in there.”

When he pressed down with the authority of the captain, Aaron finally turned around and entered the bathroom. The moment Je-rim’s eyes narrowed at the sight of his somehow sluggish, lifeless walk, the door closed with a loud BANG! The wind from the slam blew his bangs.

Je-rim glared at the closed door in front of him, then opened the front door, enduring his rage by clenching his fists. Reman, who had been waiting quietly until the door opened, looked startled the moment he saw Je-rim’s face.

“Jerry, sorry for disturbing your rest. But why is your face so red?”

Unable to say that he had been in a dogfight with Aaron—the man he had dated ages ago and broken up with because of cheating—just as he was welcoming him, he needlessly fluttered his shirt. Thanks to the air conditioner being on full blast, the indoor temperature was chillingly cool, but he pretended to be as hot as possible.

“It’s because it’s hot. Aren’t you hot? Korean summers must be a bit tough for a German to endure.”

“I feel like a steamed dim sum when I’m outside, but inside the hotel is fine. You’re hot even with the AC on?”

“…Yeah, a bit. But what brings you here, instead of resting?”

Seeing Reman’s discouraged expression, Je-rim could roughly guess what he had come to say, so he played it up even more.

“Aren’t you tired? My whole body aches when I’m on a plane for too long.”

He gave a mindless laugh and massaged Reman’s shoulders. However, despite Je-rim’s efforts, Reman’s expression didn’t soften; instead, it turned into an even deeper grimace. After hesitating for a moment, Reman began to mumble in a powerless voice.

“…Jerry, I’m sorry. No matter how much I think about it, I feel so pathetic for missing that goal…. But more than me being pathetic, I feel so… to you….”

“Hey, hey, I told you it’s fine. Why are you still like this? Just forget about it.”

The guy already had gentle eyes, and seeing him make such a miserable face reminded Je-rim of a puppy caught in the rain, making it impossible not to care. Je-rim patted his younger, larger colleague, squeezing out words of comfort however he could.

“It’s not something you need to be sorry to me for. If you’re really sorry, just do better from now on. Don’t dwell on the past. That’s the worst thing for your mental.”

…Though those weren’t exactly the words one would expect from a man who, until just a moment ago, had been fighting with someone he hadn’t seen in ten years, trading insults about being “rags.”

Regardless, until Aaron appeared right in front of him, he had lived as if sprinting forward without looking back, so he felt half-justified. Je-rim desperately rationalized everything, shifting all the blame onto his ex-boyfriend.

Why on earth did he have to come to Sefton and mess with my head? Well, as the team captain, I’m grateful he came…. He fucking hated Aaron’s transfer, but he was fucking grateful for it. It was almost amazing that such ambivalent emotions could coexist simultaneously.

While he was trying to objectively compare the benefits gained from Aaron’s transfer against the amount of stress, Reman happened to bring up Aaron’s name at the perfect timing. In a voice even more mournful than when he was apologizing.

“…Even if I work harder from now on, will I have a chance to prove myself? Now that Reyes has joined our team.”

Je-rim, who had been privately judging that Aaron would be better in the Starting Lineup than Reman, who was still young and lacked experience, avoided eye contact out of guilt.

Reman repeatedly wiped his face with his hands and let out a sigh that could have sunk the ground. However, perhaps thinking it was unbecoming to vent his worries about being pushed out of the Starting Lineup, he quickly changed the subject.

“Anyway, I wanted to apologize to you properly. I bragged that I’d help you lift the Big Ear before I came to Korea. I’m sorry.”

At the renewed apology, Je-rim quietly lifted his chin and gazed into Reman’s blue eyes. A striker who had just turned 22, the same age as Je-rim’s youngest sibling. Je-rim was quite fond of this prospect, who was six years younger than him. Perhaps it was because he saw him more often than his own biological siblings, with whom he had a distant relationship.

Having lived alone abroad since adulthood after following his mother—who had given up everything for him to move to Spain—Je-rim often felt more affection for his teammates than for any family members other than his mother.

In fact, during his time at Tavarona, the person he felt closest to was… none other than Aaron. He only saw his mother on weekends when he could leave the dormitory, and the fact that he was blinded by love at the time played a huge part. He wouldn’t have had any excuse even if people called him the world’s most unfilial son.

But regardless of how precious Aaron had been to him in the past, now he wasn’t a dear lover, but simply a nuisance. A grateful nuisance. No matter how grateful he was, a nuisance was still a nuisance, so to the current Je-rim, Reman was dearer than Aaron. He put on a stern face and comforted Reman.

“Reman. I don’t know exactly what you’re so sorry for, but I’ve received your apology clearly, so if you apologize one more time, I’m going to get angry. And.”

Before speaking further, Je-rim glanced toward the bathroom where he had shoved Aaron. He didn’t care if Aaron heard or not, but mentioning his name openly felt distracting. Only after confirming the door was firmly closed did he open his mouth.

“Is Aaron Reyes such a big deal? Don’t be intimidated. For now… you might be pushed out of the Starting Lineup. But look at it long-term, as a way to gain experience. You’re only twenty-two. Your career isn’t ending with this, so why are you so gloomy?”

Aaron Reyes was a big deal, but Reman was also a player with plenty of potential. If he could just fix the habit of messing up in clutch situations due to his timid personality and fragile mental, he was already a pretty great player. The fact that he had transferred to a Big Club like Sefton at 21 and immediately secured a spot as a Starting Player proved his talent.

Je-rim looked Reman straight in the eye and delivered only the honest truth.

“And objectively, how many players your age are playing as a first-team Starting Player in the Premier League, and in a Big Club at that? You have plenty of talent.”

“I heard you transferred to Sefton at the same age as me, Jerry.”

“Yeah, because I was overflowing with talent too.”

Je-rim had also transferred to Newham FC in England after finishing his youth career at Tavarona, and then moved to Sefton at 21.

In other words, Je-rim’s words were also self-praise. When Reman pointed this out playfully, Je-rim chuckled and shot back with an even bigger joke. Reman laughed along, but then suddenly looked gloomy again.

“I want to be like you…. I’m envious of how you don’t seem nervous at all, even when you step up as the fifth penalty kicker.”

“It’s not that I’m not nervous; it’s that I’ve gained enough experience not to show it. If you show you’re nervous, it’s easier for the opposing goalkeeper to read your direction.”

Taking the opportunity to pass on the secret to winning PKs, Je-rim continued in a serious tone.

“There’s nothing as useless as worrying about a lack of experience. Experience is something that naturally accumulates as time passes, so what’s there to worry about? If you’re really worried, instead of digging a hole for yourself, consider whether you should go on loan or not.”

“…I don’t want a loan. I like it here.”

After hesitating for a moment, Reman lightly wrapped his arm around Je-rim’s back and acted spoiled. Since this level of skinship happened every time they scored a goal, Je-rim hugged Reman back without much thought. Just as he was about to ruffle the soft blonde hair while holding the back of his head, like comforting a younger brother, the open door came into view over Reman’s shoulder.

The bathroom door, which he had personally pushed Aaron into, had slid open at some point. And through the gap in that door….

‘Did that guy seriously head the ball too many times?’

Two eyes, sparkling like a beast’s, glowed brightly in the darkness. The realization that he had shoved him into a bathroom without turning on the lights came late. He had no idea how long the guy had been spying.

Horrified, Je-rim barely suppressed a scream and waved his hands frantically. Aside from not wanting it to be known that he was with Aaron, he couldn’t let Reman see Aaron in this situation. Reman was already distressed because of Aaron; he couldn’t just reveal that the culprit was actually hiding in that bathroom.

Despite those desperate gestures, the gap in the door widened slightly. It seemed he intended to come out. Left with no choice, Je-rim buried Reman’s face deep into his shoulder and spoke quickly. He intended to wrap up the conversation and send Reman away immediately.

“Well, yeah. It’s not a bad idea to stay and compete with Reyes. You might be able to learn something from him.”

“Yeah, his finishing is great, but his sense is fantastic. If only I could learn from him—”

“You should talk about that with me. If you’d told me first, I would have taught you with all my heart.”

It was the moment Reman, held in Je-rim’s arms, was about to say something. Finally, the door swung open, and Aaron, approaching with long strides, blurted out something in English that he didn’t even mean, hugging both Reman and Je-rim at once.

Caught between two guys larger than himself, Je-rim was squashed like a hamburger patty. Even if he wanted to escape, Aaron was pressing down on his back with such strength that he couldn’t budge. It was even more agonizing because Reman had frozen stiff the moment Aaron hugged him.

The conversation, which had been interrupted by Aaron’s sudden intrusion, only resumed after Je-rim twisted his body and escaped from the two hard, muscular bodies pressing against him. Because he had slipped out like a sneak, it looked as if Reman and Aaron were hugging each other affectionately.

Reman, who was naturally very shy, looked pitifully flustered while being held in Aaron’s arms.

“Re, Reyes? Why are you in Jerry’s room…?”

“I was here first. Like you, I had something to say to Je-rim.”

“But why in the bathroom….”

“We were having a cozy, private secret conversation for a while, but when you arrived, our kind captain locked me in that damp, pitch-black bathroom where water was dripping. I was scared.”

Aaron let go of Reman and pointed toward the dark bathroom. Seeing a guy with the aura of a mafia boss shuddering and claiming he was scared of a mere dark bathroom was utterly pathetic.

A guy whose birthday is Halloween, what the hell is he scared of—ghosts? Je-rim, momentarily forgetting Reman was there, snapped coldly.

“Go erase the tattoos on your arms before you play the victim. Even ghosts would run away if they saw your arms.”

“They’re not just on my arms. Maybe I should have been completely naked. I was really scared.”

Aaron slightly lifted his top and pointed toward his back. It seemed he was trying to emphasize that he had tattoos on his back too, but since he didn’t actually turn around to show them, only his abs—defined as if carved with a chisel—were visible.

So fucking annoying…. In Je-rim’s twisted mood, it just looked like he was suddenly showing off his body.

“No, but you said you weren’t good at English….”

Reman raised a natural question, seeing the guy who claimed to be bad at English not only understanding everything but speaking it fluently. To this, Aaron shook his head and chuckled as if he were appalled. It was a complete reversal of blame.

“It was a joke, but everyone believed me so easily. Thanks to that, I was a bit bored on the plane.”

“…….”

“That was a joke too. I’m serious about not being confident in my English. I can understand it, but I’m self-conscious about my pronunciation.”

“You… seem to be doing well….”

Whether he was kind-hearted or just oblivious, Reman praised Aaron’s English skills even now. The guy, who was already arrogant, became even more haughty and turned his question toward Je-rim, who had eyes like a rotten fish.

“Thanks for the compliment. How’s my English? To your ears?”

“…It’s fucking great, you brat. To the point where saying you lack confidence feels like a blatant lie.”

“I’m actually less confident in lying than I am in English.”

“…….”

Was this guy really the same cute boy who had blinked in confusion during their first kiss? Je-rim was now losing confidence in his own memories. No, acting cute was only at the beginning; immediately after, he had pounced on Je-rim’s lips greedily as if he’d been waiting, so he probably was the same person….

Recalling that once they’d broken the seal, he was the type to peck him whenever they thought no one was looking, Je-rim’s expression soured even further. Why do I remember this guy as being cute when we were dating? Looking at every single action, he’s just as shameless now as he was then.

Is this the effect of nostalgic correction? Je-rim glared at Aaron, who stood there with a non-cute bulk and face, smoothly spilling lies. Aaron must have read that unpleasant gaze, but his mouth, which didn’t even need to be moistened, didn’t stop.

“If you have any worries in the future, come consult me since we’re in the same position. Wouldn’t that be more useful?”

“Ah…? Oh, um, yeah, thanks….”

“You’re welcome.”

From the moment it was revealed that Aaron was fluent in English, Reman looked bewildered throughout. However, he couldn’t say anything negative to someone offering to help, so he smiled awkwardly and shook hands, which looked a bit pitiful.

A situation where the guy who suddenly transferred in and stole his spot was confidently claiming he’d provide counseling for his worries at any time. For Je-rim, just imagining it made his blood boil; it was a situation where he would have rather requested a loan from the manager. And then, after working my ass off to improve my skills, I’ll return to my original club and take back the spot that bastard stole.

This was the mindset of Je-rim, who was steeped in competition, but Reman seemed entirely different. Well, since he said he didn’t want a loan, there was nothing to be done. No matter if he was the captain, interfering in such matters would be crossing the line, so Je-rim just smacked his lips while watching the two shake hands.

“Oh, it’s already time for dinner. Why don’t we eat together?”

Aaron, who had already become friendly enough to put his arm around Reman’s shoulder despite barely knowing him, wrapped his arm around Je-rim’s shoulder as well. Shy, my ass, this fucking guy….

Reman looked just as stunned as Je-rim, but lacking the courage to refuse, he only nodded. In the meantime, Je-rim couldn’t exactly treat Aaron like a germ and shake him off. Left with no choice, Je-rim was clattered along to the Chairman’s hall, matching the stride of the guys much taller than him.

✲✲✲

Dinner took place in a suffocating atmosphere. Because Aaron had dragged Je-rim and Reman to eat early, no other teammates were there. The hall, with several round tables, was as silent as a funeral parlor.

Je-rim usually preferred noisy meals, but for once, he liked that there were many empty seats and no eyes watching. He was exhausted from being semi-forcibly attached to Aaron all day and receiving all sorts of stares. Ignoring Aaron, who had already taken a seat, he took his tray and headed for a corner.

“Je, Jerry! Where are you going…?”

But just as he took another step, Reman, still held by Aaron, looked at Je-rim with eyes that seemed ready to cry. His calling voice was also very mournful. Aaron, holding Reman by his side like a hostage, muttered as if talking to himself.

“I guess the team atmosphere at Sefton isn’t that harmonious? Well, with a captain who has such an uncooperative personality, it’s no surprise.”

“Who.”

Clang! Je-rim slammed his tray roughly onto the table where Aaron was sitting and glared. He intended to use this opportunity to teach this arrogant brat a proper lesson in table manners and show him what the authority of a captain was.

However, in the end, he couldn’t carry out that ambitious plan. The moment he struck a pose, mushroom soup splashed onto his face from the tray he had thrown down, causing him to shout, “Hot!” Aaron personally pulled out a napkin and wiped the soup off Je-rim’s face.

“Can’t you even wipe your own mouth? Or is the old habit still there….”

His face flushed at the secretly whispered words, and he couldn’t open his mouth further. Especially since he knew the mention of “old habits” wasn’t for nothing. The authority of the captain he had tried so hard to project fell to the floor, just like the discarded tray.

Throughout the meal, not even the sound of an ant moving could be heard, other than the clinking of utensils. If there was any silver lining, it was that the meal ended faster than usual because he had eaten with such combativeness. After finishing dinner, Je-rim returned to his room a step faster than Aaron and threw the luggage Aaron had left in his room out into the hallway.

“Are you going to take responsibility if it gets stolen?”

“Why would I care?”

After responding dismissively to Aaron, who muttered in disbelief at the sight of his luggage thrown into the hallway, Je-rim slammed the door shut for effect. It was revenge for the bathroom door. Finally alone, Je-rim took a refreshing shower and sat on the sofa. He wanted to lie down immediately, but he knew he shouldn’t until his food was digested.

As he stared at the ceiling and chewed on his solitude, the surrounding silence brought a flood of stray thoughts. Mostly about his past with Aaron. Not wanting to remember more, he turned on the TV. The boisterous noise filled the room, scattering his thoughts. The fact that the voices on any channel he turned to were in Korean soothed his stifled heart.

Je-rim watched a variety show blankly for a while and then fell fast asleep in his sitting position on the sofa.

“You didn’t even take a flight, so why did you sleep so early?”

At William’s question, which flew at him the moment he entered the Chairman’s hall early in the morning, Je-rim awkwardly touched his lips. He was sure he’d fallen asleep before 9 PM, but he was flustered to find the sun shining brightly when he woke up. Out of guilt for sleeping without properly digesting his food, he had gone for a jog as soon as he woke up.

‘This is all because of that damn guy….’

Je-rim gnashed his teeth as he looked at Aaron, who was sipping coffee with a smooth face. The reason he had fallen asleep early like a child in a new country at his age was likely because his mind, exhausted by the continuous psychological warfare, had declared an early strike.

That said, he couldn’t blame Aaron for the fact that he fell asleep without digesting his food. However, in Je-rim’s current eyes, a filter similar to the one in William’s ear canals was installed. A filter that made all misfortune seem like Aaron Reyes’s fault. He was starting to trust the fortune-telling that said a past ill-fate would hold him back.

Sleeping immediately after eating is so bad for the body. Since he had maintained the habit of doing cardio after dinner before going to bed for over a decade, yesterday’s deviation felt all the more painful. Blaming the innocent Aaron for the disruption of his strict lifestyle, he dissected his omelet with a knife. Even the fact that the breakfast menu was Western felt like another misfortune brought on by Aaron.

“Koreans live on the strength of rice…”

He wished there was some scorched rice water, but there was no way British chefs could make something like that. For the record, as people whose bodies required strict dietary management, hotel buffets were out of the question; they were filling their stomachs with healthy meals prepared by the club’s chefs who had followed them to Korea.

As Je-rim grumbled to himself, the colleagues around him each chimed in.

“What have you been babbling about in Korean since a while ago?”

“There’s just… things. You guys wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”

“Is it just me, or has he been acting a bit weird since yesterday?”

“Right. Are you in a bad mood? Want to go out and play after the open training this evening? I’m kind of curious about what the clubs in Korea are like.”

Edson, an energetic winger who owned his own large portable speaker, suggested with an excited face. Je-rim threw down his knife and snapped.

“I’ll kill you if you go. Stay holed up in the hotel until the Korea visit is over!”

“So uptight.”

Watching Edson pout, Je-rim suppressed his anger. When they first entered the country, they all had long faces because they were stressed about not winning the Big Ear, and now… Je-rim felt frustrated that they had perfectly adapted in a single day and were talking nonsense about going to a club. William asked while pushing a glass of cold water toward him.

“Jerry, you said you have a YouTube talk show filming this lunch, right?”

“Yeah. You?”

“I have a fan service event with Liam and Craig.”

“You’re going to have a hard time.”

Normally, training is standard in the morning, but the midsummer weather in Korea held them back. With the open training and match schedules all pushed to the evening, they were scattered until then for youth training, fan service, variety show filming for the club’s own content, or talk show appearances.

Je-rim chuckled thinking about his colleagues who would be standing like mannequins at an event crowded with people in this heat. Compared to them, he was physically comfortable since he only had to go to a talk show on a channel run by a YouTuber he was close with and just talk, along with Reman. However, William comforted Je-rim with a look of pity instead.

“As if you’re the only one struggling.”

“Why would I be struggling?”

“…You must not have heard because you went to bed early yesterday.”

Along with a pat on the back came words like a bolt from the blue.

“Reman is lying down with indigestion… so your partner changed. It’s Reyes.”

…Oh God. Je-rim buried his face deep in his palms. At this point, his brain finally reached a rational conclusion: it was more appropriate to resent God than Aaron in the face of such immense misfortune.

The award given to the La Liga top scorer.

The cup competition of the European continent.

Winning three trophies in the same season. Usually refers to the League Cup, the Champions League Cup (Big Ear), and the FA Cup.