7 – b

After hearing the situation, Coach Verdi immediately gathered the players for an emergency meeting. One by one, the guys entered the meeting room, some with their hair still wet. Upon hearing Je-rim’s circumstances, every single one of them wore a clouded expression. The coach’s face was no different.

“…I can’t stop you if you say you must go. It’s a matter of your parents. However, it’s a fact that the loss of power would be immense if you were absent, Jerry, so I can’t exactly… push you to go.”

Je-rim bowed his head before him like a sinner. Would he have felt more at ease if the coach had simply made the decision and told him not to go? Because the tone left too much room for interpretation rather than being a full permission, it only added to his unease.

However, knowing that the coach’s feelings—whose duty it was to lead the team to victory—must be as complicated as his own, Je-rim only let out a deep sigh. Coach Verdi patted Je-rim on the back a couple of times.

“Think it over and let me know what you decide by today.”

“…Yes, thank you.”

“Jerry, you may leave. The rest of you, stay for a moment. Let’s have a meeting to prepare for the case where Jerry is absent.”

As he quietly opened and closed the meeting room door, the buzzing voices of his teammates leaked through the wall. Those voices, clearly revealing their bewilderment, felt like they were weighing down his back, leaving Je-rim standing blankly in front of the door for a while. It was only natural they were flustered, as the core squad and tactics were at risk of being completely overhauled just one day before the match.

He barely managed to move his heavy feet, and the walk back to the dressing room felt like a thousand miles. Guilt, responsibility, and worry clumped together, hanging from his ankles like weights. He couldn’t even distinguish whether these feelings were for his mother, for the team, or for both.

Even after taking the shower he had postponed to clear his head, nothing changed. He sat on the locker room bench, preoccupied, leaving his dripping hair as it was.

‘Is it right for me to go to Korea? Or is it right not to go?’

What if he went and the team lost? Of course, there were plausible excuses ready—it was an away game, and there were compatibility issues. Even if the fans had high expectations, they wouldn’t criticize them too harshly for a loss. They would express regret that the record of eight consecutive league wins was broken by a rival team, but…

Furthermore, no matter how good the excuses were, the morale of the players who lost the Derby Match would inevitably plummet. Morale that crashes after hitting a peak would affect subsequent matches, and he didn’t know what kind of misfortune that would bring in a schedule that would run breathlessly until early next year.

Thinking that all those results could be caused by him, the captain, his heart gradually tilted to one side. Even if he boarded a plane to Korea right now, by the time he stepped into Incheon Airport, his mother’s surgery would already be over. The impact of his absence on the team was vast, but the impact of his presence on the surgical outcome was nonexistent.

‘Whether I go after playing tomorrow’s match, or go now, the situation in Korea won’t change…’

His mind reached a cold conclusion, as he had been trained. But what if his mother really passed away in the meantime?

The moment he imagined the worst-case scenario, cold sweat began to pour down. He was taking slow, deep breaths while clutching his trembling hands. Just then, he sensed a presence in the empty dressing room, and something soft was suddenly plopped onto his head. Je-rim looked up at the shadow that cast over his entire body.

“You weren’t leaving? Why are you letting your body get cold? And you didn’t even dry your hair.”

“…….”

An arm filled with tattoos, which had become quite familiar now, reached out and rubbed Je-rim’s head. To be precise, it was the motion of rubbing the object covering his head. Thanks to that, Je-rim realized that the object Aaron had placed on him was a towel and that he was personally drying his hair.

Normally, he would have pushed him away, telling him not to do such embarrassing things, but right now he had neither the energy nor the mental state for that. As Je-rim remained still, staring blankly into space, Aaron asked in a low voice.

“What are you going to do?”

“…I don’t know.”

He thought it was typical of the guy to get straight to the point without any of the usual chatter he used to lighten the mood. This aggressive side of him had been irritating on the day before the Besina match, but today, strangely, it wasn’t so hateful. Je-rim muttered, rubbing his eyes with a hand that betrayed his complicated emotions.

“At the least… shouldn’t I go after the Molden match? It’s not just any game, it’s the Derby Match, they’re last year’s league champions, and I’m the captain…”

“The Molden match is tomorrow. You said your mother is in surgery right now?”

“Even if I go right now just to see her face, the Molden match will be over by then.”

“That’s not what I mean… I mean don’t do something you’ll regret.”

Having dried the moisture from Je-rim’s hair, Aaron crouched down in front of him to meet his eyes. Even as Je-rim tried to avoid the gaze because it was overwhelming, those bright amber eyes captured his attention with terrifying intensity. The look staring straight at Je-rim was more serious than ever.

“You’re very close with your mother.”

“…….”

“Honestly, I thought you’d say you were going without even hesitating, so this is unexpected. What are you worried about?”

Whether it was because they had known each other since childhood regardless of their current relationship, or because he was the only person of the same age on the team, Je-rim hesitated for a moment before confessing a worry he could never honestly share with other teammates.

“They’re a team that’s overwhelming even when we face them with the best squad. If we lose because I’m missing…”

“You think the opponent will be emboldened just because you’re gone? While I’m there? You’re underestimating me too much, Je-rim.”

But as soon as he had gathered the courage to utter a weak word, Aaron cut him off with a snort. Tilting his head, he continued with a similarly crooked smile.

“Of course, everyone will struggle more than usual without you. But so what? This isn’t a tournament; frankly, even if we lose this time, we can just win the next home game. I know you feel more responsibility because it’s the Derby Match, but…”

Aaron took Je-rim’s hand and pulled it to his own chest. The wide palm landed exactly on Aaron’s left chest, where the heart is located. The sound of the regularly beating heart was transmitted vividly through his palm. Je-rim’s pulse, which had been erratic from tension, gradually slowed down as if resonating with that stable rhythm.

Je-rim flinched his fingertips at the strangely ticklish sensation. In his heart, he wanted to pull his hand away, but because Aaron held his wrist firmly, he couldn’t and ended up groping Aaron’s chest. Then, Aaron’s eyes and the corners of his mouth curved in a way that was annoyingly handsome.

“Just trust me and go.”

Truly annoying. Annoying, but… cool. He couldn’t help but admit it. Both the confidence to boldly spout such an absurd boast, and the skill that made it impossible not to be swept up in that boast. Je-rim gave Aaron’s chest a weak push.

“…If you’re going to tell me to trust you and go, you shouldn’t have mentioned the possibility of losing in the first place.”

Then, gripping the Club logo embroidered on the upper left of the training gear, he whispered.

“I wanted to do a Ceremony at their home. So promise me, that you’ll win.”

“Your personality is really something… Fine.”

Aaron chuckled, seeing the fire return to Je-rim’s eyes. The light tone of the answer made Je-rim suddenly distrust him, so he urged him again.

“If you lose, I won’t let it slide. I’ll leak your dark past on SNS.”

“I wonder which dark past you’re talking about… Whatever. That won’t happen.”

There were plenty of dark histories of Aaron that Je-rim remembered. Like the time he was jealous of a neighborhood stray dog, the anecdote where he threw a ridiculous tantrum saying, ‘But I’m your lover, can’t you just not shower with other guys?’, and the time he had a nosebleed during their first time…

Realizing that these were all stories he could never tell anyone else, Je-rim decided to stop the threats. Aaron looked up with confidence.

“As you know, I’m the type to keep a promise strictly, right?”

Perhaps because these words came from a man who had abandoned a team he’d been with for nearly 20 years and even went as far as a free transfer just to keep a childhood promise, the level of trust soared through the ceiling again. Now that his mind was made up, a relieved voice finally flowed from Je-rim.

“Yeah, you keep them too well, that’s the problem. …I’m trusting you?”

“Go quickly. I’ll tell Coach Verdi for you.”

Aaron sprang up and practically hoisted Je-rim to his feet. As Je-rim set the destination to the airport on his navigation app and was about to rush out, he stopped and peeked his head back while holding the door handle.

“…Aaron, thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Just as he had responded simply when Je-rim had expressed gratitude and an apology for taking care of him while he was drunk, he replied plainly this time as well. It was a reaction that made the depths of his chest stir, just like back then. Je-rim raised the hand that had been feeling Aaron’s heartbeat just moments ago and rubbed his own chest as he quickened his pace.

✲✲✲

By the time he flew back on the fastest ticket to Korea, his mother’s surgery was already over. Contrary to the frightening warnings that the prognosis was poor because it was the second time, the surgery had fortunately ended safely.

His mother greeted Je-rim with eyes forced open through the lingering effects of general anesthesia.

“Why did you come… What about your match…?”

This was the first thing she said upon seeing her eldest son who had flown all the way from England. Je-rim perched on a small chair next to the bed and squeezed out a voice mixed with a forced smile. He covered his mother’s wrinkled eyes with his palm.

“Madam, if you’re going to say things that upset me the moment you wake up, just keep sleeping.”

“I only said that because you came for something that wasn’t even a big deal… Long flights are so bad for your health.”

“What do you mean it wasn’t a big deal? From now on, you must get a regular check-up once a month. I’ve arranged for the test results to be reported to me regularly, so don’t try to skip them.”

He spoke calmly on the surface, barely suppressing the turmoil inside. Did she say that not knowing that if she had been transported to the hospital just a little later, she might truly never have opened her eyes again, or did she know?

Either way, it was equally frustrating. But since he couldn’t get angry at his mother lying in a hospital bed, Je-rim simply suppressed his exploding emotions and pretended to be cheerful.

“I already finished consulting with the attending physician. Don’t even dream of hiding your condition from now on.”

“Goodness, you’re making such a fuss… Anyway, why are my eyes closing so much?”

As his mother blinked, Je-ah, who was beside her, quickly informed her.

“Mom, it’s because the anesthesia hasn’t worn off. But they said you should stay awake and not sleep.”

“Right, right… Je-ah, you were surprised too, right? Your company…”

“Is that the problem right now?”

Je-ah snapped, rubbing her bloodshot eyes. Je-rim quietly pressed down on his excited younger sister’s shoulder. As Je-ah clenched her teeth and turned her head, his mother also rolled her eyes awkwardly. It was immediately after that his mother asked for the youngest.

“Je-hee is here too…? Come here. Let me see our youngest’s face after so long.”

“Mom…!”

Je-hee, who had been standing beside her brother and sister like a misplaced sack of barley, only rolling her eyes, finally burst into tears and hugged her mother tightly. He had been so annoyed seeing her giggling at her phone while his mother was half-conscious that he wanted to give her a good smack, but seeing her act cute like that, he forgave her.

Je-ah, who until a moment ago had been glaring at her younger brother with eyes that seemed to wonder whether to kill him with a paring knife, also seemed to have softened her mood, letting out a sound that was either a sigh or a hollow laugh. Then, she poked Je-rim in the side.

“Oppa, come with me for a second.”

Je-rim followed Je-ah to the guardian’s area set up right next to the single-person hospital room. This space, equipped with a table, sofa, coffee machine, water purifier, and even a bed, looked like a regular bedroom at first glance. The two of them continued their conversation only after firmly closing the door so that their voices wouldn’t drift into the hospital room.

“How did you really come? I know I was whining because I lost my mental when I called you, but I didn’t think you’d actually come…”

“Hey, our club isn’t that strict. Of course they’d let me go if my parent collapsed.”

“Still… isn’t today a really important match day? I saw the internet, and the reactions are savage… Even the news about you missing the game…”

“I told you not to look up articles about me.”

Everyone was so fast with the news that while Je-rim had been imprisoned on a plane for a whopping 14 hours, the news that Sefton’s captain would miss the Derby Match had long since spread across the world.

It seemed all sorts of speculations were circulating about the reason for his absence. That he had been hospitalized after getting into a fight with a pedestrian, that he had gone MIA because a secret lover broke up with him, that he had broken a rib while causing a scene after drinking the night before…

As soon as he stepped off the plane, Je-rim let out a hollow laugh of disbelief to find that a complete soap-opera epic starring himself had already been written. Thanks to the quick actions of the agency and the club, the rumors had been quelled before he even landed, but the malicious comments posted in the meantime remained. And it seemed Je-ah had gone out of her way to find them.

Having grown accustomed to these kinds of happenings, he pinched the bridge of his nose as if exhausted. Seeing this, Je-ah asked cautiously.

“Are you okay?”

“What is there to be ‘okay’ or ‘not okay’ about? We’re going to win the match anyway.”

He was somewhat annoyed, but this was a pattern he was truly familiar with. From the official statement that he was missing the game to return home urgently because his mother had collapsed, to the subsequent softening of the comment sections—it was all predictable. It meant this wasn’t something that would suddenly hurt him.

Above all, the match… he would win. Having boasted so confidently, he would likely want to die of shame if he lost, so he was certain he would run himself ragged on the pitch. It was a pity he couldn’t perform a Ceremony at Morden’s home stadium, but imagining Aaron crushing Morden made him feel better.

Right, as long as the team wins, that’s all that matters. Returning to a calm expression, Je-rim snapped his fingers in front of Je-ah, who looked as if she were carrying all the sorrows of the world on her shoulders.

“Mom says she’s fine, I’m fine, everything is fine, so lighten up. Oh, do you need anything? You mentioned before that you were debating whether to get a car for commuting. If there’s something you’ve had your eye on, since I’m here, I’ll…”

The words “I’ll buy it for you” were cut off by Je-hee, who barged in abruptly. Plumping down in the seat next to Je-rim, he buzzed like a mosquito, his eyes sparkling.

“Hyung, then me! Me too! Buy me a bike!”

“You really want to beg your brother for something like that the moment you see him after coming to visit Mom in the hospital?”

Before Je-rim could even respond, a thunderous scolding fell from Je-ah. She looked as if she would have swung a paring knife if there had been one present.

“What’s the big deal? He said everything is fine. Anyway, Noona, your nagging is fucking…”

Je-hee picked at his ear, making it blatantly obvious that he wasn’t listening to a word his sister said. At that insolent attitude, Je-rim grabbed Je-hee by the scruff of his neck and threatened him in a low voice.

“Ban Je-hee, watch your mouth. Don’t talk back to your Noona.”

Terrified, Je-hee instantly discarded his arrogant attitude and shrank back. Seeing his youngest brother—who was smaller in build and six years younger—trembling without a peep, Je-rim’s heart softened. He quickly loosened his grip and offered a carrot.

“I’ll give you my card, so go out and buy some snacks that don’t smell too strong. We’ll eat them while watching the Morden match later.”

“…Can I keep this card?”

“Absolutely no bikes. Report it to me before buying anything over a million won. I’ll be checking the card statements, so don’t try anything funny.”

“Yes! Thank you! I’ll be back!”

Having gotten what he wanted, Je-hee bolted out as if he had grown wings. Watching him leave without even closing the door properly, Je-rim clicked his tongue.

“When will that brat ever grow up? He’s still the same even after discharge.”

“It can’t be helped. Both Dad and Mom spoiled him too much… If he had lived with you the whole time, he might have learned to read the room.”

“……”

When their parents divorced and Je-rim left for Spain around the time he entered high school, Je-ah and Je-hee were in third year of middle school and fourth grade of elementary school, respectively. Unlike Je-ah, who was old enough to understand, Je-hee had lived apart from his mother and eldest brother before he even hit puberty, so there was no one in the house he had to be mindful of.

Even before the divorce, the parents had worked side jobs to support Je-rim, meaning they couldn’t give much attention to the youngest. Perhaps out of guilt, the parents had been exceptionally lenient with Je-hee until now. All these factors combined likely played a significant negative role in shaping Je-hee’s personality.

So in the end, it was partly Je-rim’s fault that the youngest grew up with such an immature personality. If his parents hadn’t lived such busy lives because of him, if they hadn’t divorced just to move to Spain, the youngest would have surely received his fair share of attention and devotion.

Unaware of Je-rim’s darkening expression, Je-ah continued to mutter as if talking to herself.

“Especially Mom… maybe because of the guilt, she can’t even nag that brat properly… even though he barely has any affection for her since he hasn’t lived with her for that long.”

Every word from his sister flew and pierced him like a dagger. Je-rim suddenly recalled the time his parents divorced. Back then, Je-rim and Je-ah had stayed in their room, hearing every bit of their parents’ fighting. Fortunately, Je-hee had been asleep.

‘Is Je-rim your only child? Do Je-ah and Je-hee not even matter? If they were toddlers, it would be one thing, but they were both born and raised in Korea, they only speak Korean, and they already have all their friends! And you want to take the kids to Spain just for Je-rim?’

‘Do you know what kind of opportunity this is? Honey, Tavarona is calling him! They said if he comes, they’ll support our livelihood and the children’s education! How can a parent miss an opportunity like this, huh?’

‘Does going there guarantee he’ll turn pro? At best, he’s just in the youth system. You want the whole family to move to a strange country just to get a few years of youth support? Please, wake up… Je-rim isn’t your only child.’

‘……’

‘And what if Je-rim can’t adjust once we get there? What then? Doesn’t it occur to you that you might ruin a child who is doing well just because of a parent’s greed?’

‘…Je-rim will do well there too. I will absolutely raise my son to be a world-class football player.’

‘You really…!’

‘Fine. If you hate the idea that much, you stay in Korea and look after Je-ah and Je-hee. I have to go to Spain with Je-rim, so let’s get a divorce.’

The moment the word ‘divorce’ left his mother’s lips, Je-rim couldn’t bring himself to look at Je-ah’s face.

And even now.

“…I know it’s shameless of me to ask this, but please, look after Mother a bit more. While I’m gone…”

Je-rim buried his face in both hands and made the request almost in a mumble. Though he felt so ashamed and sorry that he wanted to hide in a mouse hole, there was no one else he could ask but Je-ah.

Since he was young, he had often felt a sense of suffocation, as if he were drowning in the one-sided devotion and affection his mother poured into him. At times, he had even wished that his mother didn’t exist. He felt her stubbornness was foolish, the way she would stubbornly hide the fact that she was in pain.

However, regardless of how he described these ambivalent feelings toward his mother, it was an undeniable fact that he couldn’t stop thinking about her. After all, the biggest reason he hadn’t quit football all this time was his strong desire to repay her. Like it or not, it was impossible to discuss his life without including his mother.

That was why he chose the option to miss the Derby Match, and why he brought up this shameless request despite not knowing how to handle his guilt toward his siblings. Even knowing that it had only been about two years since Je-ah had reconciled with their mother.

Since Je-ah’s feelings toward their mother were just as complex as his own, the reality was likely not as simple as it appeared on the surface, even if their mother-daughter relationship seemed restored. Je-rim found it difficult to even fathom what his younger sister felt toward a mother who had essentially abandoned her once.

After a period of silence, Je-ah replied somewhat bluntly.

“I’m looking after her even without you asking. But regardless, Mom probably likes it most when you’re the one caring for her. Even if she always tells you not to… you’re Mom’s favorite among the three of us.”

“…I’m sorry. To you, since a long time ago…”

His breath hitched with every syllable. A heavy atmosphere, far too oppressive for a sibling reunion, weighed down on the two of them. Being in a bleak hospital having such a gloomy conversation seemed to make them feel even more depressed. It was Je-ah who tried to change the mood first.

She leaned her neck back over the head of the sofa and started to take cigarettes and a lighter out of her pocket, but then paused. Realizing belatedly that it was a non-smoking area, she let out a small curse and, as a substitute, took a candy from a basket full of them, unwrapping it as she muttered.

“Forget it. I like having a brother who makes good money, too. Get me a car with all the options.”

That was easy compared to the favor Je-rim had asked. Je-rim quickly nodded his head.

“Take this chance to commute in a sports car. I’ll buy it for you.”

“Are you crazy? No way!”

Why not? When he made a genuinely curious expression, Je-ah spent a long time explaining, mentioning serious terms like ‘creating a sense of incongruity’ and ‘workplace harassment.’ However, no matter how much she explained, it was hard to understand the Korean workplace culture, which was quite different from that of a British football club.

Meanwhile, Je-hee, who had gone on the errand, returned. It happened to be time for the Morden match broadcast to start. When they returned to the hospital room with the giant wall-mounted TV, their mother had already tuned into the broadcast channel. For the first time in his life, Je-rim sat around the TV with his family to watch a match involving his own team.

Crunch, crunch. While the commercials played, the three siblings diligently peeled their shares of apples. As a bonus, he watched the ‘strength show’ of his sister hitting his brother with a cucumber because he had bought a bunch of raw vegetables like carrots and celery when he was told to buy food that didn’t smell.

Halfway through the commercials, a video introducing the squads of both teams was aired. As William’s face, wearing the captain’s armband instead of Je-rim, filled the screen, Je-ah, who was munching on her hand-cut cucumbers, shuddered.

“Oppa, you said you’re close with Carter, right? Please tell him to shave his beard.”

“He doesn’t listen even if I tell him.”

“Why would he have a beard like that with such a cute face…”

“My thoughts exactly.”

He had such a youthful impression that the beard didn’t suit him at all, yet Je-rim couldn’t understand why he was so determined to grow it. Lately, the beard had grown even longer than at the start of the season, and he had even exhibited the eccentricity of tying his beard into a knot while eating. Every time that happened, Je-rim felt an impulse to bring scissors from the kitchen and snip off that dirty clump of hair.

While the siblings were both shuddering, the squad introduction video ended by showing Reman and Aaron in succession. Je-rim smiled seeing Reman in the starting lineup.

‘He achieved his dream.’

He had said he wanted to start in the Derby Match, so this was great. Although it was an opportunity gained because Je-rim was absent, it was possible because his hard work had backed it up. A commendable fellow, indeed. In contrast, his own biological brother, who was the same age as that commendable team youngest…

Je-rim frowned again because of Je-hee, who was clinging to his arm and begging.

“Hyung, can’t you get me an autograph from Reyes?”

“No.”

“Aw, why!”

If it were any other guy’s autograph, he would have gotten a hundred or a thousand, but he felt reluctant when it came to Aaron. It was likely because he could already predict the smug reaction the guy would show the moment he was asked for an autograph. When he coldly rejected his youngest brother’s request, their mother, who had been watching her three children play together from her bed, added a comment.

“It wouldn’t hurt to get one. Or have you two perhaps not reconciled yet?”

During the time he and Aaron were acting like crazy people, his mother had lived with them in Spain, so while she didn’t know her son was dating another man, she knew he was best friends with Aaron.

He had often taken Aaron to the restaurant his mother ran, and sometimes let him sleep over at home. It was because he felt anxious about leaving Aaron behind when he went out for the weekend. Aaron rarely returned to his family home on weekends. Back then, he was so obsessed that he couldn’t sleep, feeling uneasy thinking about Aaron staying alone and lonely in the dormitory waiting for his boyfriend.

Anyway, thanks to that, his mother and Aaron were quite well-acquainted. His mother had always expressed gratitude to the new friend her son had made in a far-off foreign land and liked him very much. Of course, strictly as her son’s friend.

And naturally, she knew that her son had cut ties after a huge fight with the guy he had been so close with. Although Je-rim had never told her the details of the conflict with Aaron, she had naturally noticed. Fearing that unnecessary worries would follow, Je-rim quickly nipped it in the bud.

“We would have reconciled long ago if we were going to. It’s just that my pride is hurt to ask him for such a favor.”

“What’s there to be proud of between friends? Besides, he seemed like such a kind and pure boy.”

“…Huh? Who?”

Weren’t they talking about Aaron? Had the subject of conversation shifted from Aaron to someone else without him noticing? Je-rim asked blankly. To this, his mother clearly stated the name of that kind and pure boy.

“I mean Aaron. The way he took good care of you during your youth days, and I remember so clearly when he came to our restaurant to buy tteokbokki. I didn’t know it was Aaron back then… but I can’t tell you how cute he was.”

As if remembering it again made him cute, a red blush rose on his mother’s lifeless cheeks. Perhaps the combination of Aaron Reyes and tteokbokki was too absurd, as even Je-ah, who had been indifferently chewing her cucumber, asked in a raised voice.

“Tteokbokki? Reyes came to Mom’s restaurant to buy tteokbokki?”

“Yes, a long time ago. He said the person he liked was Korean, and that person wanted to eat something called tteokbokki. He knew it wasn’t on the menu, but he politely asked if I could make some so he could help them overcome their homesickness, saying the price didn’t matter.”

“He liked a Korean? That’s totally unexpected… Ah, is that why he got along so well with Oppa? Because they’re the same nationality as the person he liked?”

“That could be it!”

Leaving the two women chatting excitedly behind, Je-rim lowered his head.

About three or four months after moving to Spain, while he was struggling with severe homesickness, he had mentioned in passing that he wanted to eat tteokbokki.

He swore it was truly without any particular meaning; he had just said it because he craved the spicy and stimulating taste of the junk food sold in front of his school. Since he could have asked his mother to make it whenever he went out on weekends, it was closer to just complaining during grueling training.

But that night, Aaron had come back with tteokbokki from somewhere… He was surprised once by Aaron’s uncanny ability to not only risk an unauthorized outing in that short time but also find a place to get tteokbokki, and he was surprised twice after tasting it. Because the food, made in a strange foreign land, tasted like his mother’s cooking.

‘You, this, where did you…’

‘Tteokbokki or whatever, is this it?’

‘It is… No, why suddenly this…’

‘…You said you wanted to eat it. Since I stepped out for a bit and saw a Korean restaurant, I thought of you…’

‘Ah, since you went out… Since you suddenly went on an unauthorized outing, you happened to…?’

‘…Yeah…’

He probably realized it then. That this tteokbokki had been bought from the Korean restaurant his mother ran, and that Aaron liked him. He had been unsure before that, but the tteokbokki incident was the deciding blow. Even at a young age, he knew that no one would put this much effort into a regular friend.

But that Aaron had asked in such a way… he naturally didn’t know. Aaron didn’t brag about it, and Je-rim didn’t ask in detail because he was embarrassed. Above all, as soon as they took a few bites of the tteokbokki in the dormitory, the smell spread everywhere, and they were punished together, so it wasn’t the kind of atmosphere to ask such things. Only now, over ten years later, had the opportunity to ask come.

“…He said that? That the person he l… liked wanted to eat it?”

Why did he hesitate even though he was simply asking? Aaron wasn’t here, and his mother wouldn’t dream of the fact that the ‘person he liked’ was her own son. While trying to act indifferent, the back of Je-rim’s neck burned hot.

“I’m telling you. Isn’t it just so cute?”

Yes, he had fallen helplessly for that cute side. Truly helplessly… To the point where he wondered if he could ever meet someone this cute in his life, someone who liked him this much and whom he liked back. Though it was all a futile story now.

Toward the silent Je-rim, his mother continued to throw questions.

“Right, Je-rim, you know who the Korean girl Aaron liked was, right? Who was it?”

A girl? It was your eldest son. After flirting like that, we started dating after he just lunged in with a kiss on Christmas Day.

…If he answered honestly like that, his mother’s weak heart wouldn’t survive. Je-rim avoided her gaze, spinning the fork he was holding over and over.

“Ah, probably some girl who went to the same church… I don’t really… Oh, the, the match! The match is starting.”

It was a stroke of luck that the kickoff started just then. As the ball soared high, the familiar voices of the commentary team began their analysis. Fortunately, except for Je-rim, his family members were all so focused on the commentary that they immediately lost interest in the previous topic.

≪Sefton’s squad has changed slightly today. Fritz is in the Starting Lineup, and the formation has shifted as well. It seems Coach Verdi put a lot of thought into filling the void left by the absent Ban Je-rim.≫

≪Originally, Sefton relied heavily on the plays created by Ban Je-rim. With the core of the midfield missing today, the key point will be how they unravel the game against a strong team like Molden.≫

≪Looking at the formation, it seems they intend to go on the offensive by pushing Reyes and Fritz forward. Since Reyes has great linking ability, I suspect he’ll leave the scoring largely to Fritz while sharing the role Ban Je-rim usually played with the other midfielders.≫

Just as the commentary suggested, Aaron was positioned slightly deeper than in his usual formation. Je-rim was amazed to see him running actively from near the defensive line to the front of the goal, swapping positions with Reman at the right moments. Doing that must be an incredible drain on his stamina.

Along with the thought that he was truly impressive, a sudden surge of gratitude hit Je-rim again. It was clearly not the kind of play a center forward would typically handle; it was evident that Aaron was playing for the team, even to the point of sacrificing some of his own scoring opportunities. After all, for a striker, the number of goals scored is usually the primary metric that determines a player’s level.

For a guy who was aiming for the EPL Golden Boot immediately after transferring, most would normally rebel if told to play like that, even for just one match. Especially in the latter half of the Season, when the competition for the Golden Boot intensifies, there are countless players who argue that they could score more if they weren’t being substituted…

Just as Je-rim was lost in thought while following the ball with his eyes, the first goal hit. The protagonist of the first goal in the Hampshire Derby Match was none other than Reman. Je-rim instinctively leaped from his seat and let out a cheer. That brat! All that hard training with Aaron while enduring things he hated really paid off!

≪Fritz is in great form despite not having been in the Starting Lineup for a while. Moreover, his link-up play with Reyes is surprisingly good. It seems they’ve been training together consistently.≫

≪That’s true, and Reyes’s play is remarkably selfless today. He keeps dropping deep to help distribute the ball, and just now, he could have taken the shot himself, but he conceded it to Fritz, who was in a better position.≫

≪I’m quite surprised as well. These days, his interviews are much calmer compared to his Tavarona days. Locally, people are saying our Reyes has changed… Ah! An immediate equalizer from Molden!≫

The commentary on Sefton’s goal hadn’t even finished. As Molden immediately leveled the score, Je-rim slumped back into his seat, crestfallen. His clenched fists dropped lifelessly. Right, there’s no way it would be that easy…

As expected, the match turned into something of a slugfest. When one side scored, the other would immediately respond. True to a Derby Match, there were scuffles involving collar-grabbing, and the managers even got into a war of nerves, both receiving yellow cards. If Je-rim had been a mere spectator, it would have been the kind of spectacle he’d watch while giggling.

In fact, Je-ah and Je-hee were watching with sparkling eyes, putting down their vegetables to concentrate. But Je-rim wasn’t just a spectator; under normal circumstances, he was the very person who should have been there grabbing collars.

Naturally, his expression soured by the second. Damn Molden bastards, do they think our team is a joke just because the captain is missing…

‘Are those guys practically wrestling?’

On the screen, Marshall, who had been grabbed by the sleeve and flipped over, was holding up his now-sleeveless jersey in front of the referee’s face, appealing with sorrowful eyes for him to look at this. In response, the Molden player who tore the jersey babbled something back with a face dripping with perceived injustice.

The referee, looking utterly exhausted, half-heartedly held up a yellow card for the Molden side and sent Marshall away to change his jersey. It was almost like shooing away a pigeon that had pooped on his head. It was obvious that he was mentally and physically drained from mediating the endless fighting between the two teams.

The first half rolled on in that chaotic fashion, ending with a score of 3-3 between Sefton and Molden. With a total of six goals scored in the first half alone, the spectators must have found it thrilling. Je-rim, however, felt like his blood was drying up in real-time…

The second half, which began after a 15-minute break, followed a similar pattern to the first. Je-rim chewed his nails as the match continued violently, to the point where it wouldn’t have been strange if someone had been sent off.

Please, just no red cards. Absolutely no red cards. You bastards, please, aren’t you managing your cards? Excluding the card the manager received, three players had already been cautioned. Molden, having received more cards, even hurriedly substituted a player who was in ‘yellow trouble.’

Then, a sharp blast of the whistle made Je-rim’s heart drop.

“No!”

The whistle was for Aaron. Since he had already received a card in the first half, another one would mean an automatic ejection. Je-rim scurried on his knees to the bottom of the TV, gripping the frame as if holding a sacred relic, and observed the scene on the screen intently.

A Molden player was rolling around, wailing in pain, while Aaron looked down at him with eyes that said he found the man pathetic. The one rolling across the field as if trying to cross the entire pitch was the same person who had performed a Hollywood action in the first half to get Aaron a card.

‘Look at him go, he’s going to roll right out of bounds. Is he a ball or something?’

Je-rim, eyes narrowed, poured curses upon the opposing player. It was a mindset that had thrown sportsmanship out the window, but since the other side was playing dirty too, he felt no guilt. There was no way he could look kindly on someone who flew back as if hit by a dump truck just from a slight shoulder nudge and then threw such a fit.

As soon as Aaron saw the referee approaching, he quickly ran over and forcibly hauled the lying man up. Taking advantage of the man’s confusion at being plucked from the grass like a radish by that formidable strength, Aaron grabbed the man’s head and pulled him into his chest. Like a pair of affectionate lovers…

≪Oh… how touching. Is Reyes apologizing?≫

≪I think he’s doing that to show that the opponent is perfectly fine… Holton, who is being hugged like a baby, is struggling violently.≫

≪Seeing those vigorous movements, it seems his pain has completely vanished.≫

Fortunately, the referee stepped back after giving only verbal warnings to both. This time, it seemed even the referee could see that the Molden player was acting.

≪Haha, even if he plays selflessly, his personality doesn’t change. Holton’s diving has been excessive today as well.≫

≪’Don’t do that! You don’t do that either!’ It feels like the referee just scolded them both like that, doesn’t it?≫

≪Yes, the main referee looks extremely exhausted. For now, Reyes has narrowly escaped the crisis of being sent off.≫

≪If Reyes were to be sent off in a situation where Ban Je-rim is already absent… that simply cannot happen. From Sefton’s perspective, it would be like every possible misfortune happening all at once.≫

These old men, seriously! Je-rim glared at the screen, telling them not to say such unlucky things, and backed away from the TV. His other family members sent him sympathetic looks as he fidgeted, but he was too absorbed in the match to notice.

“Ah, damn it! Give them a PK! William, aren’t you going to protest? Reman, lie down! Roll!”

He enthusiastically watched the game, completely forgetting that his mother, lying in her sickbed right behind him, had her eyes and ears wide open. Unlike the first half, where goals popped up frequently, neither team had scored in the second half. The biggest factor was that their stamina had been depleted from fighting so hard.

‘Right, it’s the opponent’s home ground, so even a draw is… No, fuck, still.’

As the match neared its end, Je-rim’s heart fluctuated. Because he had trusted Aaron, who had confidently promised they would win, the swings were dramatic.

While the ego that said a draw was fine and the ego that said it wasn’t were fighting fiercely, the match reached the point where about 10 minutes remained until the end. Je-rim was starting to lower his expectations, wondering if there were any embarrassing moments of Aaron’s he could post on SNS.

A ball fired from the right half-space outside the penalty area curved at an incredible angle. Aaron’s right-foot in-front kick had worked perfectly. The Molden goalkeeper dove quickly at the unexpected angle, but the ball grazed the keeper’s fingertips and pierced through a narrow gap in the corner of the goal.

It was a perfect wonder goal that didn’t even require checking for offside. For a moment, the stadium fell silent as if cold water had been poured over it. But the moment the net stopped fluttering and the ball settled on the ground, Sefton fans rose as one, stripping off blankets or jerseys with the team emblem and waving them while letting out a thunderous roar.

Immediately, Aaron dropped to his knees and performed a sliding celebration. Along the trajectory of Aaron’s knees on the soft light-green grass, a pair of deep green streaks were drawn. Not toward the away fans, but right in front of the home team Molden’s stands.

He truly was a master at provoking others. As a Molden fan in the front row raised a clenched fist, the camera hurriedly shifted its angle.

≪Aaron Reyes is performing a Ceremony toward the home team’s stands! Haha, I thought he’d become a bit calmer since coming to Sefton, but he truly lives up to his reputation.≫

≪Well, it’s not a major act of bad manners. It’s just a ‘You’re annoyed, aren’t you?’ level of… Uh, what pose is that? That’s not Reyes’s signature Ceremony.≫

The camera, which had been showing Aaron’s back at an ambiguous diagonal, shifted back to the side and front. Aaron’s signature Ceremony pose involved making a small sign of the cross in front of his chest, kissing his pinky finger, and then slightly raising the kissed finger while looking toward the sky.

It was so popular in Spain that there were photo books dedicated solely to those moments. Je-rim, who never understood why people found it so sexy to flaunt being a devout Catholic, had always reacted indifferently.

Is it the sexiness that comes from the unexpectedness of believing in God despite having such a decadent look? Or is it just that he’s so handsome that everything he does feels sexy…

Regardless, as the commentators noted, Aaron took a pose quite different from his signature one. The moment Je-rim saw the hand gesture, his mouth dropped open. It was a movement that was beyond familiar to him.

≪The letter ‘b’! He’s making a ‘b’ using both hands. Isn’t that our player Ban Je-rim’s signature?≫

≪Ban Je-rim missed today’s match due to his parents’ health issues. It seems he’s dedicating this goal to his captain, who must be heartbroken. Aaron Reyes is showing truly tear-jerking camaraderie!≫

With the background music of pouring boos and insults, Aaron had fulfilled his dream of performing a signature Ceremony at Molden’s home. Je-rim watched the scene blankly. Je-hee, beside him, did the fussing for him.

“Wow, crazy… That’s, like, seriously fucking cool… Right, Hyung?”

“…Yeah.”

That was the only way he could answer. Because nothing else came to mind other than the thought that it was truly, fucking, insanely cool.

After that, no more goals were scored by either team until the end of regulation time and a massive 8 minutes of added time. Sefton secured a narrow victory in the Derby Match by a single goal. Although the score difference was small, it was a huge achievement considering they had scored four goals and were playing at the opponent’s home.

He actually… won. He kept his promise. Je-rim couldn’t tell if the floating sensation in his chest was from joy, bewilderment, or because he couldn’t believe his own eyes for starting to find Aaron so damn cool. The commentators on the screen kept calling out Je-rim’s name.

≪Player Ban Je-rim, you must be watching this match, right? Sefton breaks the jinx and takes a victory at Molden’s home!≫

≪I hope he is watching. With this, Molden’s winning streak is broken, and Sefton firmly maintains their 8-game league winning streak. Wow, the competition for the title between these two teams will be fierce this Season as well.≫

≪The other Big Four teams are also in great form right now. In any case, the winner of the first Hampshire Derby is Sefton, Sefton!≫

Until the broadcast ended and the music signaling the end of the match played, Je-rim remained immersed in a state of euphoria, unable to take his eyes off the screen.

* * *

[The match with the legendary dopamine explosion]

[I think my brain just melted]

⤷ Me too… it’s hard to even type right now T_T I forgot how to write Korean

⤷ I wasn’t going to watch because Je-rim-ssi wasn’t playing, but it was a great time slot so I just left it on. I would’ve killed myself if I missed this T_T

⤷ I came to the cinema to watch it on the big screen and wow… top 1 best spending of my life

⤷⤷ Aren’t there Molden fans in the cinema too?? How’s the atmosphere

⤷⤷ Over there it’s like a funeral home lol I’m taking off my jersey and leaving quickly because I’m scared they’ll pick a fight

[I couldn’t even look at my phone since the first half because I was so nervous]

[At the end, I ripped my clothes and did a knee slide in my living room]

⤷ In your living room…? Did you scrape your knees??

⤷ OP I’m at the hospital right now but I have no regrets. I’m just worried about re-ordering the Je-rim jersey I ripped

⤷ That’s true love;; lol

[Honestly, it was a bit boring in the second half because no goals were coming after the 3-3 in the first half]

[lol Aaron, you’re crazy]

⤷ What? The clinching goal? Or the proposal?

⤷ Obviously the proposal

[Why do people watch Transit Love and stuff like that]

[Our Wi-in is killing it at football and giving us a dating show arc at the same time]

⤷ Our Wi-in didn’t even play today

⤷ Anyway, he got a public proposal on the pitch, so let’s just say he was there

⤷ FR honestly if you look at their narrative, they could be on Transit Love, right? But then they just reunite among themselves…

[Teenage besties -> fight like dogs -> reunite after 10 years -> fight like dogs again -> marriage]

[I feel like I’ve seen this route somewhere before.. hmm]

⤷ Stepping through the clichés perfectly

[Are Aaron and Je-rim-ssi taking the fundamental route too??]

[The “that” route where you marry your school friend]

⤷ Ah, the one only true world-class players take…

⤷ But now that friend is each other ^^

⤷⤷ Even better to see ◠‿◠b

[Sefton’s captain’s public confession class is on another level]

[Sigh,, honestly if I were Je-rim, I’d fall for him too]

⤷ Why are you using Jerry as an excuse, you just fell for Aaron yourself

⤷ OP tsk this is why quick-witted kids are…

⤷ lol but Aaron is super popular with guys too, have some confidence

⤷ By popular, you mean in that way…

⤷⤷ Yup, in Spain, Aaron has been 1st place in the ‘Athlete I want to fuck regardless of gender’ category for 10 years lol

[Why are there so many weird surveys abroad?]

[Didn’t Je-rim-ssi also take 1st place for ‘Football Saint I want to date’ last time? Where do they even conduct these surveys]

⤷ It’s because Football Saints have huge influence and more popularity than celebrities in Europe

⤷ From low-tier tabloids to credible media, they’re all crazy for those weird surveys lol

[But what’s the point of being 1st in the ‘want to fuck’ category]

[I heard he’s a eunuch]

⤷ lol fuck that’s just a tabloid rumor

⤷ I heard he’s on-and-off with Delgado? He’s probably not a eunuch lol probably h

⤷ Isn’t the on-and-off theory also a rumor?? Suspicious, very suspicious

⤷ It would be too sad if someone with that visual and body was a eunuch… let’s just say he’s gay

⤷⤷ You’re subtly talking about your own fantasies

[Ban Je-rim’s taste is like a pine tree (consistent)]

[I always thought it’d be hard to meet people so consistently…]

[If even a man fits his ideal type, he’ll seduce them]

⤷ Ah, did Je-rim-ssi seduce him first…?

⤷⤷ A guy with eunuch rumors vs a guy who’s had 4 ‘public relationships’—who do you think seduced whom first

⤷ Ban Je-rim was truly the bad one here T_T

[But why is doing the Ceremony for him a proposal??]

[I just started watching football,, please explain it to me too]

⤷ It’s common for a player to copy a teammate’s Ceremony after a goal. But Aaron has never done that before… and he’s the one who scored… and Je-rim-ssi wasn’t even playing…

⤷ Above + fans are just playing around because they’re happy they won lol

⤷ I think it’s because comfort for Je-rim + respect for the captain + affection for a friend are all revealed in that Ceremony

⤷ Just think of it as you winning an award for your own hard work, but in your speech, you suddenly say “I dedicate this award to my friend XX” and toss the trophy to a friend who isn’t even there

⤷ OP omg T_T it is a proposal

[Jerry probably saw the match too, right?]

[Regardless of other things, he should know he got proposed to,,]

⤷ He posted a story praising the teammates~ seems like he watched it from the start hehe

⤷ I hope Aaron posts something soon T_T It’s good they follow each other, but I hope they get closer through this opportunity T_T

[Stop talking about Ban Je-rim and Aaron and let’s talk about the match]

We won the Derby Match and it feels great, so why are you guys talking about proposals and other useless shit?

⤷ Teacher, please leave before I break your cane.

Honestly, since Jerry couldn’t play, I thought we’d obviously lose.

If Jerry had played, we would’ve won easily, right?

⤷ Probably. We wouldn’t have been that terrified in the first half.

⤷ Without Je-rim-ssi, the quality of the passes is definitely… ugh, tsk;

⤷ I was going to go crazy missing those kill passes he stabs behind the opponent’s defense when we’re being stifledㅜ

Ah~~ who the hell loses the Derby Matchㅎ

And at their own homeㅎ How fucking embarrassingㅎ

⤷ Is your memory that bad??

⤷ Sefton lost both the home and away Derby Matches last season lol

⤷ Upper comment is bullshitting—they only lost away and drew at home.

⤷ If they drew at home… isn’t that practically a lossㅋ

⤷ Then what does that make you guys, who actually lost at homeㅠㅠㅜ Get your brain together.

The winning team gets to take Compfshire.

Fucking-ton, stop interfering in Compfshire’s business and just fuck off.

⤷ It’s because if you go to their team board right now, it’s just flooded with memes of burning pizzas.

⤷ Leave them be. They have to release the sorrow of getting fucked over somehow…

⤷ I guess you don’t really know the definition of “getting fucked over.” It’s kind of pitiful how excited they are over a one-point differenceㅠ

⤷⤷ Yeah, your points ±0, our points +3.

Stop fighting already.

Anyone would think you’re actual Brits living in Compfshireㅋㅋㅋ

⤷ lol Ban Je-rim didn’t even play, so everyone stop over-investing.

⤷ Since Je-rim-ssi is there, can’t we at least be honorary Sefton residents??

⤷ Je-rim-ssi is in Korea right now…

Since it’s come to this, let’s have Koreans take over Sefton.

Anyway, it’s basically a Ban clan village there.

⤷ Lmaoㅋㅋㅋ

⤷ This is real. All the local fans have

BAN

written on their backs.

⤷ Is Jerry’s jersey still #1 in sales? I thought it would’ve changed after Aaron arrivedㅜㅋㅋㅋ

⤷⤷ Nope, didn’t change. Aaron is #2.

Holy shit, Aaron, that crazy bastard, posted something on SNS!!

He says it’s his first time socializing with Je-rim since they followed each other!!

⤷ Omfg

⤷ Give me the link.

OP (Photo) He’s so rude! Just look at the screenshot.

aaron.r See this? I gave you a goal @banjerim

✲ ✲ ✲

banjerim You should just put the record under my name while you’re at it.

aaron.r File a formal complaint for that yourself.

william_carter stfu here we go again.

william_carter Just reply to the group chat! @banjerim

Unable to withstand William’s threat, Je-rim closed the SNS app, where a large photo of Aaron performing the B-ceremony—posted by Aaron immediately after the match—was prominently displayed. He then opened the group messenger window, which was piled high with messages. It was plastered with various curses from different countries celebrating their victory, questions asking about the progress of his mother’s surgery, and inquiries about when he would return.

The way they all clung to him, adding crying emojis to every sentence and begging him to come back quickly, was quite cute for guys with an average height of 6 feet. When he saw a photo they sent—where they had folded an A4 sheet of paper like a nameplate, written ‘BAN’ on it, and placed it firmly on an empty locker spot along with the captain’s armband—Je-rim burst out laughing.

“I’m coming, I’m coming, you brats…”

He had already thought it would be better to return immediately, so he was looking for a flight that could get him back by tomorrow. Chang-sik, who was helping him search, sent a screenshot of a flight with a suitable time.

Even in the midst of this, the group messenger window continued to pile up with unread messages. Je-rim replied that he would depart as soon as dawn broke in Korea, and then asked Chang-sik to book the ticket for that time. He had already said his goodbyes to his family. Since he booked an early morning flight, he figured everyone would be asleep by the time he left for the airport.

As expected, before long, his mother and siblings all fell fast asleep. Je-rim quietly stepped out of the hospital room so as not to wake them. Whether it was because of the jet lag or the lingering afterglow of a sweet victory, he couldn’t sleep at all. Instead, he sat on a sofa in the hospital hallway and thought about the things he needed to do upon returning to England.

First, he needed to readjust his condition to get his life pattern back on track, and he decided to buy a gift for the manager at the airport duty-free shop as a token of gratitude and apology. Since the manager liked strong perfumes, he figured he could just get a recommendation from a staff member. As for his teammates, he could treat them to an after-party using the fines he had paid.

‘As for Aaron…’

He should probably treat him to at least one meal. Aaron was the one who pushed him to go see his mother, promised he would win no matter what so Je-rim could go with peace of mind, and perfectly kept that promise. It was a performance worthy of buying him a very expensive meal, not just a regular one.

Is there a Spanish restaurant in Sefton? He decided to buy Aaron food from his home country, thinking that the three or four months after leaving home are when homesickness hits the hardest.

As the saying goes, speak of the devil; just as he was thinking of him, a call came from the man in question, and Je-rim quickly pressed the accept button. As soon as the call connected, Aaron jumped straight to the point.

How’s your mother? Did the surgery go well?

“Yeah. It ended well, so I’m heading back soon.”

That’s a relief. So, the match?

“I told you I watched it. Why are you calling just to check again?”

They had just exchanged messages on SNS not long ago, so why bother. Je-rim replied grumpily. Recalling the scene where Aaron performed his signature ceremony in his stead, he felt he slightly understood why the public showered the man with praise for being sexy, which only made him grumble more.

Then give me some praise, or a reward. You need to provide a carrot, Captain.

Regardless of Je-rim’s blunt attitude, Aaron requested it in a slick voice. Since it was true that Aaron had done well and it was true that he was grateful, Je-rim cleared his throat and carefully chose his words.

“Oh my, you did so well… You’re so praiseworthy… As expected of a World Cup Winner and Ballon d’Or… The greatest football player of this era, Aaron Reyes…”

…Is that praise? Or are you reciting a funeral eulogy?

“It’s a tribute.”

Although the tone was dragging and sounded like a chant, it was technically praise. When Je-rim defended himself confidently, Aaron grumbled back in a similar chanting tone.

The carrot is so underwhelming… I’m losing the motivation to play, so I might not be able to do this again…

Is this guy crazy? Je-rim quickly snapped back.

“What do you want? Tell me what you want.”

Just buy me dinner when you get back. That’s enough.

“I was already planning on that.”

Really?

“Hey, I’m not that shameless… What the hell does everyone take me for?”

Despite his indignant question, there was no clear answer, only a cheerful laugh that lasted for a long time. Je-rim grumbled again, scuffing the hallway floor with his shoe.

“Stop laughing and decide on another reward you want.”

This reward is enough. What more could I want from a guy who trembles over five hundred pounds?

Could he not just say, ‘I don’t want to burden you, so let’s just keep it simple with a meal,’ without being a prick? Je-rim stomped his foot and retorted with equal sarcasm.

“You really have a talent for making a good mood vanish in under a minute. Hey, in Korea, there’s a proverb that says ‘a kind word can pay back a debt of a thousand nyang.’ How about getting that tattooed as a new one for mental discipline?”

Aren’t you also not exactly the ‘pretty-talking’ type? If you get it, I’ll get it too.

“…”

That bastard… he left me with nothing to say. Aware that he himself didn’t speak very prettily, and having no intention of ever getting a tattoo—let alone a couple tattoo with Aaron—Je-rim quietly shut his mouth. Aaron burst into laughter again, finding something incredibly amusing.

Meanwhile, the laughter began to be drowned out by other noises. Hearing familiar voices mixed in with the surrounding commotion, it seemed the other teammates were coming out one by one. As the announcement to board the bus was heard, Aaron whispered quickly.

I have to hang up. I’ll check my schedule and tell you the date and time for dinner. Bye for now.

“Yeah, get back safely.”

Simple pleasantries like this were easy, so why did honest feelings—like saying thank you, I’m sorry, or you were cool—always get stuck in his throat specifically in front of Aaron? Those were actually the simplest words of all…

Should I tell him honestly right now that seeing him do my ceremony instead of me was fucking cool? Just as Je-rim was contemplating this, a whisper thinner than a sigh reached his ear.

You be safe too… come back soon, Je-rim.

With those words, the call cut off.

Je-rim remained sitting there for a while, clutching his chest, which was thumping. Memories of a young Aaron specifically calling him his ‘favorite person’ and bringing tteokbokki to his mother belatedly flickered through his mind, cluttering his thoughts.

How is this guy, then and now, so ghostly good at noticing when someone is emotionally vulnerable and acting sweet just to unsettle them? Is he really a fox? He looks like a wolf, but foxes and wolves are both Canidae. Anyway, I can’t let my guard down.

Je-rim slapped his cheeks and stood up energetically. The irritatingly ticklish feeling in his chest showed no sign of subsiding even after he beat it, so he decided to ignore it for now. Stop overthinking and pack the bags. Walking with heavy steps, Je-rim reached his mother’s room and quieted his footsteps.

As he carefully opened the door, the fluorescent light from the hallway leaked into the guardian’s area where his siblings were sleeping. Standing in a way that blocked the gap in the door to shield the light, he found and picked up his bag, which had been tossed haphazardly on the floor. Just as he was about to leave, a faint voice came from inside the room where his mother was.

“…Are you leaving now?”

“You’re awake?”

Assuming she was asleep, he hadn’t even thought of opening that door. As Je-rim entered the room, his mother forced her drooping eyes open and continued.

“Son, thank you for coming. But don’t come next time. It’s a relief you won the match today, but if you had lost…”

“Geez, just focus on getting better. Oh, and I don’t think I can come back to Korea in November, so take good care of yourself.”

Je-rim changed the subject, not wanting to hear more. Seeing her son, his mother smiled faintly.

“Right… I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again. Oh, that’s right. What about your talisman? You said it tore. Should I get you another one?”

“I heard that shaman’s place is way up in the mountains. Why would you do that while you’re sick…”

“Oh, honey, these days you can get talismans delivered by registered mail.”

“Isn’t that a total scam?”

No matter how much times had improved, sending a talisman by mail… As Je-rim reacted skeptically, his mother fervently defended the shaman.

“You said you felt some effect too. I’m telling you, she’s truly gifted.”

“Hmm…”

After that talisman tore, something strange… no, something lewd did happen. What did she say the effect was? That he should be careful because he was destined to suffer emotionally as past ill-fated ties held him back. After a brief moment of thought, Je-rim shook his head.

“No, I don’t need it anymore. I don’t think it’s… an ill-fated tie from the past.”

As he spoke, Je-rim’s expression was more relaxed than usual.

✲✲✲

The place Aaron chose for their dinner appointment was none other than his own home. Je-rim, who had gone through the trouble of finding a Spanish restaurant, asked several more times if that was really okay, but Aaron responded with a puzzled look.

‘Spanish? You want some? Then why bother going to a restaurant? We can just cook and eat at home.’

Je-rim had forgotten that Aaron’s cooking skills were actually quite decent. Still, was eating at a restaurant the same as cooking at home? Moreover, the menu wasn’t something Je-rim wanted to eat, but something he had selected for Aaron.

However, he couldn’t honestly say, ‘Isn’t it about time you missed home food? I chose this specifically with you in mind.’ If he said that, Aaron would undoubtedly lean in with that sickeningly handsome face and act slick, saying he’s overwhelmed that the Captain thought of him so much.

Instead, he tried asking for another menu if Spanish food wasn’t appealing, but Aaron shut down any further questions by stating he didn’t particularly like eating out.

No, you’re the one who asked me to buy. I was obviously planning to… Doesn’t this just mean I’m the one being treated?

“Sigh…”

Even after parking in Aaron’s garage, Je-rim couldn’t bring himself to enter. The long rectangular shopping bag in his hand swayed heavily every time he hesitated to take a step. It was a bottle of white wine he had bought because coming empty-handed felt too awkward.

Since he didn’t know much about alcohol, he simply asked the cellar for the most delicious and expensive wine that would pair well with seafood, and they recommended one so expensive it nearly made his eyes pop out. But since he ended up in a position where he was being fed after promising to give a reward, he felt he had to bring at least this much as a courtesy, so he bought it while shedding tears.

‘If I just keep hanging out in the garage…’

That wouldn’t work. Above all, it was cold standing still. And the wine would be a waste.

Je-rim had no choice but to enter the house. As soon as he opened the door, a delicious scent wafted out, making his stomach—which had been eating nothing but tilapia or grilled chicken breast—cling together. Drawn by the smell, he naturally found himself in the kitchen.

The dining table was already filled with a feast of appetizing food. On neat wooden plates, crispy bread, garlic, and cherry tomatoes were placed modestly, with golden-brown grilled green onions adding fragrance beside them. Fresh fruit, cheese, jamón, and sausages were plated by type in wide bowls, providing a visual treat.

Furthermore, plump octopus tentacles and seafood like shrimp and clams were steaming, though he didn’t know how they had been prepared. He also spotted a grilled cod dish with honey, something he used to enjoy back when he was with Tavarona FC.

Despite having prepared all this food, Aaron was still standing in front of the stove wearing an apron, as if there was more to do. He simply turned his head to acknowledge Je-rim.

“You’re here?”

“Yeah… But why did you make so much?”

Je-rim barely managed to tear his gaze away from the table. In his heart, he wanted to sit down immediately and eat the food with his hands, regardless of dignity, but he held back. He had completely forgotten his worries about whether it was okay to be treated like this. Since he usually maintained a strict diet, he rationalized that one day wouldn’t hurt.

Aaron transferred the finished paella to a plate and placed it on the table, twisting the corner of his mouth.

“Is that the first thing a guy invited for dinner says to the host?”

“No, it’s just that you’ve cooked this like it’s a restaurant… Thanks for the invite. Take this.”

Je-rim handed the shopping bag to Aaron. Aaron took the contents out of the bag, rotated the bottle once, and marveled.

“You bought a good one.”

“It’s fucking expensive, so you have to drink every single drop. And obviously, this is a secret from the manager.”

“Sure, I’ll try. But aren’t you not supposed to drink?”

“One glass is fi—”

“I’m not fine with it. Are you going to insist on walking home again?”

Cutting Je-rim off ruthlessly, Aaron took out exactly one wine glass. A plain water glass was placed in front of Je-rim.

Je-rim could only watch as clear water poured into his glass, while fragrant wine filled the glass of Aaron sitting opposite him. Since he had given it as a gift, the wine now belonged to Aaron, and the host was that man… Setting aside his useless greed, Je-rim picked up his fork and muttered grumpily.

“…I’ll enjoy the meal, okay?”

“If you’re going to enjoy it, just enjoy it. Why is it a question?”

“I don’t know. Stop nitpicking everything.”

He felt somewhat annoyed that he had bought expensive alcohol only to be forbidden from touching it, but the moment he tasted the long-awaited food, all his complaints vanished like melting snow.

Wow, what is this? Is he planning to become a chef after he retires? The salad he made with dying vegetables last time was delicious, but it was nothing compared to a meal made with high-quality ingredients and intention. Being served food that was even more delicious than he had imagined from the scent brought back the forgotten feeling of burden. Je-rim stopped eating for a moment and whispered quietly.

“Hey… if you think of something you want to eat or have in the future, tell me. Seriously.”

“Didn’t this wine alone cost as much as a decent watch? It’s fine.”

“I’m saying I feel burdened.”

“If you’re that bothered, just give me a really good birthday present.”

Aaron replied nonchalantly, cutting an octopus tentacle into a bite-sized piece and placing it back on the plate. Je-rim snatched it up with his fork.

It was closer to his body moving before he could think deeply. It was because the familiarity overshadowed the realization that eating in this manner was quite strange, given that ten years had passed since they broke up. He chewed the chewy, savory octopus tentacle thoroughly before opening his mouth.

“Oh, right. Your birthday is coming up, isn’t it? Are you throwing a party?”

Aaron’s birthday was October 31st, coincidentally falling exactly on Halloween. Edson had already invited him, insisting he come to a party at a private club on Halloween night, but Je-rim had planned to go there only if Aaron decided to have his own birthday party. No matter how good his results were this Season, he was reluctant to party loudly in the middle of the season.

Edson would pout if he didn’t go, but as the captain, Je-rim felt he had already shown enough mercy just by not nagging him to cancel the party. Edson had also promised to play only this once. If he weren’t allowed to let loose at all, he was the type to get depressed and slump as the latter half of the season approached, so this level of mercy was necessary.

Still, thinking it would look better to the fans to attend a teammate’s birthday party rather than Edson’s club party, Je-rim asked, but Aaron’s reaction was unexpectedly passive.

“I don’t know. Even if I do, I don’t think it’ll be anything big. I already got a party invitation from Edson… He said we should just combine it with my birthday party.”

“That guy is really something. He’s hosting your birthday party for you? Is he possessed by a ghost that died because it couldn’t party?”

“He was grinning from ear to ear because you gave him permission to party. Why did you do that? I would never tolerate National Team teammates partying right before a match. It was the same back in Tavarona.”

Aaron seemed somewhat displeased. Despite being someone who loved loud partying himself, Je-rim was reminded at times like this that Aaron became infinitely serious when it came to his professional duties. The reason the Spanish manager had entrusted the position of National Team captain to Aaron, who acted like a troublemaker in every interview, was likely because of this side of him.

And the reason he hadn’t said anything to Edson despite his disapproval was likely out of respect for Je-rim’s authority as the Club captain.

Now that the layers of ill will accumulated over the past ten years had cleared, these serious aspects of him began to catch Je-rim’s eye anew. It was not a good sign. Je-rim swallowed a mouthful of water and shook his head.

“Don’t you know about the carrot and the stick? There have to be times when you let them loose.”

“Hmm… You only swing the stick at me, so why are you so generous with the others?”

“Bullshit. This dinner appointment itself was planned as a reward for you. Though it stopped being a reward since you suddenly insisted on treating me.”

It wasn’t a particularly funny response, but Aaron quickly wiped the stiffness from his face and chuckled as if he had heard a great joke. Je-rim deliberately looked away from Aaron’s face and gave his leg a light kick.

“Anyway, if you’re having a party, even a small one, invite me. I’ll give you a good present.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

Aside from the initial flare-up over the wine, the atmosphere of the meal was very good. It seemed to be thanks to the delicious food. Seeing Je-rim moving his fork and knife incessantly—unlike his usual self, who picked at food in the name of diet management—Aaron leaned his chin on his hand languidly.

“You’re eating well. I guess it suits your taste?”

With his mouth full, Je-rim simply nodded, swallowed the contents, and asked.

“When did you learn to cook?”

“Just here and there after I started feeling a sense of ennui… I thought making a hobby other than football might make things better. Though I didn’t see much effect.”

“Seeing as your skills have evolved far beyond a hobby level, it seems it suits you well.”

His tone clearly revealed that he had struggled quite a bit with mannerism. Je-rim tried to choose a cheerful answer but ended up adding a mindless comment.

“Your lovers must have loved it whenever you cooked like this.”

“Lovers?”

“You must have had people you actually dated besides Delgado.”

…Fuck, why did he have to pick this topic of all things? His mouth had blabbed before his brain could catch up. Regret followed late, but since he couldn’t take back the words he’d already spat out, he tried his best to feign composure.

As if he hadn’t expected Je-rim to ask such a question first, Aaron blinked slowly.

“…Well. What about you?”

“Me? I can’t do anything that qualifies as cooking, so I’ve never treated a lover to a meal.”

“No, not that. Since you broke up with me, how many more…?”

“I don’t know, man. How am I supposed to count them one by one?”

The best way to cover his mistake was to deflect for a bit and then cut the conversation short with a grumpy answer. Besides, it was a fact without a hint of exaggeration.

He prided himself on having a relatively small number of relationships by the standards of a successful football player, but since most were short-lived, he couldn’t remember exactly how many people he had dated. Honestly, aside from a few he’d dated for more than three months, he barely remembered their names…

“…You must have played around quite promiscuously. No wonder people ask if you’re a slut.”

Looking down, Aaron scolded him in a highly sarcastic tone without even glancing at Je-rim. The warm atmosphere that had persisted until a moment ago was long gone.

The moment Je-rim heard the word ‘slut,’ he tightened his grip on the knife. No matter how big of a mistake he had made by bringing up a topic inappropriate for ex-lovers, did he really have to react like that? That fucking ‘slut’ talk.

Completely offended, Je-rim didn’t back down and sneered back.

“And do you remember every single detail of your dating history from the last ten years? Ah, maybe you couldn’t forget because they were all your ‘heaven’?”

Since Aaron had called him cringeworthy titles like ‘my heaven’ when they were dating, there was a high possibility he did the same for other lovers. Imagining Aaron calling someone else ‘my heaven’ made Je-rim’s stomach churn, so he chose an even more obnoxious tone.

However, he lost all will to fight at the following words.

“You’re the only one I called that.”

“……”

I see… His will to fight vanished, and he was left speechless. For a while, only the clinking of cutlery echoed around the table. Then, glancing down unconsciously, Je-rim frowned. The tender cod fillet on Aaron’s plate was being hacked to pieces.

“…Why are you torturing the cod now?”

“What does it matter? It’s already dead.”

“It’s a waste!”

Why ruin the shape of something that had been made so beautifully and deliciously? When Je-rim pointed it out, Aaron let out a long sigh, lifted his wine glass, and downed it in one shot. The pleasant scent of the liquid sloshing in the glass gently stimulated the tip of the nose, drifting faintly toward Je-rim.

Since the meal was mostly over and his mouth felt dry, seeing Aaron coolly gulp down the wine made it impossible for Je-rim to resist. The inexplicable irritation that had been building since he brought up the wrong topic added to the urge. Slowly reaching for the wine bottle, Je-rim asked in a tone that was uncharacteristically humble.

“…I won’t insist on walking, so just give me one glass.”

“No.”

At the firm refusal, the humility he had used as a social tactic quickly turned into anger. The two men engaged in a fierce tug-of-war over the wine bottle. The innocent bottle slid across the tablecloth, moving from one end of the table to the other.

“Ah, I’m just tasting it! I’m the one who bought it!”

“Once you give it, it’s mine. You just drink water.”

“You’re being so fucking petty. I told you I won’t get drunk! Give me the bottle.”

“You’re talking as if getting drunk is something you can control by will, but your tolerance isn’t that high.”

“One glass is fine!”

“You’ve already lost my trust.”

Trust my ass. Just as a flared-up Je-rim bolted up from his chair to snatch the bottle in front of Aaron, their grip momentarily loosened due to the repeated struggle. The bottle, which had only been pulled from both sides, tilted at an angle like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Both panicked and tried to catch the bottle, but the wine had already spilled. The fragrant, pale golden liquid drenched Aaron’s trousers, and the bottle fell onto his thigh. Aaron steadied the bottle, from which wine was still glugging out, and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Haa…”

“Oh boy, this expensive stuff…”

“You’re worried about the wine and not me?”

“It’s not like it’s hot, so what’s there to worry about? Hold on.”

Je-rim pulled out a handful of tissues and piled them up on Aaron’s thigh. Then, taking advantage of the moment Aaron couldn’t stand up, he succeeded in tasting the wine he had been so curious about by tipping the remaining liquid from the bottle directly into his mouth. Aaron glared at Je-rim with a look that said, ‘What the hell is wrong with this guy?’ He seemed too dumbfounded to even speak.

Regardless, as he suspected, the taste of the wine was indeed excellent. With just one sip, a unique yet subtle aroma and fruity notes blended together and popped in his mouth. The finish was also more refreshing and crisp than expected.

He wanted to empty the rest of the wine, but fearing that Aaron’s concern would become a reality, he stopped once the dryness in his mouth was gone. Je-rim wiped his damp lips with the back of his hand and then rubbed the tissues he had placed on Aaron’s thigh. The mountain of tissues gradually lost its shape, becoming soggy from the bottom.

“Damn, it’s white wine, so I can’t tell if it’s getting clean or not. Hey, first stand up and…”

Before he could finish saying, ‘I’ll wipe the chair, so go change your clothes,’ two large hands grabbed Je-rim’s cheeks, nearly crushing them, while he was focused on wiping the moisture from Aaron’s trousers with his head bowed. Then, he was pushed away so roughly that his neck snapped back.

“…No, you should just go now.”

“What?”

“Stop it and just go. I’ll clean up the rest.”

Aaron mumbled urgently as he let go of Je-rim’s cheeks. Je-rim snapped back in annoyance and grabbed the tissues again.

“What are you talking about? Are you kicking me out just because some wine spilled? I said I’ll wipe it.”

“It’s not that…”

“Shut up and lift your ass. Hey, but your thigh is really firm…”

Until a moment ago, he hadn’t noticed because of the feel of the piled-up tissues, but as the wet tissues thinned, he gradually felt the muscles of Aaron’s thigh beneath them. Since Je-rim was also a football player, his own legs were well-trained, but he had never felt muscles like this. It seemed the reputation of being the world’s best striker wasn’t given for nothing.

They were hard, hot, and dense, and they seemed to twitch whenever he moved his hand. The shape he felt was thick and cylindrical…

There aren’t muscles like this on a thigh.

Realizing the identity of the object in his grip too late, Je-rim trailed off hollowly.

“…ly.”

Je-rim’s eyes darted around, glancing discreetly at Aaron’s thigh. Indeed, looking now, beyond the mountain of white tissues, something that any man would recognize was standing tall like a mountain.

To be precise, an erect cock was unable to press tightly against the fabric of the trousers but was revealing its imposing presence over the clothes. And he had been confirming that presence by pressing down on it with his own hand…

He tried to remove his hand naturally from the scene of the accident, but it didn’t go as planned. The way he jerked his hand away as if he had been burned was clearly that of a panicked person. His fingertips were even trembling slightly.

As Je-rim shoved his trembling hand into his trouser pocket, Aaron rubbed his eyes as if covering them and whispered like a sigh.

“…That’s why I told you to stop.”

“No, what is it? What? Why? Why on earth? You’re not some adolescent boy…”

Does it make sense to get a hard-on right after being hit squarely by cold wine? He had rubbed it a bit to wipe it, but still, it wasn’t like he had any sexual intention… Is it normal for a guy who has lived for twenty-seven years and nearly twelve months to get an erection from such a trivial contact?

Toward Je-rim, who was pointing a finger with his left hand—the one not in his pocket—Aaron countered with a look of grievance.

“You were openly rubbing my cock. And, who was it that got a hard-on just by looking at my face?”

“That was because you were rubbing your face on my thigh…!”

Je-rim flared up, having been hit right where it hurt. But he soon regained his composure, exhaled to calm his boiling insides, and swept back his bangs. He knew all too well that continuing this topic would only lead to the conclusion that both of them were the same.

“Forget it, what’s the point of arguing over this… It’s unsightly, so make it go down, quickly!”

“How am I supposed to make it go down without doing anything in this state? I’d love to be introduced to a good method if you have one.”

“Should I pour the remaining wine on it again?”

“Fuck, you want me to be even more fragrant? No.”

“Go to the bathroom or something.”

“…I can’t move. It hurts.”

The way he tried to stand up and then sat back down wasn’t an exaggeration. The hand that had been fumbling over his eyes descended to his chin. Every time his straight, long fingers folded and touched the smooth jawline or the erotically shaped lips with the corners slightly turned up, an uncontrollable excitement leaked through.

And the nape of the neck and the earlobe following the jawline… were uncharacteristically red. The man who dealt with any absurd question in interviews by smiling calmly and being sarcastic was, truly, truly uncharacteristically… as if he didn’t know what to do out of embarrassment…

‘Ah, he’s kind of cute…’

At the fleeting thought, Je-rim let out a troubled groan and covered his mouth. The sight of olive skin, darker than the average white person’s, flushing red was indeed a rare sight, and it had a quality that stimulated sexual curiosity.

Especially the sight of that Aaron Reyes being embarrassed. Was it because it was a side he hadn’t seen since they were children? Or was it because it added an element of unexpectedness to his usual brazen attitude—acting like a troublemaker who knew no shame, just as he believed in God despite his decadent looks? That unfamiliar yet missed side of him added fuel to the stimulation.

If he kept looking at the thick neck where veins bulged with excitement and the side profile that was annoyingly handsome even down to the earlobe, he felt he might actually do something. Je-rim hurriedly lowered his gaze from Aaron’s head. The problem was that what immediately entered his field of vision was, once again, the thigh where the outline of the erect cock bulged long.

It was so magnificently erect that as Je-rim’s gaze landed on it, it even twitched as if it were about to stand up, pushing against the stiff fabric. Startled, Je-rim couldn’t look away and stared blankly at Aaron’s grotesquely swollen thigh. As a bonus, he noticed a fact he didn’t particularly want to realize.

‘This bastard changed his storage direction.’

He was sure it had been the other side in the past. Faced with an unexpected situation, his thoughts drifted in a strange direction.

He even remembered Aaron complaining that his cock was so big that storing it was a chore every time he put on fluttering uniform shorts. Since Je-rim shared a similar struggle, they used to complain together, only to be told by other teammates not to have such ‘first-world problems.’

And after the day he first encountered the actual thing in detail, Je-rim stopped complaining about that issue in front of Aaron. Because it really was a size that could be a concern… And thinking that he might one day do something serious with something of that concerning size made him shrink back in fear…

Contrary to his worries, the ‘serious stuff’ had gone quite smoothly, riding the mood. In fact, Aaron, who looked like he would have lived more promiscuously than anyone, was so unable to control his excitement that he kept having nosebleeds; it was so funny and cute that Je-rim had teased him, pinching his cheeks and saying he didn’t live up to his face, and they had ended up doing it all the way without any real fear.

‘Come to think of it, I did it back then because he looked cute.’

Wow, what am I going to do with these eyes and their long-standing taste? Why does he look cute whenever he’s uncharacteristically embarrassed or obedient? Why is my taste still the same after more than ten years? If only he could change his taste to the opposite, just like Aaron changed his cock’s storage direction.

…And it would be even better if he could just get rid of this uselessly healthy lower body.

In the end, both then and now, these damn eyes and lower body were the root of all evil. He should have either been uselessly healthy or had a uselessly firm taste—not both at the same time.

Je-rim lamented, burying his face in his palm, which felt hot even to him.

“Fuck, I’m seriously going crazy…”

“I’m the one going crazy, so why are you…”

Aaron, who was about to respond in an irritated tone, trailed off. After blinking stupidly at Je-rim for a while, he grabbed Je-rim’s chin and tilted his head.

“…Your face is red, isn’t it?”

The amber eyes, which had been low and saturated with excitement, gradually took on a strange light, and then sparkled as if he had gained some kind of certainty. Je-rim hurriedly shook his head to drop Aaron’s hand and made an excuse.

“It’s, it’s embarrassing… Of course, ah!”

“Liar.”

Aaron cut the excuses short and hugged Je-rim around the waist, lifting him onto the dining table. As he came to sit on the edge of the table, his line of sight shot up instantly. Startled, Je-rim’s legs gave a sudden twitch.

Regardless of the difference in their build, it was shocking enough that Aaron—an adult male taller than average, with the size and strength to hold his own even in the Premier League, where physical battles are notoriously rough—had lifted him up as easily as a baby. But the bigger problem was his lower body, which was now impossible to hide.

Je-rim tried desperately to hunch over, but Aaron was one step faster. Seeing the evidence that Je-rim was clearly erect, if not fully, Aaron’s eyes curved like a little fox.

“You’re hard too, Je-rim.”

“Let go….”

Je-rim sharply slapped the back of Aaron’s hand, which was firmly gripping his waist to prevent him from sliding off the table or twisting away. In response, Aaron wrapped both arms fully around Je-rim’s waist, resting his chin on Je-rim’s stomach and looking up with only his eyes.

“I got hard because you touched me, but what about you, huh?”

“…I don’t fucking know, my taste is ruined….”

“Am I the ‘ruined’ part?”

Yes, you piece of shit. Out of sheer annoyance, Je-rim’s hand moved on its own. Making a mockery of his past self, who had been anxious about paying a fine for assault after merely hitting him with a towel, this time he slapped Aaron’s lips directly with his palm. Since Aaron wouldn’t run off to tell William, it was something that would never be discovered for the rest of his life.

Slap. As the crisp sound of the impact rang out, Aaron frowned. But only for a moment; Aaron wrapped his hand around the palm that had ruthlessly struck his lips and began kissing it repeatedly.

“I think you’ve actually developed a taste for getting turned on while hitting me. Let’s check it out while we’re at it.”

“Stop playing games and let go!”

Je-rim used his free arm to push against Aaron’s forehead, struggling to pull his captured hand away. Perhaps finding the squirming in his arms uncomfortable, Aaron bit the tender skin on the inside of Je-rim’s wrist, where the blue veins were visible, as if punishing him.

At the stinging yet erotic stimulation, Je-rim’s fingers twitched, and he chewed on his lower lip. This was a time when he needed to keep his head straight, even if it meant forcing himself to feel pain. A split lip would heal in a day or two, but he instinctively knew that one wrong move here would create a dark history that would haunt him for life.

“Hey, I really don’t intend to do this with you in the future….”

“I know that well.”

“Then let go! I told you last time, let’s not cross the line.”

“I tried to… but haven’t we both crossed the line long ago?”

It was a point so valid that it momentarily left the incessantly chattering Je-rim speechless. Aaron even took the time to carefully remind him of the current situation, pointing back and forth between himself and Je-rim.

“Me, who got hard because the captain touched me, and you, who got hard while looking at a teammate like that.”

Putting it that way made Sefton sound like some trashy club from a porn movie…. Since it was true that the captain and a teammate were in a situation just moments away from filming a porn movie, Je-rim felt a deep sense of self-loathing and guilt as a captain.

Looking at Je-rim, who didn’t hide his inner turmoil, Aaron vowed to corner him this time so there would be no room to escape. Despite his white skin flushing a provocative hue from arousal, it was obvious—even without looking—that his little head was spinning in some direction to find a way out.

Aaron licked the inside of the wrist he had bitten, whispering in a voice that sounded tender and soothing. In reality, it was a trick disguised as kindness. Regardless, since his specialty was relentlessly pursuing an exhausted opponent and pushing them to their limit, Aaron’s yellow eyes held an arrogant golden glint.

“Think simply. What could be a closer bond between colleagues than helping each other out while we’re at it?”

“Crazy, where in the world are there colleagues like….”

“Right here.”

Taking advantage of the moment Je-rim’s guard dropped, Aaron lowered Je-rim’s zipper and pulled down the waistband. The drawers, made of a material that clung to the skin, slid down with the pants, and the penis inside peeked out.

The cock, which had already been half-erect, finally pushed through the fabric as the underwear lowered, with the thick glans popping out first. Because he had made a habit of grooming since his youth days, the hairless penis was revealed starkly. While not as flushed as Je-rim’s face, it was overall a deeper color than usual. A clear pre-cum began to leak from the hole in the center of the glans.

When Aaron pressed the small, pulsing hole on the glans with his thumb, the shaft—which hadn’t even been touched—writhed in response, increasing its rigidity. Eventually, the straight, thick shaft pressed up toward the abdomen, and veins and tendons bulged unevenly across the thin surface of the skin.

Along the fully erect cock, cowper’s fluid flowed slowly from the tip of the glans down to the waistband of the drawers resting against the scrotum. It didn’t flow in a straight line; instead, it diverted whenever it hit a protruding vein or tendon. Glistening streaks remained here and there, making it slick. The elastic waistband of the underwear became damp and clung even tighter to the skin.

This was the first time Je-rim had seen his own erection in such detail, and his hair stood on end as his breathing grew ragged. The maddening shame had long since ceased to just slice through his mind and had begun to heat up the inside of his belly. He had reached a point where even shame was being converted into arousal.

Aaron gripped Je-rim’s cock, which filled his hand tightly, and shook it while gently tickling the soft scrotum with his thumb. Perhaps because there was no pubic hair, it was easy to adore and felt great. Usually, no matter how good or white the skin is, the scrotum tends to be dark, but Je-rim’s was a light pink even here.

A handsome face, a handsome cock, handsome balls…. Perhaps because everything from one to ten was exactly his type, instead of just cherishing him, a contradictory urge to torment him crept up. While tickling the rounded scrotum, Aaron gently pinched the folded skin on the inside where it met the thigh, causing Je-rim’s waist to jerk.

“You said you’d give me a reward.”

“Hah! Ngh… Hey, stop… Ah!”

The moment Je-rim uttered the word ‘stop,’ Aaron moved his thumb further down, digging into the underwear to press against the perineum. At the stimulation that felt like it was scratching his brain directly, Je-rim immediately covered his own mouth.

Between being pressed firmly by the blunt tip of the finger, being lightly scratched by the nail, and then being pressed again, there was no way to endure it. Faced with a strange stimulation he had never felt before, Je-rim’s toes, which were slightly hovering in the air, began to tremble and curl. His breath became a mess of gasps.

Aaron didn’t stop there and rolled up Je-rim’s top. His lips, caressing like a feather along the clearly sculpted abs and the beautifully shaped navel, gradually moved upward. Je-rim barely managed to keep his waist from arching back. He couldn’t just flop over onto the table where food was still laid out.

Just as a wave of skepticism hit him, wondering what the hell he was doing in the middle of a meal, Aaron—who had been tasting his entire abdomen by sinking his teeth in as he pleased—planted a loud kiss near Je-rim’s solar plexus and pulled away.

Then, looking up at Je-rim with eyes that somehow held a hint of sorrow, he steadied his own ragged breathing and asked. He used a truly cautious tone, one that didn’t fit the situation or the content of the question at all.

“Be honest. Watching me do your Ceremony… didn’t you want to give me a reward?”

Ah, this little fox. This bastard definitely knows that I get turned on whenever he acts obedient. His expression and tone were so perfectly aimed at Je-rim’s lust that he couldn’t help but think so. His head knew he shouldn’t get caught up in it, but….

“…Fuck….”

Je-rim chewed on the curse, grabbed the back of Aaron’s head, and pulled his hair to bring them eye-to-eye. Immediately after, he leaned down and greedily swallowed Aaron’s lips, which he had wanted to hit the whole time. It was his answer to the question.

The man who had claimed he couldn’t move because of the pain immediately straightened his waist and responded fervently to the rough kiss.

< Continued in Volume 3 >