4 – Steadfast Loyalty

The four friendly matches played during the pre-season were all victories. The supplementation of lacking positions proceeded smoothly, and the shallow depth, which had often been cited as Sefton’s weakness, was also reinforced. The fact that there were many transfers meant that there were also many players leaving.

While there were almost no starting players leaving, a large number of players who only warmed the bench were transferred or released. It seemed Coach Verdi had sharpened his blade while recruiting Aaron this time. The club also seemed to agree that it was the right direction to cut out unnecessary players during this opportunity and was active in the pruning.

Since many of them were players Je-rim was close with, he didn’t feel at ease. Even though he knew a hundred times over in his head that this method was correct to achieve the goal of winning the Champions League, he couldn’t simply welcome it since the release list included colleagues he had shared joys and sorrows with for over five years.

However, regardless of Je-rim’s cluttered emotions, Sefton’s fans were thrilled. It was understandable, as they had kicked out the so-called “wage thieves” and the pre-season results were fantastic.

“Jerry, we absolutely have to win today’s match. If we lose, the atmosphere will freeze.”

Craig, who happened to be sitting next to him, tapped Je-rim’s shoulder and urged him. It seemed obvious that Je-rim was spacing out even though there wasn’t much time left until the match started. Sitting in an ambiguous posture—neither fully putting on nor taking off his tights—Je-rim snapped back to his senses thanks to that.

“I know. Since expectations have been raised that high…”

Sefton’s first opponent after the league opening, which was about to take place, was a team that had just been promoted from the second division this season. In other words, a weak team. Moreover, it was a Sefton home game.

In other words, it was a match where losing was unacceptable. If they lost the first league match against such a weak team, the fans would go wild. After recruiting a giant like Aaron and winning throughout the pre-season, it was obvious what they would hear if they lost helplessly in an actual match.

Interviews on the level of a hearing would follow daily, and all sorts of nonsense would come out, such as “Fire the coach already,” “The signing of Aaron was a failure,” “Ban Je-rim’s form is dead,” “The aging curve is starting to hit,” and so on. To avoid that nuisance, it was a match they had to win. It was also a match where losing would be stranger. However, there was one concerning point.

“Yorktown will probably park the bus, right?”

“Obviously. The coach said so too.”

“Ah, I’m already sick of it.”

Je-rim grumbled, stopping halfway through pulling up his tights to his knees. Parking the bus, commonly known as “ten-back,” literally means placing ten defenders, a tactic mainly used by weak teams when facing strong teams. They do nothing but defend and look for counterattacks, which is naturally incredibly boring for the spectators and the opposing team.

Since goals rarely happen, it’s boring for the viewers, and similarly, since they can’t score goals, it’s boring for the players. Moreover, in such a tactic, a single passing mistake leads directly to the opponent’s counterattack, so the mental burden is significant.

This is why matches where they lose absurdly to weak teams happen more often than losses to other strong teams. Je-rim glanced at Aaron, who was sitting opposite him, and recalled the tactic he heard from Coach Verdi.

‘Always give the ball to Aaron.’

The coach explained using professional terms, but in summary, it was this. During the past pre-season, Je-rim and Aaron practiced hard together under Coach Verdi’s guidance. However, it wasn’t easy to perfectly synchronize with a guy he had been apart from for over ten years in just a few weeks.

It wasn’t that he lacked confidence or was nervous, but he thought it might be difficult to achieve a landslide victory as the fans expected. Even if he wanted to give the ball unconditionally, the running players had to be on the same page first to accomplish anything.

But Aaron, as if he didn’t have even that minimum of worry, was smiling peacefully. After dropping the lie about being shy, he had adapted perfectly to the team and quickly became close with the teammates. In fact, he was currently chatting excitedly with Jesus. When his eyes met Je-rim’s, he curved the corners of his eyes slyly.

“Do you have something to say?”

“No.”

“Then why are you staring?”

“…Sigh.”

He almost retorted, asking if he couldn’t even move his own eyes however he wanted according to his temperament, but he held back since it was just before the match. Despite suppressing his temper by reminding himself of the responsibility of being the captain through bloody effort, other teammates chimed in from here and there.

“Here they go again.”

“Are you guys fighting dogs? You fight whenever your eyes meet.”

“You guys are really going to grow fond of each other at this rate.”

“No, what did I even do!”

Je-rim felt wronged. He hadn’t cursed, he hadn’t raised a fist; all he did was let out one sigh as if he found the other pathetic, so why was he being treated the same as Aaron, who started the provocation? And then they even threw that terrible curse about growing fond of each other.

But just as he was about to point a finger at his annoying teammates, a staff member knocked to signal them to come out. Aaron and the teammates suddenly switched their faces to serious expressions as if they hadn’t been giggling a moment ago and stood up. Je-rim did the same.

The Sefton players stood in a line in the tunnel, holding the hands of the escort kids. In the line right next to them stood the players of today’s opponent, Yorktown FC, with faces clearly showing their nervousness. Standing at the front, Je-rim exchanged brief greetings with the opposing captain and, as he always did, slowly rotated his ankles and put the captain’s armband on his left arm.

He stepped onto the pitch while listening to the familiar cheers and chants. Perhaps because it was the first match, the heat of the cheering was intense. The teammates followed behind Je-rim, each performing their pre-match routine. Among them, Aaron made a small sign of the cross and prayed briefly with only his lips moving.

Je-rim waited until Aaron opened his eyes and then slowly approached him. Since it wasn’t just a simple transfer, but the first official match after moving leagues, he felt he should give some encouragement. Aaron wasn’t the type to get nervous, but for now, as a duty of the captain. To be honest, he also hated the sight of him pretending to be unnecessarily handsome.

“How does the first taste of the Sefton Stadium grass feel?”

It was a joke he threw out because all the friendly matches they had played so far were away games. To that, Aaron played along appropriately.

“It’s alright. Not bad.”

“Be careful not to slip.”

“Thanks for the concern. I’ll be careful. Like you said, since it’s the first time, I’m a bit nervous…”

The teammates stirred when an unfitting word came out of the mouth of a guy who seemed not to know the first thing about nervousness. Je-rim also raised an eyebrow slightly. Aaron, who had taken the lead in gathering the teammates into a circle, slowly raised his head and grinned.

“So.”

Showing that same mischievous, brat-like smile, Aaron murmured as if making a declaration.

“To shake off the nerves, let’s just lightly score about five goals.”

In a tone that was beyond confident.

As expected, Yorktown set up a tight two-line defense from the start. Moreover, whenever Je-rim or Aaron held the ball, they swarmed them like a pack of dogs. Since the match was held at Sefton’s home, boos didn’t stop every time that happened, but the Yorktown players didn’t care. Their determination to stop at least the two key players was evident.

In all sports, momentum is important. Especially for a weak team like Yorktown. Since they decided to stick to defense, accepting the criticism that they were playing a boring match after barely crawling up from the second division, their will to not give up the first goal easily was readable. Because the moment they concede the first goal, the momentum collapses.

It was a fully understandable tactic. But from the perspective of the one suffering, it couldn’t help but be annoying. Je-rim and Aaron, who were being closely marked, had grass stains on their arms and legs and bits of grass on their black uniform pants just ten minutes into the match.

‘This is tough.’

Je-rim, brushing off the grass bits pricking his thighs, looked around. The Yorktown players seemed to have no intention of penetrating the opponent’s territory and stood packed near their own goal. If they only played in their own half like that, they were bound to concede a goal eventually, but it seemed they intended to stall for as much time as possible.

The possession itself was, of course, overwhelmingly in Sefton’s favor. Since the opponents didn’t even come into Sefton’s half, it was no different from using only half the court, and Sefton’s possession naturally increased as they passed the ball around looking for a gap.

Even when Yorktown stole the ball, they couldn’t connect that chance into a counterattack. It was a typical look of a team lacking experience.

‘Once the first goal comes, they’ll collapse immediately.’

Je-rim had encountered such teams countless times, so he knew their weakness well. Their characteristic and weakness is that once a gap is breached and their momentum is broken, they collapse without end. Instead of thinking about how to fill the breached gap, they panic and end up suffering a heavy defeat.

But the problem was that the physical strength of the opposing players was sturdier than that of the Sefton players. Only Aaron could hold his own in physical battles; even William and Robin, the center backs, seemed to be struggling. Je-rim, who was reasonably adapted to rough matches, was no different.

Should I try to get a foul by taking a bit of action and aim for a free kick? Since the players over there are playing roughly, that method might be better to create the first goal…

It was then.

“Je-rim!”

The moment Aaron signaled, the ball rolled quickly to Je-rim’s feet. Three or four opposing players stood confidently in front of Aaron. Leaving behind the impression that Aaron had somehow found space to pass in that situation, Je-rim dove into the flank of the enemy camp like he had wings.

Thanks to the defense crowding around Aaron, the flank penetration was easy. This is why he said they were bound to concede eventually. The opposing team wasn’t stupid either and immediately rushed toward Je-rim, but Je-rim wasn’t stupid either. He immediately found an open space and sent a cross. It was toward Aaron, who, the moment he saw Je-rim penetrate the flank, pushed one of the opposing players away with a shoulder charge and sprinted toward the center.

The ball flew exactly above Aaron’s head. Literally, a position where he only had to touch his forehead. The moment Aaron jumped, the ball was sucked into the net without even grazing the goalkeeper’s fingertips. It was a header goal with a perfect angle, achieved by an accurate cross and exquisite power control.

“Crazy, what are you guys!”

As soon as the numbers on the scoreboard climbed, the Sefton players, without exception, cheered and rushed toward Aaron and Je-rim. Aaron sprinted forward, sliding on his knees across the grass, and roared toward the Sefton supporters’ section. A thunderous ovation rained down upon the striker who had proven himself the moment he transferred.

Je-rim also joined in the celebration, patting Aaron on the head while squeezed between other teammates. He wasn’t so clueless as to throw cold water on the mood in a situation like this, and besides, a job well done was a job well done. He felt great, having secured an assist in the very first match thanks to Aaron.

Aaron seemed surprised by the hand patting his head, wearing a somewhat bewildered expression for a moment before breaking into a mischievous grin.

“I was worried you’d developed dementia, but it looks like your skills haven’t died off, fortunately.”

“Bullshit. You’re the one who claimed you’d put in five goals, yet you only just scored one?”

“It’s only the 17th minute. Plenty of time. …And over there, all that’s left is for them to collapse.”

Je-rim followed Aaron’s glance. The Yorktown players looked miserable, their faces etched with disappointment. They seemed unable to maintain their composure after conceding the opening goal faster than expected.

“Still, don’t let your guard down.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Boss.”

Boss, my foot. Despite being the national team captain in Spain, he only treated Je-rim like the captain in moments like this. However, since it was true that he found the title of ‘Boss’ quite satisfying, Je-rim playfully tugged on Aaron’s hair before letting go.

After that, the match proceeded as expected. Yorktown was preoccupied solely with stopping Je-rim’s penetrations, and Je-rim used that to his advantage, distributing passes in various ways. What could be more inefficient than struggling to protect the ball when you can’t win a physical battle? Every time the opposing players lunged at him, he would toy with the other team by delivering short passes to nearby teammates before sprinting away.

He didn’t need to obsess over accumulating assists. By the time this Season ended, the Playmaker of the Year trophy would naturally be his anyway. He often took the top spot for assists, but this time, he had a feeling bordering on certainty. Both the Premier League top scorer and top assist provider for this Season would come from Sefton.

And for good reason.

≪Aaron Reyes is absolutely insane. A hat-trick in just 42 minutes of the first half! Yorktown is crumbling piece by piece. They really need to reorganize their line.≫

≪Wow, truly fantastic. It might be a bit heartbreaking for Sefton, but Reyes didn’t record that hat-trick in the last Champions final by sheer luck! He deserves the number 9 shirt the moment he arrived!≫

≪Fritz must be feeling a bit envious.≫

≪Ah, as we speak, the camera cuts to Fritz on the bench. His expression doesn’t look too bad.≫

≪Of course it should be; his teammate scored. More importantly, our Ban Je-rim looks absolutely thrilled. His grin is about to split his face.≫

≪Ban Je-rim is also performing exceptionally well today. Honestly, it doesn’t seem like his chemistry with Reyes is fully synchronized yet, but for a first match, this is enough to make us look forward to the future.≫

Even against a weak team, scoring three goals alone in the first half against a team employing a double-line defense—all while not yet perfectly synced with his teammates—was impressive. He couldn’t help but recall Yeo-bin’s assessment of him as a monster. Furthermore, there were still three minutes and a few moments of added time left before the first half ended.

Je-rim, who smartly earned a free kick during added time, scored immediately, ending the first half with a score of 4 to 0. Because the lead was so overwhelming, Coach Verdi didn’t seem to have much to say, merely muttering not to get complacent. He also mentioned that he would substitute Aaron and Je-rim at an appropriate time.

While they preferred to play the full time, wasting stamina meaninglessly in a match like this was unwise, so the two reluctantly agreed. And as Aaron had guaranteed, he scored one more goal in the second half, finally bringing Sefton’s score to 5 before being substituted out along with Je-rim.

The final score was 6 to 0. Reman, who came on for Aaron, recorded one more goal, and Sefton secured a landslide victory in their first league opening match.

“What more is there to say when you’re playing with the world’s best midfielder? It’s only going to get more interesting. I guarantee it. You journalists will find it much more satisfying to write about us than picking up boring rumors of discord.”

When asked for his thoughts and ambitions regarding his Premier League debut, Aaron answered in a way that was very typical of him. Je-rim found it hard to understand why he felt the need to add that last remark. However, since they both shared a mutual dislike for reporters, Je-rim simply pinched Aaron’s back as a warning and left it at that.

And though he had teased him about dementia, it wasn’t bad that he boosted Je-rim’s ego in a public setting by using an objective descriptor like ‘the world’s best.’ If nothing else, it seemed Aaron intended to follow the rule of ‘no sniping during interviews.’

Even after the joint interview with Aaron ended, Je-rim was dragged around with Coach Verdi, returning to the locker room late. The locker room was empty except for Frederic, who was sitting on a chair completely naked, presumably because everyone else was showering. Frederic was always the first one to wash up and come out.

‘Has Aaron not come out of the shower yet?’

He wanted to wash up quickly. Je-rim clicked his tongue, glancing displeasedly at Aaron’s empty spot. Ah, what was the big deal about seeing another guy naked… It was just that he had realized the useless fact that Aaron’s looks were exactly his ideal type, which made things troublesome. All because of this lower half that couldn’t distinguish between professional and private life.

Blaming his own body part, he slumped into his seat without even taking off his sweat-soaked uniform. He planned to wait for Aaron to come out before showering. Then, Frederic, who was using his phone looking like a raw chicken, asked.

“Jerry, aren’t you showering?”

“In a bit.”

“What’s gotten into you? You’re usually the guy who gets irritated and complains that you feel gross if the interview delays your shower.”

“You should wash more thoroughly. Isn’t it a problem that your shower time is less than five minutes?”

“Hmph, just splashing water is enough. You’re just being extra.”

As Frederic turned his head away with a huff, something unsightly dangled beneath him. In that moment, Je-rim was reminded of his own wretched lower half and took his frustration out on Frederic.

“Put your clothes on quickly! Don’t just sit there dangling!”

“Why the sudden nagging? Is there anyone here who doesn’t dangle?”

Just as Frederic was protesting, the bathroom door opened and a crowd of naked teammates poured out. Aaron was among them. The moment he saw the head that stood taller than the others, Je-rim quickly averted his gaze. The teammates, having overheard the commotion outside the shower, asked Je-rim and Frederic in turn.

“What’s up? What happened?”

“Jerry’s being weird. He’s telling me not to dangle.”

“How am I supposed to not dangle when I was born to dangle? He dangles too.”

Fuck, that dangling is exactly the problem right now. What do you guys know. Ignoring the teasing from his teammates, Je-rim stood up quickly. He had to flee to the bathroom before his lower half showed another strange reaction.

It was just that Aaron’s face was frighteningly his type; it wasn’t that he liked that dangling part of him, so the probability of another incident occurring just by looking was low. But you never know with people… It was better to avoid it until things were certain.

“…I’m showering.”

Without even taking off his clothes, Je-rim grabbed his toiletries and towel and scurried away. This was all Kim Han-seong’s fault. If that guy hadn’t spouted nonsense about ideal types, he wouldn’t have been this conscious of it. As he ground his teeth and tried to enter the bathroom, he heard a snicker from behind.

“Je-rim, since when did you shower with your clothes on?”

At the voice of the person he was most conscious of, Je-rim’s shoulders flinched. He tried his best to feign composure and gave a middle finger behind his back.

“Starting today.”

✲✲✲

The first month of August, when the league opened, passed in a relaxed atmosphere. Matches were few, occurring about once a week, and the results were always victories, regardless of whether they were home or away.

Winning every match by at least a two-goal margin, they had a five-game unbeaten streak. Only the fifth of the total 38 league matches for the Season had ended, but Sefton’s fans were already making a fuss as if they had already finished the Season in first place.

While not as overtly excited as the fans, the players were also inwardly expectant—no, certain. Unlike last Season, where they had left with regrets after finishing second, they were sure they would lift at least one trophy this Season.

The individual form, mindset, and momentum of the players were all excellent, but the existence of the monster striker Aaron Reyes played a huge role in turning expectation into certainty. The gossipers who had claimed that a guy born and raised in Spain, who had only played in La Liga, would struggle in his first season in England had long since vanished.

“Alright, alright. It’s been a while since we’ve had a drink, so let’s toast. Cheers!”

As Je-rim, holding a beer glass as large as his face, shouted excitedly, the dark-haired men filling the pub shouted back.

This was the first permission to drink granted since the start of the Season by Coach Verdi, who was notoriously strict about the players’ alcohol consumption. The Sefton players gathered in one place to see each other for the first time since returning from the last two weeks of A Matches and to celebrate today’s victory.

Perhaps because the excitement of the match hadn’t worn off, everyone was thrilled. With alcohol gradually entering the mix, the atmosphere reached its peak. As soon as the toast ended, they downed their beers in one go and immediately began ordering more. Watching this, Je-rim quietly sipped his own glass.

In his heart, he wanted to gulp down beer as refreshingly as his Viking-like teammates, but he knew his tolerance well. Exactly one glass of beer. That was the safety range for a successful return home.

Objectively, for a man with an above-average build in the mid-180s, and an athlete at that, it was a rather pathetic tolerance. Since his face turned bright red after just one sip, he was often teased at national team gatherings, being asked if he was already tipsy.

‘I heard it increases if you drink a lot…’

If only he could drink a lot. For an active football player, enjoying alcohol was a problem in its own right. Consequently, Je-rim had lived for nearly ten years with a body devoid of alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes, which was quite stressful. He couldn’t drink even when he wanted to.

Knowing he should put the glass down, he continued to sip out of lingering attachment. Suddenly, his glass was snatched away, and his vision, which had been blocked by the glass, cleared to reveal Aaron’s face. The man who had lightly lifted the large glass with one hand and set it down clicked his tongue.

“Even if tomorrow is a holiday, you shouldn’t be drinking.”

“What did I do?”

Now this guy is even stealing other people’s drinks. Since he was already unable to drink because his body wouldn’t allow it despite his desire, being stopped made Je-rim’s tone naturally prickly. He hadn’t used a particularly kind tone when dealing with Aaron to begin with.

Aaron seemed used to it and didn’t show any offense. He simply looked into the stolen glass, swirling the contents. He seemed to be gauging how much had been drunk. After confirming that Je-rim had only drunk about a third while others were downing theirs, he spoke.

“You’re weak with alcohol. I can still clearly remember you passing out after drinking Clara.”

“I didn’t pass out! I was just a bit excited and went here and there…”

“You wandered around like a stray dog and then completely crashed the next day. Do you have any idea how much I sweated while making excuses for why you couldn’t get up?”

“…….”

Having a rough idea of what Aaron was talking about, Je-rim slyly pretended to be oblivious. It was probably the day a festival was held before Easter. Even though it wasn’t a weekend, he had gone out on a date with Aaron for the first time in a while, mistook a lemon beer for a soft drink, and after that…

‘I probably roamed all over the neighborhood.’

His memories after getting drunk were spotty. However, knowing his own drinking habits, he knew Aaron was telling the truth without a hint of exaggeration.

Unlike most people who retain a homing instinct even when drunk, Je-rim’s habit was to wander around like a crazy beggar. Strangely, once alcohol was absorbed into his system, he felt an uncontrollable urge to walk.

Once, while having dinner and a light drink with Yeo-bin in Seoul, he woke up to find himself in Seongnam. After walking along the Tancheon stream all night, a Hubae who had come out after receiving a call from Yeo-bin barely found him and shoved him into a nearby motel. That was how hopeless Je-rim’s drinking habit was.

Moreover, it was back when he lived in the dormitory with Aaron, so as Aaron said, he must have sweated a lot cleaning up after him while he was passed out. But he didn’t utter a word about it being hard because of him back then, only to brag about it more than ten years later. What a ridiculous bastard.

“You don’t need to take care of me like in the old days, so mind your own business.”

Just as he was about to pull the stolen glass back toward him, Aaron, with an amazing sleight of hand, swapped the beer glass Je-rim tried to grab with a glass of ice water. It was so fast that for a moment, Je-rim thought Aaron was performing a shell game with two glasses.

Despite priding himself on having some of the best dynamic visual acuity in the club, second only to the goalkeeper Craig, he was momentarily dazed by the movement he couldn’t catch, and then something cold touched his cheek. Je-rim shuddered once before realizing what was touching his cheek, and once more after he realized.

“Why don’t you say that after cooling down your face.”

Aaron, who had been holding the ice glass, had pressed his freezing hand against Je-rim’s cheek. The cheek, which had turned a bright crimson from a single sip of beer, boiled over explosively upon meeting the cold hand. He wished it were simply that it felt hotter due to the contrast in temperature, but he couldn’t know the truth himself.

If it weren’t for that goddamn incident, he would have thought of it simply and moved on. But now that he had a history of his lower half reacting and standing at attention for Aaron, he could no longer overlook his physical reactions lightly.

‘Is it… possible to be physically turned on even if you hate the person?’

For Je-rim, who didn’t even have a common one-night stand experience, it was a difficult topic to conclude. He was usually quite modest in terms of sexuality. That’s why this experience was even more unfamiliar.

Even when he first started dating Aaron, he wasn’t this confused. At that time, he could quite easily accept the series of events that had shaken him. His parents’ divorce, the move to Spain, the racial discrimination he experienced for the first time, and the fact that his first-ever lover was a man.

It was probably because he was young. It was when his thinking was most flexible, and because he had no experience, he had no fear. The saying that ignorance is bliss—or rather, that the ignorant are brave—was exactly right. But Je-rim had long since transformed from that foolish teenage boy into a young man on the verge of his thirties.

Unfamiliar experiences were no longer welcome and were hard to accept. Honestly, it was reaching the point of being irritating. Since Aaron hadn’t intentionally tried to turn him on, it couldn’t be entirely his fault. Je-rim took his frustration out on him for no reason.

“Hey, get over there. Why are you sitting next to me and grating on my nerves again…”

“If you two fight more, it’s five hundred pounds per person. Got it? Arguments are limited to three minutes.”

However, he shut his mouth at the threat that flew in from William. A fine of five hundred pounds per person if an argument exceeded three minutes. It was a rule the teammates had established because Je-rim and Aaron bickered so much.

Clearly, in the beginning, since they had set rules and he had received a command disguised as a request from Coach Verdi to ‘take special care’ of him, he had tried, with a heart as vast as the ocean, to embrace this rude transfer student as the captain. But if that had worked, he would have shaved his head and entered a temple. Whenever he came to his senses, it was always like this.

At least in public settings like training or matches, Je-rim tended to be patient and let things slide, but in private settings like this, Je-rim unleashed his temper without reservation. Just like now. Unable to watch any longer, the teammates had set this absurd fine.

Five hundred pounds for talking for more than three minutes. At first, he thought it was a joke and kept fighting, but after actually being ripped off for the fine, he started playing it safe. Even for someone earning a weekly wage of 320,000 pounds, money spent so meaninglessly was a waste.

“Je-rim, are you having financial difficulties lately? Every time I see you, the power of five hundred pounds is surprising.”

As Je-rim suddenly turned into a docile lamb, Aaron began to fiddle with Je-rim’s cheek as if there were no longer any reason to hold back. As always, he didn’t forget to tease him with a sly smirk. Since you earn a higher weekly wage than I do, this must be pocket change to you, Je-rim thought, suppressing the urge to snap back and instead swallowing the insult.

Whether the scene looked incredibly cozy or something else, the teammates began to throw out bizarre jokes.

“Wait, were they fighting? I thought they looked so affectionate that they were in the middle of some public display of affection.”

“The vibe between them is strange. They fight whenever they make eye contact, but they aren’t actually that on bad terms. It’s like…”

“Like a couple at the beginning of a teen movie who aren’t dating yet.”

“Oh, right. That’s it! That thing where they intentionally pick fights with each other so they don’t get caught liking one another.”

The moment Marshall shouted, raising his index finger as if he had found the answer to a problem he’d spent days and nights agonizing over, Je-rim could no longer endure it. He slammed his glass of ice water down with enough force to nearly break the table and bellowed. His expression was twisted, matching his foul mood.

“You’re all fucking delusional.”

“Jerry, I’m asking you, please don’t make that face. It’s a waste of a good face.”

“That’s because you’re only saying things that make me scowl!”

He shouted and then gulped down the ice water to soothe his parched throat. These idiots truly thought the captain was a joke. However, even seeing their captain fuming, the teammates only laughed heartily. Only Reman looked somewhat gloomy, cautiously gauging Je-rim’s reaction.

“Aaron seems to agree, though? What do you think, is that really it?”

“Teen couple,” Jesus said, flicking his index and middle fingers on both hands like quotation marks. Aaron, who had been quietly smiling, shook his head.

“Wrong.”

That brat, he’s surprisingly decisive about this. For the first time in a while, words that Je-rim actually liked came out of that open mouth. Relieved, Je-rim took another sip of water.

“Rather than before they date, don’t they seem more like a couple that broke up and reunited?”

And at that casual, shocking confession, Je-rim choked. The cold water went down his windpipe instead of his esophagus, causing a stinging sensation in his throat. Seeing Je-rim coughing frantically, Reman asked worriedly.

“Jerry, are you okay?”

Since he was in a position where he couldn’t exactly say he wasn’t okay because of that fucking ex, Je-rim nodded even as he coughed like a dying man. Naturally, it was a gesture that inspired no confidence. Just as Reman pulled out a tissue and carefully reached his other arm toward Je-rim’s back—

“You’re not a child. You can’t even drink water by yourself?”

Aaron wrapped his arm around Je-rim’s entire back and patted him gently. Despite the reprimanding tone, the touch was the opposite, and Je-rim continued to gag and cough, leaving his back in Aaron’s care. He had choked so badly that tears welled up in his eyes, leaving him with no energy to realize who was patting his back.

“Ah, the tissue. Thanks.”

“…”

Aaron took the tissue from Reman instead and winked. As he personally pressed the tissue into Je-rim’s hand, Reman’s expression faintly distorted. Because Aaron had already covered Je-rim’s back, Reman’s arm, having lost its destination, remained awkwardly suspended in the air. Without a word, Reman quietly retracted his arm.

The other teammates, including Je-rim, failed to catch that momentary clash. Je-rim gasped for air, wiping his mouth with the tissue Aaron had given him. From the tip of his nose to his forehead, everything felt tingly, as if he had suffered terribly from a leg cramp while swimming.

Once he barely regained his composure, he stomped on his fucking ex-boyfriend’s foot with all his might. Aaron nimbly pulled his foot away and sat with his legs crossed. Despite the posture being a result of not wanting his foot stepped on, the way he sat was like a noble crane, which only made him more obnoxious.

“You son of a…”

Screech. The curse, laden with every emotion imaginable, was completely buried by the noisy chatter of the other teammates.

“Oh, that makes sense too. You two were on the same team in the past, so that analogy fits better.”

“What? So you’re admitting they’re a couple?”

“Suspicious, very suspicious. Jerry, you suddenly choking made it even more suspicious.”

Je-rim didn’t respond. If he showed any more abnormal reactions here, the teammates’ jokes would turn into convictions. Instead, as a signal for Aaron to clean up the mess, he kicked Aaron’s shin. Aaron subtly shifted the leg that had been hit and continued to prattle on nonchalantly.

“People in Spain, England, and Korea all call us a couple. What was it… the Je-ron combo?”

It was common to pair the main striker and the player with the most assists of each team as a cringeworthy duo, calling them a married couple or a couple. Since he was frequently paired that way with Yeo-bin on the National Team and Reman at the Club, Je-rim replied dismissively.

“It’s nothing special. Before you came, Reman and I were paired as a duo…”

“By that logic, did you transfer from Reman to me?”

“…”

Aaron countered playfully, but everyone at the table fell silent. Je-rim, who had started the conversation without thinking, gasped. No one in the room was unaware that when Aaron arrived, Reman, who had originally been in the Starting Lineup, had been pushed to the bench.

The fact that the person who had pushed Reman out was the one mentioning words like ‘transferring’ made the atmosphere even colder. Je-rim shifted his eyes to discreetly check Reman’s expression. However, Reman was staring down at his glass, fiddling with it, making it hard to gauge his mood.

It was Edson who broke the atmosphere, which had frozen over more chillingly than a winter north wind. Being a guy full of energy who loved drinking and dancing, he probably hated that the rare drinking session was on the verge of falling apart. In place of the large speaker he usually carried, he played music loudly on his phone and began to chatter.

“More importantly, Aaron, weren’t you harassed during this A Match? There are a lot of Tavarona players in the Spanish National Team.”

Edson read out a headline from an article he had recently read. Tavarona FC Shedding Tears of Blood. The headline alone made it obvious what the content was, drawing snickers from around the table. When Edson tore a long strip of tissue and stuck it under his eyes to mimic crying, the snickers turned into boisterous laughter.

Je-rim also pretended to laugh loudly while stroking the back of Reman’s head. It was a gesture that mixed an apology for the tactless mention with encouragement not to be too discouraged. Only then did Reman slightly turn his chin to look at Je-rim.

Fortunately, there was no sign of anger in those blue eyes. Je-rim glanced at Aaron and made a ridiculous face, mimicking his obnoxious prattling. Only after seeing Reman burst into a laugh did he feel relieved and let go.

“I was harassed. I heard the word ‘traitor’ every now and then.”

Unaware that the captain and the youngest were cursing him right next to him, Aaron shook his head slightly, saying that the two weeks back in his home country had felt like sitting on a bed of nails.

Tavarona wasn’t a small-time club that would collapse just because Aaron was gone, but the recent atmosphere had indeed been poor. They needed to fill Aaron’s void, but since they had let him go without receiving a single penny in transfer fees, their finances seemed tight.

Strikers were already a rare commodity, and if one seemed usable, the price skyrocketed, making them hard to find. Even Reman, if he decided to go to another club, would be scouted by everyone; he had the skill to secure a spot in the Starting Lineup without issue. Sefton had become a blessed club, possessing two usable strikers after Aaron’s sudden transfer.

Furthermore, Tavarona wasn’t just looking for a moderately usable attacker. Honestly, finding a replacement who could perfectly fill the void of ‘the’ Aaron Reyes was harder than plucking a star from the sky. Although they had rushed to find a replacement just before the transfer window closed, they were failing to satisfy the tastes of the fans, whose standards had soared into the stratosphere after watching Aaron.

A guy who knew this perfectly well was shuddering without even thinking about the sin he had committed. Well, it was a sin from Tavarona’s perspective, but a windfall for Sefton. Thus, Je-rim couldn’t openly criticize him for being shameless and instead listened to the conversation while glaring.

“Whoa, ‘traitor’ is a bit strong. You heard that to your face and just let it slide? You?”

“When I told them it was pitiful that they were struggling because that traitor was gone, they shut up.”

“…Aren’t you the captain of the Spanish National Team?”

“So what. They joked, I joked. Give and take.”

What on earth was the Spanish National Team manager thinking when he gave the captaincy to a guy like that? Je-rim’s eyes narrowed further.

“Setting aside the teammates, even the fans are furious. Among the fans over there, Sefton is treated almost like a traitor for stealing you. I’m already scared of going to Tavarona for an away game in the Champions.”

“The fans there are already famous for being rough… If we really go there, a ton of trash is going to fly at us.”

“Is trash the problem? Aaron will be hearing curses for the full 90 minutes. I can already see them waving a wolf model with an X over its eyes.”

“Wow, imagine if we actually win there. Aaron, aren’t you scared?”

Realistic concerns followed. They were assigned to different groups for the group stage, but if Sefton advanced to the finals, they would inevitably meet at least once during the tournament—unless a Tavarona without Aaron failed so miserably that they couldn’t even make the finals.

Knowing well how rough Tavarona’s fans were, Je-rim joined the parade of worries from the other teammates. If this goes south, I might even get racially abused for the first time in a while. Even though he had grown accustomed to it because he heard it so often, racial abuse was something that felt unpleasant every single time.

Moreover, unlike England, where discrimination was subtly sarcastic, Spain tended to be quite primal in its criticism… During his youth days, he couldn’t adapt to those filthy insults and would often flare up in anger. This was one of the reasons he didn’t have much affection for La Liga. The Premier League was relatively strict about racism, but La Liga’s response was still mostly just turning a blind eye.

‘Still, this guy… he never once said those things to me.’

He glanced at the man he currently wished he could smack hard. Back then, Aaron had been even more agitated than Je-rim, who was the one being racially abused, flying into a rage. He had even been disciplined for openly attacking the opponent’s face and legs in front of the manager. This was even before they dated.

The feeling he had when he saw Aaron immediately rush in and try to stomp on the opponent’s ankle with his football boots right after making their nose bleed… it was a catharsis that felt like a decade-old blockage was suddenly cleared.

Why did such a commendable and cute guy become like this… What on earth happened over the last ten years for him to return with tattoos all over his body and a mouth like a sewer? While Je-rim lamented the fleeting years, Aaron shrugged off all the worries.

“I don’t care. It’s a club I’ve already left, right?”

“Still, it’s the team you’ve been with since youth. Don’t you miss it?”

“I guess I’m just built for England.”

This guy, who only transferred recently, is talking bullshit. Je-rim instinctively snapped.

“Those words come easily from the mouth of the captain of the Invincible Armada.”

“Here, you’re the captain, not me. Shouldn’t you be praising me instead? I’m showing perfect team spirit only two months after arriving.”

“Go ask the manager for praise. He’ll probably adore you. He might even give you a kiss.”

“Je-rim, do you want to pay five hundred pounds? If the two of us chip in, it’ll exactly cover today’s drinks.”

“…”

He had so many ways of threatening now. But it was a truly effective threat. As Je-rim clamped his mouth shut, exclamations erupted from all around, saying they never imagined the day would come when he would become so quiet and tame.

The place was crawling with opportunists. Instead of protecting their captain, they were taking the side of this season’s transfer. Shuddering with a sense of betrayal, Je-rim stubbornly ignored Aaron’s restraint and gulped down his beer.

The one who regretted doing so was Je-rim, who the next day discovered Aaron eating cereal in his house. And both of them were half-naked.

✲✲✲

“I’ll walk!”

“He’s starting again. Reman, do you want to give him a ride this time too?”

William, who quickly grabbed the neck of Je-rim as he turned around after waving brightly, pressed his hand to his forehead. Except for his flushed face, his speech wasn’t slurred and his eyes were clear, but the fact that he insisted on walking meant he was definitely drunk.

Setting aside the wonder of how he got drunk on just three beers, the priority was getting him home safely, so William asked Reman as he always did. This was because Reman, who lived close to Je-rim, always took him home in these situations. Fortunately, Reman nodded readily and pulled Je-rim toward the car the driver had brought.

“Yeah. Jerry, let’s get in the car.”

“No, I want to walk.”

“It’s raining and it’s late, so it’s dangerous… Don’t be like that, come with me, okay?”

William frowned as he watched Reman struggle with the captain, who stood firmly on the ground with both feet.

Why is he so soft specifically toward Jerry? That drunkard, you could just pick him up and throw him in the car. If they left it to Reman to persuade Je-rim, they’d still be standing in front of the pub when the sun came up. Since his own loving wife had come to pick him up, William had to wrap this situation up and get in the car. He took on a stern expression and grabbed Je-rim’s right arm.

“No need to listen to a drunk. Let’s just put him in. Reman, you grab the left arm. I’ll take the right.”

“Ah, I said no. I’m walking. And I’m not drunk!”

“A sober guy says he’ll walk home in the rain at this hour? Your house is an hour’s walk away, you idiot!”

“I’ve eaten, so it’ll be good exercise. Let go, unless you want your beard plucked out.”

“You cruel… are you really an enemy of my beard?”

Je-rim shook off the grasping hands with stubborn strength and narrowly missed William’s beard with a fierce swipe of his hand. Angered by the way he was acting out despite their concern, William let out a shout. Aaron, who had been quietly observing this farce, stepped forward and stopped William.

“Enough, stop it. He says he wants to walk. I’ll just walk with him.”

It was shocking that the guy who usually growled as if he’d eat Je-rim alive the moment they made eye contact was suddenly offering a favor. William asked back with wide eyes.

“…You? Why?”

“I didn’t bring my car either. Since I have to walk anyway, I don’t mind walking a bit more.”

“Where do you live? No, more importantly… are you going to dump Jerry in a trash heap or drop him in a ditch…?”

Even if he was a mean guy who constantly tried to pluck his beard, he was nonetheless the best friend and the captain of the team he belonged to, and a more reliable comrade than anyone when playing a match. No matter how disadvantaged the game, the moment Je-rim received the ball and scanned the pitch with his characteristic cold eyes, all the teammates knew it was the chance for a counterattack and began to run with all their might.

That was the status Je-rim held in the team. Beyond simply holding the title of captain, he was a sturdy pillar they could rely on in decisive situations, and an indomitable ace who always fulfilled the expectation that Je-rim would get something done.

Since he had to prevent that ace from being abandoned on a rainy night street, William showed extreme vigilance. Entrusting a drunk Je-rim to Aaron was like leaving fish… no, leaving a mouse to a cat. Especially since the teammates already called Aaron and Je-rim ‘Tom and Jerry.’

William looked straight into Aaron’s bright eyes and asked cautiously. Then, Aaron slumped his shoulders and muttered in a deflated voice.

“William, I have a rough idea of what you think of me. I made a big decision to transfer, only to be disliked by the captain and vice-captain; it’s quite sad.”

“Who said that! I don’t dislike you. It’s just that the relationship between you and Jerry is so…”

“You don’t actually think it’s that bad, do you?”

If asked if it was the truth, it was somewhat ambiguous. To anyone’s eyes, Aaron didn’t dislike Je-rim to that extent. Even if he only spoke meanly in front of Je-rim and seemed desperate to pick a fight.

‘But Jerry…’

William clearly remembered Je-rim when he first heard the news of Aaron’s transfer, looking as if the world had collapsed, muttering sentences like, ‘This makes no sense. Fucking God, why give me such a fucking trial… You never even answer my prayers.’ He also frequently let out Korean curses like ‘fucking bastard, son of a bitch,’ though it was unclear if they were directed at God or Aaron.

Looking at how they’ve been acting lately, they really do seem like a bickering high school couple, just as the others said. Regardless, even if Je-rim-ssi had let go of some of his ill will toward Aaron, it was clear that he still flared up whenever he was provoked.

“…To me, it looks like you’re just joking. But Jerry seems to genuinely hate you….”

“He probably hates me less than he hates your beard. It’s fine.”

At Aaron’s breezy assertion, William instinctively reached for his chin, where his beard had grown. He took meticulous care of it, applying oil and trimming it regularly; how could anyone hate it that much? The tremor in his voice betrayed the shock he had received.

“Jerry hates my beard that much?”

“Of course, I personally think it’s wonderful. In fact, I’d prefer it if you never shaved it for the rest of your life. Why not grow it out a bit more and try braiding it?”

“Do you think that would look cooler? It is a bit plain right now, isn’t it?”

Since Aaron was the only teammate who validated his beard, William sought his advice with quite a bit of desperation. Aaron responded seriously, suggesting that since he had a youthful face, growing a long beard would be a good way to overcome his complex. This aligned perfectly with the reason his wife had recommended growing a beard, which only increased his trust in Aaron’s words.

I should try varying the shape of my beard as he suggested. Harboring a resolution that would likely make a sober Je-rim faint in horror, William looked over toward Reman.

Reman seemed to still be trying to persuade Je-rim to go home with him. Even though it was unlikely to work on that stubborn ear. For the sake of the poor youngest member, William quickly shared the good news.

“Reman! Aaron says he’ll take Jerry home. You can head out right away today, too.”

“What? Why….”

Contrary to expectations, Reman didn’t seem particularly happy. Just as William was tilting his head at Reman’s trailing voice and bewildered expression, Aaron warmly patted Reman’s shoulder and chimed in.

“You should get home safely, too. You drank quite a bit, didn’t you? Don’t worry, I’ll make sure Je-rim gets home okay.”

“…Why don’t you just get in the car, Reyes? I’ll drop you off too.”

“No, I don’t really like being in a car right after drinking. It would be troublesome for both of us if I threw up in your car.”

He must have bad motion sickness like Jerry, William thought to himself.

Before they knew it, Aaron was standing by Je-rim, wrapping an arm around his waist as if supporting him. Since the gesture looked strangely familiar, William simply brushed it off, thinking, I guess they are close since they were youth teammates, even if they bicker. He felt relieved, figuring Aaron wouldn’t just abandon him on the way.

“Besides, I’m used to handling Je-rim’s drinking habits. So leave it to me.”

“Hey! Let go. I can walk!”

Aaron chuckled as he steadied the struggling Je-rim and bid them farewell.

“Well then, see you all.”

“Yeah, get home safe. Reman, let’s go.”

There was no reason to refuse someone offering to take over the burden of a nuisance drunk. William shook his hands clean and turned away.

✲✲✲

The night breeze in mid-September had a certain poignant quality to it, whether in Korea or England. Even when living in Tavarona, which boasted a warm climate year-round without ever dropping below freezing in winter, the scent of the wind would change subtly as soon as autumn arrived. It seemed the feeling autumn brought was similar in any country.

It was a bitter scent, as if one had entered a lush forest filled with the smell of fresh grass, yet mixed with a hint of smoke. To that, the scent of damp earth was added due to the weather, where short bursts of rain repeatedly fell and stopped. The characteristic scent of the autumn wind evoked reminiscence, but it didn’t feel bad; rather, it made one feel healthier just by breathing it in.

The temperature cooling his cheeks was also pleasantly refreshing. Feeling the misty rain soaking into his skin with his whole body, Je-rim was preoccupied with walking along the roadside where streetlamps were sparsely placed. He didn’t feel any fear from the hazy water mist, the eerie glow of the streetlamps spreading through it, or the deserted streets.

Though he wasn’t aware of it, it was partly because he was drunk, partly because Sefton was an affluent neighborhood with good security, and partly because he was born with a physique that didn’t make him feel intimidated in front of most people. Furthermore, he was currently benefiting greatly from the presence of the person walking beside him.

However, because he was so engrossed in walking and enjoying the wind, Je-rim realized a bit late that someone was staying by his side. Realizing further that the person was intentionally walking slowly to match his stride, Je-rim asked as if he had suddenly remembered.

“Why are you following me?”

“If I let a drunk walk home alone and he gets mugged, imagine the resentment I’d have to deal with.”

“I told you I’m not drunk. You bastards keep slandering me… Whoa!”

The moment he tried to finish his sentence, his steps tangled and he lurched violently. He hurriedly scanned the ground beneath him to regain his balance, but unfortunately, everywhere he could step was a mud puddle. He was prepared to accept that his shoes would get dirty the moment he stepped down, as it was better than falling.

“And you’re still saying you’re not drunk? Really?”

As his swaying shoulder was steadily supported, his body stood upright again. Startled by the unexpected turn of events, Je-rim let out a dazed groan, his gaze still fixed on the ground. He saw that Aaron had stepped into the mud instead.

“Damn it, I just slipped, just slipped. Oh, but your shoes….”

The white sneakers had been stained brown, turning into a sight that was hard to look at. Je-rim, who was usually very interested in collecting limited-edition sneakers, recognized that Aaron’s shoes were a rare, discontinued model and wore a blank expression.

Do I have those shoes too? But even if he gave them to me, the size… It’ll be hard to put a price on them to pay him back. Unable to think of the simplest compensation—cleaning them—and merely stammering, Je-rim felt Aaron give him a light push on the back.

“Forget it and just walk. I don’t know where your house is, so I can’t lead the way.”

“Where is your house?”

Upon hearing the address that followed, Je-rim stopped his steps again.

“That’s completely the opposite direction from my house.”

“Looking at the direction you were walking, it seems so.”

“I’m really not drunk, so you can leave now. Why would you bother taking home a guy you fight with every day?”

“How would you know if I’m ‘pretty’ or not.”

The quiet murmur from behind felt like a fingernail slowly scratching across sensitive, bare skin. It was so absurd that the night breeze, which had felt pleasant just a moment ago, made the fine hairs on his body stand on end. Je-rim fidgeted with his exposed nape, trying to drive away the unpleasantly lingering itch.

“Wow, that’s cringey. I’m actually getting goosebumps….”

“I said it to give you goosebumps.”

As soon as he heard the playful retort, the sticky itch clinging to his nape vanished. Je-rim walked on, trudging forward while looking only ahead.

“I’ve never seen a guy as eccentric as you in my life.”

“Same here.”

Then you shouldn’t have followed me. Anyone could see that the guy walking through a rainy night just to take that eccentric guy home was even weirder. However, as if predicting that Je-rim would snap back bluntly, Aaron spoke first.

“Anyway, the weather here is fucking awful. How did you adjust when you first moved leagues?”

“You used to say you were perfectly suited for England.”

“Except for the weather.”

“True, you did hate the rain.”

Like someone born and raised in a mild port city on the Mediterranean, Aaron loved sunny weather. To be precise, it would be more accurate to say he was accustomed to it.

Whenever it rained in Tavarona, Aaron would look up at the gray sky and grumble that football was out of the question for the day. Since football was all he did from the moment he woke up, Je-rim had always found it fascinating that he’d get restless over missing just one day.

Isn’t rain good? Once we’re back from school, we can just hole up in the dorm and roll around together all day. While he thought so naively back then, he never said it aloud because a discouraged Aaron was cute. The moment he said it, that cuteness would vanish, and Aaron would press close, asking questions like, ‘Together all day? What do you want to do?’

As soon as Je-rim let out that brief memory with a disinterested air, Aaron looked up at him as if he had seen a talking rat. Eventually, a response that sounded like a sigh came back.

“…You remember things like that. You really are eccentric.”

“Whatever. You remember that I passed out after one glass of Clara. I don’t have dementia, you know? Achoo!”

A sudden sneeze made his body shudder. It was weather a bit too harsh to be walking around in just a short-sleeved shirt, but the drunk Je-rim didn’t feel the cold, as if his body temperature were boiling. However, his body, which had cooled down after taking the wind and rain head-on, began to scream that it was cold.

Seeing this, Aaron took off the zip-up hoodie he was wearing and tossed it to him, scolding him.

“Why on earth do you insist on walking whenever you’re drunk? Especially in this weather. I really find you hard to understand….”

Why is this bastard being so sweet today? It reminds me of the old days…. His brain, already flushed from the alcohol, began to overload from excessive heat. Je-rim couldn’t continue the conversation and quietly put on the outerwear.

A strange state persisted—feeling oddly emotional, cold yet hot at the same time. Walking in that state, he eventually arrived in front of his house. In his heart, he wanted to walk more, but that would mean prolonging his company with Aaron and this strange state. For once, Je-rim’s homing instinct kicked in.

As they stopped in front of a mansion far too large for a single man, Aaron nodded toward the wall and asked.

“Is this it?”

Je-rim nodded and took off the outerwear to return it. Now, all he had to do was turn around and close the gate, but strangely, his feet wouldn’t move easily. It seemed to be a lingering sense of debt for being brought home.

“…Hey, don’t go yet. Stay a moment. I’ll lend you a car, so at least….”

“Je-rim, I was drinking with you until a moment ago.”

“Ah, right.”

“Forget it and just go inside. Get some good rest tomorrow.”

Watching Aaron turn away without hesitation, Je-rim bit his lip.

This isn’t right. No matter what, I can’t just let him go like this. Even if they were in a relationship where they were desperate to devour each other, it was unthinkable to let someone who had walked with him for an hour on a rainy night go so helplessly.

As a captain, as a colleague, and as a citizen of a country known for its etiquette, letting someone who had helped him go just like that was an atrocious act.

But what if that person happened to be an ex-boyfriend? Is it okay to let him into the house? Especially since I even got an erection seeing blood smeared on his lips….

As his deliberation continued, his bitten lip grew darker in color. By the time the color of his lips became similar to the blood that had smeared on Aaron’s, Je-rim shouted loudly. Aaron had already drifted far away.

“…Ugh. Hey, Aaron! Just stay the night.”

“…What?”

He could vaguely see Aaron turning his head back. Je-rim gestured for Aaron to come closer, and as he waited for him to return, he spoke.

“I said stay the night. If I just send a teammate home in this weather, I’m fucking disqualified as a human being….”

“…Are you serious? You’re letting me into your house?”

“It’s been ten years since we broke up, so what does it matter. Just so you don’t misunderstand, I’m really just telling you to sleep and go. You said your house is far, too.”

Human kindness, repayment, camaraderie, responsibility—things like that. There’s a saying about loving one’s peers and loving one’s country. Telling himself that he was simply following the norms that any human should observe, he flung the gate open. The familiar scenery of the garden welcomed the homeowner and the guest.

“Come in. The guest room happens to be empty.”

✲✲✲

“Ugh….”

A persistent vibration woke him from a deep sleep. Even though he tried to ignore it and keep sleeping, the noise, like the flapping of a wasp’s wings, kept ringing, and irritation surged.

After trying to block both ears by folding his pillow for a while, Je-rim finally succumbed to the vibration that stopped and started again and reached out. While fumbling for his phone by his bedside, a splitting headache struck, causing an involuntary groan.

Is it because I haven’t fully woken up? Ah, I drank yesterday. Then how did I get home? Did Reman bring me again? He thought of the youngest member, who always ended up taking care of him because of the ‘sin’ of living nearby, and felt unnecessarily sorry. Vowing to send a text once he cleared his head, Je-rim answered the phone.

“…Hello….”

His heavily slept-in voice cracked pathetically. The person on the other end of the line seemed quite surprised.

-Why does your voice sound like that? And why aren’t you answering your phone!

“Oh, Mother…. What brings you to call so early in the morning….”

-Morning? What are you talking about? It’s night in Korea. Isn’t it lunchtime in England too?

“Oh, right…. Wow, how many hours did I sleep?”

Squinting hard, Je-rim barely checked the time and bolted upright in surprise. Even on vacation, he rarely woke up after 9 AM, but it was currently nearing 1 PM. His biological rhythm was completely ruined just because he drank a bit last night. Je-rim kicked off the covers in annoyance and stood up.

Among the clothes scattered under the bed, he found some training pants, threw them on haphazardly, and entered the bathroom, where bright sunlight streamed through the open window. After putting the phone on speaker, his mother’s nagging continued while he brushed his teeth and shaved.

-You drank, didn’t you? I can’t with you. Living alone and just drinking around! You’re determined to become a lonely widower….

“How can I be a widower when I don’t even have a child….”

-Sigh! You never lose a single word, do you. Is your stomach okay? You said there’s a Korean restaurant nearby, right? Go eat some dried pollack soup. Don’t skip meals because of a sore stomach. Are you taking your red ginseng regularly?

“Yeees. Don’t worry. I’ve lived alone for several years; do you really think I can’t feed myself?”

The nearby Korean restaurant didn’t sell polarizing foods like dried pollack soup, and the red ginseng he had personally filmed an advertisement for was currently growing mold while eating dust in the kitchen cupboard, but he intentionally didn’t mention it. After wiping off the shaving foam and finishing his face wash with cold water, the headache subsided to some extent.

When Je-rim responded in a much clearer voice, his mother let out a long sigh as if a weight had been lifted.

-I suppose so, but…. When on earth are you planning to get married?

“Madam, this change of subject is too abrupt for me to adapt to. Is one lovely son not enough for you?”

-Don’t try to slide past this. Are you dating anyone these days? You used to have occasional scandals in the past, so why is it so quiet lately?

“You shouldn’t be curious about the love life of a son who’s almost thirty. Ah, why don’t you try dating, Madam? Should I introduce you to a handsome older man? My coach happens to be a divorcee.”

-Ban Je-rim!

At the shout that felt like it would burst his eardrums, Je-rim pulled the phone away from his ear. He strolled toward the kitchen, responding half-heartedly to his mother’s nagging.

-Has your popularity dropped? That shouldn’t be possible…. I gave all my children such handsome faces….

“That’s true. Among the three siblings, I especially take after you, Mother, so I had to be quite handsome. I’m always grateful for that.”

-If you’re grateful, why don’t you think about giving me a grandchild who looks exactly like you? Son.

“I got it, I got it.”

-Don’t just give me a half-hearted answer.

“How should I say it so it sounds sincere…. ‘I’m really getting married soon. And I want to have three children.’”

Coming down the stairs and turning the corner of the hallway, he murmured in a serious tone in Spanish, as if making a solemn oath. It was a type of joke the mother and son often played to get used to the language when they first moved to Spain. Jokes were in Spanish.

After his mother returned to Korea, it was a joke they didn’t need to play, but because she felt it would be a waste to forget a foreign language she had worked hard to learn, she often requested that he speak to her in Spanish. She also seemed to keep watching Spanish movies and dramas without subtitles. Thanks to this effort and these jokes continuing until now, his mother was still able to speak Spanish fluently.

-You just keep trying to tease your mother. Ah, by the way, are you still keeping that amulet I gave you….

It was just as his mother on the other end of the line let out a laugh, saying she couldn’t deal with him.

“…….”

“…….”

Je-rim froze upon discovering a figure sitting at the dining table. The man, who had taken milk from the refrigerator without asking the owner and was diligently pouring cereal, had an expression like a demon. It also looked like he was looking at a piece of trash.

What is this bastard grumpy about in broad daylight again…. No, more importantly. Je-rim raised a trembling index finger.

“You, why are you here…. And why are your clothes….”

The lower half of his body was hidden by the table, so it was impossible to tell what state he was in, but it was certain that his upper body was completely exposed. That is, unless his eyesight had gone along with the memories that had been scorched away as a side effect of drinking.

At the tone that treated him like a flasher who had trespassed into a home, Aaron snapped back, seemingly offended.

“You’re just as naked as I am.”

“Fuck, this is my house, you know? Oh, wait, is it not?”

“It is your house. Don’t tell me you blacked out after just three beers? Impressive.”

Je-rim immediately scratched his head vigorously, trying to recall the memories of last night.

Did I sleep with him? Did I finally mess up? Did I abandon the path of a civilized human being because I was drunk? And of all people, with an ex who had a history of cheating?

He wholeheartedly agreed with the saying that restarting a broken relationship was no different from picking up trash you’d already thrown away. That was why Je-rim had never once entertained the thought of reuniting with an ex, regardless of who they were.

Partly because he was dumped so often that he rarely had the chance, and even when the other person reached out again, Je-rim had firmly refused. It was obvious that the other person would eventually break up with him again for the exact same reason they did the first time.

Since dating already felt predictable the more he did it, he didn’t want to start over knowing exactly how it would end. It was the same logic as not wanting to rewatch a movie when you already knew the ending.

-What’s up? Is something wrong?

“Oh, no. I’ll call you back later.”

Nevertheless, if they had slept together… he’d have to tell him to act like it never happened. He shouldn’t be the first to bring up any nonsense about reuniting; instead, he’d say that since he was the captain and the other was a teammate, it would be too awkward if a one-night mistake ruined things. While devising an alternative that would make even trash weep, Je-rim hung up the phone.

As Je-rim pondered with a stiff face how to start the conversation, Aaron spoke up first. To be precise, it was sarcasm.

“Talking about family planning with a lover in broad daylight. I don’t know if I should say that’s just like you… But I didn’t know you were dating a Spaniard. …Who is it?”

The tone in which he asked if it was someone he knew was as menacing as a threat. His amber eyes, shining intensely as if he were about to devour someone, were the same. However, far from being intimidated, Je-rim rubbed his arms, which had broken out in goosebumps because it was so cringeworthy.

“Crazy, who’s a lover? It was my mother. Stop saying creepy things.”

“Your mother? That’s even weirder. Why are you talking about that with your parents in broad daylight?”

“It was a joke. And why the hell are you eating cereal in someone else’s house?”

He sure ate a lot. Je-rim clicked his tongue after lifting the cereal box to shake it and confirming the empty milk bottle.

“I couldn’t help it. I was hungry, but you wouldn’t wake up. And I was too scared to go up to the second floor to wake you because I thought you’d beat me to death.”

The menacing aura he had exuded moments ago suddenly softened, and he began to play the victim, claiming to be scared. Je-rim narrowed his eyes, baffled by how he had transformed from a fierce wolf into a timid puppy in an instant. Aaron replied as he snatched the cereal box back and poured the remaining few grains into his bowl.

“You told me the moment I set one foot in the second-floor bedroom, you’d cut my dick off.”

At those words, memories of yesterday began to return to Je-rim one by one. Aaron walking him home because he insisted on walking, Je-rim suggesting he stay over because it felt wrong to just let a guy like that go, and then threatening him once Aaron was inside the house for fear that he might get worked up over something trivial again.

Catching the expression on Je-rim’s face, which was now colored with guilt and regret, Aaron grinned.

“Looks like you’re starting to remember? Then I don’t need to explain why I’m in your house, right?”

“Mm.”

Je-rim dropped his chin at an ambiguous angle. For now, it was a relief that the feared ‘accident’ hadn’t happened…

He knew it was the timing to say thank you and sorry, but the words simply wouldn’t come out. If it had been William or Reman, he would have made a huge fuss, thanking them for their hard work, and made them some special Korean coffee, but why did it have to be Aaron?

…Well, whatever. He could at least make coffee for Aaron. Given that guy’s appetite, cereal wouldn’t be nearly enough, so he could grill a couple of chicken breasts for him too. The problem was that the simplest words wouldn’t come out. He tried to pry open his lips, which felt as if they were glued shut, but he only blinked his eyes and inadvertently let his gaze land on what was right in front of him.

Of all things, it happened to be Aaron’s chest. Realizing his mistake, Je-rim tried to look away quickly, but he had already seen everything he needed to see.

‘His physique is still incredible.’

While there are differences in innate build depending on race, how could that guy be born with a body so perfectly optimized for a football player, specifically for the striker position?

His frame was large, like an American football player’s, but there was absolutely no unnecessary fat, and muscle was attached only where needed and in the necessary amounts. Thanks to that, he maintained a perfect upper and lower body balance, and his strength in physical battles was one of Aaron’s greatest advantages.

The muscles in his forearms bulged and subsided repeatedly every time Aaron lifted his spoon. When he wore the black dress shirt of the Danbok, the muscles subtly revealed their shape, and the black tattoos added to the intimidation. Latin phrases, a statue of the Virgin Mary, a cathedral, waves and clouds, and even a great ship. Knowing his personality, he probably hadn’t engraved any meaningless patterns.

After observing up to that point, Je-rim realized that he was analyzing Aaron’s body quite rationally and that his lower half was perfectly fine.

Until now, he had been so afraid that something would happen if he saw the guy naked that he showered separately and changed clothes in a rush, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the wall like a punished child, but it turned out to be a useless worry. A glow appeared on Je-rim’s face. Seeing this, Aaron raised an eyebrow.

“Why are you staring at a person’s body so intently?”

“Ha, haha, ah… as expected, there’s no need to worry for nothing. Right, of course.”

He couldn’t believe how happy he was to realize that he only liked Aaron’s face and wasn’t a pervert who got excited by a naked body. Now, he no longer needed to endure until the end and enter the shower while facing malicious suspicions about whether his ‘part’ had been cut in half and shrunk. Humming a tune, Je-rim took out four packs of chicken breast, eggs, and oatmeal from the refrigerator.

However, the moment Aaron stood up to clear the finished cereal bowl, Je-rim spotted his lower body, which was clad only in underwear, and let out another scream.

“Why the fuck are your pants off?”

“I was serving the drunk captain yesterday, so my clothes and shoes got soaked. What do you want me to do?”

“Don’t put it like that. It sounds weird! Wait. I’ll give you my clothes.”

“They won’t fit.”

“Shut up. Then I’ll give you a bathrobe, so put it on.”

Since he already had a ridiculously large dick, the tight-fitting drawers revealed the outline perfectly. Je-rim put down the ingredients in his hand and rushed to the dressing room. He threw on a top that he grabbed on the way and searched the corner of a drawer until he found what he was looking for.

Since he wasn’t the type to wear a robe after showering, it was something he had received as a housewarming gift long ago and had never used. Throwing the robe, which smelled of musty dust, to Aaron, Je-rim cleared his throat.

“Here. And sor… .”

“Sor… ?”

“Sor… ha… I’m sorry… and thank you. For last night… .”

It was too important a thing to just let slide with the excuse that the words wouldn’t come out of his throat. He had been taught to always offer apologies and gratitude immediately, and since he had become heavily indebted to a guy he hated being indebted to, it was only right to be generous.

Now, a response that would probably grate on his nerves would come back. Still, he’d swallow his pride this time. Because he was the one in the wrong. Just as he braced himself.

“You’re welcome.”

Aaron replied with a plain, smiling face. He accepted the robe without any particular resistance and put it on quietly. At the unexpected reaction, Je-rim stared blankly at Aaron’s face before abruptly turning his back. Then, he slapped his ears, which felt inexplicably ticklish, and spoke.

“Give me your clothes. I’ll wash them. Grill the chicken breast while I’m doing the laundry.”

Since the clothes he wore yesterday must have been soaked too, he’d wash them together. He’d have to take Aaron’s shoes to the dry cleaner later as well. Calculating that it would take at least two hours to run the washer and dryer, he gestured toward the ingredients he had taken out. Just as he was about to leave, Aaron’s puzzled voice echoed from behind him.

“Are you eating four packs by yourself?”

“Two packs are for you. If you don’t want them, fine.”

“As you wish.”

The answer came across as somewhat cheerful. Not stopping there, he kindly asked, “Je-rim, you use pepper, right?” and Je-rim, swept along, replied, “Yeah. There’s basil powder in the cupboard, so you use that.” He felt something was strange, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was.

When he returned after putting the laundry in the washer, Aaron was skillfully grilling the meat. In another pan, a yellow omelet was cooking, releasing a savory aroma. He must have searched the refrigerator in the meantime, as withered onions, carrots, and paprika were finely chopped and mixed in. A transparent glass bowl held a salad made by dumping in all the remaining vegetables.

‘He’s fast. Is he some kind of house-husband spirit or what?’

Je-rim admired the half-naked, 6.4-foot Spanish house-husband spirit for a moment, then poured water into the oatmeal, added eggs, and boiled it thoroughly. Although it looked like food waste, there was nothing better for a hangover. When he scooped a ladle of the oatmeal egg porridge for Aaron, he finished the bowl without complaining.

A meal that would have ended with just oatmeal egg porridge and dry chicken breast if he were alone became quite luxurious thanks to Aaron. Since the taste wasn’t bad, Je-rim’s mood became quite generous; he personally made coffee for Aaron and then took out some red ginseng extract for the first time in a while. White dust had settled on the lid, but the expiration date hadn’t passed yet. Though it was cutting it close.

Since he thought of it, he might as well eat it. If his mother hadn’t urged him, he probably would have let it rot and thrown it away. When he brought it to the table and opened the lid, the guy who had been eating the oatmeal egg porridge quietly suddenly frowned and covered his nose.

“What is that? The moment you opened the lid, it smelled like something rotten… .”

“It’s not a rotten smell, it’s a healthy smell. Hey, you have a spoonful too. This stuff is expensive, you know?”

Je-rim, who took a bite first, wrinkled his nose at the bitterness filling his mouth and scooped a portion for Aaron with another spoon.

Aaron looked at the thick, reddish-brown contents suspiciously, but when Je-rim shook the spoon, saying his arm was about to fall off, he reluctantly opened his mouth. And as soon as he took it like a baby bird, he gagged.

“Blegh… .”

“Hey, swallow it.”

“What the hell is this taste? It tastes like a hundred-year-old piece of tree bark soaked in a spoonful of honey… it’s fucking awful… .”

“Things that are good for you are always bitter. I’ll give you a whole bottle as a gift, so take it with you.”

“Je-rim, are you planning to poison me by any chance?”

“Didn’t you just see me eating it right in front of you? You’re ignoring my kindness, you brat.”

He definitely wasn’t trying to get rid of a product near its expiration date. However, Aaron, seemingly unable to speak further, covered his mouth and stood up abruptly, heading for the bathroom. He seemed to be going to brush his teeth.

He really didn’t intend to screw him over this time… Je-rim scratched his head awkwardly and stood up to rinse his mouth as well.

After finishing their late first meal and brushing their teeth, the washing machine happened to finish. Je-rim put the clothes in the dryer and trudged out to the living room. While he was wondering how to kill time until they were dry, Aaron pulled out a PlayStation from under the TV. Judging by how natural he was at taking it out, it seemed he had looked at it while he was awake alone.

“You really think this is your house, don’t you?”

“We have nothing else to do anyway. Let’s play together.”

As he said, nothing was more suitable for killing time than gaming, so Je-rim took the controller while half-lying on the sofa. Since Je-rim’s legs took up more than half of the sofa, Aaron had no choice but to sit on the floor and lean his back against the bottom of the sofa.

Sitting in a position where the guest had become the host, the two turned on the football game famous for being released every year.

During the loading screen, graphics of Aaron, the cover model for this Season, and Je-rim, who served as the ambassador, flashed by in succession. Perhaps because the game came out last autumn, the Aaron on the cover was wearing the Tavarona uniform. However, since the squads were updated weekly, he was wearing the Sefton uniform in the game.

“Stop tackling me!”

Thirty minutes into the game, Je-rim burst out in anger. On the screen, Aaron, wearing Sefton’s white away uniform, was shown tackling and knocking down Je-rim’s character, who was wearing the dark navy home uniform that was almost black. This was already the fifth tackle.

As if taking revenge for being fed the red ginseng earlier, Aaron focused on tackling Je-rim throughout the game. He muttered as he passed the ball he had stolen to another character.

“It’s a feature implemented in the game, so why are you telling me not to use it? If you’re upset, you use it too.”

“Dammit, why aren’t there features like diving or hitting someone in the face with an elbow? This is annoying.”

“That’s a statement that truly shows you’ve thrown your professional ethics to the dogs.”

“I’m a football player, not a pro gamer. …Oh, wait.”

The phone, which had been left haphazardly within reach near the sofa, vibrated. Je-rim paused the game and answered the call.

“Reman, what’s up?”

-I was wondering if you got home okay yesterday. Are you alright?

“I got home fine. Thanks for worrying. More importantly, how about you? Didn’t you drink quite a bit too?”

-I’m… well…

Je-rim chuckled, sensing that the trailing end of the sentence implied he was fine.

“Well, you’re young and have a high tolerance. Ah, must be nice.”

It would be great if he had a body that could handle at least one bottle of soju like others. When he replied with a hint of regret, Reman answered in a strangely offended tone.

-What do you mean ‘young’? I’m only six years younger than Jerry.

“Did I not tell you? You’re the same age as my youngest brother. If that’s not young, then what… Ack!”

Je-rim, whose gaze remained fixed on the paused screen even while on the phone, suddenly let out a short scream. This was because Aaron had arbitrarily unpaused the game, tripped the ankle of the number 10 in the home uniform—namely, the Ban Je-rim character—sending him crashing down spectacularly, and then immediately scored a goal right in front of him.

The game ended the moment the character with Aaron’s appearance scored. A victory for Sefton in the away uniforms. Je-rim protested, kicking Aaron’s back.

“What the hell are you doing! Why did you suddenly knock over my character who was just standing there?”

“Who told you to talk on the phone while gaming? I won.”

“You cowardly bastard. Did you throw your professional ethics to the dogs?”

“I’m a football player, not a pro gamer either.”

“Fuck, turn off the Ceremony.”

With the still-fallen Ban Je-rim character as the background, Aaron’s character performed a Ceremony. Since the character, whose graphics were subtly inferior to the real thing, was lying on the ground in pain, he looked like a squashed steamed bun. Aaron repeatedly pressed the Ceremony button next to him.

It was the moment Je-rim reached out his arm to snatch the controller from Aaron. Reman, who had been momentarily forgotten due to the extreme shock, reminded him of his existence.

-Who are you with?

“Uh, Aaron.”

-…….

Je-rim, who had answered honestly in his distraction, gasped belatedly. He hurriedly scrambled to make excuses.

“I-I mean, he brought me home last night. It was too late to just let him go, so I let him stay over. It’s not anything weird like that… .”

-…But it’s past lunchtime and you’re still together?

“Ah, that’s, well, I woke up late and Aaron said he was hungry… .”

He could have just said cleanly that he let him stay and fed him out of his duty as captain. But because Je-rim felt guilty, his string of words grew endlessly. It was Aaron who cut them short.

“Reman, if you’re bored, you come over too. Wouldn’t it be better to come and see for yourself rather than just asking prying questions over the phone?”

Je-rim shuddered as he looked at Aaron’s current state. What gave this guy the confidence to invite another guest while wearing a thin bathrobe that barely covered his body, with nothing but underwear underneath? Je-rim’s kicking at Aaron’s back grew more intense.

“Stop talking nonsense and get out. Get lost.”

“If I go out dressed like this, I’ll be arrested immediately. Then Sefton will be caught up in a scandal, and I’ll be disciplined and unable to play in matches… .”

Arrest might be fine, but being banned from matches was not. Just as Je-rim was thinking he should wrap him in a blanket and kick him out, he froze at Aaron’s next action.

“Please show some mercy, Boss.”

Aaron, who had been sitting at his feet, leaned his upper body back and languidly rubbed his cheek against Je-rim’s thigh. Moreover, he called him ‘Boss’ obediently.

The corners of his eyes, looking up, narrowed into a sly smile that reminded one of a coquettish fox. At the same time, sunlight poured through the open window, and his thick eyelashes cast shadows like a canopy.

As Je-rim saw his own dazed face reflected in eyes that sparkled like jewels under the bright sunlight, he realized he was fucked.

He was hard. Beyond any doubt. And of all places, the area around his left thigh, where Aaron was rubbing his cheek, had become thick and prominent. Startled by the sudden volume, Aaron lifted his head slightly and stared at Je-rim’s thigh.

Having felt it with his cheek and now confirmed it with his own eyes, Aaron still seemed unable to believe it; he reached out and slowly traced the protruding area. Reacting to the tantalizing stimulation, Je-rim’s cock twitched violently, asserting its presence inside his loose pants.

“…….”

“…You’re healthy.”

Fuck…. Je-rim groaned, burying his face in one hand. He had become so blatantly erect that there was no way to deny it. He should have made some excuse, like saying it wasn’t because of him, but his mind had long since turned into a wasteland, as if hit by a bomb.

When no voice came through the phone, Reman cautiously called out to Je-rim.

-Jerry, Jerry? Are you okay? Did something happen…?

Reman’s voice, which had absolutely nothing to do with this shitty situation, pulled Je-rim’s wandering spirit back. First, let’s hang up. There was no reason to advertise his erection to Reman. Having identified the priority, Je-rim wiped his eyes with a troubled hand.

“…No. Aaron was just talking nonsense. Don’t worry about it and get some rest. See you tomorrow.”

“Bye, Reman. Have a great holiday.”

Following the greeting Aaron added, Je-rim abruptly hung up the phone. Even though he was intentionally blocking his own vision, he could feel the gaze staring at him so intently it almost stung.

He wished Aaron would just quietly get up and disappear, but a man that tactful and considerate probably wouldn’t bear the name Aaron Reyes. Hardening his resolve to handle this himself, he opened his mouth.

“…So, this is, I… I just woke up recently…. Ha, fuck….”

He couldn’t bring himself to say that not only had Aaron rubbed his cheek right next to his cock, but that Aaron’s face in the sunlight was so erotic that he couldn’t help but get hard. It was a desperate excuse. Even he knew how pathetic it sounded. Just as he was about to press harder against his eyes out of sheer embarrassment—

“You don’t have to make excuses. I understand.”

For once, his voice was serious. Slightly relieved by the thoughtful consolation, Je-rim slowly lowered the hand covering his eyes. With a grave expression, Aaron nodded and stroked Je-rim’s bulging thigh.

“Even though it’s been well over an hour since you woke up, and you were in the middle of a game when a teammate called, and you suddenly got hard while kicking me. I can fully understand.”

“…….”

“But let me ask one thing. Like when you said you wanted to hit me last time, since when did your taste lean that way…?”

“I didn’t!”

As someone with an extremely ordinary sexual preference, he couldn’t help but snap at being branded a pervert who gets excited by hitting people. He couldn’t deny that he had gotten hard in a very abnormal situation, but…

I’m an idiot for feeling relieved by this bastard’s words for even a second. Je-rim tried to push Aaron away and stand up. However, because of the hand that was massaging his painfully erect penis, pressing it firmly through the fabric, he couldn’t even move properly. As he twisted his body, exhaling hot breath, Aaron wrapped both arms around Je-rim’s waist, restraining him completely.

“Where are you going? It’ll be hard for you to move.”

“Let go. I’m going to go wash up.”

While pushing Aaron’s forehead away, Je-rim desperately aimed his gaze toward somewhere down the hallway. He phrased it as ‘washing up,’ but they both knew it actually meant ‘getting it down.’ At this point, trying to calm it down by singing the national anthem or thinking of something boring was impossible.

If Aaron hadn’t rubbed his cheek right where his cock was stored, it would have ended at the level of being semi-erect like last time. With visual and tactile stimulation hitting simultaneously, it was only natural for any healthy human to be aroused. Moreover, Je-rim hadn’t had sex in quite a while, making him even more sensitive to stimulation.

‘Should I… start seeing someone again?’

He didn’t want to go through the hassle of dating just for sex. On the other hand, the idea of a casual encounter solely for sex was even less appealing. Given his profession, which made it easy to play around, he could easily find a sex partner if he put his mind to it, but not doing so was a matter of values.

Sex. It was the thing football players, who couldn’t enjoy alcohol, drugs, food, or cigarettes for fear of adverse effects on their bodies, enjoyed most as a substitute. There was nothing better for burning off excess energy or calming the state of excitement that followed a match.

Je-rim didn’t hate sex itself. However, the shock he felt when he suddenly moved to Spain after growing up in Korea’s conservative culture until middle school was still vivid.

Free, free, and truly free…. Perhaps it was because it was a region with scorching sun every day, but the people were just as passionate. He had no room to talk since he had blossomed in love in a boys’ dormitory in the past, but it was true that he had been appalled by the free-spirited culture that was so different from Korea’s.

He suspected that the shock he felt back then was the reason he became particularly conservative about sex. Furthermore, having lived as a football player for over ten years, he had seen far more guys who were unfaithful than those loyal to their families or partners, which contributed to his aversion.

Anyway, believing that rolling around with someone he didn’t love just to satisfy sexual desire was no different from being an animal, he had only ever had sex with partners. The problem was that as he stopped dating, he naturally grew distant from sex as well.

To be precise, that was why his body now stood at attention at the slightest stimulation….

‘This is driving me crazy.’

Cursing under his breath, Je-rim pulled at Aaron’s hair. This guy’s face was the root of the problem to begin with. Besides, as if an erection were such a pleasant sight, he wouldn’t even let go of a man who said he was going to handle it himself. Je-rim raked his fingers through the thick hair like a claw, stirring it with resentment.

At that, Aaron released the arms wrapped around Je-rim’s waist and placed them over Je-rim’s hands. He covered each hand gripping his hair and tickled the backs of them.

As the strength left Je-rim’s hands at the fluttering sensation, Aaron, as if he had been waiting, grabbed his hand and pulled it down to his cheek, adjusting his posture. Sliding between Je-rim’s legs, he knelt on the floor and rubbed his face against Je-rim’s palm. Like a docile dog.

Startled by the sensation of smooth skin rubbing against his palm, Je-rim looked down between his legs. As their eyes met, the slender eyes holding jewels curved as if they had been waiting for him to look. Aaron lightly bit the inside of Je-rim’s wrist and curled one corner of his mouth into a smirk.

“Why bother? You have a loyal teammate right here. Use me.”

“Use you for… what…?”

Though he asked back pretending not to know, Je-rim’s face was already flushed hot. I mustn’t give in, I mustn’t give in. Danger signals rang incessantly in his head. But Aaron answered decisively, as if he wouldn’t even give him time to deliberate.

“I’m offering to personally serve the Captain.”

The moment the words ended, his pants and underwear were pulled down at once. The fully erect cock, losing the underwear that had been holding it in place, popped up with a thud and bobbed against Je-rim’s stomach. Just like his white skin, which made his flushing particularly obvious, his penis, which often turned red when aroused, already had a light pink glans that was slowly oozing clear cowper’s fluid.

“Hey! Ah, what are you…!”

Je-rim tried to pull his waist back and pull his pants up again, but unfortunately, he was no match in terms of strength. Moreover, with the sofa behind him and Aaron wedged between his legs in front, there was nowhere to run. Realizing his retreat was completely cut off, his heart began to pound as if it were about to break his ribs.

“It’s too late to be shy now, since we did it so often, right?”

“Ugh!”

Aaron stared intently at the urethral opening where clear droplets had formed and flicked the rim of the glans with his index finger. Je-rim’s waist shuddered, and the cowper’s fluid that had gathered slid down the shaft along the glistening glans. Aaron laughed aloud.

“Yeah, it’s still pretty.”

Crazy bastard. He knew he wasn’t sane to begin with, but… Looking down at his own genitals, Je-rim solidified that thought.

Objectively, his cock was straight in shape, but it was by no means a size that could be called ‘pretty.’ Even in a sitting position, it was expanding in volume to a height slightly past his navel and bobbing; for this to look pretty… it would be impossible unless one had a serious vision problem, then or now.

However, despite shuddering with disgust internally, the fully exposed cock only grew stiffer as it received Aaron’s gaze. Je-rim pushed Aaron’s face away haphazardly and gnawed on his lip.

“Aaron, hey, wait a second.”

He hadn’t crossed the line yet. Although he was hovering on the edge, undecided whether to cross it or not, there was still room to turn back. It was true that he was crazily turned on by looking at the guy’s face, but it was also true that he didn’t want to have sex with someone he had broken up with ages ago. He especially didn’t want a relationship like sex partners.

So he had to refuse flatly….

“Did it get a bit bigger? Well, it’s still pretty….”

Ignoring the pushing hands, the moment Aaron lowered his head and took the tip of the cock into his mouth, stars exploded before Je-rim’s eyes. As the soft lips tightly wrapped around the glans—the most sensitive part of the organ—and sucked and licked it, the urethral opening flared like a flared nostril.

After holding only the glans for a while and catching his breath, Aaron spat the cock out and licked the corner of his mouth. Seeing that the tip was slightly red, it seemed it hurt from the friction of the cock. Barely regaining his senses after the stimulation, Je-rim panted, seeing the glistening fluid smeared all over Aaron’s lips.

“Wait, I didn’t intend to do this with you… kh!”

“For someone who doesn’t intend to, isn’t your reaction a bit too intense?”

However, because Aaron gripped the base of the cock, the refusal he had managed to utter ended up as a moan. One that clearly indicated he was feeling it intensely.

Lowering his head again, Aaron held the bobbing cock firmly and spat. Transparent saliva poured generously over the swollen glans and the flickering urethral opening. Aaron didn’t stop there; he used his palm to spread his saliva evenly across the shaft and down to the base.

The cowper’s fluid that had already seeped out and the saliva mixed within Aaron’s palm, covering Je-rim’s cock with a squelching sound. Even though no gel had been applied, a squishing sound echoed every time the skin rubbed together.

At a pleasure incomparable to masturbating alone, Je-rim closed his eyes tightly and bit his lip. He felt that if he opened his mouth even a little, the panting breaths and moans would pour out. However, there was no hiding his calves, where muscles bulged with tension, or his toes pushing against the floor. Aaron, feeling the state of Je-rim’s lower body with his whole being, whispered.

“I don’t intend to go all the way either. I’ll just help you, so enjoy it. What’s the point of having a teammate if not for this?”

Even in the midst of it, the words saying he didn’t intend to go all the way pierced his ears. Je-rim opened his eyes slightly and looked down at Aaron, who was in a very obedient posture. Part of it was to verify the truth, but it was also because he remembered hearing similar words once.

Even when he visited Korea, he seduced me first and then backed off, saying it was a joke. Although the level of provocation this time was far beyond a joke, one could never be sure. He was such an unpredictable crazy bastard. If he was just doing this to tease him again….

“You like this kind of thing, don’t you, Boss?”

The suspicion that had been trailing along evaporated the moment Aaron opened his mouth in a circle and smiled with his eyes, pointing to the red interior of his mouth. Je-rim’s cock bobbed violently on its own within Aaron’s grip, increasing its volume even further.

< Continued in Volume 2 >