26 – Side story 7. Twilight

Gabriela, a Hollywood star and Aaron’s half-sister, had a personality that was very opposite to what Je-rim had heard from Aaron. From what he’d been told, he thought she was a typical Hollywood star—prickly, shy, haughty, and with a high ego….

“That human said I have a shy personality?”

When Gabriela slammed the table, the lemonade in the glass sloshed precariously as if it were about to overflow. Je-rim quickly lifted the glass and tattled on Aaron’s actions in detail.

Now, while Aaron had stepped away to make a phone call, was the perfect time. Aaron had arranged this meeting himself, saying he would introduce his family, yet he had been making things difficult by glaring whenever Je-rim and Gabriela had a slightly harmonious conversation.

“Yeah. He even said you didn’t really want to meet me….”

This was the reason why this meeting had only happened after several years of dating Aaron again. While Aaron had already finished greeting and receiving acceptance from the family of his lover living in far-off Korea, he had been particularly stingy about introducing his own family. Judging by Gabriela’s reaction, it seemed it had indeed been a lie.

Honestly, from the moment he first sat across from her, Je-rim knew immediately that the claim about her being shy was a complete lie. From the way she greeted him to the way she sat down, she was outspoken, which didn’t match her characteristic pure atmosphere. The lovely smile he had seen through the screen was also nowhere to be found.

When Je-rim showed a hint of inner surprise, Gabriela generously offered that if he wanted to see her artificially forced smile, she could smile like that for him right now. Je-rim, who had once considered her his ideal type, honestly asked to see that trademark smile once in person, and as a bonus, Aaron had thrown a fit.

Regardless, whether it was due to her original personality or because she had lived as an actress in America for a long time, Gabriela’s gestures and expressions were large with every word she spoke. Making his effort to hold the glass meaningless, she now rocked her chair back and forth and pushed the table with her feet. The way the corners of her mouth curled up crookedly suited a description of being mischievous rather than lovely.

“Give me a break. I asked him several times to introduce you since your youth!”

“You did? Why?”

“Because I was curious who had turned my double into the world’s biggest idiot.”

Her tone was teasing, but the term ‘my double’ was filled with affection for her brother. For Je-rim, it was a term so devoid of reality that it was almost wondrous. When he imagined calling his younger siblings ‘my double,’ he got goosebumps down to his toes. His siblings probably felt the same.

Toward Je-rim, whose expression had stiffened at the creepy imagination, Gabriela nodded her chin seriously.

“If you knew how much dating advice I gave him, you’d understand too.”

It seemed she interpreted his reaction as him being offended by her words. Since it was a minor misunderstanding that didn’t need correcting, Je-rim didn’t add anything more. Instead, he spoke while reflecting on the wonder once again.

“Do siblings usually give dating advice? You guys must really be close.”

Aaron had said she was the only one he considered ‘real’ family, and Je-rim had known they were very close since Aaron mentioned a dating rumor started while he was wiping away his sister’s tears, but this was beyond his imagination. At Je-rim’s question, Gabriela asked back as if that was the more surprising part.

“I heard you have a younger sibling around the same age. You don’t do that?”

“Neither of us, not even once.”

They had never even been curious about who the other was dating. To the point that even when he told Je-ah about his relationship with Aaron, she was surprised focusing on ‘Oppa is meeting a man?’, and before that, she had been indifferent, asking if she really needed to know the person her brother was meeting before the formal family meeting.

Je-rim also felt he wouldn’t be interested in his sibling’s love life unless Je-ah picked up some absolute piece of trash to date. She wasn’t someone with standards low enough to meet such a guy.

When Je-rim replied in horror, Gabriela’s eyes curved beautifully as if something was funny.

“Hmm…. But it’s true that our relationship is closer than other siblings.”

“I find even that amazing….”

“Why? Because we’re half-siblings?”

It was a topic he hadn’t dared to ask first, so he had kept his mouth shut, but Gabriela mentioned her relationship with Aaron nonchalantly. Then, she continued speaking while splitting a ripe, softened fig with a fork.

“Certainly, if we had met when we were older or weren’t around the same age, we wouldn’t be this close. I met a friend as family who I was bound to get close to because we met at the optimal time, our personalities matched, and we had many things in common.”

Having sliced the fig into bite-sized pieces, she put one piece in her own mouth and offered another to Je-rim with the fork, smiling meaningfully.

“Isn’t all of this eventually fate? In a way, you and Aaron are like that too….”

The tone and the content of her words—she really is his sibling. The fact that she likes figs, too. Je-rim, who let out a short laugh following Gabriela, glanced at the door leading inside the mansion and then took the fork. However, he didn’t put the offered fig in his mouth. It was partly because it was a fruit he didn’t particularly like, and partly a cautious move against his jealous lover.

If he were seen eating it readily, there was a high probability that some certain person would throw a fit, asking if he happily eats anything as long as his former ideal type gives it to him, even if it’s a fruit he dislikes. Je-rim joked while spinning the fork with the bright red flesh between his fingers.

“Fate? Is being good at saying cheesy things hereditary?”

At that, Gabriela laughed out loud in agreement.

“Yeah, it is hereditary. My biological father… Aaron’s dad, seduced several women with that.”

“Wow, that is a fact I really didn’t want to know.”

To Gabriela, who was making a chattering gesture with her hand in front of her mouth, Je-rim made an exaggerated face of disgust. Looking at Je-rim, Gabriela quietly rested her chin on her hand on the table.

“But there’s a decisive difference between my father and Aaron, right? For Aaron, there’s really only you.”

Well, that’s true.

That was the fact Je-rim knew best. Since he felt it every single day, it was impossible not to know. However, hearing it from Aaron’s family made him feel somewhat bashful, so he just kept spinning the fork.

As if determined to make Je-rim even more embarrassed, Gabriela dropped a shocking revelation.

“Do you know that even while you were broken up, he’d fall ill whenever a dating rumor about you popped up? I think he even missed a match once because of it.”

“…No. But I can see him doing that….”

Considering Aaron’s absurd history of jealousy, falling ill from jealousy was a very possible scenario. He was a guy who even got indigestion and had his stomach turn over when he encountered Ayla, whom he had broken up with two years prior….

Thinking of Gabriela, who must have watched her same-age half-brother’s antics from the side, Je-rim’s face flushed for no reason. Because of that, he subtly avoided her gaze, but Gabriela continued the topic without concern.

“About three years after the breakup? Around then, I thought Aaron had come to his senses, but strangely, he kept worrying about your dating rumors. I don’t know if he was torturing himself or what.”

Gabriela clicked her tongue. When she frowned like that, the shape of her eyes seemed a bit like Aaron’s. Of course, the innate atmosphere was so different that you could only feel it if you looked closely.

Je-rim studied the face of the actress he had once picked as his ideal type in detail, then dropped his head helplessly. He had to admit that his standards of beauty had now truly shifted on a cataclysmic level. He haltingly defended the lover who had remodeled his tastes into the complete opposite.

“…Well, that side of him is cute. Being very jealous, and persistent in strange ways….”

“…Right. I’m glad you seem just as insane as my brother.”

Gabriela shook her head and chuckled as if she were appalled. Je-rim had nothing to refute, so he was just smiling brazenly according to his personality. Aaron, who had come around the garden instead of passing through the door to the mansion, stood behind Je-rim and suddenly placed a hand on his shoulder, creating a chilling atmosphere.

“…What’s so funny?”

“Ah, shit, you scared me!”

Not only was his shoulder suddenly grabbed, but a low voice with an inherently sticky quality clung to his ear without warning, triggering a sharp reaction. As Je-rim startled and spun around, Aaron tightened his grip on his shoulder.

“You two exchanged a few words while I wasn’t looking.”

“Do you actually count every single sentence when you talk to people?”

“Yes, I do. Tell me quickly.”

“Stop being cute and just sit down.”

The response He’s starting his bullshit again the moment he’s back rose to the back of his throat, but he barely managed to hold it in. Je-rim grabbed Aaron’s wrist to pull him down into the seat beside him, then popped a piece of the fig Gabriela had given him earlier into that nagging mouth. Even though the fork was shoved in abruptly, Aaron looked cute as he accepted and chewed the fruit without complaint.

While watching the face enjoying the food, Je-rim’s upper body unconsciously turned fully toward Aaron. With his back to Gabriela, Je-rim used his fingertips to wipe away the pulp and juice clinging to the corners of Aaron’s mouth and swallowed it, asking,

“Who were you on the phone with for so long?”

“Coach Louis. Then some of my National Team teammates joined in, whining about how it feels empty without me… Ah, Daniel Carrasco wasn’t there. Don’t worry. It seems he doesn’t miss me much.”

Since this was the first A Match season since Aaron retired from the National Team, it seemed natural that they would call him out of longing. Je-rim could relate, as he had spent yesterday soothing Hubaes who had called him for similar reasons.

Anyway, was that guy Daniel still afraid of Aaron? Then again, there was no reason to miss a captain who had teased him by calling him by his full name right up until retirement. Je-rim shrugged at the name he hadn’t heard in a while.

“Who said anything? And seriously, stop calling people by their full names. It’s pitiful.”

“How can I? You’re the one who ordered it.”

“I never gave such an order.”

He had told him not to use nicknames, but he had absolutely never told him not to use names. A sense of unfairness clung to the fingertips that gently traced the fox-like slant of Aaron’s eyes, moving up from the corners of his mouth and cheeks.

As the corners of his eyes were pressed, Aaron obediently closed his eyes and rubbed his cheek against Je-rim’s palm. It was then that Gabriela suddenly stood up, asserting her presence.

“…I can’t watch this. I’m leaving!”

Only then did Je-rim remember that this gathering was originally intended for him to be introduced to Aaron’s family, and he tried to calm her down.

“Gabi, don’t be like that. Stay and have dinner with us.”

The name Gabriela was too long for a Korean to pronounce easily. Since she was Aaron’s family, it was appropriate to use a nickname. However, the person who responded to that title was, unexpectedly, Aaron.

“…Nickname?”

“What now?”

“You call Gabriela Delgado by her full name, too.”

“Sigh…”

No sooner had he sighed at his lover’s grumbling than Gabriela stormed out of the room. A curse— “You cockroaches!”—could be heard from the direction she disappeared. Je-rim tilted his chin toward the voice of her disgust.

“She left because of you.”

“Why? Are you sad that she left before you could see the smile of your former ideal type, who looks as pretty as an angel?”

“Angel, my ass. Are you still bothered by something I said nearly 20 years ago?”

“It was exactly 18 years ago. It was September, just like now.”

“I’m starting to get a bit sick of your memory…”

“Sick of me?”

“Why are you twisting it in such an absurd direction again?”

Even though he knew perfectly well that couldn’t be true. Well, he was probably doing this because he wanted to hear the denial out loud. Since it wasn’t a difficult task, Je-rim spoke readily.

“If I were going to get sick of you, I would have done it a long time ago.”

Upon receiving the desired answer along with a kiss, Aaron’s expression softened. Je-rim caught Aaron’s chin to stop him from immediately trying to swallow his tongue and gave him a light flick on the forehead.

“But you lied a lot. Your sister wasn’t shy at all.”

“Did I?”

The eyes of the man playing perfectly innocent curved slyly. It seemed that as he got older, his jealousy, aegyo, and slyness only increased. Je-rim gently tickled under Aaron’s chin and brought up the remaining question.

“Why did you insist on not showing me Gabriela for so long? Frankly, if you had just introduced her as your sister back in the youth days, those misunderstandings between us wouldn’t have happened.”

At the question tinged with regret, Aaron hesitated before answering.

“Back then… I was worried.”

“What?”

“I was worried that if I introduced Gabi, you’d fall for her instead of me, so I hid her. You said she was the prettiest girl you’d ever seen in your life.”

He had suspected it, but was jealousy the cause even back then? What on earth should he do with this unchanging bastard? As Je-rim glared at him with a throbbing headache, Aaron curled his large frame into Je-rim’s embrace.

“When you picked her as your ideal type, I decided I would absolutely never introduce her to you for the rest of my life.”

Despite everything, thinking about how a fifteen-year-old Aaron must have been anxious enough to harbor such a resolution alone felt fresh and cute. Je-rim blamed his own hopeless head and wrapped his arms around Aaron’s back.

“How did a guy like that end up arranging a meeting like this?”

“I felt like I couldn’t put it off any longer.”

The man, who had been fussing against his neck and behind his ear with lips stained with fig juice, suddenly lifted his head and grinned. Then, before Je-rim could ask what he meant, he pulled away.

“Then I’ll go drop Gabi off.”

“Is she really leaving without dinner?”

“She probably has a schedule this evening. That’s the reason she came to Spain in the first place.”

“Ah, if that’s the case… I should say goodbye too.”

Citing proper etiquette, Je-rim stood up as well. Aaron, holding onto Je-rim with a look of dissatisfaction, laid out his demands.

“Just say goodbye. Don’t smile, don’t use nicknames, just say goodbye. Don’t forget that before she’s your former ideal type, she’s your partner’s family.”

“Why don’t you just tie me to the bed so I can’t meet anyone but you?”

“…That was the plot of my first wet dream, how did you know?”

I didn’t, you crazy bastard. Je-rim shuddered and pushed Aaron away.

“Get lost. You’re a completely dangerous guy. Don’t come near me for the rest of the day.”

“It was just a dream!”

His excuse—that he had such a dream because he was annoyed that Je-rim didn’t give him attention while being friendly with other guys—sounded incredibly desperate. Je-rim felt he knew exactly when “that time” was, which made him walk even faster.

It wasn’t because he felt uncomfortable, of course, but out of an intention to tease. Back then, the first friend he had made after coming to Spain had suddenly started avoiding him, and Je-rim had been inwardly bothered by it.

He had even lost a bit of sleep until he decided to ask why he was being avoided. That was the first and last time in Je-rim’s life that he had felt anxious because someone seemed to be distancing themselves from him. Therefore, it was fair to call this a slightly delayed revenge.

The two of them bickered, chasing each other all the way to the front gate, until they finally got scolded by Gabriela.

✲✲✲

After seeing Aaron and Gabriela off, Je-rim sat alone in the garden, watching the sky as the sun set.

The high autumn sky boasted a golden sunset, as if representing the characteristics of the season. From Aaron’s estate, located on high ground, the blue sea sparkled with shimmering ripples, vividly reflecting the colors of the sunset.

It was a twilight that looked like a painting. However, the emotion that sprouted while watching that beautiful scenery was not a pleasant one.

‘How long has it been since I’ve rested like this in autumn?’

Starting with this simple thought, twilight gradually descended upon Je-rim’s heart as well. Until a moment ago, it had been noisy thanks to Aaron and Gabriela, leaving no room for such thoughts, but once he was alone, his chest felt particularly restless.

For a football player, September is normally an incredibly busy month. There are always A Matches, the Champions League group stages begin, and league matches are played alongside various cup competition qualifiers.

However, since Je-rim and Aaron had retired from the National Team after the World Cup last June, they would no longer lead lives as busy as before. Of course, since they were still active at Sefton, they would become busy again once the A Match period passed, but there wasn’t much of that left.

‘I wonder what I’ll do for a living after I retire.’

He wasn’t worrying about his livelihood, of course. It was a more fundamental concern.

Having lived nearly half his life as a professional athlete under the global spotlight, even this current leisure felt incredibly awkward to Je-rim. Taking a vacation during the time he should be the busiest, coming to Tavarona with Aaron to rest…

Thinking that one day this idle daily life would naturally continue indefinitely left a void in a corner of his heart. It seemed to be more so because he had never rested with a peaceful mind since he was young.

Je-rim leaned back as far as possible against the chair and looked up at the sky, which waved in various colors, dyed by the twilight.

‘And this guy once said he’d retire before thirty.’

Thirty, my foot. He hadn’t even retired from his club yet, but he felt restless and his mind was cluttered. However, since this was an emotion he had to handle and get used to on his own, he had no intention of showing it in front of Aaron. Especially since Aaron was in the same position.

The guy said in words that he was glad they wouldn’t have to be apart even during the A Match season now, but he wondered. Could he really be unfazed after retiring from the National Team he had played for since his teens? If Aaron knew he was feeling troubled, he would try to cheer him up in some way, and Je-rim didn’t want to burden him with that.

While he stared blankly at the sky, the dim light completely vanished and darkness settled in. The color of the sea, which had shone as if embracing the sun, had long since turned deep blue. Not long after, Aaron returned, ending the uncharacteristic time of contemplation.

However, even after eating a delicious dinner, even after working out in the trainer’s room equipped in the mansion, and even after taking a refreshing bath and lying in bed, the restless feeling would not fade.

‘I shouldn’t have fallen into such strange sentiments…’

Quickly shedding unnecessary emotions and thoughts was his specialty, but it seemed that even that wasn’t easy when passing through a major turning point in life. Though that was only natural. Je-rim tossed and turned for a long time in Aaron’s arms with his eyes closed. Then, he opened them at a call from beside his head.

“…Je-rim, is something wrong?”

It was Aaron. At that, Je-rim turned his gaze and body away from the ceiling toward Aaron. The moonlight seeping through the window dimly illuminated Aaron’s face.

“Are you awake? Ah, was I tossing and turning too much? Sorry.”

“No, I wasn’t sleeping.”

Saying so in a low, calm voice, Aaron turned on the lamp on the nightstand. Soon, a soft orange light illuminated the surroundings.

Shadows fell on the hollows of Aaron’s features—between his eyebrows and eyes, and the gap between the inner corners of his eyes and the bridge of his nose. The man with the shaded face reached out affectionately and patted Je-rim’s head.

“What’s wrong? Is the bed uncomfortable?”

If he said it was uncomfortable, Aaron looked ready to buy a new mattress immediately. It was understandable that he would be worried when his lover, who usually fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow unless they were having sex, suddenly couldn’t sleep. Also, because he was inherently sensitive to any change in his partner.

Je-rim chose his words for a moment, then buried his face in Aaron’s chest to prevent him from running out to find a furniture store open in the middle of the night.

“…Just, listening to your heartbeat is keeping me awake.”

At that childish remark, the heart that had been beating at a normal pace began to race. How could this part of him never change?

No, when they were young, his heart would beat like a pilot facing a plane crash just at the touch of a hand, but it wasn’t quite that extreme now. If it had continued like that, he would have spent too much energy pumping his heart and probably wouldn’t have lived his full life.

As he placed his palm gently on the thumping chest, he first felt the skin, smooth as marble. Applying a bit more pressure, thick muscles wrapped under his hand. It wasn’t a feeling that collapsed upon touch, but a firm sensation with a moderate amount of resistance.

Je-rim’s hand passed over the broad chest and headed toward the groove that clearly crossed the center. That area was just hard, so it didn’t provide a particularly inspiring sensation, but perhaps because he had rubbed his cock there several times, the lewd memories and pleasure naturally revived just by touching it.

“Mm…”

He hadn’t really felt like doing it today. Letting out an ambiguous moan, Je-rim crawled under the covers. And as he carefully pulled down Aaron’s waistband, the other hurriedly lifted the blanket.

“What…”

“What do you mean ‘what’? Why are you half-hard?”

From the front to the thighs, the fabric of the drawers bulged cylindrically, and the glans was peeking out from the edge of the underwear. Seeing him already erect before he had even touched him, Je-rim laughed softly.

If they had just gone to sleep without doing it today, this guy would have been the one tossing and turning all night. As he gripped the shaft through the underwear—which was a miracle it hadn’t ripped—Aaron let out a groan.

“Hng… You should see how erotic you look with your eyes closed.”

“I don’t know. I probably wouldn’t notice even if I saw.”

What inspiration would there be in looking at my own face? Je-rim replied half-heartedly and pulled down the underwear that was stiflingly constricting the angry cock. Then, the trapped cock sprang up and slapped Je-rim’s cheek, which was pressed against Aaron’s groin. It actually hurt quite a bit.

“Ah, this feels strangely annoying.”

“Please understand. It’s because it feels too good.”

Aaron whispered in an excited tone, stroking the cheek his cock had slapped. As if reflecting the owner’s anticipation, the organ trembled on its own and increased in size.

Je-rim looked at the thin veins and thick tendons starting to bulge on the surface of the shaft, then kissed the tip of the glans. Every time he pressed his lips against the rounded flesh, making intentionally embarrassing sounds, a clear fluid seeped out from the small opening. As he gently rubbed the urethral opening and the surrounding area with his lips, he could feel the movement of the hole flickering beneath his lips.

Unconsciously sweeping his lips with his tongue, a fishy taste gradually dominated Je-rim’s mouth. Je-rim swallowed hard to erase the fishy taste, then gripped the base of the cock and licked in a straight line down to the lower part of the shaft. At that, the scrotum tightened. As he took both sides of the scrotum into his mouth and sucked them as if rolling candy, the thin skin became wet with saliva and glistened.

“Kgh…!”

As he gently peeled the skin of the scrotum away from his lips with his tongue and lightly pressed the plump surface with his front teeth, a suppressed moan poured out. While holding one side of the scrotum in his mouth, Je-rim stroked the twitching shaft a few times with his hand. That alone made the fully erect cock, its body ripened to a dark red, throb grotesquely, urging Je-rim on.

But watching that sight, far from feeling burdened, Je-rim found himself anxious, his Adam’s apple bobbing. Because they had had sex so often, this size and thickness at maximum erection were more familiar to Je-rim. Fellatio was no longer uncomfortable. It was too late to be shy around Aaron’s cock after having sucked and licked it so many times.

Taking a deep breath, Je-rim opened his mouth and slowly swallowed from the glans. His tongue, playing inside his mouth, quickly wrapped around the glans and focused on licking the urethral opening that was blinking open. As he used the tip of his tongue to tickle the fluttering hole, the cock he was holding trembled violently and leaked transparent fluid as if a dam had burst.

His tongue became coated and glistening with cowper’s fluid, and a fishy taste, incomparable to before, hit him sharply, but Je-rim didn’t mind and lowered his head further. Just as he was about to swallow the entire shaft faster, startled by the sensation of the bumpy veins brushing against his lips—

“Ugh, haa… Je-rim, come up. Don’t just suck it alone…”

Because Aaron suddenly reached down and grabbed his cheek, Je-rim nodded while the shaft was about halfway in his mouth.

“Mm-hmm…”

Then, the cock, which filled his mouth to an overwhelming degree, tapped the roof of his mouth, causing a sound that was somewhere between an answer and a moan to leak out. Since the entrance to his throat was blocked, his pronunciation was naturally mangled.

Even though he had only taken it halfway, the cock was so long and large that it took time to spit it out. Even so, as he finally managed to let it go, a mysterious fluid from the center of the glans formed a thin thread connecting to his lips, as if it didn’t want to leave the cozy interior of his mouth. However, the thin thread was immediately snapped.

“Ah, seriously!”

“I’m in a hurry too.”

It was because Aaron, unable to endure even that brief moment, grabbed Je-rim’s waist and flipped his body on top of him. Suddenly pushed by the force, Je-rim’s center of gravity shifted forward, and his face was buried deep into the cock he had been sucking until a moment ago, causing him to vent his annoyance. However, from the mouth that had opened to curse, a sound entirely different from the original purpose flowed out.

“Hng, kgh, ngh…!”

Without warning, Aaron buried his face into Je-rim’s buttocks, which had been positioned to face him. The underwear he had been wearing had been pulled down at some point and was now dangling near his knees.

As if taking revenge for the torment of his own urethra, Aaron gathered the tip of his tongue into a sharp point and relentlessly split Je-rim’s hole. He gripped and spread the buttocks wide, thrusting deep into the narrow gap that revealed itself, while pressing the perimeter of the hole with his soft lips. He pulled the cheeks apart so forcefully that white flesh squeezed out between Aaron’s fingers.

The hole, which had initially opened slightly as if wary, began to flutter as the tension gradually eased. Seeming pleased by this, Aaron buried his nose deeper into the crease of Je-rim’s buttocks and sucked the hole greedily.

“Ah, hng…!”

For a while, Je-rim remained collapsed on top of Aaron’s body, trembling with his buttocks thrust high. His thighs, braced against the mattress, also spasmed finely, causing him to stagger several times. In response, Aaron slid his hands in front of Je-rim’s legs to firmly support his thighs and pulled his buttocks even closer to his face.

Je-rim was practically sitting atop Aaron’s face. Aaron’s heavy breaths and hot air blatantly tickled the hole, the perineum, and the gluteal cleft. The hot breath reached all the way to the scrotum connected to the perineum, leaving him taut with tension. Unable to bear it, Je-rim twisted his body, causing the hole to twitch and tighten, drawing the tongue even deeper inside.

“Haa… it’s, it’s ticklish… Ah! Aaron! Kh, hauh!”

He truly didn’t want to sit on his lover’s face, but his waist went limp of its own accord, and his strength continued to drain. In an attempt to hold on, he put strength into his legs and shifted his body, but this caused his waist to bob up and down, making it look as though he were begging for more sucking. Aaron faithfully granted that request.

He meticulously touched every fold surrounding the entrance of the hole and flattened his tongue to lick deeply from the perineum to the hole and up to the cleft. When the hole gaped open, intoxicated by extreme pleasure, Aaron pursed his lips roundly to take the entire opening in his mouth and suck it loudly. Then, the moment the hole contracted, he forced his tongue inside to coat the inner flesh with saliva.

“Kh! Hng, hng-ut, ng! Ah!”

For a time, Je-rim lost his reason and basked in the pleasure, pressing his bottom tightly against Aaron’s lower face. Then, seeing the cock—which had been left glistening with saliva from earlier—swaying before his eyes, he took it in his mouth.

Trying to swallow the massive glans while panting from having his bottom sucked was an ordeal in itself. However, he couldn’t possibly ignore his lover’s painfully erect cock, so he steeled himself.

He spat on the head of the cock to make it slippery and then slowly lowered his head. Once he barely managed to swallow the part that bulged like a mushroom cap, saliva streamed from his mouth, which was now plugged without a single gap. In that state, he wrapped his tongue around the shaft and drew the cock further into his mouth.

Soon, the glans pushed right up against his throat, pulsing and stimulating his uvula. Barely enduring the surge of nausea and gagging, Je-rim took a calm, deep breath. His bottom was still being thoroughly licked clean by Aaron.

“Je-rim, kh, it’s ticklish….”

Perhaps the breath coming from the throat was hitting the glans directly, as Aaron momentarily withdrew his tongue from the hole and murmured with difficulty. Je-rim, appalled by the whining, nibbled at the middle of the shaft with his front teeth. A long, deep-voiced moan flowed from behind his buttocks.

He didn’t even pretend to listen when I was moaning that it was ticklish, and he just kept me sitting on his face. Serves you right, you bastard. Thinking this, Je-rim pushed the cock slightly further into his throat to suck the remaining half of the shaft as much as possible.

“Haa…. Hu, don’t try to swallow it all. You’ll get hurt.”

Judging by the way he gently stroked Je-rim’s waist to dissuade him, Aaron seemed to feel the passage narrowing sharply. Je-rim gave a rough nod and stopped at a reasonable depth. Je-rim knew well that he could never swallow the whole thing, even if he died and came back to life. It was only thanks to his hard work that he could now suck this monstrously sized cock—which felt as long as, or perhaps slightly longer than, a human face—to this extent.

Only after confirming that Je-rim had stopped within a safe range did Aaron return to sucking the hole. This time, he didn’t stop there; he licked the perineum like a dog and even gently brushed the hole with the tip of his nose. He slid his nose down along the plump, white skin, eventually burying the bridge of his nose at the boundary where the scrotum began.

Je-rim’s cock, which had begun to stir when he saw Aaron’s genitals half-erect, was now standing stiff and shaking, driven by the tongue moving wetly below. Aaron swallowed the deep pink glans without hesitation and filled the now-empty hole with his fingers.

“Khp…! Keu-heuk, kh….”

“Huu….”

The two moved their heads diligently while holding each other’s cocks in their mouths. Aaron was busy thrusting his wrist upward with his arms covered in tattoos. For a while, the room was filled with muffled moans caused by the cocks blocking their throats, the sound of focused sucking, and the sticky sounds of fingers probing the drenched hole.

“Keok, heuk, hng!”

Je-rim was the first to ejaculate. With both his hole and genitals being tormented simultaneously, he had no way to hold out. The moment Aaron, who had pushed his index, middle, and ring fingers all the way into the hole, thrust his wrist upward powerfully while swallowing Je-rim’s cock deep into his throat, semen surged out.

Aaron’s Adam’s apple bobbed until Je-rim had spent all his seed. Every time the shaft spitting out the semen twitched violently, Aaron stirred the hole holding his three fingers in sync.

Then, like water bursting through a blocked hose, the semen leaked lavishly down Aaron’s throat. As the ejaculation wound down, Je-rim slowly turned his head; the cock, which seemed to be sliding out quietly, trembled and sprayed the last of the seed against his lips.

Je-rim couldn’t spit out or suck Aaron’s cock until the ejaculation had completely finished; he simply trembled until the spasms stopped, and only then did he resume moving. Shedding physiological tears, he rubbed Aaron’s glans against the tender mucosa of his inner cheek. As he slowly drew the cock back into his throat and pursed his lips, Aaron hurriedly pulled Je-rim back.

“Keu-uk…!”

But the semen had already splattered messily across Je-rim’s mouth, lips, and face. Pulling away so abruptly had actually backfired.

“Cough! Ha, why did you do that? Just leave it.”

Je-rim raised an eyebrow in dissatisfaction and coughed repeatedly. The fishy-smelling semen flowed down from his forehead, past his eyes, and over his cheeks. He had already swallowed what went down his throat and licked up what remained in his mouth along with his saliva.

Remaining in the position where he was mounted on Aaron’s firm stomach, he simply turned his body toward Aaron and wiped the semen splashed on his face with his fingers. He considered rubbing it off on the sheets, but thinking that would make the bed too dirty, he simply stuck out his tongue and licked it. He felt that since he had already drunk half of it anyway, it didn’t matter.

The cloudy, whitish fluid pooled on his fingers and palms disappeared completely along his red tongue. After licking his lips, which still tasted fishy, he frowned and smiled. Je-rim pushed the semen clinging to Aaron’s lips into Aaron’s mouth and asked,

“It tastes bad. What do you even find tasty about this every time?”

“Ask your belly. Ask it what it tastes like.”

Aaron also gave a languid smile with his eyes and gently stroked Je-rim’s abdominal muscles. Je-rim covered the back of Aaron’s hand and pressed down on his own stomach.

“You can’t taste it from below.”

Well, as Aaron said, he did prefer doing it without condoms. …Since there were no other plans, there was no particular need to use one today either. As Je-rim fell into a moment of contemplation, Aaron reached out.

“Je-rim, this too.”

He meticulously gathered the semen Je-rim hadn’t managed to wipe off his face and held it up to his own mouth. Seeing that Aaron was clearly expecting something, Je-rim abandoned his previous thought and debated whether to shake off Aaron’s hand or hurl an insult. However, remembering his lover who always swallowed his semen without complaint, he had no choice but to grasp Aaron’s wrist.

After putting the fingers wrapped in white semen into his mouth and sucking them clean, then licking the palm deeply, Aaron’s cock—which had quickly risen again—tapped against Je-rim’s lower back. This was also a clear sign of urging. Just like its owner, the cock had no conscience.

Holding the bobbing shaft steady, Je-rim took gel from the nightstand drawer and scattered it. Then, he lowered his waist onto the gel-covered glans and spread some on the entrance of his hole. Once the entrance was sufficiently wet, he inserted a couple of fingers and probed himself. Thanks to Aaron’s hard work in loosening him up earlier, it wasn’t particularly difficult or uncomfortable.

Watching this scene, Aaron naturally had an explosive reaction.

“Ut…. Je-rim, Bunny… please… let me put it in.”

The arms of the man gripping Je-rim’s waist were tense, as if he wanted to pull Je-rim down onto his cock right now and ram him into a mess. His prominent Adam’s apple moved up and down repeatedly as he swallowed hard in desperation, and the jaw beneath his ears tightened from his clenched teeth, causing veins to pop at his temples.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Je-rim had sex just to see this face and reaction from Aaron. Finding his lover, who perfectly satisfied his desires today as well, adorable, he didn’t waste any more time and lifted his waist. Then, the upper part of the cock that hadn’t been gripped yet rubbed its head against the hole, desperate to be let inside.

“Your cock is getting hit in several places today. Your cheeks, your waist, and your hole are all getting hit.”

“Nng, I’m sorry. So please, haa… I want to put it in. I feel like my cock is going to explode.”

“You only act cute when you’re in a hurry, Darling.”

With a small reproach, Je-rim aligned his hole over Aaron’s erect cock and slowly sat down. The inner walls, which had been softened and loosened by Aaron’s sucking and probing, recognized the familiar cock trying to carve its way in and welcomed it gladly.

As the plump girth met the glans, a sticky friction sound—tsueuk—leaked out. Applying more pressure, he carefully lowered his body. Aaron’s cock, erect to its limit, rubbed against the inner flesh and burrowed endlessly inside.

The head of the glans scraped along the sensitive muscle gaps, and the veins clinging to the shaft pulsed against the inner walls. Whenever Je-rim rotated his waist incorrectly, the large, round glans gouged the inside as if it were about to pierce through his abdominal skin. After enduring his collapsing body with nothing but the strength in his legs, Je-rim succeeded in sitting completely atop Aaron’s lap.

“Haa…. Fuck, I feel like my stomach is going to burst….”

Despite being the one who had insisted on swallowing it all the way, a curse escaped him when he saw the long, prominent outline against his abdominal muscles. It felt even more uncomfortable because he could clearly see with his own eyes how deep Aaron’s cock had penetrated. However, alongside the bloating sensation, a pleasure stemming from the satisfaction of being deeply connected to Aaron began to bloom.

Watching Je-rim touch his lower belly, which housed the cock, with a cute frown, Aaron also reached his limit. He eventually thrust his hips upward, lifting and lowering Je-rim’s waist. At that moment, Je-rim opened his mouth wide and panted, placing both hands on Aaron’s chest.

It wasn’t as if they had only been doing this for a day or two; by now he should have been used to it, yet Je-rim’s inner walls always squeezed the cock. This happened even though a path had clearly been worn in the shape of his cock.

While nibbling the head of the cock as if it were delicious, the inner flesh clung stubbornly to the shaft as if telling him not to go any deeper. When Aaron forced his way through and poked around the tender mucosa, Je-rim’s cock bobbed in sync with the tightening of the inner walls. A cock that was beautiful, large, straight, and of a delicious-looking color swayed in the air, naturally drawing the eye.

Removing one hand from Je-rim’s waist, Aaron touched the plump, ripe glans and slowly moved his fingers. After gently patting the inner thigh flesh that was trembling piteously, he stroked the muscles of the outer thigh, which had stiffened as if cramping. He didn’t stop moving his waist to probe the hole. Je-rim, mounted on Aaron, was bobbing his buttocks in time with the upward thrusts of Aaron’s waist.

“Nng, heuk, hauh-ut! Ah, hng-ut!”

“Je-rim, your thighs are, huu, trembling so much. Your inner walls and your cock too.”

“Because you’re, ut, thrusting like that… ah-ut!”

Aaron felt a bit wronged since he wasn’t the only one thrusting, but he wisely kept quiet. If he pointed out the fact that Je-rim was also anxiously shaking his waist and nibbling on his cock, he didn’t know what kind of temper his foul-mouthed lover would throw. Of course, he was most adorable when he was temperamental, but there was no need to provoke him during sex.

Instead, he pushed away the blanket that was getting in the way at Je-rim’s feet to make it easier for him to move and grabbed his waist again. Pulling him tight to bury the cock even deeper, a bulge rose on the upper left diagonal of Je-rim’s navel.

“You like it here, right?”

“Yes, ut, I do, I like it… slow, hik!”

As Aaron pointed to the revealed outline with his chin and poked it finely, Je-rim once again gathered his hands on Aaron’s chest and caught his breath like a leaping rabbit. His handsome face was distorted in a mess, flushed red, and his calm eyes were moist, drenched in pleasure. His intelligently shining pupils were unfocused, staring blankly into the void.

His broad, firm shoulders were drenched in sweat and twitching, and his chest, where light pink nipples rose cutely, heaved up and down as he gasped for air. His vein-streaked neck pulsed endlessly along with the Adam’s apple in the center. The moment a drop of sweat from Je-rim’s forehead flowed down his neck and shoulder and brushed against a small nipple, Aaron couldn’t hold back and drove Je-rim hard.

The cock gouged Je-rim’s belly at will, crushing the inner flesh. Moans leaked uncontrollably from Je-rim’s mouth. Even then, feeling disappointed that he wasn’t hitting the peak Aaron had probed earlier, he wiggled his buttocks and shook his waist.

Moving only his upper body while keeping his knees on the mattress only resulted in shallow swallows of the cock, which wasn’t satisfying. Je-rim, bracing himself on two feet with his thighs raised, sat straight down onto Aaron’s cock. Then, with both hands on Aaron’s chest, he rode him fervently enough to make a slapping sound.

His calves, firm and long from running, repeatedly expanded and contracted their muscles in time with his movements. Aaron’s abdominal muscles, already sharply defined, were so tense that deep shadows fell between them.

Then, when Aaron pulled Je-rim down and rammed into him, or when Je-rim took Aaron’s cock all the way in and rotated his waist slowly while tightening his stomach, the muscles would twitch on their own.

Since both were pushing each other to the limit without any restraint, there was no way the bed could hold up. Eventually, an ominous creak echoed from somewhere in the frame. But neither cared, moving instead like stallions in heat.

Je-rim was driven crazy by the entire inner wall, including the prostate, being rubbed by Aaron’s cock, and Aaron was driven crazy by the inner walls, made slippery by melted gel, trying to suck his cock in endlessly. Thanks to the small bumps on the inner walls, it felt as if suction cups were clinging to the cock, but when he forced the inner flesh to twist, the melted gel dripped like saliva, wrapping the entire organ in a sticky grip that made his vision dizzy.

Je-rim was similarly struggling to maintain his dizzying consciousness while being fucked. He didn’t even think to touch his own cock, which was painfully erect and tapping against his abdomen. He simply wanted to be poked deeper and more roughly.

Following his instincts, he bounced his waist like a pestle, embracing Aaron’s cock. Occasionally, to observe Aaron’s reaction, he tightened his abdominal muscles and felt the cock spasming inside his belly. As Je-rim intended, Aaron showed an unrestrained reaction, completely undone by pleasure. This only excited Je-rim more, causing him to sit down even more violently.

During this, Je-rim’s foot slipped on the sheet. Ending up sitting abruptly on top of Aaron, Je-rim’s back stiffened for a moment, and he trembled violently, letting out a strange sound. It was because the fist-sized head of the cock had finally pushed through and entered the sigmoid colon.

“Aa, hik! Hng-uuu…!”

There must have been a reason why it was curved and the passage narrowed. For example, to act as a boundary line saying, “No matter what you put in, don’t push it this far.” If that were the reason, indeed, no part of the body was designed without meaning.

It was only a slight, shallow gouging of the point where it began to curve, but suddenly sparks flew in the air. As he reflexively closed his eyes, halos of light shimmered even behind his dark eyelids. He felt a surge of heat in his head, and tears flowed down his cheeks involuntarily, while saliva leaked from his stupidly parted lips.

An instinctive sense of crisis washed over Je-rim, telling him that no matter how good it felt, he shouldn’t take any more. However, before he knew it, his limp body was sprawled across Aaron’s chest. He knew that if he stayed like this, the cock piercing him would shamelessly thrust inside him again, yet he found himself unable to move. Every time Aaron drove himself this deep, Je-rim would think to himself that he really had to be more careful next time, but today he had been reckless again, and this was the result.

And just as Je-rim suspected, Aaron gathered him in his arms and began to slowly slide his cock back in.

“Je-rim, ngh, Je-rim… I love you. Just a little more…”

“Wait, wait… kh! Ah, no, not anymore, ah-eung, ha-euuk!”

The glans forced its way open, widening a passage that felt so tight it would have been a struggle for even a single finger to enter, as the cock threaded through and stretched the winding inner walls. Consequently, Je-rim’s spine naturally stiffened and straightened. Whether he had the strength to move his body or not was a separate issue.

As Je-rim’s back arched, the muscles across his entire body stood out, veins popped, and the extremities of his hands and feet convulsed. The situation inside his belly was no different. As if the inner walls believed the only way to deal with the intruder pushing deep inside and pulsing its head was to squeeze it out, they tightened tightly around the cock.

“Hah… ugh, k-khhh!”

Eventually, Aaron let out a low groan as he shot his seed deep beyond the sigmoid colon. The moment Je-rim felt the thick liquid splashing inside his belly, his own cock shook violently. The only difference between the two of them, now panting like beasts, was that what erupted from the tip of Je-rim’s member was not a cloudy, viscous fluid, but clear, transparent water.

“……!”

Je-rim couldn’t even let out a moan. He simply arched his upper body back, moving his hips as if thrusting into the air. He could only watch as the clear water, erupting powerfully from his bright red, throbbing cock, flew in an arc and showered the headboard, the sheets, the mattress, and Aaron’s face and chest.

The light beige wooden headboard darkened as it soaked up the water, revealing its distinct grain. The white sheets were drenched, forming grey puddles, and water pooled and rippled in the hollow of Aaron’s chest and collarbones. Aaron even quietly licked the water that had splashed onto his face.

Normally, Je-rim would have stopped him, asking what kind of crazy thing he was doing, but unfortunately, with his colon still pierced, rational judgment was impossible.

“Je-rim… are you okay? Relax and lean on me.”

Aaron held the member that was still trickling water even after the climax and coaxed him in a soft tone. Immediately after, one of the bed frame’s legs snapped with a loud crack, and the bed tilted diagonally. Je-rim had neither the spirit to resist Aaron’s words nor the rationality to be flustered by the broken bed.

Je-rim obediently left himself in Aaron’s care, letting him squeeze out every last drop.

✲✲✲

The two had no choice but to move to the guest room. Not only was the bed broken, but the mattress was so soaked that it was impossible to sleep there.

Deciding to clean up the mess tomorrow, they took quick showers and lay down on a fresh, fluffy bed. Aaron seemed to fall asleep quickly, as the sound of his pleasant, steady breathing soon filled the room. Listening to that breath and trying to force himself to sleep, Je-rim eventually quietly sat up.

Perhaps it was because Aaron had come so deep. Even after cleaning himself up in the shower, semen continued to leak out from inside his belly. That was unpleasant, but perhaps it was because he had already been in a complicated mood and the sex had been so dirty… his nerves were hyper-stimulated, and he simply couldn’t sleep.

Je-rim carefully detached Aaron’s arm, which was wrapped around his waist like a vine, and stepped out onto the terrace.

“Hmm…”

As he leaned his arms on the railing and closed his eyes, the chilly autumn dawn breeze blew in, carrying a bitter scent of smoke. In the distant city, orange lights were still twinkling at this hour. However, the surroundings were deathly silent.

He knew in his head that staying like this would only lead to useless thoughts and that it would be more beneficial to sleep than to wallow in self-pity, but he couldn’t bring himself to move. As he stood alone admiring the silent dawn landscape, he heard the sound of a door opening and closing behind him.

Since there was only one person who would follow him to the terrace at this hour, Je-rim muttered without looking back.

“Why aren’t you sleeping? Why did you follow me?”

Immediately, a warm body heat and a heavy weight wrapped around Je-rim’s entire back.

“…I woke up and was surprised you weren’t there.”

He had only been gone for about ten minutes. Unable to bear even that short absence, Aaron had followed him and now held him in a poignant embrace. Je-rim patted the forearm firmly locked around his shoulder and let out a sigh.

“Good grief, where would I even run off to?”

“Your mood has been… Je-rim, tell me what’s wrong.”

As expected. This sensitive lover seemed to have noticed everything. Faced with a question that, as always, dove straight into the heart of the matter, Je-rim felt he could no longer hold back. Since Aaron was asking this insistently, delaying it under the guise of not wanting to burden him would only end up adding a different kind of burden.

“…It’s nothing. Just, if I’m this bored just from retiring from the national team, I started wondering what I’ll do with my life after I retire from the Club too.”

A somewhat pouting voice drifted into his ear.

“What do you mean ‘what will you do’? You’ll just keep living like this with me.”

“Not that kind of thing, you idiot.”

“There are so many things I want to do with you after I retire. So you don’t even have to worry. I’ll always be by your side, so why worry about being bored?”

Honestly, he couldn’t tell if this was meant to be comforting or complaining. Je-rim burst into an involuntary laugh and finally turned around to look at Aaron.

“What do you want to do?”

“First, we’ll buy a house each in Madrid, London, and Seoul under our joint names.”

“Those are all expensive places. Are you speculating? But it’s not like we’re having kids, so is there really a need to accumulate more wealth…”

“…It’s not that. Je-rim, please, just shut up and listen this time. Don’t open your mouth.”

Aaron grabbed both of Je-rim’s cheeks with one hand. Then, shaking Je-rim’s head slightly as if he were absurd, he continued.

“Isn’t the basis of a married couple the acquisition of joint assets? That’s why I’m saying let’s buy houses first.”

Even at a time like this, he naturally mixed in a proposal that wasn’t quite a proposal, as if it were as natural as breathing. Je-rim brushed away Aaron’s hand from his face, stepped back toward the railing, and crossed his arms. A mischievous smile played on his lips.

“Are we becoming a married couple? That’s strange. I still haven’t heard you say you’ll do it in Korean.”

Aaron took another step toward Je-rim and pressed his body against him again. Interlocking his fingers with Je-rim’s left hand, he raised an eyebrow slightly as if troubled.

“Wait a little longer for that. And let’s go to Africa for the honeymoon.”

“Seychelles?”

“That’s good too, but let’s go to Tanzania. I heard there’s a nice safari lodge at the Ngorongoro Crater. I want to go.”

A safari… He had never been to one, had never been curious about it, and had never even watched a common animal documentary, but hearing Aaron say he wanted to go suddenly made Je-rim curious as well. He nodded and squeezed Aaron’s hand.

“Now that you mention it, I want to go to a safari too. Fine. What else?”

“In winter… let’s go to Finland during the Christmas season. We can see the Aurora. Since she’s my biological mother, I can introduce you to her as well.”

Come to think of it, he had mentioned it was a maternal relative. Je-rim also wanted to see the face of the biological mother who had given birth to Aaron at least once, so he readily agreed.

“The Aurora sounds great. But I’m more in the mood for a sauna.”

“We can do that as soon as we go to my villa.”

“You have a villa in Finland?”

“Yeah, a log cabin. All Finnish people have one.”

“You’re not Finnish. You live like strangers with your biological mother, so when did you even build something like that?”

“Don’t nitpick everything.”

The man who silenced him by kissing his lips beamed from right in front of him.

The moment he met those eyes sparkling with anticipation, Je-rim suddenly remembered why he had liked Aaron as a child, and why he still liked him now without ever getting tired of him.

A boy who spoke of dream-like things with a face that looked as if he were dreaming. A mischievous smile. Eyes that were always directed toward the future. That characteristic sparkling energy possessed by those who chase dreams. And the confidence stemming from the fact that he possessed the ability to proudly realize those dreams.

Because of those unchanging aspects, it was impossible not to like him. Instead of being discouraged by the not-so-distant future where he would stop being a football player, Aaron drew Je-rim in while painting a dream of another form.

“After playing around hard for a year or two like that, I’ll have to move once I start the coaching course, right? Because I’m going to join Coach Louis’s staff. You have to help me study to get my coaching license, Je-rim.”

At times like this, Je-rim was helplessly drawn in by Aaron. When they promised to kiss while lifting the Big Ear together, when they actually realized that promise, and even now.

“I get cramps when I sit at a desk… I’ll try.”

Promising his maximum cooperation, Je-rim answered with a kiss. He added the guess that the reason he had called Coach Louis during the day was likely to discuss joining the staff.

Coach Garcia, who could be called Aaron’s mentor, had retired long ago, and Coach Verdi was also expected to retire soon after his long tenure at Sefton. So, he must have asked Coach Louis.

It was a reasonable decision, but as someone who loved Sefton, it was a bit disappointing. If he had joined Coach Verdi’s staff, who had led Sefton through an immortal golden age for a long time, Aaron would have benefited from that halo, increasing the probability of him taking over as Sefton’s manager in the future. Then it would truly be the completion of an eternal legend.

However, it wasn’t as if he were the one taking the coaching course, and he couldn’t interfere with his lover’s decision. Above all, Coach Verdi’s will to retire was firm.

Sefton would likely undergo a cataclysmic level of change within the next few years. With the team’s pillars, Je-rim and Aaron, retiring, and Coach Verdi stepping down for a new manager, the team would inevitably go through a rebuilding process.

Still, he wasn’t particularly worried. Reman, a strong candidate for this year’s Ballon d’Or, had mentioned plans to return to Sefton, and veterans like William would remain with the team a bit longer. They’d probably keep doing well.

‘…Thinking about it this way makes it simple.’

There was no need to worry about the team’s future in the first place, and worrying about what to do after retirement was all a waste of time. As Aaron said, what was there to worry about when he was there? When he had a lover who always pulled him toward the future.

The troubled atmosphere surrounding Je-rim melted away. Aaron, noticing this keenly, slightly loosened his grip on Je-rim and asked.

“What about you? Isn’t there anything, even something small, that you want to do? Something that comes to mind right now.”

“Hmm… Ah, should we raise a dog? A sturdy one, like a black dog.”

Since Aaron’s mansion in Tavarona had a large yard, and it might get lonely if it were just the two of them forever, he thought raising a dog wouldn’t be bad. But Aaron rejected it with surprising decisiveness.

“No.”

“Why? You like animals.”

“I don’t want to because I think you’ll find it cuter than I do.”

“Is he actually crazy…”

“Are the chicks not enough?”

“Wow…”

He had praised him for being as cute as a chick so much that this bastard actually thought he had become a chick. Was he insane? While he felt that way, seeing that handsome face pressed close while talking crazy things so slyly made his lower half tighten again. Even after being thrust into so deep and having all sorts of fluids drained…

Je-rim tried to positively rationalize his excessive libido, thinking that he wouldn’t have to worry about his stamina for a while. Then, keeping his back straight, he pulled his lower body back, tightened the hem of his shower gown, and cleared his throat.

“Fine, the chicks are enough… Ah, gain some weight after you retire.”

“Why?”

What do you mean why? The reason was obvious. While he had his own shower gown tightly closed, Je-rim, who had Aaron’s gown open, slapped his exposed lower chest.

“I want you to be a bit softer.”

He was great now, but if a bit of fat filled in between the muscles, the volume would increase and the feel would be softer. Moreover, both he and Aaron were currently maintaining a body fat percentage of no more than 10%, and maintaining that after stopping exercise would not only be difficult but also bad for their health.

It was a request born out of worry. Though it sounded like it was full of dirty desire… Aaron, who usually found the hidden meaning in his lover’s not-so-great way of speaking, seemed to read only the desire this time, as he let out a deliberate sigh.

“Haa… How much weight do you want me to gain?”

“About 5kg? Ah, but then would sex be too hard for me?”

Even now, when Aaron lost his mind and pinned him down to thrust away, the most Je-rim could do was squirm underneath him. Just as Je-rim frowned, worrying that he might actually be crushed if Aaron’s weight increased…

“I’ll gain it first, and if it’s too hard for you, I’ll lose it again.”

In most cases, Aaron tended to be the one getting scolded by Je-rim for having unrealistic delusions due to his absurd jealousy, but at times like this, he provided a simple and clear answer.

Je-rim wrapped his arms around Aaron’s neck, pulled him in, and leaned his back against the railing. Doing this, the dawn breeze that had felt chilly was warmed just right by Aaron’s body heat. The scent of smoke mixed in the wind also blended with Aaron’s scent, becoming strangely sweet. The bittersweet fragrance suited Aaron well, and Je-rim murmured, rubbing his nose against Aaron’s chin.

“What will I do while you’re taking the coaching course? It’s not like I’m going to be a supportive housewife…”

Staying cooped up at home waiting for Aaron to return from work didn’t suit his temperament. But he had no intention of taking the coaching course with Aaron either.

He had come to enjoy football thanks to Aaron… but having football as a profession ended here. He had decided. Now he wanted to try new things. There were too many things he hadn’t enjoyed because he had spent his whole life as a player.

‘Ah.’

Come to think of it, that was true. There were still many things he hadn’t enjoyed.

There were many extreme sports he couldn’t try for fear of injury, and countless foods he couldn’t eat to his heart’s content because he had to worry about nutrients. It wouldn’t be good for his health, but he wanted to try smoking a cigarette or a cigar at least once. To be precise, he wanted to see Aaron smoking.

It would suit him. With his hair swept back completely, wearing a three-piece suit and a coat, with a cigarette or cigar in his mouth… it would be killer. But he was worried about the negative impact on health, and above all, Aaron’s goal was to be a manager, so he’d be satisfied if Aaron just pretended to smoke once.

Besides that, there were many things he wanted to do. Playing games all night without caring about sleep. Sprawling out on the sofa and falling asleep with Aaron’s thigh as a pillow right after dinner. He wanted to play drinking games without worrying about getting drunk, and he wanted to go outside in the dead of night without covering his face, chatting and laughing while feeling the quiet wind.

Just like now, as much as possible, together with Aaron.

Due to the nature of being an athlete, the time for retirement had come a bit sooner than for others, but since he was still young, the things he could do and the days that would unfold were endless.

If he had known it would be like this, he should have shared his worries with Aaron sooner. Just by having a mundane conversation and locking eyes, his worries vanished and anticipation for the future welled up.

Especially with a lover by his side who could say such things so effortlessly.

“Whatever you want to do. Even if you retire, there will be plenty of people calling you and places seeking you. You’ll be happy for the rest of your life, my heaven. So don’t worry.”

Aaron was skilled at expressing love with words, but Je-rim was not. Instead, he was confident in expressing it with his body. Fortunately, both Aaron and he were the type to love the act of sharing love physically.

Je-rim lightly bit Aaron’s lower lip and inserted his tongue to taste the inside of his mouth briefly. A refreshing mint scent lingered pleasantly at the tips of their tongues. Then, with their lips barely touching, he whispered.

“…Aaron, since we’re already awake, shall we do it one more time?”

“I absolutely will not decline.”

Je-rim burst into laughter at the hurried response. Aaron, with Je-rim clinging to his waist, returned to the bed with hurried steps and fumbled around the nightstand. Then, realizing this was the guest room, he looked dismayed.

“Wait a second. The gel…”

“You don’t have to bring it.”

Je-rim held onto Aaron, who was trying to get up, and stripped off his underwear with one hand. As he did, the semen that had been slowly leaking from deep within his belly pooled snugly at the entrance of his hole. In truth, while they were talking on the terrace earlier, he had been dying of discomfort because of this.

Leaning halfway against the headboard with his legs spread, he pressed down on his stomach, and the semen gathered between his buttocks slid down the crease of his backside. His hole parted slightly, the inner flesh smeared with white semen twitching. The faintly visible natural redness was slick and wet, fueled by the repeated insertions from earlier and the anticipation of the insertions to come.

Unable to watch any longer, Aaron grabbed Je-rim’s legs, spread them wide, and slowly thrust his cock into the hole that had been made a mess by his own semen. As the tip of the glans forced open the swollen circumference, the semen pooled at the entrance burst out.

He didn’t stop there; he went deeper, burying the massive glans entirely within the narrow walls, and then shoved in the shaft as if it still weren’t enough. The deeper the insertion went, the more the semen inside was pushed out, making the sheets a mess once again.

Je-rim gripped the sheets and arched his neck back. No matter how much his hole was a place where Aaron’s cock came and went as if it were its own home, it was still overwhelming to endure the moment something the size of a forearm dug inside him.

“Haaah, ugh…!”

As if to calm him, Aaron paused his hips for a moment, softly licking Je-rim’s Adam’s apple and the surrounding area. Only after Je-rim panted and hugged him back did Aaron push his cock in to the hilt and catch his breath. Je-rim’s inside had always provided an ecstatic sensation, but it was exceptionally so when it was filled with such slick semen.

“Haa… it feels great. Je-rim…”

“Nng, hng, me too… Aaron, ah!”

Fortunately, the second round of sex wasn’t repeated many times. There was a silent pressure not to break the bed in the guest room, and because they had been so intense earlier—to the point where Je-rim had realized the peak of pleasure—his eyes kept fluttering shut.

Following the insertions in a tender and intimate atmosphere, ejaculation naturally followed. By that time, however, Je-rim had reached a state where he could barely lift a finger. In his stead, Aaron meticulously licked away the semen that had splattered across Je-rim’s abdomen and face. Since his own semen had pooled right back inside Je-rim’s belly anyway, there was nothing to be hesitant about.

Afterward, without withdrawing, Aaron laid Je-rim on top of his own body and covered them with a blanket. He pulled down his right arm, which bore a single tattoo, kissed him, and whispered for him to sleep well.

Je-rim didn’t even have the energy to fuss about telling him to take it out; he simply closed his eyes, quietly offering up his hole and his arm. In his half-asleep state, a thought he intended to keep to himself slipped out aloud, though he didn’t even notice.

“…I want to be like this with you for the rest of my life. It’ll be possible after I retire, right? That’s what I’m… looking forward to most…”

“Me too. Goodnight, my heaven. Oh, and when you wake up, in the afternoon…”

Je-rim’s consciousness cut off just as Aaron murmured something.

✲✲✲

The two of them were climbing a mountain slope, passing through an alley paved with bumpy pebbles. At first, Je-rim had followed along lightly, thinking they were just going for a stroll before dinner, but the journey turned out to be longer than expected. Je-rim came to a halt halfway up the incline.

It wasn’t because he was tired. If an active professional soccer player got exhausted from this much walking, he should retire immediately. It was just that as the altitude rose, his head got closer to the setting sun, making him feel slightly hot. Plus, after the rough sex last night—and having kept that monster of a cock inside him until he woke up—his lower back was throbbing.

And above all,

“Why a cathedral all of a sudden?”

It was because he had a rough idea of the destination. He hadn’t realized it while navigating the complex and narrow alleys, but as soon as they entered this mountain slope, old memories came flooding back.

There were many cathedrals, large and small, in Tavarona. Among them, a large cathedral built by a famous architect played a part in making Tavarona one of the most famous tourist destinations in Spain. But as is usually the case, residents preferred the quiet neighborhood cathedrals over the large ones bustling with outsiders.

Aaron was the same. Since he was a child, he had only attended this cathedral in this high, secluded place. He said it was the cathedral his entire family had attended for generations. They had sponsored it since ancient times, contributed to its recent expansion, and occasionally, the theology students produced by his family had all stayed at this cathedral’s monastery.

The reason Je-rim knew these details was simple. He had heard them back when he used to visit the cathedral following Aaron as a child. Though not often, whenever Aaron went to attend Mass on the weekends, Je-rim followed along about once every three times, so the path naturally remained in his memory.

At Je-rim’s question, Aaron tilted his head slightly and frowned as if wondering what he was talking about.

“I told you we should go together today.”

“When? Oh, maybe in the early morning?”

“Yeah, you forgot again. Your memory is getting worse and worse…”

“Shut up. It’s your fault for whispering to someone who was half-unconscious.”

Come to think of it, he felt like he had heard something about going somewhere together when he woke up, just before he fell back asleep. Je-rim nodded to himself and stared at the sharply pointed spire. A large bell hung at the top of the spire, and on Sunday noons, the ringing sound would carry all the way to the dormitory.

But today wasn’t Sunday; would the cathedral even be open? He must have suggested going because it was open… Fortunately, that doubt was resolved as soon as they arrived.

The main gate was closed but not locked, opening easily when pushed. While the largest chapel had a lock on it, the other buildings seemed to be in operation, as people were seen here and there.

Aaron entered a building that was somewhat simpler in design compared to the others. Then, he stopped Je-rim in front of the door.

“Je-rim, wait here for a moment. I’ll go say hello.”

“Okay.”

Assuming he meant he was going to greet the priest, Je-rim nodded. Since he wasn’t on greeting terms with the priest, it was more comfortable to wait here as Aaron requested.

After about five minutes, the door Aaron had entered opened, and Aaron emerged with a white-haired priest.

The two of them continued talking face-to-face, seemingly failing to notice Je-rim sitting on the hallway bench. Je-rim saw the priest pat Aaron on the shoulder with one hand and place something that looked like a box into his hand.

“God will bless you as well. I wish you luck.”

“Thank you, Padre.”

Aaron’s lips curled up as he took the box. It felt like his usual boyish smile, but with a hint of shyness added to it. The box looked a bit too large to be held in one hand, even for Aaron.

For a moment, Je-rim’s eyes widened, wondering if he had prepared a ring, but he immediately dismissed the surprise upon seeing the size of the box. Even a ring made of a 10-carat diamond wouldn’t be put in a box that large. Nor would the priest have prepared it for him.

More than anything, the box itself featured elaborate craftsmanship. It wasn’t a velvet box commonly used for rings, but a box carved from metal. The silver surface was decorated with carvings as delicate as lace, and the lid was inlaid with a golden leaf and a cross.

‘Did he receive a religious relic or something?’

The design and size left him with no other conclusion. Just as he was wondering if Aaron had suggested coming to the cathedral on a weekday specifically to receive that, Aaron spotted Je-rim and called his name. Je-rim gave the priest a simple nod and approached Aaron.

“What’s that?”

“A box.”

“I have eyes. I mean, what’s inside?”

“I’ll show you later. It’s been blessed…”

The way he trailed off and protectively cradled the box was somewhat suspicious, but Je-rim didn’t pry further. Since he said it had been blessed, the weight of his deduction shifted further toward it being a religious object.

Aaron led Je-rim to the prayer room, saying he wanted to say a short prayer since they were already here. Je-rim followed quietly. Although he had visited this cathedral quite a few times, it was his first time in the prayer room, so he was slightly curious. He had always just spent his time blankly admiring Aaron attending Mass in the chapel before returning.

Stepping into the prayer room for the first time, Je-rim looked around in admiration. The space was smaller than the chapel, but the murals covering the ceiling, the stained glass instead of transparent windows, the cross hanging on the wall, and a statue that must have cost hundreds of millions—his first reaction was a simplistic appreciation of the luxurious decorations and interior.

“It’s small, but it’s got everything.”

“Yeah. We installed stained glass everywhere during the expansion. Pretty, right?”

“Yeah. Maybe because they’re new, they’re prettier than the ones in the chapel.”

He ended with a rather materialistic observation. Aaron shook his head at him and quietly sat in a chair. He closed his eyes, made the sign of the cross, and clasped his hands together. The box was placed carefully beside him.

Feeling mischievous, Je-rim contemplated whether to sneak a peek at the box while Aaron’s eyes were closed. However, knowing that Aaron was quite devout despite his appearance, he figured the object would hold great meaning if it had been blessed, so he quickly let the mischief go.

Instead, he sat one seat away with the box between them and stared intently at Aaron’s profile. His face was terrifyingly handsome, and perhaps due to his ethnicity, even his eyelashes were long; when he closed his eyes like that, shadows fell beneath the thick lashes.

The forehead where a few strands of deep brown hair fell, the sunken orbits starting from the brow bone where dark eyebrows grew, the contrasting high bridge of the nose, and the moderately angled jawline. His warm olive skin took on a subtle hue, covered by the light filtering through the stained glass.

‘He looks so far removed from the idea of piety…’

Why did the unique atmosphere of the cathedral suit him so well? To think that face believes in God. That dissonance seemed to make him shine even more specially.

As a child, for the sole reason of seeing Aaron’s profile while he prayed, Je-rim had climbed up and down the mountain slope to visit a cathedral he had no interest in. All while having the blasphemous thought that if God took Aaron’s form, he might understand why people worship Him.

He gazed at Aaron as if possessed for a long time, then recalled the prayer tattooed on his own right arm and tried his best to erase the blasphemous thoughts. In the midst of this, Aaron’s eyes slowly opened. It had been a quite long prayer, as if he had much to ask of God.

Je-rim scanned the fully revealed amber eyes, then pushed back the hair covering Aaron’s forehead and asked.

“What did you pray for?”

“Um, for Him to close His eyes just this once.”

An incomprehensible answer came back. Aaron’s face, wearing a faint smile, was tinged with an unusual nervousness. The change in expression was subtle, but Je-rim, who had been with him for a long time, knew. Aaron was currently nervous.

Before he could ask what was going on, Aaron continued. Again, his words were entirely cryptic.

“And for Him to give me courage and bless me.”

Saying this, Aaron took the box and stood up. Then, he pulled Je-rim by the wrist and led him to the altar. As Je-rim was led along haphazardly and stood before the statue of the Virgin Mary, a strange request followed.

“Je-rim, hold out both your hands. Palms up.”

Isn’t this the posture for getting hit… But since there was no way Aaron would hit him, Je-rim simply held out his hands as told without complaint. Then, after taking a deep breath, Aaron opened the lid of the box he had been cradling so carefully.

In an instant, a bright light spread from the box, and just as Je-rim closed and then narrowed his eyes, the open box was placed upon his palms. Je-rim’s mouth slowly fell open as he checked the sparkling contents.

Thirteen gold coins. And a ring resting atop the small mountain of gold coins.

Seeing it, a wedding video Jose had sent him long ago played in Je-rim’s head. Specifically, the Spanish traditional ceremony where the groom pours thirteen gold coins into the bride’s hand, vowing to devote himself to the family forever, share his assets, and provide abundance.

“This is originally done at a wedding, but I was in a hurry. …I just couldn’t put it off any longer.”

As Je-rim froze, anticipating what his lover intended to do, a somewhat awkward murmur reached his ears. Perhaps he didn’t like how it sounded even after saying it, as a small cough followed.

Aaron took Je-rim’s two stunned hands and curled his palms to wrap around the box, then took another deep breath. As if he had to recite these words naturally, without any failure.

Finally, Korean with quite fluent pronunciation flowed from Aaron’s lips.

[In the summer of my fifteenth year… my life’s flow miraculously overlapped with a boy from a distant foreign land, and I am always grateful to God that I could spend my most brilliant years with you, my heaven.]

The moment he heard those words, Je-rim realized it inevitably.

This was it. The words Aaron had wanted to say to him in Korean… The words he had practiced alone for all those long years.

Something surged up from within, making it difficult to open his mouth. As Je-rim wandered in a quiet passion he couldn’t control on his own, Aaron smiled shyly.

“I’ve wanted to tell you this for a long time, in your native language. Because back then, you missed your hometown every day… I hoped my words would be even a small comfort.”

“……”

“I wanted you to know that there’s someone who is this ecstatic that you came to Tavarona.”

Aaron tenderly caressed the back of Je-rim’s hand and took another deep breath that made his chest heave.

“And I hope He grants me one more blessing now, equal to the blessing of meeting you.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Aaron slowly knelt on one knee. Resting his right knee on the cathedral floor, Aaron looked up at Je-rim as if worshipping him, still holding both of Je-rim’s hands. Since the box was in Je-rim’s hands and the ring was in the box, it was ultimately the posture of proposing while presenting the ring.

Behind Aaron, the sun had begun to set, and the sunset light passed through the stained glass, breaking into five-colored hues. The dust floating in the air caught the light and sparkled like gold powder. Aaron’s eyes, which looked as if gold powder had been scattered in them, were also shimmering.

With the dazzling radiance at his back, the kneeling Aaron looked up with his golden eyes and spoke without hesitation.

“All that is mine is yours, and all that is yours is mine.”

Following the declaration that sounded like an oath, the next words followed immediately without a gap.

“You know it’s been my long-time dream. Marry me, Je-rim.”

Rejection was not even a possibility. However, contrary to his heart, Je-rim hesitated, unable to give any answer. It was because his mind was a jumbled mess, not knowing what to say or how to act at the moment of receiving such a proposal.

But there was one thing that flowed out regardless of his will. The thing that had been surging up inside him since earlier finally spilled over his eyelids.

Je-rim was flustered as he felt the teardrops running down his face. He didn’t know how many years it had been since he had been so overcome with emotion that he cried. Perhaps the last time was five years ago, when he cried while listening to the voice message Aaron had sent…

Once again, he ended up crying because of Aaron. And the man who had once begged him to show his crying face just once out of happiness suddenly stood up and hugged Je-rim. The way he carefully stroked Je-rim’s back was clearly tinged with fluster.

“Je-rim, why are you crying?”

Je-rim silently leaned his face against Aaron’s shoulder. To show himself sobbing, moved by a proposal at this age—his entire body felt hot with embarrassment. Sensing Je-rim’s shy reaction and physical changes, Aaron soon erased his flustered look and adopted a playful tone.

“You’re not crying because you hate it, right?”

“Why would you even ask that…”

As he weakly bumped his forehead against Aaron’s shoulder, a few more tears fell. Ah, he wanted to stop. But as one drop fell, another seeped out, and his eyes, already moist, continued to sting.

Worried that his crying face would be imprinted as a water stain on Aaron’s shoulder, he lifted his head. If he stayed like that, Aaron would burst out laughing again. It was better to just show his face.

“You said you wanted to see my face when I cry out of happiness. Wish granted.”

“…Yeah. But you’re prettier than I imagined…”

That damn “pretty” talk. The reprimand that reflexively tried to come out vanished the moment he saw Aaron’s expression. The foolish look—with lips slightly parted, a relaxed jaw, and dreamily unfocused eyes—couldn’t have been more lovely.

Just as that face looked purely cute to me, it must look purely beautiful to Aaron. Honestly, both of them have issues with their eyesight… While Je-rim lamented inwardly, Aaron subtly shifted the position of the box in Je-rim’s hand so that he would hold it with only his right hand.

Then, as if lightly lifting his now-empty left hand, Aaron pulled out a ring that sparkled with a particular transparency among the gold coins and slipped it onto Je-rim’s ring finger. Holding the box in his right hand, Je-rim quietly accepted the touch of the ring being placed on his finger. Naturally, he had no intention of refusing.

The sight of the ring on the ring finger of his left hand—a finger that had never worn anything in his entire life—was… more satisfying than he had imagined.

A thick band stably encased a large diamond set in the center. Its shape differed slightly from typical proposal rings; it was clearly a ring designed for a man. Looking at the ring from various angles in the light streaming through the stained glass, Je-rim asked bluntly.

“You didn’t come up with that Korean on your own, did you? There were too many advanced vocabulary words for your skill level.”

“…Is that what you’re curious about right now?”

“I knew it, you used a translator. Still, I like it. Good job.”

If his hands were free, he would have petted Aaron wildly, but the heavy box was still held in Je-rim’s right hand. With the ring he had just received on his left, he was cautious about moving carelessly.

He needed to express both his answer to the proposal and his gratitude, but he found himself worrying again about how to do it. At the same time, he carefully recalled the video of Jose’s wedding. The bride who received the gold coins definitely…

“Aaron, hand.”

Having fully recalled the memory, Je-rim no longer hesitated. He told Aaron to hold out both hands and then knelt on one knee. Of course, the bride who received the gold coins in the video didn’t kneel, but he wasn’t the bride.

Aaron blinked at the sudden turn of events. Seeing the guy who had just given such a touching proposal looking bewildered, not knowing what was about to happen to him, Je-rim let out a laugh because it was so cute. However, thinking it wasn’t something to laugh about, he suppressed the corners of his mouth and gently pulled Aaron’s hands down.

With eyes as serious as if he were playing a match, Je-rim poured the gold coins from the box into Aaron’s palms.

“…Everything of mine is yours, and everything of yours is mine.”

Since the gold coins were based on mutual exchange, the vow of the oath must also be based on mutual exchange. Assuming as much, he returned the exact words Aaron had said. Then, he softly kissed the fingertips that had received the gold coins.

It was now his turn to answer the proposal.

“I’m honored that you gave me such an opportunity, my dream.”

Thank you for giving me the chance to be part of your long-held dream.

The moment he accepted the proposal while using the ticklish nickname, Mi sueño, Aaron shed tears, just as he had when he gave the same answer once before. The difference this time was that Je-rim didn’t step in to hide Aaron’s crying face.

Not only could he monopolize this crying face without anyone’s interference this time, but his own face was already unsightly and drenched. Je-rim quietly stood up and pressed his forehead against Aaron’s. The amber eyes, brimming with moisture, looked like actual jewels, without exaggeration.

Facing those eyes that seemed to be dusted with shimmering gold powder, Je-rim suddenly realized, as if receiving a revelation. The gaze he had always thought was directed toward the future was, in fact, always directed entirely at him. Because his future had always been him.

That was why Aaron had pestered him since they were young to achieve a goal that sounded dreamy and even delusional to a casual listener, why he had begged him never to even mention the possibility of breaking up, and why he had come looking for him to fulfill a faded dream and promise.

And this moment must be the destination of the dream Aaron had harbored since childhood.

As soon as he realized this, a question came to mind. In truth, he already knew what answer would come back, but he asked simply because he wanted to hear it in Aaron’s voice.

“Aaron, are you happy?”

Sure enough, a voice full of conviction immediately returned, satisfying Je-rim. Though it was slightly wet with tears, even that was so good it made his chest feel tight.

“Except for the day I first met you, this is the best moment of my life. What about you, Je-rim?”

“For me… it’s the moment I believe in the existence of fate for the first time in my life.”

Truly, he had never dreamed that a time would come when such cringeworthy words would come out of his own mouth.

But if this wasn’t fate, then what was? As Aaron had confessed, by chance and miraculously at such a young age, the currents of their lives overlapped, they spent a summer together, and they fell in love. Like a youthful romance, they loved freshly, hurt each other, and broke up, only to meet again ten years later. And once again, they fell for each other without ever tiring of it.

And after another considerable amount of time had passed, now.

The two, who had grown from immature boys into full-fledged young men, gazed at each other for a long time.

Until all the twilight light that illuminated their surroundings vanished, and only the moonlight filtering through the stained glass dyed the interior of the cathedral in its original, brilliant colors.

Amidst the waves of ecstatic and radiant colors, they promised eternity this time for sure.

A complete and perfect… romantic eternity that would never end nor fade.

Second Half (Side Story 2) Por siempre

The Big Day

Je-rim’s retirement ceremony was held on the day of the final league match at Sefton’s home, simultaneously with Aaron’s retirement ceremony. The league victory Ceremony was also held together.

Je-rim smiled and waved toward the stands, which had become a sea of tears. Despite winning the championship, the fans’ expressions were as gloomy as if they were facing relegation, so he did it to lighten the mood even a little.

Moreover, since even his Sefton teammates seemed to have forgotten they were in the middle of a celebration and wore miserable faces, he felt a compulsion that he, at least, had to smile. It was a joyful day of lifting the trophy, and since it was the last time he would face the fans as a player and the Sefton players as a colleague, he wanted to be remembered with a good face.

Honestly, seeing his crying colleagues and fans made Je-rim feel as if a heavy stone had been placed in a corner of his heart, but he didn’t let it show.

Above all, since Aaron was smiling with such a happy face, there was no reason for Je-rim to cry.

‘That’s unexpected…’

Since Aaron was someone who held a deeper attachment and pride in his life as a football player than anyone else, Je-rim had expected him to shed at least one tear on the day of the retirement ceremony. However, Aaron, wearing that usual mischievous smile, was simply holding William’s chin and shaking it playfully.

For the record, William had realized that Aaron’s claim that his beard was cool was a blatant lie and had shaved without hesitation, now boasting a smooth chin. Thanks to that, the tears and snot William shed flowed straight down to his chin without being blocked by hair. Aaron cursed under his breath and rubbed his hand vigorously on William’s uniform.

The veterans sure know how to play on the day they retire. Je-rim, gathering his gaze of patheticness, approached the two. As Je-rim drew near, William, who was already dripping, began to pour out tears like a waterfall. Unable to watch any longer, a reprimand escaped Je-rim’s lips.

“Will, stop crying. People will think it’s a funeral.”

“How… hic, how can I not cry? The years… sniff, I spent with you guys… sob! How many years has it been!”

“Ugh, the snot, seriously… Aaron, if you touch me with that hand, I’ll hit you.”

Seeing Je-rim standing beside him, Aaron couldn’t resist and tried to put his arm around his shoulder.

How dare he try to touch him with a snot-covered hand. When Je-rim gave the warning, Aaron clicked his tongue audibly and slowly withdrew his reaching hand.

“How cold.”

Isn’t this a matter of hygiene? It’s not about being cold or not. Je-rim easily ignored Aaron’s words and just stared intently at his face. Noticing the questioning gaze, Aaron signaled with his eyes.

“What?”

“Nothing, I just thought it was strange that you aren’t crying.”

“Why would I cry? On this happy day.”

It was a happy day, but at the same time, it was the day their lives as football players ended. For both him and Aaron. Taking a deep breath, Je-rim asked in a small voice.

“…Are you okay?”

The boy who said he loved football so much that he wanted to play as long as possible, and specifically wanted to play with him, still remained in Je-rim’s memory. As well as the fact that he hadn’t been able to readily agree to those words when they were young.

Regardless, they had ended up playing football together for a long time, and since they were both achieving a graceful exit, he could understand why Aaron described it as a happy day. He also knew well that Aaron was the type of person who always thought of a new beginning rather than an end.

But still, the reason he was concerned… must be because he was his beloved fiancé. As a bonus, he felt regret, thinking that if he had known the future would be like this, he wouldn’t have made him upset with unnecessary words when they were young and would have just agreed. At Je-rim’s cautious question, Aaron looked around the pitch and spoke.

“It would be a lie to say I don’t feel restless. I do feel a bit nauseous. When I think that I’ll never wear the uniform again, nor play on the field…”

Around the pitch filled with spectators, fans were singing Je-rim and Aaron’s cheering songs with voices mixed with tears. Taking in the sight, Aaron bit his lip, seemingly overwhelmed for a moment. Then, he lifted the hem of his uniform and kissed the emblem.

The sight of him closing his eyes slightly and bowing his head as if saluting while pressing his lips to the emblem was solemn, unlike when he usually did his Ceremonies. It was the highest respect he could show the fans.

As if in response, the crowd chanted Aaron’s first and last name. They too seemed to realize it was Aaron’s final farewell, as the momentum was immense. The ground shook solely from the roar of the cheers.

Standing on the vibrating earth, Je-rim draped his arm over Aaron’s shoulder and gave a bright smile. As expected, no one could match this guy’s showmanship. A radiant smile, in stark contrast to the forced smile he had maintained just moments ago, pushed the volume of the crowd’s cheers even higher.

After finishing the Ceremony, Aaron’s face was slightly flushed. Still, he quickly composed his expression and looked back at Je-rim with his usual confidence.

“But I’m okay. Because I’m happier than that.”

“Well, your future’s decided… and you wanted to be a manager too.”

Since he had received a guarantee from Manager Louis that he could join the staff at any time, Aaron had nothing to be anxious about regarding his future career. Unless Manager Louis was suddenly fired and became unemployed…

Even if he were fired, the pool of football managers was pretty much the same, so he could find employment anywhere, and Aaron could just follow him. And Je-rim could just move along with Aaron.

The two had already made plans for how to live after retirement. Not detailed plans, but a reckless plan to just play for at least a year; however, the fact that they would be together for life was certain.

And the plan that was closest at hand…

“No, not for that reason.”

Shaking his head cutely, Aaron whispered into Je-rim’s ear.

“We’re getting married soon. That’s why.”

That’s why I’m happy. Every morning when I wake up, I pray that today passes quickly. One second feels like an hour.

His unusually sultry voice poured out words that made Je-rim’s face flush. He seemed completely unaware that they were in the middle of the pitch.

“I just wish I could close my eyes and wake up on the wedding day. I feel like I’m in heaven every day, so I’ve been lacking a sense of reality lately.”

Je-rim repeated a vow in his mind like a mantra. I am in the middle of the pitch. I am even in the middle of my own retirement ceremony. Even though he felt dizzy enough to want to shut him up with a kiss right now, he couldn’t lose his reason here.

Barely regaining his composure, Je-rim exhaled a hot breath into his hand, which was covering his bright red face.

“You really never change…”

“Aren’t you happy, Je-rim? Aren’t you looking forward to the wedding?”

“I am happy. I want to get it over with quickly too.”

“Why do you sound like you’re dealing with something tedious? Is marriage tedious?”

The moment he stopped whispering sweet words that felt like they would melt away like cotton candy, his tone immediately sharpened. Since they had a history of fighting big over a slip of the tongue last time, Je-rim realized his mistake and added.

“Liking the marriage and liking the wedding are two different things. I’ve told you several times that I love marrying you.”

Since they had practically held their own wedding when he was proposed to, the wedding they were planning this time was a kind of party inviting family and friends.

The purpose was simply that they would have plenty of time after retiring, his mother insisted she must see her eldest son’s wedding, and they wanted to announce to their acquaintances that they had become a couple. Since the guests all knew about the relationship between the two, no one was surprised.

In other words, it was just a simple show event. But why on earth was there so much to prepare? Because it was a same-sex marriage, they had quite a hard time even finding a venue, making Aaron’s wish to have the wedding in a cathedral feel futile. Eventually, Aaron managed to resolve it somehow using his family’s connections. Even then, they failed in the end to get a priest to officiate.

Despite the fact that Aaron himself had broken a sweat saying he didn’t know things would get this complicated, he always grumbled whenever Je-rim showed signs of being tired of the wedding preparations. Just as Aaron was about to narrow his eyes into triangles, signaling the start of a tantrum…

“Jerry, Aaron…”

Reman stood before Je-rim and Aaron, sniffing continuously. Seeing Reman’s disastrous face, Aaron couldn’t hold back his laughter and let the tension leave his eyes. Then, he chuckled while patting Reman’s head.

“The face of today’s match MVP is quite a sight.”

That hand… that must be the hand that had William’s snot on it… Je-rim kept his mouth shut for the sake of the relationship between Aaron and Reman.

Fortunately, Reman didn’t leave that hand on his head for long and shook his head, glancing sharply at Aaron. The words filled with teasing seemed to annoy him. Even though their relationship had improved, this side of him remained the same.

Aaron used the rejected hand to mess up Reman’s hair once more before stepping back. The crying colleagues had already lined up on either side of Je-rim and Reman. William stood at the front of the left line, and Aaron approached and stood at the front of the right line. Everyone had solemn faces, as if they hadn’t just been crying and sobbing.

Realizing it was his turn, Je-rim took off the captain’s armband from his forearm.

“Reman, you’re the captain from now on, so play impressively. And don’t cry.”

Originally, William should have taken the captaincy, but William himself refused. He said that since he would also be retiring soon, it was right for Reman, who could serve as captain longer and had even won the Ballon d’Or, to wear the armband.

Certainly, someone like Reman was no longer young and had returned after building a career that no one could ignore, so he would be respected by everyone. He was a bit worried about his fragile personality, but the veteran William would surely keep the locker room discipline in check. Besides, Reman was performing the duties of captain without any noise even in the German national team, which was teeming with players with strong egos.

Thinking that he would do well enough, Je-rim placed the captain’s armband on Reman’s arm. Reman replied while wiping his tears.

“…Yeah. I’ll keep that in mind.”

The guy who says he’ll keep it in mind is crying too much? Just as he was about to tease him, the colleagues standing on both sides swarmed in and surrounded Je-rim. Reman joined the crowd. As men who were basically 6 feet tall packed around him, the air instantly became stuffy.

But that stuffiness vanished immediately. It was because his body was suddenly lifted and he flew up into the air.

The moment a late spring breeze carrying a faint sweet scent brushed his cheek, the blue evening sky, where the sun had not yet set, filled his eyes. Simultaneously, scattered gold confetti fluttered down, covering Je-rim’s vision.

His vision was completely filled with gold, making it impossible to see anything, but a thunderous sound of applause hit his ears. Along with the familiar cheering songs, a famous passage from a poem by Whitman poured out like a shout. The tossing continued in time with the chants calling for the ‘Captain.’

It was the final anthem for Je-rim, who had dedicated many years to Sefton. Je-rim himself had never dreamed that such a surprise show had been prepared.

“…….”

After his body dropped and rose a few more times, the blue sky, now cleared of confetti, filled his vision once again. While blankly admiring the cloudless firmament, pop! Fireworks launched by the club exploded in various colors against the vast sky, like clusters of light filtering through stained glass.

At the end of the brilliant fireworks, gold sparks soared, depicting a pointed crown. Immediately after, in the sky where acrid smoke spread, the final shape remaining was a firework in the form of the number 10. It was the jersey number Je-rim had worn for 15 years at Sefton.

It seemed there was a reason people prepared proposals or celebrations in secret. Had he known, he wouldn’t have been this moved.

Je-rim had always experienced the feeling of romance through Aaron. But seeing the 70,000 spectators giving a standing ovation, the sky embroidered with a kaleidoscope of fireworks, the golden confetti fluttering on a refreshing spring breeze, and his teammates lifting him up while chanting in unison, he felt it personally for the first time in his life.

‘…This is actually quite romantic.’

He had thought that as long as Aaron wasn’t crying, he wouldn’t either. In the end, however, Je-rim wiped his reddened eyes and burst into a bright smile toward the sky.

✲✲✲

As the memorable retirement ceremony came to a close, the football careers of Je-rim and Aaron, which had spanned nearly 20 years, also came to an end.

However, the end of their playing days didn’t mean they became idle. Even on the very day he returned from the retirement ceremony, Je-rim was racking his brain organizing the guest list. While Aaron was taking the lead in preparing the venue decorations, selecting the guests and sending out notifications was Je-rim’s responsibility.

“Why does the list get longer the more I organize it…?”

At first, they had definitely planned to invite only a tiny handful of people, but as time passed, the number of people receiving invitations grew. Furthermore, since the wedding was scheduled to take place in Spain, he had to book flights and accommodations for family and friends living in other countries. Most would likely refuse the tickets and arrive via private jets or charters anyway, but he still had to show his sincerity.

Even among the teammates he had played with during Sefton’s peak, most had either retired, transferred, or returned to play in their home countries, meaning they were scattered all over the place. Je-rim simply marked the country where each person currently resided next to their name on the list and closed his laptop.

Then, he called Reman. He wanted to ask first whether Reman would come straight after the Euros, stop by his house in England first, or if it would be difficult for him to attend.

Reman answered almost immediately after the signal started. Je-rim got straight to the point.

“Reman, what about the wedding? How are you coming?”

-Hmm…. I think I’ll have to see when the time comes.

“Right, then just let me know then. And you know, right? If it’s a bit awkward, you don’t have to force yourself to come. You’re going to be ground down to dust at the Euros anyway.”

Speaking in a playful tone was Je-rim’s own way of being considerate. Of course, he knew very well that Reman no longer had any feelings for him, but he still felt a bit uneasy asking a Hubae who had confessed to him long ago to attend his wedding.

-Huh? Why would it be awkward? I’ll definitely be there. Both Jerry and Aaron are Sunbaes who were special to me….

However, Reman questioned him in a bewildered tone, as if he had no idea why Je-rim was making such a suggestion. Hearing that, Je-rim realized it anew.

Since it had been seven years since Reman confessed to him, time really… had passed a tremendous amount. To the point where emotions had diluted and faded away, and memories of the past barely surfaced.

And during that long stretch of time, the relationship between him and Aaron had remained steadfast. Without a single emotion diluting or a single shared memory fading. It felt as if time, which changes everything, was building a foundation toward immutability for Aaron and himself.

Whenever he felt this certainty through trivial moments, Je-rim began to understand Aaron’s habit of muttering that he was so happy it felt surreal. Then, Reman’s low voice reached him.

-I sincerely congratulate you. I’ll prepare a generous wedding gift.

“Hey, forget it. Why would the youngest give a gift? Just bring yourself.”

The voice that had been strong, as if making a candid confession, quickly became sullen as he countered.

-I’m the captain of the national team and Sefton now…. A-and I won the Ballon d’Or….

“Are you rubbing it in that I don’t have a Ballon right now?”

-No! It’s not that, I just don’t want to be treated as the youngest anymore…! And originally, forwards from Europe or South America have the best advantage in winning the Ballon d’Or. Regardless of that, Jerry, you were the greatest midfielder recognized by everyone. So, awards are….

Sensing that Reman would chatter on all day if left alone, Je-rim cut him off.

“I was joking, joking. My skill and career were far too brilliant to be belittled just because I didn’t win a single Ballon. Who would dare evaluate me like that?”

Only then did Reman seem to calm down, responding with a hint of laughter.

-Yeah, that’s true.

“Kid, you’re still as cute as ever even as you get older.”

He’s at an age where he could be called an ‘ahjussi’ now, so why does he still seem like the youngest? Even his hobbies are so typical of an ahjussi.

It was a fact Je-rim had only recently discovered that Reman had a hobby of staying cooped up at home on his days off to make sausages and beef jerky, even smoking them himself. He found out after Reman returned to Sefton, because Aaron would occasionally go to Reman’s house claiming to be learning something and come back covered in charcoal soot. Aaron had bragged that he finally managed to pry the secret homemade sausage recipe out of Reman, who had been determined never to reveal it….

One guy with a face that exuded a decadent vibe like a mafia boss loves cooking, and another with a face as pure as dew loves smoking meat. Anyway, both Aaron and Reman played in ways that didn’t suit their looks at all.

As soon as that thought made Je-rim chuckle, the sofa beside him sank, and a dangerously looking man dove into his arms. The sight of him trying to cram his large body in was quite funny. A grumpy voice leaked out from within Je-rim’s embrace.

“Is there someone else cute besides me? Who is it?”

“Ah, the annoying one is here. I’m hanging up. See you soon. Good luck at the Euros.”

-Yeah!

Anyway, he absolutely cannot stand it when I call someone else cute. Je-rim ruffled the fine hair and pressed his lips against him. A pleasant scent wafted from the soft hair, as if he had just finished drying it.

“I was on the phone with Reman. Don’t be jealous. I just said it because he’s still the same, getting flustered the moment I make a joke.”

“Ah, I thought it was something else.”

The man who had been hugging Je-rim tightly as if to pressure him relaxed his arms. The grumpiness vanished from his voice. At that, Je-rim asked, feeling grumpy himself.

“What? You’re really not jealous just because I told you not to be?”

When Je-rim gave the hair he was stroking a little tug, Aaron looked up at him. His amber eyes, brimming with love, seemed to drip honey; just meeting his gaze was so sweet it made the roof of Je-rim’s mouth ache.

“It’s not like he’s still a youngster with a one-sided crush on you…. He even has a partner he’s head over heels for.”

Je-rim knew very well that Reman was kept on a tight leash by his partner… but he hadn’t known it was to the extent of being head over heels, so he raised an eyebrow.

“That much?”

“Seems so. Based on the times he’d sniffle while asking for relationship advice.”

“Even after becoming a Ballon d’Or winner, he still cries over the strangest things. But he gave you that kind of advice? Why didn’t he come to me?”

He said he respected me second most in the world, so why leave this reliable Sunbae and go to Aaron? As Je-rim muttered in genuine confusion, Aaron responded in an equally confused tone.

“He has a brain and experience; why would he ask you for that kind of advice? He’d know exactly how much of a mood-killing answer he’d get back.”

Well, as Aaron said, he was miraculously devoid of talent when it came to things like relationship advice. Still, did he have to put it like that…. At the severe bombing of facts from his lover, Je-rim grabbed Aaron’s chin and flicked it up. Then, he delivered a flick to his forehead and clicked his tongue.

“How are you even preparing for a wedding with a mood-killing bastard like that?”

“Because I love you enough that your flaws look like strengths. Now, when you say things like that, I just find it funny.”

Aaron, who had been hit so lightly on the forehead that it didn’t even make a sound, softly rubbed the spot against Je-rim’s lips. He followed up with an exaggeration that his skull might have cracked.

To fix Aaron’s skull, Je-rim kissed him with audible smacking sounds wherever his lips touched. Even then, his tongue remained mischievous.

“Stop lying. You’re the one who got seriously sulky when I said preparing for the wedding was too tedious to handle.”

“I wasn’t sulking. Don’t slander me.”

“I told you, you’ve been obvious since way back because you get cute when you sulk.”

When Je-rim pulled his nicely tanned cheek, the handsome face became comical in an instant. Je-rim continued, pinching and kneading the stretched cheek.

“Try hiding the cuteness while you lie.”

“You say I’m cute even when I’m just breathing.”

What was he supposed to do about an objective truth that even God couldn’t deny? Even with his cheek stretched horizontally, the man who looked the most lovely in the world to Je-rim hugged him again and pleaded in an aegyo-filled voice.

“Je-rim, let’s end today quickly. We have to sleep fast so tomorrow comes faster.”

Je-rim tenderly cradled that head. Wasn’t it truly cheating for a guy who is just cute even when sulking to intentionally act this spoiled?

Forgetting that the man holding him boasted a height taller than most doors, a sturdy build that never lost a physical clash, and a look that people said was closer to a mafia member than a football player, Je-rim muttered.

“How can you not look cute when you’re like this….”

“Don’t just say it with words; why don’t you be a bit more ‘cute’ with me in bed?”

“Let’s go, let’s go. To the bedroom right now. No, let’s just do it here.”

“As expected, I love how impatient you are, my heaven.”

The end of the day—the day of his retirement and with about a month and a half left until the wedding—was neither special nor extraordinary.

It simply flowed, as it always did, exactly the same as usual.

✲✲✲

The wedding was held in the outdoor backyard of the Tavarona cathedral, a place he had frequented often as a child. It was the result of various agreements made with the cathedral.

Aaron’s grand plan to have a solemn ceremony inside the cathedral under the stained glass had vanished into thin air, but Je-rim didn’t find this bad. Thanks to the cathedral being situated on a mountain slope, the elevation was high, allowing a view of the sea from the backyard, and the scenery was beautiful.

Since it was an outdoor wedding in midsummer, he had worried that the sunlight would be too strong or that it might rain, but that turned out to be a useless worry. The dense leaves on the branches served as a proper canopy, and white sunlight poured through the small gaps like fluttering silk, creating a fantastic landscape. The sound of waves drifted on the breeze brushing his ears, and the refreshing scent of the sea and orange blossoms permeated the tip of his nose.

The platform and the walkways were tastefully decorated with pure white orange blossoms and colorful summer flowers. Lanterns emitted a soft glow beneath the shade of the trees. Under white cloths draped long across the branches, chairs and tables carved with vine patterns were arranged at wide intervals, and beside a fountain, an orchestra played upbeat melodies.

It was a scene that felt mysterious yet relaxed, like a magical garden from a fairy tale. It couldn’t have been more perfect for a wedding.

‘They must have gone through a lot of trouble preparing this.’

Looking around the venue, Je-rim realized the extent of Aaron’s hard work. He was certainly satisfied with the result. Though it probably wasn’t the solemn and serious ceremony Aaron had wanted… Considering the general nature of the guests, a lively atmosphere like an outdoor party suited them better than a serious one.

Even now, grains of rice were flying from all over the guest seating. Were they determined to turn him into popped corn? Normally, rice is thrown after the wedding as a sign of celebration, but the ceremony hadn’t even started yet, and the other groom, Aaron, hadn’t even appeared, yet it was already like this.

Dressed sharply in a white tuxedo, complete with a boutonniere announcing his status as the groom, Je-rim simply shook his head as he took the hits of rice flying toward him as if to exorcise evil spirits. Seeing birds fly into the backyard in pursuit of the rice, he figured they’d probably get scolded by the bride once the wedding was over.

Beside Je-rim stood Yeo-bin in a suit, standing stiffly with visible nervousness. He was serving as Je-rim’s best man. For the record, Jose was Aaron’s best man. Yeo-bin kept fidgeting with his tie, muttering in a strained voice.

“I’ve never done something like this before, so I’m nervous.”

“I bet. Since you have no friends other than me…”

Stung by the trivial joke, Yeo-bin jabbed Je-rim in the ribs and walked away toward where Chang-sik, Han-seong, and the other Korean players were gathered.

Je-rim staggered slightly from the force of the blow. Just as he frowned and rubbed his side, he saw Marshall enter the backyard—the wedding venue—and come to a dead stop like a broken robot. Craig, who had entered with him, shook Marshall with a surprised look.

“What’s wrong?”

“I can’t believe it… I just can’t believe it… Craig, can you believe this? That Jerry and Aaron are getting married?”

“Of course. How long ago did we get the invitations?”

“Huu…”

That guy had practically fainted when he first received the invitation, claiming he had no idea the two were in that kind of relationship, and it seemed he was still in the same state now that he had actually arrived at the wedding. Je-rim had thought no one would be surprised by this point, but it seemed he had overestimated Marshall.

Je-rim shifted his gaze away from Marshall, who was acting out a comedy sketch. Then he saw his father and Je-ah sitting blankly at the front table, looking just as dazed as Marshall. Those two had reacted similarly when they were told about the marriage to Aaron—even though they had known about the relationship for a long time.

His father had even opposed it, saying that while dating was one thing, was a wedding really necessary? Since his father usually respected his son’s wishes more than his mother did, Je-rim had clashed with him for the first time in his life. The one who eventually persuaded his father was none other than Je-hee.

He didn’t know why Je-hee felt such a sense of mission regarding his eldest brother’s marriage, but Je-hee had gone as far as going on a hunger strike and lying down in front of their father. Weak against his youngest son, the father had no choice but to accept… Though he was a brat who made Je-rim want to flick his forehead every time he saw him, he was a commendable youngest brother in this one instance.

However, the pride Je-rim felt for his brother quickly vanished. He spotted Je-hee clinging to their mother, incessantly asking the attending players for autographs. He almost rushed over to pinch his ear, but he barely managed to restrain himself by recalling Je-hee’s contribution to the wedding.

“Hey! Jerry, congratulations! Where’s Aaron?”

Edson, wearing a suit with a slouchy design that suited him perfectly, slapped Je-rim on the back. At the question about the other protagonist of the wedding, Je-rim gestured with his chin toward the passage leading to the backyard.

“I heard his mother arrived. So they’re greeting each other.”

He was referring to Aaron’s biological mother, not his stepmother who was currently sitting in the guest area. Aaron had been quite surprised by her sudden visit after he had simply informed her of the marriage; it had been a while since Aaron left to speak with her first, without even introducing her to Je-rim.

Having no intention of interfering with the reunion between mother and son, Je-rim waited quietly, but Edson suddenly began to make a fuss.

“Mother? Ah, here comes Aaron. Then the person with him must be his mother?”

“Seems so. This is my first time meeting her too…”

Aaron’s biological mother. Naturally curious, Je-rim also turned his head in the direction Edson was looking. There walked Aaron, wearing a jet-black tuxedo of the same design as Je-rim’s, escorting a woman in a blue dress.

Despite being middle-aged, she was tall with a healthy, striking frame and a beauty that radiated an aura that made one hesitate to approach; she was unmistakably Aaron’s mother. Edson seemed to share the same impression, muttering in a low voice.

“Wow, they really look alike.”

“Yeah. He said he takes after his mother’s side, and it’s true.”

It seemed the things Aaron had mentioned while explaining his sibling relationship with Gabriella were true. Je-rim cast a brief glance at Gabriella, who was sipping wine while sitting like a stranger next to her biological father, and then looked back at Aaron’s mother. Then, their eyes met directly.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. And congratulations on the wedding.”

“Ah, hello! I am Ban Je-rim. It is an honor to meet you.”

“The honor is mine. I’ve watched your matches occasionally.”

Unexpectedly, the woman approached first with a smile and extended her hand. Je-rim quickly shook her hand and greeted her. Even then, he couldn’t help but think she looked even more like Aaron when she smiled. As Je-rim flustered at the unexpected encounter, the woman brushed a grain of rice off his head and took her seat, as if indicating she wouldn’t press him for more conversation.

As soon as his mother disappeared, Aaron dropped his serious expression and swept Je-rim up into his arms. Because of this, the white flower branches pinned to their chests fluttered simultaneously.

“Je-rim!”

“I’m invisible, right?”

Edson, who had been completely ignored despite seeing them after a long time, grumbled. Regardless, Aaron looked up at Je-rim with a face blooming brighter than the flowers scattered everywhere, his eyes filled with unfiltered ecstasy. In his amber eyes, which had turned a lighter shade as the sunlight filtered through, there was only Je-rim.

They had seen each other dressed up several times while getting their tuxedos fitted, but was it really something to be this moved by? Of course, Aaron did look exceptionally handsome today…

His golden eyes sparkled like stars in the midday sun, making it impossible to look away; his olive skin, naturally tanned by the Mediterranean sun, was sexy; the corners of his lips were curled up cutely; and with his styled hair and the tuxedo fitting his sturdy frame perfectly, he was handsome enough to put most movie stars to shame.

As if possessed, Je-rim admired Aaron’s face and traced his thick, prominent eyebrows with his finger. Only when he felt as if he were being pierced by needles did he become conscious of the surrounding gazes and whisper.

“Put me down!”

“What’s wrong with this? We have to kiss in front of all the guests today anyway.”

“…”

Come to think of it, that was true. As Je-rim fell silent, having nothing to say, William and Robin, who had approached unnoticed, grumbled from behind.

“Please, just tell me I can close my eyes…”

“Aw, Will. We’ve already seen them kissing plenty of times.”

“I’ve seen things worse than that… It’s a trauma, that.”

“I feel you…”

The last comment came from Reman. Only then did Aaron set Je-rim down and greet his former teammates.

“Long time no see. How long has it been since we all gathered like this?”

“Quite a while. Now, only you, Jerry, Will, and Reman are left in Sefton… Ah, maybe not even the two of you anymore.”

Craig, who had transferred to another club last year, replied with a hint of regret. Other teammates followed suit, speaking one after another.

“How does it feel to be retired? Both of you.”

“Bittersweet, right? Jerry, you even cried, didn’t you?”

“I’d never seen him cry before, so I actually dropped my phone.”

Je-rim elbowed Jesus in the stomach as he joked, holding up his cracked phone screen.

“Do you guys have more desire to tease me than to congratulate me, even after coming all this way?”

“No way. If we didn’t want to congratulate you, we wouldn’t have come. Do you know how many hours we spent on a plane?”

“Exactly!”

Seeing his friends, especially those who had traveled from far away, acting so proud, Je-rim smoothed his furrowed brow. They were as affectionate as they were mischievous, so while they were annoying at times, he couldn’t truly dislike them.

“Thanks for coming, everyone. After the wedding, there’ll be a party you guys will love until dawn, so enjoy yourselves.”

At the mention of a party, cheers erupted in various languages. It seemed that even at their age, they still loved parties. Edson, who had agreed to be the DJ, seemed to be looking forward to the party more than the wedding.

Aaron firmly rejected Edson’s plea to play just one song before the ceremony started. Other teammates mercilessly beat Edson’s back. It was strange; they were seeing each other after a long time, yet it was exactly like when they used to play around in the locker room seven years ago. When Coach Verdi arrived, it felt for a moment as if he had been transported back to the old days.

“Gentlemen, it has been a long time.”

“Coach Verdi!”

“Congratulations on the wedding, Jerry, Aaron. My goodness, for the two best star players I’ve ever experienced to marry each other. This is a truly auspicious day. Is it not?”

His unique way of calling the players ‘gentlemen’ and his dignified appearance remained the same. So did the strong scent of his perfume. Je-rim and Aaron coughed slightly while embraced by Coach Verdi.

As they finished greeting the guests one by one, Coach Verdi, who had agreed to officiate, stood on the platform. Following him, Yeo-bin appeared with the ring case, and Jose appeared with a box containing gold coins.

“Je-rim, let’s go.”

“Yeah.”

Je-rim took the hand Aaron extended.

It was time for the wedding to begin.

As they marched through the arch entwined with leaf vines holding hands, the guests showered them with white petals. Cheers and whistles accompanied them. It was so loud that the sweet music played by the orchestra was completely drowned out. If there had been vuvuzelas, one would have believed they were in the middle of a match rather than a wedding, and that this was a stadium rather than a wedding venue.

“Hmm, how should I open this? That this marriage isn’t particularly surprising? Since you’ve both made it so obvious since long ago.”

Coach Verdi started with a joke as soon as Je-rim and Aaron stood before the platform. Boisterous laughter erupted from various spots at those words.

“The moment I saw Jerry getting unusually agitated when Aaron was injured during training, I saw the future. Including the future where I would be officiating this wedding.”

Even Aaron, the protagonist of the ceremony, began to giggle. Only Je-rim scratched his head with a somewhat embarrassed look.

Was it… that obvious back then? Well… he had taken his anger out on Reman, raised his voice and ruined the team atmosphere, and even yelled at Aaron, who was trying to stop him, asking how he could possibly know how badly he was hurt. Thinking back, it was quite an unsightly scene. A captain, losing his mind just because Aaron was injured…

It was because he loved him that much. Je-rim was a bit surprised, as he had never imagined Coach Verdi had noticed the relationship between him and Aaron because of that incident. He had put in quite an effort to hide their dating, but listening to the officiating, it seemed it had all been in vain.

“My goodness, you have no idea how hard I worked to pretend I didn’t know you were dating. For the sake of my efforts, you must live happily for the rest of your lives.”

Under Coach Verdi’s officiating, the ceremony proceeded quickly. Since the two had already exchanged rings and gold coins once before, there was no need to drag it out. This time, it was simply a matter of making vows in front of witnesses; in terms of action, it was a repetition of the same ritual.

Aaron, receiving the box from Jose, poured the gold coins into Je-rim’s hand, and Je-rim returned the coins to Aaron’s hand. As soon as the ritual ended, Yeo-bin handed the ring case to Je-rim. The pair of rings, which he had kept in a safe as his most precious possession since the day he was proposed to, even if he couldn’t wear them, lay neatly on the velvet.

Je-rim and Aaron took the rings from the case and placed them on each other’s left ring fingers. Now, these rings would escape the stifling safe and regain their freedom. Because their owners would wear them every day.

The kiss, which he had worried about performing openly in front of others, went unexpectedly smoothly.

As soon as they exchanged rings, their gazes naturally drifted to each other’s lips, and they pressed them together. Since it wasn’t their first or second time kissing, there was nothing awkward about it. If anything, it felt a bit too short, as if their lips had merely brushed past each other.

“Je-rim, don’t make… such a disappointed face.”

Whether it showed on his face or not, Aaron whispered softly. It wasn’t a reprimand, but a pleading tone. Je-rim realized what Aaron was feeling by looking at his urgent expression. So, to tell him to snap out of it, Je-rim secretly stepped on Aaron’s foot.

After the fleeting kiss, the congratulatory speeches from friends followed. The first was Glenn.

“Jerry, from now on, when you fight, don’t agonize over whether to hold on or not—just apologize first. That is the fate of a married man.”

Next was Mateo.

“Aaron, you too, stop asking me how Jerry is doing after you fight and just solve it yourself… I didn’t even know you two were in that kind of relationship, so I said some unnecessary things back then…”

These guys, seriously. They probably hadn’t even met that often, yet they seemed to have conspired together.

The speeches that followed were similar. A total of eight people gave speeches, and only Reman and Craig gave words that could actually be called ‘congratulatory speeches.’ Even Coach Louis, whom he had trusted, recited their childhood dark histories.

Thanks to that, the atmosphere of the ceremony became even more cheerful, and people who weren’t scheduled to speak stepped forward one after another. Coach Verdi skillfully managed the chaos. It was the charisma of a great coach from the old days.

As the wedding drew to a close, fireworks exploded here and there, and shouts of congratulations rang out. Je-rim and Aaron, smiling as they were showered with petals and rice, signed the marriage certificate and kissed once more.

With this, they had truly, officially become a married couple.

At a distance where their lips were almost touching, Aaron asked with a curve in his eyes.

“Je-rim, are you happy?”

“Yeah, it’s great… I think I’d be happy even if I did the wedding one more time.”

“One more time? With whom?”

“Asking something ridiculous again. Hmm, with a pure-looking blonde beauty?”

“…Are you really going to be like this even at your own wedding?”

“That’s why I told you not to ask obvious questions. Who else would I marry? You, of course.”

The cumbersome and annoying preparation process was instantly forgotten; it was a perfect wedding, to the point where he felt that experiencing it was the right choice because he was so full of happiness, joy, and pleasure.

✲✲✲

After the long lunch ended, it was time for the reception party to begin in earnest. Since the reception was scheduled to take place all night at Aaron’s mansion, they had to move locations.

While guiding the guests to the pre-arranged buses, Je-rim saw a familiar figure trying to slip away without boarding. Je-rim hurried after him.

“You came all this way, and you’re not even attending the reception?”

“…”

When he grabbed the man’s arm and turned him around, his former teacher, whom he hadn’t seen for several years, stood there with a face older than he remembered.

Je-rim himself didn’t know why he felt the need to send an invitation to Ju-han. Perhaps it was because so much time had passed that forgiveness had come naturally, or perhaps he was curious about how he was doing, or perhaps his curiosity was piqued because he couldn’t imagine what expressions they would make if they faced each other again.

Despite having decided to invite him, he had worried that it would be unspeakably awkward since they hadn’t seen each other for so long, but to his surprise, it felt completely normal. Je-rim crossed his arms and spoke casually to Ju-han, who couldn’t bring himself to meet his eyes.

“I’m fine now, so just take a good hit from Aaron and let’s call it even.”

“…Are you telling me to die?”

“If that were my intention, I wouldn’t have sent the invitation in the first place. You know my personality.”

This was sincere. If there had been even a shred of reluctance left, he would never have invited the very person who had ruined his relationship with Aaron long ago to the wedding. Nor would he have been curious about his current whereabouts.

During the period of severance from Ju-han, Je-rim’s trust had gradually shifted. Rather than Ju-han, who had deleted all traces of Aaron’s attempts to contact him and drove a wedge between them, Je-rim wanted to believe in the Ju-han who had kept Aaron’s voice messages for over ten years before finally delivering them. He wanted to believe that this was the true nature of the mentor he had known since childhood.

Moreover, seeing him come such a long way to celebrate his disciple’s marriage despite wearing the face of a sinner, Je-rim felt his judgment had been correct. Je-rim tugged on Ju-han’s sleeve once more.

“Come with me. Aaron knows you’re here, Coach. He gave his permission.”

“…….”

“My husband isn’t that narrow-minded. You know that, right? That he’s a good guy.”

“…I know.”

As the admission of Aaron’s character left Ju-han’s lips, the corners of Je-rim’s mouth curled up unconsciously. Feeling unexpectedly excited, Je-rim linked arms with Ju-han and spoke affectionately, just as he had in his youth.

“Then let’s go. I told you the party will be fun.”

“What’s an old man like me doing at a party…. I should just drink with your father.”

With a faint smile, Ju-han followed where Je-rim led.

The distance from the cathedral to Aaron’s estate was relatively short, and they arrived by bus in the blink of an eye. The employees had already finished preparing the party in the mansion and the garden.

Seeing the DJ booth set up in a corner of the garden, Edson’s eyes sparkled, and he tried to run toward it. Aaron grabbed Edson by the scruff of his neck and gave a stern warning to those who were already looking for alcohol.

“It’s fine to party, but the music and lights in the garden must be turned off after midnight. Keep that in mind.”

Noise regulations at night were quite strict in this neighborhood. Although they had asked for the neighbors’ understanding regarding the wedding reception, it was impossible to party boisterously outdoors past midnight. Since they could simply move inside the mansion then anyway, it wasn’t a particularly problematic restriction.

“Okay!”

Everyone shouted their response loudly to Aaron’s request. Then, like children at an amusement park, they swarmed toward a corner of the garden. It was where the bar was located.

Once everyone had a bottle of beer tucked under their arms, Edson’s DJing began. Since the party had just started and it was still early evening, the music was more subdued than expected, as if he intended to keep things classy for now.

The garden quickly became crowded with people dancing with their partners, those searching for food, and those chatting to the beat of the music. The older guests, instead of joining the dance party, sat on benches drinking tea or headed inside the mansion.

Je-rim and Aaron naturally belonged to the former group. Aaron didn’t seem inclined to stop him from drinking today. Je-rim took a cocktail and danced with Aaron, glass in hand.

As the party progressed, the sky grew dark and the atmosphere ripened. Once night fell, the music shifted to the kind of EDM one would hear in a Club. Dazzling lights flashed incessantly around the garden’s fountain, the bar, and the DJ booth. The drunken guests threw off their suits and ties, diving into the fountain and pool or giggling as they buried their faces in chocolate fondue.

Je-rim laughed as he smeared chocolate on Aaron’s cheek. He had only had a couple of cocktails, but since he had such a low tolerance for alcohol, his mind was hazy yet purely joyful. Aaron deeply licked Je-rim’s fingers, which had become stained with chocolate while smearing it on him. Since everyone around them had long since lost their sanity, there was no need to worry.

“Haha! Ah, hng… it tickles! Stop licking! Are you a dog?”

“Yeah, a black dog.”

“Ugh, why are you bringing up the ‘black dog’ thing from way back?”

As he gave a small scold and pressed his lips against Aaron’s, the rich scent of chocolate paralyzed his sense of smell. The chocolate on Aaron’s lips transferred to Je-rim’s. As he licked his lips, the pungent taste of cacao spread through his mouth.

The moment Aaron saw Je-rim’s red tongue peek out, he swallowed those lips again. Even in his intoxicated state, Je-rim had enough awareness to know they shouldn’t deep kiss in front of their friends, so he calmed Aaron down.

“Ngh, hey, not here… any more than this….”

“Shall we go inside?”

There was no reason to refuse. Je-rim let himself be led by Aaron. After entering the mansion and finding an empty room, they slammed the door shut and immediately locked lips frantically.

From the hallway beyond the door, the sounds of people chatting, music, and footsteps echoed continuously. Because of that, he didn’t feel like doing anything beyond kissing, but the situation of sneaking off to hook up like this was strangely exciting.

Aaron seemed equally excited; panting, he lifted Je-rim and set him on the windowsill. Perched on the windowsill behind the drawn curtains, Je-rim wrapped his legs around Aaron’s waist and opened his mouth. Sweet saliva pooled in their mouths, and hot breaths flowed down their throats. Just as his breathing became labored and his head began to spin, Aaron pulled away first.

“Je-rim, you drank a lot. Your breath smells like cocktails.”

“Not really…. I only had two glasses.”

“It’ll be a problem if you forget today entirely.”

“Why, are you worried? That I’ll completely forget we got married?”

“Given your track record, I have every reason to be.”

“Ah, just because I forgot once!”

Aaron grabbed the hand of the shouting Je-rim and carefully licked the remaining chocolate from between each of his fingers.

“That one time you forgot was a huge deal.”

“I told you, I’m really sorry about that. But I don’t forget the promises I make to you now.”

Je-rim flicked his ticklish fingers and looked straight into Aaron’s eyes. His eyes, which usually held a brilliant intelligence, were slightly blurred by the alcohol, but the sincerity within them shone as always.

“I’ll never forget that we got married today. How could I forget this? I’m so happy.”

Reading the look in Je-rim’s eyes, Aaron curled his lips as if he couldn’t hold back and slowly interlaced their fingers.

“You acted like preparing for the wedding was a chore that was killing you, so I didn’t know you’d be this happy today.”

“I didn’t know I’d be like this either. I guess if it’s with you, I just like it in the end.”

“What would you have done if I hadn’t kept the promise I made back then?”

“I wonder. Maybe I would’ve become a lonely old man.”

“You? That would’ve been my future.”

“No, besides you… there was no one else I liked enough to want to marry. Even though you always condemn my past as being like a rag.”

If Aaron hadn’t kept the promise to hold onto him at least once even after they broke up. If they had just left the past in the past and never seen each other again.

Then he probably would have lived his whole life without ever feeling the kind of happiness he felt now. He could assert this one thing for certain.

Well, he wouldn’t have felt a pain as if his life were ending or chewed over extreme regret just because he didn’t meet Aaron again. But he would never have enjoyed this dreamlike happiness.

He would have lived each day normally, always carrying an unknown void and loneliness like a weight hanging in a corner of his heart. Just as he had before meeting Aaron again.

Of course, it wasn’t as if they spent every single day laughing after being reunited. If one could always be happy without any worries or anxieties, they would either be a protagonist in a children’s cartoon or someone mentally unstable. Since he was born a sane human being, it was right to assume that was impossible.

Besides….

‘We bicker quite often.’

Aaron was his most beloved partner in the world, but also a close friend who shared his school days. Both were playful and had strong personalities. Above all, both he and Aaron had terrible ways of speaking whenever they were upset.

Because of that, things that started as jokes often escalated into quite large clashes. Sometimes they were so obnoxious it was hard to bear, sometimes they fought loudly, and sometimes the resentment didn’t clear, leading them to sleep back-to-back in the same bed.

But in the end, they would giggle while throwing spiteful jokes at each other, loud shouting would lead to loud moans, and though they fell asleep facing away, they would wake up tangled together like vines.

After such years repeated, they had finally reached the day they officially became a married couple.

Je-rim occasionally felt a sense of happiness so intense it took his breath away just from this one obvious fact. Aaron likely felt the same. Despite the significant amount of time they had spent together, and even the significant time they had spent apart, he was more grateful than anything that they had remained unchanged in the end. Aaron probably prayed every day with this same heart.

It was only now that he fully understood why Aaron had tattooed the words of the ‘Song of Eternal Glory,’ and why he had wanted to follow suit and get the same tattoo. Then, without even realizing it, his lips opened on their own and poured out love.

“I love you. Since I was young, you’re the only person I’ve loved. The person I liked enough to want to marry, the person I want to stay touched with forever—it’s all you.”

“Me too. I love you, my heaven. But Je-rim, I think you’re a bit too drunk….”

Aaron smiled like a boy who couldn’t contain his joy at those words. Then, for Je-rim, whose face was flushed from alcohol and heat, he opened the window slightly and pressed their foreheads together.

“I’m really going to cry if you forget everything tomorrow.”

“Cry all you want. Even your crying face is….”

He couldn’t finish the sentence—that it was a turn-on because of the unexpectedness. It was because the thumping noise leaked through the narrow gap of the open window. Until just now, when the window and door were tightly shut, he hadn’t noticed it because of the music and the sound of footsteps flowing through the mansion.

Je-rim, reacting first, tilted his head.

“What is that sound?”

The clock hands had already passed midnight. In other words, it was time for the people partying in the garden to turn off the music and move inside or go to sleep. Despite this, feeling anxious about the noise coming from outside, Je-rim pulled back the curtains.

“…What is that outside? Am I dreaming…?”

The moment he opened the curtains, he saw a scene of brilliant psychedelic lights flashing outside. The source was, naturally, the garden of Aaron’s estate.

“Those crazy bastards!”

Seeing this, Aaron gasped and rushed out. Je-rim, his drunkenness instantly vanishing, followed after Aaron.

Since they were all people who knew their limits, he had expected them to tidy up the garden and move inside after midnight as requested. But that was an expectation one could have of people in their right minds, not of people who were completely wasted.

If he had heard the noise from outside, he might have noticed sooner…. Unfortunately, since they were deeply immersed in their time together and the party was also ongoing inside the mansion, he hadn’t realized. He never dreamed that crazy people would be doing crazy things outside at this hour.

By the time the two, who realized the fact too late, went out to the garden, the situation was already over.

“Police! Mr. Reyes, we received a report of noise pollution. Please open the gate.”

The sound of banging on the main gate and the repeated ringing of the doorbell blended into the EDM music that was still echoing like sound effects. The police car lights visible over the wall added vivid primary colors to the psychedelic lights flashing in the garden.

Je-rim and Aaron looked at each other and clenched their fists with trembling hands.

We’re fucked.

As a reflection on the end of a day where a perfect wedding had been held, a truly vulgar and crude phrase popped into both of their heads simultaneously.

✲✲✲

……

Did everyone see the article..?

⤷ I saw it, but I can’t believe it…

⤷ Was South Korea hacked or something?

⤷⤷ It’s news from Spain and the whole world is flipping out right now..

I mean…

Police dispatched to Aaron’s house for noise pollution -> That can happen.

They were having a wedding reception -> Oh, did someone in Aaron’s family get married?

Football Saints from all over the world were gathered -> Huh…? Why is the guest list like this?

The protagonists of the wedding were Aaron and Ban Je-rim -> ??

⤷ I thought it was a lie when I heard they got reported for playing EDM past midnight;

⤷⤷ But then I heard the person playing the music was Edson, so I understood.

⤷ What is this, seriously.

⤷ It looks like a total lie, but the fact that it’s real is fucking wild.

A true great man is

A great man who takes responsibility for the public’s dopamine even after retirement.

⤷ The probability that this is a misreport or a tabloid…

⤷⤷ Zero. It popped up as breaking news in Spain lol. Neither Aaron nor Ban Je-rim have given an explanation.

Ban Je-rim’s statement popped up on Insta Story.

He basically says since it’s come to this, just congratulate them with a broad heart.

⤷ ..Excuse me? Is this really a statement?

⤷ What exactly has “come to this” lololol

⤷ He doesn’t tell us anything and just suddenly asks for congratulations.

⤷ Is it for real that he posted it as a story? Is he actually insane?

A legendary Football Saint who retired recently gets married in the world’s first same-sex marriage with a fellow legendary colleague, and The statement is just one line.

And it’s only public for 24 hours.

⤷ It’s not even that they “plan” to, they were caught during the reception and it got leaked ffs

⤷ Isn’t Jerry the first among Korean celebrities to openly do a same-sex marriage like this?

⤷ As expected, a great man rewrites history.

Aaron posted on Insta too.

A marriage certificate with his and Ban Je-rim’s names on it lolol

⤷ These deceivers, are they really not going to post a proper statement?

⤷ This is all they have to say while paralyzing social media worldwide?

I thought they were just joking around.

Of course! Je-ron’s behavior has been a bit suspicious lately.

Sometimes it didn’t seem like a joke.

Honestly, very occasionally, I thought if that’s what a friend is, I’m less than a firefly.

I wondered if those guys thought all humans on Earth had the intuition of an amoeba.

The joint retirement was weird too.

But still, to just… get married as soon as they retired…

⤷ After turning the entire population of 8.2 billion minus 2 into a firefly club, they finally got married.

Prejudice was a good thing.

Because it had been packaging this crazy couple as “friends” all this time.

⤷ Fuck! Why did you work so hard, Prejudice?

⤷ Honestly, Prejudice was slacking off around the time they were about to retire.

⤷⤷ Sir, that wasn’t slacking, it was collapsing after using all its inherent power. It died of natural causes.

⤷ Prejudice did as much as it could.

In the national football fandom, Ban Je-rim-left was the major ship.

Lol, now it’s truly the end of the world, kyah.

⤷ Don’t do this here, go back to your original habitat.

⤷ Just because Je-rim-ssi did something crazy, other crazy people are popping up like loaches jumping out of water.

⤷ The way they mumble excitedly about things only they know is exactly like a total loser.

⤷⤷ You seem to know better than anyone else though lol. Are you crying?

But the person who wrote the post above,

And a few others.. why do you seem so excited?

⤷ Because.. we don’t get along…

⤷ OP, who and who? Ban Je-rim and Aaron? Didn’t they marry because they reconciled??

⤷ Heungseon Daewongun faction vs. Sadaejuui faction.

⤷ OP What?

⤷ The Ban Je-rim-left national team faction and the Only-Ron-Je faction. Sigh, you’re legendary for having no clue.

⤷ OP What the hell is “left” ㅠㅠ

⤷ You just go hold hands with the excited people.

⤷ OP You might not know, but you’re being such a dick. What the fuck, just go suck a dick.

⤷ That’s actually related to the last insult you used…

Stop making gay jokes here, you idiots.

Have some shame.

⤷ Report every single one you see.

⤷⤷ Can you even report it? They actually went and got married,, now it’s just stating facts.

⤷ The protagonists turned the jokes into reality, so what do you want us to do? Did we order them to become gay??

⤷⤷ 22 We’re confused right now too, okay?

⤷⤷⤷ 3 If we had actually ordered it, I’d at least feel wronged, fuck.

But strictly speaking,

Isn’t the side claiming it’s a gay “joke” the one actually joking?

⤷ Right, it’ll probably be in their biography that the two got married ㅎㅎ

⤷ Ban Je-rim Biography – Life After Retirement

Right now, the boundary

Between the underground and the surface has become too blurred. Let’s all return to our respective habitats.

⤷ True, the harmony of yin and yang isn’t that great.

⤷ It’s a topic that would cause a stir on both sides..

⤷ Let’s just mix for today, it’s fun.

⤷ I have to release this dopamine somewhere to survive.

That person should’ve appeared by now.

Gam-jeong-jwa,, I haven’t seen them for a few years? Did they leave the fandom?

⤷ ㅇㅅㅇ I’m here?

⤷⤷ Long time no see. Look at how the emojis have become milder with age.

⤷⤷⤷ ^^1 Fuck, what have you been doing? I missed your serious nonsense.

⤷ ㅇㄷ Since you guys didn’t give a shit about my stories and just beat me up… I left to find comrades… I even mastered Spanish ㅇㅅㅇb ⤷⤷ Just how deep into the abyss did you go? shudder

When my daughter was little, she kept singing and singing that she wanted to marry Ban Je-rim, but now that she’s grown, is that why? She’s calm.

Actually, she just keeps giggling. She used to cry more than someone watching ‘Living Alone’ lol

⤷ It seems your daughter has also evolved into a being of another dimension over the past 8 years, Father.

⤷ The broadcasting stations are largely to blame for this…

⤷ They might be comrades with Gam-jeong-jwa.

Who touched the Ban Je-rim and Aaron Wiki entries again?

Who changed WAGs to HABs?

⤷ Husbands And Boyfriends? Actually, this fits lol

⤷ We should take this chance to add some new slang to reflect the trends

⤷ Just expanding the global village~

I actually like how they’re just letting it slide so casually.

If they had released a serious official statement, I feel like the reaction in our country—maybe not Spain—wouldn’t have been very favorable… It feels like everyone just got swept up in Je-rim’s pace and went, “Uh… they got married? Ah, okay okay…” and it’s just drifting along haphazardly ㅠ

⤷ Agreed. He handled it in a way that’s so typical of Ban Je-rim ㅋㅋㅋ

⤷ The situation is a bit too absurd to react to seriously lol

⤷⤷ The kind of marriage that gets revealed when the police show up—this is it

Ha, getting married in secret,

And then getting caught because the police raided the place after a noise complaint… that is just so Jerry.

⤷ Edson, why on earth did you play EDM at the reception?

⤷⤷ He probably got killed by Je-rim this time for sure

⤷⤷ Come to think of it, Song hasn’t updated his Insta since the articles came out… Did he actually die?

⤷⤷ Right, he’s the kind of guy who’d get stitched up every time he swallowed

⤷⤷⤷ rest in piece of cake,,

Song Ed.

From now on, you are a proud great figure of the Republic of Korea.

⤷ Give him a Pulitzer

⤷ I’ve always been in favor of Song naturalizing since way back

⤷ It looks like he already died at Je-rim’s hands, so let’s push for his interment at the National Cemetery

⤷ A true GOAT who burned his own body to reveal his colleagues’ marriage to the whole world…

The grandpa who did the marriage fortune-telling for Aaron back then—

He posted on his blog asking if something happened because he’s getting flooded with reservation inquiries.

He says he can’t even open the philosophy center often because of his health ㅜㅋㅋㅋ

⤷ Korea’s Nostradamus

⤷ Grandfather, all that’s left for you now is to walk the path of money. Please enjoy it.

⤷ A case where the luck in old age completely exploded

⤷⤷ That’s true, but why does it sound so irreverent;

But about Je-rim,

Even if he registered the marriage in Spain, he’s still single in Korea, right? Right?

⤷ What are you planning to do?

⤷ OP: No, I mean if he’s single on paper… hmm, isn’t it worth a try?

⤷⤷ If you have the confidence to fight Aaron in real life, go for it

⤷⤷ OP: ^^.. I think I value my life more than love

Ban Je-rim’s youth days documentary.

He probably won’t sue me if I release it now, right?ㅎ?

(Drive Link)

Deleting in 30 seconds

⤷ Huh??

⤷ There was someone who had this video??

⤷ Thank you, thank you, thank you so much, really thank youㅠㅠㅠ

⤷ Wow, this was a broadcast on a tiny soccer-specialized cable channel almost 20 years ago;; I can’t believe someone has this Piano, Go, calligraphy, Taekwondo…

Little Jerry, who got kicked out of all those academies and eventually drifted into a soccer academy…

⤷ The tear-jerking determination of parents trying to make the kid behave somehow

⤷⤷ All crushed ㅜ

⤷ What on earth did you do for your mom to describe you as a “flying monkey brat,” Jerry…

⤷ The reason he started soccer is so fucking absurd lol

⤷⤷ “Because he got kicked out of all the academies”

Wait, why did he get kicked out of the Taekwondo gym?

That’s usually the final destination for kids with too much energy.

⤷ They said as soon as the kindergartner learned the flying kick, he smashed the nose of a 3rd-grade Hyung who was shaking kids down for money ⤷⤷ The fact that he specifically waited for sparring time to do it is legendary, seriously

⤷⤷ A 6-year-old who actually realized he’d get in trouble if he hit people normally,,

⤷⤷ An exceptionally fair-and-square little rat

Kim Aron (16) doing his homework on the bench after being called up to the first team.

(Photo)

Ban Je-rim (16), the owner of the homework, shamelessly sipping a water bottle next to him, pretending it’s not his homework.

⤷ ??? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ No, seriously Je-rim;;

⤷ Did the teachers not know about this sly trick? ㅋㅋㅋ

⤷⤷ He probably lived up to his “rat” nickname with the teachers there too

⤷ That’s a homework shuttle right there, damn. He really acted like a bully in Spain.

⤷⤷ A case where the pot that leaks inside leaks like crazy outside too

Aaron and the homework shuttle.

This is a very rare combination.

⤷ Looking at them, he probably did bread shuttle duties too

⤷ A mafia face with neat handwriting… and a shuttle instinct perfectly ingrained in his body

The coach’s expression watching him do the homework ㅋㅋㅋ

He could have scolded them, but he just watches with a fond smile, fuck ㅋㅋㅋ

⤷ His favorite❤️ and his favorite’s favorite❤️

⤷ That coach is Garcia, right? Former Chairman of Tavarona

⤷⤷ Yup

⤷ Was Rami there 20 years ago too? Your teeth are dazzling, Chairman

Garcia was always

sooooo famous for favoring players since his time as coach ㅋㅋ Aaron was the one he pampered the most,, that’s why he went full “I can’t let you go even if I die, how could you leave us, we were so good together, Tavarona is you and you are Tavarona, if you’re leaving you must step over this Godfather” Ari-and-Meta mode 🙂 ⤷ -Stepped lightly over the Godfather and free transfer End-

⤷ This is hilarious. When Aaron was injured, he was practically protesting to the fans, saying “Isn’t he just tossing him aside now?” and telling them not to act like shit lol ⤷⤷ At that time, Garcia was the Vice Chairman and the Chairman who was the problem resigned. Well, Aaron probably felt the same sense of betrayal though…

Why is it so tense between Jerry and Mateo?

He even tells Mateo to fuck off at his loan farewell party. Didn’t they film a sitcom together during the last Spanish national team visit to Korea?

⤷ They didn’t get along originally

⤷ Both Ban Je-rim and Mateo had insane tempers

⤷ A case where both became milder as they aged

⤷⤷ …Really?

Honestly, Ban-ssi is still sly and provocative now,

But he was even slippier and more provocative when he was young. I totally understand why Mateo is shaking.

⤷ There’s a reason his best friend Yeo-bin got pissed and beat him up…

⤷⤷ The legendary Yeo-bin Hit ㅋㅋㅋ

What is the Yeo-bin Hit?

On the day his military exemption was confirmed…

Ban Je-rim was being endlessly provocative in front of a sobbing Song Yeo-bin, who was overwhelmed with emotion, and Song Yeo-bin couldn’t take it anymore and assaulted him.

⤷ “Are you crying? You’re crying? Did you hate the idea of going to the army that much? Pahahahaㅋㅋㅋ Private Song! Yeo! Bin!!!!” (Gets hit in the head and collapses) ⤷ I remember the broadcast back then: “The two lamps of Korean soccer provide laughter until the very end!”

⤷ Personally, it’s a tie with Ban Je-rim’s “Sassy!”

The 20 minute 10 second part of the documentary…

Why does Jerry kiss Aaron’s forehead while he’s sitting on the bench, ruffle his hair, and run away?

⤷ I’ve rewatched that scene about 1234 times

⤷⤷ Crazy, you’ve seen it a lot in such a short time

⤷ Even the background with the bright sunlight is so damn perfect

⤷ Smooch! Slide… thud… Smooch! Slide… thud… Smooch! Slide… thud… Smooch!

⤷⤷ You crazy people, please stop ㅜㅜㅋㅋㅋ

They fought a bit during the game,

So he kissed him because he wanted to make up…?

⤷ ㅋㅋㅋ High schoolers in the middle of a messy-ass romance~~

⤷ Aaron’s reaction is the real deal. He’s completely dazed..ㅎ

⤷ In Spain, they saw all this and there were no dating rumors…?

⤷⤷ Since they were kids, the general reaction was that they were just playing around

⤷⤷ Ah, Mr. Prejudice, since when have you been working? How have you lived your life?

⤷⤷⤷ And if you watch the video, you can’t tell if Aaron’s expression is a straight face because he’s displeased or if he’s frozen because he’s shy,, ⤷⤷ Who on earth describes a boyfriend with those visuals as “like a black puppy”

Ari~ Bunny~

These crazy high schoolers had no intention of hiding it ㅋㅋㅋ It seems they really saw no one but each other.

⤷ Just imagine how much they liked each other ㅋㅋ

⤷ What is this??

⤷⤷ Pet names used by two male high schoolers (190cm/181cm) for each other lol

⤷ He says “Oh, it’s just a nickname we call each other for fun sometimes,” but his eyes are completely gone, Je-rim-ah, who would believe that ㅠㅠㅋㅋㅋ

⤷ Finally, the truth behind the chick-rabbit madness is revealed

⤷ These crazy things. Cunning things. Wicked things. Nefarious things.

So Kim Aron

had to balance soccer, studying, and being his boyfriend’s homework shuttle throughout his entire teens…?

⤷ Yes.

⤷ A high schooler fallen into a vicious first love is like a pushover

⤷ The fact that he even completed high school is a true miracle, and he lived such a busy life on top of that

⤷⤷ If he hadn’t played soccer, he’d be a talent who went to a top Korean university

⤷ Then why did Ban Je-rim even go to high school ㅜㅋㅋㅋ

Their schedules really forced them to be stuck together all day.

It can’t be helped. It’s natural for high-energy boys to develop feelings when gathered together.

⤷ What kind of world are you living in alone?

⤷ Get a grip;

⤷ Military: ?

⤷⤷ There are no faces like Jerry’s in the military

⤷⤷ Even if there were, feelings usually don’t develop…

⤷⤷ They do. My senior was gorgeous, and I felt butterflies every time he smiled at me

⤷⤷ Who the hell is this guy

Thoughts on the documentary:

It wasn’t taken down because of portrait rights, but because they didn’t want their relationship to be discovered.

⤷ How dare you use such cunning tactics against the entire nation?

⤷ Now that I’ve seen it, I get it. If it hadn’t been taken down, the Spanish royal family would have already discussed everything from their meeting to their breakup-reunion-royal wedding.

⤷ It was deleted before I could get it, what was it like?

⤷⤷ It’s just like a teen romance movie set in a pretty seaside village;; Even the cinematography is unnecessarily insane, fuck ⤷⤷ I feel like the director forgot his duty halfway through and let his artistic soul burn

⤷⤷⤷ For real, there are more scenes of them wandering around in school uniforms than in their kits. What was he thinking?

Fuck, Je-rim-ah, you who had an amazing romance in high school.

Go bow your head to your parents who supported you so you could play soccer.

⤷ He did both romance and soccer, what’s with the boomer mindset

⤷ Our Jerry caught both rabbits

⤷⤷ Aaron said Ban Je-rim is the rabbit~

⤷ Aron caught three rabbits then lol

So it wasn’t just that they fought and didn’t speak for 10 years,

But they dated and broke up… it was really because of that?? Crazy.

⤷ Yes, based on the circumstancesㅎ 100%ㅎ

⤷ Now their actions make sense.. Ban Je-rim, who refused to go to the Ballon d’Or ceremony until he died, or Aaron, who suddenly did a free transfer..

⤷⤷ One who tried his best not to meet, and one who tried his best to meet somehow

⤷⤷ The protagonist of human victory, Kim Aron

It wasn’t just the documentary; they were making it obvious even back then.

Insta accounts created on the same day;; Only following each other until Jerry’s transfer;; Isn’t that a total love-stagram?

⤷ The icing on the cake was when they unfollowed each other on the day they broke up, leaving only Aaron with 0 following ⤷⤷ Just scream at the top of your lungs that you broke up, you crazy high schoolers, fuck

⤷ Honestly, fans who followed them since their youth days had a hunch,,

⤷ ㅎㅎ… It was hard keeping it a secret. Live well.

⤷⤷ You too? Me too… I cheered when the youth documentary was taken down ㅠ

Wait, until now,

I was too scared to even make jokes because of the people who would scold you if you seriously suspected something between Aaron and Ban Je-rim!! Was it actually the fans’ tearful, trembling effort to hide it?

⤷ -Yes…

⤷ Sorry,,

⤷ They broke up once… I never imagined they’d get marriedㅎ…

Do you know why they broke up?

It doesn’t show in the video.

⤷ Do you think something like that would be in there?

⤷ Local Gungye theory is that Aaron’s first-team entry + long distance + Aaron’s scandal + World Cup all combined together ㅇㅇ

⤷ The general consensus is that the point they unfollowed each other after the World Cup was the definitive breakup point.

⤷ Gasp,, I thought Je-rim unfollowed him because he was b- petty ㅜ

Then what was the Aaron-Delgado scandal?

Did this guy cheat?

⤷ Huh, this piece of trash?? Jerry, spit on him right now

⤷ An article just popped up ˗ˋˏThey were siblingsˎˊ˗

⤷⤷ Eh??

Breaking news from Hollywood (new!)

Delgado is announcing it as a wedding gift for his “alter ego.”

He says since Reyes is an illegitimate child, he and Aaron are siblings lol.

So obviously, there was never any cheating to begin with lol. He says they should be happy.

⤷ The dopamine is insane. My brain is melting.

⤷ Even the soccer fans’ interest in Je-ron’s marriage has ignited because of Delgado, fuck ㅋㅋㅋ

⤷⤷ Call it football, you brat

⤷ When does this brain-melting show end? Save me, please.

Je-rim unfollowed first, right?

Then Je-rim was the one who dumped him ㅇㅅㅇㅋ

⤷ Everyone, you must remember that Je-rim made a bizarre, huge mistake at the World Cup before that.

⤷⤷ No way, was it because he was dumped by Aaron…?

⤷ Before that, you must remember that Aaron was stuck on the bench due to a slump lol. He was mocked so much back then.

⤷⤷ The slump started after Je-rim transferred, right? ㅎㅎㅎ..

⤷ The two of them each ruined their careers once to film a youth movie.

You know that interview Aaron did after the match against Korea in the World Cup long ago.

The original text was, “Why are they asking me what his mistake has to do with me scoring? Even if the starting point was Je-rim’s mistake, in the end, it’s because the Korean defenders couldn’t stop me (fuck), so stop with the transparent questions and take care of your professional ethics.” ㅋㅋㅋ

But that trash reporter left out the end when interviewing Jerry and said, “Reyes asked what he has to do with you, ebebe~” and it’s so o- obvious that Je-rim’s mental broke… you high schoolers ㅜㅜ

⤷ So Kim Aron was the one and only existence capable of shattering Ban Je-rim’s mental…

⤷ And starting with the shit he gave the reporter back then, Aaron’s long-standing hatred for reporters began..

⤷⤷ Was that really the trigger?

⤷⤷ Yup.. Even in his youth, he wasn’t the type to lash out so openly ㅋㅋㅋ He already had a bit of a rude way of speaking because of the “rich boy + genius” pampered combo, but he really turned dark from that point on.

⤷ Wow, the pleasure of the puzzle pieces fitting together one by one;;

⤷ They really had a vicious love.

Now that they’re married,

Look at all the people who were holding it in finally letting it all out.

⤷ Imagine how itchy their tongues must have been.

⤷ That youth documentary was like a mythical creature, a giraffe ㅋㅋㅋ

⤷⤷ It was like a folk tale passed down by word of mouth, seriously…

No wonder Ban Je-rim’s ideal type was always the same.

He only dated people who looked like Aaron lol.

Because he couldn’t forget his first love subconsciously lol.

⤷ Fuck, is this a slut or a pure heart?

⤷ This is the pure heart of a slut.

“I’ll seduce them even if they’re a man as long as they’re my ideal type” (x)

“The original ideal type was ‘Him'” (o)

⤷ Sorry for distorting the sequence of events, Je-rim-ah.

⤷ With that personality, he couldn’t even say it truthfully, he must have been beyond furious.

⤷ ?? Ah fuck! My ideal type was originally Aaron! I didn’t seduce him because he was my ideal type! I’m a man of principle in my own way!

⤷⤷ Ban Je-rim’s principle -> Steadfastly dating only sexy hot girls

⤷⤷ He says it couldn’t be helped because his original ideal type was the sexy hot girl style.

⤷⤷ But Aaron isn’t a… girl, right? He’s literally testosterone itself.

⤷⤷ Opposites attract.

Roughly, the timeline

calculated by Korean age is:

17: First meeting

17~19: Dating

19: Breakup after World Cup disaster

19~29: Gap

29: Reunion

37 (Current): Marriage

Is that it??

⤷ Yeah, thanks for the summary

⤷ Marrying your first love after 20 years… the romance is insane ㄷㄷ

⤷ Looking at it this way, it’s even more vicious.

So we’ve been living

in a giant “reunion” universe for a whole 20 years?

⤷ Wow, wicked, truly wicked. To hide it this long.

⤷ Please let this not be a dream.

⤷ If it’s a dream, I’m going to die.

⤷⤷ Please don’t die..

Then for 10 years, Aaron

couldn’t forget his first love, so he chose the path of becoming a eunuch by having a show-window relationship with a half-sibling??

⤷ Come on, wouldn’t he have quietly dated a few other people?

⤷⤷ It was said that the only lover in Aaron’s life was the person who gave him those birthday gifts. And that was Ban Je-rim ㅋ

⤷⤷ .. I thought he was just a wolf in nickname, but he was the real deal.

⤷⤷ Practicing monogamy with his own body.

Aaron’s reunion frequency.

Heard it vs Didn’t hear it.

⤷ He probably searched for and listened to everything from the Spanish ver, Korean ver, to the frequency that makes you a chick.

⤷⤷ As expected, our Aron is meticulous.

⤷ With that wealth, would he only listen to frequencies? He definitely got tarot readings too;

⤷⤷ He probably went on a tour of fortune tellers until he got the result he wanted.

⤷ Just how far has the status of the Spanish Wolf King fallen.. ㅜㅜㅜ

When Aaron won his third Ballon d’Or,

There was something he said in his acceptance speech that got him slammed as the King of Arrogance. Now that has room for another interpretation ㅎ

⤷ “Si es para ti volverá” this one?

⤷⤷ OP: Yup

⤷ Explain it to us, you rotten soccer nuts.

⤷⤷ It means “If it is meant for you, it will return,” and Aaron quoted that in his speech, saying it’s a phrase he personally likes.

⤷⤷ Wait, but because this was interpreted as “Winning the Ballon d’Or is my destiny, you scrubs lol”… he got slammed for being arrogant, saying “Is the Ballon d’Or naturally yours?” ㅋㅋㅋ

⤷ OP: What if Aaron wasn’t talking about the Ballon d’Or, but thinking of Je-rim? Hmmㅎ

⤷⤷ That’s too much of a stretch ㅎ

The interpretation of the third Ballon speech might not be a stretch.

The World Cup was held the year Aaron was injured, right? He won the World Cup and won the Ballon d’Or again that year ㅇㅇ But in one interview, he mentioned that he decided he had to transfer to Sefton when he was injured. Before that, he suffered from severe mannerism and only wondered whether to retire or not…

The fact that a man who was thinking of retiring specifically decided he had to “transfer” to “Sefton” the moment he got injured…

⤷ So, he lived with a mechanical heart after breaking up with his first love, then a change of heart occurred due to the injury, and he began to dream of reuniting with his first love? And he hinted at that in his Ballon speech?

⤷ Oh,, this guy really did r=vd (visualization) for the reunion?

⤷ Obsession is legendary.

The truth behind the greatest free transfer revealed after 8 years.

To get his first love back;

⤷ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

⤷ With this level of pure love, I have to acknowledge it.. I forgive you, Aron-ah.

⤷ I forgive him too.

⤷ Forgiveness complete.

⤷ I’m already using the jersey as a rag because I tore it apart… but Forgiveness +1.

To win back his first love,

A pure-blood youth born and raised in Tavarona

gave up the future of becoming a legendary one-club man, which is rarer than wild ginseng,

and gave up the vice-captaincy at a mega-big club on the level of Tavarona,

and bolted to a runner-up team as soon as the season ended after winning the Champions League.

Even the Spanish captain, who played only in La Liga his whole life, trudged his way to the PL as a foreign worker.

⤷ Crazy bastard(p)

⤷ From Tavarona’s perspective, isn’t this just the biography of a traitor, fuck.

⤷What’s the craziest thing Aron has done for love? – Me? Treason and becoming a foreign worker.

Translation of the speech and interview from Aaron’s fourth Ballon d’Or win:

“Last season was a challenge I bet my entire life on” = I transferred to catch my ex-boyfriend.

“Especially to my dear boss, who is like the sky to me, blah blah” = That ex-boyfriend is Ban Je-rim.

“This is divine providence; my prayers were answered” = We got back together.

“I received sneakers from my first love, and 11 years later, I received cufflinks lol” = I said we got back together.

“I am currently dating my first love” = Heehee.

⤷;; I get it, so shut up. You’re too loud, Kim Aron.

⤷He really shouted it from the rooftops lol.

Koreans are weak for pure love…

It can’t be helped, forgive Aron.

⤷It’s not just Koreans, people all over the world…

⤷Even the Tavarona people, who looked like they were going to kill him if he said he’d live in his hometown after retirement, went wild. They were like, “If that was the situation, why didn’t you tell us sooner?” lol.

⤷⤷Strange, I’m even more pissed… Didn’t he just abandon the team for mere love?

⤷⤷At this level of pure love, even Satan would be touched.

Tavarona, those petty bastards.

They’ve already forgiven everything, so now they’re making a fuss telling him to come back and be the manager.

⤷What are the people who burned his jersey and breathed in black smoke saying… Aaron, you’ll be the Sefton manager, right?

⤷You guys stop getting ahead of yourselves. Aaron just retired as a player the other day, okay? lol.

But would Aaron actually be a good manager?

Usually, geniuses… can’t understand why others can’t do it… ahem.

⤷?? Why can’t you put this in? I’m telling you to just go like this, this, dodge the defense, and put the ball in the goal?? Do you not understand?

⤷⤷Damn, this reminds me of my English tutor, I’m getting PTSD lol.

⤷⤷I think your tutor is the one who should have PTSD.

⤷⤷Wait, that’s a typo, you bastard.

Hey, why aren’t you considering that the club Aaron manages

will also get Ban Je-rim?

⤷Ah!

⤷The problem is Je-rim-ssi is also a genius.

⤷⤷Still, if you combine their football IQ… they’ll manage somehow.

⤷⤷?? I’m telling you to just predict the movement of the guy on the opposite side and put the ball in the space! Fuck, why can’t you do something this easy!!

⤷⤷Why has his temper become a level dirtier than Aaron’s predictive comments? T_T

⤷⤷Because that is Ban Je-rim.

I heard Jerry married a man,

but the focus has already shifted to Aaron’s managerial position, which hasn’t even started yet…

⤷Greed is bubbling up again…

⤷I guess Sefton and Tavarona are destined to fight forever lol.

⤷⤷Eh? Why fight? You need to be in the same weight class to fight. Aaron will come to Sefton anyway.

⤷⤷Nope lol. Aaron will spend the rest of his life in his beautiful hometown, Tavarona, where the scenery is great and the food is delicious ^^.

Fuck-varona is overestimating itself.

Shit-fton’s weather is trash, damn it. Quality of life is the worst, boo hoo.

⤷The two comments above, go back to elementary school.

Tavarona isn’t the only petty one.

Right now, Spain is also going wild, claiming Ban Je-rim is now a national hero of their country.

⤷What the fuck, in what era’s law does nationality change just because you get married?

⤷⤷It changes if you get citizenship…?

⤷⤷⤷We’ve been coveting Aron with that same logic all this time…

⤷Since they registered the marriage there, he’ll probably get permanent residency or citizenship in a few years.

⤷⤷No, no, citizenship is a no-go.

Are we just going to sit back and watch??

Let’s go to all-out war with those Sefton bastards. Are we going to let a national hero be stolen right before our eyes?

⤷Fuck, I absolutely cannot stand by and watch.

⤷But those guys are the ones who regret not naturalizing Je-rim during his youth days as a lifelong sorrow, so they’ll probably be relentlessly clingy; ⤷⤷We won’t lose to them when it comes to being clingy. Je-rim-ah, we’ll show you what a human slime is.

No, no, Ban Je-rim-ssi.

Your assets are the future of the Republic of Korea! Protect your nationality at all costs.

⤷I told you to naturalize Aaron, who told you to go, you fuck fuck fuck.

⤷I don’t know, just make both Aaron and Ban Je-rim Koreans and give them the duty of paying taxes.

⤷I don’t know about others, but Ban Je-rim-ssi must pay taxes to Korea for the rest of his life.

Just how much wealth do those two have

that everyone’s eyes are glittering like this? lol.

⤷At least 100 billion each.

⤷⤷What do you mean 100 billion… Jerry alone played for over 10 years with a salary equivalent to 30 billion… it’s at least 200 billion. Aaron probably has more.

⤷⤷No, Football Saints lose half their weekly wage to taxes, so the actual take-home pay isn’t that much.

⤷⤷Think about image rights and advertising fees + various match bonuses.

⤷⤷Even if he takes half, it’s 15 billion, and you’re saying that’s not much? lololol.

⤷⤷Sigh, suddenly hit by a wave of reality.

⤷If Je-rim-ssi’s daily wage was just my annual salary…

Fuck T_T

Just let them both be Korean!!

If they have a kid, make that kid a Korean national team player too!!

⤷How the fuck are those two going to have a kid? lol.

⤷This is the sight of a Korean who has finally gone mad from the sense of loss at the risk of losing a national hero.

But seriously, if a child is born with Aaron + Ban Je-rim’s genes,

it would be a real crazy football bombing machine hybrid 1st generation. What a waste.

⤷I imagined it and got goosebumps.

⤷A legendary talent born who can handle attack/passing/playmaking/defense/goalkeeping/managing/refereeing all by himself ㄷㄷㄷ.

⤷⤷At this point, the sport of football would just disappear.

Not just the football genes,

but the combination of face and physique would be killer too.

⤷The combination of genes from two alpha males… that works. That’s a definite.

⤷Make it happen.

What are the science people doing?

Work.

⤷The future of Korean football depends on you, science people.

⤷And what if that child becomes a Spanish national?

⤷⤷War again, without fail.

⤷⤷⤷We will never be robbed this time. We will fight with the spirit of “live to die, die to live.”

But wait, even if

science and technology advance… who gives birth to the baby?

⤷Hesitation…

⤷Isn’t it decided? There’s someone who wouldn’t even mind being a homework shuttle.

⤷⤷Please do not exhibit your abnormal sexual desires here ^^.

⤷⤷Lol? You shut your mouth plz 🙂

⤷Even the ones who worship foreigners are fighting tooth and nail ㄷㄷ.

It’s useless for us to fight among ourselves.

Whether it’s Je-Ron or Ron-Je, if Mr. Ban says “I hate it, you give birth lol,” Reman-ssi would happily follow…

⤷Master of character interpretation.

⤷This is the tasty part.

⤷⤷This is tast(y).

Is it for real that there isn’t a single post congratulating the marriage here?

Let’s put the dopamine aside for a moment and congratulate them.

⤷Congratulations.

⤷Congrats.

⤷Cong… I can’t congratulate them, what do I do, fuck.

⤷T_T T_T T_T

Because I loved Ban Je-rim the football player so much…

Now that he’s retired and even gotten married, I feel like it’s really over, so I’m feeling bittersweet…

⤷Me too T_T I liked Aaron so much that I even cheered for Spain during the World Cup T_T

⤷⤷Traitor apprehended.

⤷Watching the Football Saints I loved retire one by one, I feel like my own youth is fading…

⤷Me too… To me, Reman was always the youngest… and the Sefton captain was only Je-rim…

You people whining that it’s the end,

what’s the end? Aaron said with his own mouth that he’ll manage, and Jerry said the same when he retired—that he’s leaving the field now, but please look forward to his life after that.

⤷Right, those two are starting their second lives, so let’s not rain on their parade.

⤷Why do you talk like that? Are you a ‘T’?

⤷⤷OP: No, it’s just because people are saying it’s the end when there are people who will live happily in the future; I understand how everyone feels,

but let’s congratulate them anyway. We’ve all aged together watching Jerry since the days he was getting eggs thrown at him. Think of it as a friend you’ve known for a long time getting married.

⤷Come to think of it, Je-rim-ssi really had a damn long career as a Football Saint.

⤷⤷He spent a whopping 15 years as a Sefton slave.

⤷⤷Honestly, holding onto him any longer would be abuse… let him go.

⤷⤷Even while they’d say they’re managing him because of his age, the pattern was always “Oh? The game isn’t going well? -> Put in Ban Je-rim” fuck lol. He was really worked to death with Aaron.

⤷I’ll support Jerry for life, even if he’s not a Football Saint.

But seriously T_T

Where am I going to find a combination of a midfielder who pierces passes and long-range shots with laser precision and a legendary, perfectly hexagonal striker who is damn beautiful from now on? T_T

⤷For the striker, Reman is back, so that’s fine… for the midfielder, hmm… Je-Ron’s kid?

⤷⤷By the time that kid grows up, Reman will be managing.

⤷⤷Excuse me, I told you they can’t be born in the first place. They are an imaginary existence.

I told you to congratulate the marriage, but you’re whining and clinging again ㅡㅡ.

Let’s sincerely congratulate them again.

Ban Je-rim Kim Aron, live happily forever~

⤷Congratulations on the fruit of a crazy love.

⤷Live well. In the future, don’t play music in the early morning lol.

⤷It was an honor to be born in the same era and see you two play football together.

⤷AriBunny, let’s keep living funly in your own way.

⤷I hope you are as happy as I was joyful thanks to you two.

Eternal Summer (1)

The blazing midsummer sunlight passed straight through the bathroom window, heating the floor. The white tiles quickly absorbed the heat and became warm. Je-rim continued shaving on tiptoes, his feet bare without bathroom slippers.

“Hmm…”

After rinsing off the shaving foam, Je-rim observed his damp face and suddenly let out a sigh mixed with worry. As he turned his chin this way and that, the thought that had just occurred deepened, and a wrinkle formed between his brows.

He was handsome today too, but something… something… why did his cheeks feel puffier than usual? Was it just his imagination?

Je-rim splashed cold water on his face for no reason and looked in the mirror again. Even so, the feeling of being somewhat swollen didn’t disappear. Feeling an ominous premonition, he flicked up the black short-sleeved T-shirt he was wearing. He then looked at his abs in the mirror and fiddled with them.

The shape was still well-defined. However, the keen eye developed over years of professional athlete life sharply noticed the change in his body. It was an eye for detail created by the habit of observing his own body daily, identifying the physical conditions for peak performance, and repeatedly losing and gaining weight in 1g increments. Since retiring, he hadn’t managed his body to that extent, so he hadn’t noticed…

‘Did I… gain weight?’

The shape of his abs had blurred very faintly. He wanted to think positively—that it was because Aaron had dumped so much inside him last night—but he knew better than anyone that it was an absurd assumption. Just because Aaron had something like a horse’s dick didn’t mean he was actually a horse. A human couldn’t ejaculate enough semen to make a stomach bulge.

More than that, his face wasn’t just swollen from waking up; his jawline seemed… slightly more rounded…

As soon as he realized the truth he didn’t want to believe, he rushed out of the bathroom. As he thundered down the stairs, the fragrant scent of coffee began to waft through the air. It seemed Aaron, who was preparing for work, was brewing coffee. As soon as Je-rim spotted the back of his husband standing in front of the coffee machine, he shouted urgently.

“Aaron! Did I gain weight?”

Startled by the loud voice that came out of nowhere, Aaron’s shoulders flinched. He placed two steaming cups of freshly brewed coffee on the counter and turned around. Then, looking at Je-rim, he tilted his head.

“Weight? Suddenly, what? You’re probably just swollen because you just woke up.”

“No, touch it. Touch my abs!”

Knowing that if he asked him to look at his face, the guy would only say he looked cute like a plump rabbit, he shoved his body forward first. As if he wouldn’t decline, Aaron immediately reached out and felt Je-rim’s stomach. It was accompanied by a touch that felt somehow erotic and a sly smile.

“Are you seducing me from the morning? You didn’t gain—”

“…Why did you stop talking?”

Sensing his husband’s strange reaction, Je-rim immediately pressed him. However, Aaron didn’t answer and only gently stroked Je-rim’s jawline with his hand. Then, his eyes grew wider, and as he squished Je-rim’s cheeks with both hands, he slowly spoke.

“…Hmm, I did think you looked exceptionally lovely today…”

Hearing those words, Je-rim felt a tremendous sense of crisis.

Who was Aaron? He was a guy who had masturbated after seeing a press photo of Je-rim with a puffy face from eating and sleeping on a plane, calling him cute. For such a guy to evaluate him as looking ‘exceptionally’ lovely was absolutely not a good sign.

“Ah, I’m screwed. If it looks like that to your eyes, doesn’t that mean I’ve become a total pig?”

“A pig? Your face is always perfect. As long as you keep your mouth shut, you’re a living statue.”

Was this a compliment or a provocation? Aaron, lifting Je-rim’s chin as if appraising it, pulled one cheek hard with one hand. A satisfied smile hung on the corners of his mouth.

“And right now, cuteness has been added to that perfect face… so you’re truly lovely. Now, no one will laugh even if I say you’re like a rabbit.”

Rabbit my ass. It’ll only look like that to your eyes forever. And whoever you blabber that to will laugh at you. Je-rim slapped Aaron’s hand away and shouted, unable to contain his temper.

“In the end, you’re saying I did gain weight! Did you not feel me getting fat while we were having sex?”

“I did have a feeling you’ve become slightly softer than before.”

“Then you should have told me sooner!”

“No, I prefer this. Actually, it’s for the best. Why not try gaining a bit more? Like a rabbit that’s eaten plenty of hay and become plump…”

“Stop bullshitting. Ah, seriously, why did I gain weight?”

Je-rim looked down at his body again. At this rate, maybe he’d gained about 3kg. Since he didn’t weigh himself every day, it was an uncertain guess, but it seemed certain that he had gained between 3kg and 5kg.

Of course, it was still a good body. Since he had a naturally good frame and had managed his body thoroughly since he was young, he didn’t look sluggish just because he put on some weight. Thinking positively, it could be seen as a successful bulk-up.

But no matter how much he tried to rationalize it in a positive way, Je-rim knew the truth deep down. This was a sign of increasing fat, not muscle. If he had intentionally worked to gain it, it would be a bulk-up, but weight that accumulated steadily without him knowing was…

It was then. Aaron, narrowing his eyes at the distressed Je-rim, crossed his arms. True to his role as an active coach, he had the eyes of someone evaluating a player’s body.

“You’re not asking because you really don’t know the reason, right?”

“……”

Yes, in truth, it wasn’t weight that had accumulated without him knowing. It was something that had built up between Je-rim and Aaron. He just hadn’t paid attention because he had been living too enjoyably.

Whether he decided to tell his beloved husband the painful truth or not, Aaron listed the reasons Je-rim knew all too well.

“Lately, you’re either sleeping when I get home from work or you’re at Mateo’s having a barbecue with Pepe. Your activity level has obviously decreased incomparably compared to when you were active. In contrast, the amount you eat…”

It was true, but Je-rim unconsciously started making excuses. There were parts that felt unfair.

“You’re always bringing me things to eat! And the naps are to match your stamina…!”

The problem was that the food Aaron made was too delicious. And despite having dated for a long time before marrying, perhaps because they were newlyweds, or perhaps because they both had strong sexual drives… they couldn’t exercise restraint.

Fortunately, since Aaron started his coaching career, they stopped doing it in the mornings and afternoons. In the early days of their marriage, they did it so much that being in a limp, exhausted state felt like the default. At that time, they had even eaten meals in bed while Je-rim was impaled by Aaron.

Instead, they started doing it all at once at night, and naturally, he felt sleepy the next day. It was a wonder how Aaron could go to work and function in that physical state. It seemed he found it tiring too, as the body he had bulked up while playing had decreased again after becoming a coach…

‘Thinking about it, it’s unfair.’

Why is it that when they have sex, one guy loses weight and the other gains it? Aaron’s case was probably more due to mental stress, but still, it felt unfair. If only Aaron’s food had been a bit less tasty, he wouldn’t have gained this much. Moreover, living in Tavarona was also a problem.

Even just going to the market, there were delicious things everywhere, the weather was great, and several friends lived near the house, so there was never a dull moment. Because of that, whenever they met, they’d set up a grill outdoors and roast seafood and meat, which is how he ended up in this state.

While Je-rim was blaming everything in the world, Aaron, who seemed to be thinking deeply after listening to Je-rim, soon spoke with a smirk.

“So in the end, you’re saying you gained weight because of me? Then I’ll have to torment you more at night. And make the food even tastier.”

Je-rim shook his head as if he had heard the most terrible words in the world. Gaining any more weight was absolutely out of the question.

“No, no, absolutely not. I have to lose it.”

“Why? I, your spouse, like it… Surely there isn’t someone else you want to look better for besides me?”

Pushing away the face of the guy whose eyes had suddenly become sharp, Je-rim pointed to the calendar in the corner of the counter. The calendar had turned to September, not the current August. On the page marking September, the dates from the middle to the end were highlighted with a fluorescent pen. That highlight continued until early October.

It was Je-rim’s first broadcasting schedule.

“Do you even have to ask? In a month, I’ll be broadcasting to the entire nation! Of course I have to go with the most handsome face in the world!”

Je-rim had been decided to join as a commentary member starting from the Asian Games group stage matches of the South Korean men’s national football team. Excluding minor things like photo shoots, commercials, and interviews, this was his first official public move since retirement.

After spending about two years just eating and playing after marriage, he had started to feel restless and couldn’t stand it, and when a good offer came along, he accepted it. Since he had enjoyed talking on broadcasts even during his player days, it was an offer that suited his aptitude well.

People would likely be tuning in to the matches out of curiosity to see what Ban Je-rim had been up to, so he couldn’t possibly appear looking heavier than he did during his active playing days. Absolutely not. He would rather die than let that happen. He’d rather live as a lifelong idle bum than face reactions saying he’d become ugly after retirement.

When Je-rim declared that he would stand before the nation with his chest held high and the most handsome face in the world, Aaron clicked his tongue loudly.

“How about gaining another 10kg before you go? You’re annoying.”

“Are you crazy? You’re just saying whatever comes to mind because you’re jealous. Would you want your husband to be the subject of articles like ‘Ban Je-rim’s Shocking Current State! A Total Transformation After Retirement!’ back home?”

“Then I’ll assemble a legal team even more luxurious than the one I used when I sued those reporter bastards who put out fake articles saying we were divorced.”

Je-rim thought to himself that suing over some clickbait articles was a bit much, but he knew Aaron was dead serious. That man had actually sued every single reporter who spread the divorce rumors.

It was about a year after they got married. Je-rim had been doing a photo shoot and an interview with a Spanish magazine. During the interview, he was asked if he watched those trendy, trashy-format dating shows, and he answered that he did without thinking much of it.

‘Of course I watch them. I find them entertaining, though Aaron always gets angry while watching.’

The format of the show involved couples appearing together and being tested to see if they would succumb to the temptation of other members of the opposite sex, and every episode ended with cheating and breakups. Aaron would fume every time he saw it. It almost seemed like he was projecting his own past experiences…

Regardless, it was a program Je-rim always enjoyed watching because it was funny to see Aaron stubbornly keep watching despite being so enraged. Since it was a sensation in Spain, reruns were on all the time, making it hard not to watch.

While chatting casually with the reporter, a question came up in a joking manner.

‘Ban, if you were offered a spot on that program, would you be willing to go? With Reyes, of course.’

‘I don’t know. Well, maybe once for fun? I think it would be really hilarious.’

Naturally, he was thinking of Aaron’s reaction. If he got that invested just watching it on TV, Je-rim could only imagine how furious he would be if he personally witnessed other couples cheating right next to him. It was obvious he would act cute, getting all worked up and keeping a jealous eye on everyone regardless of gender.

Since he didn’t have a shred of worry that Aaron would cheat even if they went on such a show, he thought purely of the entertainment value. He didn’t even consider the possibility that he himself might cheat. It had been ten years since anyone other than Aaron had caught his eye. In short, he had simply tossed out a mindless joke during the interview as usual.

That was why he was quite flustered when all sorts of speculative articles began to flood the media after that interview.

Articles ranged from Ban Je-rim wanting to cheat only a year into his marriage, to claims that there was discord between the couple, that they were separated, that they were secretly preparing for divorce, that Ban Je-rim’s fortune was about to be drained by alimony, or that they had already divorced… Je-rim felt terribly sorry toward Aaron, feeling that things had turned out this way because of his slip of the tongue.

Aaron, who had initially nagged him relentlessly upon seeing the answer, asking how he could possibly want to go on such a program with his husband, flew into a rage at the reporters once the divorce rumors spread. After comforting Je-rim by telling him that the problem lay with the people writing such delusional pieces based on a single joking answer, he immediately sued the reporters.

Since it was rare for a top-tier celebrity to personally sue third-rate reporters who wrote nothing but fake news, Aaron’s lawsuit became quite a hot topic.

Anyway, it had been an incident that made Aaron that angry, so Je-rim laughed when Aaron said he would assemble an even more luxurious legal team to sue anyone who wrote that he had become ugly. This was why, even if his love tried to cool, it simply couldn’t.

“See, look. You hate that too.”

“Of course. Do you think I’d just leave someone who insults you alone?”

“It’s an insult that hasn’t happened yet, so calm down.”

Taking a deep breath, Je-rim flexed his stomach so that his muscles were clearly defined. His abs were still usable. He would absolutely lose the weight before he gained any more. Firmly determined, he declared with his fists clenched.

“And to make sure that doesn’t happen, I’m going to stand before the camera with a face even more handsome than when I got married.”

“…Every time you say things that get under my skin like this, it reminds me of Mateo back in our youth, who looked like he was about to die of anger.”

The moment another guy’s name came out of the mouth of the man whose face was crumpled as if he’d chewed a bug, Je-rim’s expression also crumpled instantly. Why was he bringing up the neighbor’s name first thing in the morning? Je-rim scolded him, lightly hitting Aaron’s chest.

“Where does a married man get off carelessly mentioning another man’s name?”

“You don’t seem to have much awareness that you’re a married man either.”

“Uh-huh, stop making that grumpy face and quietly help your husband with his diet.”

Seeing Aaron’s attitude from earlier, Je-rim urged him first, fearing he might actually try to sabotage the diet. Despite this, Aaron’s expression remained grumpy. So, Je-rim decided to use his last resort.

“If I don’t manage myself here, the ankles you love so much will become Doraemon ankles. You won’t enjoy rubbing your cock there anymore.”

“…….”

He was halfway there. The moment Je-rim witnessed Aaron looking down at his ankles and faintly narrowing his eyes, he had that intuition. Realizing the situation was flowing as intended, Je-rim continued with momentum. The wedding ring on Je-rim’s raised left hand sparkled.

“And after the ankles, it’s the fingers. If my fingers get fat, I won’t even be able to wear my wedding ring. If you want to see me walking around with bare hands, go ahead and sabotage my diet.”

“…Let’s start by changing the diet.”

Aaron replied in a solemn voice, even as he ground his teeth. Seeing this, Je-rim couldn’t help but smirk.

He’s my husband, but really, he’s just too easy to handle… When Je-rim grabbed the hem of Aaron’s top and gave it a slight tug, the large upper body was pulled in obediently, like a spineless mollusk. Then, without even being asked, Aaron tapped his own lips and lowered his head first. Je-rim couldn’t resist and grabbed his cheek to kiss him.

The thought that starting this sort of thing at this hour would interfere with Aaron’s commute lasted only a moment before the sound of sticky saliva mixing interrupted his thoughts. The sensation of their touching tongues was so familiar that there was nothing new about it, yet it felt incredibly good. As did Aaron’s breathing, which gradually grew rougher as the kiss progressed.

Je-rim wrapped both arms around Aaron’s neck and pressed his lower body close. Beyond his lower half, which was beginning to feel the tension, he could clearly feel the shape of a penis similarly attempting to erect. As they shifted their bodies slightly while pressed together, their cocks rubbed against each other through the fabric, making their toes twitch. Feeling a spark fly inside his stomach, Je-rim lightly bit the tip of Aaron’s tongue.

‘I shouldn’t do this.’

He has to go to work… Even while thinking this, his lips and lower body refused to part. But continuing further made him worry that it might cause a problem for Aaron’s life as a rookie coach, yet stopping here was impossible since both their cocks were on the verge of being fully erect…

At that moment, Aaron ended Je-rim’s hesitation with a single sentence. With a wet sound, Aaron pulled his tongue out of Je-rim’s mouth and spoke while looking at his wristwatch.

“Diet is important, but exercise is important too, right? It just so happens I don’t have to go in until this afternoon, so I have some free time.”

Instead of scolding him for why he only mentioned this now, Je-rim pulled his body back, pretending to be composed. It was a kind of game. He felt like he’d be losing if he immediately agreed and rubbed his cock again.

“…Ah, should I fall for such an obvious trick?”

“Don’t be so stiff…”

Aaron trailed off slowly as he leisurely unfastened his wristwatch. He placed the watch on the counter and, with his free wrist, proceeded to undo the buttons of his shirt and cuffs one by one. Through the loosened sleeves, the dangerously etched tattoos were faintly glimpsed. Finally, pulling back the fabric of his clothes, he curved his eyes. It was an incredibly erotic smile.

[Hmm? Honey.]

The moment his husband, chest fully exposed, murmured that in Korean with a suggestive curl of his lips, Je-rim lost his reason.

“Fuck, just don’t go to work today.”

Since he was this good at tempting, it was only right to give in. Feelings like losing because he gave in too easily, or the skepticism that he himself was too easy to handle, were unimportant now. Grabbing Aaron by the collar and pulling him roughly, Je-rim immediately swallowed his lips while hurriedly lowering the zipper of his pants with his other hand. Je-rim’s hand familiarly gripped Aaron’s cock and pulled it out of his underwear.

Judging by how his palm became sticky in an instant, it seemed he was already leaking cowper’s fluid. Je-rim rubbed the glans broadly to make his palm even stickier, then stroked Aaron’s cock up and down. He intentionally applied strong pressure when gripping the base, then eased the strength as he moved toward the tip, caressing it soothingly.

“Kh…!”

As he blocked the urethral opening with his thumb, a low moan leaked from Aaron’s mouth. Wanting to hear more of Aaron’s moans, Je-rim intentionally pulled his lips away bit by bit and gently scratched the tender surface. Then, he could clearly feel the massive cock pulsing throb-throb in his hand.

Moving his fingers along the veins protruding up the shaft, he stripped Aaron’s shirt off completely. Below the revealed abs, angry veins grew like roots. Knowing exactly how good it felt to press and rub his own cock against that spot, Je-rim hurriedly stripped and took out his own member. However, realizing it would be difficult while both were standing, he wrapped his arms around Aaron’s neck.

“Aaron, lift me up onto the counter.”

Without a word, Aaron lifted Je-rim up and sat him on the counter. Showing a level of meticulousness that suggested he was worried Je-rim might get hurt, he even pushed aside two cups of cold coffee. Having thrown off his pants entirely, he grabbed Je-rim’s cock and pressed his lower abdomen close. Je-rim bit his lip as he rubbed his penis against the particularly prominent, thick veins.

“Hng…”

The sensation of the most sensitive glans and the twitching urethral opening rubbing against the protruding skin was absurdly ecstatic. As he rubbed the tip as if stabbing Aaron’s stomach with his cock, and then slapped the entire length from base to shaft against Aaron’s abdomen, the veins on the skin frictioned against the veins of the belly. While rubbing smoothly, the parts that occasionally caught and were pressed created a surge of strange excitement.

After letting Je-rim do as he pleased for a while, Aaron, reaching his own limit, gripped his own cock along with Je-rim’s and began to masturbate.

“Haa… Je-rim, should I keep going here?”

“Mm-hmm… Ah, don’t grip too hard…”

Nodding, Aaron eased the pressure of the hand gripping the base of the cock. Consequently, the two cocks, too large to be held in one hand, tilted to the side. Solving this by pressing their bodies tightly together so the cocks wouldn’t slip, the two panted as they rubbed and mashed their members together. The smooth bases slapped together, squishing with wet sounds. It was a morning where bright sunlight poured dazzlingly through the kitchen window.

Both their bodies were already far too worn out to feel shy about having sex in a bright, open space. Rather, thinking it was better because the light allowed him to see Aaron’s face and body more clearly, Je-rim kneaded Aaron’s chest with his left hand.

Perhaps because he had lost weight, it didn’t have the same feel as before. Remembering the firm sensation that had filled his hand just a month ago, a sigh of regret naturally escaped Je-rim’s lips.

“Ah, seriously… why did you lose so much weight?”

He scanned Aaron’s body, moving only his eyes. If his body during his player days was a muscular physique classically developed to perfectly perform the duties of a striker, after retirement, Aaron had bulked up as per Je-rim’s wish, becoming like a protagonist in a hero movie. Je-rim had enjoyed that body immensely.

However, as soon as he joined Coach Louis’s staff and became a coach for FC Tavarona, he began to lose weight rapidly, and in the end, after a month, he became thinner than he had been during his playing days. Worried, Je-rim asked while smacking his lips.

“Aaron, is coaching life hard?”

“I’m a bit stressed. Well, I’m still adjusting.”

The man, still gripping and shaking the two cocks, buried his face in Je-rim’s shoulder and acted spoiled.

“I’m only a coach, but I think I understand why there are so many bald managers.”

Je-rim stroked the back of Aaron’s head. It seemed a different level of pressure was at work compared to when he was a player. Moreover, he seemed busy with tests and meetings all the time… He stopped playing with Aaron’s thick hair and whispered in a serious voice.

“If it feels like your hair is going to fall out, quit immediately. I’ll support you.”

Since he had money to burn anyway, taking care of one husband was no trouble at all. At the words whispered with sincerity, Aaron suddenly lifted his head and looked him straight in the eyes.

“I appreciate it, but you haven’t forgotten your promise from when we were young that you’d still like me even if I go bald, right? Keep it.”

“Ah, damn… I’m telling you to quit before that happens. I’ll support you for life. Don’t you trust me?”

For the first time in a while, Je-rim uttered a line typical of a trashy boyfriend. Unlike the time with the hand acupuncture, Aaron didn’t give in easily this time.

“A bit? You’d have to love my face that much.”

“You’re in no position to talk about others.”

“I’ll love you even if you go bald. I swear.”

“I told you I won’t go bald.”

“Stop chattering and just say you swear too.”

“I swear I won’t go bald.”

“Do you want to fight while rubbing cocks?”

After a childish argument, Aaron showed signs of pouting again. Only then did Je-rim burst into a hearty laugh and mess up Aaron’s hair. As expected, he was most cute in the world when he was sulking.

“I love you. Of course I love you, then. Don’t ask such obvious things.”

Once he got the answer he wanted, the way Aaron’s expression softened, as if he had never narrowed his eyes, was surprisingly lovely. Je-rim naturally spread his legs and wrapped one hand around his lower abdomen.

“Haa… it’s itchy inside.”

Now, when his sexual arousal peaked, the inside of his belly naturally felt an itchy tightening. Even now, his erect cock throbbed with a slight pain, but more than that, the area below was tingling to the point that his fingertips trembled. He could think of nothing but wanting Aaron’s cock to plunge inside, scratch the itchy spot, and fill him up completely.

It was a change that occurred because he had become too accustomed to spreading his legs. Or rather, more accurately, because he had developed a taste for the act again. It had been a long time since his body became like this, but whenever he chewed over the thoughts that arose unconsciously, he couldn’t help but realize his own transformation. Je-rim frowned as he looked down at his own member, which had not reached climax no matter how much Aaron rubbed it.

“I think I’ve really forgotten how to penetrate now.”

“It would be a waste to forget when it’s this big and pretty.”

Aaron flicked Je-rim’s reddened, twitching glans with his finger. The member, which was erect enough to almost reach his belly button and had veins standing out, shook heavily and spat out a few drops of pre-cum. Seeing this, Aaron slowly opened his lips.

“And you penetrate my mouth just fine.”

The man, opening his mouth wide enough to see the back of his throat, smiled with his bright red tongue sticking out. He pointed inside his mouth with his index finger.

The moist interior of the mouth and throat, and the saliva pooled under the tongue, revealed a luscious appearance as if waiting to devour the cock. As soon as Je-rim’s member took in the sight, it grew even larger, shaking its head as if throbbing on its own even without being touched whenever Aaron penetrated him.

“Je-rim, hurry and cum inside.”

Aaron mumbled, spitting saliva onto Je-rim’s glans. Since he was asking for it, there was no reason to refuse. Je-rim immediately pulled Aaron’s head down and drove his cock into the moist mouth. The member, erect to its limit, writhed in ecstasy upon meeting the hot tongue.

Because he was perched on the counter, it was impossible to move his body significantly. Instead, he held and shook Aaron’s head while thrusting his hips in short, sharp motions. Aaron also moved his head on his own, diligently sucking Je-rim’s cock. As he relaxed his throat to allow the cock to penetrate deep, his soft lips chewed on the skin, making Je-rim’s legs twitch.

“Ha, hng… kh!”

“Kgh, k-kh…”

The cock, which had already been on the verge of ejaculation from manual stimulation, pushed its body endlessly into the narrow throat. When he shoved his cock past the hard palate and into the heaving throat, the way the dense opening tightened hotly was so good it made his head spin.

The large glans caught right at the back of his throat, leaking cowper’s fluid. Though invisible, the hole at the center of the glans was likely pulsing incessantly like it was breathing, savoring the tight constriction. Despite this, Je-rim couldn’t seem to reach climax.

‘A bit more….’

Something was missing…. No sooner had he thought it than Aaron’s finger began to circle around Je-rim’s perineum. The tip of the nail rubbed against the plump skin teasingly, hesitating as if debating whether to move upward or downward. Eventually, having decided on a destination, the hand moved to the scrotum.

Blunt fingertips gently scratched the thinnest, most sensitive part of the skin. Not stopping there, he stroked and rolled the taut testicles as if they were precious. The moment the feeling of the scrotum being pressed coincided with Aaron strongly suctioning the base of the cock, Je-rim’s member erupted with semen.

“Kgh…!”

Instinctively pressing down on Aaron’s head to hold him in place, Je-rim shuddered his hips, forcing every last drop deep into the throat. Without a single word of complaint, Aaron hugged Je-rim’s waist, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. He acted as if he didn’t want to waste a single drop. Furthermore, from the moment the fellatio began, pre-cum had been spurting from Aaron’s own cock, which had remained untouched.

Only after Je-rim’s ejaculation had completely finished did Aaron slowly pull his head back. His lips, glistening with saliva and semen, remained connected to the glans by a long, opaque string of fluid for a while after spitting out the cock. Wiping away that dirty thread with his thumb, Je-rim observed Aaron closely.

Aaron’s abdomen and chest were a mess, splattered with semen, and his face was flushed, panting with hot breaths. As his lips parted from the heavy breathing, glimpses of white semen pooled inside his red mouth were visible.

In particular, the corners of his mouth, reddened from friction, his swollen lips, and the area around his mouth smeared with all sorts of sticky fluids were erotic enough for anyone to imagine exactly what he had just been doing. The hair Je-rim had been gripping and shaking until a moment ago was disheveled and wild, a look that suited his characteristic decadent beauty perfectly.

Taking in Aaron from head to toe, Je-rim’s cock began to react again, despite having just ejaculated. Clicking his tongue softly, Je-rim labeled the innocent Aaron a pervert.

“You really love my semen.”

“It tastes good.”

“This? Yours tasted bad. I guess it tastes different for everyone.”

Je-rim needlessly rubbed the sticky fluid on the tip of his thumb from when he had wiped Aaron’s lips. Since Aaron’s was the only male semen he had ever tasted, there was no way he knew how other semen tasted. For starters, Aaron’s semen was fishy, bitter, and cloying… it was absolutely not a taste that could be described as ‘delicious.’ When Je-rim tilted his head in confusion, Aaron shook his aching jaw and spoke.

“I don’t know. I’ve never tried anyone else’s.”

“Anyone else’s?”

Since he was a guy who had never even had sex or dated anyone other than him, he naturally wouldn’t have tasted anyone else’s semen. However, even a simple hypothetical statement made Je-rim feel unpleasant.

“You should have. If you’ve tasted someone else’s, I won’t let you off easy.”

Just imagining Aaron kissing someone else made a surge of anger rise from the depths of his gut, let alone imagining him tasting semen…. He didn’t even want to think about it, nor did he want to entertain the hypothesis. When Je-rim openly threatened him, Aaron glared at him as if he were absurd.

“You’ve done it with plenty of other people.”

“…I know this sounds kind of trashy, but I love that you’ve had no one but me.”

Aaron, who remembered Je-rim’s twenties when he frequently spread rumors of romance with beauties from all over the world, let out a hollow laugh. He gripped both of Je-rim’s cheeks tightly with one hand.

“How can you be so consistently shameless?”

“No, it’s just… once you start liking someone, you’re serious about it.”

If Aaron had broken up with him and met someone else, and loved that person just as he loved him… the promises of the past might not have been kept. The thought was terrifying enough to make his heart go cold.

Looking at Je-rim’s stiff expression, Aaron spoke softly.

“It’s because you’re the only one I’ve liked that much, so there is no one else but you.”

And there won’t be anyone else for the rest of my life. Murmuring this, Aaron kissed Je-rim’s cheek. Knowing that Je-rim would find it unpleasant if he kissed him with lips smeared in semen, he chose this as the next best option.

Je-rim couldn’t help but be truly grateful to God for these actions, where Aaron considered him from A to Z. He was grateful that such a person had come to love him. Offering the prayer he said every day once more, he grabbed Aaron’s chin and kissed him deeply.

Judging by the bitter taste spreading through his mouth, Aaron’s claim that semen tasted good was indeed a lie. Since it wasn’t the first or second time this guy had lied about such things, he didn’t bother to point it out. Instead, he spoke to the dazed Aaron.

“Honey, there isn’t much time left before you have to go to work.”

Hurry. He grabbed Aaron’s hand and guided it toward his hole. He wrapped his legs wide around Aaron’s waist.

“My, I’ll have to hurry then.”

True to his nature as a quick-witted and loyal lover, Aaron faithfully followed the temptation.

✲✲✲

Je-rim, wearing only training pants on his bare body without underwear, stood in front of the front door. Signs of exhaustion were evident on his face. As soon as the sex ended, he had roughly washed his body and forced his trembling legs to move out.

Aaron had helped him clean up while washing, but because they were rushed for time, it wasn’t perfect; the semen pooled inside his belly was slowly leaking out of the hole. As his fatigue grew, Je-rim leaned against the wall in a slouching posture and waved his hand loosely.

“Go earn lots of money.”

“You know I don’t earn as much as I used to. It’s a pittance.”

Having joined the staff of Louis, who had once served as the manager of the Spanish National Team, as the head coach of a mega-big club called Tavarona, Aaron’s annual salary was objectively quite high. However, compared to his player days, the expression ‘pittance’ was also true, so Je-rim didn’t nitpick and cheered him on.

“Fine, then earn a pittance. It’s okay.”

“I’m so touched I might cry.”

Aaron responded jokingly to the words that were clearly thrown out carelessly. Having finished putting on his shoes, he grabbed his car keys and stood facing Je-rim.

“I love you, my heaven. I’ll be back.”

“Yeah. Call me immediately if anyone stresses you out.”

Now that the greetings were over, it was time to go to work. However, seeing Aaron staring steadfastly at his face as if waiting for something, Je-rim smirked. Je-rim intentionally stalled, and only when Aaron’s eyebrows twitched from the wait did he give his lips a quick peck.

“I love you too. Have a good day.”

Only then did Aaron leave the house with a satisfied face. Je-rim stayed in place, yawning lazily until Aaron had completely closed the door and left. And as soon as the door closed, he scratched his head and stretched.

First, he had to do something about the semen that kept oozing out from below… should he sleep a bit more, or maybe do some vocal exercises?

While pondering, he belatedly remembered that he had vowed to diet this morning. He deleted sleeping from his to-do list, and though he thought about washing again, that too became a chore, so he just went back to the living room sofa and flopped down. It felt a bit icky, but since he slept while holding Aaron’s cock, a bit of semen was nothing.

Deciding to deal with it once his strength returned, he turned on his laptop. In a folder saved as ‘New Folder’ because he was too lazy to change the name, there were plenty of gifts to give to Aaron.

Today, Je-rim played one of the videos and opened an editing program. He was working on it secretly, intending to give it to him before he left for the Asian Games broadcast. His fingers moved busily for a long time as he carefully watched and edited the footage. He even took another shower in the middle of it.

After finishing today’s work, vocal exercises followed. It would be perfect if Aaron could listen and give feedback, but unfortunately, that was impossible. Despite living in Korea for a long time after marriage, Aaron’s Korean skills hadn’t improved enough to evaluate someone else’s pronunciation, and above all….

‘Hey! I told you not to kiss me!’

‘But the way your lips move is so cute I can’t stand it….’

‘I’m not “moving” them, I’m practicing pronunciation, damn it!’

Whenever he pursed his lips to clearly pronounce ‘o’ and ‘u’, the guy watching would pounce on him and peck him incessantly, making it impossible to practice in front of Aaron. That’s why he did his vocal exercises while Aaron was at work.

After finishing a reasonable amount of productive work, he checked the clock and saw it was time for an early dinner. Rubbing his stomach as he started to feel moderately hungry, Je-rim discarded the thought of peeling a cucumber and jumped up. He figured it would be just right to go next door, steal some fruit, and wait for Aaron to get off work.

After putting on a hat and walking for about ten minutes, he rang the doorbell of the house next door, and the gate slid open without anyone even checking who it was. Without even a simple greeting like waving, Je-rim went straight to the garden and settled into the gazebo. He already had a handful of fruit he had picked on the way.

“You thieving bastard.”

As he lay on the bench as if it were his own home, popping sweet and sour wild raspberries into his mouth, the homeowner appeared. True to his reputation for having a foul personality, the first thing out of his mouth was a curse. Je-rim threw a raspberry at the homeowner’s forehead and smiled mischievously.

“How is it getting tastier and tastier? You’ve become a total farmer, Mateo.”

Mateo, who had retired two years earlier than Je-rim and Aaron, used the vast garden of his mansion as a hobby to grow all sorts of plants. He had many fruit trees in particular, so since the two had returned to Tavarona, they were receiving an endless supply of delicious fruit grown from mature trees.

Je-rim threw a blueberry—one that was so ripe it was almost black and smelled sweet—to Mateo, then tossed the remaining one into his own mouth. Then, he sat up and asked.

“Where are Lydia and the kids?”

“Shopping.”

“Aha.”

No wonder a house with three children was unusually quiet today. Accepting this, he moved to pick more fruit. Then, Mateo, who had followed him, gave Je-rim a painful smack on the back.

“Stop stuffing your face. You’re a guy who’s never contributed a single bottle of pesticide.”

“What? Is this sprayed with pesticides?”

“Of course. Otherwise, the bugs would eat all the fruit.”

“I’ve been eating these without washing them!”

“Then who told you to steal them?”

Mateo glared at Je-rim with a face that looked like he found him pathetic. Je-rim hurried to the water tap connected to a hose and rinsed his mouth.

Even if he had secretly picked a few fruits his friend had poured blood and sweat into growing, the fact that he had been ingesting raw pesticides was shocking. While he was repeatedly rinsing his mouth, regretting his past mistakes, Jose arrived without a prior appointment. As soon as Jose saw Je-rim and Mateo, he waved happily.

“Hola! I guess Aaron hasn’t gotten off work yet?”

Je-rim responded to Jose’s greeting only after rinsing his mouth until all the fruit scent was gone.

“You’re here?”

Mateo hurled another curse at Je-rim, who welcomed him as if it were his own home.

“This is my house…. You jobless bastards with nothing to do.”

“You’re just farming because you have nothing to do either.”

“I’m doing gardening as a hobby, elegantly.”

‘Elegantly,’ my foot. Given the scale of the fields, this was no longer in the realm of an elegant hobby but should be considered labor. Especially for a guy whose skin had turned pitch black from pulling weeds and mowing the lawn every day.

Beside Je-rim, who was giving a thumbs-down and jeering, Jose also protested to Mateo with an angry expression.

“Jobless? I’m a CEO.”

“Your business is failing.”

“It is not!”

Jose jumped at Mateo’s accurate point. Je-rim scolded Mateo, recalling Jose’s fashion business, for which advertising posters could no longer be found even in small shops in Tavarona.

“You were the bad one in the first place. Why would you advise him to start a business?”

“No, I obviously meant he should just lend his name….”

Indeed, Mateo probably never imagined that this idiot would actually start a business with his own hands. However, even if this business failed, he would have plenty of money saved from his playing days, so they weren’t too worried. Je-rim patted Jose’s back half-heartedly.

“Well, hang in there.”

“Put some sincerity into your cheering, Jerry.”

Jose responded in a voice that was unusually slumped. Mateo, noticing this quickly as a childhood friend, asked.

“But why are you so gloomy today? Is the business that serious?”

“It’s not because of the business…. I talked to my daughter earlier.”

The man, looking miserable, kept his mouth shut for a moment as if hesitating. But soon, he shook his head and continued.

“I don’t know what she saw this time, but she told me she doesn’t want to talk to an idiot like her dad and hung up.”

“…….”

“Is it because she’s going through puberty? She’s getting pricklier by the day. I feel like her way of speaking is starting to resemble her mother’s.”

“…I don’t think it’s a puberty problem. Looking at Will’s daughter….”

William’s daughter was also at an age where puberty was starting, but she still clung to her father like glue. Recalling the child who followed William even when he went for photo shoots, Je-rim murmured with a serious face. Mateo, who had three children, also gave serious advice.

“Don’t you need to go to the US? You’ll drift apart from the kid. No matter if you’re divorced….”

“Hmm, but I feel like she won’t meet me even if I go….”

At that point, hadn’t they already drifted apart as much as possible? Je-rim had also grown up in a divorced family, but whenever his father, who lived far away, said he was coming, he would clear his entire schedule for the day and run out; he had never been turned away like that. However, considering his friend’s complicated feelings, he didn’t say it out loud.

Jose messed up his hair and slammed his forehead onto the gazebo table.

“Aaaah, even at this age, I can’t seem to be a good parent! It’s so hard!”

“Same here. I bet every parent in the world feels that way.”

Conversations followed that Je-rim couldn’t empathize with since he had no children. As he remained silent, Jose, who let out a sigh that could have sunk the ground, spoke to him.

“Sigh…. Jerry, you and Aaron are DINKs, right?”

“…….”

“…….”

For a moment, Je-rim’s face distorted grotesquely, unable to hide his expression of disbelief. Mateo was the same.

At this moment, the two of them, who now fully understood why Jose’s daughter said, ‘I don’t want to talk to an idiot like my dad,’ glared at Jose in silence. Receiving the piercing gazes, Jose’s eyes widened.

“Why are you both looking at me with those expressions again?”

“…You learned the word ‘DINK’ for the first time yesterday, didn’t you? So you’re trying it out?”

“Why, why are you saying that?”

“How the hell are two men supposed to have a baby, you moron? Of course we’re DINKs.”

Unable to hold back, Mateo stated the obvious. To that, Jose expressed his unfairness.

“No, there’s adoption or other ways!”

“Then you should have asked it that way. Asking out of the blue if we’re DINKs….”

“I thought you didn’t even know the basic principles of reproduction.”

It was a misunderstanding born from the fact that Jose frequently flaunted his lack of common sense. It was a relief that even a guy who thought the capital of the US was Sydney seemed to know that pregnancy is only possible between a man and a woman. With a relieved face, Je-rim breathed a sigh of relief and finished answering Jose’s question.

“We have no intention. Aaron says he might consider sponsoring, but he has no intention of raising a child himself.”

“Hmm…. Well, living as just the two of you for a lifetime isn’t bad either. As long as the chemistry is good.”

“There’s no need to worry about that.”

“Blegh.”

As Je-rim shrugged, Mateo made a gagging sound. At another action that invited a fight, Je-rim aimed the hose he was holding straight at Mateo. Jose, who lacked common sense but had quick wits, rushed over and turned the faucet.

Mateo, drenched in water without even being able to close his eyes, snatched the hose and swung it around like a madman. With the dazzling hand movements befitting the owner of the hose, not only the inside of the gazebo but also the garden grass, the bench, the table, and even Je-rim and Jose were soaked. Since they were already wet, the three of them walked around with the hose, watering the plants and mowing the lawn.

While they were doing that, Mateo’s wife, Lydia, returned and called for Mateo. As soon as she saw Mateo’s mess of a state, she crossed her arms and began to nag.

“Marti! I told you to mow the lawn, and you’re playing again?”

“I did it all!”

“That’s right. We helped too.”

“Don’t scold him too much, Lydia.”

Although he had slacked off here and there, it was true that he had worked, so Je-rim defended Mateo. Only then did Lydia look around, smiling as she saw the neatly trimmed lawn. Mateo, grumbling and telling her to look at that, was an added bonus. Lydia gave her husband a light kiss and patted his backside, telling him he had done a good job. Mateo, who instantly turned into a docile lamb, wiggled the backside she had patted.

Chapter (index_split_015.html)

That couple really was something; their affection for one another was incredible. Though it might have been because they were in front of close friends and felt free to act without restraint.

Strictly speaking, since Lydia was the Unni of Tiana—Je-rim’s great-great-great-great ex—she and Je-rim should have been awkward around each other, but few people in Spain cared about such things. Even her eccentric husband didn’t block Je-rim from entering Mateo’s house, saying it didn’t matter as long as he didn’t run into Tiana directly.

Of the couple who had been deeply immersed in their own world for a while, Lydia was the first to snap out of it. She pushed Mateo back toward Je-rim and Jose, gesturing with her chin toward the three unemployed men and asking,

“You two married men with nothing to do and you one divorcee, what do you want for dinner?”

Mateo answered first.

“Whatever the Queen desires.”

“I’m waiting for my burly chick, who should be getting off work soon…”

Je-rim muttered next. The friends who overheard the word ‘chick’ all made a fuss and looked like they were about to gag, but he paid them no mind.

After the police raided them and the secret wedding was fully exposed to the public, Je-rim had become a bit more brazen and sly in front of others. He had intended to reveal his relationship with Aaron once he retired anyway, but since the whole world had found out in such an absurd manner, he had changed out of a sense of resignation, thinking, ‘What does it matter now?’

Additionally, having spent over ten years with Aaron, he had grown not only accustomed to the man’s passionate displays of affection but had actually been influenced by them. Living in a country where people kiss on the street and have sex on broadcast was common, so it couldn’t be helped. The fact that he added the modifier ‘burly’ before ‘chick’ was the last remaining trace of his conscience.

Jose, whose face had turned bright red from actually gagging, was the last to answer.

“Where is a lonely divorcee supposed to live? I’ll just squeeze in at this house’s dinner table.”

“Stop leeching off our food every day and go to Jerry’s place for once!”

“I don’t want to; it’s scary. He said he’d kill me if I stepped foot in their honeymoon home or disturbed them after Darling got off work…”

Je-rim diligently defended his husband, who had been making terrifying threats behind his back to a friend who had even served as his best man.

“Understand him. He genuinely struggles when he can’t see me while he’s at work. That’s why he wants to be alone with me after he gets off.”

Once again, the friends reacted heatedly. Mateo pushed aside Jose, who had started gagging again, and covered his ears.

“Shut up, I don’t want to hear any more.”

“We’re newlyweds, so have some understanding.”

“Cut it out! You two have been dating for nearly ten years, what the hell is ‘newlywed’ about that! Don’t you get sick of each other?”

It was a question that completely dug his own grave. Excited by the thought of attacking Mateo, Je-rim flashed his specialty: a smug, annoying smile.

“Haven’t you been married for over fifteen years? I guess you do get sick of it?”

“…I’m still in the honeymoon phase too, obviously.”

It was laughable that the guy who used to pick fights so annoyingly when they were young had grown into a middle-aged man who trembled like a goat while walking on eggshells around his wife. Je-rim burst into laughter at the sight of Mateo blabbing frantically. Jose, the only one without a partner in the group, grumbled with a sullen face.

“These two married men are really something…”

Lydia, patting Jose on the shoulder, extended the dinner invitation to Je-rim again.

“Jerry, have dinner with Aaron today before you go. The boys say they want to have a barbecue.”

“Really? Ah, but I need to diet…”

He had come just to tide himself over with some fruit, but the suggestion of a barbecue party made his heart waver. Why was it that one never got tired of barbecue no matter how much they ate? Why was meat and seafood grilled outdoors so delicious? As Je-rim fell into this inner conflict, Lydia’s surprised voice reached him.

“Suddenly a diet?”

“I’m going to do commentary soon.”

“Ah, right. Then just eat vegetables.”

“I don’t want that either… I’ll tell Aaron to come over for now.”

Ultimately unable to resist the temptation of the barbecue party, Je-rim called Aaron. Aaron, who answered immediately saying he was just on his way out from work, arrived at Mateo’s house shortly after. He was holding a box in his hand. Je-rim greeted his husband, who had returned from work with heavy hands, while sitting on the bench in Mateo’s garden.

“You’re here?”

“Yeah, I’m home.”

Aaron, bowing his head slightly toward Je-rim, gently closed his eyes. Je-rim casually kissed Aaron’s cheek and lips as he drew near, then began to set up the grill. The friends, now accustomed to such sights, didn’t pretend to gag or make a fuss like they had earlier.

Only after Je-rim’s lips parted did Aaron approach Lydia and show her the box he had brought.

“Lydia, this is for you. Thanks for always inviting us.”

“Wow, you bought something delicious!”

Lydia beamed with joy upon opening the box and expressed her gratitude. Mateo, seeing the contents, quickly took the box and set it on the table, then pushed Je-rim toward Aaron as if giving a return gift.

“Leave the shrimp here and take your husband.”

Judging by the mention of shrimp, it seemed he had bought Carabineros again. They were the tastiest and largest of the shrimp, perfect when grilled with butter. It wasn’t for nothing that Lydia had beamed. As if she wouldn’t tolerate mistreating a guest who brought an expensive gift, she slapped her husband’s backside.

“Mati, stop picking fights and come help light the fire.”

“Got it.”

Seeing that, Je-rim felt that everyone in the world really does have a match. He clicked his tongue while watching Mateo, who had been obediently dragged away, light the fire with a torch.

The crackling sound of the sparks was pleasant to listen to, and as he watched in silence, Aaron, having washed his hands, sat down beside Je-rim. He brought along some sweet nagging.

“Where did the person who said they were dieting go?”

“…Just for today.”

“Fine. Just be careful not to let your ankles and fingers get fat, and eat plenty.”

“I wish that were possible by my own will…”

If people could control where they gained weight, why would anyone diet? Everyone would just put on weight only in the areas they wanted. At Je-rim’s powerless reply, Aaron burst into laughter and leaned his head against him. Since he immediately closed his eyes as if tired, Je-rim gently brushed back Aaron’s bangs.

After staring at the fire in silence for a while in that position, they snapped back to reality upon hearing Mateo’s call as he began placing the shrimp on the grill.

“Huh? Aaron, why are there only seven shrimp? One is missing.”

“There isn’t one for you, Mateo.”

“……”

“Just kidding. I’m not eating, so I only bought seven. Go ahead.”

Aaron, still leaning his head on Je-rim’s shoulder, smirked with his eyes open.

It was a daily occurrence for Mateo to be picked on by Aaron, under the pretext that he hadn’t gotten along with Je-rim when they were young. Even so, the man’s face flushed as if to ask if it was fair to discriminate with food, but upon hearing that there was a shrimp for him, he began humming again while moving the tongs.

Surprised that Aaron hadn’t bought a portion for himself, Je-rim asked urgently,

“Why?”

Was he sick? Both Aaron and Je-rim loved shrimp, so it was rare for either to opt out in a setting like this. It couldn’t be that he lacked the money to buy more than seven… To the question filled with worry, Aaron whispered softly,

“Right before I left work, the manager caught me for some small talk… and I ate some dessert. I’m full.”

Only after hearing that he had eaten two muffins did Je-rim let go of his worry and gently press around the corners of Aaron’s eyes. It was a massage to relieve some of his fatigue.

“My husband is working hard at his social life.”

“Mmm, it’s tiring. So later, when we go home…”

Just as the man was about to say something, dragging out the end of his sentence as if to emphasize his exhaustion, Mateo, holding the tongs, shouted without even looking back.

“If you’re going to act more pathetic, get out of my house. It’s bad for the children’s education.”

“Then give me all the shrimp my husband bought.”

Je-rim fought back without backing down. Jose, knowing that if he were kicked out, he was the type of guy who would really snatch all the shrimp off the grill even with his bare hands, tried to mediate between the two. However, Jose’s mediation didn’t work at all. Only after Lydia stepped in, saying they should behave in front of the children, did Je-rim and Mateo stop fighting and return to their respective tasks.

Mateo grilled the ingredients, and Je-rim sprinkled seasoning on the front and back of the ingredients waiting to be grilled. Naturally, the latter task finished faster. After pushing the seasoned ingredients to one side, Je-rim let Aaron lean his head on his shoulder again.

Since it was a country where the summer sun stayed up exceptionally long, it was evening, but the sun had not yet set. To block the sunlight beating down on Aaron, Je-rim made a shade with his hand and lowered his head until his lips almost brushed Aaron’s hair. Lowering his volume as much as possible so others wouldn’t hear, he asked back,

“What about when we go home? Tell me. I’ll listen.”

“Let’s take a bath together. And I want to lie down with my head on your lap and watch TV.”

“That’s nothing. Got it. What do you want to watch?”

“The new Season of that program starts today. At 11.”

He seemed to be referring to that problematic broadcast that had sparked the divorce rumors. To think he wanted to watch it again… Je-rim muttered in a slightly appalled tone.

“You really love that show… even though you get angry every time you watch it.”

“The people on there only do things that give you a reason to be angry.”

“Usually, wouldn’t you be too annoyed to watch it?”

At least Je-rim would be. But Aaron stared off into the distance for a moment, then spoke wistfully.

“No, it’s just… it reminds me of when I witnessed you doing that at the Club back in the day, so I can empathize well. That’s why I keep watching.”

“…Please, just forget about it…”

“Maybe it’s because it remained as a trauma…”

Trauma, my foot. The word ‘trauma’ didn’t suit Aaron’s solid and healthy mental. Honestly, if it had truly become a trauma, he shouldn’t have been able to watch that program. He was simply watching it because it was fun. On top of that, he was likely doing this because it was entertaining to bring up old stories to tease him and see his reaction.

The problem was that, to make a fuss about this, Je-rim did possess a certain amount of guilt from that time. Of course, far from cheating, it was the opposite… but it was true that Aaron had witnessed a somewhat scandalous sight, so in this matter alone, Je-rim was unconditionally the sinner.

Grinding his teeth, Je-rim mentioned the name of the man who had made him a sinner—a man he wouldn’t mind grinding up and drinking.

“I’m seriously going to kill Edson.”

“How can you kill someone who’s already dead?”

“Ah, right. That’s true.”

After the incident where the police showed up at the wedding reception, Edson was treated as a deceased person between the two of them. Of course, he wasn’t actually dead; it was a kind of joke punishment.

After giggling for a while, Aaron finally seemed satisfied with teasing Je-rim and returned to his spoiled husband persona. While he enjoyed the noisy evening gatherings with friends, he continued to whine, true to the man who would occasionally whisper that he wished only the two of them were left in the world.

“Let’s eat quickly and go home, Je-rim.”

“Yeah. But you eat a little too. It’s delicious, it’d be a waste.”

Je-rim’s tendencies had long since changed, mirroring his husband. He peeled the meat of his own portion of shrimp and popped it into Aaron’s mouth before diligently working his fork.

Spending time together like this was enjoyable, but still…

His only thought was that he wanted to take this burly chick and go home quickly.

✲✲✲

After that last barbecue party, Je-rim dieted quite diligently. There were about four weeks left until the Asian Games. During that time, Aaron brought the same diet provided to the players at the Club and prepared it for him, so the dietary part was solved automatically, and he exercised as much as he had during his player days.

He had only gained a little weight because he had become lazy since he didn’t need to manage himself for a while, but Je-rim’s specialty was carrying out whatever he decided once he had a motive. Thus, the result was quite successful. In about four weeks, he achieved a weight even lower than when he was a player.

Since he would have to wear a suit throughout his activity as a commentary member, he lost a bit more weight to fit the attire. He even sacrificed a bit of muscle mass for the best suit fit. Suits looked best on a slightly lean physique.

The day before departure, Je-rim put on the suit that had arrived late and stood before the mirror. He had never worn a corporate-style suit like this, so it felt fresh. It was also his first time having this much muscle gone from his body, so it felt awkward.

Well, he was handsome, so it was fine.

As expected, losing weight made his features stand out much more. The problem was that the audience to appreciate this handsome look was currently absent.

“Hmm…”

Je-rim, with the tie merely draped around his neck, needlessly fiddled with the empty collar area. Since he was already wearing the suit, he wanted to see how he looked with the tie perfectly tied, but he held back. It was because he remembered his husband’s earnest request, saying he absolutely wanted to be the first to tie the tie for him once the suit was finished.

‘If he finds out I tried it first, he’ll throw a fit again.’

Previously, they had each gotten suits tailored for the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony, and they had a light argument because he had shown the look earlier than promised.

As a result of that fight, not only was Je-rim’s precious Bugatti soiled with all sorts of dirty liquids, but the expensive tailored suit also had to be urgently repaired. Furthermore, because the bonnet and interior of the car were covered in semen, he couldn’t even entrust it to others and had to go through the hardship of hand-washing it with Aaron.

Unable to repeat the same mistake, Je-rim neatly rolled the tie back up and put it in its case.

As Aaron requested, he would leave the first tying of the tie to his husband. Besides, Aaron, who was good with his hands, tied it much more beautifully. Having decided, Je-rim took off the suit and changed into casual clothes.

‘Did he say he’d get off around 8 today…?’

Je-rim glanced at the clock and headed to the living room. Although the sweltering heat had subsided slightly as it entered September, it still felt like summer. So, he intended to put some beers in an ice bucket. He lowered the air conditioner temperature in advance, reserved Aaron’s favorite TV program to turn on right at the scheduled time, and…

While pondering what else to do, Je-rim’s eyes narrowed for a moment. Since it happened to be a day Aaron had hitched a ride to work with a colleague, the thought suddenly occurred to him that it would be better to go pick him up. In the first place, waiting quietly at home didn’t suit his temperament.

Above all, if he went to pick him up like a surprise event, Aaron would surely be happy. The thought that he wouldn’t see his face for a while after today made him even bolder. Grabbing his car keys, Je-rim left the house.

After pushing through the crowded roads and stopping by a wine shop on the way, he safely arrived at the Tavarona training center. Despite visiting after a long time, the building that welcomed Je-rim didn’t feel unfamiliar at all. Except for some repair work here and there, the exterior was exactly the same as it was twenty years ago.

“Hello. My family is a coach here, so I’m visiting briefly… huh?”

Before he could even ask about the procedure, the parking lot barrier went up. It happened the moment Je-rim lowered the window and showed his face. There wasn’t even a procedure to ask whose family he was. He wasn’t sure if this was a result of his fame as a former football player or his fame as the spouse of Aaron, the current head coach here.

Like the parking attendant, the other guards didn’t block Je-rim’s entry into the building. In fact, some of them approached him warmly, asking for autographs. Thanks to that, Je-rim entered easily and immediately spotted Aaron and Coach Louis.

Perhaps having just finished a meeting, Aaron, holding a file folder in one hand, was saying something to Coach Louis. His expression wasn’t bad, but signs of fatigue were evident on his face. Judging by the fact that he wasn’t looking this way, he hadn’t noticed his husband standing at a distance.

A discussion about the upcoming Champions League group stage matches could be faintly heard from the other end of the hallway. Since it seemed like a topic he shouldn’t interrupt, Je-rim waited quietly. Only when the conversation stopped did he wave his hand and call his name.

“Aaron! Hello, Coach.”

“…Je-rim?”

Je-rim learned firsthand in that moment what it meant for a person’s face to light up.

A brilliance returned to the eyes that had been languidly drooping, and the stiff corners of his mouth slid upward. Naturally, the bridge of his nose wrinkled slightly, vitality filled his expression, and the signs of fatigue vanished in an instant. His stride as he marched toward Je-rim was full of energy.

“I came to pick you up. Because it’s hot.”

Je-rim whispered softly to his husband, who had rushed toward him in a single bound. Aaron gently caressed Je-rim’s cheek, as if confirming that the husband before him was real. His responding voice was filled with unrefined excitement and happiness.

“You should have contacted me before coming…. What if we had missed each other?”

“It was meant to be a surprise; it’s no fun if I tell you in advance.”

“Still. If we had missed each other, I don’t know how I could’ve lived with the regret.”

“We could’ve just met at home. Is it really to the point where you couldn’t live?”

“Yes.”

Seeing him nod so vehemently, Je-rim felt a slight regret regarding the past.

He had refrained from visiting the training center too often, fearing that unnecessary attention might bring disadvantages to Aaron. After all, among coaches or managers, those with a spouse of the same sex were extremely rare. To be honest, it was safe to say there were none other than Aaron.

Fortunately, Aaron’s reputation from his playing days was immense, and since his spouse, Je-rim, had also been a prestigious player—and their long history of dating had been fully disclosed to the public—they had received a great deal of positive interest.

Furthermore, the fact that a heavyweight like Louis had personally brought him into the staff and was guiding him acted as an advantage. There were already several clubs sending love calls to Aaron, telling him to join them as soon as he completed his coaching certification.

Above all, the fact that he was a living legend who had won the Ballon d’Or six times covered almost everything. In the end, this was a field where skill and results were everything.

‘Disadvantages because we’re a couple? Screw that. In the end, everyone will be desperate to hire me as a manager anyway. Just watch, Je-rim.’

Knowing this better than anyone, and being a man who specialized in pressing the attack when at a disadvantage during his playing days—and an expert at proving himself—Aaron didn’t pay attention to unnecessary noise. Instead, he had simply snorted, saying he looked forward to seeing how much people would cling to his pant legs in the future.

But still… it is human nature to want your loved one to suffer not even a speck of harm. So, while Je-rim was open about his relationship with Aaron, he never visited Aaron’s workplace. To the point where Coach Louis had expressed wonder as to why he never came even once. He had only watched Tavarona’s matches via broadcast at home.

However, at this moment, he changed his mind slightly.

‘Maybe I should visit more often from now on.’

He knew Aaron would like it, but he didn’t know he’d like it this much. Judging by the reactions of the other employees earlier, his visit didn’t seem to play such a negative role. Deciding that next time he should go to the stadium in person to watch Aaron act as a coach, Je-rim asked.

“Are you leaving work now?”

“Um, probably?”

Aaron glanced behind him and affirmed in an ambiguous tone. It was as if to say it was possible as long as Coach Louis didn’t give him more work. At that, Je-rim moved quickly, like a little mouse, to present the gift he had brought.

“Coach, please take this.”

Approaching Coach Louis with a determined face, he gave him a tight hug and secretly handed over a shopping bag. Receiving the long, rectangular shopping bag, Coach Louis asked with a puzzled look.

“What’s this?”

“A sort of bribe.”

It was a gift with complex meanings: a request to take good care of Aaron, gratitude for bringing him into the staff and blocking all the gossip, and a hint to please work him moderately. At Je-rim’s solemn words, Coach Louis let out a hollow laugh.

“I won’t overwork your husband even if you don’t flatter me like this.”

“For someone who isn’t overworked, the kid has lost a lot of weight in just two months.”

“Kid? Who’s a kid? Surely not Aaron?”

“Yes.”

Who else had become a coach here only two months ago if not Aaron? Je-rim nodded without hesitation.

Coach Louis made an indescribable expression and pushed Je-rim away. Even then, he held onto the gift firmly, showing no intention of returning it.

“Go. Take your kid and get lost.”

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, don’t be so cold! You said you missed me too, Coach! You asked why I didn’t come!”

Even as he was pushed back by Coach Louis, who was pressing into his shoulder with the end of a ballpoint pen, Je-rim clung to his clothes. He even exaggerated his pain. Eventually, Coach Louis, who grew tired first, placed both hands on his hips and shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Why does this guy get more brazen by the day? I don’t think he was like this when he was younger…. Or was he always like this? What do you think, Aaron?”

To that question, Aaron, who had been watching the banter between his boss and husband with a smile, answered immediately.

“My sky has always been like that.”

“True, he left every single piece of homework to you…. He taught Jose fake common sense, and when I separated him from Mateo so they wouldn’t fight more, he chased him into the locker room and managed to break his pride…. He was always like that.”

Coach Louis’s eyes took on a nostalgic glow, as if tracing back memories. Though the things he listed weren’t exactly the nostalgic kind of memories. Moreover, it included a history of past misconduct that Je-rim was certain had never been discovered. A surprised Je-rim looked up.

“How do you know about the locker room hitting?”

“Because he was rescued from a cabinet at dawn. It was obvious who did it. But you had an alibi and there was no evidence, so it passed. Consider yourself lucky.”

“It was worth climbing over the window, then.”

He really believed that physical evidence was more important than circumstantial evidence. Je-rim shrugged, feeling proud of his past self who had climbed over a third-floor window just to get revenge on Mateo. Seeing that, Coach Louis asked Aaron with a look of disgust.

“Aaron, how on earth are you living with this guy?”

“I’m the one who helped Je-rim forge his alibi back then. And I did the homework because I wanted to.”

“…Right, birds of a feather flock together.”

Shuddering as if he were beyond disgusted, Coach Louis gave both Je-rim and Aaron a smack on the back. Still, before they finally left, he patted Je-rim’s shoulder and left a kind piece of advice.

“Jerry, come by often. Why worry after having such a loud wedding? Rather, show your face often so everyone in the industry gets used to you two.”

Since everything he said was correct, a smile bloomed on Je-rim’s face. Right, the wedding itself had been that chaotic…. Je-rim shouted loudly at Coach Louis’s retreating back.

“Coach! I’ll bring bribes often!”

“Call it a gift! Someone might misunderstand if they hear that!”

Instead of looking back, Coach Louis gave a large wave and disappeared around the corner of the hallway.

As soon as they were alone, Aaron lifted a file folder toward the hallway ceiling where the CCTV was located to secure a blind spot. Since there was a routine Aaron always performed first when he finished work, Je-rim immediately knew what he wanted. A stunned Je-rim glanced back and forth between the file folder and Aaron.

“Hey, here?”

“What does it matter? You do it just fine in front of our friends.”

“That’s different from this. I’ll do it for you once we go out.”

“Do it here. I just finished work.”

“This is the middle of your workplace, you crazy bastard….”

“That’s why I covered the CCTV, out of conscience.”

After some bickering, Je-rim was the first to wave the white flag. Aaron seemed poised not to move a single step unless he received a ‘leaving work’ greeting here, so he had no choice. Moreover, Aaron’s persuasion—that kissing in a hallway blind spot was quite wholesome compared to the kissing they did in the locker rooms during their playing days—sounded somewhat reasonable.

Hiding behind the file folder that barely covered their faces, Je-rim gave his husband the greeting he always did. Even though it was a blind spot, trying to kiss in a hallway where someone could appear at any moment made his chest tingle with an unknown urgency. Even though it was just a light press of the lips.

Chu, their lips parted with a cute sound. Aaron, still covering the CCTV with the file folder, bumped his forehead against Je-rim’s and grinned.

“Yeah, as expected. This is the only way it feels like I’ve completely finished work.”

“You haven’t completely finished work yet. Let’s go, quickly.”

Je-rim, avoiding the gaze of the CCTV on the ceiling for no reason, hurried Aaron out. They continued their unfinished conversation as they walked side by side toward the parking lot.

“Are you okay? Didn’t you work over 12 hours today?”

“Yeah, I felt like I was going to die of exhaustion, but seeing you cleared it right away. What is this?”

“Stop exaggerating, Darling.”

“I’m serious. I feel like I could go back to work.”

The guy who had arrived at 7 AM and was only leaving at nearly 8 PM was bluffing. He’d probably lie down on the street if he were actually told to go back to work. Je-rim snatched the file folder Aaron was holding and fanned Aaron with it, chuckling.

“Where did you learn to be so aegyo? You’re improving every day.”

It was the time of day when the sky burned bright yellow, as if visualizing the lingering heat of summer. Irises that bore the same light as the sun hanging precariously at the western edge of that sky gazed at Je-rim with a mischievous glint. His eyes curved long, as if the gentle breeze was pleasant.

“I’m just learning by watching your usual reactions. It’s nothing. My learning ability is quite good, isn’t it?”

“Then why is your Korean still at an elementary school level….”

“At this point, you have to assume there’s a problem with the teacher.”

“You’re blaming the teacher for this? Where is your conscience?”

“They say couples grow to resemble each other.”

At the joke accompanied by a cheeky smile, Je-rim pressed the file folder, which he was using like a fan, firmly against Aaron’s forehead. This created a long shadow beneath the rectangular folder. Aaron’s sparkling eyes were also swallowed by the shadow, losing some of their brilliance, but instead, the color deepened like a wolf’s eyes, exerting their original dangerous power.

Was it because of the iris color, which was rare for a human, or because of the unique shape of his eyes that defined Aaron’s decadent impression? The overall harmony was mysterious, making them eyes that could bewitch a person. Unconsciously placing his hand on Aaron’s face, Je-rim languidly caressed the area where the eyelashes grew.

Aaron didn’t blink once while Je-rim stroked the area around his eyes. He simply left his face entrusted to him, quietly gazing into Je-rim’s eyes. In this kind of atmosphere, the term Aaron used to call Je-rim was usually predetermined.

“Mi alma.”

What followed was a term even more ticklish than ‘my sky.’ He had grown used to the sky talk because he heard it so often….

The fingertips tracing Aaron’s eyes flinched as if an electric current had passed through them. It felt as ticklish as if a feather had landed, making it impossible to keep his hand still. He knew it was no different from the term ‘honey’ they called each other so often in Korean, yet he still felt this way.

No matter how brazen Je-rim had become in expressing affection by resembling Aaron, he couldn’t match the original. The man, whose face was completely assimilated into the sunset glow, exhaled a warm breath. Knowing that it was a sincerity without a shred of exaggeration, even if spoken lightly, made Je-rim’s spirits soar even more. His heart pounded wildly, and the surging heat rose to the top of his head, making him dizzy.

Aaron took Je-rim’s hand and moved the file folder that had been covering his forehead. As if feeling the heartbeat throbbing to the very tips of his fingers, he gently tickled the gaps between the nails, and finally burst into laughter.

“Breathe, Je-rim.”

“…I am breathing. If I weren’t, your soul would already be dead.”

“What a gruesome thing to say.”

Je-rim, who barely managed to regulate his breathing, replied as usual. Aaron frowned deeply and tightened his grip on Je-rim’s hand.

After a moment of such playfulness, the two, holding hands affectionately like an ordinary couple, began to move their stopped steps one by one.

“What about dinner? Should we eat before going home?”

“Yeah, I don’t mind. My diet is over anyway.”

“Then let’s just park the car at home and come back out.”

“Won’t you be tired?”

“It’s okay, I start work in the afternoon tomorrow. I complained a bit to the Coach so I could drop you off at the airport before going to work.”

“You did something commendable for once.”

“…Je-rim, regardless, this is still the parking lot of where I work…. Don’t pat my butt.”

“Kissing in the hallway is okay, but this isn’t? I really can’t figure out your standards.”

On the asphalt floor where twilight was slowly descending, two shadows matched their strides and were cast side by side like a painting.

✲✲✲

The two sat on the outdoor terrace of a neighborhood restaurant they frequently visited, eating dinner leisurely while listening to the sound of the waves.

Perhaps because the night breeze, carrying a faint salty scent, cooled the heat, the late summer night streets of Tavarona were lively. Under the streetlights lined up on the stone road, children ran around kicking balls, and people on bicycles and those taking leisurely strolls passed by one after another. If it weren’t for the deep blue sky, one wouldn’t have known it was night.

After finishing their meal, Je-rim and Aaron wandered the streets for a long time along the winding alleys to digest their food instead of going straight home. It was a course they used to roam whenever they went out to see festivals as children. When fans approached asking for autographs or photos occasionally, they readily complied.

However, as it passed 11 PM, the number of such fans gradually decreased. The two stepped out onto the noticeably deserted main road and entered a cafe that hadn’t closed yet. It was for a final palate cleanser.

“Aaron, try this. It tastes really bad.”

Je-rim took a full spoonful of gelato and fed it to Aaron, who had his arm wrapped around Je-rim’s waist. Then, he quickly snatched a bite of the churro Aaron was holding. A cliché question asking if he could try some was unnecessary.

“Yeah, this flavor is a failure too. Does that shop even have any tasty gelato?”

Aaron flipped the churro he was holding as if he were used to it. Holding the churro so that the bottom part, covered in toppings and sauce, was on top, he held the part completely coated in chocolate to Je-rim’s lips while chewing the uniquely scented gelato that filled his mouth. It tasted terribly, but he didn’t reject the touch of his husband, who insisted on feeding it to him.

The two returned home, sharing bites of gelato and churros. However, there was still work left to do before ending the day. This was because they had pushed the most important task—packing—to the back burner. Besides, they had to see if the tie suited him or not.

Je-rim urgently called out to Aaron, who was about to go wash up.

“Aaron, I’m going to try on the suit one last time before packing, so tie the tie for me. You said you absolutely had to be the one to tie it.”

He added the explanation that the suit had arrived just before he went to pick Aaron up, so he had tried it on, excluding the tie. Aaron gave a dissatisfied look upon hearing that the clothes tailored a long time ago had arrived only the evening before the departure.

“Why on earth did it come so late?”

“I lost weight in the middle, so the measurements changed. It couldn’t be helped.”

At those words, Aaron shifted his dissatisfied gaze to Je-rim.

“…Honestly, I think you lost too much weight.”

“Doesn’t that make my looks stand out more?”

“Do you want to look that handsome to people other than me?”

“Yes.”

Aaron grumbled continuously beside Je-rim, who was changing into the suit. Since he had heard that complaining for the past month until his ears were calloused, he brushed it off habitually. Soon, Je-rim, who had fastened all the buttons of his dress shirt, turned to Aaron and pointed to his neck.

Though pouting, Aaron obediently took the tie in his hand. In any case, it seemed he really wanted to be the first to tie the tie. Je-rim grinned at his husband, who was moving his hands with a grumpy face.

“Aaron, how is it? Does everything suit me? At this rate, I’ll still be popular, right?”

“What are you going to do with popularity, a married man?”

The man who would normally have been entranced, saying it suited him well, was grumbling for no reason out of jealousy toward an unspecified number of people. Even so, he would eventually tell him it suited him. Feeling playful, Je-rim tickled Aaron’s chin.

“It’s better than not being popular. Hurry up and say I’m handsome.”

“It’s annoying because you’re too handsome….”

“That’s the best compliment. Thanks.”

Having finally obtained the desired answer, he flicked Aaron’s bridge of the nose with his index finger. Not to be outdone, Aaron tightened the tie knot firmly. Je-rim struggled, feeling suffocated.

Only after being hit on the shoulder by Je-rim did Aaron loosen the knot and stare intently at Je-rim’s face. The grumpy expression from before had vanished, replaced by a playful smile.

“You can’t even tie a tie prettily without me. Will you be okay?”

“I won’t be. I want to put you in your suitcase and run away tomorrow… but then I’d probably be killed by Coach Louis, right?”

“We’d both die together.”

If Je-rim left for Taiwan tomorrow, they would have to be apart for nearly three weeks. And such situations would likely occur often from now on. Aaron, too, would increasingly be away for reasons such as overseas training camps.

Having lived practically as one body for the first two years after marriage, it was finally time to slowly return to pursuing their respective duties. Even while thinking it was a natural process, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of longing. Because of that, Je-rim’s movements as he packed his bags slowed down.

By the time he had squeezed everything into the suitcase, loaded it into the car trunk, and showered, it was already past 1 AM. While Aaron dried his hair, Je-rim double-checked the files he had organized. Now, all that remained was to hand the USB to Aaron right before they parted tomorrow, and the surprise gift plan would be complete.

“What are you doing?”

“Replying to an email. I’m done.”

As Aaron returned to the bedroom, Je-rim quickly closed his laptop. Lying on the bed in only his underwear, Aaron hugged Je-rim before he even pulled up the covers. Wrapped in that scorching body, Je-rim hurriedly searched for the air conditioner remote to lower the temperature. Although summer—the season when he first met Aaron—was his favorite, at times like this, he wished winter would come quickly.

La Liga has a break around Christmas, after all. He could spend all day hugging a guy who doesn’t have to go to work, using him as a human hot pack, or they could go on a trip together… As if Aaron were thinking something similar, he spoke first.

“Je-rim, do you want to go to Tanzania again in the winter? Not where we went for our honeymoon, but to the coast this time.”

Naturally, memories of their eventful honeymoon surfaced.

Staying at a luxury safari lodge in Tanzania had been great. Yes, the problem was that the accommodation was too good. Despite being assigned a private butler and having every schedule, from the safari tours to everything else, handled privately, the two of them didn’t enjoy even a quarter of it.

Because they were too busy having sex… Since the lodge was a detached villa standing alone in the middle of the savanna, there was no one to be conscious of. They did go out for the safari tour, as that was the primary purpose of coming to Tanzania, and they both showed great interest in skydiving, so they did that together. However, they failed to keep most of the other schedules, such as the crater hiking or the helicopter tour.

The butler, who came to serve every meal, eventually stopped even visiting the room. He simply left a note carefully attached to the door, asking them to call the lobby if they needed food.

Despite that, Aaron seemed quite moved by the safari tour; on the day they returned from the tour, he pressed Je-rim for his impressions. Je-rim honestly told him that since he had been having sex every day while looking at that savanna landscape since they arrived, he didn’t feel anything particularly special… Aaron criticized Je-rim, saying there was a limit to how dry one’s sensibilities could be.

‘Is that really all you have to say? Wasn’t it majestic?’

‘I had sex every day while looking at that majestic scenery.’

‘No, just looking at it and actually touring it are different. You even saw a rhinoceros.’

‘Ah, that’s true. You looked cute when you were excited.’

In Je-rim’s memory, Aaron’s face as he marveled at the sight remained more impressive than the rhinoceros itself. He found it fascinating how Aaron still looked like a boy whenever he smiled, regardless of his age, so he had appreciated Aaron watching the rhinoceros more than the rhinoceros itself. Since their points of focus were different, it was only natural that what remained impressive was different.

Recalling Aaron’s expression of admiration, Je-rim let out a spontaneous laugh. As Je-rim smiled and tickled Aaron’s chin, Aaron cleared his voice—which had been on the verge of becoming pouty—and asked again. There was a hint of regret in his tone.

‘Then was the honeymoon itself just “okay”? Maybe I shouldn’t have suggested coming here.’

To that, Je-rim readily shook his head. It was true that he wasn’t particularly interested in the safari itself, but it was also true that he became interested because Aaron wanted to go, and because Aaron loved it so much, Je-rim felt it was a good thing they came. It was also a place one might only visit once or twice in a lifetime.

‘No, I liked it. When else would I get to visit a place like this? It’s just that I felt a bit…’

‘A bit?’

‘Like I’d become a primitive human…’

This was largely due to the scenery of the lodge. Since the motto of the lodge was to become one with nature during the stay, the interior was designed so that everything was visible in all directions from the bedroom. Since it was built inside a safari, all that could be seen were the vast plains, the sky, and herbivores grazing.

Having sex naked every day while looking at that peaceful scenery really did make him feel… as if he had returned to the primitive era.

At Je-rim’s candid evaluation, Aaron’s expression became indescribably stiff. As if he had never dreamed he would hear such an answer—even if it were “I didn’t find it fun” or “Let’s go to a country where we can play more next time.”

After staring blankly at Je-rim in silence for a while, Aaron finally declared.

‘If that’s the case, I’ll let you return to being a civilized human. Let’s not have sex until the trip is over.’

‘What? Hey, how can you do that! We’re newlyweds!’

There was still a week left before the trip ended. To not have sex at all during a honeymoon—it was like being a show-window couple. Je-rim shook Aaron in shock, but Aaron stripped off all his clothes and lay down naked.

‘You sleep with clothes on, like a civilized human. I’m a primitive, so I’ll just sleep like this.’

‘Are you really just going to sleep? Hey, Aaron! Then at least put some clothes on. Don’t strip and make me anxious!’

‘You’re demanding too much from a primitive.’

‘Ah, damn it, are you going to keep acting like this?’

‘Why? You once said I’m cutest when I’m pouty.’

‘This isn’t being pouty, you’re just being a brat!’

And so, the two had a massive fight a week into their honeymoon. Well, they reconciled the very next day while kissing in a hot air balloon. They resumed having sex and did it to their heart’s content until the day the trip ended.

Regardless, since they had fought over such a trivial reason even on their honeymoon, Je-rim groaned as he recalled the event. Honestly, the destination itself was so far removed from Je-rim’s interests that he wouldn’t have even thought of going there in his life if it weren’t for Aaron, and since bad memories remained, he didn’t want to visit that country again.

“Going back to Tanzania is a no. Kissing in the hot air balloon was great, but…”

Even if he hadn’t felt interest in the safari tour, kissing Aaron while standing under a vermilion sky at sunset remained a memory he would never forget in his life. At Je-rim’s words, Aaron immediately brought up another option.

“Then shall we go to Türkiye? Hot air balloons are famous there too.”

“Hmm, but in terms of pure fun, skydiving was the best.”

“Ah, that’s true. Except for the weird face you made when you were falling.”

“What? That makes it more fun.”

“Still, even to me, that face was too ug— never mind.”

“Hey, you were the same!”

“I didn’t open my mouth and laugh on purpose. I just burst out laughing because of you.”

Since both of them kept laughing while falling, wind entered their mouths, and the photos captured them looking grotesque. Even to the two of them, who were deeply infatuated with each other, those photos were so ugly they couldn’t bear to look at them, so they sealed them away.

Although the problematic photos were taken two years ago, the memory was still vivid. After laughing for a long time while arguing over who looked uglier, they continued their conversation.

“I want to do it again, but since the vacation is in winter, skydiving might be difficult.”

“Then let’s just go to Finland again. The aurora was beautiful.”

“Just like the hot air balloon kiss, wasn’t the aurora great simply because we were having sex while watching it?”

“Ah, is that so? You have a point.”

In Finland, which they visited during the Christmas season, they stayed at a hotel with a glass ceiling. That night, they were just having sex because the probability of seeing the aurora was low. Je-rim, who was pinned beneath Aaron, was the first to discover the curtain of light unfolding in the night sky.

After that, they changed positions so that Je-rim sat on the thighs of Aaron, who had raised his upper body, and they watched the aurora while hugging each other tightly. This, too, was a sight one would hardly see twice in a lifetime.

However, as Aaron said, it seemed it was etched more specially not simply because the aurora was beautiful, but because they saw it while having sex. Judging by his own sensibilities, which were lower than those of a primate (an expression Aaron used when they fought during the honeymoon), Aaron’s words were likely correct.

When Je-rim cleanly admitted it, Aaron grinned and hugged Je-rim suffocatingly. Je-rim did the same. As he buried his nose in that broad chest and inhaled his scent, his naughty hands began to move stealthily. However, upon encountering a sensation that was less than expected, he immediately lost heart and muttered.

“Aaron, put some weight back on… Your body used to be really great.”

“I want to put it back on too, but it’s not working well. In the first place, that was a body possible only when I was idling and eating.”

“Ah, still… it’s such a shame. All that fullness is gone.”

Though still large and wide, he diligently kneaded the chest and biceps that had lost the feeling of filling his hands as they once did. Taking the opportunity, he felt the abs and then slid his arms back, stroking from the shoulder blades down to the buttocks. As he gripped the well-shaped buttocks, Aaron suddenly flinched and blurted out something nonsensical.

“I feel like I’m being sexually harassed right now…”

“I’m not touching you to harass you; I’m touching you to measure how much weight you’ve lost.”

He slapped the chest of his husband, who kept saying strange things, but there was no reaction. In the past, the plump muscles would tremble before returning to their place, but this time, only the sound of hitting firm skin echoed. Je-rim looked at the muscles that stayed quietly in place with a hollow expression. Even if he had lost his entire fortune, he wouldn’t have felt this empty.

Seeing this, Aaron twisted the corner of his mouth as if it were absurd, yet he stroked the back of Je-rim’s head.

“I’ll try while you’re in Taiwan. What choice do I have when my husband wants it this much?”

At that, color returned to Je-rim’s face.

“Really? I’ll be looking forward to it.”

“Yeah. In exchange, you put it back on once this schedule is over.”

“I’ll put the muscle back on without you even telling me.”

“Right, then it’ll be worth touching again.”

The moment he mentioned ‘worth touching,’ Aaron gripped Je-rim’s buttocks. It was a touch as if he were taking revenge for earlier. Instead of slapping those naughty hands away, Je-rim also kneaded Aaron’s body wherever his hands reached and asked.

“How are you going to spend your time while I’m gone?”

“Hmm… well, go to work, work, come home, and cry while looking at the empty living room.”

Aaron rubbed his eyes as if he were actually going to cry. The sight of him pretending to be a little kid with that physique was both hilarious and lovely, so Je-rim tilted his chin as if encouraging him to do more.

“Then, while showering, I’ll cry again because I don’t feel the hands that suddenly sneak in and lewdly grope my back. While preparing dinner, I’ll cry because I don’t hear the voice chattering while kneading my butt. And when I’m trying to fall asleep, I’ll cry because my husband, who is always trapped in my arms slapping my chest, isn’t here…”

“Anyone listening would think you’re bereaved of some incredible perverted old man.”

Hearing his actions described by Aaron’s mouth, he really sounded like a perverted old man in the back room. However, far from being unpleasant, he couldn’t stop laughing. Aaron seemed to feel the same; while pretending to cry, the man who couldn’t erase the smile from his lips signaled with his eyes.

“I’ll probably live for the joy of waiting to call you while wiping away tears every day. What about you, Je-rim?”

“I guess I’ll be similar, except I won’t actually shed tears.”

How will I sleep with my side feeling empty? At the words spoken like a monologue, Aaron agreed and let out a long sigh.

“At times like this, I wish there were two of you. Then it wouldn’t be so hard even when the time comes to be apart like this.”

Two Aarons… Je-rim, who inadvertently imagined it, blurted out his desire without hesitation.

“True. Besides, if there were two of you, sex would be killer.”

“…Do you immediately think of a threesome? Just what is your brain…”

“Don’t talk as if I’m the only one whose brain is rotten. Honestly, you thought of it too.”

He knew that in this regard, they were remarkably well-matched. Sure enough, instead of denying it, Aaron closed his eyes slowly as if the mere imagination were ecstatic.

“If there were two of you… it would probably be killer. Ah, but I’d hate it if another me had sex with you.”

“Me too. You’re mine and mine alone.”

Even if it were another version of himself, he didn’t want to share Aaron. From the summer he was sixteen when he first met Aaron, to this summer day now that he was thirty-eight, and forever after, Aaron was solely his. He had to be his. Likewise, he was Aaron’s.

Because they had vowed during their wedding that everything of mine is yours, and everything of yours is mine. Naturally, the subjects of the vow had to be included in the list of possessions.

As if to signal that his words were a firm truth, Je-rim pulled Aaron’s head into his embrace. Seeming to like both the words and the action, Aaron softly kissed Je-rim’s collarbone and the area around his solar plexus.

“Then a threesome is out of the question for both of us.”

“Well, it was impossible from the start.”

“I didn’t know you had fantasies about that. Do you want to? Should we try using a toy? A small one so it’s not too much…”

“I have no interest unless there are two of you. Don’t buy any weird things.”

Every time the warm lips touched his skin, a heat like being burned by fire spread. Along with it was a laugh for no apparent reason. It was always like this with Aaron. Things that were nothing were funny, things that were nothing were frustrating, and things that were nothing made him so happy or emotional that his vision blurred.

Continuing their cozy conversation just like their childhood when they spent nights together secretly in the dormitory, they stayed awake through the final night before their brief parting.

✲✲✲

Because they had gone to bed so late, their private night was inevitably short. Aaron drove Je-rim to the airport before going to work. However, Je-rim didn’t get out of the car immediately and lingered. Thinking that he wouldn’t see Aaron’s face for three weeks if he left now, he couldn’t bring himself to step away.

Instead of urging him to leave so he could go to work, Aaron simply held Je-rim’s hand. Then, with a worried face, he gave a warning.

“I’m saying this just in case… you know you can’t swear during the commentary, or say things like ‘I could do better than these bastards even if I used my feet,’ right?”

What on earth did this guy think of his husband? He felt as if he had been plunged from a state of sentimental longing straight back into reality. At times like this, Aaron had a talent for killing the mood just as much as he did. Je-rim replied in disbelief.

“Football is originally played with the feet.”

“This is why I can’t help but worry.”

“Ah, am I crazy! Do you think I’d say such things about our own players!”

“You can’t say it to the opposing team either, Je-rim.”

“…To think the day would come when I’d receive this kind of advice from you.”

It was truly overwhelming to receive such serious advice from a man who, during his player days, was unrivaled in teasing the opposing team with ceremonies and performances. A man who had performed an emblem-kiss ceremony against his former team and had taken all the insults he’d ever hear in his life at that time…

Well, since he was now coaching at that former team, it was all in the past. Though this was more of an inevitable result of Coach Louis being appointed as the manager of Tavarona. Apparently, he was aiming for the manager position at Sefton; Je-rim was already looking forward to seeing how much he would be cursed at in the future if that happened.

Looking at his husband, who was destined for a long life, Je-rim wiped his dry eyes for no reason.

“Don’t cry just because I’m gone.”

“I feel like tears are already flowing.”

The man snatched the hand stroking his eyes and pressed it to his cheek, uttering weak words. Je-rim continued without yielding.

“Eat well, sleep well, and go to work well.”

“I’m not confident…”

“Don’t act cute. It makes me not want to go either.”

But he eventually succumbed to the continued act of weakness. He was already suppressing the crazy urge to jump into the suitcase and run away together, and seeing Aaron act so openly cute made his heart soften. Fearing that the insane words “I’ll just quit my job and go with you” might slip out, he bit his lip, and Aaron gently traced Je-rim’s lips. It was a tone that seemed to be coaxing him into doing something naughty.

“If you kiss me, I’ll be brave and stay alone just fine.”

“Why do you always demand obvious things as if you’re negotiating?”

He had intended to kiss him before getting out anyway. Since Aaron asked first, he did so. After kissing his forehead, the bridge of his nose, cheeks, lips, and chin as much as he wanted, Je-rim took out the USB he had kept in his pocket. It was truly time to go.

“Aaron, this.”

“What’s this? Did you film yourself masturbating? In case I get lonely?”

“You’re the one who needs to fix your brain. Stop always complaining about me.”

Je-rim, who had delivered a powerful flick to Aaron’s forehead, pulled a file folder out of his bag. He had printed the materials separately, thinking it would be inconvenient to read them while watching videos at the same time.

“I’ve gathered match footage of the other underdog teams, including Kanspor. I edited the highlights separately… and I did some rough analysis too. Show this to the manager and get on his good side, okay?”

Kanspor was a football club in the Turkish Süper Lig that had caused a sensation last season. Originally, they were a weak team that couldn’t even break into the top ten of the Süper Lig, but after a change in managers, they literally wrote a myth and advanced to the Champions League this season. These kinds of underdog teams often caused trouble because there was a lack of accumulated analysis data.

That was why Je-rim had spent his spare time gathering match footage of underdog teams that made it to the Champions League, editing the highlights, and performing brief analyses of their play. As luck would have it, Kanspor—who were set to face Tavarona in this group stage—was a place he had visited for a photo shoot with William, so he had watched a match in person.

The photo shoot schedule itself was tight, and the stadium was far from the hotel, but he had pushed himself to go regardless. There was a subtle but significant difference between watching on a screen and seeing it live. Thinking that this experience would eventually help Aaron’s managerial career, he could move his body even when it was exhausted to the bone.

“Don’t say I did it; say you did it. And ask for a raise in your salary.”

“How can I do that? You’re the one who did it…”

“Then say you did it because your husband wants you to get a raise.”

Even as Je-rim chuckled and joked, Aaron’s touched expression didn’t change. He carefully placed the file folder and USB into his bag. Then, looking at Je-rim as if he were a god, he reverently kissed the back of Je-rim’s hand.

“Thank you, Je-rim.”

“I’m the only one for you, right?”

“That was always true… but a simple expression isn’t enough right now. When did you make all of this?”

“I wasn’t just eating, playing, and sleeping every day after you left for work.”

“I had no idea. I thought you were just having barbecue parties every day.”

“But this isn’t actually that great. Just some reference material? You seem way too moved.”

Je-rim quickly added this because Aaron looked as if his expectations for the file had soared to the sky. What he had created this time was merely basic analysis data to refer to before establishing tactics; he hadn’t included personal opinions on which tactics would be effective against this team or how to structure the training program. Those were things for Aaron and the Tavarona coaching staff to decide.

Unless Aaron asked for advice first, it would be an overstep for Je-rim to interfere. The coach of Tavarona was Aaron, not Je-rim. Je-rim had simply lent a little help so that his husband could exercise his abilities more effectively. But as if that were enough, Aaron nodded.

“That’s more than enough. I’ll definitely brag during the meeting that my husband made these materials.”

Now back to his usual confident face, Aaron firmly interlaced his fingers with Je-rim’s. Holding the hand up, he gently tickled Je-rim’s fingertips with the bridge of his nose as he spoke.

“Thank you so much. I only have you. I love you, my heaven.”

“I love you too. I really have to go now. I’ll be off.”

“Yeah. Contact me as soon as you arrive.”

“Got it. You be careful on your way to work too. See you later.”

Unable to linger any longer, Je-rim was the first to release their interlaced fingers. Naturally, his movements were slow, reflecting his reluctance to leave. As if even that was regrettable, Aaron kept fidgeting with his fingers. Je-rim suppressed the urge to grab the hesitating hand and put it in his pocket, then stepped out of the car.

For the sake of their respective futures, it was time for a temporary parting, however regrettable.

Eternal Summer (2)

The broadcast of the first match of the Asian Games football group stage featured an announcer as the caster, and Je-rim and Kim Dae-chan—who, like Je-rim, was a former football player—served as the commentators. He was a very senior Sunbae who had also been the captain of the South Korean national football team back when Je-rim had made a massive blunder at the World Cup.

Naturally, he was a Sunbae whom Je-rim respected and was close with. Even after the broadcast began, Je-rim spoke to Dae-chan in a playful manner, and Dae-chan, knowing that his cherished Hubae had married Aaron, threw jokes back at Je-rim without formality. The jokes were mostly like this:

“Commentator Ban Je-rim, did the person you live with give you any hints on what tactics Korea should use to win?”

“Ah, well, he’s just a fledgling coach who recently joined the division…”

“Fledgling? Wow, you really must see him as a chick every waking moment. Stop showing off your honeymoon phase so much.”

Since they would have to be serious with the commentary once the match officially started, Dae-chan’s determination to tease his Hubae before then was evident.

“That’s not what I meant… Sigh, yes. I guess it looks that way. I live with him because he looks like a chick.”

Je-rim started to correct him reflexively but stopped and just answered honestly. Not stopping there, he placed his left hand on the table so that his wedding ring was visible to the camera. He decided to put into practice Manager Louis’s advice to make everyone get used to this state of affairs.

The wedding was supposed to be a secret anyway, but that failed and the rumors had already spread, so this was nothing. Besides, he felt satisfied only when he countered mischievous pranks with even bolder jokes.

Ironically, it was Dae-chan who became flustered. He let the water bottle in his hand drop limply and muttered with wide eyes.

“…Uh, this is a bit… unfamiliar…”

“I was also very unfa… Ack! Why are you stepping on me!”

“The match has started!”

Dae-chan moved his long legs, stepped over the caster sitting in the middle, and accurately stomped on Je-rim’s foot. Before Je-rim could protest the sudden pain, the caster shouted loudly, as if to stop the two of them from their banter.

The two had no choice but to call a truce and engage in serious commentary. Driven by the single-minded desire to make sure his hard work on vocal exercises didn’t go to waste, Je-rim chatted incessantly. From the middle of the match, he became so immersed that things he shouldn’t say almost slipped out, but he barely managed to hold them back.

“The opposing players, who are as cute as bir… birds, are committing fouls like pup… puppies playing tricks.”

Korea’s opponent was a certain Middle Eastern country, and fitting its reputation, it was showcasing flamboyant ‘bed football’ and foul play. How could he not swear? Every time an ominous word almost left Je-rim’s mouth, the caster sitting next to him glanced at him with trembling eyes.

Je-rim wasn’t so lacking in manners that he would actually swear on air. He calmed the caster with a small nod.

Dae-chan tried to tease him again, using the fact that Je-rim had tried to cover up his near-slip. While he might have been trying to cover for the Hubae who was commenting for the first time today, honestly, looking at the content, his mischievous personal intent seemed greater.

“Cute as birds? Is there a player over there who looks like Reyes, Commentator Ban Je-rim?”

“Hardly.”

Ridiculous. How dare he compare someone to whom. Je-rim, whose face became so serious it was embarrassing for his Sunbae, looked back at the match. Just then, one of the opposing players was openly grabbing a Korean player by the scruff of the neck and slamming him down. The Korean player took the opportunity to roll around like an egg, appealing for pain.

Good job, kid. Did you practice rolling separately? Your form is perfect. Je-rim inwardly praised the Hubae who was struggling desperately to get a card. There was a reason for the saying ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.’ To those who played so dirtily, you had to pay them back in kind to feel satisfied. He continued speaking to give a bit of strength to the Hubae’s efforts.

“Ah, that’s definitely a card. Committing a foul like that is something only amateurs do…”

“Then what kind of foul does a pro commit?”

The caster, looking relieved that football-related words were coming out of Je-rim’s mouth, immediately picked up the conversation. Since subtle fouls, along with passing and long-range shots, had been one of Je-rim’s specialties during his playing days, he laid out the explanation without hesitation.

“First, the basic is to do it without the referee noticing. When responding to trash talk, you obviously cover your mouth, and you calculate everything down to how it will look on camera…”

“Ah… uh, not something so realistic, please.”

“In the first place, a foul is an act done to bring an advantage to the team, right? Then, at the very least, you shouldn’t receive a disadvantage as a result of the foul. Getting a card like that… Tsk.”

As Je-rim expected, the opposing player who had slammed the Korean player received a yellow card and was now furiously protesting to the referee. What the hell was he so proud of? Je-rim clicked his tongue and stared at the player with a look of utter patheticness.

“That player is the perfect example of an amateur, committing a foul without any thought or purpose and then throwing a fit alone. If he gets sent off, he wouldn’t even have a right to complain if he got hit with a bat… wait.”

He had been controlling himself well, but he slipped.

Even he was surprised by what he had let slip and instinctively covered his mouth with a gasp, but the water was already spilled. Of all things, thanks to his vocal exercises, the pronunciation of ‘bat’ (ppatta) was uselessly crisp and accurate.

He sent a pleading look to his reliable senior, Dae-chan, but Dae-chan had his head buried in the table, desperately trying to hold back his laughter. He didn’t seem to be in a state to help. Now, even the caster seemed to have given up, wearing a hollow smile. He looked almost soul-less.

“…You must have received a lot of ‘bats’ during your active days.”

“I didn’t!”

The caster, whose sense of damage control had vanished, played along with Je-rim. Je-rim jumped up in indignation.

However, while denying the ‘bat theory’ throughout the match, he knew deep down. He knew that on the internet, all sorts of rumors were likely circulating—that he had beaten up seniors and juniors alike with a bat, or that his original dream had been to be a baseball player.

Aaron’s worries had become reality. Je-rim prayed that he could somehow shove the words back into his mouth, but such a thing was, of course, impossible.

It seemed his first time as a commentator had been completely ruined.

✲✲✲

-Je-rim, I think the rumors have reached here now. Even Manager Louis asked me why you did that.

It was two weeks after the problematic commentary day. In today’s regular phone call, Aaron brought that up out of the blue. Je-rim didn’t even have to ask what the rumors were about. He just gripped the phone so hard his hand trembled.

“You just… figure out how to answer him…”

-And what is SBN? Looking at the reaction in Korea, they’re calling you the ‘Bat SBN’?

“What, I even got a nickname like that? Already?”

He could tolerate Manager Louis’s curiosity, but he couldn’t stand that bizarre nickname, so he bolted upright from the bed.

Aaron knew the meaning of ‘bat’ but was puzzled by the meaning of ‘SBN’. Je-rim didn’t have the energy to explain that it was a transliteration of the initials of the word ‘Sunbae-nim’. If he had known he’d get a nickname like this, he wouldn’t have put so much effort into his diet.

Je-rim flopped face-down on the bed, burying his face in the pillow and mumbling. The phone he was using for the video call was tossed beside the pillow.

“Your husband’s commentary was a disaster… I dieted for nothing.”

-Well, you’ve been doing great ever since that first commentary. It’s okay. That was just a happening.

As Aaron said, aside from the huge accident on the first day, he had been doing well since then. The reaction to the accident wasn’t entirely negative either. It was mostly just people saying that ‘Ban Je-rim was being Ban Je-rim.’ But even this was proof of what his usual image was, so he didn’t feel great about it.

Perhaps his current mood leaked into his voice, as Aaron continued seriously, as if trying to comfort him.

-And your pronunciation was so accurate that it was easy to listen to. It was so good that even I understood everything. Don’t be discouraged over one mistake; it’s unlike you.

In times like this, there really was no one like his husband. Je-rim threw away the pillow he had been punching out of frustration and looked back at the camera so Aaron could see him.

“I’m not exactly discouraged. But the ‘Bat SBN’ nickname is a bit infuriating. I’ve never even held a bat.”

-Should I find the original spreader of the nickname and sue them for you?

“…Forget it. I’ll get cursed at more if I sue over something like that.”

-Just tell me whenever you want. I’ll make sure no one can badmouth you.

It was a childish consolation, but thanks to the last sentence, his mood gradually improved. Especially since he knew Aaron was the kind of guy who would unconditionally take his side even if the world ended because of him. Je-rim stared straight at Aaron through the phone screen and spoke softly.

“I miss you, Aaron.”

-Me too. We just have to hold out for one more week, right?

“Yeah…”

Then, Aaron’s camera angle slowly moved down. The screen, which had been filled with his face, zoomed out a bit, and the focus shifted from his chin to his neck, and then slowly to his chest. Aaron, who even adjusted the zoom so that his face and chest were in the same frame, shrugged as if to say, ‘Look at this.’ As soon as Je-rim saw the bare chest, he asked back in disbelief.

“…Why are you naked again? Isn’t it still broad daylight there?”

-Because I thought you’d want to see.

“Hey, this is torture…”

It wasn’t like the story of the sour grapes. Looking at grapes he couldn’t eat was making him die of frustration. As he ruffled his hair with a troubled face, Aaron lit a fire, as if determined to make him anxious.

-Look at this. I’ve put on some weight.

“Oh, really?”

At the welcome news, Je-rim brought his face closer to the screen. Aaron showed kindness by panning the camera from his shoulders down to his stomach for Je-rim.

His forearms were thicker than before, and the volume of his chest had noticeably increased. The abs carved into his dark skin had become even more distinct. Furthermore, seeing that the underwear band wasn’t visible below his lower abdomen where veins bulged aggressively, it seemed he was completely naked down to his lower body. He seemed to be erect, too.

Je-rim cheered at the sight.

“You did. Hey, you should have put it on sooner. Ideally, before I come here…”

-I guess my body is finally getting used to the changed lifestyle, seeing as I’m gaining weight again.

“That’s a relief. Gain more weight there and get back to your old body before I return, okay?”

-I’ll try. By the way, Je-rim.

Aaron paused for a moment, as if he were about to say something important. Usually, at times like this, either a mouth-watering proposal or a topic that shouldn’t be ignored would come up, so Je-rim listened intently. The words that followed fell into the former category.

-Don’t you want to see more?

“Keep going.”

Je-rim snapped up the offer and asked. He knew he’d regret it for a long time if he missed such a golden opportunity. Besides, it had been two weeks since he’d masturbated or done anything, so Je-rim’s lower half was starting to feel tight. Aaron must have been in a similar state to suggest phone sex.

Aaron laughed lowly at Je-rim, who was nodding his chin as if giving a command.

-You have to tell me what you want to see for me to keep going.

“Isn’t masturbating the only thing you can do? Since you’re alone.”

As he spoke, Je-rim also took off his clothes. It would be too cruel to tell his husband to finish alone without any visual aids, so this action stemmed from his generosity in becoming a side dish himself. However, Aaron spoke up immediately, as if a naked body alone wasn’t enough.

-I want to see you masturbating, too.

“Where?”

-Both.

The answer followed as if asking something so obvious. Along with the worry of how to film himself poking his back while filming the front was easy, a curse escaped Je-rim’s mouth. It was because he had fallen for that perverted mindset of demanding something even while knowing it would be hard to film.

“You pervert. …But do you squirt even when you’re alone?”

-Who exactly is the pervert here?

Realizing he had no comeback, Je-rim remained silent. At times like this, his friends’ sarcasm about how ‘birds of a feather flock together’ echoed in his head.

Immediately after, a voice full of curiosity flowed in toward the tight-lipped Je-rim.

-I wonder. Shall we test it?

True to form, never rejecting such things, Je-rim urged Aaron to try it quickly.

“Yeah, I’m curious. Do it.”

-Do it together.

“I said I would.”

-Touch your nipples too. Got it?

“Ah, seriously, you pervert…”

Despite his words, Je-rim slowly moved his hand to his nipples. Since Aaron said he wanted to see, he intended to just pretend to touch them for a bit before moving down.

As the atmosphere ripened, his nipples were already standing stiff. This body, which experienced erections not only in the genitals but also in the nipples when sexually aroused, was undoubtedly a result created by Aaron. Because Aaron bit and sucked them whenever he had the chance, there was even a time when Je-rim couldn’t wear clothes or cover himself with a blanket because even the touch of soft fabric felt stinging.

The nipples, having been trained that way, twitched in response even when Je-rim’s own hand touched them.

“Ngh….”

-Phew, Je-rim, I can’t see below very well.

Beyond the camera, Aaron’s low voice drifted through, accompanied by the sound of something being shaken. Looking at the screen, Aaron was holding the phone in his left hand while diligently stroking his cock with his right. Even through the small screen, the size was so immense that Je-rim felt a natural sense of intimidation.

But regardless of his impressions, seeing Aaron’s erect cock for the first time in a while caused Je-rim’s own to snap upright. It was almost a reflex. Je-rim took his hand off his stiff nipples and gripped his throbbing cock with his right hand to steady it. It was inconvenient being able to use only one hand because of the phone, but he suppressed his frustration, remembering that Aaron was in the same position.

Then, as Aaron requested, he angled the camera to show his cock. The penis, now fully erect, trembled as if expecting something, dripping clear fluid from the tip. As he stroked the shaft in sync with Aaron’s movements, the sounds coming through the speaker made it feel as if they were holding each other’s cocks and masturbating together, just like usual.

“Kh, ngh, hah…!”

-Haa…. Kh, ngh!

For a while, only the sounds of their moans and the friction of flesh filled Je-rim’s hotel room. Je-rim squeezed his eyes shut against the surging pleasure, but forced them open to look at Aaron. On the screen, he saw Aaron groaning while gripping his menacingly large cock. He loved the large hand roughly stroking that massive shaft, and he loved the moans that laid over the scene like background music.

Seeing the surface of Aaron’s glans, glistening and drenched in cowper’s fluid, Je-rim’s urethral opening fluttered and spilled fluid as well. When that sight was captured clearly on camera, Aaron also slowly stroked the shaft of his cock for the camera. Thick veins rose in a straight line, and blood vessels wrapped around them vividly. Knowing exactly how it felt to take that into his mouth and lick it with his tongue, Je-rim swallowed hard.

By now, he should have been close to ejaculating, but while his lower abdomen tightened to the point of tingling, he couldn’t reach the climax. It was the complete opposite of Aaron’s genitals, which were currently spilling seed.

-Ah, Je-rim… khhh!

After finishing his ejaculation while calling Je-rim’s name, Aaron didn’t stop and continued to shake his cock. Each time he did, the remaining fluid spurted out along with Aaron’s intermittent moans.

Watching the semen smeared all over Aaron’s hand, Je-rim continued to stroke his cock with fast movements, then blocked and rubbed the urethral opening with his fingertip, just as Aaron always did for him. Not stopping there, he tried wrapping his entire palm around the glans to rub it, and gripped the base of his cock tightly before releasing it. As a last resort, he touched his scrotum like he had last time. Yet, it was all in vain.

“I can’t… come…. Ha, I think I’ve really become a degenerate….”

Having become so accustomed to cumming while being fucked by Aaron, everything was now going wrong. He felt a sense of self-loathing, sensing that instead of the foolish hole that couldn’t even spill seed, another hole was fluttering as if it were lacking something.

Only one thought dominated his mind: he wanted to have sex like usual. While being impaled by Aaron’s cock.

To take Aaron’s cock all the way in, he had to spread his legs to the limit. Then, the hole would open on its own, preparing to receive the object that would soon carve its way inside. Once Aaron began to slowly drive his cock in, the inner walls, which had developed a taste for the friction, would squirm and deliciously bite down on the rounded tip.

He wanted to be stirred inside by the cock after receiving it deep within, and then he wanted Aaron to cum inside him. Whether it was pre-cum or semen, it didn’t matter. He wanted to feel the liquid warming his insides and cum himself. That was the sex Je-rim had known for the past ten years.

“Ah, hng…!”

Letting out a sob-like moan, Je-rim tormented the nipples he had been touching earlier instead of his cock, which refused to release. The erect nipples welcomed the returning touch, repeatedly sinking in as he pressed them and then popping back up. He tried pinching and pulling the small buds, but he still couldn’t reach ejaculation. His cock, erect to a pitiful degree, turned a deep red from the glans to the shaft.

When that was captured on camera, Aaron’s panting breath grew heavier. Tightening his grip to squeeze his cock, he stroked himself at a rapid pace, as if he were just about to cum inside Je-rim’s hole. As he did, he whispered in a heavily suppressed bass.

-It’s okay, kh, Je-rim…. Try putting your finger inside slowly.

“Nng…. Aaron, Aaron… ah, ngh…!”

He no longer had the strength to endure this frustrating pleasure. Je-rim slowly inserted his middle finger into his hole, just as Aaron told him to. Any thought of how to capture this on camera had evaporated. Simply leaning back against the headboard, holding the camera haphazardly in one hand, he moistened his finger with saliva and pushed it inside.

As soon as the hole received the finger, it twitched and tightened, thinking the familiar cock was preparing to enter. He hadn’t masturbated from behind often, but thanks to Aaron loosening him up so frequently, Je-rim knew what to do in times like this.

After using his middle finger to poke around and ease the tension of the hole, he pushed in his index finger while the adapted circumference parted the entrance slightly. The plumped-up rim of the hole happily swallowed the two fingers. Feeling the inside fill up slightly, just as he had wanted, Je-rim opened his mouth wide.

“Hah, ngh, ah….”

-Je-rim, kh! Je-rim… it’s good, ngh, khhh…!

He didn’t know how it was being captured on camera, but judging by Aaron’s intensified reaction, it seemed to be filming well. Before he knew it, he had increased to three fingers, poking away at his own insides.

But still, something was…. This unfulfilled desire was like hunger. In fact, since the inside of his belly felt empty, it was quite similar.

Je-rim moved the hand holding the camera between his legs and spread the fingers poking his hole like scissors to show the inside. The lens captured the sight of the red, moist inner flesh nibbling on the three white fingers, yet still chewing as if it were insufficient, searching for something.

“It’s not, ngh, enough…. Aaron, I want you to fuck me….”

It wasn’t a provocation or a calculated move. He did it simply because he was desperate and wanted to prove it. However, Aaron stopped stroking his cock, looking dazed as if he had been struck in the head.

It happened immediately after.

-…Ngh! You, seriously… haa, kh!

Aaron’s cock shook violently, and clear fluid erupted like a fountain. He hadn’t even had the presence of mind to move the phone away; the camera lens became drenched, and the screen became a mess. Beyond the opaque screen, which looked as if it were covered in fog, only the sight of the flesh-colored mass throbbing was barely visible.

Since he had only ever experienced it happening inside his own body, this was the first time Je-rim had seen it with his own eyes. And ironically, it evoked both an erotic desire and a sense of reality simultaneously. The desire for Aaron to return quickly and cum that inside him, and the reality stemming from the realization that Aaron had been spilling that much inside him all along.

He had wondered why he felt a pressure on a completely different level than semen whenever he received it, and indeed, it was a volume that justified it. That was why, after Aaron came, he always sat on the toilet or in the bathtub to pour the liquid out from behind….

After imagining up to that point, Je-rim’s genitals finally reached the long-awaited climax. Since he had been filming between his legs to show his hole, semen splashed onto Je-rim’s screen as well, leaving the lens mottled. But it was better than Aaron’s phone, which was soaked. He could just wipe it off with a wet wipe.

After reaching their respective climaxes, the two remained silent for a long time, catching their breath. Aaron was the first to speak. Having failed to clean his phone completely, he showed the still-moist screen and murmured in a somewhat drained voice.

-…You can do it, even alone.

“I guess so. Good job.”

-But now I don’t want to do it alone…. I want to cum inside you, Je-rim.

This was followed by whining that his poor phone seemed to have broken because Je-rim had shown him doing it alone at his request. He wondered why Aaron was exaggerating when almost every phone these days was waterproof. But even that made Je-rim want to grant whatever Aaron wanted, simply because he loved him.

I should go back quickly, get him a new phone, and let him cum inside me. With that resolve, Je-rim beamed at the screen. He didn’t know if it would be clearly visible since his own phone was smeared with semen… but still. It was the expression Aaron loved most.

“Stop acting like a baby…. Alright, I’ll come back quickly. Wait for me. I’ll go to you as soon as this is over.”

Just wait a little longer.

Knowing how long Aaron had missed him, he felt sorry every time he said these words. Yet, he was also grateful. Because he knew Aaron would wait for him forever.

A whisper filled with longing flowed helplessly from Je-rim’s lips and was delivered.

✲✲✲

As promised, Je-rim boarded a plane as soon as the finals in Korea ended. He brushed off Dae-chan’s persuasion to go sightseeing, the broadcasting station people’s suggestions for a company dinner, and the whining of his Hubaes asking him to show his face after a long time.

He had packed his bags and left them in storage before the finals began, and as soon as the victory Ceremony ended, he jumped into a taxi to the airport. He had to do this to catch a flight departing today.

The time he arrived in Tavarona was when Aaron would have been at work. So, instead of going straight home, he went to Mateo’s house and picked a few figs. The fruit Aaron loved most happened to be in season. Fearing Mateo would fly into a rage, he left some money behind this time.

Carrying the bag of figs, he returned home and washed the fruit first. The memory of hearing that they were grown with pesticides remained vivid. After placing the moist figs on a plate and washing himself, Aaron happened to return from work. There was no time for greetings at the front door.

As soon as Aaron arrived, Je-rim practically grabbed him by the collar, dragged him to the sofa, and lay on top of him. A man without a shirt and a man perfectly dressed down to his wristwatch overlapped like a single body. Pressing his ear against the beating heart, Je-rim’s lips curled up in satisfaction.

“Ah… this is it.”

The hot body that firmly supported his entire frame and that characteristic sweet-bitter scent. The heart that still beat rapidly whenever their bare skin touched. The body that had become firm again, making it a pleasure to touch, as if he had been exercising diligently. The touch that gently stroked the back of his head, and….

“Je-rim, welcome back. How was it?”

The tenderness of calling his name as if just thinking of him was lovely, in that sticky, low voice that lingered in the ear once heard.

Despite having rushed back because he wanted to indulge Aaron’s clinginess as soon as possible, Je-rim rubbed his forehead against Aaron’s chest like a child. Doing this made all the tension and fatigue vanish in an instant.

“I was a bit pissed off because of that incident at the beginning, but the commentary was fun… stop kissing me while I’m talking.”

Unable to resist, Aaron lifted Je-rim’s face and showered him with kisses. Je-rim pushed Aaron’s lips away, as he was being pushed into a position where he couldn’t even answer the question Aaron had asked. But Aaron did not yield and took an even more brazen stance.

“Didn’t you miss your chick?”

“Is your first-person pronoun ‘chick’ now? Hey, what are you planning….”

He must have really started identifying himself as a chick because Je-rim had pampered him so much, calling him cute like a chick. A guy who had bulked up exactly as requested before he left, possessing a muscular body that wouldn’t look out of place in a superhero movie….

No matter how blinded by love he was, this was too far, and Je-rim realized that wrong was wrong. Worried that Aaron might refer to himself as a chick in front of others and get pelted with stones, Je-rim unconsciously gasped. Aaron smirked mischievously at his husband, who was speechless with absurdity.

“You said there’s no athlete cuter than me among all those players, Je-rim.”

“…….”

“Because I look like a chick, you live with me….”

“…Why has your Korean listening skill suddenly upgraded like this? What’s going on?”

“I studied because you were doing the commentary.”

Whether to call this admirable or obsessive…. Unable to find an appropriate reaction, Je-rim ran his fingers through the dark brown hair like a rake. Then, realizing the roots were damp, his eyes widened. He figured the shower was fine since Aaron often showered at the training center, but he wondered why a guy who had been serious about drying his hair since childhood would do this.

“Did you come home without drying it properly?”

“I missed you so much I just washed with cold water and came straight home.”

“Good boy.”

This was more admirable than when he said he studied Korean listening with skills that barely improved just to understand the commentary. Je-rim popped one of the figs from the table into Aaron’s mouth, and as soon as Aaron bit off half and swallowed, he kissed him.

As he licked between the half-open lips with his tongue, the sweet scent of the ripe fig seeped into Je-rim’s mouth as well. As he pushed past the lips stained with fig juice and went inside, the scent and taste became deeper than before.

When he tickled the lingual frenulum with the tip of his tongue, saliva pooled in Aaron’s mouth. Licking that and swallowing it made him feel as if he were eating the fig himself. Je-rim gently pulled away from Aaron’s saliva-moistened lips and fluttered his lips at a distance where they almost touched.

“How does it taste? I picked these from Mateo’s garden.”

“It’s delicious.”

After giving a short answer, Aaron immediately pressed the back of Je-rim’s head down. Their tongues entwined stickily again, and wet sound effects echoed around them. As they bit each other’s tongues and drank the saliva like sweet rain, it sounded like they were sucking on candy.

Feeling playful during their first kiss in a while, Je-rim nibbled on Aaron’s lips, and when Aaron followed, entwining their tongues again, he sucked on the soft middle part. He intentionally stuck out his tongue to lick the lips deeply. It was Aaron’s favorite act. No matter where he licked or sucked—Aaron’s lips or inside his mouth—it tasted like figs.

“Haa… I love this.”

Even though they had kissed thousands of times, it was great every time. Especially when it had been a while.

Aaron put the remaining half of the fig he had bitten into his mouth, and as soon as he swallowed it, he swallowed Je-rim’s lips again. Sticky juice smeared here and there around Je-rim’s mouth. Je-rim didn’t particularly like figs because of the texture, but he quite liked experiencing only the taste and scent indirectly like this.

So, wanting to smell the scent for a little longer, he pressed his body as close to Aaron as possible, sucking his tongue and swallowing his saliva. But Aaron, who had quietly pulled his lips away, moved his kisses from the chin to the neck and collarbone, and eventually naturally bit his nipple.

Je-rim immediately grabbed Aaron’s head and pulled it back up. Then, staring at Aaron with hazy eyes, he mumbled. Their lips were so close that barely a piece of paper could fit between them.

“Aaron, let me kiss you a little more….”

“More? Your lips are going to get chapped.”

“Yes….”

It was okay if they got chapped. Nodding, he devoured Aaron’s lips again as if they were figs. Aaron also handed over all the initiative to Je-rim and obediently offered his lips and tongue while pinned underneath.

Je-rim lay on the chest that was heaving greatly beneath him, swallowing the man’s panting breath down his throat. Whenever Aaron became this disheveled because of him, the roof of his mouth tingled so much he couldn’t resist kissing him, and something hot surged up from his solar plexus.

Eventually, when Je-rim ran out of breath and pulled away first, Aaron resumed his movements. He rolled Je-rim’s outer ear and earlobe in his mouth, tormenting him by pressing the tip of the nipple with the tip of his fingernail. At the mischievous touch, the nipple stood stiff. Seeing the heated bud, Aaron buried his face in Je-rim’s chest as if he were going crazy wanting to suck it, spreading his tongue wide to lick the entire nipple.

“I saw last time that you still can’t touch your nipples well on your own.”

“Ngh! Normally, kh, there’s no reason to touch them alone.”

“What a waste. They’re so bumpy, it feels good to touch them.”

“Haa, hng…! Don’t, ngh, bite too hard. It stings.”

The guy who had been greedily licking and sucking the nipple was now gnawing at it with his teeth. The sensitive flesh transmitted a stinging pain from just that slight stimulation. The bitten nipple had already deepened in color, bearing a faint tooth mark.

Fearing that the skin would be rubbed raw again, leaving him unable to wear anything for a while, Je-rim pulled Aaron’s head back and warned him. Aaron nodded, still holding the pink bud in his mouth. Because of that, the dark brown hair with a slight curl tickled his bare skin. As the soft hair brushed against the highly sensitized nipple, Je-rim, unable to bear it, pleaded with Aaron.

“Aaron, I… down there….”

From the moment they started kissing, the heat in his belly had been rising, and now it was practically boiling. As if protesting and demanding to be filled quickly, the depths of his interior—places he couldn’t even scratch—contracted violently, creating an almost maddening itch. Even though he hadn’t been touched there, his hole tightened and relaxed repeatedly, as if licking its lips, longing for his husband’s cock.

Before Je-rim-ssi could even finish his sentence, Aaron stripped off Je-rim’s pants and underwear and slowly slid his hand up between his inner thighs.

“Is it so itchy you can’t stand it?”

“Yes…”

“I’ll lick it for you. So it doesn’t itch anymore.”

“Ah, yes, hurry…”

Those were the words he had been waiting for. Je-rim tried to stand up and change positions to make it easier for Aaron to suck him. However, Aaron grabbed Je-rim’s shoulders, sat him down beside him, and suddenly took on a serious expression.

“But Je-rim, before that… listen, and please don’t get angry.”

“About what?”

Usually, when someone laid the groundwork by saying ‘don’t get angry,’ it meant they were planning something that would actually warrant anger. Curious as to what on earth he was trying to do after they hadn’t seen each other in so long, Je-rim crossed his arms. Aaron pulled a box from under the coffee table in front of the sofa and slowly opened the lid.

“…This.”

The moment he saw the contents, Je-rim’s brow furrowed mercilessly. Is this bastard actually joking?

“…Hey, I told you not to buy weird things.”

Inside the box were a plug with a white rabbit tail and a small rotor. Although he had been with Aaron for quite a while, he had never used tools like these. Especially a perverted tool like a rabbit tail…

He was so dumbfounded that he couldn’t even blink. As Je-rim stared down at the fluffy rabbit tail, Aaron’s cautious voice followed.

“I mean, if we can’t do a threesome, at least with the help of some tools…”

“Even if you were going to buy something, why this? Are you actually a pervert?”

Je-rim slapped Aaron’s chin with the fur part of the rabbit tail. The black plug attached beneath the white tail boasted a thickness of about three adult male fingers at its widest part, and the overall length looked to be about that of an index finger. To attach such a hideous thing to a cute rabbit tail—both the creator and the buyer were clearly insane.

And Aaron, indeed, personally proved that anyone who would buy such a thing was not in their right mind.

“Your butt and perineum are so white, so the tail had to be white. Actually, I agonized over it because I thought black might be sexier… but I figured white would suit the color of your hole and cock better.”

At the sound of the most perverted logic he had ever heard in his life, Je-rim froze stiff while still holding the rabbit tail plug. This wasn’t even something that could be solved by hitting him. Given this pervert’s nature, he wouldn’t give up until he had tried it at least once. Sure enough, the persistent whining followed.

“Je-rim, please. Since I already bought it, just once, okay?”

“…Let’s put the tail aside since it’s a collection of your usual perverted desires. What’s the rotor for?”

“It came as a free gift when I bought the tail.”

“Sigh…”

The man had plenty of money, yet he even made sure to keep the free gifts. Je-rim clutched his forehead, feeling Aaron’s absolute determination to use these things.

“I leave you alone for a few weeks and you buy this…? What is actually wrong with you…”

“Just this once. If you try it and hate it, I’ll throw it away immediately. Please?”

Aaron hugged Je-rim and began to act fully coquettish. But this time, Je-rim couldn’t let him off easily. As he held his ground like an old tree, closing both his eyes and ears, Aaron decided he had to use his last resort.

[Darling…]

The man brought his lips to Je-rim’s ear and whispered in a voice that sounded like it was simmering. The hand that had burrowed between his thighs slid down his genitals and teased his perineum with an agonizing itch. Then, using his husband’s native tongue once more, he called out desperately.

[Darling, I want to see you wearing a rabbit tail… You’ll be so cute, really. So please, just once. Okay? I love you, Darling.]

Aaron’s clumsy Korean pronunciation scattered in Je-rim’s ear. Honestly, the moment Aaron first uttered the word ‘Darling,’ half of Je-rim’s reason had vanished. In the midst of that, with him pleading in such a cute accent, how could he possibly resist? Je-rim ruffled his own hair roughly while stripping Aaron’s clothes.

“Fuck, I shouldn’t have taught you Korean.”

In the end, Je-rim once again fell completely for the specific, enchanting aegyo his husband often used during sex.

Realizing that Je-rim had given his permission from a single curse word, Aaron picked up the rotor first. Feeling that whatever happens, happens, Je-rim sprawled out on the sofa. Aaron, having opened the gel included in the box, positioned himself between Je-rim’s legs. He then began to slather gel onto the hole and the rotor.

Watching this, Je-rim squeezed his eyes shut. The sensation of cold gel flowing into the narrow, warm gap of his hole and being spread between the tight folds was always spine-chilling. Furthermore, although the rotor was small, it likely had a vibration function; since he had never used such a tool, tension naturally surged through him.

Aaron gently stroked Je-rim’s stomach, soothing him softly.

“It’ll be okay, this one is small. I’m putting it in, okay?”

“…Yeah.”

Due to the tension, his thighs and buttocks instinctively tightened. However, contrary to his worries, the oval rotor—about the size of two finger joints—slid in without much resistance once Aaron loosened the hole slightly. It helped that his bottom was already slightly relaxed from waiting for Aaron’s cock.

“How is it? Does it hurt?”

“No, it’s just… okay.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

With a bright smile, Aaron turned on the rotor’s vibration. Je-rim instinctively jerked his legs and pulled up his knees. This was definitely an unfamiliar sensation. Despite being thinner and shorter than a single finger, the vibration was quite strong.

“Ah, ah, it’s weird…!”

“It’s okay, I’ll suck you.”

Firmly gripping Je-rim’s twitching legs, Aaron licked deeply along the inside of his white thighs. Then, he pulled the backs of his knees open so that his toes pointed toward the sky and buried his lips against the hole where the rotor’s wire was poking out.

“Hng! Ah, ha-eut!”

Aaron’s tongue invaded the inner walls that were trembling from the vibration. Finding the shivering sensation amusing, Aaron gathered the tip of his tongue and repeatedly poked and prodded inside the hole. Then, he licked the folds of the entrance, which kept contracting due to the vibration continuing inside, like a dog. The area around the hole, drenched in saliva, quickly swelled and became plump.

All these stimuli provided Je-rim with a pleasure that felt like a crashing tidal wave. The itch was so intense he felt like he was losing his mind. He wanted something done about the rotor buzzing inside him first. If it wasn’t going to be removed, he wanted it calmed down by licking and sucking just like this. Je-rim grabbed Aaron’s head, pressing it tightly against his hole without a gap, and squeezed his legs shut.

“Aaron, deeper… there, it itches too… nng!”

At that, Aaron, who had been practically burying his nose in Je-rim’s perineum, barely lifted his face and whispered.

“Je-rim, then just sit on my face.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Aaron raised his upper body, lifted Je-rim up onto him, and lay back on the sofa.

Suddenly sitting on Aaron’s face, Je-rim raised his knees and lifted his hips. Naturally, tension entered his lower abdomen, making the vibration of the rotor churning inside feel even more distinct. It felt as if the skin of his belly was shaking. Unable to handle it, Je-rim’s body sank back down.

“Haeuk, keu-eut, heavy, h-eut!”

“The heavier, the better… huff.”

Because then, when Je-rim sat on his face, he could bury his nose and mouth deeper into the perineum, hole, and scrotum and rub against them. In the first place, he had told him to sit on his face to feel that weight. However, Je-rim was barely managing to hold himself slightly aloft from Aaron’s face. Thanks to that, the slightly open hole was clearly visible.

Aaron licked the perineum floating in the air and the hole that was twitching with tension, while stroking the trembling thighs and enjoying the feel of the bulging muscles. Although he had lost a bit of weight due to dieting, the muscles forming his legs were still magnificent.

As he pressed the tip of his nose against the white perineum, he could faintly feel the vibration of the rotor spinning inside. When he increased the vibration slightly, he could visually confirm the soft flesh quivering.

“Ah, a-euk, kut, h-aat…!”

Unable to handle the vibration raging in his belly, Je-rim clutched his lower abdomen and let out sobbing moans. Aaron grabbed Je-rim’s waist and pulled him down toward his lower jaw so that Je-rim could sit more comfortably. Je-rim, reaching his limit, obediently followed Aaron’s touch.

Aaron knew that Je-rim had completely let go and sat down because the hole and perineum completely covered his lips and nose. It felt dizzyingly good to have that white perineum—which always felt insufficient no matter how much he touched and licked it until the skin was red—rubbed against his face. He buried the bridge of his nose entirely into the scrotum and moved his lips, endlessly sucking the plump flesh.

“Wait, Aaron, the inside too… a-euk!”

Whenever Je-rim urged him, saying his belly felt itchy, Aaron took the hole fully into his mouth and coated it with saliva. As he inserted his tongue into the squirming, fluttering hole, the sticky inner flesh clung to his tongue, sucking it as if it were a cock. Licking the tender mucosa softly, he found it amusing to feel the buzzing vibration.

Sitting on Aaron’s face, Je-rim moved his hips back and forth as if he were fucking the air. If he didn’t, he couldn’t stand the itching and tingling below. Because of the rotor constantly wriggling in his belly, the inner walls tightened and loosened on their own, and the area around the hole and perineum, which Aaron was greedily biting and sucking, felt burning hot from the warm breath.

When the hole kept twitching and squeezing something, he would rub the swollen entrance exactly against Aaron’s lips; when the rotor raging in his belly made him feel uneasy, he would pull his hips back and rub his perineum. Then Aaron would press the flesh firmly with his teeth, and thanks to the bridge of his nose being buried deep in the perineum and scrotum, the vibration of the rotor felt slightly less intense.

“It feels good… haa, good, too much…”

It was while Je-rim was riding Aaron’s face and moving his hips like a person possessed. Aaron, who had his face buried in the perineum, slowly moved his hand and brought the rabbit tail plug. Then, he carefully inserted it, starting with the somewhat pointed tip, into Je-rim’s hole where the rotor was already embedded.

No matter how small it was, something was already embedded in his belly, and when another device was inserted, Je-rim’s neck snapped back in surprise. In the center of his flushed neck, his round Adam’s apple protruded sharply. His body, tensing up, naturally lifted slightly.

“…Eut, h-aa!”

“Shh… it’s okay. It’s thinner and smaller than mine.”

Aaron gently patted Je-rim’s lower back and inserted the rest of the tail. Since the length itself was incomparably shorter than a cock, it ended quickly once he carefully pushed in the part just below the thickest part of the tail.

The hideous black plug vanished completely as it was driven into Je-rim’s deep pink hole, and only the cute white tail sprouted lushly between his buttocks.

“Whew…”

Looking at him from the position of having his face buried beneath Je-rim, he couldn’t see the whole picture, and he swallowed hard. He wanted to see the sight of him as a rabbit so badly that his head felt like it was spinning.

He wanted to suck the hole until it was not just drenched in saliva but became limp, so that every time that small mouth opened slightly, the saliva it couldn’t swallow would drip down, but Aaron had also reached his limit. He lifted Je-rim up and set him down below the sofa.

Then, Je-rim, with the rabbit tail attached to his rear, sat between Aaron’s legs and looked up at him with a bewildered expression. His face looked as if he were asking why Aaron had suddenly slammed him onto the floor after sucking him so well.

Even though he had placed him carefully on the clothes laid out, his husband’s shameless blaming was so cute that Aaron covered his mouth. His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would jump out of his chest. He was so excited that the entire hand covering his mouth was trembling.

“You’re cute, Je-rim. So cute… You’re more lovely than a real rabbit.”

“That’s ridiculous… a-eut!”

Just as Je-rim was about to snap back in anger, he suddenly clutched his lower abdomen and flinched. As he tried to straighten his upper body, it seemed the rotor and the tail embedded in his belly tangled together and provided stimulation. Aaron, feeling as though he might ejaculate just by looking at Je-rim with the tail, stayed still for a while to catch his breath.

But Je-rim’s condition was too poor to simply wait for Aaron. Even a slight movement caused the rotor to vibrate against the inner walls, and the thick plug blocking the hole felt stifling. If only it were longer, but the pointed tip was not enough to reach his favorite spot. He had given in to every single one of Aaron’s pleas, so what the hell was he supposed to do while the other man just stood there dazed and did nothing?

To prevent the inside of his belly from being stimulated, Je-rim managed to crawl over and kneel in front of Aaron’s genitals. Seeing the familiar cock boasting its hideous presence right before his eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbed instinctively.

“Since you bought it, k-kh… you should at least let me do this, Darling.”

Glancing at Aaron with reddened eyes, he grabbed the massively erect cock and licked upward from the scrotum. As he sucked the thin skin of the scrotum, pressing his lips against it, the sticky flesh slowly detached from his upper lip with a soft, hissing sound. When he touched the tip of his nose to the detached skin and tickled it, the cock nodded as if in response.

Simultaneously, fierce veins bulged on the back of Aaron’s hands, beneath his abs, on his forearms, and along the shaft of his cock. Je-rim tried licking one of the thin veins that seemed to climb up the shaft. This sensation, clinging to the bumpy surface of his tongue, was familiar.

He also tormented the small hole that was blinking open and shut, leaking fluid, by gathering the tip of his tongue into a point. It was revenge for how much he had been tormented when his own bottom was being sucked. As he gripped the smooth glans firmly with both hands and obsessively licked and poked the hole with his tongue, Aaron’s thighs twitched. Whenever that happened, Je-rim kissed the urethral opening soothingly.

His lips became smeared with cowper’s fluid, and the fishy taste and scent traveled up his nasal cavity, but now even that was converted entirely into pleasure. Je-rim buried his lips in the fluttering urethral opening and licked up every drop of the leaking fluid as if it were too precious to waste.

Repeating this action caused saliva to pool in his mouth. Je-rim took Aaron’s cock into his mouth, starting from the tip. Because he had opened his mouth to the limit, saliva streamed down the shaft the moment he swallowed the tip of the glans. Rubbing the flowing saliva against the scrotum in a circular motion and gripping the root of the cock with both hands, he slowly lowered his head, causing the veins in Aaron’s neck to stand out.

“Kkh…! Haa…”

Aaron’s eyes remained fixed on Je-rim as if they were broken, savoring the stimulation being given. Following the line down his broad back, where the muscles and shoulder blades were attractively prominent, a round tail sprouted between his uplifted buttocks. Every time Je-rim moved his head back and forth to suck the cock, the tail wagged along with it.

The sounds of the cock invading his mouth—slurp, chuh—were loud. A sticky, hot tongue wrapped around and licked the shaft. The sight of Je-rim sucking the cock as if it were a carrot was mind-blowingly erotic. Every stimulus transmitted through the five senses exceeded the threshold. Regardless of whether his genitals were being scraped by front teeth, Aaron urgently pulled Je-rim away.

It was easy to lift the body that had been kneeling between his legs. After lifting Je-rim back onto the sofa and having him lie prone, supporting himself only with his knees and palms, his vision was filled with buttocks and a tail. Due to the repeated vibrations and the thick plug, the gluteal muscles were tightly tensed and firm.

“Fuck…”

A curse escaped his lips because it felt like a waste to have to remove this cute tail, which suited Je-rim’s buttocks as if it had been there from the start. In his heart, he wanted to see him live the whole day with the rabbit tail plugged in.

Eating, washing, sleeping in that state… The tail would surely shake every time he moved. Then Je-rim would touch his lower abdomen with an uncomfortable expression. Since the bottom would be constantly stimulated, his genitals would maintain a semi-erect state. Imagining Je-rim walking around with a large, deep pink cock in front and a lush, snow-white tail dangling behind, Aaron felt as if his cock would explode.

However, that tail had exactly one drawback. While the tail occupied Je-rim’s hole, he himself could not dig in. To calm his exploding cock by putting it inside Je-rim, he had to remove that tail. In a sense, it was a competitor.

“Haeu, nng, nng!”

As he used one hand to stretch the opening and gripped the plug that had been tightly sealing the entrance, the dark body slid out slowly, trailing bright red inner flesh. A pop sounded as the thickest part of the entrance separated from the hole. As if reluctant to let go, Je-rim’s inner walls continued to squirm, clinging stickily to the thin root of the plug until it was completely removed.

As soon as the plug was out, Aaron pressed his lips to the hole that was already tightening again and immediately drove his cock inside. Because he inserted it without removing the rotor, Je-rim was startled, his limbs flailing. Consequently, the arm supporting his body slipped, leaving him in a position with his hips thrust high into the air. Aaron gripped the white buttocks with enough force to crush them, feeling the clearly defined muscles beneath.

The tightly knit muscles of his back rippled, and strength surged into his masculine forearms, pumping the muscles. In moments like this, Aaron realized that the lover who looked like nothing more than a pretty, adorable rabbit in his eyes was, objectively, a perfect man with a very handsome face and a great physique. Well, he had fallen for him because he was handsome in the first place. The fact that he wore a cute rabbit tail with that body and face only made him look more intensely erotic.

Widening the tense, stiff buttocks to either side, Aaron desperately tried to keep his voice tender.

“It’s okay… if it hurts, haah, tell me…”

The glans, far thicker than the plug, dug into Je-rim’s hole. The wire of the rotor, protruding from the buttocks, was pinched tightly between the hole and the cock, emitting vibrations. As Aaron began to thrust slowly, coaxing him, Je-rim, who had been squirming the whole time, seemed to calm down slightly and turned his head to ask.

“From behind, ugh…!?”

“You’re a rabbit… rabbits mate in this position.”

“You pervert, seriously, ah-euut!”

With his hips raised like a beast while receiving Aaron’s cock, it was indeed a position that suited the term ‘mating.’ Perhaps because he had been wearing the tail until just now, that vulgar expression seemed to heighten the sexual pleasure. Je-rim trembled in his thighs, cradling Aaron’s long-awaited cock deep inside his belly. Not only his thighs, but his fingers trembled as if he had a tremor.

His toes curled instinctively, pushing against the leather of the sofa, and his knees, barely supporting him, wavered continuously. Despite this, his legs parted slightly more so that Aaron could thrust deeper into his insides. Then, the glans would plunge in, stabbing deep as if crushing the inside of his belly. The curved cock mashed against Je-rim’s inner walls as if scooping them up.

Because of the rotor vibrating against the inner flesh, the skin of his belly shuddered. Even without it, whenever Aaron stirred him roughly, the shape of the round glans and the long, thick shaft were clearly visible through his stomach; with the rotor being pushed further inside by the cock, leaving vibrations in its wake, it was an agonizingly intense sensation.

“Haa, ah, ah-eung! Ah, Aaron, the inside is… shaking too much… euut!”

“Je-rim, k-ugh, Je-rim… my heaven, haah…”

The irritation caused by the rotor’s discomfort vanished, swallowed by his moans. Je-rim simply caressed the skin of his belly, which bulged with every thrust, his fingertips twitching at the faint vibrations felt beyond the surface.

And separate from the discomfort, tasting the cock that had entered and exited his belly like its own home for the past ten years after a three-week absence brought a flood of pleasure, as if a dam had burst. The inner walls, moist with melted gel, wrapped around and sucked the cock that was crushing his insides. This was the kind of sex Je-rim’s body was accustomed to.

Even when he tried to relax because it was too intense, Je-rim’s body moved on its own to match Aaron’s thrusting. When Aaron drove in powerfully, Je-rim pressed his buttocks toward Aaron’s lower body and arched his waist. Then the hole would tighten appropriately, biting deliciously into the cock inside.

When Aaron pulled his hips back, the inner walls, which had formed a path according to the shape of Aaron’s cock, contracted and squirmed, begging for him to fuck him again. It was because even the brief moment the flesh filling him withdrew was regrettable. At this, a beast-like groan descended from behind him, followed immediately by a loud thwack as he was slammed back in.

“Yes, yes! Ha-eut, ung, a little more, deeper…!”

He no longer cared about the vibration of the rotor irritating him from within. Rather, his pleasure-soaked brain incorporated even the buzzing vibration near the colon as part of the ecstasy. Normally, he would have threatened him not to go as far as the colon, worrying about tomorrow, but with his reason gone, he became honest. He didn’t have any schedules for a while anyway.

Only the desire to be more deeply, completely connected with Aaron floated in Je-rim’s mind. The reason he was so crazed for sex with Aaron, and the reason he became aroused every time Aaron came inside him, was all a manifestation of that desire.

“Aaron, hng! Deeper, hugh, fuck me deeper… all the way… ah-euut!”

“K-ugh! Lift your hips, hoo, higher, Je-rim.”

Je-rim shook his waist fervently, guiding Aaron’s cock to dig even deeper inside. Aaron didn’t hold back, increasing the amplitude of his thrusts. With every move, the melted gel flowed out of the hole, dripping down his perineum with wet, squelching sounds. Je-rim’s own cock trembled in the air as if fucking the void, leaking pre-cum.

Behind him, Aaron continuously kissed the back of his ears, his earlobes, his hair, and his neck. The noisy sounds of their coupling were so loud they made his head spin. Listening to it felt as if his brain was melting and breaking.

“Ah, eu-ung, hng, hwaat!”

“Kut, ha, fuck, the vibration… k-ugh!”

Eventually, the rotor, pushed by Aaron’s cock, slid deep into the curved part of the inner wall and settled there. The vibration spread through an already sensitive area, scratching through his entire belly. Aaron also seemed to feel the vibration tickling his cock, as he cursed under his breath, his hands trembling. Even so, he didn’t stop the action of gripping Je-rim’s waist violently and slamming into him.

When Aaron pushed the butt cheeks wide until the junction gripping the cock was fully exposed, the sight was revealed: a dark red cock and a thin pink wire threaded through a deep pink entrance that was stretched taut without a single wrinkle. It was amazing how such a narrow hole could open this wide. The melted gel pooling around the plump circumference made it look as if the hole were salivating, desperate for the cock.

Aaron pushed through the sticky inner flesh that clung to his cock like a suction cup, digging in with effort. The skin on Je-rim’s waist and buttocks flushed red where Aaron’s large handprints remained. Aaron’s glans, together with the rotor, finally rubbed long and deep beyond the colon, crushing the mucosa. In that instant, Je-rim trembled violently and ejaculated.

“……!”

Even though his cock hadn’t been touched, semen spurted out continuously. Since he was lying face down with his hips raised, the erupted semen naturally soiled Je-rim’s belly slightly before dripping onto the sofa. A few drops even splashed onto Je-rim’s chin.

After the viscous, cloudy liquid was fully expelled, a translucent fluid, neither water nor semen, poured out with a slight viscosity.

“Heeuuu, hik! Ah-euk… ah…”

In the peak of pleasure, Je-rim’s fingertips curled, not knowing what to do. Moans he couldn’t control leaked from his mouth, sounding like someone who had lost their mind.

Aaron interlaced his fingers with Je-rim’s convulsing ones and squeezed. Then, having reached his own limit, he gasped for air and poured his seed inside Je-rim. Even then, he continued to kiss Je-rim’s ear softly as if soothing him, letting a tender voice flow.

“Shhh… Je-rim, haah, it’s okay. You came so well… relax your body.”

Like a beast after mating, Aaron pressed his massive body down on his partner and pressed his lips to the back of Je-rim’s head. At the sensation of soft lips gently brushing through his hair, Je-rim’s convulsions gradually subsided. To ensure Je-rim finished ejaculating, Aaron flicked Je-rim’s still-erect cock, squeezing out every last drop remaining in his body.

Though the cock had been so painfully erect that the tip of the glans was swollen and bright red, the pain gradually vanished as Aaron held and stroked it gently. Only then did Je-rim collapse onto the floor, spilling transparent fluid. Thoughts of his body being dirty or the sofa needing to be thrown away were an afterthought.

“Hah, haah…”

He panted as if he had been running. After the dizzying pleasure that felt like it was slicing through his brain, a subtle satisfaction, like small electric currents, raced through his entire body. Aaron glanced at the wet sofa and patted Je-rim’s buttocks.

“You’re this healthy, how can you call yourself a cripple?”

“…….”

He was teasing him, remembering how Je-rim had lamented during their phone sex about being unable to reach orgasm on his own. Normally, Je-rim would have snapped at him to shut up, but he couldn’t find the words, his body still trembling slightly as he leaked fluid.

Only after confirming that Je-rim’s shaking had stopped did Aaron slowly pull his cock out. He was exceptionally careful with the finish when he had thrust up to the colon. Because the hole and the cock were completely locked together, simply pulling his body back didn’t work; Je-rim’s buttocks were pulled along with him.

He had to hold Je-rim’s buttocks with one hand and the base of his cock with the other, slowly withdrawing his hips. Then, the shaft—covered in white semen so that its original dark red color was unrecognizable—slid out along with the rotor. The vibration stopped midway, perhaps because the battery had finally run out.

To avoid hurting Je-rim, he removed the larger cock first. As the glans completely separated from the hole that squirmed as if begging him not to leave, cream-like semen poured out from the entrance that couldn’t close fully. Perhaps because he had been thrusting even while ejaculating, white bubbles remained around the rim of the hole.

However, the hole that had poured out semen several times tightened back up as if it had never opened, swallowing the bubbles and the semen. As if it were a waste to let even a drop spill, it opened and closed slightly, taking it in bit by bit.

Aaron watched the entire scene as if recording it into his brain, and only after the squirming of the hole stopped did he grab the rotor’s wire and pull it out. When Je-rim’s waist flinched again, Aaron immediately patted the skin where his handprints remained. He figured that if Je-rim saw his own body once he regained his senses, he would be absolutely mortified.

But well, if a husband who had granted every single one of his requests wanted to scold him, he would have to take it. Aaron pressed his lips in dots along the back of Je-rim’s straight neck before carefully turning him over and lifting him up.

“Je-rim, let’s go to the bathroom. You need to wash.”

“…Ung. Ah, I want to use the toilet too…”

“I’ll hold you.”

Fortunately, having regained consciousness, Je-rim wrapped his arms around Aaron’s neck and his legs around his waist. With that movement, the hole opened, and the semen he had tried so hard to swallow earlier tumbled down to the floor.

Aaron gave Je-rim’s cheek a quick kiss and, to prevent more semen from flowing out, picked up the rabbit tail plug he had removed earlier and inserted it. Since the tool’s name was a ‘plug’ to begin with, it was a fitting use. Then, supporting the buttocks and pressing his palm against the firm perineum, he carried his lovely husband away.

✲✲✲

Je-rim only fully recovered his energy the next day. This was because the act had continued endlessly even after they went to the bathroom.

Aaron had turned on the hot water in the tub and stood Je-rim in front of the toilet. Since he felt the urge to urinate due to repeated ejaculations, Je-rim was fine with this. He had struggled because he couldn’t put strength into his body, so he was glad Aaron offered to support him. The first time he had urinated in this state, he hadn’t known what to do out of embarrassment, but repeated experience had sent that shame far away.

But, he never imagined that the fucking guy would want to see him pee while wearing the rabbit tail…

‘If I take the tail out now, it’ll all flow out, what a waste…’

‘We’re going to wash anyway, so what does it matter!’

‘You love it most when I come inside you, so why are you trying to take it out so fast?’

‘That’s different from this… ugh!’

‘Je-rim, just hold it inside a little longer.’

As he said this, he gently shook the tail protruding from the buttocks, stimulating the inner walls. His other hand reached down to grab the sensitively aroused cock, aimed it at the toilet, and stroked it firmly. With the urge to urinate already rising and stimulation hitting him from both inside and out, Je-rim’s cock quickly shot a stream of urine.

‘Ah, ah-euuu…! The tail, stop… ha-eut!’

The sensation of the thick plug part rattling against the entrance of the hole was spine-chilling. The tip of the plug, sharper than Aaron’s cock, surged and effectively poked various parts of the inner flesh every time Aaron shook the tail. His body, which had just reached a peak after being slammed to the colon and filled with semen, absorbed that sharp stimulation even more sensitively.

His body tensed so much that the strong stream of urine broke intermittently. This was a moment where he should have felt relief, but because the inside of his belly was being stirred into a mess, the signals from his brain got crossed. Instead of gradually relaxing as he finished, his thighs trembled and his toes curled. His vision blurred, and the grout lines of the bathroom tiles grew faint.

‘Haa… it’s shaking on its own even if I don’t shake it. It really is like a tail.’

Perhaps because he had put strength into his buttocks, the hole contracted violently, causing the inserted tail to shiver. Then, with a pop sound, the plug finally slid out on its own.

Immediately after, just as Aaron had said, the semen pooled inside the hole splashed onto the black plug rolling on the floor. At that moment, Aaron muttered a curse and drove his cock into Je-rim without warning. The sound of beast-like panting from behind disrupted Je-rim’s consciousness.

‘Ah, fuck, k-ugh! Je-rim… fuuu, just a little more… kut, I think I’m going crazy because it feels so good…’

‘Eu-uung! At, ah-eut, hik!’

While he was still urinating, the massive cock pierced through his belly in one go, and moans resembling those of a beast burst haphazardly from Je-rim’s mouth. He remained held and shaken by Aaron in front of the toilet for a long time, and finally, he received the fluid Aaron ejaculated directly inside him.

Je-rim’s memory cut off after he remembered wailing with pleasure, seemingly satisfied even then. Then, he woke up at this moment to the sound of heavy raindrops drumming against the window.

‘It’s raining a lot.’

For once, a steady rain was falling in Tavarona. It was an autumn rain.

After listening to the sound of the rain for a while, Je-rim turned his gaze to quietly look at the face of his husband, who was sleeping while hugging him. At first, he had intended to pinch Aaron’s nose to wake him up, feeling resentful that the man had practically knocked him unconscious and was now sleeping soundly himself, but as he admired him, he found he couldn’t move his hand.

The handsome face, boasting a high bridge of the nose and well-shaped thick eyebrows, was sleeping soundly, even making soft breathing sounds. His skin seemed to have a glow to it. In a way, this was also irritating, but the feeling that he was cute won out.

‘I’ve looked at this face for over ten years…’

Why was it that no matter how much he looked, he never tired of it? Je-rim tried to admire Aaron to the point of boredom, but reaching the conclusion that he could never get tired of him, he kissed Aaron’s forehead. At the same time, he slapped the chest that was once again full of muscle.

The chest, which hadn’t budged when he had lost weight, shook satisfyingly. Taking in the sight completely, he moved his hand down to vigorously knead Aaron’s forearms, ribcage, waist, and thighs. The resilient muscles didn’t collapse under his kneading but maintained their firm shape. Yet, thanks to the appropriately filled-out flesh, the texture was soft.

Je-rim gazed with satisfaction at the body that had grown significantly in volume compared to before he left, his hands moving continuously over the bronze skin. Only when his buttocks were gripped did Aaron slowly open his eyes and mutter in a husky voice.

“…A wake-up call that’s very typical of you.”

“I gave you a kiss too.”

“I didn’t feel that… do it again.”

What a liar. He had clearly seen Aaron’s eyelids flicker when he kissed his forehead, yet he acted like this. But this too was a type of aegyo his husband always used, so he was used to it.

“It’s not like that’s a difficult request.”

Je-rim obediently pressed his lips from Aaron’s forehead to his temples, the bridge of his nose, his cheeks, his lips, and finally his chin. His hands continued to knead the body sculpted to his taste.

Despite waking up to a sudden blow to the chest, Aaron blinked like a docile small animal at a few kisses. By the time Je-rim had completely finished the requested wake-up call, Aaron was even smiling brightly, as if determined to look as cute as possible.

“I built up my body well while you were gone, right? Praise me.”

“Patting your butt is praise, isn’t it?”

“Not that kind of perverted praise…”

Aaron trailed off, taking Je-rim’s hand—which had been gripping his buttocks tightly—and placing it on his own cheek. Like a puppy begging to be petted, he rubbed his face against the palm and obediently pressed his lips to the wrist.

It was obvious he was just laying the groundwork, repeating only the things he knew his partner loved. Since Je-rim had a rough idea of what Aaron would want in exchange for the praise, he answered the moment Aaron opened his mouth.

“From now on, the rabbit tail—”

“Throw it away.”

Je-rim had played along once, but he had no intention of doing it a second time. When Je-rim cut him off firmly, Aaron asked back despondently.

“Was it that bad?”

If he kept pestering, Je-rim had planned to toss the rabbit tail plug out the window, but seeing him look so defeated made his heart soften again. Clearing his throat a few times, Je-rim met Aaron’s eyes.

It wasn’t that he absolutely loved those damn rotors and plugs, but it wasn’t that he hated them either. He had been excited by the new experience, and it certainly wasn’t “bad.” But honestly…

“…Aside from yours, I don’t really… want to take anything in the back. When I said a threesome might be worth trying if it were two of you, I meant it would be doable, not that I actually wanted to.”

The very idea of something other than Aaron’s body entering him was uncomfortable. It might not be the right thing to say now that they were married, but fundamentally, Je-rim was closer to being heterosexual. Everyone he had dated besides Aaron had been women, and he didn’t want to have anal sex with anyone other than Aaron. That included objects.

When Je-rim spoke his honest feelings, Aaron’s gaze shifted instantly, and he nodded.

“I’ll throw it away right now.”

Seems like he’s happy with that answer. Je-rim let out a small chuckle at the transparent change in mood. Propping himself up on his arm and turning completely around, Aaron lightly pinched Je-rim’s nose and brought up an unwelcome topic.

“Ah, I found out what SBN means, Sunbae.”

“Right… Good for you, you brat.”

His husband, who claimed to be studying Korean only to find out things like that, seemed to have far too much free time on his hands. He was probably just doing this to tease him. Je-rim gave Aaron a skeptical look before turning his back to lie down.

Unable to endure even that brief moment, Aaron turned Je-rim’s body back around and pulled him into a tight embrace so he couldn’t escape. A series of questions followed, implying that he hadn’t found out the meaning just to tease him.

“Why are Korean people so desperate to give you weird nicknames?”

“You have plenty of nicknames and rumors in Spain too. That’s just how it is.”

“Ah… true. At one point, all sorts of rumors were flying around that I was a eunuch or disabled.”

“Weren’t you basically a eunuch?”

“The guy who started the eunuch rumors shouldn’t be laughing like that, Je-rim.”

Je-rim was in a position where his face wasn’t visible, but perhaps a giggle had leaked out, because Aaron pressed the back of Je-rim’s head, forcing his entire face flush against his chest. No matter how much Je-rim usually enjoyed kneading Aaron’s body as he pleased, being buried so deep that he couldn’t breathe was problematic.

Je-rim slapped the sheet in a gesture of surrender. Only then did Aaron loosen his grip and catch the hand that had been hitting the sheet. Je-rim’s hands were large compared to the average man, but an even larger hand gently covered the back of his. The ring on Aaron’s ring finger pressed lightly against the hard bone of the hand.

“Back then, I really thought I’d just live my whole life like this without you and my dick would rot away…”

Curious about something he’d always wondered, Je-rim lifted his head from Aaron’s embrace and asked.

“But I find that a bit strange. Usually, doesn’t it get hard if there’s even a little stimulation?”

“How could it? You have to be mentally aroused for the physical side to… wait.”

The explanatory tone cut off abruptly, and Aaron’s aura turned menacing in an instant. Aaron grabbed Je-rim’s face, locking eyes with an intensity as if he were about to devour him, and continued.

“Do you get hard even when you’re stimulated by someone other than me?”

“…Probably not.”

“Probably?”

“I haven’t had that happen since I met you again. So don’t look at me like that.”

Sensing he had brought up the wrong topic, Je-rim covered Aaron’s eyes with his palm as if calming a wild beast. However, even with his eyes covered, Aaron continued to press and pester him.

“That’s how it should be. If you got hard because of someone else after we started dating again, that would be cheating.”

“I said it didn’t happen…”

“Don’t even think about cheating, Je-rim.”

“I told you I’m not thinking about it! Has your brain been fried by those dating shows? Stop watching them so much!”

Je-rim wondered if this guy had developed some kind of delusional jealousy because he’d been watching nothing but those shows lately. It wasn’t as if he’d shown any signs of cheating over the last ten years; he swore he had been faithful only to his spouse. As Je-rim shuddered in annoyance at the continued nagging, Aaron muttered as if driving a final nail into the coffin.

“If you cheat, we’re sleeping in separate rooms.”

Why on earth did he have to be threatened with separate rooms upon reuniting after three weeks for cheating he hadn’t even committed? Feeling wronged, Je-rim pulled Aaron’s cheek.

“Separate rooms? Can you even sleep while clutching your cold side without me? Did you like it that way this time?”

“No way. I was so lonely I slept hugging my pillow. See? The pillowcase is wet.”

Aaron gestured toward his pillow, putting on an absurd act. Naturally, the pillowcase was perfectly fine. Still, knowing that Aaron must have felt a void every time he lay alone in this wide bed, Je-rim slightly loosened his grip on Aaron’s cheek.

“Then why are you talking about separate rooms, you idiot?”

“…Because I could never, even if I died, bring myself to say the word divorce!”

To think he couldn’t even divorce his partner even if they cheated—where else in the world could you find a guy like this? All the negative emotions, like annoyance and unfairness, vanished at that one sentence. Je-rim stroked Aaron, pressing kisses to his reddened cheek as if treating it.

“Fine, fine. But if you cheat, it won’t end with just separate rooms. Keep that in mind.”

“What would you do?”

“I’d probably be arrested on the spot… and as for you, well, I wonder if you’d still be alive.”

“I’m going to forgive you with just separate rooms, and you’re going to kill me?”

“You don’t like it? Then just don’t cheat.”

It was a simple solution. Well, he didn’t have a shred of worry that Aaron would cheat. Still, Aaron reacted with delight to the warning Je-rim had issued.

“No, I love it. If it seems like I’m cheating, just circumstantial evidence is enough. Kill me decisively.”

“Just based on circumstantial evidence? Don’t try to die so easily.”

“Just making you harbor such suspicion would be reason enough to die.”

Aaron made a slicing motion with his hand across his own throat and curled his lips up with a ridiculous, squeaking sound. Seeing him laugh with exaggeratedly wide eyes, as if certain it could never happen, a giggling smile appeared on Je-rim’s face as well. Caught up in the playful atmosphere, a memory from the distant past inadvertently slipped out.

“Then you should have died already when you had that scandal with Gabi.”

“Back then… it would have actually been better if you had come to kill me.”

“You wanted me to do that?”

“Yeah.”

Aaron answered with a tone that was somehow tinged with whining, nodding quietly. Though his expression was the same as usual, he looked like a wounded boy for some reason, and that face cluttered Je-rim’s mind. If he acted this pitifully and lovably, Je-rim felt he wouldn’t be able to kill him even if he did cheat.

Indeed, back when there was a misunderstanding, far from killing him, he couldn’t even bring himself to curse him to get injured and quit football quickly. He had even thrown away his pride and tried to hold onto him first. A guy like that, talking about being killed… he’d be lucky if he didn’t lose his mind like back then. Je-rim spoke as he brushed Aaron’s hair back.

“I liked you so much back then that I couldn’t even think about revenge. If something like that happens again, I’m definitely going there to cause a scene.”

“It won’t happen… but it’s a promise.”

“Yeah. But no matter how much I think about it, I don’t think I could kill you, so let’s settle for a hospital stay.”

“How many weeks of recovery?”

“Enough to be bedridden in the hospital for about half a year?”

“I’d rather just die.”

“If I kill you, I’ll never see you again. That won’t do.”

Je-rim chuckled at how quickly his heart had wavered. In so many ways, this guy Aaron was unique to him. While tenderly caressing his most special husband in the world, Je-rim suddenly brought up another topic.

“Oh, right. Mrs. Hwang said to come over because she’s making japchae.”

It was a message from his mother a few days ago. After all three siblings married and moved out, his mother had changed a bit. These days, she was busy traveling everywhere, buying package deals from home shopping channels regardless of whether they were domestic or international, and the only message she’d sent in the midst of that was this.

I’ll make the japchae Aaron likes, so bring him along. There wasn’t even a greeting for her own son. He knew that telling him to ‘come’ was in itself a message that she missed her son, but he still felt a bit slighted. It felt like she found her son-in-law cuter than her own son… Of course, her love would naturally be directed more toward her own son, but regardless of who she loved more, this was a clear fact.

“Our winter vacation destination is decided. I love japchae.”

But since his husband was this kind of guy, well, it couldn’t be helped. Moreover, Aaron still acted like a polite, diligent, and pure young man only in front of his mother, so it was easy to be fooled. Je-rim smiled, pressing his forehead against Aaron’s.

“Right, she’ll make it because she knows you like it. Since she dotes on you more than her own son, well… but if you go, you’ll probably have to drink red ginseng extract too.”

“Honey, I really don’t want to drink that…”

Aaron made a rare, genuinely depressed face. He must have recalled the taste even though he hadn’t drunk it yet, as he even grimaced. In Je-rim’s view, the true trauma for this guy wasn’t the failed birthday party, but the red ginseng extract.

“Then tell Mother yourself. Tell her it tastes like fermented tree bark with honey on it and it’s too fucking awful to drink.”

“How could I do that? She buys five packs and gives them to me every time I visit because it’s good for my health…”

“If you hate it that much, you don’t have to go to Korea.”

“I have to go to Korea. Your mother is there… and it’s your home country.”

As Aaron looked down from their forehead-to-forehead position, the shadow cast beneath his eyes caught Je-rim’s attention. Due to the structure of his facial bones and deep-set sockets, the shadows around his eyes were even more prominent.

When shadows fell across Aaron’s face, his characteristic decadent impression deepened, giving off an aura that was hard to approach. A man with a face more suited for a back alley than a cathedral delivered a series of pure confessions, accompanied by a hand gently stroking Je-rim’s cheek.

“You probably wanted to keep living in Korea, so I’m sorry you had to come back to Tavarona.”

“It’s for work, so it’s fine. I can’t even support you as a spouse, so this much is okay.”

Until Aaron took a coaching position in Tavarona after their marriage, they had lived between Spain and Korea. They stayed in Spain when Aaron had practicals and exams for his coaching certification, and otherwise spent most of their time in Korea. It was Aaron’s consideration for Je-rim, who had spent many years living abroad.

Thanks to that, for about two years, Je-rim spent as much time as he had missed with his family and caught up with relatives. He threw lavish weddings for his younger siblings, ate Korean food to his heart’s content, and stayed up all night chatting with friends in his native language.

Unlike Je-rim, who had been seasoned by living abroad since childhood, Aaron must have been unfamiliar with Korea as a country, yet he mingled with Je-rim’s family and relatives without a word of complaint. He never showed any sign of struggle while adapting to an unfamiliar culture and food and trying to learn the language. Instead, he sincerely apologized for making Je-rim leave.

Because he was that kind of husband.

“And honestly, as long as I’m living with you, it doesn’t matter where it is.”

He truly felt this way. As long as Aaron was by his side, Je-rim could live happily and joyfully anywhere.

Whether it rained like today, whether the sun beat down like it usually did in Tavarona, whether it was cloudy like in Sefton, or whether the weather changed drastically like in Korea… in any environment, in any country, it was okay as long as he was with Aaron.

At Je-rim’s words, Aaron asked back as if it were strange.

“You didn’t like Tavarona much when you were young.”

“That was before I dated you. After I started liking you, Tavarona became okay too. It’s obvious—it’s your hometown and the place where we first met.”

In the first place, Je-rim had come to like summer when he was young for the sole reason that it was the season he first met Aaron. The summer that had been so irritating when he first arrived in Tavarona had become tolerable solely because of Aaron’s existence. So there was no need to even mention Aaron’s hometown.

Aaron was a man who loved the country he was born in enough to get a new tattoo that said ‘Por siempre’ the year he retired from the National Team, and he had said he fell for Je-rim because his smiling face looked more refreshing than the blue skies of Tavarona.

Such a man had loved the boy he shared a budding young love with more than his own country and hometown, leaving everything behind just to keep a single promise. A promise that had worn thin over ten long years.

So now, it was Je-rim’s turn.

“You can go anywhere in the future. I’ll keep going with you.”

Je-rim conveyed his sincerity to Aaron, putting strength into every single word.

Once he officially became a manager, Aaron would surely travel to many countries and cities. That was the nature of the job. Cases like Coach Verdi, who settled in one club and was praised as a legend until retirement, were rare. It was even more so for a rookie manager who had just been appointed.

So Je-rim hoped that Aaron would not hesitate to leave for this country or that country out of concern for him.

Because being a manager was Aaron’s other dream, and Aaron was Je-rim’s dream.

It was only right that he love the things his dream loved. The other countries he would visit with Aaron, the other dreams Aaron would harbor—all of it. All of those things would become objects of love for Je-rim.

“The manager position is the same. If you’re insisting on the Sefton manager position because of me, you don’t have to. Always, anywhere, go where your value is recognized and where you truly want to be. Whether it’s Tavarona, or far away in South America or the US, I don’t care.”

“…….”

“Wherever you go, I’ll be by your side for the rest of my life. I swear.”

And naturally, he had to exist wherever the dream pointed.

Even if a time came when they had to live apart due to unavoidable circumstances, as they had this time, Je-rim would always return to Aaron’s side. He was no longer afraid of this brief separation. The trust and affection built up over the last ten years had made it possible to dismiss even the ten-year gap between them as merely a thing of the past.

But that didn’t mean the fact that Aaron had longed for him for ten years vanished. Nor did it erase the memory of Aaron coming to him, having abandoned almost everything, clinging only to a faded promise.

So, Je-rim gave his grateful husband the smile he loved most.

“I have to make a promise like this too for it to be fair, right?”

“I didn’t keep my promise expecting something like that, but…”

Seeing Je-rim’s smile, a smile slowly spread across Aaron’s face as well. The smile Je-rim loved most, like a dreaming boy. Starlight eyes that shone brilliantly like the sun, heading toward the future, toward him.

The man with a face that remained unchanged no matter how much time passed quietly kissed the back of Je-rim’s hand. Whenever he received such a reverent kiss, Je-rim felt as if he had become Aaron’s sky.

“Thank you, Je-rim. I’m sure I’d never meet someone like you even if I were born again. That’s why I’m always grateful.”

“What are you talking about? We have to meet again even if we’re born again.”

“You can’t imagine how ecstatic I feel whenever those ‘unrealistic words’ come out of your mouth.”

As if to prove that Je-rim’s thoughts weren’t just a feeling, Aaron expressed it in words, as he always did.

“Je-rim, my sky.”

In every moment of his life, Je-rim felt most ecstatic when Aaron called him his sky. Since he was a guy who mentioned the sky at least once a day, Je-rim’s guess that most of his days would be joyful and happy as long as Aaron was by his side would be eternally correct.

Quietly locking eyes with the lover who always made him look forward to the future, he engraved the face of his ideal type, which he loved so much, onto his retina. He pushed back Aaron’s bangs to reveal his handsome forehead and wrapped his arms around his neck, pulling him close. Aaron, who was obediently drawn into Je-rim’s embrace, focused on the soft words being spoken.

“Shall we make more plans for the future? You love doing that.”

“I’d love to. Since the winter vacation plans are done… plans for next summer?”

“Is there anywhere you want to go? Since we’re going to Korea in the winter, let’s go wherever you want for the summer.”

“You said you wanted to go skydiving again. Should we go to New Zealand? It won’t be that complicated if we take the private jet.”

“I told you, let’s go wherever you want.”

“Wherever we go, whatever we do, as long as I can be with you, I’m happy.”

“Really? Me too… It’s rare that we’re on the same page.”

The two of them hugged each other tightly, without a single inch of space between them, laughing as if they had heard a great joke. Outside the window, the sound of the rain was still tumultuous, but even that was drowned out by their laughter, making them forget that it was even raining.

Once the rain announcing the start of autumn ceased, and the autumn leaves gently colored the streets of Tavarona, and once they went out together to eat grapes to the sound of the New Year’s bells and smelled the scent of blooming orange blossoms, summer would return again as if the seasons had never passed. The season when he first met Aaron.

Welcoming the repeating summers, they would continue to run through the unfinished second half of their lives together.

Through extra time, through overtime… every remaining moment of his life, together with Aaron.

In the midst of their daily routine, the reason that made him harbor new expectations forever, and the perfect lover who made his life complete and wonderful.

The mere fact that this summer had allowed him to meet him was enough to praise the season.

Second Half 1-7T toki

Author: Pepper Sparkling

Publisher: Yoo Chul-jong

Publishing House: BookCube Networks Co., Ltd.

Address: 907, 27 Digital-ro 33-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul (Guro-dong, Samsung IT Valley 905-907)

Phone: 1588-1925

Publisher Registration Number: No. 25100-2009-000058

Homepage: www.bookcube.com

ⓒ 2025, Pepper Sparkling all rights reserved.

This book is published by BookCube Networks Co., Ltd. under contract with the copyright holder. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution of the contents of this book without the permission of the company is prohibited by copyright law, and violators may be held legally responsible.

Unpublished Side Story

*This is an ‘if’ universe where the ages of the leads are adults. I trust you will understand.

*If there is any potential for issues, it may be deleted without notice.

* * *

Ugh, it’s cold. Je-rim zipped up his windbreaker to his chin and hunched his shoulders. Even in Tavarona, which had a Mediterranean climate, it was still cold in the winter. The sweat he had shed throughout training cooled instantly, and a chill rushed in, making his body shiver.

However, the relief of successfully finishing the final training of the year made Je-rim’s frowning expression brighten. Or perhaps, a smile simply came naturally upon seeing the profile of his boyfriend, who was talking to Coach Garcia in the distance.

‘That brat, his face is always….’

It was almost the day marking one year since he started dating that handsome jerk. Since they had started with a sudden kiss at midnight when Christmas began, it was easy for even someone as indifferent as Je-rim to remember the anniversary. It basically meant that every Christmas was their anniversary.

Furthermore, since La Liga always had a winter break around this time, it was perfect for going out and playing with Aaron. Because they had promised to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day together this year, he felt even more excited.

But as much as he was excited, there was also something worrying him. As he recalled the concern he had briefly forgotten, his expression stiffened again, and Jose approached him, tapping him on the shoulder.

“Jerry, what are you doing over the holidays?”

Jose was also dressed to cover his ears with a neck warmer, seemingly cold. Je-rim playfully responded, pulling Jose’s neck warmer down below his chin.

“Helping at my mom’s restaurant, hanging out with Aaron… same as last year.”

“You guys stick together even during the holidays? Don’t you get bored?”

“How could I get bored of playing?”

Especially with a boyfriend who is incredibly cute and handsome. Of course, he kept the latter part to himself. At Je-rim’s answer, Jose nodded with a look as if he had been caught off guard.

“That’s… true.”

“What about you, Jose?”

He asked back out of politeness. In his honest heart, he wanted to give Jose an encyclopedia as a Christmas present and tell him to read it throughout the holidays to increase his basic common sense, but he held back.

“Me? I’m spending it with my girlfriend. It just so happens that it’s almost been half a year since we started dating, so it’s an anniversary….”

Je-rim’s eyes widened as if Jose were asking something obvious.

“You didn’t get dumped for being stupid this time and you’re actually lasting? It’s already been half a year?”

“Yeah, I’m going to marry her. I have a feeling that there will never be another woman like her in my life.”

Facing Jose’s eyes, which were sparkling with utmost sincerity, Je-rim muttered in a fed-up voice.

“…Is it a passive trait for Spanish guys to talk about marriage as soon as they start dating?”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“…Nothing. Hey, more importantly….”

Hearing the word ‘anniversary,’ Je-rim’s worry deepened, and after some hesitation, he opened his mouth.

“Uh… what do people do on anniversaries…?”

This was it. The worry that had been unsettling Je-rim for the past few days. Since it was the anniversary of dating for one year, he felt he should do something for Aaron, but he had no idea what to do.

It’s not like he had dated anyone other than Aaron…. When he attended school in Korea, he often saw guys taking 200 won from classmates for something called ‘Tutu,’ but he couldn’t exactly tell his teammates to hand over money because it was his one-year anniversary with Aaron. Even back then, he hadn’t understood why dating for a mere 22 days warranted an anniversary, or why people wanted others to celebrate it for them.

Above all, even if he gave Aaron money extorted like that, Aaron certainly wouldn’t welcome it. Because he was a young master from an incredibly wealthy family…. By the same logic, all gifts were ruled out. While Aaron would like whatever he gave him, Je-rim didn’t want to give him something he didn’t particularly need.

Since their dorm rooms were right next to each other, they saw each other from the moment they woke up until they fell asleep, and since they had already promised to go on a date, spending time together didn’t feel particularly special. However, since nothing else came to mind besides the most basic options of gifts and dates, he threw out the question as a last resort, causing Jose to tilt his head.

“Why are you asking that? You don’t even have someone you’re dating.”

“No, I might. Just preparing… there might be cultural differences….”

Mentioning ‘cultural differences’ had long since become a universal excuse. It was an excuse that worked very well, especially on guys like Jose, whose basic common sense was somewhat lacking. As expected, Jose narrowed his eyes and rubbed his chin as if contemplating.

“Ah, hmm…. I don’t know. Usually, exchanging gifts?”

“What. That’s it?”

“Going on a date, eating something delicious…. Well, then you do it once the mood is set.”

“…….”

He realized too late that he had chosen the wrong person to consult, but Jose continued to mutter with a serious face, as if giving sex education to a younger sibling.

“If you always do it at home, try changing the location, or add an event. Make it a bit more romantic than usual, you know what I mean?”

I don’t know what you mean. Je-rim stared at Jose with a sullen look. The word ‘romantic’ was a word about a million light-years away from Je-rim. Moreover, Jose’s advice was of a type that was fundamentally impossible to implement. The basic premise did not hold for applying that advice to his relationship with Aaron.

He considered just ignoring him and leaving, but since it was true that Jose was older than him and had more experience in this area, he bit his lip. If he talked a bit more, some useful advice might come out. Je-rim asked back with desperation.

“…What if the progress hasn’t reached that point yet?”

At those words, Jose jumped.

“Whaaat? Does that even make sense? If you’re at the stage of celebrating an anniversary, you must be in a pretty deep relationship, so how could that be?”

“…….”

“Hey, you don’t need to worry about that. Usually, people start by having sex, or they do it within three dates. Honestly, if you’re over 15, it’s harder to find a guy without experience.”

He had forgotten that this was a country with a sexual culture far more open than Korea’s. While he and Aaron—who started with kissing and progressed quickly to the point just before sex—would be considered quite precocious by the standards of same-age couples in Korea, in Tavarona, they might receive a commendation for being modest.

If he revealed that they hadn’t had full-blown sex even after nearly a year… they might both be suspected of being impotent or misunderstood as being in a business relationship. However, Je-rim was not yet enough to be completely dyed in Spanish culture. Nor did he particularly want to be.

“I cannot understand your ‘usual’….”

“I’m telling you, you’re too uptight!”

Jose shouted in frustration and added,

“Anyway, if you happen to date a miraculous person who has met you long enough to celebrate an anniversary but hasn’t said a word about having sex during that time….”

“If I do?”

Je-rim was lured in by the way Jose dragged out the end of the sentence to pique his curiosity. As he leaned his head toward Jose and followed the words, Jose smiled broadly and gave a thumbs-up.

“You can just have sex on that day to celebrate the anniversary!”

“I was an idiot for seeking advice from you. Sorry.”

Je-rim smiled broadly as well and ruthlessly bent Jose’s thumb backward.

Chapter

I returned to the dormitory with Aaron and packed my bags to head home. Aaron mentioned that he planned to spend the holidays at his family home this year. Unlike last year, he wasn’t in a position where he was forced to stay in the dorms due to disciplinary action, and he said he had to go back for a family event he couldn’t miss.

His pouting face as he said that was so cute that my intention to give him a quick kiss right before leaving the room ended up delaying my departure. Even if we hadn’t had sex yet, we had long since moved past everything leading up to it, so these days, the smallest spark would set us ablaze.

Due to the limitations of the dormitory, we couldn’t stay clung to each other all night in a sticky mess, but it was possible to touch each other while clenching our teeth to minimize the moans escaping our lips. To be honest, we’d tried staying stuck together all night a few times…

Sneaking into the next room behind the dorm supervisor’s back, lying in the same bed, hugging, talking, kissing, and doing other naughty things before falling asleep always left me feeling great the next day. Since Aaron tended to have a high body temperature, it was warm and cozy when I slept hugging him, which helped me fall asleep easily. Sometimes Aaron’s heartbeat was so loud that I couldn’t sleep, but in those moments, there was a certain pleasure in teasing him, asking if he liked me that much.

‘Yeah, I do… I like you so much. Don’t you like me? Your heart is beating just as fast.’

When Aaron responded like that with a flushed face, well… sleep was out the window for the night. Today, however, we stopped before it got too late. Even as I hurriedly straightened my clothes and packed my things to leave, Aaron was practically radiating disappointment.

“I’d rather have caused some trouble with you so we’d both be left behind again.”

“I absolutely have to go because of my mom’s restaurant. After getting disciplined a few times, you’re talking about causing trouble like it’s nothing.”

“You’re great at causing imaginative trouble. And in a very mean and cunning way, too…”

“Is that a compliment?”

“…I don’t want to go home. I don’t want to be away from you.”

The way he skillfully dodged the question of whether it was a compliment felt a bit suspicious, but I didn’t press him further. It was because my boyfriend, who was hugging me from behind while pretending to put an arm around my shoulder, was just too cute. Je-rim whispered, placing a palm on Aaron’s cheek.

“Then I’ll just go to your house tonight. Leave the door open.”

“You can come?”

“Yeah, if my mom gives me permission… but she usually lets me go if I say I’m hanging out with you.”

I replied, thinking of my mother, who was particularly fond of Aaron among my group of friends. Suddenly, Je-rim shuddered at the soft sensation of a kiss landing on his earlobe.

“Hey!”

“What’s the big deal? No one’s watching.”

That was true, but still… Perhaps it was a side effect of starting with kissing first, but Aaron kissed me whenever he got the chance, whether indoors or outdoors. The problem was that he never listened even when I told him to restrain himself in public. As an added bonus, he would act cute toward Je-rim, who was looking around with a bright red face, so that I couldn’t stay angry.

“Now that you said you’re coming, I suddenly really want to get home fast.”

“Good grief, that’s the first time I’ve ever heard you say you want to go home.”

“Come as soon as you can, okay? Got it? Text me before you come.”

“I get it, I get it. I’ll fly there.”

Je-rim, who melted instantly at that aegyo, let out a laugh-filled sigh while messily ruffling Aaron’s hair.

Let’s get there as fast as possible. That was his resolve.

At the same time, a worry like ‘So how should I celebrate the anniversary?’ popped into his head, but figuring out how to schedule his day to get to Aaron’s house as quickly as possible took priority.

He planned to rush to his mother’s restaurant, help out until the dinner peak ended, have a late dinner with her, go home just to shower, and then head to Aaron’s. He moved according to the plan without a single error.

By the time he successfully got permission to sleep over at Aaron’s house and came out of the shower, it was already past 10 PM. Without even taking the time to shake the water droplets dripping from his hair, he burst out of the house and ran as if he were flying. Following Aaron’s directions to the back gate of the mansion, the door creaked open on its own before he could even ring the doorbell.

When he first visited, he struggled because he couldn’t remember the way even while following closely behind Aaron, but now he zipped through the mansion’s hallways with familiarity. Wondering why it was quieter than usual and why no one was in sight, he knocked on Aaron’s door, and Aaron appeared immediately.

“You’re here? Sorry, I wanted to go pick you up, but I just got back myself.”

Perhaps he was in the middle of changing clothes, as his loosened tie dangled over the collar of his dress shirt. Je-rim’s eyes widened seeing Aaron dressed in a suit at this hour.

“Pick me up? Forget it. More importantly, what’s with the suit?”

“I told you. I had a family event I couldn’t miss.”

“That was today?”

“To be precise, there’s a bunch of stuff from today until the end of the year… I don’t know, for today, I sneaked out as soon as I got the message that you were coming.”

Only after hearing that his father and other family members, as well as the employees, were still in the annex banquet hall did Je-rim understand why the mansion was unusually quiet. Aaron groaned, explaining that since the company his father ran was a regional sponsor for Tavarona FC, many officials, including the club Chairman, were present.

Listening to those complaints, Je-rim realized once again that his boyfriend was truly a young master from an incredibly wealthy family. He also wondered if it was okay to just walk out of a party where club officials were present.

“Is that allowed?”

“No, it’s not. But you told me to think about the consequences later.”

Aaron smiled brightly as he slowly pulled off his tie. Je-rim caught his breath at the way Aaron’s eyes curved, as if he were determined to bewitch him.

“Your visit is a higher priority to me than some event like that. Thanks for coming today…”

As Aaron unbuttoned the top of his shirt and leaned down, the scent of perfume wafted from his neck. Je-rim blankly took in the sight of Aaron in the suit. Whether it was a custom suit or not, the fit was sophisticated. As for whether it suited him—well, since he was a perfect clothes-hanger, it suited him terrifyingly well…

“And for promising to spend both Eve and Christmas together.”

Chu. A sweet scent wafted from the lips that naturally pressed against his. Je-rim froze for a moment under the overwhelming visual and olfactory stimulation, and a series of light kisses landed on him—especially on his lips and the bridge of his nose. Then, as Aaron cautiously looked up to gauge his reaction, Je-rim finally succumbed.

Whose boyfriend is he, seriously? He’s fucking cute.

Je-rim immediately wrapped his arm around the back of Aaron’s neck and pushed his head forward as if headbutting his lips, making the scent of perfume and sweetness even more intense. Tasting his breath, it seemed he had eaten pomegranate. Aaron leaned his waist down so Je-rim could cling to him comfortably, then paused to touch Je-rim’s damp hair, pulling his lips away slightly.

“You didn’t dry your hair properly again.”

“Yeah, because I wanted to see you quickly.”

“…Ha, you’re seriously annoyingly lovable.”

As Je-rim unbuttoned the remaining buttons of Aaron’s shirt one by one, the devouring kiss resumed. Aaron pushed Je-rim toward the bed, almost pinning him down, as he thoroughly explored the inside of his mouth.

Je-rim gasped, helplessly pinned down and opening his mouth for him. How could he possibly resist when someone pushed him with such a large body? It wasn’t their first time kissing, yet it was amazing how Aaron always got this excited. Then again, so did he.

After calmly undoing the third button, Je-rim lost his patience from the fourth onward, flinging the clothes open as if tearing them, and swallowed Aaron’s saliva and breath. The sound of a button popping off and rolling across the floor reached his ears, but neither Je-rim, who tore the clothes, nor Aaron, the owner of the clothes, cared.

As he gently stroked the exposed lower abdomen, he could feel the muscles twitching, intoxicated by excitement. At first, he had just been touching whatever he could while focusing on the kiss, but as Je-rim’s movements became more familiar and bold, Aaron’s breathing grew ragged.

Eventually, unable to bear the shortness of breath, Aaron pulled his lips away first and squeezed his eyes shut once before opening them.

“Je-rim, want to come up?”

A low voice, matching his hazy gaze, flowed straight from his throat.

“Yeah.”

Instead of asking ‘up where,’ Je-rim pushed himself up. In sync, Aaron also raised his upper body and sat leaning against the headboard of the bed.

Je-rim familiarly climbed onto Aaron’s thighs and tossed his own top aside. When he first did this with Aaron, he had wondered if it was even possible to get excited looking at a man’s body, and he had worried a lot that Aaron might lose confidence if he didn’t react…

“Hey, I’m so hard it hurts.”

“Me too.”

“Then hurry up and undo your belt. Show me.”

Thinking that he should have spent the time he spent on those useless worries kissing Aaron more, Je-rim gestured with his chin toward the silver buckle. Aaron nodded blankly and placed his hand over the buckle. However, he couldn’t undo the belt quickly. It seemed his heart was in such a rush that his body wouldn’t move as he wanted.

Finding that cute, Je-rim pressed his lips to the bridge of Aaron’s nose as if possessed, which made the fumbling hand movements even more clumsy. Left with no choice, the two stopped their skinship for a moment and struggled to undo the belt. Whether it was trying to show off that it was an expensive belt or something, the buckle had a peculiar structure he’d never seen before, making it quite a struggle.

After finally undoing and tossing the belt and pulling down the pants, the erect cock sprang out as if it had been driven crazy by the tightness. Every time he saw it, it was disgustingly large and menacing, yet he didn’t know why his own cock would get excited and twitch just by laying eyes on that monstrosity.

Je-rim hurriedly pulled out his own penis and pressed the surface against Aaron’s vein-bulged shaft.

“Hng…”

Even though only thin layers of skin were touching, a moan escaped both of their mouths simultaneously. The penises went a step further, the urethral openings parting slightly to let transparent cowper’s fluid trickle out. Clenching his teeth, Je-rim opened his hand wide to wrap around both his and Aaron’s penises, glancing sideways at the firmly closed door.

“…The other family members are really not home, right?”

“Yeah… I locked the door too. Don’t worry.”

“When?”

“Right after you came in.”

“Because you wanted to do naughty things…?”

“It wasn’t exactly that… well, since it’s come to this, let’s just say it was.”

Aaron replied softly, lowering his eyelids slightly, and kissed him again. A large hand that instantly enveloped the back of Je-rim’s hand held the two thick penises with stability.

As Aaron’s palm touched the already painful, erect cock, Je-rim’s genitals twitched violently. The two hairless penises pressed tightly against each other, all the way down to their smooth bases. Watching the plump, deep-pink glans tremble, Aaron swallowed and suddenly asked.

“Can I suck it?”

“No, wait…!”

It sounded like he was asking for permission, but his upper body was already slowly descending. Before Aaron could lick and suck his penis, Je-rim quickly grabbed both of his cheeks to restrain him. Then, Aaron tilted his head, his lips pouting out like a chick’s.

“Why? You love it when I put it in my mouth. I’ll do it for you.”

“When you put it like that, I feel like a total piece of trash…”

“You’re the cutest when you act like someone who left their conscience back in Korea.”

He probably didn’t realize that he himself, chatting away in this state, looked the cutest. Je-rim kissed Aaron’s upper lip repeatedly to prevent him from lowering his head further. It wasn’t Christmas yet, but since the monumental day marking their first anniversary of dating was not far off, he wanted to enjoy today together.

Aaron seemed to enjoy sucking someone else’s cock quite a bit, but seeing the corners of his mouth reddened from the friction after a blowjob made Je-rim feel an unbearable mix of arousal and guilt…

Even if he wanted to suck him back, Aaron’s cock was too large to fit in his mouth, and he felt sorry that he didn’t even dare try. Aaron always told Je-rim that he didn’t have to overdo it, and that he did blowjobs simply because he liked it, so not to feel burdened, but that’s just how human psychology works.

Whenever the urge to return more than the affection Aaron poured into him surged, Je-rim resented his small mouth. Even though he knew his mouth was an average size considering the size of his head and the proportions of his features, because Aaron’s cock was so huge, his own mouth seemed infinitely small.

Instead of blowjobs, Je-rim tried to be as hardworking and active as possible in other acts, but since the act that felt the best when he received it from Aaron was a blowjob, it still bothered him.

‘Something other than a blowjob that I can do for him…’

As he chewed over his guilt once more, he suddenly remembered the advice Jose had given him.

‘If you always do it at home, try changing the location or adding an event. Make it more romantic than usual, you know what I mean?’

Changing or adding. Romantically. Jose’s advice was to add variation to the way they had sex for the anniversary, but Je-rim and Aaron hadn’t progressed to actual sex yet. Other quasi-sexual acts like blowjobs or handjobs, they had mostly tried.

So, if he wanted to add variation to the method, the only thing left was…

“Haa… Hey, I’ll just ask you straight. Don’t you want to have sex with me?”

The moment the thought occurred, the unfiltered question popped out of Je-rim’s mouth. Aaron, who had been quietly receiving kisses, snapped his head up, his eyes widening as if they might fall out of his sockets. Je-rim burst into laughter the moment he saw that utterly honest reaction.

“Seeing how surprised you are, it’s not like you haven’t thought about it. Right?”

“…Well, obviously…”

His usually confident voice trailed off uncharacteristically. Guessing that he must have imagined having sex with him quite a bit, Je-rim continued.

“Jose told me. He said it’s common here to either start with sex before dating or do it within the first three dates. Is that true?”

“…What on earth were you talking about with that idiot for that to come up? Did you talk about naughty things with him? While I wasn’t around? Why?”

“Tsk, don’t be jealous and just answer the question.”

He gently stroked the corners of his boyfriend’s eyes, which were narrowing into triangles because he couldn’t control his overflowing jealousy, urging him for an answer. The reason he was asking this was to confirm one last time if having sex at this age was truly ‘common’ as Jose guaranteed. They were already at the peak of indecency, but going all the way and stopping halfway were different things.

After hesitating for a moment, Aaron readily agreed.

“I don’t know for sure. But looking at the people around me, it seems to be the case.”

“This country is fucking…”

“Is it not like that in Korea?”

“…I don’t know for sure either, but I think it’s rare to go all the way in just three dates. Especially at our age.”

“Hmm. The culture really is very different.”

Aaron let out an exclamation of interest and then stared at Je-rim as if he wanted to devour him.

“But it’s not like we haven’t done everything up until the very end… we did almost everything within three months.”

“…That’s because you seduced me.”

“Why are you suddenly getting shy at this timing?”

Thinking about it, a sense of skepticism washed over Je-rim that he had been leading an indecent romantic life, quite unlike someone from a Confucian country. No matter how handsome, cute, and lovely his first-ever boyfriend was, hadn’t they progressed too quickly? Even now.

As expected, he should have been satisfied with just holding hands and sleeping… Fuck, if he were a guy who could do that, he should just renounce the secular world.

Je-rim steadied his heart while looking at Aaron’s flushed face. Since he was dating a boyfriend who was this cute, handsome, sexy, full of aegyo, and had a killer body, there was no other way. As usual, but especially on the bed, Aaron was a guy who used aegyo to melt people, and even now, he rubbed his nose against Je-rim’s cheek, pouring out blatant praise.

“Bunny, your red face is so pretty…”

Every time the sharp bridge of his nose pressed against his cheek, the scent of perfume rising from his neck stung his nose dizzyingly. And his voice. Je-rim, possessed by that low tone that didn’t just stick to his eardrums but had the power to make his brain boil, blurted out as if kicking a ball into the goal.

“Ari, don’t you want to go all the way?”

“…I wish you’d either be shy or just dive in. Both are bad for my heart.”

“Answer me quickly.”

When Je-rim grabbed Aaron’s cheeks and squished them with both hands, Aaron lowered his reddened face and muttered awkwardly.

“…I imagine having sex with you every day, so of course I do.”

“Every day? If you imagine it every day, you should have just said you wanted to.”

“Because you didn’t seem to think about it much…”

“……”

That was true. While there was a reluctance toward early sexual experiences stemming from cultural differences, the fact that sex between men was an unknown world seemed to make him even more hesitant. After he started dating Aaron, he had looked up a few gay videos, but far from being turned on, the bottom just looked fucking painful, which only added to his…

He and Aaron had never discussed sex positions. However, since both of them had cock sizes that far exceeded the average, it was obvious that whoever was on the bottom would suffer. Since he didn’t want to be in pain himself, nor did he want Aaron to be, he had intentionally lived without thinking about sex until now.

…No matter how much he wanted to do something for Aaron for their anniversary, maybe sex really was too much. As a look of hesitation flickered across Je-rim’s face, Aaron quickly added.

“I looked it up, and they say there are many men who stay together like us without necessarily going as far as penetration. Since it puts a strain on the body, after all.”

“…The, the one on the bottom?”

“Right? Besides, our bodies are our assets, so we have to be more careful…”

Trailing off as if he were embarrassed himself, Aaron suddenly let his eyes shine and drove the point home in a determined tone.

“So what I mean is, if you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to. Ever.”

“But Aaron, you…”

How could he not find his same-aged lover precious, who told him he never had to do it for the rest of his life while claiming to imagine having sex every single day? Pushing aside the momentary surge of weakness, Je-rim asked haltingly.

“Haa… You… you said you imagined it, every day. When you imagined it… the position, um… how… fuck.”

This is so damn embarrassing. In the end, unable to finish his sentence properly, he chewed on a curse word and looked away. In response, Aaron also kept his gaze fixed on the empty air and answered.

“…To be honest, I… imagined being the one putting it in…”

That made sense… Since neither of them had experience with men other than each other, it was only natural. Honestly, Je-rim wanted to top as well. Even if the partner was Aaron, the thought of being pinned under another man and squirming in pain while receiving a cock in his rear filled him with repulsion. At the same time, he didn’t want Aaron to be in pain either.

Ah, seriously, what should I do? As Je-rim’s heart wavered in confusion, it was Aaron’s next words that shook him.

“If you want to put it in, you can. Of course, only if you feel like it… I’m happy with anything as long as it’s with you.”

The amber eyes, which had been looking elsewhere out of embarrassment just a moment ago, now stared intently at Je-rim. There was no need to doubt the words of pleasure coming from Aaron’s mouth. So, Je-rim returned the sentiment with equal sincerity.

“…Me too.”

“Huh?”

“I mean, I think I’d be okay with anything as long as it’s with you. So…”

It was their anniversary, it was Christmas, he had only been sucked by Aaron every day, and also… he just liked him. Having steeled his resolve, Je-rim lightly pressed his forehead against Aaron’s.

“Just do whatever you want. I want to go all the way with you today.”

He expected an immediate positive response, but there was silence for a long time. Not even the sound of breathing, which should have been heard occasionally, reached him; the room was deathly quiet. The moment Je-rim heard the ‘tick’ of the minute hand moving on the wall clock, he couldn’t hold back and urged Aaron.

“Ari, why aren’t you answering…”

As he asked and pulled his forehead away to check Aaron’s face, what entered his vision was bright red blood. Seeing the streak of red blood flowing beneath Aaron’s nose, Je-rim was momentarily speechless, then muttered, unconsciously pointing a finger.

“…You have a nosebleed.”

“Eh? Ah, yeah…”

“Crazy, don’t just say ‘yeah’! You’re bleeding! Where are the tissues?”

He was about to explode because Aaron just nodded blankly even as blood dripped onto his shirt and pants. Instead of Aaron, who didn’t even make a gesture to plug his nose, Je-rim hurriedly searched the nightstand next to the bed. However, as soon as he opened the first drawer, Je-rim’s eyes flared with anger.

Instead of the intended tissues, he held a long tube and a palm-sized paper box, which he threw right in front of Aaron’s nose. Unless he had suddenly become illiterate due to shock, the words written on the packaging were ‘gel’ and ‘condoms’.

“Hey, what is this?”

“…That’s…”

“You said you’ve never had sex. Was that a lie?”

They had never used gel or condoms during their indecent acts. It was because there had been no activities that specifically required them. Furthermore, since this was not something a guy who claimed he had never done it with anyone else would keep tucked away by his bed, Je-rim’s tone naturally became interrogative. Despite bleeding from his nose piteously, Aaron jumped.

“No! Look, the packaging isn’t even open!”

“Then why do you have these?”

“…Just, in case… I didn’t know when they might be needed, for practice or something… and it’s almost Christmas…”

“…You looked forward to it that much, and yet you’re having a nosebleed? Give me a break.”

The halting answers were all thick with anticipation. It seemed Aaron had been looking forward to Christmas very much. The thought that he might actually perform the act he had imagined every single day…

Despite that, why did he suddenly have a nosebleed and scare him just when he was told to do whatever he wanted? Je-rim scolded him while wiping the blood with his own discarded top instead of the missing tissues.

“Live a life that matches your face.”

He looked like someone who had already done everything by elementary school, so why was he acting so cute? As Je-rim plugged Aaron’s nose with one hand and lightly pinched his cheek with the other, Aaron’s eyes narrowed slightly. This was a precursor to him throwing a fit out of jealousy.

“What does that mean? That I should live promiscuously? Leaving you behind? Do you want me to go around meeting other people?”

Je-rim’s lovely boyfriend had a talent for finding something to be jealous of even in the most trivial words and pestering him. Je-rim pressed harder on Aaron’s nose and clicked his tongue.

“There you go again, making those cute eyes. Do you think that’s what I meant? Go ahead if you want to die by my hand.”

“I wouldn’t cheat even if I died. So you never cheat either. Don’t even glance at anyone else.”

“I get it, I get it. Just stop the nosebleed first.”

After falling for Aaron, he could no longer find any woman beautiful, and since he had never felt much for men to begin with, everyone just looked like mannequins. Since it was impossible to cheat with a mannequin, all of Aaron’s worries were useless.

As Je-rim responded half-heartedly and tilted Aaron’s chin down, Aaron asked back in a nasal voice because his nose was stuffed.

“…But seriously, can I really do whatever I want? Really?”

“Yeah.”

“I… want to put it in you. Is that okay?”

“How many times do you want me to say it? I told you to do whatever you want.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than another surge of hot liquid poured through the fabric plugging Aaron’s nose. Thinking that calming the excitement and stopping the nosebleed was the priority, Je-rim didn’t say another word and pressed firmly on the bridge of Aaron’s nose.

Thinking that enough pressure had been applied to stop the bleeding, he carefully removed his hand. Since it wasn’t bleeding caused by physical trauma, the blood stopped quickly. Honestly, it was a bit absurd to see someone have a nosebleed from excitement for the first time in his life… but he was cute, so it was fine.

The grey sweatshirt he had worn was now mottled with blood, as if he had spilled tteokbokki sauce on it, but it didn’t matter. He was slightly afraid of the future where his mother would nag him about how he ruined his clothes, but he could just ignore the nagging. Something more important than future nagging was lying right in front of him.

Je-rim flicked his tongue out to lick the blood that hadn’t been wiped off Aaron’s lips and threw out a testing question.

“What about the lights…”

“Let’s keep them on.”

“Suit yourself, then.”

The way he answered instantly was so funny that Je-rim let out a small chuckle. If they went all the way… he’d have to show everything down there, which was a bit embarrassing, but since he had already shown every part except the hole, it was too late to suggest turning off the lights.

As soon as Je-rim gave his permission, Aaron took a sharp breath. A guy with such great lung capacity that he didn’t even show signs of exhaustion during most training seemed to be short of breath due to nervousness. If he wanted it that badly, he should have said so sooner.

Just as Jose said, Aaron really was a miraculous lover. And he, who had this miraculous guy as his first lover in life, was a lucky man. There had been many twists and turns before coming to Tavarona, and honestly, he had really not wanted to come… but if he thought of it as a trial to meet this kind of luck, it was all acceptable. Je-rim loved Aaron so much that he wrapped his arms around Aaron’s neck first.

He first felt the body stiffened with tension. As he caressed the tense neck and pressed their lower bodies together again, their cocks slapped against each other. While slowly swaying his hips to rub the surfaces of their cocks together, he took Aaron’s lips into his mouth, and the bitter taste of blood reached his tongue.

“Aaron, open your mouth…”

Even after licking his lips for a while, Aaron remained frozen like a wax doll, seemingly unable to even think about opening his mouth, so Je-rim pleaded in a whining tone. Only then did Aaron obediently open his lips and begin to move, wrapping his arms around Je-rim’s waist.

Je-rim, who had been perched on Aaron’s thighs, was suddenly pushed back onto the bed. As soon as he was lying down, his half-worn pants and underwear were stripped away in one go. After making Je-rim naked with hurried hands, Aaron threw off his own clothes without leaving a single piece. Before he could dwell on the regret that he liked the look of him in a suit, Je-rim’s legs trembled violently.

“Hng…!”

It was because Aaron had inserted a finger without warning into a part that had never been touched, not even by his own hand. Aaron grabbed Je-rim’s ankle with one hand to spread his legs, then carefully massaged the perimeter of the hole and the inside. Then, as if realizing something, he brought the gel, squeezed it onto his finger and palm, and spread the gel thickly between Je-rim’s wide-open legs.

The cold, slimy gel flowed down from the scrotum and perineum into the hole. Since both the sensation of the gel and the feeling of the finger slowly digging into his body were first-time experiences, Je-rim reflexively bit his lip. Using only one finger, Aaron gently poked Je-rim’s hole, constantly checking Je-rim’s expression with trembling eyes.

“Are you okay? Does it hurt?”

“It’s just… bearable… ugh!”

He had barely inserted up to the fingernail. The insertion, which had been at a level of just fiddling near the entrance, deepened the moment he answered that it was bearable. Even so, it was probably just one more knuckle deeper. Still, as he felt the protruding knuckle catch against the gap of the hole, Je-rim let out a low groan of repulsion.

Seeing Je-rim groaning in struggle with his brow deeply furrowed, Aaron swallowed hard. He seemed uncomfortable, and he seemed to be in pain. But the cutely closed eyes, the tightly shut lips, and the mottled nape and earlobes were unbearably erotic… Feeling like he might have another nosebleed, Aaron jerked his head up and murmured in a low, raspy voice.

“Wait. They say you have to loosen it up first.”

“Ah, fuck… the feeling is so… ngh! But did you actually study that kind of thing?”

“I told you, I imagined it every day…”

To think he had studied and imagined just how to loosen the back. Aaron kept quiet, fearing that if he told Je-rim how much he had secretly studied, Je-rim might break up with him, saying he didn’t know he was dating such a pervert. Instead, he breathed heavily while admiring Je-rim’s hole, which was gradually accepting his finger, under the bright lights.

“But it’s even more than I imagined… why are you beautiful even here?”

He knew the cock was a pretty pink, but he didn’t expect this part to be the same color as that plump glans. How could there be a single part of him from head to toe that wasn’t his type? Not only his appearance, but his personality, way of speaking, and even his characteristic cunning mental rotations were all lovely. He was almost ready to thank God that his life’s ideal type had miraculously overlapped with a boy from a distant foreign land at this age.

As he continued to mutter that he was beautiful like a madman and pushed his finger deeper, Je-rim straightened his toes and put all his strength into his calves. He still seemed uncomfortable, but since he had told him to do whatever he wanted first, it would be impossible for his pride to take it back.

Just as Aaron guessed, while biting his lip, Je-rim didn’t whine to stop but instead threw out a joke as if it were absurd.

“I feel like I’m hearing every ‘beautiful’ I’ll ever hear in my life from you.”

“I’ve heard every ‘cute’ from you too.”

“You’re objectively cute, but I’m… ah-ngh!”

It was then that a strangely excited moan escaped Je-rim. It happened around the time Aaron bent the finger that had been inserted about two knuckles deep and gently scratched somewhere inside the hole. Je-rim’s hips bucked as if giving a hint that he liked it there.

“Je-rim, do you like it here?”

“Ha, ugh! Ah, it’s a bit, strange… kh-ngh!”

“Just a little more loosening…”

They said the location of the pleasure point varies slightly from person to person, so one has to search persistently. Just like his easy-to-read expression, it seemed Je-rim’s pleasure point was also in an easy-to-find place. Having found the prostate faster than expected, Aaron added another finger into the hole.

As expected, unlike before when it had clamped down tightly, the perimeter of the hole felt slightly loosened. As Aaron used two fingers to poke, scratch, and touch only the spots Je-rim liked, unrestrained moans leaked from Je-rim’s mouth.

“Ah-eu, hnghh! Ah, it’s strange, it’s strange! Aaron, wait, ha-ngh!”

It was the first time he had heard these kinds of moans from Je-rim, and it made the hair on his entire body stand on end. Intoxicated by the soul-stealing moans, Aaron ignored Je-rim’s voice pleading for him to stop for a moment or take his fingers out, and quickly flicked his wrist.

In the meantime, the fingers inserted into Je-rim’s small hole had increased to three, and whitish semen poured powerfully from Je-rim’s cock, which was stretched out like his legs.

“What, what… hng…”

Even after ejaculating on his own, Je-rim rolled his eyes as if he couldn’t believe it. In the center of the glans, which had turned red from spurting semen, the hole surrounded by white mucus was blinking diligently. That small hole, even after spitting out semen so violently, seemed to have more to let out, as if it couldn’t believe it had ejaculated.

This was the limit. The thing he had dreamed of every day, and imagined with his eyes wide open in broad daylight, was currently happening in reality. Aaron pulled out the three fingers he had inserted into Je-rim’s hole all at once. Then, as if pouting, Je-rim’s hole clung to the fingers with its sticky inner flesh.

Aaron felt the regret as well, but the desire to insert his cock instead of fingers and feel that tight inner flesh took precedence. He hurriedly tore open the condom box and poured the contents onto the bed. Then, he grabbed a square piece of plastic and bit it. His hands were slippery, so he had to tear it with his teeth.

The moment he bit the packaging and tore it open, Je-rim’s Adam’s apple bobbed heavily. Along with the sound of him holding his breath, a Korean curse word flowed from Je-rim’s mouth. Je-rim whispered “fuck” softly and wiped his eyes. Since he looked excited to anyone, Aaron realized that Je-rim had become aroused watching his face as he opened the condom. Finding his lover, who always showed honest reactions, lovely, Aaron also hurried his actions.

However, as soon as he brought the condom, which he was using for the first time, to the tip of his cock, a hollow sigh escaped Aaron’s mouth.

“Why isn’t this working…?”

“What…”

“The way to put it on… this is how I learned.”

The way to wear a condom was something taught every day in school since childhood. They had even practiced putting condoms on models. So it wasn’t that he didn’t know how to use it, but strangely, the rolled-up part wouldn’t unfurl at all from the middle of the cock. Even this much had been forced down.

The lower part of the cock shaft, half-covered by the condom, had turned bright red and was throbbing. Because excitement beyond the threshold had overtaken his nervous system, he felt no pain, but a fear arose that his cock might necrose if he continued to use this condom.

Je-rim, who had been looking down at the scene with him, provided the answer.

“…Isn’t it because it’s too small?”

“The condom is too small for your cock…” Je-rim’s voice trailed off into a very low whisper. Je-rim pulled off the condom, which had been stretched tight as if he were about to cut Aaron’s cock off. A playful scolding followed, mentioning that his boyfriend’s cock might actually get severed at this rate.

It was his fault for just grabbing whatever was available at the mart along with the gel without checking the condom size. While Aaron was busy blaming his stupid past self for not considering his own size, Je-rim remained silent, terrified of how on earth that fucking huge cock was supposed to fit inside him. It was also somewhat funny that a guy who seemed to have prepared and studied everything beforehand had failed to buy super-large condoms.

“…….”

“…….”

It was Aaron who broke the silence. He was dying to have sex with Je-rim, but no matter how much he wanted it, he couldn’t let their first time happen without a condom. Not knowing which mart or pharmacy might be open at this hour, Aaron pushed himself up, intending to go out and check.

“I’ll go out right now and buy new—”

Je-rim pulled Aaron’s arm, dragging him back down to a seated position.

“Forget it, just do it. Neither of us has done this with anyone else, and it’s not like we need contraception, so…”

Je-rim felt as though his heart might change the moment Aaron stepped out. No matter how much he told Aaron to do as he pleased, the thought of taking that horse-cock—which was far beyond the capacity of a standard condom—in his rear…

But there was a reason for the saying that a man’s word is as heavy as gold. Since he had promised his beloved boyfriend, he wanted to keep it if possible. Moreover, he didn’t want to break the heated atmosphere. Though he was already suppressing a laugh due to Aaron’s condom disaster.

It was a bit scary… but when Aaron had been fingering him earlier, it felt so good that he had accidentally ejaculated without even realizing it. He thought that once he got used to Aaron’s cock, it might feel just as good. It was just as Je-rim steeled his resolve and suggested they go without a condom.

“You again…”

Blood began to trickle from Aaron’s nose again. Just when he thought it had completely stopped, it seemed Aaron had become excited by something and his nose had started bleeding again. It was probably because of the suggestion to go raw. Je-rim clicked his tongue, thinking his boyfriend might be quite the pervert. He started to push himself up, thinking he really needed to find some tissues now.

However, while blood dripped from his nose, Aaron pinned Je-rim down so he couldn’t budge. He stared at Je-rim with eyes that had lost their light, dripping bright red blood onto Je-rim’s chest.

“I want to put it in.”

As if those words weren’t enough, Aaron panted, repeating the phrase over and over.

“I want to put it in. Je-rim, I want to put it in… I can’t hold back…”

At this moment, Je-rim questioned why he had ever thought a guy who looked like that was like a cute little chick in everything. With the already dangerous atmosphere, a decadently handsome face, and blood dripping from his nose, he was genuinely terrifying. He struggled beneath him and shouted.

“Hey, your nose is bleeding again! You’re scaring me! Who said you couldn’t put it in?”

“Really, kh, can I… do it? Can I put it in?”

“First, do something about the nosebleed… Ah!”

A short scream escaped before he could finish his sentence. Aaron, whose reason had completely vanished, grabbed and spread Je-rim’s legs and drove that horse-cock straight into the twitching hole.

The hole, which had been repeatedly pulsing on its own, unable to forget the pleasure of being thoroughly stretched by Aaron’s fingers, contracted tightly as an object of incomparable thickness began to force its way in. Because the hole itself was very narrow and small, the insertion proceeded very slowly, but Je-rim’s entire body stiffened from just that slight penetration.

It hurt. It hurt too much. The sensation was entirely different from when the fingers went in. It felt as if his bottom wasn’t just being split open, but as if his whole body were being torn in two. A groan got stuck in his strained throat and couldn’t even escape his lips.

Even as red blood dripped onto Je-rim’s chest and shoulders, Aaron continued to dig deeper inside him. Just looking at Je-rim’s face, with veins bulging at his temples, it was clear how much he was in pain, but thinking that he was finally tasting the inside of Je-rim’s belly—something he had dreamed of—made it impossible to stop.

“Sorry, Je-rim, I’m sorry…”

“Ugh, k-ugh…! Hah, ah, a bit, slow… Ah-eut!”

Je-rim barely managed to open his mouth, letting out a ragged plea along with his stifled breath. But since he was already inserting it as slowly as possible, it was difficult to grant that request.

Aaron wiped the nosebleed haphazardly with the back of his hand and moved his hips to find the spot that had made Je-rim feel like he was dying of pleasure earlier. Every time he did, the massive glans seemed to poke various parts of Je-rim’s interior, causing Je-rim to tremble his limbs and twist his waist. He let out stifled groans.

“Sorry… I’ll find it quickly. You’ll soon…”

The voice soothing him, saying he would feel good again like before, was chillingly low. Aaron was also enduring pain because the inner walls were squeezing as if they were going to snap his cock. It hurt more than when his cock had turned bright red from forcing on a condom that was far too small for his size. A piercing pain surged, as if the skin gripped by Je-rim’s hole was being peeled away.

Quickly. Aaron vowed to find the spot Je-rim liked as quickly as possible, clenching his teeth so hard his jaw clicked. There was no way sex could be nothing but painful for both of them. He had heard that once you get used to it, it’s ecstatically good.

Anyone would want to share ecstatic sex with their beloved partner on a special anniversary. That must be why Je-rim had allowed this. Knowing that Je-rim usually had no interest in penetrative sex made Aaron even more anxious. He had allowed an act he had no interest in solely for Aaron… he didn’t want to ruin the first experience.

Although he had lost his reason and inserted himself because his head spun with dizziness at the suggestion of going without a condom. As the pain surged, his mind, which had been hazy like a fog due to excitement and pleasure, actually cleared. Aaron held the trembling Je-rim beneath him dearly and tried moving his cock more boldly.

“…Eut?”

Immediately after, an ambiguous moan escaped Je-rim’s lips. It sounded like he was still in pain, yet it also seemed to be mixed with a strange cry of pleasure. To confirm, Aaron gently rubbed the glans against the area just above where he had just poked.

“Heeu…! Hah, heut, ah…!”

“Here… does it feel good?”

Even without asking, he could tell because the tightening of the inner walls, which had been squeezing as if to burst the cock inside, softened slightly. Now that it was somewhat easier to move, Aaron pulled his hips back more boldly and then thrust his cock against that spot where he had just rubbed the glans. At that, Je-rim’s mouth fell open and his legs spread even wider.

“Ah-eut! Aaron, yes, there, near there…!”

Despite having no immunity to embarrassing words, Je-rim was more active and honest than anyone when doing erotic things. True to form, he immediately told him where it felt good, so Aaron held Je-rim’s waist firmly and diligently rubbed that area with the shaft of his cock as instructed.

In his heart, he wanted to shove his cock all the way to the root into Je-rim’s belly and leave his mark. He wanted to persistently stir the area that no one else would know the feel of, sensing the inner flesh and sticking firmly inside Je-rim.

However, thinking that pushing it all the way in would be too much for today, he decided to act according to what Je-rim liked for now. Even though he couldn’t put in even half of his cock, the inner flesh that tightly wrapped around the most sensitive glans and coiled around it warmly was ecstatically good.

“Like this, kh, poking you… is that better?”

Wondering if it felt better to thrust deeply with the rounded tip of the glans rather than rubbing with the surface of the shaft, Aaron moved his hips in large forward and backward motions. In response, Je-rim nodded frantically instead of moaning and wrapped his arms around Aaron’s neck.

“It’s… good! Heu, ah-eut! Ah, a little deeper…!”

As if pleading for him to drive it deeper as he said, Je-rim’s inner walls loosened even more than before. Aaron followed the request, inserting about half of his cock and observing Je-rim’s reaction.

Whether the pain hadn’t completely vanished, Je-rim’s brow was still furrowed, but the gaze that always shone intelligently had become clouded. Through his slightly parted lips, slurred cries of pleasure leaked out intermittently, and the tips of his ears trembled slightly. To anyone, this was the reaction of someone drenched in pleasure, unable to control their own body.

Relieved, Aaron straightened his waist and once again wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. The nosebleed had stopped long ago, but a streak of blood that hadn’t yet dried spread widely across the back of his hand.

“…Aaron, you…”

Je-rim, who had been blankly looking up at the sight of blood spreading on Aaron’s face, suddenly bit his lip. At the same time, Je-rim’s penis, which had been dormant due to ejaculation and pain, began to twitch and rise over his abdomen. Aaron, keenly noticing this, continued his thrusting while teasing Je-rim.

“Bunny, you really… do you like my face too much?”

“No, it’s not that… Ung!”

What did he mean it wasn’t that? The moment he saw Aaron’s face, Je-rim’s cock became rock hard, shaking along with his body every time Aaron’s cock stirred his internals. Come to think of it, he had ejaculated earlier just from being touched with fingers. Would it happen again this time?

With a curiosity befitting his age, Aaron explored the inside of his lovely boyfriend’s body. When he pushed in a bit more than halfway, Je-rim’s lower abdomen bulged in a rounded shape. Fearing Je-rim might be surprised by the sight, Aaron quickly pulled back.

“Ha-euk, heu, it’s strange, it’s strange… This is strange, Ari, I…”

Fortunately, Je-rim didn’t seem to notice that a shape that should never be revealed had momentarily appeared on his abdomen; he only panted and urged Aaron. Having already lost his reason, he stroked his erect cock with one hand, opening his mouth and sticking out his red tongue.

In response, Aaron also threw away his reason, sliding his tongue into Je-rim’s mouth while driving his cock into Je-rim’s belly. The two continued to kiss messily, swallowing their flowing saliva. Je-rim went a step further, masturbating by rubbing his cock against Aaron’s pressed abdomen. Melted gel flowed from the point of contact. Because of that, a squelching sound echoed whenever Aaron moved even slightly.

Aaron was the first to ejaculate. He held Je-rim’s shoulders firmly so he couldn’t twist his body and filled Je-rim’s inside with a lavish amount of cum.

Je-rim also ejaculated, feeling for the first time in his life the sensation of someone else’s semen pouring into his belly. He had been masturbating while being penetrated and stimulating himself by rubbing against Aaron’s defined abs, but at the moment of ejaculation, he only had his hand resting on his cock. In other words, he ejaculated solely from the pleasure of Aaron’s cock stirring his internals.

“Haa, kut…!”

Reaching their climax at a similar time, the two clung to each other and caught their breath for a long while. The bed was a mess of gel, semen, and nosebleeds, but no one cared about that. Even though the characteristic musky smell of semen stung their noses, the two lay on the ruined sheets for a long time, touching each other’s bodies and kissing.

Since Aaron’s family were all away, there was no need to worry about them; they didn’t even think about cleaning up around them, exhausted. Having pushed each other to the limit and now enjoying the afterglow, the mental satisfaction was also immense.

However, they couldn’t stay stuck together forever, so Aaron eventually pulled his cock out of Je-rim’s hole. The part that had been embedded in the soft inner walls until a moment ago was coated in white semen, while the lower part was clean since he hadn’t been able to insert it fully. The semen pooled in the middle of the inner walls came out along with the cock. Along with the moist, sticky inner flesh.

As soon as he saw it, Aaron was overcome with the desire to do it once more, but it was important to ask for Je-rim’s consent first. He stroked Je-rim’s cheek and asked longingly.

“Je-rim, was it good…? It was good, right? Hmm?”

“…It was, khm, it was good…”

Je-rim, clearing his cracked voice, slowly avoided Aaron’s eyes. He was naturally weak to his boyfriend’s aegyo. If Aaron pleaded with those sparkling eyes, he might just allow him to do it until the day he died.

Sex with Aaron was good. It was too good… that was the problem.

He had never imagined that such a fucking huge horse-cock could enter and exit his body without issue, nor had he imagined he would get a hard-on while looking at Aaron’s dangerous face smeared with blood, nor that he would die of pleasure being fucked from behind… the problem was that he had truly never imagined it.

If he does this often, I’ll get addicted, fuck. A guy who’s a soccer player… if he gets addicted to an act that puts so much strain on the body… how is he supposed to look his mother in the face, how will he train, and how will he play matches?

“Let’s… not do it too often.”

Je-rim replied weakly, imagining a future where he might neglect his duties because he was fallen for sex with Aaron. He felt a mix of pleasure and resentment that he and this perfect boyfriend were so damn compatible physically that it made him have these worries.

At these thunderbolt-like words, Aaron pestered Je-rim, asking if something had been unsatisfactory. Je-rim silenced his noisy boyfriend by pinching his chick-like lips together and kissing him. Thinking that this should be more than enough as an anniversary gift.

It was the night the very dirty and sticky Christmas holiday began.

Chapter

fin

Afterword and Q&A Backup

Hello, this is Pepper Sparkling.

I still don’t quite feel like it’s actually finished, so I’m feeling a bit restless. When I first conceived , I imagined it would be roughly three volumes—a rom-com battle homo story where they bicker, similar to . I planned for the bottom to be a neat, firm, and reliable handsome man befitting a national team player, and since it’s a sports novel, I thought I’d write plenty of fan reactions.

But the length… I was surprised that it turned out to be so much more than I expected. I didn’t think it would exceed 100 chapters, but it did. Strangely enough, it wasn’t that difficult to write. Out of all my works, this is the longest, yet I was surprised by how smoothly it flowed toward the end. Although, in the end, the only thing from my original plan that actually survived was the “battle homo” part…

In particular, Je-rim’s personality changed significantly from what I first envisioned. One reader described him as a “cheerful, scatterbrained bottom,” and I think that fits perfectly. A friend of mine who hasn’t read my work looked at the cover and immediately guessed that while he looks cheerful, he seems like he’d be a bit of a klutz. Out of the “neat, firm, and reliable handsome bottom,” the only thing left is “handsome bottom,” but still… our Jjung-jjung is cute, so I think it’s fine.

And Aaron—who has every funny nickname from “the Queen who gave birth to our son” to “the foreign son-in-law who learned empathy,” “the abalone groom,” “Mr. Le,” and “Mr. Ah”—was loved by the readers much more than I expected, which is a relief. In the beginning, with his obnoxious way of speaking and the mention of him cheating, he must have been truly detestable… It was thrilling to see the reaction shift starting from the Derby Match to, “Wait… this brat is actually kind of cool…?”

To be honest, while writing, I was a bit worried that people might dislike the top or bottom characters, but I’m glad that in the end, both were understood. Je-rim had points where he had to be defensive because of his family history and the memories of being hurt by Aaron, and while Aaron loves Je-rim very, very much, he acted selfishly because his emotions came first when he was young.

I wanted to show in the past arc that they were both clumsy because they were young, their timing was worst-case scenario, and several misunderstandings piled up, making it their destiny to break up at least once.

My goal for the latter half of the story was to leave a lasting impression as Aaron and Je-rim come to understand each other, overcome the past, and grow—specifically Je-rim, by following his heart first—until they eventually reunite. I felt great seeing the comments explode on Chapter 94.

Enough about the characters; I love romantic football. I’m the type who believes there must be romance in sports… I love underdog stories, come-from-behind victories, one-club men, and romantic players who retire as team legends without transferring to other leagues (like Glenn). When planning the story, I thought a lot about how to maximize that romance.

The result is a circular structure: first loves to each other + breaking up at the end of their teens and reuniting 10 years later at the end of their 20s + a rocky start due to a hate-relationship but eventually getting together and achieving the Treble + a come-from-behind victory + kissing while holding the Big Ear.

Since it’s a mix of everything I love—football, youth-to-adult, reunion, and a handsome bottom—it was impossible for it not to be fun to write. I enjoyed writing the fan reactions, but I held back a little because I was worried I’d overdo it if I got too excited. Since the readers loved it so much… I added a bit more to the main story and side stories while working on the physical volumes!

I’m reading every single comment on the final chapter as they come in. The comments were so heartfelt that I got a bit choked up while reading. I was worried there wouldn’t be many questions, but there were more than I expected, so the Q&A… has become very, very long. I had so much fun writing this.

I want to express my gratitude to everyone who left comments and questions, and to all the readers who have read until now.

Now, without further ado, let’s move on to the Q&A. I’ve integrated questions from Joara, Dirito, and email, and removed duplicates.

Q. AaronJe-rim MBTI

A. For Aaron, E and N are fixed; the last two probably change depending on the situation. I think the most frequent one would be ENTP. To Je-rim, he’s just an F. Je-rim is a definite ESTJ. All his ratios are extremely skewed to one side.

Q. TMI about the two

A. Aaron: Birthday is 10/31, Halloween. During the period they were broken up, whenever Je-rim had a public relationship, he’d look up all the news and get so pissed off he’d fall ill. Even when he tried to forget Je-rim, he’d find himself drawn to Je-rim’s scandals, and Gabi nagged him a lot for it, but he couldn’t fix it. His spending habits are surprisingly frugal, but he occasionally splurges big (e.g., an island, renting out an entire restaurant for a confession).

He likes animals but has no intention of raising one. He doesn’t even know the phone numbers of his older siblings, but he keeps in touch with his much younger sisters occasionally. He tends to give them presents on Christmas. His claim that he finds children cute and is soft on his Hubaes is, surprisingly, true. In the national team, there are two or three Hubaes he takes special care of, like Reman (Hubaes: f*ck).

Je-rim: Birthday is 5/5, Children’s Day. He gets severe motion sickness but loves supercars. When his weekly wage comes in, he sends a reasonable amount to his parents and manages the rest himself (he obviously has a separate asset manager). He likes collecting expensive things… cars, limited edition sneakers, watches, etc., so he gets nagged by his asset manager often. Despite that, he finds small expenses very wasteful.

The Spaniard he mentioned meeting other than Aaron is a high school classmate… He knows Aaron would flip out if he found out, so he intends to keep it a secret for life, but he thinks he’ll be caught eventually. During the three years he was in Newum after breaking up with Aaron, he didn’t dare date anyone else. Including Aaron, he’s dated about 7 to 10 people. Compared to the people around him, he prides himself on having dated very few.

Q. Are there any songs or playlists you listened to while writing?

A. Yes! I hope the readers listen to them too…

Aaron: Benson Boone – Slow It Down

Je-rim: OneRepublic – Someday

The first half where they become FWB: JXDN – Friends With Benefits

Past arc: Troye Sivan – Youth

Past arc Je-rim: Virginia To Vegas – What are we

Past arc Aaron: LUCY – Maybe You, I Just (Maybe You, I Just for no reason)

The scene where Je-rim listens to the voice message and goes to find Aaron: Fly By Midnight – Infinitely Falling

The Final: Ed Sheeran – Celestial

Matches: Sam Tinnesz – Legends Are Made (motif for Sefton’s cheering song) / The Score – Born For This / OneRepublic – Counting Stars / Fall Out Boy – The Last Of The Real Ones (+ added while writing side stories)

AaronJe-rim: All Time Low – Time Bomb

Final side story chapter: Ed Sheeran – One Life

Q. Why is the title ?

A. I don’t usually put deep thought into titles… Since they broke up once and met again, I wanted something that gave a “second time” feeling while being related to football, so that’s how it happened. Also, a comeback is most exciting when it happens right before the end of the second half.

Q. Which scene was the most fun to write, and conversely, which scene didn’t go as planned?

A. I always have the most fun writing the youth parts. Especially the scene where they first kiss at the beach and start dating, and when things go wrong at the World Cup… I usually imagine the scenes or lines I want to see first and then start planning the plot in detail, and those two scenes were exactly like that (+ the “lucky charm” part, the joint reunion scene with ex-girlfriends and ex-boyfriends, Aaron’s emblem kiss celebration, the Champions final chapter), so they were very fun. I also enjoyed writing the bathroom power struggle between Aaron and Reman and the scene where Je-rim goes to Aaron after hearing the voice message.

The scene that didn’t go as planned was probably when Aaron and Reman got injured during the practice match. The scene where Aaron gets hurt because of Reman was in the original plan, but when it came time to write it, I felt a bit sorry for Reman, so I struggled with adjusting the intensity.

And the match scenes. Honestly, I slightly regretted setting Aaron and Je-rim at a “god-tier” level. I’m not a football god like Messi or Ronaldo, nor a master manager like Pep or Klopp, so I worried about how to describe amazing plays… Anyway, in the end, I think they turned out quite well.

Q. Were Je-rim and Aaron built according to the original design, or did they change in the middle? If so, how?

A. As I wrote in the afterword, Je-rim changed a lot, but Aaron didn’t change much. Maybe just a bit more “mild” than originally planned? I think Aaron might be the one with the best personality and social skills among the tops I’ve written. Especially since the top in my previous work was… well, a top…

Q. Did come about because you are a football fan?

A. Yes! The team I support is playing so f*cking badly that my passion was slowly draining, so I thought I should quickly write the novel I was planning before I lost all interest… Sigh…

Q. Do you watch football often? I got the impression several times that you know a lot, especially regarding the match parts.

A. Yes, watching matches while ordering chicken on weekend evenings is the joy of my life. For the Champions or famous Derby Matches, I try to watch even if they’re at an obnoxious time like 4 or 5 AM. I studied for the match parts specifically to write the novel.

Q. How did you name the two?

A. For Je-rim, I prioritized a name that would be easy to make nicknames for. “Su-ho” was a candidate, but it was hard to make nicknames for, so it was dropped. I decided on Je-rim because it seemed versatile for nicknames. I picked the surname “Ban” from the start for the nickname “Bunny.In Hanja, it’s Pan Ji-rim.

For Aaron’s name, the prerequisite was that it be two syllables to be easy to remember. For the Spanish name, I used a site that tells you the average age of people with that name to decide. I picked the paternal surname based on what looked cool, and for the maternal surname, I searched Finnish surnames and picked one that fit. The maternal surname is only used on official documents and not in daily life. His middle name is Rodrigo. Aarón Rodrigo Reyes Heiskanen.

Q. Is Aaron a virgin top? Did he do it with anyone else before dating Je-rim?

A. He is a virgin top. He has absolutely, never had experience with anyone else! The reason I didn’t include the “virgin top” keyword is that he had experience with Je-rim in the past, so he can’t be called a virgin based on the current timeline, not because he had experience with others.

Q. How did Aaron become such a devout believer?

A. He was born into the faith.

Q. How often does he go to church?

A. He went often when he was young, but since becoming a pro and getting busy, he can’t go often. Still, when his mind is troubled, he occasionally drops by and sits blankly in an empty chapel.

Q. During the breakup, Aaron must have masturbated; did he do it while imagining Je-rim’s face? Or did he use media?

A. Rather than media, he used the memories remaining in his head… Since they had an “unhealthy” relationship, his mental archives were full. During the period when he intentionally tried not to think of Je-rim, he was practically a eunuch.

Q. What is their favorite part of each other?

A. For Je-rim, it’s obviously Aaron’s face, specifically his pupils and the corners of his mouth. After touching it a few times, he also likes his chest. Aaron likes Je-rim’s dimples and the shape of his eyes. However, he gets most excited when looking at his ankles.

In conclusion, except for the chest and ankles, it’s each other’s faces.

Q. What are their phone wallpapers and contact names? Did the contact names change after they started dating?

A. Aaron uses the default iPhone wallpaper; Je-rim uses a black background with a calendar widget so the text is easy to see. Both changed the contact names when they started dating.

Aaron: Bunny -> Cielo / Je-rim: F*cking Bastard (at the time of transfer) -> Aaron (during FWB) -> Lucky Charm (after dating)

For reference, in their teens, they saved each other with rabbit / chick emojis. It was truly cringeworthy…

Q. Favorite order of skinship (peck, kiss, hug, sex)

A. Aaron: Sex – Kiss – Hug – Peck / Je-rim: Sex – Peck – Kiss – Hug

The reason both like sex the most is… because you can do the other three while doing it.

Q. Matching perfume families

A. Aaron would be a deep, sensual, bittersweet scent like Kilian Black Phantom. Je-rim would be a cool scent with a hint of citrus, like Xerjoff Nio.

Q. What do their voices feel like?

A. Aaron has a very deep voice + a languid way of speaking that mixes in breath. Je-rim has a calm, moderate bass, a beautiful voice optimized for interviews.

Q. Chant lyrics

A. A video of Je-rim dancing to Uptown Funk during his initiation spread everywhere, so that song became his symbolic song. They take “I’m too hot” and change it to “Ban’s too hot,” singing only the highlight.

Aaron has his own cheering song with lyrics like “The legend of Tavarona challenges a new legend at Sefton.” Cheering songs commonly used for forwards (e.g., “XX’s on fire”) are also sung often. He prefers the popular chants over his own because the lyrics are more explicit and fun.

Q. Will both Je-rim and Aaron stay at Sefton? Will they get their numbers retired?

A. Je-rim plans to retire at Sefton, and Aaron wants to be with Je-rim + likes Sefton quite a bit, so both will stay. However, since they wear numbers 10 and 9, I don’t think they’ll be retired (since those numbers are too symbolic).

Q. When did the two first…

A. About a year after they started dating… They pulled out quickly until just before the final stage, but that final stage…

Q. Regarding AaronJe-rim’s environmental destruction (condoms)… what’s the most they used in one day? Actually, it’s best not to use them.

A. I also think it’s better not to use them for the sake of the environment in the novel. Still, they use them on days before important schedules; on those days, they restrain themselves, so maximum 2… It’s because they don’t use them on days they don’t have to restrain themselves.

Q. I’m worried that their sleeping together might affect their matches.

A. They both restrain themselves the day before a match, and even if they do it, they only do it to a level that doesn’t cause strain.

Q. Why did Aaron keep encouraging William to grow a beard?

A. At first, it was to keep him in check because William was handsome and seemed too close to Je-rim, but as time went on, it was more about stimulating him because he was curious how long he’d grow it. Honestly, once William started wearing it in pigtails, Aaron secretly wanted him to shave it, but he didn’t tell him it was ugly because he was afraid William would shave it all off and become handsome again.

Q. What song was Aaron going to sing for his initiation?

A. A very sweet serenade like “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” (he occasionally sang it for Je-rim after they watched a movie together when they were young) or a song with sexy lyrics like the Spanish version of “Despacito.” The goal, of course, was to get Je-rim’s attention.

Q. In the universe, there must be a lot of AaronJe-rim RPS (Real Person Slash), right? I want to see the SNS reactions.

A. It’s a global major ship. Since there are many English and Spanish speaking countries, both supply and demand are overflowing. On domestic SNS, the people who ship RonJe (Aaron top) and the tiny minority who ship JeRon (Je-rim top) probably fight over their tastes every day, so the atmosphere would be hostile.

“Look at the height difference, does it make sense for Aaron to be the bottom?” VS “The official designation is JeRon, Ban Je-rim isn’t lacking in the top department either” -> “Still, Aaron isn’t the type to be a bottom, your taste is trash,” and so on… Then they’d probably both get beaten up by general football fans and hide further into the underground. Regardless, both sides are desperate to dig up crumbs from their youth days.

Q. If the series of misunderstandings 10 years ago hadn’t happened, would they still be dating well?

A. They were so young that they probably would have broken up at least once anyway. But they wouldn’t have missed each other for 10 years like this. They would have been apart for a few months, realized they couldn’t be without each other, and reunited immediately.

Q. I’m curious about a world where things worked out for Je-rim-ssi and he continues to play on the same team as Aaron.

A. Tavarona would dominate the global football scene to such an extent that football fans would constantly complain that it’s “boring.” La Liga would always maintain the top spot in league rankings, and both of them would have achieved the Treble in their mid-twenties.

Q. If the two were to be separated into different teams again (not necessarily Sefton, but perhaps the national team), I wonder what that would look like this time.

A. Neither of them would ever choose to transfer, but if they had to due to unavoidable reasons, they would naturally handle it more maturely than they did when they were young. After working hard to figure out how to endure a long-distance relationship, they would probably just conclude that they should just register their marriage.

As for meeting as opponents in international competitions, they both welcome it. During A Match periods, they inevitably have to be apart, so meeting in a match means they are in the same place. They don’t go easy on each other and play their hardest, but they flirt and socialize intensely before and after the game, getting photographed and teased again about dating even in a foreign land…

Q. You mentioned that Je-rim likes Aaron’s hair pushed back because his forehead line is pretty; conversely, I wonder what kind of hairstyle Je-rim prefers for himself.

A. Je-rim also pushes his bangs back during matches. It’s annoying when they flutter on his forehead or poke his eyes while running. However, since he doesn’t set it strongly, it usually falls down into a “half-exposed” look as he plays.

Q. Is the tattoo related to Je-rim the one on his back? Are there any others?

A. Yes, the forest + wolf + sky tattoo on his back was inked while thinking of Je-rim. The forest comes from the Hanja ‘Rim’, meaning forest, in Je-rim’s name. He heard the Hanja of his name when they started dating.

The Latin phrase on his forearm is the Lesser Doxology from Catholicism: “As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be.” He inked this for complex reasons. As for other tattoos on his arms, you can check them on the cover.

Q. Is there a meaning behind the wolf tattoo?

A. Not particularly. He just inked it because Darling’s nickname is “wolf”; the sky + forest held more significant meaning.

Q. Please tell us what first motivated him to start getting tattoos!

A. He needed some stimulation. He was going through a severe “boring phase” in life, and after hearing from colleagues that tattoos can be addictive, he was intrigued and started getting them. But in the end, he stopped after that sky tattoo.

Q. Je-rim must have filmed many commercials in Korea, right? What kinds of ads did he do? Do he and Aaron appear on more Korean variety shows?

A. He films quite a few: red ginseng, ramen, sparkling water, phones, sportswear, air conditioners, and so on. He mainly does ads for home appliances and food. As for appearing on Korean variety shows with Aaron, it requires luck and timing to align in many ways… “Living Alone” will remain a legend. The PD got promoted.

Q. I’m curious about Je-rim getting jealous. What happens after he witnesses firsthand how popular Aaron is?

A. First, his way of speaking changes to a grumbling tone, and it’s very obvious on his face. Anyone can see he’s bothered and looks displeased, which Aaron finds so cute he could die. However, the moment Aaron shows that he finds it cute, Je-rim’s jealousy turns into anger and he becomes ferocious, so Aaron has to be careful.

Q. Next work (+ plans for more sports stories / plans for a series with Yeo-bin as the lead)

A. I think the next work will be a “hate-relationship” gaming novel with a touch of campus life. I’m envisioning a persistent beauty top x a strong-against-the-weak handsome bottom (Eun-pyo’s friend), but it might change.

And yes, Yeo-bin is a character I added with a series in mind. Thank you for noticing. I was thinking of challenging myself with a “angst/depressing” genre… I had decided that if I wrote it, I’d make the sturdy but low-self-esteem handsome Yeo-bin the bottom… but everyone around me said that the angst genre and my pen name don’t suit each other… so… yeah.

Even I think I might not be able to write angst. Regardless, if I utilize Yeo-bin, it might not be a full-blown sports story like , but it will likely have some sports elements.

As a TMI for Yeo-bin, before returning to Korea, he played for the club where Reman was in the youth system, so they know each other. He returned because his form dropped due to health issues and he lost his starting position to the younger rookie, Reman. He’s close with Je-rim, but due to various circumstances, he has low self-esteem and is a neat, unassuming handsome man. His height is 185cm.

Q. Does Reman have any intention of finding a girlfriend? Will our Reman… find true love? I’m so curious if it will be someone younger or an older person like Je-rim. Can he move on from his feelings for Je-rim?

A. Reman is only attracted to men. He hasn’t completely let go of his feelings for Je-rim yet, but he’s trying.

He just lacks dating experience because he’s a homebody, timid, has a very specific ideal type (someone he can respect), and has high standards. However, he is incredibly popular, so he’ll find true love someday. Because of the memory of his first love and his ideal type, I think he’d prefer someone older.

Q. What is Reman’s future? Will he stay at Sefton?

A. Given Aaron’s advice, I don’t think he’ll stay at Sefton. But since Reman also has an elite career, having achieved the Treble at 22, it’s not easy to find a place for a loan or transfer… Still, he’ll move to a top-tier club where he can play as a starting player.

As Aaron and Je-rim guaranteed, he will grow into a world-class striker.

Q. Do you have plans to write a series with Reman? Will we have the chance to hear more about his growth as a player?

A. I don’t usually prefer finding a new love for a sub-character… but Reman is definitely too good a character to waste, so I’m considering it. I just wonder if the “younger puppy top” side he showed when paired with Je-rim would appear when paired with someone else…

Q. If a series does come out, is there a possibility that Reman will be the bottom?

A. Reman is set as a blonde beauty, so in my writing, he cannot be the bottom…

Q. What about Reman x Yeo-bin…?

A. Yeo-bin had some complex and subtle feelings toward Reman, so he always avoided him. Reman also felt sorry toward Yeo-bin, but since it seemed like Yeo-bin disliked him, he didn’t go out of his way to get close. Neither of them has the personality to be the first to approach others warmly. Even though they were on the same team for a few years, they called each other by their surnames until the end, despite having a common interest in Je-rim…

Q. I’m curious about a triangle IF version: Je-rim, who couldn’t give his heart fully to anyone, has been dating Reman for n years—who dashes toward him aggressively with the same eyes Aaron once had—and then Aaron transfers to Sefton to keep his promise! The battle between Je-rim’s original ideal type, blonde and pure (Reman), and the one who became his ideal type, fit and sexy (Aaron), is so exciting.

A. That’s… Reman, it turned out like this… No matter what, Je-rim ends up with Aaron, but I think all three would suffer immensely until that conclusion is reached. Moreover, everything would end in catastrophe…

However, since Je-rim reacting to a man other than Aaron or Reman dashing aggressively are both impossible, it’s truly just an IF.

Q. Does Edson reply to DMs?

A. No lol. But if a funny DM comes in, he shows it to the people involved to tease them. He’s been more cautious since he almost got his phone smashed by Je-rim.

Q. Did Edson receive the Choco Pie?

A. Yes, he received it after achieving the Treble. He posted a certification on Insta with “Thank you” written in Korean.

Q. Until when does Je-hee use the card she received?

A. Until Je-rim cancels it… But Je-rim forgot that he gave it to her. She’ll keep using it until Je-rim’s asset manager notices she’s swiping shockingly expensive amounts.

Q. Do Je-ah and Je-hee not resent their mother? Why is Je-ah living with her mother?

A. Je-ah naturally resents her mother. Thanks to her mother’s efforts after returning to Korea, they slowly started interacting again, and the setting is that they ended up living together in Seoul due to work issues. Although she opened her heart to her mother as an adult, she’s likely still conflicted inside.

Je-hee, to put it nicely, is bright, and in Je-rim’s words, a “blockhead,” so she doesn’t think very deeply.

Q. What if it were Omegaverse + 2nd generation?

A. Both are dominant Alphas. Except for the fact that people around them suffer because of pheromones when the two have a power struggle + the existence of ruts (they’d be stuck to each other even more intensely than now) + the possibility of knotting, which would make Je-rim even more exhausted, there wouldn’t be much difference from the main story.

Since it’s Alpha x Alpha, it would be impossible, but if a second generation were born, their football talent would be unquestionable… There would be a fierce battle between the two nations from a young age over whether the child would play for the Spanish or Korean national team. Aaron would be a kind father who plays well with the child, and Je-rim would be a strict father who respects the child’s will as much as possible. Whether it’s football or anything else, he’d only let them do it if the child says they want to.

Q. If it were Guideverse, who would be the Esper and who would be the Guide?

A. My taste is firm… both S-class Espers. They’d fight every day and destroy the center, but then they’d inevitably have to go get guiding, and then they’d go crazy with mutual jealousy… Aaron would avoid receiving guiding from others as much as possible, while Je-rim believes in receiving it if necessary even if he doesn’t want to, so they’d fight like hell.

Q. What if it were Nameverse? Would the name be engraved only on Aaron?

A. If the partner’s name must be present from birth, Aaron’s name would definitely be engraved on Je-rim’s body. But since it’s engraved very small behind his ear, neither he nor his parents would know until he meets Aaron. Aaron would have it engraved huge on his chest…

Q. “My boyfriend left, can you come over?” / Perilla Leaf Debate

A. In the case of “My boyfriend left, can you come over?”, both of them would flip out regardless of who it is. Even if told it was a joke, they’re the type to get even angrier and start a second round… First, the moment Aaron receives that text, he’d break down the door to get into the house, and Je-rim would throw his phone and break the bedroom window of the house where Aaron is. Then they’d bicker about whether people their age should be playing such jokes, and if the atmosphere gets intense, they’d head to the bed…

As for the Perilla Leaf Debate, since the foreign son-in-law doesn’t know what perilla leaves are, he wouldn’t even know what act it is to peel them for someone. And Je-rim doesn’t peel perilla leaves for others. He’s the type to accept them if someone else peels them for him. This is because the habit from dating Aaron became too ingrained.

Just as he effortlessly ate the octopus Aaron cut for him in the main story, it’s the same with perilla leaves. Because he’s seen things like cutting steak in the media, he has a perception of “Is this basic manners?” and did it consciously for his girlfriends, but he’s not the type to consciously think he should perform detailed acts of care like peeling perilla leaves for others. In the first place, Je-rim has rarely dated a purely Korean partner… due to his ideal type.

However, if Aaron were to peel a perilla leaf or cut meat for someone else, Je-rim would feel momentarily offended, but then he’d feel self-loathing for being offended… But since Aaron doesn’t take care of anyone else in such a mannered way except for Je-rim or his own and Je-rim’s female family members, such a thing is unlikely to happen.

Q. Would Eun-pyo x Tae-yeong and Yi-han x Jae-yun also be watching Aaron x Je-rim’s football? Do they like football?

A. Eun-pyo watches overseas football quite a bit. Since his nephew is a football fan, he occasionally takes him to watch matches live when he goes to England. Tae-yeong only watches football during the World Cup. He doesn’t have much interest, but he tends to cheer for the national team, including Je-rim. Actually, I was preparing a side story with this plot (with a special appearance by Sefton), but as for when I’ll write it, haha.

Yi-han has absolutely no interest in sports, and although Han-seong watched the World Cup when his Hyungs told him to while they were in the band, he didn’t find it very interesting. If the World Cup is on, Han-seong keeps doing other things and only looks at the screen when the commentators scream. Yi-han doesn’t even look then.

As for Yi-han x Jae-yun, Yi-han isn’t very interested in just watching. However, he watches because it’s cute how Jae-yun gets passionately excited whenever he watches football. Jae-yun is the type to watch intensely while swearing. That said, he doesn’t specifically follow overseas football and only watches up to A Matches.

=> Parts that appear in the main side stories and additional side stories have been deleted.

Q. I wonder if Je-rim and Aaron will merge their homes in the future. Is there a possibility of cohabitation?

A. If they cohabitate, a dating scandal is inevitable, so they’ll maintain their own homes. But in reality, it’ll be semi-cohabitation.

Q. Did the Sefton colleagues really not notice their relationship at all?

A. Based on “before” the Ballon d’Or ceremony in the side story:

Completely noticed: Reman (semi-forced ㅠ), Edson, Craig, the Manager.

Unsure: William, Jesus, Liam.

Would never know until told: Marshall, Robin, Frederic.

Q. I wonder how they’ll spend their vacations and pre-season.

A. During the pre-season, they go on overseas tours and date legally in foreign countries, and during vacations, Je-rim joins Aaron in the leisure activities he enjoys, and they have fun. Since both love physical activity (in various senses ㅎ), they are a match made in heaven.

Q. How will the relationship with Ju-han be settled?

A. For a while, they’ll probably stay lukewarm as they are now. Since he was like a father figure, Je-rim won’t be able to make up his mind easily to cut him off completely. Especially since their families all interact. However, even if they contact each other again, they won’t be able to return to the relationship they had before. Still, if Ju-han receives Je-rim’s wedding invitation, this time he will attend with a heavy heart and a genuine feeling of blessing, without avoiding it.

Q. Will there be an opportunity for Je-hee, who respects Aaron more than her own brother, and Aaron to reunite?

A. Yes, Je-hee absolutely supports the marriage. She’s jumping around saying she’ll be the one to persuade their father.

Q. I wonder when their wedding will take place. Do they do it in Spain after retiring? What about the guests and the scale?

A. After retiring, they’ll have a quiet ceremony at the cathedral they used to visit during their Tavarona youth days. Since same-sex marriage is forbidden inside the cathedral, they’ll either do it secretly with the priest’s permission or in the outdoor backyard overlooking the sea.

As for guests, they’ll invite their immediate families (including Aaron’s biological mother and Gabi), friends, colleagues and the manager from the Sefton days, Glenn, Ju-han (depending on Je-rim’s heart at the time of sending invitations), Han-seong (who signs a no-filming contract), and a few close friends from the national team and Tavarona youth.

Instead, they’ll have a loud reception at their mansion. Since Spanish wedding receptions are basically all-night parties, Edson and Jose will be thrilled to death…

Q. Which country will they settle in later? If they could live anywhere they wanted, where would they live?

A. They’ll set up their newlyweds’ home in Spain and also have homes in England and Korea, living by moving between them. Since Aaron will follow the manager’s path, he’ll spend a bit more time in Spain. Then, after fully retiring, they’d likely want to live leisurely on an island with great weather and scenery, like Capri or Crete.

Q. What will their married life be like?

A. Not much different from now. Sweetly bickering.

Q. Does Je-rim’s skill gradually decline until he retires? ㅠㅠ

A. That’s something no one can avoid… The person who feels their own decline the fastest is the player themselves. Je-rim will probably start preparing himself mentally from then. And since Aaron is by his side, he overcomes it. He’ll retire as a legend, remaining devoted to the team until the end.

Q. I wonder what Je-rim will do after retirement if Aaron becomes a manager.

A. Je-rim will likely live very leisurely, doing whatever he wants. He’ll go on spontaneous trips with Aaron, appear on shows if they call him, show his face as a team legend on Sefton match days, and live happily while trying delicious food and drinks.

And after Aaron takes over the manager position, he’ll probably help him diligently from the side. Since they’ve saved enough money for three generations to live in luxury (more than six generations if Aaron’s assets are included…), Je-rim won’t specifically focus on economic activity. He’ll live doing everything he couldn’t do while he was a player.

Q. I want to see more of Aaron’s ridiculous jealousy!

A. I’ll try to write a lot of it in the side stories. For reference, the reason he likes animals but has no intention of raising one is that he can’t stand the thought of something existing that Je-rim finds cuter than himself…