#72

Shin Ho-jae was dressed in a black short puffer jacket, a black ball cap, and comfortable training gear. He stepped out of the driver’s seat, closed the door, and stood facing Jung-hyun.

“What brings you here? Didn’t you have training today?”

“I came after finishing training. I tried calling you on the way, but you didn’t answer…”

“Ah, I didn’t check my phone. Don’t tell me you came all this way just to return the car?”

“…Yes.”

Perhaps sensing the hint of reprimand in the tone, Shin Ho-jae paused for a moment before agreeing. Due to his indigestion, Jung-hyun didn’t have the luxury of managing his facial expression.

“I gave it to you to use, so why did you bring it back? It’s a long distance.”

“I couldn’t just drive such an expensive car as I pleased…”

“Wow, are you by any chance athlete Shin Ho-jae? I’m a huge fan.”

Just then, a cheerful voice cut through Shin Ho-jae’s words.

Kyung Seung-hee, who had just finished parking, was approaching the two of them, her beige coat fluttering. Shin Ho-jae’s gaze became fixed on Kyung Seung-hee as if nailed in place.

“Here, Jung-hyun. I’ve parked it well, so don’t worry.”

Kyung Seung-hee said as he held out the car keys to Jung-hyun. When Jung-hyun reached out to thank him, he supported Jung-hyun’s hand from underneath and handed over the keys as if delivering something precious.

Because of that, their hands brushed. Jung-hyun wondered why he was being so extra about it, but he simply put the keys in his pocket without much thought. This time, Shin Ho-jae’s gaze shifted toward Jung-hyun’s hand. Like someone who had sensed something.

Puzzled by this, Jung-hyun glanced up at Shin Ho-jae’s face, but he heard Kyung Seung-hee’s voice beside him.

“Please introduce me, Jung-hyun.”

Only then did he remember that they hadn’t even exchanged basic introductions. His mind was a haze due to the indigestion.

“Seung-hee, this is our club’s ace, athlete Shin Ho-jae. And Shin, this is author Kyung Seung-hee.”

“Nice to meet you, athlete Shin Ho-jae. I’m grateful that you’re making our Jung-hyun’s club shine.”

Kyung Seung-hee smiled and extended his right hand. Jung-hyun looked at him, unsettled by the strange tone.

It was a tone that sounded as if he were looking down on Shin Ho-jae. Furthermore, calling him ‘our’ Jung-hyun. No matter how much of a habit such flirting tones might be, the way he spoke as if Jung-hyun were his possession was grating. Was he reacting too sensitively?

While lost in those thoughts, he realized a bit late that Shin Ho-jae was simply staring blankly at Kyung Seung-hee. Kyung Seung-hee had been holding out his right hand for a handshake for some time now.

“…Ho-jae.”

When Jung-hyun called his name softly, he finally reached out and shook hands reluctantly. Then, after a brief handshake, he quickly pulled his hand away and rubbed it on his pants as if he had touched something filthy.

Jung-hyun was momentarily flustered and looked at Kyung Seung-hee’s face. Since he had seen it, it must have been obvious to Kyung Seung-hee, who had initiated the handshake.

“By the way, why was athlete Shin the one driving Jung-hyun’s car?”

Perhaps because of that, a strange thorniness was felt in Kyung Seung-hee’s tone.

“He seems to know where Jung-hyun lives, too. Do club owners and athletes usually get along this casually?”

“……”

“I just thought it was a bit unusual.”

“I just came to return it because I had a reason to borrow the representative’s car.”

“Borrow it? Why? Someone of athlete Shin Ho-jae’s caliber must receive a high salary; surely he doesn’t not have a car?”

Jung-hyun frowned at the rude remark.

“Jung-hyun, you are far too generous. Even if he is a club athlete, did you really just give him a new BNW to use as he pleased? What would you have done if athlete Shin had caused an accident?”

“Seung-hee, why have you been acting like this since a moment ago…”

It was just as Jung-hyun opened his mouth, unable to let it slide any longer.

Shin Ho-jae asked abruptly.

“What is your relationship with the representative?”

“Wait, Ho-jae…”

“Us? What do we look like?”

Kyung Seung-hee smiled brightly. His glamorous eyes curved, making his face look even more striking.

Shin Ho-jae simply kept his mouth shut and stared at Kyung Seung-hee with a crooked gaze. Seung-hee turned his head to look at Jung-hyun and smiled tenderly.

“Jung-hyun and I are in a relationship where we went on a date today.”

“…What?”

The bewildered voice didn’t come from Jung-hyun, but from Shin Ho-jae. Kyung Seung-hee spoke, his eyes narrowing softly.

“We saw an exhibition together, had a meal at a wonderful restaurant, and went for a drive.”

“……”

Jung-hyun looked at Kyung Seung-hee with sunken eyes.

A date. At this point, it was difficult to dismiss it as merely a habit of speech. Could he have seen him as a romantic interest from the beginning?

Thinking that, the strangely sweet gaze that had clung to him since the meal began to make sense. As did the words that kept feeling like flirting.

His mother would have never dreamed that this man was someone who liked men.

“…Is that true?”

Shin Ho-jae asked in a completely sunken voice. Jung-hyun spoke while lightly pressing his solar plexus so the two wouldn’t notice.

“Seung-hee. While it’s true that I went to the exhibition to view your work and we had a meal together, I did not consider it a date.”

“……”

For a moment, Kyung Seung-hee’s expression froze with a terrifying coldness.

Belatedly, Jung-hyun felt that he had rejected him too directly in front of Shin Ho-jae. Just as he was trying to choose his words again, the same smile from before quickly returned to Kyung Seung-hee’s face.

“Jung-hyun is right. Actually, we are nothing to each other. For now.”

For now…

Jung-hyun’s brow twitched. The indigestion was getting worse. The strength in the hand pressing his solar plexus was gradually fading. Even standing felt like an ordeal.

“But was it necessary to say it so definitively in front of athlete Shin Ho-jae? I have my pride to consider.”

Ah, Jung-hyun let out a short groan. He was a young master who had grown up spoiled in a good family—to the point where he admitted it himself—so had he wounded his pride?

He thought he didn’t have to be so definitive. His mother’s warning to absolutely not make any mistakes belatedly weighed on his mind.

“Seung-hee, I’m sorry about that, but…”

“Why should the representative be sorry? The apology should come from the person who smeared pheromones on someone they are nothing to.”

“…What?”

Jung-hyun’s eyes widened at Shin Ho-jae’s sudden interjection.

“Hmm. You could see that? Athlete Shin, you must be a dominant. It was such a small amount that ordinary Alphas wouldn’t have noticed.”

“…Is that something to brag about? Smearing pheromones on someone without their consent is a crime.”

Under the black brim of his cap, Shin Ho-jae’s masseter muscle bulged and then vanished. A growling voice came out, as if he were barely suppressing his anger.

Shin Ho-jae was exceptionally sensitive to moral issues. Fearing that a fight might break out, Jung-hyun stepped between them as if to mediate.

“Seung-hee, did you really smear pheromones on me?”

At Jung-hyun’s serious question, Kyung Seung-hee’s eyebrows slanted downward. He placed a hand on his chest as if there wasn’t a single lie in what he was about to say.

“Jung-hyun, I’m sorry. The truth is, I’m unskilled at controlling my pheromones. It’s because I spent my childhood in the hospital and couldn’t learn properly. When I’m happy or slightly excited, pheromones naturally rub off on things I touch; I absolutely didn’t do it on purpose.”

“What kind of ridiculous bullshit is that.”

Shin Ho-jae’s voice from behind him was harsh.

“Ho-jae, I’m fine, so stop it.”

“…You’re fine?”

“Yes. It’s not like I can even feel it, and Seung-hee has apologized, so let’s move past it.”

Of course, he couldn’t trust Kyung Seung-hee’s words 100%, but right now, ending this conversation quickly was more urgent than determining the truth.

Even in that short interval, Jung-hyun’s back was damp with cold sweat. He was truly in bad shape. He was holding on by sheer willpower, though his knees felt like they were about to buckle at any moment.

“So both of you stop here, ugh…”

At that moment, a pain like someone was wringing out a cloth hit Jung-hyun’s body. His vision went black, and his body lurched forward.

The two startled men simultaneously caught Jung-hyun’s falling body.

“Representative!”

“Jung-hyun, are you okay?!”

He seemed to have lost consciousness for a very brief moment. Barely clinging to his senses, Jung-hyun grabbed whatever arm he could reach and tried to put strength into his legs.

His temples were drenched with sweat, and his face was ghostly pale. He felt someone touch his forehead and wipe away the cold sweat. Then, another hand tightened its grip on his waist and pulled him closer.

His mind was flickering, and he couldn’t tell whose hand was whose. Jung-hyun leaned against the unknown man, almost as if being embraced, and let out shallow breaths.

His body trembled slightly from the intermittent pain. A worried voice came from the person wrapping their arm around his waist.

“Jung-hyun, why is your waist so thin? And why are you sweating so much. You poor thing…”

“Ah…”

73 – Puck Drop