Ball-Boy Tactics

A player from the opposing team dribbled the ball into our side of the court, and I instinctively blocked his path.He held the ball, glancing around as if debating whether to pass, dodge me, or break through in a particular direction. It was one of those countless tactical mind games that happen during a match, and I was good at them.He attempted an obvious feint, so I pretended to fall for it. The moment he exposed a gap, I stole the ball. As soon as it was in my hands, all the players on the court sprinted toward the opposite side. There were only a few seconds left in the fourth quarter—a last-minute counterattack.But Byun Seungjin, who was supposed to receive the fast break pass, was nowhere to be seen. He should have already been in position on the opponent’s side, but he was just crossing the half-court line. Plus, he was closely guarded and in no position to catch a pass.With no other choice, I dribbled forward myself and eventually passed to another player, but he couldn’t break through the defense. The fourth quarter ended without any additional points. As the whistle blew, Byun Seungjin met my gaze with an awkward smile.“It’s just a practice game between us. We’ve got the finals tomorrow, so let’s take it easy.”“I didn’t say anything yet.”“Yeah, I know. Just making excuses ahead of time.”“Pointless.”“Better to be pointless.”“…”“…”“Byun Seungjin, you know you have a habit of slacking off when you’re tired during games.”“Geez.”Byun Seungjin, who was about to take off his green team jersey, smirked as if he expected this comment. At less than 190 cm tall, his attitude didn’t seem very intimidating.“I wasn’t slacking. I couldn’t run. I was exhausted.”“You took the entire second quarter off, and you’re complaining about being tired?”“…Everyone’s good at something, I guess.”“Cut the jokes.”As he tried to brush it off playfully, I slung an arm around Byun Seungjin’s shoulders to keep him from escaping, but I soon let go. It felt uncomfortable doing what I usually only did with Han Jiwon to someone else. At 196 cm, Han Jiwon’s build was just right for me to throw my arm around.“Try running to the end. I told you it’s a waste that you don’t show your full potential. If you’re too tired to run, then you need to build up your stamina. Or are you just going to play college basketball and stop there?”His half-hearted excuse irked me, especially since he wasn’t even denying that he hadn’t given his best effort. I knew he could do better, which made it even more frustrating. In moments like this, the captain should be stepping up to motivate or set the tone, but I couldn’t stand the current fourth-years.“Alright, alright. I’ll try harder. I’ll score 30 points in tomorrow’s final, okay?”Grumbling like a kid, Byun Seungjin walked off the basketball court. He sprawled out on the floor, staring at the ceiling, looking more relaxed than he ever did in the dorm lounge. His chest rose and fell heavily with each breath.I plopped down next to him, and Yang Eunoh came over and tossed us each a towel. He had played for the opposing team, wearing a different-colored jersey.“Leave him be. He’ll figure it out if he’s got any sense. Honestly, none of us are going to miss out on going pro. Hey, isn’t that right? You’ll take care of yourself when the time comes, won’t you?”Yang Eunoh lightly kicked Byun Seungjin’s thigh and then sat down beside him. Byun Seungjin was the only one lounging comfortably in the middle.Yang Eunoh was a problem too. He kept babying Byun Seungjin, and that’s why the guy’s ten-hour workout turned into eight. He was someone who expected rewards without the hard work. Even now, though Yang Eunoh’s words sounded harsh, he was subtly defending Byun Seungjin. It’s not like he could take responsibility for Byun’s life.“If you’re going to end up warming the bench after you go pro, what’s the point? Might as well stay lying here forever.”“What? Come on.”“Jungwoo, are you really not entering the draft this year?”Yang Eunoh asked, pinning down Byun Seungjin, who was trying to sit up. His attempt to change the subject was painfully obvious.I’d already said my piece, and I didn’t want to upset Byun Seungjin any further, so I decided to go along with Yang Eunoh’s diversion.“I’m still a junior. I’ll enter the draft next year, as expected.”“If you’re as good as they say, even high schoolers can enter the draft. What’s so expected about that? If you entered now, you’d be picked high in the first round, right? Actually, forget high—everyone in the fourth year is lagging, so you’d definitely go first overall.”Just as Yang Eunoh said this, Byun Seungjin poked him in the side. A few fourth-years were lingering nearby. I wasn’t sure if they overheard our conversation, but I didn’t care. There wasn’t anything wrong with what Yang Eunoh said.“I’ve thought about it, but I’m still not going.”“Why?”“I need to finish school first.”“Huh? What? That’s the reason?”“Why not? Even if I got a huge scholarship, it’d still be nothing compared to a salary. If you can go pro, it’s better to go sooner.”Yang Eunoh and Byun Seungjin both looked at me like they couldn’t understand.It was a moment to hold back. I’m the type who usually speaks my mind without caring, but when it came to Han Jiwon, I had to be careful. Even though these two weren’t the most perceptive guys, I couldn’t exactly say I was delaying going pro just to spend more time with Han Jiwon.“My grades are decent, so there’s no need to drop out. Just leave it at that.”I mixed a bit of irritation into my voice, hoping to avoid more questions, and Byun Seungjin twisted his lips again. I ignored whatever complaint he was about to make.Just then, as I was stretching out my legs and cooling off, a younger player called out to me from the bench.“Jungwoo hyung! Is this your phone? I think you got a call.”He held up my phone. The caller’s name wasn’t visible from this distance, but I knew it wouldn’t be Han Jiwon. Han Jiwon hated anything that distracted me during practice and never called when I was training. Our unspoken rule was that I’d call him after practice.So, I didn’t care much about the call. Sitting with my friends after a game, feeling completely at ease, I didn’t want to move.“Who is it?”“Uh… um…”The junior hesitated just to read the caller ID. That’s when I thought my hunch might have been wrong.With his lips trembling slightly, he finally spoke. The junior knew very well that laughing at this moment would sour the mood.“It’s… ‘Little Master.'”“Bring it here.”At the same time, I stood up. “I’m heading out,” I said, casually waving to Byun Seungjin and Yang Eunoh. As I turned away, Byun Seungjin called out behind me, reminding me to keep my temper in check around my girlfriend. I chuckled inwardly. My partner had seen not only my temper but also the ugliest, messiest parts of me.Sure enough, it was a call from Han Jiwon.Was something wrong? I quickly headed toward the locker room, pressing the call button as I walked.“Hello?”— Ah, you answered. I was just about to hang up… Should I call back later if you’re busy?“No, I’m done with practice. What’s up?”I burst into the locker room, where some of the guys were already changing into their street clothes. I half-heartedly nodded at the juniors, greeting me even though we’d just been playing together. Maybe I should head to the gym for a shower. I hated crowded locker rooms. As I was debating, Han Jiwon’s relaxed voice brought me back.— It’s nothing major. I just realized we can’t meet today because your league final is tomorrow, so I thought…“……”— I just… wanted to hear your voice.Ah.I barely held back the urge to call out Han Jiwon’s name. Secret relationships come with many constraints, but they weren’t such a big deal compared to what I had gained….I suddenly had the urge to kick all these guys out of the locker room. These fools, who were slow even on the court, took their sweet time changing too, making my phone call unnecessarily difficult. If the voice on the other end wasn’t so lovely, I might have let my irritation show.In other words, they were currently benefiting from Han Jiwon’s presence.“…If that’s all, I’ll call you back in a bit. I’ll just take a quick shower and then we can talk properly.”— Oh, okay! Take your time.As soon as I hung up, I headed straight for the nearest shower, crowded or not. The thought of Han Jiwon, torn between his usual principles and a moment of impulse, amused me. I could just imagine the expression on his face when he finally gave in and picked up the phone.What did tomorrow’s final have to do with us meeting today anyway? Even if the final was in an hour, I’d still go meet Han Jiwon. I couldn’t help it—I had a superstition that I couldn’t score unless I kissed him before a game.When I left the court dressed in my street clothes, night had already fallen. The October evening sky was dark navy but impossibly clear.As I drove out of the parking lot, a memory popped into my head—the time I acted as Han Jiwon’s chauffeur. It had been a later night than this, but the refreshing air in the parking lot reminded me of that day.When he poked me with his car keys and told me to fetch his car, I thought maybe his personality wasn’t as reserved as people said. Then, when he got into the backseat and, reeking of alcohol, barked out his address, I realized he had mistaken me for a valet.I didn’t feel particularly good about it, but I didn’t feel bad either. It’d be a lie to say I wasn’t curious about him. So I’d shown a little more kindness than usual, probably swept up by a rare emotion. There was something about Han Jiwon’s demeanor that made you want to take care of him.If it had been anyone else, I probably would’ve stepped out of the driver’s seat and called 112. That was my limit for kindness.Driving Han Jiwon wasn’t bad. At first, I thought he was talking to keep me from getting bored, but it turned out he was just rambling drunkenly. His so-called “party tricks” were so underwhelming that I laughed, which made me suddenly think about his difficult past.It struck me then how impressive it was that this man in the backseat, who had endured so much at such a young age, had gone on to set so many records. I felt proud of him, even though I had no right to, since I hadn’t helped him overcome anything.Han Jiwon was the type who always wore a hat, too shy to face the public eye. People who didn’t know any better would accuse him of being overly modest, but his consistent behavior eventually silenced those claims.Just because someone is shy doesn’t mean they can’t succeed in life. And Han Jiwon’s timid nature didn’t prevent him from excelling in sports. If anything, it proved his professionalism and focus.I’d known about Han Jiwon enrolling at our school long before he arrived—since the moment his application was submitted. Byun Seungjin knew everything there was to know about him.I still remember the first time I saw Han Jiwon. It’s one of those moments etched so vividly in my mind, I could probably draw it if asked.It was the day I had completely botched the first game of the year. Someone had kicked someone else’s shoe across the court, and I went over to pick it up. I don’t remember whose shoe it was, which idiot had caused the trouble, what color the shoe was, or even if I picked up something else along with it.The only thing I remember clearly is Han Jiwon’s face.‘…Huh?’I was shocked because the person standing in front of me was so incredibly beautiful.I only realized it was Han Jiwon afterward.I had never been so awestruck by anyone, not even by any woman I’d ever seen. At the time, I had a girlfriend, so it bothered me a little that the first person to captivate me like that was a man. Looking back now, it’s probably why I was always so tense around Han Jiwon.Maybe if I’d met him a little later, things would’ve been different.Breaking up with my ex-girlfriend had been inevitable. It was all part of the expected course—stress, a slap to the face, a post-breakup trip to the Han River. The problem was that Han Jiwon was there in every single one of those moments. I never realized that my complete indifference after the breakup would leave such a strong impression on him.Everyone knew Han Jiwon was disarmingly gentle, almost harmless. Part of the public’s obsession with him stemmed from his confident performance in gymnastics, paired with his shy and awkward demeanor during interviews.He had always been that way. In one of his oldest videos, an interview with that coach, Han Jiwon shyly stammered into the microphone:‘I try my best… but sometimes things don’t go well… But… that’s why I keep going….’He blinked his wide eyes a few times before hiding behind the coach. The clip of him peeking out and awkwardly smiling is something I’ve replayed countless times. Then, as now, he had a habit of closing his eyes when he smiled.While I was busy acting like a gang leader in my neighborhood, Han Jiwon had already started training. Perhaps that’s why he was clumsy at everything except gymnastics, and why I fell for those clumsy aspects. Naturally, I completely overlooked how that clumsiness would affect his first relationship.Han Jiwon hid his true feelings while dating.Unaware of this, I babbled on about how I wanted to see him jealous, and every time I did, Han Jiwon responded indifferently. When I said it didn’t matter if I took selfies with someone else, it seems that was the moment I began developing a terrible obsession with Han Jiwon.In Jeju, I checked my phone every time the quarter ended. The messages I waited for never came, and I only received annoying messages from useless people, which I blocked as they arrived.I kept thinking about a confession from a day when he said he was quick to give up. It was Han Jiwon, who had given up on gymnastics, something he loved so much. Just like he abandoned gymnastics, which had been everything to him, to major in photography, a growing anxiety crept in that he might one day abandon me and meet someone new. While pushing Han Jiwon away contrary to my heart, I was losing my worth.Even though I realized that such actions were obsessive, I couldn’t stop. Rather than understanding the feelings of past lovers, I was worried about Han Jiwon, who would feel my past emotions as they were. Knowing he would be choked and suffocated only made me push harder. My fear of him losing interest in me intensified my need for control.As soon as Han Jiwon sent a picture of a restaurant sign, I called the shop. I asked if there was a man wearing a heavy camera bag and a hat and how many people were in his group. I thought it would be fine as long as he wasn’t alone with Kim Hyoseok. Ever since Han Jiwon said he was handsome, I couldn’t stop thinking about Kim Hyoseok.The staff kindly answered me. When I confirmed that everything Han Jiwon said was true, I fell into a deep self-loathing. I thought I couldn’t do anything more pathetic than this. Little did I know I would end up rushing to the airport an hour later.This was my first relationship like this. Since I had always given my all, I had no regrets when it ended.But when Han Jiwon exploded with his true feelings, I was terrified. In fact, I had gone to see Han Jiwon to beg on my knees. I intended to seriously ask him not to give up on me. The moment I saw Han Jiwon, many thoughts evaporated from my mind…Sometimes I doubted whether Han Jiwon was inexperienced in love or actually quite skilled. Looking back, it was always Han Jiwon who led, while I was left with only vague, melted memories. Especially the words he would say unconsciously sometimes drove me crazy.“…….”When I recalled my past with Han Jiwon, I lost track of time. When the car hit a red light, I called Han Jiwon. The ringing didn’t last long before a familiar voice filled the car.— Hello.“Are you home?”— Yeah.“What were you doing?”— Um… just some things.“What things? Tell me in detail. I’m curious.”I naturally asked while pressing the accelerator. We had whispered sweet nothings while commuting to school and attending general studies, but I was also curious about Han Jiwon’s life when I wasn’t around. I wanted to engrave his day in my mind like a fingerprint.It was a common question during our calls, but his answer came a little late. I glanced at my phone, wondering if the call had ended due to that slight delay, and then I heard his soft voice.— …I was thinking about you.“Ah-.”His honest confession made me smile. Just then, Han Jiwon called my name in a surprisingly serious tone.— But Jungwoo.“Yeah.”— Why did it take so long just to shower? I thought you would call right after. Did you do something else after showering? It seems like you took longer than usual.His cautious question turned my smile into laughter. I chuckled quietly while keeping an eye on the road. One thing that had certainly changed since meeting Han Jiwon was that words I once thought were suffocating now calmed my heart.Or perhaps it wasn’t me who had changed, but rather it was because of Han Jiwon.“I took a while because I was getting ready to leave. I’m driving now, so I’m only calling now to chat comfortably. Did you wait long?”— Ah, I see. No! I just asked out of curiosity. It’s chilly in the mornings and evenings with the change of seasons, so I was worried that you might catch a cold after showering and going out. …So, you’re going home now, right?“I’m debating whether to go home or somewhere else.”— Where else?“Um…. I’m not sure I can tell you right now. It’s because of a jinx.”— A jinx? Did you have a jinx, Jungwoo?I checked online, and it wasn’t there…Muttering to myself, I realized that Han Jiwon kept searching for me online even when I told him to ask directly. The internet was full of useless information.“It wasn’t there originally, but it suddenly came up today. Anyway, I’m planning to go because of it.”— …Is it far?Even with the mention of a jinx suddenly appearing today, Han Jiwon didn’t seem to notice anything odd. He seemed only fixated on the fact that I wasn’t going home but somewhere else.“It’s close. It’s near your house. Should I stop by briefly on my way there?”— No. You must be tired from exercising all day today; you need to take care of your condition. What if you get more tired here and lose tomorrow’s finals?“I’m going to solve the jinx so I won’t lose tomorrow. Jiwon, don’t you want to see me? We only saw each other for an hour today.”— Of course, I want to see you! I want to see you so much that I can’t even put it into words, but if we see each other at home, I’m sure we’ll… …Ahem, Jungwoo. Should I go down to the first floor for a bit? How about just a brief face-to-face meeting? Just for about 30 seconds…“30 seconds?”I laughed in disbelief, and Han Jiwon laughed along, asking if that was too short. In moments like this, Han Jiwon felt like a fox raised among a pack of puppies. He was innocent in what he had learned, yet instinctively had a way of teasing people.“Sorry, Jiwon. I don’t think I can spare even that much time. I was also planning to just see you for about 10 seconds.”— Ah… really?“Yeah. I’ll call you when I arrive, so come out then. If changing lanes becomes difficult, I’ll wave from across the street. You can still recognize my car even in the dark, right?”— Of course! I got it!“I’ll call you soon.”— Yeah!As soon as I hung up, I entered the office parking lot. Forget 10 seconds; I was planning to spend over ten hours with Han Jiwon. Thinking about it again, I couldn’t understand the connection between tomorrow’s finals and us meeting today.In the elevator, I arranged my hair. I hadn’t used any hair products after showering, so it wasn’t styled perfectly, but I wanted to look as neat as possible.Reaching the front door, which I frequented at least three times a week, I took out my phone. I checked that the call went through to the “little master” and pressed my ear to the door. A moment later, as the call connected, I heard a voice from inside the house.— Hello.“Jiwon, I’ve arrived, so hurry out. The faster you come out, the longer we can see each other.”— Ah, already!? Okay!! Just a second!!As soon as I hung up, the noise inside the house began. I could hear the sound of the table being dragged, drawers opening and closing, and a commotion near the shoe rack.I stood quietly next to the front door, waiting. Eventually, I heard the sound of the door lock, and Han Jiwon rushed out. He had managed to shove one arm into his outerwear, which was dragging on the floor. I quickly hugged the flustered him.“Jungwoo?”“Why did it take so long? It’s already been 5 seconds.”Then I led him inside. The shoe rack, which still had the sensor lights on, was bright. As soon as I closed the front door, I kissed Han Jiwon’s lips. His surprised eyes looked at me. That cute expression made me smile as I released his lips only to kiss him again at a different angle. Finally, Han Jiwon’s eyelids fluttered down.In that heated gaze, I unknowingly tightened my arms around Han Jiwon. What would he do if I weren’t Kwon Jungwoo and went around without any caution? I was consumed with desire as Han Jiwon opened his lips willingly.The soft tongue intertwined, exuding a warm scent. Han Jiwon always smelled good. It was a fragrance reminiscent of sweet milk mingled with soft soap. It made me yearn intensely, sometimes leading me to imagine swallowing Han Jiwon whole.I pulled off the outer garment that was loosely draped over his arms. At the same moment, our lips, which had been touching, trembled. It was more plump and tender than the white flesh of a lychee, and it had become moist. For some time now, I felt that if I didn’t periodically savor this fruit, my blood wouldn’t circulate properly.Without putting in much effort, Han Jiwon was easily pushed away. His eyebrows furrowed, but they adorably drooped, giving him a flustered expression. His tightly shut eyes made him look so lovable that it felt like a shame for only me to witness it. Just seeing him was enough to lift my fatigue, making me feel like I could start the day all over again.Our lips parted with a wet sound, and his long eyelashes trembled before finally revealing his pretty eyes. Watching him was like witnessing something sacred, holy, and radiant, akin to a baby bird hatching. I loved seeing this sight.“How did you get here so fast? I was planning to go out first and wait for you.”“I flew over quickly because I didn’t want to see you waiting in the cold.”“…So, now you have to leave, right?”“Do you want me to?”“No! Of course not.”I knew the answer, but I asked anyway, and Han Jiwon shook his head seriously. Every time he moved, his scent overwhelmed me, making my heart feel like it was dropping. The way his hair swayed and his neck subtly shifted was just too beautiful.I was about to kiss him again as if entranced, but Han Jiwon covered my lips with his hand. I didn’t ask why because I knew his reason for refusing must be trivial. Instead, I kissed his palm and each of his fingertips. I curled each of his delicate fingers like the eyes of a snail and subtly moved toward his lips again.But Han Jiwon shook his head once more in refusal.“Jungwoo, if you kiss me here…”Though he didn’t finish his sentence, I finally understood why Han Jiwon was refusing.He was worried that a kiss wouldn’t be the end of it. Han Jiwon probably thought I was obsessed with sex, which meant he understood me perfectly.“I’ll just kiss you and nothing else. I need to kiss you to win tomorrow. I told you I have a superstition.”“…That superstition is a lie, isn’t it?”“If I say it’s not a lie, will you believe me? Just once, please. I don’t want to lose tomorrow.”“……”“Please kiss me, Jiwon.”I gently pulled him by the shoulders. Han Jiwon, as always, was easily drawn to me. His instinct to build walls while knowing he wouldn’t be able to refuse only spurred my competitive nature.“Are you sure you’ll win?”“When have I ever lacked confidence?”I rubbed my thumb against Han Jiwon’s collarbone and then casually moved to cup his cheek. His gaze was so utterly devoted, like I was staring into a universe born just for me.“I could even bring you the stars.”I bragged a little, and Han Jiwon burst out laughing. He closed his eyes out of habit, curled the corners of his lips beautifully, and smiled—the weakness I loved the most.“Okay, but just kissing.”With that gentle permission, I quickly pressed my lips to his. As I inhaled, I was lucky enough to catch Han Jiwon’s sweet breath. I kissed him passionately, almost in a trance.The kiss went on for a while. As soon as our lips parted, we were both eager to kiss again. When I subtly pressed my lower body against his, Han Jiwon flinched. His sensitive reaction made my patience wane rapidly. I gently pushed him toward the sofa, guiding him as if we were about to sit together, but instead, I pressed his shoulders down. However, as soon as his back touched the sofa, Han Jiwon pushed me away.“Jungwoo, no. Not today. It’s the finals. We need to save our energy for such an important day.”With his tender lips now swollen from just a few minutes of kissing, Han Jiwon gently scolded me.Maybe it was because he specialized in gymnastics, where even a small mistake could cost points, but Han Jiwon often worried about my condition more than I did. It seemed he still didn’t fully understand Kwon Jungwoo’s basketball abilities.“It’s fine. I’ve played well even after sprinting to the top of a mountain the day before.”“That was part of your training. I really want you to win. So, Jungwoo—.”Han Jiwon slipped out of my grasp through the small gap that had formed.“Let’s do something different today. How about we date like teenagers—holding hands, hugging, and just kissing? Doesn’t that sound nice?”“Ugh, I hate that idea.”“…Ugh, I’m thirsty!”Han Jiwon quickly headed toward the fridge, leaving me alone on the sofa, watching his retreating figure.“……”The reason I didn’t immediately chase after him to continue persuading him was because of the childish thoughts swirling in my head.To be honest, it annoyed me a little that Han Jiwon was able to keep his cool and focus only on my career, even in moments like this. I almost wanted to act immature and ask him, “What’s more important, me or the trophy?”I really felt like I’d become a different person while dating Han Jiwon.As I leaned back on the sofa, I vaguely remembered a similar scene from the past—watching Han Jiwon’s back as he poured water. When was that again?As I absentmindedly dug through my memories, I glanced at the table. A few textbooks and notebooks were laid out as if he’d been studying. He had mentioned that his grades last semester were decent, and it looked like he was already preparing for midterms.Could it be that he was using my game as an excuse and was actually just pushing me away to study?Han Jiwon seemed to have many things more important than me. I felt like I was being pushed lower and lower on his list of priorities. When had he promised to be obsessed with me?In a foul mood, my gaze drifted to his notebook, and that’s when I noticed some cryptic writing in the corner of a clean page.12:17 Score (Byun, Yang, Kim)12:53 Café (Byun, Yang)14:22 Break18:45 Shower19:18 Workout— Showerㅇ delayed? – He had already left— Superstition – Near my house. Where?(Lake Park 50%, Training Center 20%, Restaurant 5%… Keep looking!)— Agreed to only 10 seconds 😭 But it couldn’t be helpedThe handwriting became messy at the end, as if he had hurriedly put down his pen. Even though some words were written using just the initials, I could easily understand them. There was no doubt that the times matched our call history.“……”Simultaneously, I recalled that day when I had first seen Han Jiwon’s back. It was the day I had come to his house for the first time for a group project.Han Jiwon had acted strangely, almost as if he were nervous. He had said ridiculous things like how he found me unattractive and how he only dated people with marriage in mind.I must have found him adorable for being so innocent, not like others his age. I’d felt something similar when I discovered search records related to me on his laptop.Though I was surprised that all the search terms were about relationships, I hadn’t thought much of it. After all, anyone who knew me would have searched for my name online. I had looked up Han Jiwon too, so I figured it wasn’t that different.Han Jiwon was different from others in that, even after all this time, he still hadn’t learned to be cunning and remained just as naive. I loved that about him—that he couldn’t even imagine how far someone else’s mind might wander.Once I realized he had his own way of being obsessive, I couldn’t help but find it amusing, and my mood instantly brightened. Maybe it was because he was a former national athlete—he even obsessed with care and precision. Just a few months ago, he didn’t even know what a PPT was. I wondered if I should teach him about Excel next time. Han Jiwon would definitely make good use of it.I closed his notebook, thinking how fortunate it was that I hadn’t acted immaturely. I hoped he would continue to obsess over me as much as he wanted, without me having to point it out.Hiding a smile, I stood up from my seat. It only took a few steps to reach him.I wrapped my arms around Han Jiwon from behind, giving him no time to react before I turned his chin and kissed him. I loved this position—where I could feel the sharpness of his shoulders and the sleek lines of his waist. His startled hands slowly lowered while still holding an empty cup.I took the cup from his hand and placed it on the sink. Then, pretending to hug him again, I moved my hand toward the front of his pants. As expected, he was still hard.“Jiwon, what’s going on here? It looks like this wants something,” I teased.“W-wait…!” Han Jiwon tried to pull his hips away in embarrassment, but the more he struggled, the more his hips rubbed against me. Frustrated, he kept groaning.“Don’t… Jungwoo, don’t do this. At least, he knows when it’s time to step in or not…”“Doesn’t seem like it. Take a look.”“Ah…!”Taking advantage of his distraction, I slipped my hand inside his pants. The warm, half-erect object swelled the moment it touched my hand. Han Jiwon let out a sharp breath, which sent a chill up my spine.“See? He likes it when you touch him.”“J-Jungwoo, no. I told you, not today. Ah… You have to think about your condition. Let’s do it tomorrow instead. Then, I’ll even let you do it on my face.”“…What?”What he said caught me so off guard that I wasn’t sure if I had heard him correctly.I twisted his shoulder slightly and looked down at him.“What are you going to let me do on your face?”“You know… that.”His beautiful eyes glanced up at me before quickly darting away, as if gauging my reaction.Of course, I had that desire. It was a feeling similar to the sense of conquest you get from being the first to walk across freshly fallen snow, ruining its purity in the process.The desire to dirty Han Jiwon’s pristine face with my semen was there, of course, but the guilt and shame that would follow made me hesitate. Maybe I’d feel differently in the future, but at least for now, it seemed like something I’d regret. However, Han Jiwon didn’t seem to share my hesitation.Given that this wasn’t the first time he had brought it up, and the way he kept mentioning it like a generous offer, it made me wonder if…Maybe this was Han Jiwon’s fantasy.“Jiwon, do you not want to have sex with me?”“What?? No, that’s not it at all! Like I said, it’s just because of tomorrow—”“So, you’re saying you do want to have sex, but you’re holding back because of me.”“I’m not blaming you, but yeah… I guess I’m holding back. No matter how much I like it, I can’t just lose control because of a fleeting desire.”Han Jiwon, his face turning bright red from embarrassment, emphasized the part about restraint, not realizing that he had fallen right into my trap.“So, should I let you do it on my face?”