Half-Line

The first match resulted in a 3-0 victory, with two of the goals scored by Mukyeom. After a successful and spectacular debut, Mukyeom continued to score goals that made headlines.City Seoul, now equipped with a powerful striker, went on a winning streak, and ‘unprecedentedly,’ the Korean football league became a topic of discussion not only domestically but also internationally. Never before had the number of goals scored by a Korean player in the domestic league been such a significant issue, but with Mukyeom’s goals, the story was different.Reading the last line of a fan letter from a girl in England that he received through his agency the day before, Mukyeom gave a wry smile.Kim. I miss you. Please come back to Greenford soon. Love, Amy.Greenford, his original team, hadn’t been doing well recently. This wasn’t solely because of Mukyeom’s absence; it was also due to the new coach and players not meshing well this season. However, from the fans’ perspective, it seemed like the team wasn’t functioning without Mukyeom, their main striker.‘I’ll go back. Just wait for one season. I’ll lay down azaleas on the path for Coach Park Junsung, and then I’ll return.’Thinking this, Mukyeom sat on the bench for a moment when Junsung came and sat beside him, patting his shoulder with his thick hand. Mukyeom looked at him with a boyish smile, a face devoid of any wariness, a look he showed to only a very few.“Thanks to you, I’ve been feeling pretty proud wherever I go these days.”“You should consider yourself lucky to have a disciple like me.”Junsung agreed with a laugh. Although he said that, Mukyeom genuinely appreciated having met Junsung. Junsung continued, reminiscing.“I didn’t know back then that I was investing in a lottery ticket.”“A lottery ticket? More like the EuroMillions.”“Euro, what?”“It’s like a huge lottery win. I’m telling you, you don’t need to worry about anything. I’ll take care of your retirement, so just do the coaching job as long as you want.”Suddenly, he remembered Jungkyu nagging him to get married and settle down. Mukyeom didn’t understand why society praised marriage as if it were some eternal bond, but if there was one relationship that was invariable for him, it was not with a lover but with a benefactor.He might not know about love, but he always repays kindness. Kim Mukyeom wouldn’t be who he is without Park Junsung. Thinking about it, one year of his life wasn’t a waste at all. However, Junsung started nagging, regardless of Mukyeom’s noble thoughts.“It’s all good, but now that you’re back in Korea, cut down on the nightlife. I couldn’t say anything when you were abroad, but now it’s hard to watch.”“Ha, why are you talking like this too?”Mukyeom leaned back against the bench, sighing. That talk about settling down, getting married.“I heard you’ve been linked with another woman. How long are you going to keep this up? You should think about meeting someone nice and living happily.”“You sound just like Jungkyu. This is my way. I might meet someone good when the time comes, but I’m not thinking about it yet. I’ve never wanted marriage or family.”Junsung looked like he wanted to say more but gave a brief look of regret and changed the topic.“Still, having Jungkyu and Hajoon around makes it easier, right? No matter what, being with people your age is the best. Get along well.”“Yeah, I guess so.”Jungkyu was one thing, but Lee Hajoon wasn’t at all a comfortable presence, but Mukyeom answered casually. After all, there were no more issues with training, and whether Hajoon avoided him or not wasn’t something Mukyeom needed to care about.“I’m going back to training.”“Sure.”Junsung patted his back. Feeling like he had gone back to middle school, Mukyeom smiled only with his lips and walked back to the center of the field. If only Jungkyu and Junsung didn’t nag him about quickly finding a partner and getting married, it would be great, but he found even this meddling somewhat endearing since it was typical of people here.That afternoon, to celebrate the excellent start to the season, the team decided to have a light gathering. Since the players had big appetites, the club booked a large restaurant and prepared plenty of food.Servers were busy bringing and grilling meat to keep up with the young men’s eating speed. Even in the midst of this, especially at the table where Mukyeom sat, servers kept coming one after another, and some older ones even approached with friendly requests.“Kim Mukyeom, could you give me an autograph? My son is a fan.”“Sure, I’ll do it before I leave.”“Please, definitely.”After one left, another came. Mukyeom responded with casual “yes, yes” while continuing to eat, and eventually, even the restaurant owner came to request a photo.“Kim Mukyeom, could we take a photo with you before you leave, for the restaurant?”“An autograph is fine, but a photo is a bit difficult.”The owner looked very disappointed, almost to the point of sighing, but he couldn’t press further in front of Mukyeom’s firm refusal and turned away. Jungkyu, with a piece of wrapped meat in his mouth, asked:“Why won’t you take a photo?”“They might use it for promotion without asking. Don’t you remember Zidane ending up in a Korean hospital ad without his consent?”“Ah, that’s true.”Jungkyu chuckled, tilting his soju glass. Mukyeom’s empty glass was refilled, and they quietly toasted. While the two of them drank and chatted, no one else intruded.Although there were players in their 30s, City Seoul’s squad was generally young, and as star players, Mukyeom and Jungkyu were treated as seniors. While Mukyeom responded or not, Jungkyu was talking about something when he suddenly remembered something.“Now that I think about it, it’s hard to find time, but let’s have a drink with Hajoon today.”“Sure.”Hajoon was eating at another table. Given his tendency to avoid Mukyeom, Mukyeom didn’t think he would come if called, so he responded half-heartedly.Mukyeom watched Jungkyu go to Hajoon’s table to talk, and when he saw Hajoon stand up and approach, he was slightly surprised and took a sip of his drink. Jungkyu sat back down, grumbling:“It’s so hard to have a drink with the three of us, all being the same age.”“True. It’s good that we have this gathering.”Hajoon, with a smiling face, responded to Jungkyu’s words, letting Jungkyu pour soju into his glass.That’s unexpected. Mukyeom narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at Hajoon. His usually pale face had a faint flush. Looking at his cheeks, Mukyeom asked:“Did you have some drinks over there?”At Mukyeom’s question, Hajoon looked at him with a puzzled “huh?” before smiling with his eyes.“A little.”Mukyeom smirked at his response.“You’re already drunk.”“So what if I get drunk on a good day? As long as I don’t act like a dog. Let’s toast.”With Jungkyu’s words, their soju glasses clinked. While Mukyeom quietly sipped his drink without much to say, Jungkyu and Hajoon conversed.“Oh, Hajoon, did you hear Donghoon is getting married?”“Yeah. He called to ask for the address to send the invitation.”“They met three months ago and are already getting married. That was quite a surprise.”“They met through a blind date. Must be fate.”Mukyeom watched Hajoon with interest as he engaged in a quiet conversation in front of him. This guy, who usually avoided him and didn’t even want to meet his eyes, seemed different with some alcohol in him. Don’t people usually become more annoying when drunk? Like, you want to punch them.Perhaps because Mukyeom felt he couldn’t engage in romance anymore, Jungkyu, who seemed eager to make everyone else a non-romantic like him or a proponent of settling down, asked Hajoon consistently annoying questions.“Aren’t you getting married?”To that question, Hajoon just gave a scoff, as if it was absurd.“Why talk about marriage suddenly? Shouldn’t you first ask if I’m seeing anyone?”“Ah, you just don’t talk about it, but you have a girlfriend, right? Be honest.”“Really, I don’t.”“You and Mukyeom are strange. You’re both popular with women, but why don’t you look for a partner?”Mukyeom had no interest in others’ love lives or marriages, nor did he know who Dong-hoon was, nor did he want to know. However, perhaps because it was unusual to see Hajoon having a casual conversation in front of him, Mukyeom rested his chin on his hand, staring intently at Hajoon’s slightly flushed face, despite it not being an extraordinary scene.As he watched, Hajoon seemed to notice his gaze and touched his chin and cheeks, looking back at Mukyeom.“Why?”Mukyeom was the first to ask. Hajoon answered in a somewhat subdued voice, as if intimidated.“No, I thought there might be something on my face…”“Huh? No, it’s clean.”Jungkyu answered. Mukyeom, refilling his empty glass, asked:“Is Coach Lee popular with the ladies?”“Look at this face, punk. Does he look unpopular? He had a lot of female fans back in his playing days, though not as many as you.”It didn’t seem like flattery since Hajoon didn’t deny Jungkyu’s words. Thinking about Jungkyu’s proud talk on behalf of Hajoon, Mukyeom examined his face. Compared to Mukyeom, whose physique clearly suggests he works outdoors, Hajoon had a more serene and refined appearance.But he wasn’t just thin or pretty without substance. His features were clear, he was quite tall, and having been a player, he had a good build.Considering all that, it seemed a waste for him to be rolling around in training gear on the grass. He’d look good in a suit heading to work. Mukyeom nodded nonchalantly in agreement.“Yeah, well. Coach Lee is handsome.”“Exactly. But now that I think about it, I feel out of place. Sitting between you two makes me feel like the odd one out.”“You’re just realizing that now?”Joking back at Jungkyu’s complaint, Mukyeom asked Hajoon another question.“What was your position?”“Defense. Fullback.”Hajoon answered briefly. Since they both knew Mukyeom didn’t remember much, there was no reason to feel hurt by asking about his position. A fullback. It’s an important position but one that doesn’t get much recognition compared to the effort put in. In the K League, if he was a full-time fullback, he probably had a tough time, unlike in Europe.At that moment, with a splash, a glass was knocked over, and clear liquid spread across the table, dripping onto the floor. Hajoon’s eyes widened slightly as he looked at his hand; it seemed he had tried to lift his glass but slipped, wetting his hand which now glistened under the light.Hajoon’s face, which had been flushed with alcohol, turned a shade redder. He laughed awkwardly and hurriedly grabbed several tissues to wipe his hand and the table.“Sorry. I messed up.”It was just a minor mistake, nothing to be embarrassed about, but Mukyeom just watched Hajoon silently. After cleaning the table and his hands, Hajoon straightened his empty glass and said:“I think I’m a bit drunk. I should stop drinking.”Hajoon stood up, leaning on Jungkyu’s shoulder. Jungkyu asked:“Where are you going?”“To get some fresh air.”“Are you okay? Should I go with you?”“It’s not that bad. You two keep drinking.”Figures.Watching Hajoon weave between tables to get to the restaurant door, Mukyeom scoffed, feeling deflated. He thought it was unusual for Hajoon to sit and chat with him. Seeing him leave the table after just a few minutes indicated that he hadn’t let go of his discomfort yet.Whatever. It’s a team dinner, so I should offer a drink to our coach. Thinking that, Mukyeom got up and looked around the tables. He expected Junsung to be seated among the coaching staff, but he was nowhere to be seen. Mukyeom walked around, asking people:“Where’s the coach?”“Oh, he was over there a while ago.”“Did he go to the bathroom?”The players, already quite drunk, were too busy chatting boisterously to give much attention to Mukyeom’s question. Mukyeom looked around for Junsung, but his face was nowhere to be seen.He must have gone to the bathroom, as everyone said. Deciding to wait, Mukyeom turned back towards his seat.“What?”Then, Jungkyu stood up abruptly, shouting loud enough to be heard over the noisy restaurant. His chair fell backward due to his sudden movement, but he paid no attention, rushing through the tables while still on a call.“Where? Behind the building?”Mukyeom could hear Jungkyu’s voice as he brushed past him. The premonition was not good. Mukyeom followed Jungkyu, who was running out. Jungkyu was still on the call, and some players, sensing something serious had happened, followed them as well. Jungkyu stopped running not long after.“Hajoon!”Mukyeom turned his gaze in the direction Jungkyu was heading. Behind the restaurant building, in a secluded area where trash was collected, Hajoon was kneeling on the ground.What happened? Why is he like that? At first, Mukyeom’s vision only caught Hajoon’s pale, shocked face, then he saw the man lying on the ground. Mukyeom’s expression also filled with shock.“Ajussi!”Mukyeom almost threw himself to the ground as he shouted, but someone’s arm quickly stopped him. It was Hajoon. As Mukyeom looked at Hajoon with eyes asking what he was doing, Hajoon quickly continued:“Calm down. Don’t shake him recklessly. I’ve called 119 and we’re doing emergency treatment, so you guys make sure the ambulance can get here quickly.”“Make it quick? How?”“Go out to the main road! It’s a narrow alley; the ambulance might get lost, so guide them here when you see them.”Mukyeom nodded at Hajoon’s instructions. Sure enough, a few minutes later, an ambulance arrived with sirens blaring but continued straight, about to pass the narrow alley.“Here, over here!”Mukyeom chased after the slowing vehicle and knocked on the door. The ambulance stopped. The paramedics quickly got out with a stretcher, and Junsung, who was lying on the ground, was carried into the ambulance like a heavy object. Junsung, with his eyes tightly shut, looked almost like a corpse. Cold sweat ran down Mukyeom’s back.Once the transport was arranged, a paramedic asked the players:“Who would like to go to the hospital with him?”“I will. I found him.”As Hajoon raised his hand to volunteer, someone grabbed his hand. Hajoon turned his head to look at the man holding his hand.“Let’s go together.”Hajoon looked blankly into Mukyeom’s eyes, who was standing right behind him, then nodded hastily. As Mukyeom got into the ambulance, he told Jungkyu:“Jungkyu, you stay here. You need to explain to the others.”“Uh, right. Got it.”The ambulance doors closed. Mukyeom bit his lip and took out his phone to make a call. He needed to inform Junsung’s family first.Ring, ring. While listening to the dial tone, he looked at Hajoon sitting opposite him. Hajoon’s face was pale and expressionless, as if his soul had left him after the shock.Thinking he should say something, Mukyeom heard a woman’s voice on the other end of the line saying “Hello,” and after taking a deep breath, he informed her of Junsung’s collapse.Junsung’s wife and son arrived at the hospital soon after. Junsung’s wife looked much older since they last met, which was when Mukyeom came to Korea for the last World Cup. She had said she was too afraid to fly to visit England.If Junsung was like a father to Mukyeom, his wife was like a mother. She had taken care of Mukyeom, a rough-around-the-edges, orphaned teenage boy with no blood relation to her family, feeding him, clothing him, and giving him a place to stay without showing any sign of annoyance, even though he must have been a nuisance. To Mukyeom, she was just as much a benefactor as Junsung.Junsung’s son, who had always followed Mukyeom because he loved football, had grown considerably since their last meeting in London. To Mukyeom, who had no other blood relatives, Junsung’s family was his family. Junsung’s wife, upon seeing Mukyeom, almost ran to him, calling out:“Mukyeom!”“Ma’am.”“What happened, huh? What happened?”She clung to Mukyeom’s arm, her face already drenched with tears, asking desperately.Acute cerebral hemorrhage. That was Junsung’s diagnosis. Fortunately, thanks to quick emergency treatment and hospital transport, there was cautious optimism that there wouldn’t be significant issues, but they needed to monitor the surgery outcome.“Ma’am, first, give consent for the surgery. I can’t because I’m not family.”At Mukyeom’s words, she looked at him with tear-filled eyes, not understanding, then slowly regained her composure, stood up properly, and nodded. Junsung’s son took his mother’s hand to go handle the paperwork, saying:“Thanks, hyung.”What for? Mukyeom raised and lowered his hand with such an expression.Although it felt like a typhoon had passed, the operating room was likely bustling at this moment. The typhoon was still here; they were merely in the eye of the storm, enjoying a brief calm.Sitting on a chair in front of the operating room, a water bottle was suddenly thrust in front of him. Looking up, Hajoon was standing there.“Drink some water. You need to stay hydrated even when waiting.”Now that he mentioned it, Mukyeom was thirsty. He opened the cap of the bottled water and drank about half of it in one gulp. Mukyeom wiped his lips with the back of his hand and offered the rest to Hajoon.“What about you?”“I’ve had some.”After handling the emergency procedures, Mukyeom hadn’t even thought about where Hajoon had gone, his pale complexion not yet improved.“What happened?”Now he had the composure to ask. Hajoon shook his head.“I don’t know the details, I found him after he had collapsed. He probably went out to smoke and collapsed. It looked like there was a smoking area nearby.”Mukyeom nodded. That damn cigarette, he told him to quit ages ago. Junsung never listened about that one thing.“The smoking area was pretty far from the restaurant. How did you end up there?”“I was going to have one myself.”Mukyeom was unexpectedly surprised by the nonchalant answer. Hajoon didn’t look like a smoker, so even hearing about the smoking area, he hadn’t made the connection.With nothing more to say, Mukyeom checked the time; it was already past eleven. He wondered if Hajoon should still be here. While Mukyeom considered Junsung and his family as his own, Hajoon did not.“You must have been quite shocked.”“Not really. …Not as much as you.”“Anyway, thanks. If it weren’t for you, the coach might have died right there.”“Don’t say such scary things.”At that moment, Junsung’s wife returned. She had stopped crying and seemed to have calmed her startled mind and behavior. She asked Hajoon:“Who is this?”Hajoon quickly bowed in greeting.“I’m Lee Hajoon, a coach on the same team as Coach Park.”“Ah, I heard you became a coach. So it was true.”Junsung’s son seemed to recognize Hajoon. Unlike his mother, who knew little about football, he was a fan, so he would remember Hajoon from his playing days. Mukyeom added:“Coach Lee found the coach when he collapsed, which is why we got here so quickly.”“Oh my, really? Thank you, thank you so much.”“No, ma’am.”In response to the sincere gratitude and bowing, Hajoon, not knowing what else to do, bowed awkwardly in return. Mukyeom checked the time again. Now that introductions were made, it seemed done. After seating Junsung’s wife and son, Mukyeom asked Hajoon, who was still standing in the same spot:“Shouldn’t you go home? It’s past eleven already.”“That’s true, but…”Clearly worried about the situation inside the operating room, Hajoon turned his gaze towards the door where the surgery lamp was lit. However, Hajoon himself looked pale, as if he should be lying down to rest. Mukyeom said firmly:“You must have been shocked too. Go home and rest. The family is here, and there are three of us. There’s nothing to worry about.”At that, Hajoon thought for a moment before nodding.“Right. If I stay, I might make the family uncomfortable.”‘That’s not quite what I meant…’While thinking this to himself, Hajoon approached Junsung’s family, made a brief farewell, then returned to where Mukyeom was standing, lowering his voice to give instructions:“I mentioned it earlier, right? The ma’am seems to have cried a lot, so don’t forget to make sure she drinks water. You too. You can get dehydrated waiting all night. Even if you don’t think so, it’ll get cold by dawn, so ask for some blankets and make sure you’re covered. Take turns and rest somewhere.”His face was full of concern as he gave these detailed instructions. At that sight, Mukyeom almost forgot the serious atmosphere and nearly laughed but managed to hold it in.“Understood, Coach.”“And…”Hajoon stopped, about to say something more. What is it? Mukyeom asked with his expression, but Hajoon just shouldered his bag that was on the chair.“I’ll go first. See you later.”“Take care.”Mukyeom waved his hand once, and Hajoon nodded slightly before turning away. His hair fluttered as he walked. Mukyeom watched his retreating figure for a moment before turning back to Junsung’s family. He handed a new bottle of water, which Hajoon had bought earlier, to Junsung’s wife.“Ma’am, please drink some water.”“Okay. Thanks.”“I’ll get some blankets too.”“No, I’m hot right now. Must be menopause. I don’t know why I’m so hot. It’s worse because I’m shocked. Get them for you and Hyeongmin.”Both Junsung and his wife were getting old.Mukyeom felt a heaviness in his heart, so he sat down without saying more, counting the changing numbers on the hospital wall clock, feeling the night would be unusually long.🏀— Mukyeom, I’m so sorry for putting you through this.“Don’t say that. What are you sorry for?”— You came back to Korea because of my husband, and now this has happened…Mukyeom pressed his temples while on the phone with Junsung’s wife. When they had first met at the hospital, the situation was too urgent for other words, but now that Junsung had recovered, this was all she said to Mukyeom. It was an apology that only made him feel more troubled.Junsung’s surgery took a full six hours, and by the time it ended, dawn was breaking. Junsung’s family and Mukyeom took turns dozing off and waking up, and the doctor who came out of the operating room looked exhausted too. However, his expression was bright. He had managed a difficult surgery successfully, and fortunately, there seemed to be no complications. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and was overjoyed. Mukyeom felt like jumping for joy as well.Junsung regained consciousness a day later and first apologized for worrying everyone. He had no issues speaking, no numbness, and no loss of sensation. The most feared outcome, paralysis, did not occur. Players and staff came to visit in small groups or individually, and the club sent gifts.Once the relief and joy of confirming that Junsung’s life was saved and his body was fine passed, practical issues began to pile up.At least several months of recovery time were needed, leaving the head coach position at City Seoul vacant. An interim coach was soon to be appointed, but the team’s morale, which had been riding high, sank. Mukyeom’s mood was understandably downcast. He sighed and told Junsung’s wife on the other end of the line:“Right now, that’s not what’s important. He survived, and the surgery was successful with no expected complications. That’s what matters. Don’t worry about me; worry about him. He finally took on the role of a pro league coach, which took a lot of determination. How do you think he feels now?”— You don’t need to worry about my husband. You saw him; he’s already lively. He’s already keen on his recovery to return.Mukyeom chuckled at her grumbling voice, as if she was annoyed by the good news.“Then there’s nothing to be sorry about. If he recovers quickly, there won’t be any problem for me, so don’t be downhearted.”— …Okay. I understand. I must be getting old. I felt like complaining for no reason. I’m sorry for making you feel worse.It happens, don’t worry about it. Take care of yourself and the ma’am. Mukyeom ended the conversation with those words and hung up, staying sprawled on the sofa for a while longer.However, just sitting there wouldn’t solve anything. He got up heavily, opened the lounge door, and left the building. Today, after training, it started raining. The training field, which should have been bustling with people, was now empty.A white mist rose from the grass. The buildings were all in dull gray, and the grass, which should have been a vivid light green, looked dark under the cloudy sky.It was spring rain. After this rain, the weather would get warmer, and the trees and grass would turn a deeper green. For Mukyeom now, the water that carried life only served to deepen his gloomy mood.Mukyeom walked from the building where the locker room and offices were located towards the parking lot, stopping under an arcade-like roof that kept him dry without an umbrella. The rain noisily beat on the plastic roof above.“Oh, man…”His voice, filled with a sense of futility, evaporated like steam. Quite some time had passed since training ended, and it seemed everyone had gone home; the place was quiet. Mukyeom was the only one who had stayed in the lounge taking a call, missing the usual time to leave.He felt a stifling sense of frustration with no clear answers. Honestly, he had no affection for the team at this point. He was only here for one season before leaving. Coming back to Korea, even temporarily giving up his starting position at a big club, was solely for Junsung. To make his debut as a coach successful and to play under him in the pro league. That was all it was about.Junsung, who had discovered and nurtured Kim Mukyeom, should have been a pro league coach long ago just for that reason. It wasn’t like he hadn’t received offers. However, he had lived as a high school and middle school football coach by his own choice. When Mukyeom heard that after much persuasion by the club owner, Junsung decided to become the coach of City Seoul, he was surprised.If it was a team that had convinced Junsung, and if it was his first time taking on the role of coach, Mukyeom thought it was worth spending a year and staying. He still thought so. This season, from a career perspective, was time to be wasted.No matter who came as the interim coach, for Mukyeom, the main motivation had vanished. They said Junsung’s recovery to live a normal life would take at least three months, typically six months, or even more than a year in the worst case.If he could return to coaching, that would be fortunate, but if not…There was no choice or discussion; the contract was already set. He had to spend one season in Korea. It was inevitable, but without Junsung, he had no idea how to spend those seemingly pointless months. At this rate, Mukyeom’s decision would truly be a waste of time.Thud. Thud. Thud.After changing back into his training uniform in the locker room, Mukyeom went out to the rain-soaked pitch and started tapping the ball with his toes. The pouring rain soaked his head, clothes, and body, but he didn’t mind.The wet grass was slippery, and the ball, also wet, kept slipping from his feet. This is why rainy matches are tough. Everything feels slippery like seaweed in the ocean. The ball rolls off course, you might fall if you run as usual, rainwater blurs your vision, and the uniform clings to your body.But this wasn’t a match, and Mukyeom was just doing simple trapping like a child learning football. The ball he was tapping with his toes went up to his knees, bouncing back and forth between his left and right knees before settling back at his feet.Bang.At some point, Mukyeom suddenly kicked the ball hard with the top of his foot. The ball flew through the rain, hitting the empty net with a loud smack.If there were a passing machine, he’d kick balls until he felt better, but such expensive equipment, rare even in big clubs, wouldn’t be here. Mukyeom kicked several balls into the goal, then walked over to retrieve them, setting them outside again. With hands on his hips, he blew air through his lips and was about to return to his spot when he stopped.“Hmm?”Mukyeom looked intently at a silhouette barely visible through the rain. If he wasn’t mistaken, there was someone standing under the roof where he had been moments before. The rain blurred his vision. Mukyeom tilted his head, stepping closer to identify who it was.As he got closer, the face became clear. Mukyeom called out his name.“Lee Hajoon.”“…Yeah.”Feeling somewhat awkward upon seeing someone, Mukyeom had thought he was alone on the empty field, kicking balls in the rain. It wasn’t particularly embarrassing, but it felt like someone had seen through his tangled, messy thoughts.“You haven’t left yet? I thought everyone had gone.”“I had some work left. The other staff have all left.”“I see. You’re on your way home then? Be careful.”Mukyeom was about to turn around after saying that; he felt like he needed to kick the ball a few hundred more times to clear his mind.“Kim Mukyeom.”Hajoon called out to him. Mukyeom turned around, not hiding his look of inconvenience. Hajoon hesitated for a moment before continuing:“Shall I pass to you?”“What?”“Passing and retrieving the ball by yourself must be bothersome. I’ll pass to you.”Mukyeom didn’t reply immediately, just stared at the man standing under the roof. Hajoon was clearly dressed to go home, with a bag and wearing casual outerwear.What kind of wind had blown through him after he was so eager to avoid Mukyeom? Thinking this, Mukyeom gave a faint, bitter smile that Hajoon wouldn’t notice.That day, they had ridden in the ambulance together and handled the procedures at the hospital. Come to think of it, they had been through quite a significant event together. Maybe a sense of camaraderie had sprouted, or perhaps he had decided to forgive Mukyeom for not recognizing him earlier.Hajoon had also become quite a grateful presence for Mukyeom. If Hajoon hadn’t gone out for some air after getting drunk that night, who knows how much later Junsung would have been found. They say with a brain hemorrhage, getting to the hospital even a second earlier is crucial. If the discovery had been delayed… The very thought made Mukyeom’s heart sink.“Thanks.”“Huh?”“You said you’d pass.”“Oh, right.”Hajoon quickly put down his bag and coat and changed into his shoes. Stepping out from under the roof, he was just as soaked as Mukyeom by the time he reached where Mukyeom was standing.Mukyeom looked down at Hajoon, giving a formal nod of acknowledgment.“Thanks for the trouble, especially with the rain.”“No problem.”Hajoon moved towards the goal.Bang. After waiting for Hajoon to get into position, Mukyeom kicked the ball again. The empty net shook as it was pushed back. Hajoon quickly rolled the ball back to Mukyeom. Again, bang, Mukyeom kicked, and Hajoon passed it back.They went on for a while, passing the ball back and forth without saying a word. It was more like children playing with a ball than football. The difference from children’s play was that there was no conversation or laughter between them. Only the sound of the rain and the regular thuds of the ball hitting the grass filled the empty training ground.The rain showed no sign of stopping, coming down even harder. Hajoon, with his hair now over his forehead, kept brushing it back as it kept getting in his eyes. Seeing this, Mukyeom stopped the ball rolling towards him with his foot.“Let’s stop.”Mukyeom called an end to it. Hajoon exhaled deeply, stretching his arms side to side, and asked:“Did you kick enough?”“Yeah. We should go before the sun sets. Today, with the rain, it’ll get dark sooner.”As he said this, Mukyeom watched Hajoon trudge back with the remaining balls. There’s no way Hajoon, a retired player, would have the same stamina as Mukyeom, famous for his endurance. Hajoon looked quite tired after passing balls in the rain. Mukyeom wanted to keep kicking, but it wasn’t worth making someone else sick.Together, they gathered the balls in the rain and headed back to the locker room. Though they had showered after training, being soaked through meant they had to shower again.“Do you have clothes to change into?”Mukyeom asked Hajoon while standing in front of his locker, pulling off his wet shirt. Peeling off the fabric sticking to his skin made him feel much lighter. Mukyeom quickly stripped down to his underwear.His broad shoulders, solid and thick chest, chiseled abs, wide latissimus dorsi giving the illusion of a narrower waist, firm buttocks, pronounced hip bones, and even his genitals were all revealed at once. His thighs, stretching down from his hips, were as thick as a slender woman’s waist, with well-defined muscles.He tossed his wet clothes onto the bench, but there was no answer from Hajoon. When Mukyeom looked over, Hajoon was standing a little distance away, still in his wet t-shirt, just staring blankly.Is he that tired? Mukyeom spoke again.“Coach Lee.”“…Huh?”“I asked if you have clothes to change into.”Hajoon nodded as if coming back to his senses.“Yeah, I have some. We keep spares.”“Then what are you waiting for? Hurry up and change.”“Ah, yeah. You go first.”Mukyeom chuckled and walked towards the shower room, giving Hajoon a playful tap on the back with the back of his hand.“What’s up? Are you being shy?”Maybe he wasn’t avoiding him but was just introverted. Based on how he interacted with others, he didn’t seem that way, but people’s personalities can’t be judged just by what’s on the surface.Thinking that maybe his initial perception of Hajoon avoiding him was a misunderstanding, Mukyeom turned on the hot water under the shower. Though the cold had gone, the rain still made the air chilly, and as his body warmed up, his previously sharp mood also seemed to soften.Someone stood under the adjacent showerhead. It was Hajoon, who had come in a bit later. Come to think of it, since the coaches had different shower times and many didn’t even shower at the field, this was the first time he was showering with Hajoon.Even with clothes on, Hajoon didn’t look particularly thin, given his athletic background and solid build. He had what could be called a lean muscular physique, with muscles where they should be without any excess fat.In some ways, this might be the type of body women like the most. Mukyeom, being a striker, had built up quite a bit of muscle to enhance his strength, speed, and endurance. But if you were looking for the ideal “pretty boy” body among men, Hajoon next to him would fit the bill perfectly.His face was fair, and so was his body. Standing barefoot next to him, Hajoon seemed just over 180 cm tall, about 10 cm shorter than Mukyeom. His long eyelashes were visible under his closed eyelids as he was hit by the water. His wet hair was swept back, revealing a smooth forehead. His high, sharp nose and the slightly thick, gentle eyebrows slid under Mukyeom’s gaze like a brush stroke.As he watched, the profile seemed like a well-drawn picture, and Jungkyu’s words rang true. This guy must be quite popular with women.“Are you still training?”“Huh?”“I asked if you’re still training.”“Yeah, I do. It’s easier to coach if I can keep up with the players’ pace.”Their voices echoed slightly in the quiet shower room. Mukyeom nodded without further questions, finished washing his hair, and stepped out first. Since he had already showered before getting wet in the rain, washing off just the rainwater was enough.Hajoon, who had come in a moment later, also came out a moment later. By that time, Mukyeom was already dressed in dry clothes, drying his hair in front of the mirror. Hajoon seemed embarrassed, hastily drying himself with a towel and dressing quickly in front of his locker, as seen in the mirror.Why would a guy be embarrassed about being undressed among other guys? They just showered together. Mukyeom smiled with just his lips.When they stepped out of the building, the rain hadn’t stopped. It was pouring incessantly. As Mukyeom was about to step towards the parking lot this time, Hajoon’s voice came through.“Kim Mukyeom.”“Hmm?”Hajoon, standing next to him, called out but didn’t continue right away. Mukyeom, feeling more relaxed than before when they were about to kick the ball, waited patiently for Hajoon to continue. However, Hajoon seemed less composed than before, stuttering a bit as he spoke.“I know you’re feeling troubled these days… I hope you can cheer up.”“…”“It’s well known that you see the coach as your benefactor. I was shocked to see him collapse, let alone you. I know you must have a lot on your mind, but since you’ve decided to play for this team for one season, try not to overthink it too much.”Hajoon seemed to be trying to comfort Mukyeom. He paused, taking a breath, and brushed his hair back as he did earlier, looking a bit shy.Mukyeom had seen players seeking advice or comfort from Hajoon many times before. Each time, Hajoon had looked like he had no worries, but seeing him struggle to comfort someone like this was unfamiliar.His hair, which had been swept back by his fingers, silently slid down over his forehead again. Even in the dim light, his face looked slightly flushed as it had at the drinking session. Mukyeom tilted his head and asked:“Do you know why I see the coach as my benefactor?”“He discovered you in middle school, so you see him like a father. You had a tough time before you started football. That’s why you always say you wouldn’t have made it without the coach.”“Do you know what I did before I started football?”“…I just heard it was tough.”As Hajoon’s voice trailed off, sounding a bit guilty, Mukyeom nodded and added:“If I hadn’t played football, I’d probably be in jail now. I was a kid without parents, already getting in trouble with theft, fights, all sorts of petty crimes. I was let go because I was young, but if I had grown up like that, I’d have a juvenile record for sure. Would it have stopped at juvenile? I’d probably have ended up in an adult prison too.”What Mukyeom was talking about was solely his own story, but Hajoon immediately countered as if he were defending him. He raised his voice, almost like he was Mukyeom’s advocate.“I know, but you didn’t, so it’s fine. It was just because you were young and going through a hard time.”“You know?”At Mukyeom’s words, Hajoon, who had been looking ahead with his eyes slightly downcast, lifted his head. Mukyeom was looking down at Hajoon with a slight furrow between his brows.“How would you know?”“…”Hajoon’s lips and eyes stiffened. His face clearly showed he thought he had misspoken.“Are you quite interested in me?”However, at Mukyeom’s follow-up, Hajoon’s eyes widened in surprise, his lips slightly parted. He answered hastily, as if making an excuse.“Everyone knows this much. It’s what you said in interviews, and it was broadcasted…”As Mukyeom’s low chuckle brushed past his ears, Hajoon looked like a defendant under interrogation, turning his head away from Mukyeom’s gaze. Even though it wasn’t an off-limits question, his profile, seen from the side, showed a mixture of confusion and embarrassment like a net.Mukyeom stepped closer to Hajoon, bending down so his face was right in front of Hajoon’s avoiding eyes.“Lee Hajoon.”“…”“What are you?”With a frown, Mukyeom only slightly lifted his lips in a smile. Hajoon looked troubled, unable to guess what Mukyeom was thinking, and glanced at him before lowering his eyes again. He seemed to be searching for something to say but couldn’t find the right words, his anxious eyes wandering through the air.From a moment ago, Mukyeom had been enveloped in a very strange feeling. It wasn’t a conclusion from logical deduction but more like an intuition.If you asked if it was the intuition of a playboy, you could say yes, or if you asked if it was the intuition of a man used to quickly sensing the spontaneously created atmosphere, you could say yes to that too. It might be the instant judgment honed on the field.In any case, since meeting Hajoon, Mukyeom had begun to sense a possibility he had never thought of before, like a strong signal.“Look up.”As Mukyeom’s hand gently lifted Hajoon’s slightly lowered chin, Hajoon didn’t shake off the hand but looked up obediently. Meeting his eyes again, Mukyeom couldn’t see the expression in his pupils due to the dim light. Nevertheless, with something akin to certainty, Mukyeom slowly leaned his head towards the pale face.Hajoon’s eyes, with their clear whites and sharp black pupils, trembled slightly, and Mukyeom’s smile turned into a more pronounced grin.Peck.Amidst the sound of the rain, there was a small sound of contact as Mukyeom’s lips lightly touched and then pulled away from Hajoon’s. But instead of immediately pulling back, Mukyeom pressed his lips softly against Hajoon’s once more.Mukyeom didn’t even close his eyes. He watched Hajoon’s expression change while very slowly lifting his head back to its original position. Hajoon, who had just been kissed unexpectedly, stood still, not even blinking, staring up at Mukyeom in shock.Mukyeom made no excuses or apologies after the kiss. He simply met Hajoon’s eyes, tilting his head slightly to one side with a shamelessly faint smile.What are you going to do about it?With that silent question in his slight, leisurely nod, Hajoon finally lowered his head. His expression was no longer visible, and his hands, hanging by his sides, trembled slightly before clenching into fists.Is he angry?Did I misjudge?Is he going to hit me? As Mukyeom narrowed his eyes, gauging the mood of the man beside him, Hajoon suddenly lifted his head again. His hands, which had been tightly fisted, grabbed Mukyeom’s cheeks. His lips pressed against Mukyeom’s with such force that it seemed they might collide.No, not just the lips—Hajoon had thrown himself at Mukyeom so forcefully that Mukyeom had to take a step back and lean against the wall. Hajoon, almost devouring Mukyeom, rubbed their lips together as if he might run out of breath, but for some reason, he kept his tongue out, only engaging in a contact that was more like a desperate kiss than a deep one.Mukyeom, caressing the back of Hajoon’s head, slowly parted Hajoon’s lips with his tongue. When he did, the hot, wet tongue hidden inside eagerly intertwined with Mukyeom’s, welcoming the intrusion. It was more like the desperate movement of a chick receiving food than a kiss.“Ugh, mm…!”As Hajoon became impatient, Mukyeom felt even more at ease, slowly rubbing his tongue against Hajoon’s, which quickly elicited a heated moan. At that fervent response, Mukyeom almost laughed out loud. A thrilling joy ran from his fingertips, caressing Hajoon’s head, all the way to the top.He catches a hidden signal and takes a shot. The satisfaction felt when the intention matches perfectly, like scoring a goal. This was something Mukyeom had exchanged countless times with people before sex, but he had never felt such ecstasy as he did now.Hajoon’s signals were that hard to read. Mukyeom had uncovered what Hajoon had been subtly hiding all along. People feel a greater sense of achievement and victory in discovering something that’s been well hidden rather than taking something openly presented. Wrapping his arms around the back of the man who had revealed his true colors, Mukyeom shook his head in disbelief.How amusing. I almost got completely fooled.He seemed too gentle for a defender.