Kiss the Ground

▶[Yoon Chahyun, you worked hard. We got enough footage, so go home and rest well now, lol. Don’t be late for training tomorrow, eat well, and remember, physical strength is national strength. Hang in there, Korean youth, fighting!]After checking the message, Chahyun shoved his phone back into his pocket. The official end to his vacation, which had been more of a thriller than entertainment, came when the indigo sunset began to descend in the west.It had been a while since they had started running against the darkening road. He had no idea how many seconds or minutes had passed. Under the dazzling neon signs that distorted his sense of time, the two of them quickly weaved through the crowds. Once Chahyun felt confident they were far enough from the game center, he turned into a dark alleyway two blocks ahead.Misha, who had been following behind, was the first to stop. Chahyun, who was walking ahead, froze when he realized the sound of footsteps behind him had ceased. As he hurriedly turned around, he saw Misha bent over, hands on his thighs.“Misha.”Chahyun quickly approached him and placed a hand on his broad back.“Are you okay?”His heart pounded not from the physical exertion, but from sudden tension and confusion. He had been too reckless. Not once, but twice, he had made mistakes.He felt like an idiot. Why did he think he was free? Just because they had managed to hide from people for a few hours, he had mistakenly believed they could do anything like ordinary people. Eating and drinking while blending into the crowd was one thing, but there was no way they were allowed to play around in a confined space.“Misha, look at me.”What if he was shocked? What if he was upset? Chahyun bit his lip as he gazed down at Misha’s back, which showed no signs of lifting.“Hey, Mi—”But it happened in an instant. Misha suddenly straightened up and then, without warning, pulled Yoon Chahyun into a tight hug.“Hahaha!”Misha, lifting his head, was unexpectedly smiling broadly. His cap, which had been pulled low, almost flew off, revealing a bright smile that resembled a puppy frolicking in the sunlight. Just as Chahyun’s eyes widened in surprise, Misha shouted with a singsong voice.“That was so much fun!”Chahyun’s jaw dropped at the unexpected reaction. From the lips pressed against Misha’s shoulder, a sound of bewilderment escaped.“Huh?”“Did you know the people followed us all the way to the door, Yuan? I was almost caught!”“Ah, no… Are you okay?”“It was more thrilling than a match. I think my heart is still racing.”Misha laughed cheerfully in a voice Chahyun had never heard before. The joyful exclamation ringing in his ears was as innocent as that of a child. Stunned by the unexpected high-pitched laughter, Chahyun clumsily wrapped his arms around Misha’s shoulders in return.“We caused a scene and ran away… Why are you so excited?”“Sorry about that. But it was so much fun.”“This is crazy.”“Haha.”Still holding Chahyun in his arms, Misha continued to chatter on. He said things like how it was such a strange game, and how it had nothing to do with soccer, echoing through the dark alley. Standing under the orange streetlamp, Chahyun quietly listened to Misha’s words, nestled in his embrace. As the echoes of laughter faded, Misha slowly released Chahyun from his hold.“It was really fun.”Misha’s eyes, still filled with traces of laughter, looked straight into Chahyun’s. In that brief moment when their breaths mingled, a quiet confession slipped out.“I really enjoyed our date.”“……”“I didn’t know something could be this fun.”A date. For Misha and Yoon Chahyun, what was a common word among couples was something so very special. Amidst a hectic season and countless prying eyes, this brief moment was a sparkle like gold dust in gravel.“Thank you, Yuan, for showing me this.”Misha’s unusually long eyelashes shimmered in the golden light. For some reason, Chahyun felt breathless. He forced a smile as he stroked Misha’s arm.“You enjoyed eating all those sweet things, didn’t you?”“No, it’s the opposite.”“Huh?”“It was sweet because I ate them with you.”Misha’s strawberry-tinted lips glistened under the streetlamp, like a ruby.“When I’m with you, new and fun things keep happening. Things I never imagined could happen to me.”Chahyun stared blankly into Misha’s eyes, shining like stars even in the shadows of the evening. Under the brim of Misha’s black cap, his pupils sparkled like stars, reflecting his own image.“Wearing strange clothes, eating delicious food, playing fun games… It was all enjoyable because you were by my side.”“Misha.”“I’m getting to know more and more about what I like, what’s fun, what’s enjoyable, and what makes me happy.”“……”“And it’s all because of you.”Right? The golden gaze scattered like dust across Chahyun’s face. The gently curved eyes formed a crescent moon shape.Chahyun stood there, unable to respond, staring blankly.Misha turned his head to look at the greenish evening street. As his soft voice flowed out between his lips, which glowed red under the neon signs, he spoke in that characteristic soft tone of his.“It’s a path that makes me want to keep walking with you.”“……”“Do you think we can come here again?”Chahyun also turned his gaze away and looked at the crowd with Misha.The people passing by beyond the alley paid no attention to the two of them.Smiling faces, people chatting, an ordinary, everyday slice of life.Will there really be a second time for us? Will we be able to walk around like this again, sharing sweet and salty food? Will there be days when we can spend time like ordinary people without a care? Will there ever be another chance like this…? Chahyun closed his mouth and tightened his grip on Misha’s hand.No. It would probably be difficult.He had given up on and forgotten about such things more than ten years ago. He used to imagine things he wanted to do or an ordinary life, scribbling them down in a notebook, only to tear them out and throw them away, forgotten. Yoon Chahyun’s ambitions held a value greater than love. He believed that a life aiming for a place no one else could reach was the greatest happiness, something that could not be traded for anything else, his sole goal and task assigned at birth.But the person standing in front of Chahyun now was a variable that overturned all those certainties. His sparkle when speaking of everyday life, his endearing charm when talking about trivial, ordinary things. It was at this moment, while gazing at Misha’s fine side profile, that an unfamiliar thought, one he had never considered in his entire life, surfaced in Chahyun’s mind.How happy would I be if I could stay in this everyday life forever?If I could let go of everything in my hands, hide away in a place where no one knew us, and just walk down the street together.It was a terrifying and tempting thought. His lips parted as if his throat were parched. And it was then that a short notification sound rang out.“Oh.”Chahyun slowly fumbled in his pocket and took out his phone. The screen flashed with a long and formal text message. After reading the brightly glowing words, Chahyun slowly lifted his head.“What’s wrong?”Misha turned his head and looked at Chahyun’s expression with a curious face. Seeing Misha’s face bathed in the night light, Chahyun quietly swallowed.The sender of the message was Yoon Chahyun’s father.***▶[Hyuna, are you free this evening? I heard you have the day off today. If you’re available, how about having dinner with us, and you can bring your friend too….]Yoon Chahyun and Misha Asplund were sitting in the back seat of a taxi. Perhaps because it was close to rush hour, the road was starting to get a bit crowded.Yoon Chahyun turned on his phone and checked the time. It seemed they might arrive a little late for the appointment. The destination wasn’t far from where they had been, but unfortunately, they had hit rush hour.Instead of continuing to scroll through the screen, his finger opened the portal site app.1 – Yoon Chahyun Misha ▲2 – Misha Asplund visit to Korea ▲3 – Misha cake new4 – Sweden match ▲5 – Yoon Chahyun property damage new6 – Jjang Arcade new7 – Princess Terrace new….As expected, the real-time search rankings were filled with stories of sightings of Yoon Chahyun and Misha. He had wondered what the message about having “enough footage” from Chunsungju meant, but looking back, it seemed they had been caught quite a lot. The face of Chunsungju, who had probably been secretly laughing at Chahyun, who had boldly claimed he would hide perfectly, seemed faintly visible behind the screen.“Sigh….”The two had apparently become such a hot topic throughout the day that even Yoon Chahyun’s father seemed to have already caught wind of their “vacation.” His sudden contact carried a sense of joy at the unexpected opportunity. Chahyun’s mother, who coached an amateur team in Gyeonggi Province, would be coming home, so it was a warm invitation to have a family dinner together after a long time.It was a killer timing. Chahyun hadn’t had much chance to see his family due to being tied up with training, and more importantly, he didn’t want to let go of Misha just yet.And… the opportunity wasn’t limited to that.Chahyun turned his head to look at the seat beside him. Misha was quietly gazing at the night scenery outside the window. The brown back of his head, covered by a black cap, had been silent for a while now.When Chahyun gently took his hand on the seat, Misha quietly held it back. Feeling the calm warmth filling his hand, Chahyun swallowed a peculiar feeling. And he recalled the moment when he had made his proposal to Misha in the alley a while ago.“You want to have dinner with your family?”Chahyun didn’t miss the subtle expression that crossed Misha’s face as he heard the explanation.“…Then I’ll meet your parents.”“Yeah. My younger sibling will be there too.”“…….”The look of excitement that had been on Misha’s face just moments ago faded slightly. Chahyun’s heart sank. But he firmly held Misha’s gaze. It was sudden, but what was driving Yoon Chahyun to push forward was a long-held desire he had kept in his heart.The desire to introduce Misha to his family someday.It was a wish he had always held in his heart, but being far away in a foreign country, it had remained a vague fantasy, like mist. He never imagined that such a fantasy would come true so quickly. It was only because Misha had come to Korea by chance, had suddenly gone on a date with Yoon Chahyun, and had coincidentally not been exploited by Chunsungju’s marketing that this outcome was possible.“Isn’t it a bit sudden? I didn’t expect to get a message like that out of the blue….”Chahyun moved a step closer to him. Why was it that his heart felt so urgent?“The food will probably be to your taste. You said the chicken dish was delicious earlier.”“…Yeah.”“It’s even better than that. And it’s not spicy at all. There will probably be a lot of side dishes you’ve never tried before….”The voice that had been explaining things Misha hadn’t even asked about gradually trailed off. And finally, it stopped altogether.Misha’s face, gazing into the low sky, seemed not uncomfortable or troubled, but rather deep in thought. Watching the gray eyes floating in the air, Chahyun drew in a breath.“Yeah, the truth is, it’s not really about the food. It’s probably the same for Misha.Introducing someone you love to your family is a very common yet immensely significant thing. And from the moment Chahyun decided to be with Misha, he never once took their relationship lightly. He didn’t want to deceive Misha with half-hearted excuses or clumsy justifications.Standing in the dark alley, Chahyun looked up into Misha’s eyes.“Misha, my mother, who’s been working far away, is coming today, and so are my father and my younger sibling.”Misha, leaning against the wall, finally looked up to meet Chahyun’s gaze. His face was now cloaked in shadows.“They’re… my family.”“…Okay.”“They’re all good people, and I think you’ll like them.”Chahyun took a slight breath and continued his explanation.“It wasn’t something we planned, and it was decided on the fly, but… If you’re okay with it, I’d really like to go together, introduce you to them, and eat some delicious food. And… to be honest.”Chahyun felt his ears grow warm as he grabbed Misha’s arm.“I want to show you to my family.”That was the ultimate goal. If possible, he wanted to proudly introduce Misha to his family. He wanted them to adore what he adored, to love what he loved. And that was the ordinary life Chahyun longed for—a joy shared with the people who knew him best.Misha was silent for a while. Just as Chahyun’s gaze began to drop, a quiet response fell from above.“I’m okay with that.”“You’re okay?”Chahyun’s head shot up in surprise.“I’d like to eat delicious food, and I’m okay with meeting your family.”“Really? You’re really okay with it?”“Really.”Chahyun widened his eyes, looking at his partner. It was a clear answer, but Misha quickly followed it with something unexpected.“But before that, I want to ask you a favor, Yuan.”“A favor…?”The sudden request left Chahyun’s lips slightly parted. Misha blinked his gray eyes a few times before quietly murmuring.“Please don’t tell your family… that I like you.”The words were as dry as they were startling. Chahyun felt his lips tremble slightly before he bit down hard on his lower lip. His heart boiled over like water, bubbling up inside him.“Why… Why not?”“I want to keep it a secret. I don’t want them to know.”What are you saying? It’s not like we did something wrong. The questions swirled in his throat, threatening to spill over.But one look at Misha’s eyes, and he couldn’t bring himself to say it. His ashen eyes, frozen in place like a child afraid of being scolded, stared back at him. Like a child who thought they’d be severely punished if anyone knew they liked Yoon Chahyun.He had seen those eyes before. It was the same look Misha had after he kissed Chahyun and confessed his feelings. After over a year of entanglement, an odd contract, and eventually sharing their hearts, Misha had stopped looking at him like that. But the look that Chahyun thought had disappeared was still faintly lingering, now surfacing at this very moment.What is this child so afraid of?His chest ached with sadness, but instead of confronting Misha, Chahyun simply held his hand tighter.“Alright.”It took a few seconds before Misha’s eyes met his. Chahyun spoke clearly, anchoring the wavering gaze.“I won’t say anything like that to my family.”“Okay…”“But I can’t promise I won’t show that I like you. I don’t want to hide it.”“…”As soon as he spoke the truth, Chahyun pulled Misha into his arms.“So, I might give it away without meaning to. I’ll try, but…”It would be difficult. Asking him to hide his love was impossible. At least for Yoon Chahyun, it was.“And if that’s too much, we don’t have to go. We can just spend the evening together.”When he kissed Misha’s warm neck, the fine lines of his brows knitted slightly. Listening to the thumping heartbeat, Chahyun waited for Misha’s response. His lips moved silently, struggling to form words, before finally murmuring, his ears turning pink.“That’s… okay.”“Okay?”“I can’t do anything about your feelings…”Misha’s ears, turning gradually red, were a sign of his shyness that Chahyun had only recently noticed. The color was slowly returning to his face, which had been pale earlier.“Are you really okay with it?”“I’m okay with it, as long as you’re by my side…”Misha lowered his head and pressed his lips to Chahyun’s. The brief kiss carried a genuine permission. As their dry lips parted, Chahyun looked into Misha’s eyes and gently whispered.“Then please come with me.”“Okay.”Misha replied like a soft chirp. It was a tender response, different from the clear answers he had given all day. The warmth in his eyes was tinged with a lingering unease. As Chahyun caressed Misha’s cool cheeks and neck with his hands, he gazed into that deep darkness and wished he could wipe it away with his touch.***The place Chahyun’s father mentioned was a restaurant Chahyun was quite familiar with. Whenever they planned family dinners to accommodate the director, who loved meat, they always booked this place, so finding it wasn’t difficult.The two of them got out of the car and stood on a stone path made of hard pebbles. The traditional Korean hanok nestled in the middle of a vast garden was illuminated here and there by small lanterns, casting a serene light over the stone path. Misha, likely seeing such a structure for the first time, tilted his head back and gazed up with his mouth slightly open. Fortunately, the restaurant seemed to be to his liking. Seeing his eyes round like buttons, Chahyun gently took his hand.“Let’s go. We might be late.”“Is this place a tourist spot?”“No, come on.”Laughing at Misha’s innocent question, Chahyun started walking, and Misha followed behind. After giving the reserved name to the staff at the entrance, the two were quickly guided inside. Even while walking along the stone path in the garden, Misha was too absorbed in admiring the large pine trees and stone lanterns to pay attention to much else.As they passed the long wooden veranda and arrived at the sarangchae (the men’s quarters), they saw a figure standing in front of the sliding paper doors. The bobbed hair, cut sharply, swayed as it turned to spot Chahyun and then shimmered as it moved in his direction.“Hey!”“What’s with ‘hey’? Show some respect to your brother.”“What took you so long? Dad asked me to come out and wait, and I’ve been starving to death!”Yoon Chana stomped over to Chahyun. Her round, downward-slanting eyes, which she inherited from their father, turned sharp like their mother’s whenever she was annoyed. She glared at Chahyun for being late, but only for a moment, before extending her hand with fingers spread wide in front of him.“Late fee!”“What’s the point if it just goes into your pocket? Dad told me not to give you more than a hundred thousand won.”“Hah… You’re such a mama’s boy.”“Where’s Dad?”Ignoring his sister’s grumbling, Chahyun moved forward. Just as Chana tried to press the issue and took a step closer, a large figure suddenly appeared behind Chahyun.“Yuan, what’s this place…”“Ah!”A giant shadow, cast by the lanterns, fell across the wooden veranda. Startled, Chana took several steps back, her eyes widening as much as they could, and both hands flew up to cover her mouth.“Oh.”She staggered backward dramatically before dropping to her knees and crying out.“M-Misha Asplund!”Breath escaped her trembling hands as though it might break at any moment. The owner of the name took a few more steps forward from behind Chahyun.“Are you alright?”“Eek!”As Misha stepped closer and reached out his hand to her, Chana, still sitting on the ground, trembled violently. While Chahyun chuckled, Misha gently took Chana’s hand, which was resting on the ground, and helped her up.“I’m sorry if I startled you. I didn’t realize anyone was there.”With a voice like a prince, Misha slid his hand behind Chana’s back and effortlessly lifted her to her feet. Pulled up by the man who was about 30 cm taller than her, Chana stood up straight without any resistance. Misha leaned his head slightly toward Chana, whose teeth were chattering as if she were frozen in place.“You’re not hurt, are you?”“Huh, huh, no… No problem.”“Nice to meet you. You’re Yuan’s sister, right? I know who you are.”“Okay, thank you…”Their conversation didn’t quite connect. The way they stood resembled a waltz, except for Chana trembling like a leaf in Misha’s arms.“She’s going to faint, Misha. Take it easy and let her go.”Chahyun was well aware of the shock one could feel with Misha’s face so close. Misha only let go after making sure Chana was steady on her feet. As soon as she was freed from the prince’s embrace, Chana scurried over to her brother’s side like a startled bird.The three of them walked down the hallway toward the sarangchae, lit by warm orange lights. Misha led the way, with the siblings following behind. Clinging to Chahyun’s side, Chana kept glancing at Misha’s back and whispered fiercely.“Are you out of your mind?”“What?”Chahyun’s indifferent response made Chana flare up and stand on her tiptoes.“If you were going to bring him here, you should’ve warned me! I almost had a heart attack.”“Dad told me to bring him. Why are you so surprised? You already knew.”“I didn’t have time to mentally prepare!”Prepare for what? Chana, who had been making a fuss, suddenly lowered her voice and stood on her toes again to whisper in Chahyun’s ear. Chahyun leaned down to match her height.“But seriously, he’s insanely good-looking. He’s as handsome as Cahill.”Even if her mouth was crooked, she still had to speak the truth. Misha was a thousand times more handsome than Cahill. But instead of saying what he thought, Chahyun simply replied with a cheeky grin.“Isn’t he absolutely stunning?”“Well, I thought he looked too delicate on TV, but in person, he’s totally different. His physique is insane! He’s really freaking handsome.”“Yoon Chana, you’d better stick to one guy.”“Oh, it’s not like that!”Chana screamed and delivered a soccer kick to Chahyun’s rear. Startled by the loud thud, Misha turned around, only to see Chana quickly hide behind her brother’s back again. After a brief silent game of tag, the three of them reached the end of the hallway and opened the sliding paper door, where the warm orange light poured out.The cozy sarangchae was a space reserved exclusively for family guests. As the three entered, Chahyun’s father, who had been sitting furthest inside, sprang to his feet like a spring. He quickly approached and gently grabbed Chahyun’s shoulders.“Hyun, you’re here!”“Father.”This was the first time Chahyun had seen his father since arriving in Korea and staying at his parents’ house for a few days. His father’s hands, which patted his shoulders and stroked his arms, were full of strength. Despite his busy schedule and telling him not to worry about home, it was clear he couldn’t hide his joy.“Were you busy? I wasn’t expecting you, even though I called.”“Even if I’m busy, I had to come.”Exchanging warm greetings, Chahyun glanced around the sarangchae. The large table was already neatly set with appetizers.“We were delayed by some traffic. Have you been waiting long?”“We did wait. But it’s nothing compared to when you were in England.”“I’m sorry. I want to visit more often, but it’s hard to find the time…”“I’m just happy we can meet like this.”His father smiled softly and gently patted Chahyun’s back. It wasn’t long before his eyes shifted to the tall man standing beside Chahyun. After a brief moment of scrutiny, his father’s eyes crinkled into a gentle smile.“And this must be your friend. I saw you two online earlier today.”“You knew too, Dad?”“Of course. Sungjoo also mentioned it.”As the conversation flowed, Misha blinked, trying to gauge the atmosphere. Chahyun quickly provided an answer.“Isn’t he really handsome?”“Yes, much more impressive in person than on video. Tall and well-built.”“Exactly. He’s got a great physique.”“This kind of body builds muscle easily.”Before anyone could stop him, Chahyun’s father reached out and massaged Misha’s shoulder. It was a habit from his days working as a team doctor. Misha let the strong hands, hardened by years of sports massages, knead his shoulder, silently observing Chahyun’s father. Though the sudden physical contact seemed to surprise him, there was no sign of discomfort.“He says you’re handsome and have a great physique. Even more so than on TV.”As Chahyun quickly translated, Misha paused for a moment, then unexpectedly smiled slightly.“Nice to meet you.”“Yes, yes.”“Thank you for inviting me.”Unlike with Chana, Misha’s greeting was gentle and polite. Chahyun’s father responded with a few more compliments in his fluent English. Watching Misha’s smiling profile, Chahyun felt a surge of pride. It was like secretly revealing a treasure he had carefully polished, feeling both cautious and overwhelmingly proud at the same time. Trying to hide his nervousness, Chahyun quickly changed the subject.“By the way, isn’t the coach here yet?”“I heard she’s almost here. She probably left a little late, considering how busy she is these days.”Chahyun nodded. His mother, who led the team, was particularly difficult to reach around this time of year. Being a perfectionist, it was a miracle that she even made time for a family gathering. But soon, heavy footsteps echoed from outside the hallway.“Oh, I think she’s here now.”Chana quickly approached the sliding door. Their father also took a step forward. The footsteps grew closer, and without waiting any longer, the door suddenly opened.Speak of the devil. Standing at the entrance was the tall veteran coach. Dressed in sportswear from head to toe, she looked like she had just returned from coaching a training session, with a large team bag slung over one shoulder. Her sharp, tiger-like eyes quickly scanned the room.“Mom!”Chana darted forward and leaped into her mother’s arms like a little rabbit. Her mother lifted Chana effortlessly, swung her around, and ruffled her black hair with a hearty laugh.“Have you been waiting for me? You must’ve been hungry.”“Honey.”Their father quickly stepped forward to take the large bag from her. With Chana still nestled between them, the parents shared a light embrace and entered the room.“Mother, how have you been?”For some reason, his steps felt awkward as he approached her. His eyes lowered, and his head naturally bowed. The habit of tensing up in front of his mother was something ingrained since childhood.“Hyun. It’s been a while.”As he took a few steps closer, his mother quickly wrapped her arms around Chahyun’s neck, pulling him into a tight embrace. Before he knew it, his entire body was enveloped in her arms. As Chahyun stiffened in the warm embrace, a clear voice sounded above his head.“You look in good condition.”“Yes… I’m sorry I haven’t been able to visit more often.”“A busy athlete is a good thing.”His head slowly lifted from her shoulder. Hugging teammates was a long-standing habit of his mother, and Yoon Chahyun, the eldest son, was no exception. But no matter how many years passed, the habit of blushing in these moments never changed.As the long hug between mother and son ended, someone else approached them from behind. Chahyun took a step back and turned to face the person.Misha.“Mother, I brought a teammate with me.”As he spoke, Chahyun swallowed hard. The intense nervousness spread through his stomach like ice.“He’s number 18 on our team.”It wasn’t the first time Chahyun had introduced someone to his mother. But this time felt different. Misha was someone who couldn’t be easily explained with simple words like friendship, love, or romance. Yet, at this moment, the only words he could muster were those neutral digits: a two-digit jersey number.A sarangchae (사랑채) is a part of a traditional Korean house (hanok) that was typically used as the men's quarters or the guest area. In modern times, the sarangchae might still serve as a guest room or a living space where family members and guests can gather.