Kiss the Ground

Misha, realizing it was his turn, calmly stepped forward.“Hello.”There was no trace of the unease he had shown in the alley earlier on Misha’s face. His expression was nearly blank, his real emotions concealed like a veil. Chahyun’s mother’s eyes scanned Misha’s tall, solid frame from head to toe, finally settling on his face.“Misha Johan Asplund.”Chahyun’s eyes widened at the mention of a middle name that he had never mentioned. Unlike the stunned Chahyun, Misha calmly extended his hand as his name was called and offered a graceful greeting.“It’s an honor to meet you. I’ve been looking forward to this.”“Indeed.”Chahyun’s mother took Misha’s hand.It was an image that Chahyun had never imagined. He stared at the handshake between his mother and Misha, forgetting even to breathe. An indescribable feeling gripped his throat. The quiet atmosphere was broken only by Chahyun’s mother herself.“I’m glad you came.”She reached out and pulled Misha into a hug. Despite his much larger frame, Misha was unexpectedly pulled down and pressed into her embrace before he could even react.“Eat a lot before you go.”Her large hand roughly patted Misha’s neck and back. Unlike his father’s, her coarse hand swept over his body, causing Misha’s eyes to widen like saucers. Stiff and awkward, he looked over at Chahyun with a bewildered expression from over her shoulder. Next to him, Chana was covering her mouth.“What is this? He’s so cute…”“Be quiet.”Chahyun scolded his sister for her dazed muttering. It was an attempt to quiet the sound of his rapidly beating heart, but he couldn’t help his face from turning red.As soon as the family hugs ended, a restaurant staff member pushed a cart laden with dishes into the room. Chahyun quickly led Misha to the table, who still seemed stunned, and they both sat down.Misha, who Chahyun sneakily glanced at, still appeared dazed. His hand trembled strangely as he picked up his spoon and poured some water.The beef on the brazier cooked tenderly, filling the air with a savory aroma. As Misha stared at the large brazier occupying the center of the table, he wore an innocent expression of surprise.Even though there were only four family members plus one guest, it seemed like ten servings might be too much. But despite Chahyun’s worries, the good meat disappeared as soon as it changed color.“Eat a lot. It must be tiring to train and study. Eating well is important.”“Take that to heart.”“And keep your weight under control too.”“That’s crucial.”Chahyun’s father chimed in to support his mother’s words, piling more meat onto the plates of the other three. The amount placed in front of them was quicker than they could eat. Chahyun waved his hand with a serious expression.“We can manage. It’s fine.”“Eat what you’re given.”Chana gulped down the meat their parents kept piling on her plate. Watching her eat endlessly brought about cheerful laughter across the table. While listening to the lively family conversation, Chahyun turned to look at the person beside him.Misha, with wide eyes, was staring at the meat being placed in front of him. He wasn’t sure if there was something similar in Swedish cuisine, but one thing was for sure—there had never been Korean BBQ at the Winchester United Club Center. Having someone grill meat and place it piece by piece on your plate was likely outside of Misha’s usual experiences.“Here, have some more.”“Th… thank you.”When Chahyun gave Misha some of his own meat, Misha awkwardly took a spoonful and brought it to his mouth. He chewed the meat with an uneasy expression, but within seconds, his eyes blinked in surprise. Understandable—he seemed to really like Korean BBQ.“Here, try this too…”Chana, watching from the side, pushed the steamed egg in front of her toward Misha. When Misha turned in surprise, Chana hurriedly pretended to be busy with something else. As Misha was baffled by the obvious gesture, Chahyun’s mother, sitting across from them, suddenly spoke up.“You seem to like it. You’re eating well.”“Ah, yes, it seems so.”He hadn’t realized his mother had been watching Misha. Her awkward acknowledgment made Chahyun’s mother nod.“I’m glad you’re enjoying the food. It must be good to have something you like after coming all this way.”Misha’s habit of eating everything placed in front of him seemed to amuse her, as she slightly curled the corners of her lips.“Should we order more? That might not be enough.”“That would be great.”“With marinade.”“Yes.”A few minutes after the order was placed, a staff member in traditional hanbok arrived with another mountain of meat. Every time Chahyun’s mother placed a piece of grilled meat on Misha’s plate, he nodded like a bobblehead. Chahyun’s mother smiled gently, a rare expression on her face.Misha, sitting at the same table and sharing a meal with his mother.What kind of expression would he have if he could tell his past self about this a year ago? Imagining the disbelief he would have felt made him smile in a strange way. Just as he was getting lost in thought, marveling at the surreal sight before him, his mother asked a question.“Are you two close?”“Yes, we’re the closest.”“I see. Well, you’d have to be if you’re celebrating together after scoring a goal. You used to hate things like that.”“Haha…”Suddenly, his throat felt dry. He knew the family had been watching, but now that it was being directly addressed, it felt very strange. Almost as if his private life had been exposed.“He’s from Sweden, right? I think he played in the Allsvenskan when he was in the juniors.”“Yes, that’s correct.”“He’s in a good position. Talented, still young.”Chahyun gritted his teeth to stop himself from smiling foolishly. It was a straightforward evaluation, but the thought of Misha being praised unexpectedly made his heart swell. However, the next question was something he hadn’t anticipated at all.“How’s his family situation?”“Ah.”Chahyun was at a loss for words for a moment, his chopsticks suspended in mid-air. In his country, it was a common question to break the ice, but he wasn’t sure how Misha would perceive it.As he hesitated, unable to find the right words, his mother directly asked Misha.“Do you have any siblings?”For a director who had worked abroad in her younger years, language barriers weren’t much of an obstacle. Startled by the sudden question, Chahyun instinctively looked at Misha’s face. But Misha’s response was unexpectedly calm and clear.“I have an older sister.”Misha’s soft answer led to another question from Chahyun’s mother.“Really? So you’re just like Hyun, having a sister.”“Yes.”“How much older is she?”Misha’s glassy eyes looked down at the table.“She’s two years older than me.”“I see. I thought you might be an only child, but I didn’t expect you to have a sister.”His mother nodded and continued.“Having siblings is good. You can lean on each other when things get tough.”Chahyun discreetly clenched his fist under the table. An indescribable feeling crept up from his ankles. Without realizing it, his lips started to move.“He’s great at handling things on his own. Whether it’s training or practice, he always puts in the effort.”“Really?”“He’s skilled, has good instincts, great technique, and he’s physically strong. I’m sure you’ve seen it yourself since you see him every day….”As his mother watched him suddenly jumping to Misha’s defense, she blinked as if amused. Realizing the intense gaze on him, Chahyun’s voice trailed off. The only sounds that reached his ears were the cheerful conversations of his father and Chana.His mother spoke again after a long pause.“You really like this kid, don’t you? The way you’re defending him.”“No, it’s not about defending….”“I thought you didn’t get along with younger people and had no interest in mentoring others. This is surprising.”His mother wore a gentle smile. Although he regretted revealing his feelings, her smile was softer than he expected. As Chahyun awkwardly closed his mouth, his mother turned her attention back to Misha with another question.“So, you have one sibling. What do your parents do?”The conversation returned to the main topic. Noticing her son’s silence, his mother narrowed her eyes.“I asked about your family relationships.”“Mother, Misha….”Chahyun fiddled with his chopsticks, lowering his head.His mother was a stubborn and relentless person. Once she focused on something, she wouldn’t let go until everything was out in the open. And although she didn’t know about Misha’s situation, Chahyun knew there was no malice in her questioning. But if there had been a chance, he could have given her a small hint.Before Chahyun could smooth things over, Misha spoke up on his own.“Both of my parents are involved in the arts.”“What?”His mother’s sharp eyes widened at the unexpected response. Her next question came out almost like an interrogation.“The arts? Like painting? Music? Or maybe dance?”“My father works in the orchestra industry, and my mother was a member of the Royal Opera.”Her curious eyes quickly scanned Misha’s face.“That’s really unexpected. I wouldn’t have guessed.”“That’s what most people say.”“Artistic talents usually run in the family. It’s hard to break away from that kind of environment. Kids tend to follow in their parents’ footsteps.”Just like this one. She gestured lightly toward Chahyun with her chin. Chahyun silently clenched his chopsticks. His mother lowered her head slightly and looked at Misha seriously.“But you went in a completely different direction. Did your parents allow that?”“No, they didn’t want me to take a different path.”“So?”“So I left home.”“Ran away?”“Cut ties.”“Really? It must have been pretty bad. How old were you…?”The casual conversation bounced back and forth like a game of table tennis. Every time his mother asked a question, Misha responded calmly, and she simply nodded, absorbing the unexpected details. On the surface, it was just an ordinary, uneventful conversation. But it was Chahyun, sitting beside them, who felt overwhelmed by a strange sensation.Though the story wasn’t new to him, he had never taken a step back to fully consider Misha’s situation.Chahyun had never once rejected the path that had been laid out for him from birth, nor had he ever thought about doing so. He had always believed that continuing his parents’ work was his life’s natural goal. He had never needed to consider veering off the deeply carved path or trying to forge a new one.But Misha… Misha is different.After revealing his past, Misha fixed his slightly subdued eyes straight ahead. His calm profile made something catch in Chahyun’s throat. He knew he should say something, but the words wouldn’t come out.However, it was his mother’s voice that broke the silence.“You’re brave.”Yoon Chahyun and Misha both lifted their heads at the same time. Right in front of them was his mother, grinning mischievously with the corners of her mouth turned up. She continued in a language only Chahyun could understand.“A player needs to have some fight in them. If there’s something blocking your way, you should resist and struggle against it, even if that something is your own parents. Athletes need to have a strong spirit. If something is holding you back, you’ve got to tear it down.”“Mother!”“What? Did I say something wrong?”At his near-shriek, the coach gave a sly nod. Misha glanced at Chahyun, as if asking what was being said, startled by Chahyun’s intense reaction.“Hurry up and translate. I can’t speak for long.”“How am I supposed to translate that?”“Just tell him he did well and that he’ll make a lot of money in the future.”Her soft eyes narrowed sharply. The now critical gaze swept over Misha’s face, offering an almost analytical assessment.“In my opinion, he has a stronger mentality than you. There’s no weakness in his eyes. He’s the type who won’t let anything affect him mentally. He’s a bit big for a midfielder, but that can be an advantage too.”There was no laughter in his mother’s words. Her dark eyes stared straight into Misha’s gray ones.“He’s got good physicality, agility, decisiveness, and he’s got that star quality.”Misha didn’t look away. His tightly closed lips were a sign of firm conviction.“He’ll probably be successful. More so than his parents.”“…….”“The future should be interesting.”There was neither pity nor consolation for his family situation in her calm gaze. Instead of feeling sorry for him or praising him, the coach was offering an objective evaluation and expectations. Her sharp eyes weren’t focused on his past but on the future that lay ahead.Chahyun kept his mouth shut for a moment, then slowly translated for Misha, carefully softening the language.Upon hearing Chahyun’s words, Misha’s gaze momentarily wavered. His eyes showed more emotion than they ever had before, even when talking about his sister or parents.After hesitating with dry lips, Misha finally gave a sincere and simple response.“Thank you.”At his honest gratitude, his mother’s expression softened into the warmest smile yet.“You’re welcome.”It was a simple phrase in English that needed no translation. Her serious voice cut through the air like an arrow, reaching its target across the table. Watching Misha bow his head, his mother suddenly grabbed the tongs and began piling meat onto Misha’s plate from the grill.“Here. Eat a lot. You have to win tomorrow.”“Mother… he’s playing against me.”“Then you just don’t lose.”A playful laugh followed. Watching Misha chew on the meat, Chahyun gripped his chopsticks tightly. A feeling he couldn’t quite express rippled through him like a transparent line. Listening to his younger sister’s cheerful chatter beside him, Chahyun quietly inhaled. In the warm, distant atmosphere, a small smile tugged at his lips.It was a very strange feeling.After finishing their meal, the family gathered in the tranquil garden in front of the restaurant. When they had entered, the sky had been a deep blue, but now it was dotted with soft stars. Chahyun’s father, who had grabbed his mother’s tote bag, approached Chahyun first.“How are you getting back, Hyun?”“I’ll drop him off at his place and then take a taxi.”Chahyun placed a hand on Misha’s back as he spoke. His father, eyebrows furrowed in concern, asked reluctantly,“Really? Are you sure you don’t want us to give you a ride?”“No, it’ll be quicker this way.”“Well, I’m sure you’ll manage….”Even then, his father couldn’t hide his disappointment. As Chahyun smiled reassuringly, Chana, full from the meal, approached, patting her round belly. She beckoned with a finger, a smug gesture that made Chahyun bend down despite himself. Her brazen request was exactly what he expected.“Oppa, next time, bring Cahill too.”Are you out of your mind?“Why would he come here?”“He’s your friend too!”Friend, my foot…. Just thinking about Cahill’s sly grin whenever he looked at Misha and Chahyun sent shivers down his spine. He was someone Chahyun definitely didn’t want near his family. His younger sister made a duck face, laughing at his grimace.While Misha and his father exchanged farewells with a handshake, his mother approached from behind.“Yoon Chahyun.”She looked calmly at Chahyun and Misha standing side by side. Remembering her interrogative questioning during the meal, Chahyun instinctively straightened his back. But the voice that came out of her was much softer than he expected.“You’ve eaten well tonight, so make sure the game the day after tomorrow is fun.”Fun. That was her fundamental rule when it came to sports. It was advice and counsel she had given him for over twenty years, but it was a mindset he could never quite follow.“Don’t get hurt by being too tense.”“I won’t.”“Don’t get hurt while messing around.”“Okay.”This reminder was also consistent. After giving serious advice, Chahyun’s mother called Misha, who was standing behind him.“You too, come here.”At her gesture, Misha took a step closer to her. He thought she might offer a handshake as a farewell, but instead, she didn’t take his hand. Instead, she slowly raised her arm and placed her hand on his cheek, his head towering over hers.As her hand gently cupped his left cheek, Misha’s eyelashes lowered in surprise. Her calm fingers tenderly brushed over his eyebrows and eyelids before slowly moving downward. The next thing her hand touched was the long scar that remained beneath his eye.A pale, raised scar. A faded mark from when he threw himself to protect Yoon Chahyun. As her hand softly traced over Misha’s face, she murmured quietly,“When you got this scar, I saw you too.”“…….”“It must have hurt a lot.”Misha’s pupils, which had been frozen like stone, widened at her quiet voice. Her thumb gently traced the scar, as if reliving the memory.“Thank you for protecting him.”As her fingers lingered over the long scar, Chahyun watched the scene, forgetting to breathe.With a voice that was as clear as the night breeze cooling her cheek, she spoke firmly,“But don’t do anything so dangerous again. You need to protect yourself so that you can protect others.”“…….”“Never let yourself get hurt again.”As her hand gently brushed down his cheek, it slowly dropped lower. Her firm fingers touched the scar and then softly tapped his well-shaped chin a couple of times.“Keep working hard. You’re promising.”Chahyun, standing next to them, watched the scene as if it were a painting. Something brewed in his chest like steeping tea, blocking his throat. Misha looked down at her hand, which had touched his cheek and then dropped away.But the soft atmosphere was abruptly shattered in a brief moment. The tall shadow standing before her suddenly leaned down, and before anyone could react, Misha pressed his lips to her right cheek.Smooch.A sweet kiss echoed through the parking lot.『Thank you.』It was a clear expression of gratitude. The three others around them simultaneously dropped their jaws. At the same time, Misha gently pulled back, his lips parting as he gazed sweetly into her eyes.『See you again.』Good heavens….The intense scene unfolding before him left him breathless. Even his mother, who had just received a bold kiss from her son’s friend, was equally taken aback. She rarely looked so stiff, and when she slowly looked up at him, Misha gave her a bright smile and stepped back.A few seconds of silence passed before Chana suddenly jumped up and rushed to her mother’s side. Are you out of your mind?! Her shrill voice echoed in his ears as Chahyun finally snapped his head around to look at Misha. The one who had delivered that shocking kiss was now back to his usual calm demeanor, as if nothing had happened.Drenched in shock, Chahyun quickly approached his family. Getting his mother home safely was his top priority.“Please, get home safely. I’ll call you after the game tomorrow.”“…Alright.”“We’ll see you again soon.”Nodding at his hurried farewell, his mother’s gaze was still firmly fixed on Misha. As Chahyun awkwardly tried to say goodbye once more, his mother’s lips parted slightly.“That guy….”Chahyun’s lips twitched slightly, unsure if it was from tension or concern. But then her sharp eyes suddenly softened into an oval shape.“He’s something else, isn’t he?”A joyful laugh burst out soon after. Stunned by her unexpected reaction, Chahyun found himself speechless.His mother gently patted her dazed son’s shoulder and then turned toward the parking lot. Misha and Yoon Chahyun watched her as she left, standing there until the car disappeared into the distance.After the farewell, Misha finally turned to face Chahyun. Meeting his silent, calm gaze, Chahyun reached out and took Misha’s wrist. There were countless things he wanted to say, but the overwhelming surge of emotion made him utter something else first.“Let’s go home.”To a place where they could be alone. No matter what, he wasn’t ready to let him go just yet.