DASH

“Don’t do that. Just train well and come back with the national team next week. Got it? Nothing you worried about is going to happen, so stay put and don’t pull anything crazy. You can’t leave on your own, okay?”
 
Jaekyoung still didn’t reply.

 
“Jaekyoung-ah.”
 

Jiheon urgently spoke.
 
“Answer me, Kwon Jaekyoung.”

｢I’m listening.｣
 
Jaekyoung finally replied. Jiheon swept his chest and sighed in relief.

 
“Hey, man. If you were listening, you should’ve answered. Why didn’t you say anything?”
 

When Jiheon asked that, Jaekyoung said:
 
｢Nothing. I want to keep listening to you.｣

“Oh, what now?”
 
Jiheon was momentarily surprised by the unexpected words and stammered:
 

“Hey, are you messing with me?”
 
Jaekyoung chuckled as if enjoying himself.

 
｢I know, right. You’re not the type to do that.｣
“But why did you check the flight time?”

｢Because I wanted to see you.｣
 
Jiheon was wondering what kind of nonsense this guy was talking about.

 
｢You kept turning off your cell phone. So, I thought I’d just go there and see your face for a bit. I just need to see you and fly back tomorrow morning.｣
“You’re going to fly for six and a half hours, just to see my face for a moment, and then fly again for another six and a half hours? Hey, what kind of nonsense is that?”

 
Jiheon laughed in bewilderment. But Jaekyoung didn’t even laugh. Instead, he responded as if he didn’t understand Jiheon’s words.
 

｢How is that nonsense? It takes six and a half hours to drive from Gangwon-do to Jeonnam too. If I want to see you, I can just go and see you. It’s not like I’ll have to swim to do that. I just have to sit down and the plane will take me there—what’s so hard about it?｣
 
Jaekyoung said in a serious voice.

 
｢I can handle it just like going to work every day. It’s not a big deal to return for a short while, really. But then again, I didn’t do it because people would talk about me leaving during training camp. If it were before, I wouldn’t care about getting criticized, but now Spoin would take the blame, and you’d get scolded too.｣
 

‘So, he decided to drop his plan because he’s worried I’ll get in trouble, which is probably true.’
 
Jaekyoung used to be the type who didn’t care about others’ opinions. If he wanted to do something, he would do it; if not, he wouldn’t. However, after signing with Spoin, he did things he didn’t want to and held back on some things for Jiheon’s sake. Jiheon knew it wasn’t just about the contract but also considering his position.

 
“Yeah, I know you’re putting up with many things for my sake. Thank you.”
 

Jiheon said with a smile.
 
｢Oh. I didn’t mean for that.｣

 
Jaekyoung spoke hurriedly, perhaps embarrassed by the sudden turn into a display of pride.
 

｢I’m just saying. Not because of you or anything.｣
“Yeah, I know. But I’m grateful anyway. Just saying too.”
 

Jiheon said, ignoring his pretense.
 
“Anyway, since you’re there, do your best.”

 
Jiheon poured water from the pot into his mug while comforting Jaekyoung.
 

“If nothing comes up, Coach Shin will stay in charge of the Olympic team. You don’t need to show off or anything, but you shouldn’t cause friction, so try to cooperate as much as possible.”
｢I’m doing exactly that. I even deliberately ran into the coach at the pool just now.｣
“Really? Did you just swim? At this hour?”

｢I just came to warm up. It’s probably just right next door, and I can’t sleep anyway.｣
 
Jaekyoung said it was no big deal, but it was already past midnight. He usually slept around ten at night and woke up at five or six in the morning. Since he was currently on field training, he had to go to bed earlier even though he was exhausted from the hard work during the day, and not being able to sleep even at this hour was not a particularly good phenomenon. Besides, he had to go to training again at dawn tomorrow. It seemed like he went swimming on purpose because he wanted to sleep quickly…….

 
“Hey, you must’ve been pretty upset that I didn’t pick up the phone.”
 

Jiheon said it as a joke, expecting Jaekyoung to chuckle and say, ‘Oh, no, it’s not like that.’
 
｢Yes, I was really upset.｣

 
Jaekyoung responded as if he had been waiting. He then seriously told Jiheon not to turn off his phone anymore, warning that if he did it again, he would really swim to Korea.
 

“Okay, I won’t do that again.”
 
Jiheon quickly apologized.

 
“But are you really not sleepy?”
｢I’m not sleepy right now.｣

 
‘I’m sure he won’t feel sleepy anymore if he holds on to the phone….’
 

Jiheon thought.
 
“Okay, then let’s talk some more.”

 
Remembering the failed video call today, Jiheon asked, “Wanna make a video call? Should I start first?” But Jaekyoung thought for a moment and said, ｢No.｣
 

“Why not? You don’t like it?”
 
Jiheon asked, baffled by the unexpected rejection. Jaekyoung bluntly replied:

 
｢If I see your face now, I feel like I’ll really want to go to Korea immediately. I just want to hear your voice.｣
 

He spoke in an unusually downhearted way, and his tone was so indifferent to the world that Jiheon was anxious to see what kind of expression that guy was making while saying such a thing.
 
“Why? I want to see your face. Let me see you.”

 ｢No.｣
“Hey, you’re being really expensive.”
｢Think about what you did today, hyung. At least I’m letting you hear my voice.｣

 
He said it plainly, but it was clear that he was upset because Jiheon had hung up on him. Well, no wonder he’d called 17 times.
 

Now Jiheon wondered if Jaekyoung would have gone for a swim in frustration and anger at this late hour because there were no flights. So, he decided to comfort him:
 
“Yeah, sorry about that. I won’t do that again.”

｢By the way, you’re not sleeping?｣
 
Jaekyoung asked in a calmer voice, as if his feelings had finally calmed down after Jiheon’s repeated apologies.

 
｢Hyung, if you’re sleepy, I’ll just hang up. I can call you again tomorrow.｣
“No, I can’t sleep either. I just came out to get some warm drink.”

 
While speaking, Jiheon opened the cupboard above the sink. He searched inside out of habit, but he knew there were only green tea bags and instant coffee. Jiheon had developed a tolerance to caffeine, so no matter how much coffee or green tea he drank, he never had trouble sleeping at night. So, when he was at home, he mostly drank green tea and coffee and drank only right before going to sleep. But…….
 

｢By the way, what did the doctor say?｣
 
Of all things, Jaekyoung brought up the topic of the hospital again. Jiheon eventually closed the cupboard door.

 
“Well, she said there’s nothing wrong with it.”
 

He said, taking a seat at the table with a mug of plain warm water.
 
“But the numbers came out a little unclear, so I think I’ll have to do another test in a few days.”

｢What’s the unclear number?｣
“Do you even understand medical terms?”
 

When he asked this with a smile, Jaekyoung confidently said:
 
｢I don’t understand. But tell me anyway, hyung.｣

“I don’t understand either. I didn’t listen properly.”
 
Jiheon held the mug handle and put it down. He was thinking about saying he didn’t listen properly, but of course, Jaekyoung replied with a voice full of complaints.

 
｢Why don’t you listen properly to things about your own well-being? If it were my test results, you would’ve looked it up on the spot and figured out exactly what it meant.｣
“You think you and I are the same?”

｢…Hyung, I told you I would kiss you every time you said that.｣
 
Jaekyoung said in a slightly angry voice, but Jiheon was so surprised by the sudden mention of kiss that he didn’t even hear what Jaekyoung said.

 
“Hey, is there anyone next to you listening?”
｢No one else is listening. I’m using this room alone.｣

“Oh, right. I heard so.”
 
Jiheon belatedly shook off his shocked heart. Since athletes rarely used «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» single rooms during national team training, he kept forgetting about it even after hearing about it.

 
“It was supposed to be a double room, but they let you have it all to yourself, right?”
｢Yes, I could even do phone sex.｣

“…….”
 
This guy wasn’t the most senior member of the national team, and he didn’t start with them from the beginning. But, seeing that KSC’s Training Department allowed an athlete who joined midway to have a room alone, they must have been pretty excited about his arrival, so Jaekyoung should do well on this.

 
Jiheon had planned on saying all that, but Kwon Jaekyoung suddenly talked about phone sex out of the blue, so he forgot the whole thing.
 

“I’m not doing it.”
 
Jiheon spoke after a long pause.

 
｢Oh, I didn’t mean to do it either.｣
 

Jaekyoung spoke quickly.
 
｢I just said I could do it. That’s how privacy is guaranteed.｣

 
Jaekyoung repeatedly emphasized this.
 

“I see. Seems like KSC really takes good care of you. Let’s focus on training with gratitude.”
｢…….｣
“What? Do you have anything to say?”

 
But Jaekyoung only muttered, ｢No….｣
 

It was funny that a guy who claimed not wanting to make a video call was thinking about having phone sex.
 
Jiheon chuckled and took a sip of warm water. Then, a bit later, he pondered:

 
‘Wait, is it possible to have sex during pregnancy? …It’s not, right? Because it’s dangerous? So…… we can’t do anything for ten months?’
 

As Jiheon set down his mug with a serious expression, Jaekyoung asked again.
 
｢By the way, why did you meet your sister?｣

 
As Jiheon grappled with this dilemma, the conversation shifted to his family, catching him off guard. He swiftly brushed away his impure thoughts and replied:
 

“Oh, it’s for a family trip. My sister wants to go on a Lunar New Year trip with our parents, but I can’t make it, so I have to at least chip in some money.”
｢Seeing you, it seems like your family is pretty close, hyung. Going on family trips and all.｣
 

Jaekyoung hinted at it being something he couldn’t even imagine.
 
“I don’t know. I just think it’s normal. My sister still lives with our parents, so she’s closer to them than I am.”

｢You call your parents a lot too. I was amazed every time I heard you talk on the phone next to me. I’ve only spoken to my father twice since my parents divorced.｣
“Well, I’m the eldest son. I probably wouldn’t have done so if I were the second.”
 

Jiheon spoke in a nonchalant tone.
 
“To be honest, I don’t feel like going in person, so I stick to phone calls. Ilsan and Seoul are places I used to frequent, but I always make excuses that I’m busy and don’t visit them often. I still feel bad about it.”

｢Hmm… is that really something to feel bad about?｣
 
Jaekyoung said as if he couldn’t understand.

 
｢Isn’t it okay to just live well on your own without stressing about not visiting them often?｣
“Yeah, that’s what I thought too.”

 
Jiheon smiled and nodded.
 

“But that’s our perspective as children. Parents might have different perspectives.”
｢Filial son…….｣
 

Jaekyoung muttered as if speaking to himself.
 
“Hey, no. I’m just saying what’s needed. That’s why the call always ends in one minute.”

｢That’s why you’re a filial son. It’s impossible for me.｣
 
Jaekyoung stated plainly.

 
｢Even my mother said, ‘Your father may have divorced me, but he didn’t cut ties with you, so why are you doing this? Please contact your father.’ I told her, ‘Why would I?’ I know she’d be happy if I called my father, but I just don’t want to.｣
“Well, every family has different situations. Let’s say I would’ve done the same if I were in your shoes.”

 
But Jaekyoung responded firmly.
 

｢No, you probably wouldn’t have done this even if you were in my shoes, hyung. You’re the type who believes it’s your duty as a child and you have to do it to satisfy your sense of duty no matter what anyone says.｣
 
When Jiheon heard that, he suddenly remembered what Jisoo had said today. Jiheon cautiously said:

 
“Jaekyoung-ah, I’ve got something to ask you. My sister told me today that I’m a perfectionist pretending to be nonchalant.”
｢Well, you are a bit like that.｣

 
Jaekyoung replied immediately.
 

“Really?”
 
Jiheon was dumbfounded. He couldn’t believe the answer came before he even asked if he seemed that way to Jaekyoung. He was just pondering whether Jaekyoung felt tired because of his personality. But then Jaekyoung said:

 
｢Well, yeah, that can be tiring for me too, but would it be strange to see you like that? I don’t think there’s anything you can do about it. I’m sure everyone in sports has a little bit of that.｣
“Hmm…, is that so? Does this have something to do with professional tendencies?”

 
As Jiheon tilted his head at the unexpected comment, Jaekyoung chimed in.
 

｢There’s this opinion that sports don’t mean much unless you’re in first place. Everyone has been aiming for that top spot all their lives, and it’s hard to break away from that mindset. So, when you try other things, you can’t help but think, ‘If I’m doing this, I need to do it right and see it through.’ As for me, though, I quickly figured out I’m below average in everything except swimming, so I decided to not bother anymore.｣
“Hey, why are you saying you’re below average in everything?”
 

Jiheon asked seriously.
 
“Well, first of all, your face and body are above average. What else does a man need anyway?”

｢Oh, you’re right.｣
 
Jaekyoung spoke confidently.

 
｢And honestly, I think my dick size is in the top 1%.｣
 

Jaekyoung casually flaunted his sex appeal. Jiheon was about to say it was more like 0.01%, but he didn’t want to give Jaekyoung a chance to bring up phone sex again, so he pretended not to hear and changed the subject.
 
“I think the reason you’re not working hard in anything else is because you already won first place in swimming. You’ve achieved first place in your own field, so you don’t feel the need to push in other areas.”

｢Ah, yes, well… that could be….｣
 
Jaekyoung’s voice turned slightly sullen, perhaps because his attempt at conversation didn’t pan out. Then, suddenly, he spoke in an awkward tone.

 
｢No, but if you put it that way, you also won first place in swimming many times, hyung. You even swept medals at the nationals.｣
“Mm, yeah. I guess I do too.”

 
Jiheon said with a smile.
 

｢But you’re good at everything else besides swimming, hyung. In terms of a report card, you have everything in A and B, but I only have an A in swimming, and D for everything else.｣
“Really? You’re still a D? Not an E?”
 

Jaekyoung was silent for a moment at Jiheon’s joke. Then—
 
｢……I’m not that bad, honestly.｣

 
He mumbled after a long time, but he sounded a little upset.