Kiss the Ground

“After the sunset, the next day being clear is just nonsense. We enjoyed watching the sunset yesterday, but it’s raining again today?”“It was fine until noon. Considering today, it’s the best London can offer.”Winston caught the sporadic raindrops with his palm as they started to fall. As he stepped onto the ground for the final training before the match, the players looked up at the dark sky and voiced their worries one by one. Yoon Chahyun also wiped the water droplets beginning to cling to the bare skin of his arms and legs with his palm.The weather, which had been fairly sunny until noon, suddenly began to cloud over around six in the afternoon. Normally, one might have assumed it was just passing showers, but the rumbling thunder echoing through the sky and the already darkening sky hinted that it was not just a temporary whim.Even though there was still an hour left until the game, the Bronham Stadium already illuminated the entire stadium with bright lights surrounding the field. Perhaps because they were new, they seemed strangely brighter and more dazzling.“Judging by the increasing raindrops, it seems like it will continue until the game. If my prediction is correct, today will be a rainy match. It looks like we’ll need raincoats.”Jude approached Chahyun, rubbing his arms. His frowned face showed considerable dissatisfaction.“It looks like it won’t stop at all, right? Will the weather stay like this?”“Huh.”“Oh! I really wanted to avoid playing on a rainy day. The grass is slippery, constantly falling, clothes are heavy… and, crucially, I’m too hungry! There’s a limit to what you can pick up to eat during halftime, and drinking a lot means more trips to the bathroom…”“That’s true.”“Why doesn’t football stop during rain? That’s what really annoys me. They say baseballs can’t be used when wet, but the same goes for footballs.”“Indeed.”“Hey, Yoon!”Jude yelled and slapped Chahyun’s lower back with his palm. His hand was unusually warm. Chahyun flinched and involuntarily bent his waist.“Ah… seriously!”“Are you going to keep thinking about something else? Why is your response so lukewarm?”“It hurts! Will you take responsibility if I get injured before the game even starts?”“You’re kidding me. Are you really focused on the game? Do you think I wouldn’t notice if your mind is somewhere else?”“…”Chahyun swallowed once and straightened his back. It was rare for him to be scolded so personally since coming to Korea. Despite his dejected demeanor, Jude firmly grabbed both of Chahyun’s upper arms. His grip conveyed not only strength but also authority and intimidation.“Your mind has been elsewhere lately. Don’t you know how important this game is? I’m already nervous to death, and now you’re acting like this.”“…”“Get yourself together and just do as well as you did in the first leg! You can fully recover your condition during the quarterfinals preparation. Got it?”“Yeah, I got it.”Other players glanced at Jude and Chahyun with curious eyes as this unexpected reprimand unfolded in the center of the ground. Alois seemed like he might rush over here any moment to inquire about what was happening. Jude took a deep breath, sighed heavily, and then gave Chahyun’s back a firm tap again, just like before. But this time, there was no room for argument. Some had noticed he wasn’t fully focused on the game and also because Jude’s intuition was keenly pricking at Chahyun’s discomfort.Without even considering following after the composed Jude, Chahyun looked up at the stands behind the Winchester FC bench, rubbing the spot where he was hit. As the spectators gradually filled in before the game, the seat where Yoon Chahyun’s gaze lingered was still empty. Misha was probably still indoors.After proclaiming it as his last chance, which turned out to be nothing but empty words, Chahyun found himself enveloped in a subtle mood. The picturesque sunset straight out of a movie, the romantic charm of the ferris wheel, which seemed old and worn out enough to collapse at any moment, and the twenty minutes alone together—everything seemed to add pressure on Chahyun about the doomed kiss, yet he couldn’t bring himself to respond.As they sat side by side on the ferris wheel, one half of the wheel turning while the other half tenderly embraced, Yoon Chahyun found himself lost in thought, pondering over this ridiculous situation. It had been like that from the moment they stepped off the ride. Misha, who simply regarded Chahyun’s behavior with a mixture of concern and fear, remained behind him, his worried eyes fixed on his back.It was all Misha Asplund’s fault. Yoon Chahyun silently cursed him in Korean for making him feel so manipulated. Why did that damn kisser have to have such control over him?And right after that, he was consumed by a mild self-loathing. Was he such a weak person to be deliberating over a temptation that wasn’t even certain? If he had more confidence in his abilities, he wouldn’t even be bothered by such ridiculous thoughts.But then, he found himself delving into moral and ethical dilemmas. If there was a serum that could boost his performance from 80% to 100%, who wouldn’t take it? As he lay on the hotel bed, tossing back and forth between conflicting thoughts, he was surprised to find that the sun was already high in the sky.“Ugh…”Yoon Chahyun wiped the droplets off his forehead with the back of his hand. Everything seemed meaningless now. Jude was right; he needed to focus on the game. Whatever happened before was just water under the bridge.“…It’ll probably stop soon.”The dark sky, tinged with gray, gathered even darker clouds like magnets. Chahyun walked over to his teammates who were stretching, murmuring quietly to himself as he went.***However, contrary to Yoon Chahyun’s hopes, the rain showed no signs of letting up. As time passed, the thickening raindrops resembled more of a downpour than a mere shower. The newly built stadium, capable of accommodating seventy thousand people, was now filled to the brim with spectators eagerly waiting for the game to start, all clad in raincoats and buzzing with excitement.Yoon Chahyun checked his phone one last time in front of the locker. At the top of the messages of encouragement from his teammates and acquaintances, there was a missed call from Cheon Seongju.▶[Chahyun, if we lose this game, we’ve decided to meet up at the Han River as a team^^ I believe in you to make it to the quarterfinals and let’s meet again in London. Taeguk Warriors, fighting!]Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the stern declaration, Yoon Chahyun took a deep breath. Was it meant to encourage him or burden him? Probably both. After all, the person who sent it knew very well that both pressure and support could be helpful in a game.Yoon Chahyun turned off his phone and pushed it deep into his locker. When he turned it back on later, it would either be filled with messages of encouragement or congratulations, one of the two.“Are you feeling more composed now?”Jude, standing next to him, had finished putting on his new uniform top and spoke to Chahyun. Chahyun nodded vaguely in response.“Probably… Sorry for making you worry, Jude.”“It’s alright. If you have any concerns, just put them off for later. Right now, it’s important to finish this well.”“Yeah…”There were less than ten minutes left until the game started. Considering the time they spent waiting in line at the entrance to the ground, it was almost upon them. Amidst the faint anxiety lingering in the locker room, the silence was broken by the signal from the staff announcing their entrance onto the field. Chahyun followed Jude.The players, dressed in their uniforms, gathered at the entrance of the locker room at the call of the captain. Each one had their own unique and colorful traits, but the tension ahead of what might be the last game was palpable. The captain’s composure played a significant role in maintaining the somewhat chaotic atmosphere. Keihill, standing at the door, spoke calmly.“While it’s certainly a game where we need to win…”Chahyun heard Leroy, who stood to his left, swallowing audibly. Keihill glanced around at the players’ faces before continuing.“Still, let’s be mindful of injuries. We’re responsible for our own future.”With that pragmatic advice as his final words, Keihill stepped aside from the door. Alois and Winston, seeming to want to loosen up, exchanged light jokes and were the first to step out of the locker room. Other players followed suit, forming a line.We’re responsible for our own future, echoed Chahyun as he pondered over the captain’s last words. Was he really prepared to take responsibility? A strange mix of emotions gripped his ankles. Trying to ignore that stubborn feeling, Chahyun was the last to leave the locker room.It was a downpour. The pouring rain formed a curtain of water, obscuring the players’ vision, while the thunderous sound of rain drowned out even their ears. After exchanging official handshakes with the Birmingham players for the second time, Yoon Chahyun raised his head and glanced once more at Misha’s seat before finding his position and settling in for the start of the game. Players who hadn’t made it onto the starting lineup or the substitutes’ bench were strictly prohibited from being on the bench or the ground, so Misha was undoubtedly sitting in the same seat as yesterday.However, the rain made it difficult even to locate Misha in the stands. The brown hair that could have been easily spotted from tens of meters away was now too faint and blurred. He must be among them, there was no other way to guess. As Yoon Chahyun licked his lips with a strange sense of unease, the faint sound of the whistle announcing the start of the game echoed dimly.As the game began, the situation became even more serious. The rainwater pooling on the grass rendered the sturdy studs on the football boots utterly useless, causing the players to slip and fall joyfully twice every minute. It didn’t matter if you were from our team or yours.The ball didn’t bounce on the waterlogged ground. A long pass, kicked by a player whether friend or foe, fell heavily like a rock and stuck to the ground without bouncing. Then the players who charged towards the quiet ball engaged in a muddy battle. Instead of blood, it was water that splashed in this furious combat.Around the 20-minute mark of the first half, Yoon Chahyun stopped wiping his eyes. There was no end to it, no matter how much he wiped. It was as meaningless as a windshield wiper running in a storm. The lightweight uniforms, designed for efficiency in exercise, became heavy and clung mercilessly to the body, making even the underwear uncomfortable.Whoever said that the true beauty of football lies in underwater combat must have never played amateur futsal on a rainy day. Yoon Chahyun squinted and tried to track the faint trajectory of the ball. His stomach churned. The unease he had been feeling since last night was now swelling up like a balloon in his chest, exacerbated by the unpredictability of the game.It was annoying.“Is this supposed to be a water park? Why is the drainage system like this?”“Why don’t we go swimming while we’re at it?”Alois and Winston exchanged a brief conversation as they swept their hair back. It was already the umpteenth free kick for Birmingham. Whether attacker or defender, slipping and falling over each other unintentionally was all too common, yet the referee only blew the whistle when it was disadvantageous to Winchester. It didn’t feel good at all.The goals didn’t seem to come, despite the feeling that they were about to. Yoon Chahyun had a few shooting opportunities, but each time the ball bounced off in an unexpected direction. Precise control seemed difficult. Cahill, standing nearby, wiped the raindrops off his chin and gave Chahyun a meaningful look. It could have been meant as encouragement, consolation, or criticism. But it was a moment where every second counted. Chahyun just nodded and flexed his legs for the next opportunity.Winchester’s coach signaled for a player substitution when the first half was almost over. Near the scoreboard, Blue stood with a serious face, covering his mouth with his hand.“Me?!”Jude’s eyes widened as he saw his number flashing red, indicating the substitution. He spread his arms wide and put on a deeply unjust expression for Blue. But the decision was final. Although they said that a rainy day made you feel heavy, it seemed to be clearly reflected in Blue’s eyes.“Unbelievable!”Walking away grumpily towards the bench, Jude glanced back at Chahyun and muttered a complaint that couldn’t be heard. Well, there was nothing to be done. As Chahyun nodded reassuringly, Jude reluctantly raised a fist, perhaps meaning to encourage him. There was something prickly and irritating solidifying in Yoon Chahyun’s chest, something he wanted to tear out immediately.Yoon Chahyun looked up at the giant screen displaying the score. 0 : 0. The first half was dyed in a tie. A tie meant elimination. If they didn’t see a clear win in the second half, this game would be difficult… That’s what everyone gathered on the ground was thinking.The ball falling in front of Winchester’s goalpost and bouncing off the foot of someone in a Birmingham uniform and into the goal without any vigor was truly a blink-of-an-eye moment.Ah. Damn it.Yoon Chahyun’s heart turned cold.The Birmingham players, who were frozen in surprise by the sudden goal, quickly rallied together and ran across the wet ground as one unit. Despite not being able to take more than a few steps and slipping and rolling, their faces carried an undeniable certainty about victory. The Winchester players seemed to feel the same despair. As the Winchester players stood dejectedly in their places like scarecrows, the cruel whistle announcing the end of the first half blew.Mixed with the sound of rain, the cheers of the spectators shook the ground. The momentum had completely shifted. Even though halftime had arrived, Winchester FC hadn’t thought about moving on the ground. The coaching staff and substitute players came out onto the field to coax the players who couldn’t find their place.“Yuan.”Jude, who had been substituted not long ago, walked back onto the field and draped a towel over Chahyun’s shoulders. It wasn’t until something warm covered his body that Chahyun realized his body temperature had dropped.Gathering his cold hands together, Yoon Chahyun covered his face. As he wiped his hands down, the rain washed away, revealing a clear view. While his body was beginning to warm up, his mind remained unusually cold and composed.It was a sensation akin to something boiling up incessantly inside and exploding through his throat. Chahyun took slow, rough breaths, as if trying to calm himself down. Jude whispered in a calm voice, as if trying to soothe him.“Let’s go in first, Yuan. Get inside, regroup, and warm up your body…”“Jude. How long was halftime?”“What?”“How much time do we have?”Jude’s voice flipped at Chahyun’s abrupt question. Who doesn’t know how long a halftime break is? Jude rolled his eyes, unaware of the joke, and knowing there was no hint of mischief in Chahyun’s voice, he answered quietly.“15 minutes… why?”“Okay, then.”“Hey! Where are you going?”As Chahyun removed the towel from his shoulders, Jude finally exclaimed. Chahyun turned his body in the opposite direction of the players moving into the stadium.Ignoring Jude’s cries, Chahyun squinted and glanced towards the stands on the bench side. Despite the rain penetrating his eyes, his vision was much clearer than before.Yoon Chahyun walked straight across the ground towards the edge. Then he leaped over the barrier separating the ground and the filming space. The sudden intrusion of a player startled the reporters, who clumsily adjusted their cameras. Only then did the gaze of everyone enjoying halftime focus on Yoon Chahyun. It was natural for him to walk out of step with other players, but…Yoon Chahyun strode steadily towards the stairs of the stands. The spectators couldn’t hide their surprise as a player from their team, who had just been cheering, walked towards the stairs. Normally, they might have rushed forward to embrace or take photos, but Chahyun’s attitude, walking straight ahead with lowered eyes, indicated that his appearance was not about fan service.Yoon Chahyun approached the seats he was aiming for. From afar, the figure, which was faint or uncertain before, finally appeared vividly in front of him. Yoon Chahyun’s guess was not wrong.“Yuan…”Misha was looking at Chahyun’s face with wide-open eyes, as if surprised. Chahyun grabbed Misha’s wrist, which was limp from rolling on the grass all day. As he did so, the transparent raincoat that had been hanging over Misha’s shoulders fell to the ground.“Misha.”The surrounding noise subsided. At least Yoon Chahyun could feel thousands of eyes gathering behind him. Ignoring them, Yoon Chahyun tightened his grip on Misha’s wrist even more. He had done more in front of more eyes. It wasn’t particularly surprising.He had been struggling with dilemmas, but at this moment, his mind was blank, as if washed away by the rain. Instead, there was only one thought in Yoon Chahyun’s mind.He wanted to send this crazy, insane, and unreasonable problem of a person in front of him away to the next game. Amidst countless thoughts, only that simple emotion moved Yoon Chahyun.Pulling Misha’s wrist firmly as he turned backward, Misha rose clumsily from his seat. Looking at his vacant face, Chahyun spoke quietly yet distinctly.“Come here.”With a firm grip on Misha’s wrist, Chahyun walked straight down the internal corridor of the stadium. Droplets of water falling from the hem of his uniform left long streaks on the floor with each step.The staff standing in the corridor hastily retreated to the side at Chahyun’s unyielding pace. They watched in astonishment as a player, from the tip of his hair to the end of his football boots completely soaked, dragged a teammate from the same team who appeared like an ordinary civilian. Not one of them dared to speak. Their swift glances and rolling eyes were somewhat comforting to Yoon Chahyun. Even if they were sneering, there was no need to explain.Inward, inward. Remembering yesterday’s tour, Chahyun quickly reached the deserted corridor. The floor, with few footsteps, and the clean gray walls of the newly erected building created both cleanliness and silence. Chahyun turned the corner straight to the glass door in front of him. He had no time to be distracted by new or shiny things.The staff restroom in the corner of the first floor was quiet. Only the faint echo of cheers from afar reminded them that this was a very important game. Perhaps there wouldn’t be any troublesome individuals coming to this secluded space. But if someone did come in, there was no longer a choice. The short reprieve of about 900 seconds did not allow Yoon Chahyun to hide any deeper.Yoon Chahyun pushed Misha into the innermost cubicle of the restroom without saying a word. Then he followed suit. As he twisted the tight new lock, Yoon Chahyun remembered something very similar that happened yesterday. Was it when they boarded the Ferris wheel? Except for the fact that the pusher and the pushed were completely opposite, it was exactly the same.As soon as they entered the narrow space, Chahyun leaned Misha against the wall and leaned against the adjacent wall, taking a moment to catch his breath.“Ah… Ha…”The suppressed sighs, unnoticed in their haste, now rang loudly in their ears. Even their fingertips tingled with the rush of adrenaline coursing through their veins during the game. The explosive adrenaline during the game was spreading through Yoon Chahyun’s entire body, disrupting his composure. Without it, he wouldn’t have acted so recklessly.With his head bowed, Yoon Chahyun looked down at Misha’s body. It was hard to believe that Misha had been sitting in the same rain, as there was hardly a trace of water on him. Perhaps his raincoat was covering him well. Thinking so, Yoon Chahyun slowly lifted his head to look at Misha’s face.“Yuan.”“Ha…”As expected, Misha looked at Chahyun as if he were in great danger or distress. It was a more unusual face than any moment before. Or perhaps it seemed very worried. It wasn’t strange, considering that he was facing the person who had pulled him out of the stands like a water spirit.Yoon Chahyun now had to explain. Misha’s gaze clearly demanded an explanation for this absurd behavior.There was so much to say. First, he had to tell a very strange story, starting from the worn-out issue from the last day of the Champions League group stage.The “incident” that day unexpectedly struck a chord in Yoon Chahyun’s mind, and unexpected events and situations gradually deepened the gap between them. Trying to maintain a precarious condition between the intense game and the schedule, Yoon Chahyun had made constant efforts. However, unexpectedly, what had driven a wedge into Yoon Chahyun’s plans was not some superficial handling of practice or rest. It was something Yoon Chahyun experimented with and concluded, but it would probably be Misha himself.But in the end, it wasn’t about blaming him or trying to fix Yoon Chahyun’s flaws.Rather, Chahyun wanted to tell Misha about the promise he made to him. I want to go up with you on the ground. I want to run with you. And continue on to the next game, the game after that, and beyond, standing on the same grass and reaching for the shining glory at the end of that future.In his heart, which had professed his affection for Yoon Chahyun, there was still no certain answer. Rather, Chahyun thought it was wrong to decide his feelings in such a situation. Would he accuse Chahyun of being selfish if he said he did this because he wanted to be with Misha in the future?But time was short. There was no time to spin out such clumsy and convoluted stories. Yoon Chahyun raised his rain-drenched hand and gently cupped Misha’s cheek and neck.“Misha.”At the touch of the wet hand against his bare skin, Misha blinked in surprise. Drops of water and dust from Chahyun’s hand transferred to Misha’s exposed neck. Although the only light in the dark restroom came from a window, it was clear that Misha’s face was filled with confusion.“I’ll explain later.”Then Chahyun took a deep breath and pressed his slightly parted lips against Misha’s.In response to the sudden contact, Misha placed his hand on Chahyun’s shoulder, but that was all. Several drops of water fell from Chahyun’s wet hair to Misha’s dry chest. Feeling Misha’s breath on his cheek, either confused or shocked, Chahyun closed his eyes.In the quietness, only Yoon Chahyun’s exhaled breath echoed. What was supposed to be a brief touch of lips strangely elongated.“Misha, I’ll definitely explain everything.”Chahyun said, looking down. Misha, leaning against the wall, showed no sign of movement or response.It was very embarrassing, I know. I couldn’t possibly act nonchalant after spontaneously kissing a person standing still. Even though I planned to confess everything to him once the problem in front of me was resolved, I still couldn’t do it.“Just wait a little longer.”