Kiss the Ground

▶[Cha Cha Cha colleague group interview is scheduled for next Monday. Get ready. Let’s see then.]“If it’s next Monday, that’s right before the game… Why aren’t you telling me who it’s with?”Reading the message from Seongjoo on the screen, Chahyun promptly shoved his phone into the locker. It felt like the Round of 8 had just ended, but the first match of the quarterfinals was already looming three weeks ahead. The atmosphere in the center had become quite cautious and serious as a result. With fines exceeding a thousand pounds for every mobile phone alarm during training or seminars, there was no need for further explanation.The Cha Cha Cha interview Sung-joo mentioned was exactly what it sounded like—an interview with one of your colleagues. It was an uncomfortably awkward concept, subtly prodding at opinions about Yoon Chahyun, strengths and weaknesses, or embarrassing episodes that should remain secret… Chahyun’s feeling of being put on the spot was already a foregone conclusion.Who would they invite to startle people? Well, perhaps Jude would be the safest bet. There was plenty of time, and they were together every day, so there would be plenty to talk about… As he was about to take off his shirt, Aloys, who had approached from the adjacent seat, greeted him.“Oh, Yuan. You’re early. Are you afraid of being late for the morning training and getting fined?”“Oh, yeah… that’s why I hurried a bit.”“Isn’t it really expensive, though? How much do we earn if we’re fined… I don’t know where all that money goes.”Aloys, who had recently bought two more cars, complained. Against the backdrop of his grumbling, Chahyun slipped his arms into the training top he was holding. It was still early. The sight of the few empty lockers waiting for their owners who hadn’t arrived yet was somewhat lonely.“See you later, Aloys. I have some things to prepare for.”Waving to Aloys, who hadn’t finished changing yet, Chahyun left the dressing room. The watch on his wrist indicated that training would start in 30 minutes. Being a bit late wasn’t enough to warrant a fine. But Chahyun hadn’t deliberately arrived at this time just for the sake of avoiding fines.He had a promise. Today was the first day of fulfilling it.As he stepped out into the corridor, he saw a few colleagues who had just stamped their attendance cards. Passing by a few players and staff waving their hands, Chahyun went down a staircase and stood in front of a corner room where there were few people around. It was one of the seminar rooms for video analysis that would be completely empty during the morning hours.“It looks like… I arrived early.”In the silent floor where not even the sound of the wind could be heard, it didn’t seem like there were any other humans besides Yoon Chahyun. Perhaps he arrived too early, even though he had thought he had time to prepare mentally and had hurried a bit…Chahyun took a deep breath and pressed the button at the entrance of the door slowly. The door, made of expensive yet lightweight material, silently slid open. Before stepping into the seminar room, Chahyun leaned forward slightly to peer inside.“Oops!”Someone’s arm reached out from the crack in the door and grabbed Chahyun’s arm. In the blink of an eye, his entire body was pulled into the room.“Oh, really… You scared me.”His heart pounded as if it were about to burst. Chahyun grasped his pounding chest and looked up at the figure who had pulled his arm from within.“Shh. Can you hear that?”Misha raised a long index finger to his lips and nodded his head. As the door closed behind him, Chahyun took a few steps into the room. Misha was dressed in training attire so well-prepared that he could have stepped onto the field at any moment. It was a sudden yet meticulously planned entrance.“Misha… How long have you been waiting here? And when did you change? I’ve been in the dressing room the whole time.”“I arrived much earlier than that. This matter was getting too delayed, and we can’t afford to be late for morning training.”The fines were enormous. Misha shrugged with a faint smile. Chahyun muttered in a meaningful tone.“You’re too… enthusiastic.”“Enthusiastic? It was quite a long time for me.”Misha then walked a few steps into the darkened center of the seminar room. After hesitating for a moment, Chahyun quietly followed behind. Not turning on the lights felt embarrassing as it made the situation so conspicuous, and seeing Misha’s face too clearly felt embarrassing for some reason.“Now… Yuan.”Misha stopped by the table in the center and looked at Chahyun. Then, as if granting permission, he raised his arm slightly.“You can start whenever you’re ready.”Chahyun stood in front of him, feeling somewhat awkward. What could this situation be likened to? “A set table” felt too chaotic, and “a caught fish” felt too much like garbage.Two days ago, at the entrance of the Queensgate Hotel, the final clause of the contract between Yoon Chahyun and Misha was as follows:“Everything will be done right before the game.”Caught off guard and with his mouth sealed shut, Misha, who had suddenly been given a prohibition, looked at Chahyun’s face for a long time with the expression of a puppy who had his snack taken away. But Chahyun had nothing to say either. Not only could nothing happen immediately in a place like the hotel entrance, but this contract was aimed at resolving Yoon Chahyun’s slump, anyway.Considering the experience of the Round of 16, contact with Misha right before the game did indeed seem to give strength to some extent. Just like someone who eats grass on the field or holds onto the goalpost and prays, Yoon Chahyun also fell victim to a jinx that was unheard of even in the worst-case scenarios. If it was a sportsman’s fate, then it was fate, but Yoon Chahyun’s was far worse than the previous two.Of course, the fact that someone specific was needed to perform their jinx meant that there was an obligation to assist Chahyun apart from the penalty. However, whether it was good or bad that the person taking on this helper role was also the one providing the cause was ambiguous.Just the fact that Misha spat out the following words to Yoon Chahyun, who suddenly imposed such conditions, showed that:“Yuan, do you treat practice matches as real matches?”Well, it wasn’t entirely incorrect. Practice matches were still matches. The reason Misha and Yoon Chahyun had snuck into the deserted seminar room early in the morning was precisely that.“Ugh… seriously.”Chahyun stood in front of Misha with a sigh. Why did they always have to sneak into places like this secretly? It was a situation that he never could have imagined, but recently, it had happened unnaturally frequently. Misha patiently waited for Chahyun to prepare mentally.“No matter what, I didn’t expect it to happen this quickly…”“If we need to practice, it’s better to do it quickly.”His words were quick and to the point, but there was no way to delay any longer. Chahyun took a step forward and took his place.Not knowing where to touch, Chahyun’s hand eventually dropped limply downward. Since they were offering their face completely, it wasn’t difficult to bring their lips closer without fixing them with their hands.Even in the midst of kissing, Misha’s gaze, which stared intently at Chahyun’s face without blinking, was intense.One, two, three.After counting slowly to three, Chahyun opened his eyes, which he had tightly shut, and stepped back. It was like a kiss between middle schoolers. It’s called a kiss, but to be precise, it was just a peck. As Chahyun stole a kiss and took a step back, Misha, without a word, also faced him and opened his mouth first. What came out was a bewildered voice.“Is it over?”“It’s over. This is enough.”“But what about then? It wasn’t during halftime at the Birmingham match.”“Even then, I only intended to end it like this. Think about it.”What you did without knowing the circumstances… At that time, Chahyun was very nearly late for the unprecedented second half. It was undoubtedly a terrifying moment that couldn’t be undone with just a few hundred pounds of fines. Even thinking back, it was a chillingly frightening moment.Misha’s arm gently encircling Chahyun’s waist as he teasingly brushed his lips against Chahyun’s was the moment.“Yuan, you don’t know which way your jinx leans.”“What do you mean?”“You used both methods back then. A kiss from you to me, and a kiss from me to you. We still don’t know which method was the right one.”“Haha!”Look at this guy. Misha grabbed the laughing Chahyun and slowly pulled him closer. It was an inevitable gesture to prevent Chahyun’s resistance, closer to coercion than force. Leaning his tall figure towards Chahyun, he raised his eyebrows playfully.“Don’t we have to try everything we can?”Taking advantage of Chahyun’s absent-mindedness, Misha leaned in closer from his side. Like a petulant child, his lips pressed against Chahyun’s without any patience. In response, Chahyun’s head tilted back slightly.It was a familiar flow. Sometimes with a charming attitude as if seeking permission, and sometimes with an obstinacy that was unyielding and arbitrary… Like getting caught in a sudden rain, losing one’s senses even for a moment led to being swept away. As Chahyun looked at Misha’s brown eyelashes brushing against his cheek and casting faint shadows, he raised his hand and gripped his face.“Misha Asplund…”The face of the one called out recoiled slightly. After their lips met and were abruptly stopped, they rolled their eyes as if they didn’t understand, only eyeballing Chahyun to gauge his reaction.Seeing that childish gaze, what popped into Chahyun’s mind was the promise made by that person in front of the Queens Hotel last night. Never, with anyone other than Yoon Chahyun, would they do such a thing. They had said that before, and they would continue to say it in the future…Recalling the assumptions made immediately after hearing those words, Chahyun cautiously brought them up now.“Was that the first time for you, by any chance?”“What?”“In the restroom back then. Was that your first kiss?”It wasn’t about impulsive lip contact on the ground. Misha, after staring at Chahyun’s face for a moment, nodded vaguely instead of answering. In that moment, it wasn’t just the fact that the person who looked like Misha had never kissed anyone before, or that inadvertently, they had taken away his first kiss.It was unexpectedly… that.When you think about how close he came to suffocation, remembering his flushed face and gaze, his answer that everything was the first time didn’t seem contradictory. His hands, driven by my lust, were so awkwardly inexperienced in their touches, driven solely by his desires to dominate in those cramped spaces. How relentless his obsession was…But at this moment, Chahyun recalled the first clause of this contract. This act was also Misha’s right to enjoy. It meant that they should both benefit from each other, making it a win-win game. Then, at least, shouldn’t he prevent something as suffocating as this?The road ahead was truly daunting. Chahyun sighed softly and glanced at Misha’s blinking eyes.“Open your mouth.”“What?”“Quickly, listen.”As Chahyun pressed his fingertip between Misha’s unmoving lower lip and cheek, his lips naturally parted, revealing the red flesh inside. Misha, allowing Chahyun’s touch on his face, looked like a startled child seeing a dentist for the first time.“Yu…an…”Ignoring the sound that came out as if startled, Chahyun looked into the open mouth. Perhaps it was because of the mood, but the innocent expression that seemed almost naive was oddly irritating.“Stick out your tongue.”Misha blinked as if hearing an unexpected request. Ignoring the defiant face, Chahyun slowly inserted his thumb into the open mouth. It felt malicious to this side. Tracing the neatly lined lower teeth with the pad of his thumb, and nudging the tongue a bit as if urging, Misha reluctantly stuck out his tongue. The new red color of the lips looked handsome yet somehow arrogant, just like their owner.“See, easy… Let’s not rush.”Only then did Chahyun lift his other hand and grasp Misha’s shoulder. The slightly hesitant reaction was somewhat refreshing. Feeling the heat rising gradually, Chahyun slowly opened his mouth and touched his tongue to Misha’s.“…!”The thick bodies of their tongues met. Though their hearts raced as if doused with cold water, the contact, seamless and hot, was indescribably intense. As Chahyun pressed his lips against Misha’s along the ridge of that bump, Misha closed his eyes tightly.‘So you were pushing for a kiss…’As if wondering when he had ever urgently and pitifully urged someone like this, Misha staggered back. His attempt to regain balance by touching the table behind with his hand looked pathetic. Despite the tension in the shoulder muscles touched by Chahyun’s palm.With the tip of his tongue pushed in, Chahyun cautiously explored Misha’s mouth. The tingling sensation in his chest at the fact of carelessly disturbing someone else’s mucous membrane might be because such things hadn’t happened to Chahyun in quite a long time either. Probably two or three years… But as soon as that thought came to mind, Chahyun immediately tightened his grip on Misha’s shoulder. It was not the time to recall other experiences.Receiving Chahyun’s kiss, Misha kept his eyes tightly closed throughout. It couldn’t be helped that he felt somewhat better when he unexpectedly managed to hold his own amidst the whirlwind of youthfulness. Dealing with someone who had never been swayed by anyone else’s will… A faint sense of conquest scratched at his insides.But this was a lesson. An act to teach the most basic etiquette. Chahyun reiterated that purpose several times as he gently stroked Misha’s firm cheek.Only the breathing of the two players filled the dim seminar room. After several rounds of tender exchanges and slow lips parting, it continued for a while.“… Got it? Misha.”While meeting Misha’s vacant gaze, Chahyun folded his index finger and slowly wiped his lips. It wasn’t intentional to take the guy who just finished his first kiss a moment ago and use dirty tricks… but there was no other way to avoid experiences where his tongue felt like it was being pulled out every time in the future.“Take your time, breathe, and give your partner some space.”“…”“If you act like you, you’ll irk people.”In response to Chahyun’s words, Misha nodded occasionally. His face was surprisingly obedient for his age. Somehow it felt cute, so Chahyun absentmindedly stroked his tousled hair, causing Misha to suddenly straighten up.“…Okay, Yuan.”“Okay?”“I think I get it.”Without saying more, he pressed his lips against Chahyun’s once again. It was fleeting.This insane… It was a pattern repeated many times, but this time, there was simply no way to avoid it. While Chahyun didn’t even think of pushing him away, Misha firmly grabbed the back of Chahyun’s neck and thrust his tongue in like a battering ram.“…Ugh, ah…!”The shock that was about to be spit out swallowed back into the throat and escaped in a loud voice through the nostrils. In a panic, Chahyun grabbed Misha’s nape, but he disregarded the resistance and pulled Chahyun’s body closer, twisting their positions. However, Chahyun, unable to balance like Misha did, ended up disgracefully lying on the table, his back against it.“Mi… Misha!”For a moment, as their contact broke due to Chahyun falling like a dead weight, Misha leisurely kissed him again. In the sudden reversal of positions, Chahyun had no choice but to slam his back helplessly against the hard linoleum table. The problem was that Misha’s previously rough kiss, which had no finesse, was beginning to transform into a somewhat tender and affectionate form.A slow-paced exchange of breath with the partner, mimicking the kiss Chahyun had just given. The guy had learned the method in the meantime. Just from one demonstration.Is this guy learning this stuff so quickly a matter of instinct? Or is it an innate talent? While I’ve always thought he learns things fast, seeing him instantly acquire skills that require technique was astonishing, to say the least.“So that’s how it is.”“Haa…”It was a while after Misha parted his lips. At a loss for what to say to his lively and sharp voice, Chahyun lay still like a log. Glancing at the watch wrapped around Chahyun’s wrist as he got up, Misha spoke softly.“We don’t have time anymore today, but I’ll try to get used to it soon. Help me practice.”“Practice…”“Thanks for teaching me.”And as if telling a secret to someone, Misha whispered faintly into Chahyun’s ear.“Don’t worry, I learn well by doing it with my body.”No, this seems like digging one’s own grave. With a strangely triumphant expression on his face, Chahyun was momentarily seized by a chilling unease. Surely… he hasn’t dug himself a tunnel instead of a grave…Chahyun raised a hand to his forehead. Can this really last long? Won’t someone catch us in the very near future? Despite chewing on ominous premonitions, Chahyun had nothing to do but regulate his breathing.***“What’s up with you lately?”“Gulp…”Chahyun spat out the drink he had been holding onto straight onto the ground. Well, that explains it.“What, what’s up?”“No, your condition is too good. Since the round of 16, you’ve been in top form. I even wondered if you were doping or something.”“…I told you that was a joke. I didn’t fail the test.”“Even though you didn’t fail, did you still do it?”“…”Sharp interrogation from Jude fell onto Chahyun’s back as he coolly picked up the drink bottle. Chahyun hoped that his actions would appear natural as he casually took a sip, pretending as if it had fallen accidentally.After a spectacular 3:1 victory in a practice game, the players were enjoying a leisurely break, sitting around on the ground. Passing by, colleagues playfully patted Chahyun’s head. It wasn’t surprising, considering Yoon Chahyun had scored 2 out of the 3 goals.However, Jude’s meaningful gaze directed at Chahyun’s profile was different. When one can’t do something, they say they can’t, but when they perform well, what do they say…? Chahyun couldn’t be too brazen about it, as during previous practices, he had consistently scored multiple goals.A streak of three consecutive games with multiple goals. It was truly a dazzling performance. Although not officially recorded, it was a remarkable achievement.However… every time Chahyun scored a goal, all he could do was smile coolly. Each goal was a continuous validation and affirmation. This insane doping that couldn’t be filtered out through tests, that is… the endless confirmation of the fact that Misha himself was the catalyst for Yoon Chahyun.“You might not know, but there’s something going on. I’ll find out soon.”“Is it a good thing… or not?”Jude snorted. Whether it was due to intense training or a chilling interrogation, beads of cold sweat formed long lines down his spine. It was inexplicably eerie. Chahyun quietly recalled the events of a few days ago.Misha was frightening. A frightening talent. There was no other way to express it.Chahyun had lived with the moniker of genius so far, and he had seen many other talented individuals. But unequivocally, Misha was the first of his kind. A hidden dragon, a crouching tiger. Although from different cultural backgrounds, the phrase fit perfectly. Perhaps his talent was predetermined from that day in the restroom.The sudden moment when Yoon Chahyun lost control on the table in the seminar room was truly unexpected. Misha was evolving in real-time, every minute and every second. Initially, it was an act to somehow elevate an ignorant fellow to the average level, but Yoon Chahyun was swept away by Misha’s smooth and intricate actions, which were learned and applied in an instant.With each weak touch turning into a soothing kiss, and transforming into persistent and stubborn kisses, Chahyun’s vision became dizzying. For a few minutes, he even forgot that they were inside the seminar room in the center.And as they reached the climax of that intricate kiss, Chahyun thought to himself. This guy has a talent.