Kiss the Ground

Misha, who had been watching the screen together from behind, left a brief comment. Feeling more embarrassed than ever, Chahyun quietly closed his mouth. No matter how disgraceful he looked, only his lover would stand by him.Beyond the tent where the three of them were reviewing the footage, the sky was already glowing orange. They say that when the sunset is beautiful, it will rain the next day, so finishing the shoot in just three hours was indeed a great choice and a miraculous success.The shoot wasn’t easy. Even though Chahyun had filmed greeting videos during holidays and cheer-up videos for exam seasons, this was still challenging. He jumped down the same steps countless times and dribbled on the garden lawn until it wore down, all the while painfully aware that he had no talent for acting.There were so many meaningless scenes. Instructions to stare blankly somewhere or wipe his sweat and make a playful expression were hard to understand. And why on earth does South Korea suddenly appear in a scene with a foreigner and a dog playing?Despite all these contradictions, it was fortunate that the shoot ended as planned. Sunjoo scolded Chahyun when he made mistakes but also gave praise when he did well. The staff remained earnest despite the repeated takes. There were bursts of laughter here and there, but there’s nothing one can do about people finding things funny.“Why do you act fine on the field but struggle here? It’s the same camera in front of you, I don’t get it.”“I did my best.”“Yeah… I know, so I have nothing more to say.”The manager stretched his arms and got up. Having secured footage that looked good enough, it seemed he decided to wrap up the scene. He put his hands on his waist and gave a few instructions to the surrounding staff before turning to Chahyun.“You really worked hard today. I’ll go clean up, so get ready to head out.”Then he gave Misha’s arm a friendly pat and stepped out of the tent. Left alone in the empty space, the two of them sat facing each other without needing to be prompted.“I’m never doing this kind of thing again. It’s crazy.”“It wasn’t as bad as I thought. Running aimlessly was the most fun part.”“You say that because you and the dog got a one-take OK every time!”Chahyun pointed at Hong Sam, who was lying on the ground fast asleep. Indeed, both Misha and Hong Sam had gotten OK signs for their takes on the first try. Flawless performances. Losing to Misha was one thing, but being outdone by a dog?Misha laughed softly at the frustrated Chahyun. Then he picked up the Power Booster that was left on the table. It was a sample that Sunjoo had left behind.“They said they’d give us 10 boxes of this when we leave. The staff mentioned it earlier.”“What? That much? It’ll take five years to use it all.”Chahyun’s eyes widened at the excessive reward. Though it was a product he used daily before and after exercising, this seemed too much. Seeing Chahyun’s surprised face, Misha narrowed his eyes mischievously.“What if I massage you with this every day? We could use it all by the finals.”“Hmm…”“I think it’s a good product. It doesn’t feel harsh, the ingredients are good, and it’s non-irritating even on sensitive areas.”He spun the tube in front of Chahyun’s eyes, reciting the narration they had just heard. Who is this guy trying to seduce now? Late-learned mischief is indeed the most dangerous.Chahyun stared at that playful face and then just laughed. It was a crazy situation, but he felt a bit better as if he had finished overdue homework.The CF they shot today would air around the time Chahyun returned to Korea after the season ended. He might even get to see it on TV himself. Then Yoon Chahyun would inevitably think of Misha’s face. Probably reflexively.“The finals… We’re really almost there.”Leaning back in his chair, Chahyun muttered. Three days later, Winchester United would go to Ale City for the second leg of the semifinals. The decision on whether they would advance to the finals would be made right after the game. Suddenly, a worry crossed his mind.“…Right! Misha, you can’t do that dangerous stuff to Joshua again.”Looking up at Chahyun with his head tilted, Misha shrugged. Chahyun was slowly beginning to understand his behavioral patterns. Misha had a cunning way of obstructing those who got close to Yoon Chahyun while pretending to be innocent.“Well, if you make a gesture with me, I’ll refrain this time.”“What? A gesture?”“Yeah. The signal you made with Joshua Hartman.”“How did you hear about that?”It was a brief conversation right before they exchanged uniforms. That he had heard and remembered that simple exchange of words was surprising. Chahyun looked at Misha in bewilderment, but Misha smiled back at him.Joshua and Misha played different positions. What kind of signal could a midfielder like him possibly create with Yoon Chahyun?Passes and crosses in front of the goal happened at lightning speed. In such tense moments, players anticipated where the ball would go and positioned themselves accordingly, without any time for hand signals to communicate strategies. This wasn’t baseball.But Misha must have known that. He just wanted to create something with Yoon Chahyun, to leave his mark on everything others had with him. Layer by layer, he wanted to build something more. Yoon Chahyun was slowly learning what Misha was anxious about.Chahyun slowly raised his hand. He wanted to do everything he could for Misha if he could.“Then… doing this means a cross. Signaling that I’ll send a pass to the opponent.”“Crossing your fingers?”“Yeah. But only when necessary. You get what I mean?”Chahyun demonstrated by crossing his middle finger over his index finger. It was commonly called a crossed finger. The pronunciation was the same, and the meaning of wishing good luck was nice. He decided on it in a second but thought it was a pretty good idea. With that thought, he looked at Misha’s face.But the beautiful smile that spread across Misha’s face almost made him cover his eyes with both hands.“Really nice, Yuan. I like it.”It was a smile as if cherry blossoms were in full bloom. A pink glow so bright it made him forget it was early summer. While Chahyun was speechless, staring at that face, Misha made the same gesture with his hand, waving it back and forth as if he were trying it for the first time.Chahyun stared blankly at the gesture. Misha turned his head slowly. Then he whispered in a voice only Chahyun could hear.“…I feel happy right now.”It felt as if a breeze had blown through. The shattered smile, framed by the twilight seeping in from outside the waiting room, captivated Chahyun’s eyes. His chest warmed up quickly. Oh my… so cute… my adorable…“Hah…”A breath that was slightly perverse escaped his lips. It’s embarrassing, but it’s an honest instinct that emotional excitement is connected to physical arousal. Chahyun sat up from his slouched position in the chair and grabbed Misha’s cheeks. Misha merely blinked, watching Chahyun’s actions.“I want to kiss you.”“No, let’s do it at home.”“Now.”Forgetting their surroundings, Chahyun leaned in slightly towards him. Misha pretended to refuse coyly but didn’t seem intent on stopping him. Just a moment, a quick peck… At that moment, the sound of footsteps approaching the tent was heard. At the heavy footsteps, Chahyun quickly pulled away from Misha and looked towards the entrance.“Distinguished guests, it’s time to head out. Go home, get a massage, and rest. Yoon Chahyun, it’s time to leave.”With Cheon Sungjoo’s booming voice, Yoon Chahyun and Misha looked at each other. This was a welcome interruption. Their home wasn’t far from here.“You really did great despite your busy schedule. Your acting might be terrible, but you’re good at everything else with your feet.”“That doesn’t sound like a compliment.”“It isn’t.”Cheon Sungjoo even came out to Misha’s car, which was parked some distance away, to see them off. Even though the sky was getting darker, he still seemed to have work left to do. However, he still brought out ten boxes of the warming cream used in today’s shoot and handed them to Misha. Misha seriously loaded the boxes into the trunk.In the back seat, Hong Sam-i, exhausted from running around all day, lay sprawled out. Seeing the big furry animal lying there, Sungjoo smiled contentedly. The sight, which seemed to reflect his worldly perspective of seeing money in everything, gave Chahyun a bit of the chills, but Sungjoo spoke in a surprisingly soft voice.“Look at him, he’s completely out… He must be really tired. Are you two heading to Misha’s house now?”“Yeah. He likes dogs.”“You even take care of someone else’s dog? Really… You’re a righteous man from across the sea, huh?”Sungjoo genuinely admired him, stroking his chin. He had already heard that Chahyun was staying at Misha’s place due to recent events. And even then, he had marveled at Misha’s warm friendship, shaking his head in disbelief. Who else would willingly offer their home to a colleague with nowhere to go?“You need to find a place of your own soon… Nothing seems to be working out. Living in someone else’s place is just a temporary solution.”The hand stroking his bristly chin slowed down. Sungjoo seemed to be lost in thought for a moment.“But moving when the finals are so close isn’t ideal, and staying in a hotel is inconvenient because of people. Public institutions are out of the question… It’d be great if you could just fly back to Korea.”He listed several possible solutions, each one sincere and considerate, showing his concern for Chahyun. Seeing his serious expression, Chahyun suddenly felt a tickling sensation in his chest.“Thanks, hyung… You’ve aged worrying about me.”“You want to die?”Sungjoo uncrossed his arms and slapped Chahyun on the back. Despite getting hit by a hand as big as a turtle shell, Chahyun couldn’t help but laugh.“I’ve actually been thinking about it too. Leaving the house issue aside… I’m more worried about not catching the culprit.”“Of course. Who’d be comfortable knowing someone’s following them?”“That’s why I did some personal investigation.”“Personal investigation?”Sungjoo raised a thick eyebrow. He looked curious. He probably didn’t think Chahyun would have any other methods after checking everything he could himself.“Yeah. I reached out to a reporter I know. It’s not concluded yet, but…”“A reporter you know? Who?”“Ilya Park, a Korean. You met him once, from a distance.”“Ilya Park?”Sungjoo tilted his head. He furrowed his brows as if trying to recall something, then asked a straightforward question.“Is he trustworthy? Reporters are hardly reliable.”“Yes. He helped me once before.”At that moment, a loud ring erupted from inside Sungjoo’s jacket. The alarm, tearing through the air, made Chahyun gulp. Why? He felt an odd sense of dread and foreboding.Having loaded everything, Misha approached Chahyun’s side. He seemed to sense the strange atmosphere and silently looked at their faces.Sungjoo pulled out his phone with rough movements to check the content, and at that moment, a staff member called out to him loudly from a distance. The staff’s face, drenched in sweat as if he had run all the way from the filming site, was pale.“Manager Cheon! Yoon Chahyun, there’s… there’s an article……”Sungjoo didn’t even turn his head towards the staff who had rushed over. His gaze remained fixed on the screen of his phone. In that odd atmosphere, Chahyun realized that the staff’s distress and Sungjoo’s silence stemmed from the same reason. He instinctively took a step forward.“What is it? What’s going on?”“Nothing.”“Nothing? Is there an article?”At Chahyun’s curious voice, Sungjoo finally glanced at the young staff member beside him. The staff, drenched in cold sweat, was trying to catch his breath, his shoulders heaving, but he lowered his head, knowing what his boss was scolding him for. Seeing this, Chahyun couldn’t back down.“What article could it be? The interview is the day after tomorrow in Ale City. There’s nothing to write about, right?”“It’s just a tabloid. Go home and rest.”“Why? Let me see the tabloid.”Chahyun moved closer to him. He could snatch the phone quickly, but that would bring trouble later. He obediently held out his hand, and Sungjoo, frowning, looked at Chahyun’s face. After a considerable amount of internal conflict, he sighed deeply and placed his phone in Chahyun’s hand.“Right, maybe it’s better if you know. …But don’t dwell on it too much.”“Got it.”“I said, don’t dwell on it.”What’s with him? Listening to the advice, Chahyun looked at the screen in his hand. Seeing a few lines written in English, Misha approached slightly from behind. Chahyun tilted the phone to the side so that Misha could also see the screen.The first thing that caught his eye on the brightly glowing screen was the name of the site where the article was published.<Yellow Post>He knew this place. It was a second-rate sports media outlet that narrowly missed the major leagues, specializing in sensational articles. Their news always had a similar tone: “Winchester’s Last Struggle,” “The Desperate Moves of a Toothless Champion”… It wasn’t a pleasant feeling. Chahyun bit his lip slightly and scrolled down the screen.But his eyes widened at the sudden headline.“Winchester United FC’s Yoon Chahyun Suspected of Unauthorized Drug Use… Doping Committee Investigation Underway”“Uh…”His fingers tapped the screen involuntarily. Below the large headline, the body of the article stretched out.“According to a reliable source… Winchester United FC’s forward Yoon Chahyun has been receiving and habitually taking nutrients from an acquaintance, which are likely classified as prohibited substances by the International Doping Agency… Experts even suggest that the substance could be a psychoactive drug… If it is proven that the substance enhances or stimulates performance, according to the league’s pursuit of sportsmanship and fair competition, there is a possibility of suspension for several seasons, including the current one…― Reporter. ○○○”The black text burned into his eyes. Above his head, Sungjoo’s curses rained down.“They’ve published a filthy article, those senseless bastards. Do they think scribbling anything counts as writing?”At the biting words, Chahyun blankly lifted his head. He couldn’t quite comprehend what he had just read.“What is this? Is it about me?”“Yeah, I knew these bastards would pull something like this eventually. Always messing with you guys… and now this crap.”In a daze, Chahyun looked at the screen again. Winchester United F.C. FW Yoon Chahyun… No matter how many times he looked, the name highlighted in red was definitely his. But drugs and doping? Such horrific words to be associated with a player’s name.His stiff fingers swiped meaninglessly across the screen. His voice, sounding unlike his own, came out stiffly.“What do they mean by a doping investigation… I’ve never heard of such a thing.”“These bastards just throw stuff out there. As long as it resembles a scandal, it sticks to some extent. Why do you think it’s called a tabloid?”“But still, this is way out of line.”Misha, standing beside him, continued to look at the phone in Chahyun’s hand. It seemed he was thoroughly reading the rest of the article that Chahyun had skimmed. Sungjoo, seeing Chahyun’s bewildered face, quickly adopted a serious expression and spoke.“Yoon Chahyun. The reason I showed you this is so you don’t lose your head if you hear any weird rumors.”“……”“No one actually believes this crap. They’re just trying to stir things up. When you reach your level, these things happen.”So, stay strong. His words were stern, as if it were no big deal. However, he couldn’t completely hide the slight tremor in his voice.It was then that another incoming call rang from the phone. At the sound that seemed to tear through the air, Sungjoo quickly snatched the phone from Chahyun’s hand. Meanwhile, the ominous notifications continued. He pushed Chahyun aside with the hand not holding the phone.“You go and rest now. This is my problem to handle.”“Hyung.”“Just go. And avoid the internet until the match. Keep your head straight.”Practically shoving Chahyun into the passenger seat, Sungjoo explained the situation to Misha in English. He seemed to consider Misha as Chahyun’s guardian. Sitting dazedly alone in the car, like a bewildered child, it wasn’t entirely inaccurate.