Kiss the Ground

― Right now, they’ve left. Someone from Mr. Sungjoo’s company came over… Mom and Dad told me not to tell you, but I was too scared and worried…“…….”― There won’t be any problems, right? Like you said, it’ll be over soon?Chahyun’s heart was pounding so hard he couldn’t speak. He pressed his hand over his mouth to silence his breathing.He hadn’t expected them to go after his family. What he thought was a minor issue was escalating strangely. He thought it would end once he gave his blood… but he never anticipated it would affect his parents in the same field.In hindsight, it might have been a natural progression. The article had clearly stated he had received substances from someone.Chahyun took a deep breath. He couldn’t act foolish in front of his younger sister.“It’ll be okay. This will blow over soon. Just take care of Mom and Dad for me.”Can you do that? After his serious question, there was a hesitant agreement. A few more minutes of reassurance seemed to calm his sister enough to end the call.“…….”Staring at the now-ended call, Chahyun took a deep breath. He considered calling his parents immediately but knew they didn’t want to burden him with this during such an important time. They must have told his sister not to tell him to protect him. He didn’t want to disregard their consideration by showing he knew.His fingers fumbled on the screen until he found the most familiar name. Instead of a name, a dog emoji with its tongue out looked back at him. He tapped it to open the message window.His fingers typed and deleted several times. What should he say? How much did Misha know about the situation? Numerous sentences appeared and disappeared. However, he couldn’t bring himself to mention his family to Misha. It was something he couldn’t discuss with him.After some thought, he typed a short, three-word message.▷[I miss you.]He stared at the screen for a moment before adding a couple of crying emojis, ‘ㅠㅠ’. It seemed appropriate. After sending the message, Chahyun lay back on the bed. The time before a match, which never felt long before, now seemed incredibly distant.***Misha called immediately after his training ended in the late afternoon. As soon as Chahyun answered, Misha launched into a heated rant about how unfair the isolation was and that he would officially file a complaint with the league. Even just hearing his voice, Chahyun could imagine the expression on his face.It took several reassurances from Chahyun to calm him down. Although he managed to soothe him and end the call, it was followed by a flood of messages, most of which were adorably grumpy.▶[I miss you too, Yuan.]▷[Let’s just hang in there until tomorrow evening.]▶[I told the coach I want to stay at the center with you. I can’t leave you alone.]▷[You can’t do that.]▶[Why?]▷[You have to go home and take care of Hongsam. What would he do without you?]Seemingly unable to argue with that, Misha didn’t reply for a while. Later that night, well past quitting time, he sent two photos. One was of him sitting on the couch with Hongsam by his side, and the other was of the two of them sitting together at the dining table, missing Chahyun. Even with a pouty face, he looked handsome. How could everything he did be so… adorable?▷[So cute.]▶[Who?]▷[My puppy.]▶[Woof woof.]For the first time that day, Chahyun smiled a little. It hadn’t been long since they started living together, yet now, time alone felt strangely lonely.Once the results were out tomorrow, he could be back on the field with Misha. He could silence the vile rumors and dirty articles with a great game. He could reassure his worried family. He was confident he could do it.Morning came quickly. He felt better than expected when he woke up in the stark white room.As soon as he opened his eyes, he focused on his personal stretching routine in the sunlight streaming through the window. Despite the labels about his supposed mental fragility, he had no intention of breaking before a match. The constant surveillance didn’t matter. Of course, if someone kissed him right after scoring a goal, it might be a different story, but he had already experienced that.He spent the day alone, eating lunch, exercising, and then eating dinner. He kept checking the time, waiting for the moment he could leave this damn isolation. The time dragged painfully slow.The promised time of release coincided with his teammates’ dismissal. Unlike yesterday, he would be able to go home with Misha today. It felt strange to think of their place as his own now.“Yuan.”Alana called him right as the second hand struck the promised time, holding a few documents. Chahyun jumped to his feet and approached her quickly, surprised by the strength in his steps. Alana smiled.“Are the results out?”“Yes, you’re clear to go home. No banned substances were found, and your health is excellent.”“Ha….”Of course. He barely even drank, let alone took drugs. Chahyun rubbed his face roughly, and Alana spoke kindly.“It must have been stressful, but this document was necessary. Now that it’s over, let’s prepare for tomorrow. You’ve done well, Yuan.”Her considerate gaze made Chahyun nod. He immediately turned to leave without saying goodbye. He needed to pack and find Misha. Then they would go home. But just as he grabbed his phone, another call came through.“What now?”Misha should still be in training, and the ringtone wasn’t set for family. Feeling an odd sense of foreboding, Chahyun stared at the noisy phone for a moment before slowly lifting it to see the name.He took a deep breath and then quickly dashed out of the medical center.His steps quickened as he ran down the hallway. Chahyun kept his eyes wide open, making sure not to trip as he leapt down several steps at a time.After ignoring more than ten calls from the day before until now, what was the reason for coming to the club center in person now? With a complicated feeling, Chahyun burst through the glass front door. He sprinted across the parking lot and headed for the entrance.“…Illya.”It wasn’t long before he saw the familiar figure beyond the security booth. It was someone he had long wanted to meet. Without hesitation, Chahyun approached him, but stopped abruptly as soon as they were close enough to make eye contact.“Yoon Chahyun.”Blocked by the security guard, Illya looked unexpectedly flustered. His furrowed brow and parted lips looked both anxious and apologetic. Chahyun, who had been determined to question him about the whole situation as soon as they met, found himself just staring at Illya’s face. Illya took the opportunity to speak first.“I came because I was worried. There are some really bad rumors going around…”“……”“I called a lot, right? Sorry for not reaching you. I was trying to manage the situation.”“Manage?”Repeating Illya’s words, Chahyun moved closer to the front entrance. Managing the situation meant that Illya was somehow involved in this incident, for better or worse. Probably not for the better.“Did you write that article?”“Chahyun.”“You and I had the same conversation as what’s in that article. What I said to you a few days ago is in there, almost word for word.”“……”“Was it you?”Chahyun got straight to the point, confronting Illya right to his face. The words that had built up over the past two days surged within him like a rough wave, barely held back by the look of utter distress on Illya’s face.Illya’s lips moved slightly as he glanced awkwardly downward.“No… I didn’t write the article.”His brief denial sparked Chahyun’s anger. It made no sense.“Then what? If it wasn’t you, how could such an article be published?”“It wasn’t me… it was a friend of mine. They wrote it after I told them about it…”It felt like a punch to the gut. Everything went white before Chahyun’s eyes.Had he really shared their conversation with someone else? With a trashy tabloid hostile to Winchester United? Had he turned their private, intimate conversation into cheap gossip? Questions roiled in Chahyun’s mind. Amidst the shock was a cold realization.Was he ever really as close to Illya as he thought?Illya, seeing Chahyun standing there speechless, continued hesitantly.“Chahyun. It was a huge mistake. I was proud to be personally close to you. I shouldn’t have spoken so carelessly… It was just a brief mention over a meal. I had no idea it would turn into an article.”“……”“I tried to manage it, but once it spread, there was nothing I could do. I don’t know how to apologize…”Reliable sources close to the subject, the article had said. Chahyun recalled those frustrating words at the beginning of the article.Illya had claimed to support Winchester and Yoon Chahyun. He had said he was a fan, both as a journalist and a supporter. But now, his intelligent eyes couldn’t meet Chahyun’s, and they were downcast and vulnerable.What pricked at Chahyun’s mind was guilt for having trusted him. Foolishly, he had shared everything with Illya. He had spoken about matches, family, feelings, fears, and even crimes. He had felt close to someone who spoke the same language and looked like him in a foreign land. He had even introduced Illya to his most precious person.Had all of that meant nothing more to Illya than casual conversation fodder?Thinking that, his heart cooled.“I’m really sorry.”Illya’s continued apologies were sincere. But Chahyun couldn’t bear to look at him any longer. He turned back towards the center.“…I understand. It was a mistake.”“Chahyun.”“I’ll take it as that, so you can go now.”He was tired. Exhausted. His lips moved sluggishly.“Thank you for your help…”At that moment, Illya reached out and grabbed Chahyun’s arm. He looked desperate. Chahyun hesitated, looking at the pale hand holding him back. Just a strong push would hurt him.But then, another arm reached out from behind Chahyun and grabbed Illya by the collar.“Mi…”Startled, Chahyun turned and saw Misha’s face, dark eyes blazing. How much had he heard? He was holding Illya’s collar and neck in one hand. Chahyun gasped at the sudden turn of events.“…!”Illya, his airway suddenly constricted, had his eyes tightly shut. His slender body was lifted off the ground in an instant.“Ah.”In contrast, Yoon Chahyun’s heart sank. Misha was about to hit Illya.“No.”Without realizing it, his hand reached out and grabbed Misha’s firm arm. His heart pounded wildly at the fleeting thought. Violence… violence against civilians must be avoided. He couldn’t let Misha do such a thing.“Don’t do it! Misha… no.”Don’t do it, he whispered shakily, his breath breaking against Misha’s body. Misha stared at Ilya’s face, not even breathing, as if he hadn’t heard Chahyun’s restraint.However, a few seconds later, he slowly lowered Ilya to the ground. Seizing the moment when Ilya fell to the floor, Chahyun quickly pulled Misha toward the center. Ilya’s faint gaze lingered behind them as they retreated.Two pairs of steps headed inside the center. Only after reaching a dark spot where no one else came after work hours did Chahyun release the arm he had been holding.“Misha…”Then he clung to him, wrapping his arms around him. As their chests pressed together, his heart pounded wildly and his blood rushed through his body.What if he had been even a little too late to stop him? If Misha had laid a hand on Ilya, he might not only be excluded from the next selection but could also face severe consequences, like being expelled from the league. It would have been a major incident, incomparable to any rumors Chahyun had faced. Something irreversible could have happened right before Chahyun’s eyes. He didn’t even want to imagine what would follow.“Yuan, that person—”“Enough!”Chahyun shouted softly, pressing his face against Misha’s chest. His heart was constricting.“It’s… enough now.”Humiliating inspections, unjust isolation, and betrayal from those he trusted no longer mattered. What consumed Chahyun’s mind now was the fear that he might have ruined Misha with his own issues. A tremor of despair escaped his throat.“We promised to go to the finals together. Misha, you said we would win.”“…”“You made a gesture and everything… have you forgotten?”The only thing that kept him going through the recent streak of misfortune was the anticipation and determination to play in the game with Misha. Despite the countless messages and support from his teammates during his isolation, the loneliness of enduring it alone was unbearable. But even that was bearable because he knew Misha was there.Ah, he really couldn’t do without Misha. As his body trembled with lingering fear, Misha, who had been silent, placed his lips on Chahyun’s hair.“…I’m sorry, Yuan.”“If you’re sorry, don’t do it again.”“I understand.”“Stay by my side.”When Chahyun tightened his arms around Misha, Misha’s arms, which had been floating in the air, embraced him in return. Only Misha’s firm body could be held so deeply. Chahyun buried his face in Misha’s chest and took a deep breath, filling himself with the scent of his partner.In the quiet and dark shadow, they held each other for a while. As their trembling subsided and their body heat transferred, Misha’s gaze fell on the bandage on Chahyun’s left arm.“The inspection… was it hard?”“It’s fine. Everyone goes through it.”“But you were alone yesterday.”He lifted Chahyun’s hand and kissed it. His face, always so princely, now looked more like a prince than ever. The first kiss he’d received in a day and a half was a little ticklish and heart-wrenching. Chahyun looked at the hair hanging in front of his eyes and quietly confessed.“When you said that person seemed suspicious… you were right. I shouldn’t have trusted so easily.”“It’s not your fault.”“No, it is my fault. I always make that mistake…”Despite having been betrayed so many times, he kept repeating the same mistake. Being alone in a distant land made him foolish. Just because someone was from the same country, he allowed them a place in his heart.Chahyun gently stroked Misha’s cheek with the hand that had been kissed. The slightly raised scar on his skin touched his fingertips.“Even to the person who gave you this scar… Misha, do you know? I even signed an autograph for them, from head to toe.”“I know, it’s okay.”“Why did I foolishly trust everyone? Just because we met once, just because I knew their face… I thought they were someone who supported me.”“Yuan.”“Isn’t it pathetic? So I couldn’t tell anyone… only you.”In a tough moment, he was swayed by a word of support and carelessly lowered his guard. A bitter smile escaped him, but Misha didn’t even lift the corners of his mouth. He gazed at Chahyun’s face with a clear look, receiving his touch. Slowly, the smile faded from Chahyun’s face.“So… it’s my fault again this time. Taking you to that person, introducing you, letting you talk… all of it.”His lips grew a bit cold. The apology he could only make now spilled out.“I’m sorry for everything, Misha.”Maybe this trouble had hit Misha instead of Chahyun. In a situation where even casual talk could turn into a terrifying rumor, what if Misha’s weakness had been exposed? The thought of boasting about someone he should have cherished and kept to himself a few days ago was chilling. His lips instinctively moved closer to Misha’s neck.“I love you.”Misha flinched slightly and blinked at him, his usually stoic lips moving awkwardly.“…I-I love you too.”It was as if it was the first time he had ever agreed. Despite being unashamed to pour out confessions to Chahyun, he was now embarrassed to hear it himself… Chahyun’s heart fluttered as if it had been set on fire by Misha’s awkward reaction. He pressed his lips to Misha’s skin again and whispered.“Let’s go home. I’m tired of this place.”The days he spent with him felt distant. Misha nodded and immediately stood up. As Chahyun was embraced by his arm, he thought about the trip they had planned for tomorrow. To get through the tough times, he needed to hold his breath a little longer. Just a bit more… just a little more. He felt like he could still endure it.***Returning home after two days felt strangely awkward. As Chahyun held his dog, which had jumped into his arms, he recalled the moment he had left for work a couple of days ago. He had never imagined that he wouldn’t be able to come back for a whole day. Walking down the hallway with heavy steps, Chahyun headed straight to the bedroom.Misha had been watching him with a concerned look since they left the center. Finding the sight of the tall, lanky Misha trailing behind him endearing, Chahyun paused undressing to pull him close and kiss him.“Shall we shower together?”Whispering deliberately, Misha nodded with the same expression he had when he heard “I love you.” However, even after undressing, he couldn’t do anything. Chahyun, standing under the hot water, started to nod off. Misha was busy keeping him from falling as he swayed back and forth. When Chahyun finally rested his forehead on Misha’s shoulder and half fell asleep, Misha had to wash him, his hands full.By the time Chahyun managed to lift his heavy eyelids, he was already wrapped in soft blankets. His slowly blinking eyes saw Misha sitting on the bed, looking down at him. Chahyun reached out his heavy arm and hugged Misha’s waist. As the familiar warmth filled him, his vision blurred again within seconds.Everything felt distant. Even the fact that they had to move to Ail City tomorrow seemed like someone else’s concern. Misha leaned in to look at Chahyun’s half-closed eyes.“Yuan, you must have been very tired. You were asleep even when I changed your clothes.”“Yeah…”The familiar concern brought a sense of relief that he was finally home. How much he had missed this place. The happiness that he thought he’d lost crept back into his heart. With his eyes closed and a smile on his face, he mumbled words he wasn’t even fully aware of.“Misha, about the recent… article about me.”“…Yeah.”“They’re suspicious… wondering if I’ve been using drugs…”