Kiss the Ground

Complicated issues that couldn’t be untangled and explained weighed heavily on his shoulders. However, the steering wheel he grabbed to drive with Misha immediately felt several times heavier.***Chahyun stepped shakily into the entrance. In the glass mirror near the door, Chahyun himself and the burden he was carrying were reflected. Unable to muster the strength to bring him directly inside, Chahyun pushed him into the entrance as if dropping him indoors. Not too roughly, just enough to avoid injuries, though he was more out of breath than after playing a full 120 minutes in the extended match.It wasn’t a significant distance to Chahyun’s house by car, about 10 minutes. The real problem started after parking. Looking down at the sprawled Misha in the back seat, Chahyun seriously considered just leaving him on the street. About three minutes.In the end, Chahyun’s chosen method of transportation was a piggyback. Chahyun knew various ways to transport an emergency patient. However, carrying him wasn’t physically possible due to his pride and body conditions. Dragging him, wrapped in a blanket, to the entrance seemed stable enough, but he was afraid the neighbors might mistake it for moving a dead body. So, there was no other option.Looking down at the unconscious Misha with a ball on the floor, Yoon Chahyun also slowly sank into a seated position. Despite being a professional athlete with a significant weight difference, was it really this hard to carry someone? Still, Chahyun thought his thighs were thicker… With that thought, Chahyun took a deep breath in a daze. Even though an unconscious person is inherently heavy, it was too much.While sitting on his home entrance, catching his breath for a moment, Chahyun got up and grabbed Misha’s foot. Whether dead or alive, if he had to put him to sleep at home, the shoes had to come off. That was something he couldn’t compromise on.Grabbing the unconscious person and forcibly taking off his shoes felt strangely awkward. This morning, he wouldn’t have imagined such a thing. As expected, like soccer players who use their feet as a foundation, Misha’s shoes were a custom design of a high-end brand. It subtly exuded classic elegance without overtly showing off. Reluctantly admitting that it suited Misha too well, Chahyun threw the shoes he had taken off far into the entrance. Considering everything he had done, he thought it wouldn’t matter if there was a slight scratch on the shoes. The luxurious heels made a dull sound on the entrance floor. At the same time, something rustled inside the bedroom.Chahyun stared in the direction of the sound. After a while, light footsteps were heard from inside. It was a somewhat urgent sound, as if belatedly realizing his presence.“Hongsam.”A large dog with a coat stuck its body out through the gap of the bedroom door as Chahyun spoke. When it confirmed Chahyun, it wagged its tail like a propeller and rushed over. The glossy brown fur flew in all directions.“Don’t you know how to greet your owner after being separated for so long?”The dog, which ran quickly to the entrance and stopped like slipping, wagged its tail happily when it confirmed Chahyun. The fact that it didn’t bark, considering it was nighttime, showed its cleverness.Jude’s mention of ‘her’ at Yoon Chahyun’s home reflected some truth. Because Hongsam was a female. About three years ago, Chahyun picked up Hongsam in an alley in front of his home in Korea. Hongsam, who was small and dusty, seemed especially affectionate among abandoned dogs. Chahyun originally liked dogs, but Hongsam followed him even more. Because of that, Chahyun ended up bringing Hongsam with him when he moved to England.Perhaps because of wandering the streets, Hongsam, who seemed unusually small and frail, had grown into a large dog weighing over 40kg by now. Although you could predict how big a dog’s paws were by looking at them, it was clear that the large paw pads didn’t suit the small body. Although the breed was unknown, the deep-colored fur resembling a large breed hinted at its mixed heritage.The attention Hongsam was focused on Chahyun quickly shifted to the stranger lying on the floor. The dog sniffed around Misha continuously, smelling his scent by sticking its nose in his hair, rubbing its head on the suit chest, and being busy. Chahyun patiently waited for Hongsam to understand Misha’s identity until the dog licked Misha’s cheek and lips.“No!”Chahyun quickly pushed his palm between Hongsam’s snout and Misha’s lips.Hongsam, whose affectionate attack was blocked, tilted its head in confusion. Chahyun’s serious words made Hongsam wag its tail nonchalantly. It seemed to say it didn’t understand and didn’t care. You’re lucky to have no worries… Chahyun, who petted the dog’s head once, got up from his seat.It was already past midnight, and, as Aloysius said, training was scheduled from early in the morning the next day. Although Chahyun clicked his tongue at the coach’s harshness for scheduling training the day after the interview, the fact that the next game wasn’t far away was also true.After a moment of contemplation, Chahyun stood behind Misha and slipped his arm under his armpits. Then he dragged him all the way to the bedroom. Like a sack of rice. It was fortunate that the floor was smooth. The fact that there was no one to witness the ridiculous sight of Chahyun walking backward was also lucky.“Can I go out for a moment?”While setting up to place Misha on the bed, Chahyun spoke, and as he adjusted his posture, Hongsam, who had been staying close by, quickly moved back. Chahyun made an effort to lift Misha for a long time. The weight difference, which was only 10kg in the official profile, now felt like over 100kg.Barely managing to lay Misha on the bed, Chahyun was breathing heavily as if he had just run several miles. Just bringing him inside without leaving him on the street was enough of a gesture, and, in reality, laying him on the bedroom floor wouldn’t have been a bad idea.However, the floor of the British house was as cold as ice. Chahyun, who was born and raised in Korea, couldn’t overlook that from a cultural perspective. Additionally, considering the potential damages and side effects that might arise from letting Misha catch a cold, Yoon Chahyun willingly gave up his side of the bed.Misha, unaware of Chahyun’s struggles, was peacefully immersed in sleep. A madman in a sleeping forest. It was impossible to know what he was thinking, having drunk so much. Where this guy passed out in his own bed was anyone’s guess.“Misha.”Just to check, Chahyun called out, but as expected, there was no response. Furthermore, when he spoke aloud, it felt strange. The situation of suggesting someone lying on the bed to wash was… considering the person in question who couldn’t be unaware of the atmosphere, it was even more peculiar.With a complicated mind, Chahyun looked at Misha’s suit. Then, he paused again, looking at his tie that was already disheveled.Should I undress him?Yoon Chahyun thought with a calm face, although his mind was in chaos. First, he had to undress him. Whether Misha’s club suit got wrinkled or not was none of his concern, but he couldn’t just leave him lying on his bed all day in the clothes he wore outside. After some contemplation, Chahyun extended his hand towards Misha’s face.“Are you going to wash up?”Tap, tap. He tapped his cheek a couple of times, but there was no response. Moreover, when he asked in a loud voice, it felt very odd. The person lying on the bed didn’t respond, and the fact that he couldn’t help but be aware of the atmosphere made it even stranger.With a troubled mind, Chahyun looked at Misha’s suit. Then, he decided to compromise by only removing the tie and suit jacket.“What kind of knot is this?”It was the right choice, as it took several minutes just to remove the tie. It looked similar, but the knot came undone with difficulty. Was it the European style? While inserting his short fingernails through the gap, a long arm suddenly wrapped around Chahyun’s back.“Oops!”Misha’s brown hair, scattered on the pillow, instantly touched Chahyun’s forehead. The strong smell of alcohol was close by. Due to the sudden contact, it took about three seconds for Chahyun to realize that Misha had embraced him.“Hey, what are you…”“Y…ou.”Startled by the voice mumbling his name, Chahyun looked up at Misha’s face. The eyes that he thought might be open were firmly shut, still the face of someone who had fallen asleep. The sound of the sighs of the intoxicated person transmitted through the tightly closed contact. Thump, thump.In a strange tension, Chahyun slowly moved backward, lifting Misha’s arm and trying to get up. Grasping his arms tightly as if not to let him go, when pulled, a gap appeared between the solid arms. With a slightly extravagant feeling, Chahyun looked down at Misha’s sleeping face.Questions and inquiries bubbled up in his mind. Why do you like me so much… Even such a trivial matter becomes strange. The flush on his clear skin, which had risen due to the strong drink, felt endlessly fascinating, and he remained silent without any response.Jumping lightly onto the bed, Hongsam found that gap at that moment. Without saying anything, Hongsam, who had dug into Misha’s arms, placed its giant paw gently on Misha’s shoulder and lay down. As if lovers.“Are you going to sleep well here?”Asked with an amazed expression, Chahyun’s question went unanswered as Hongsam blinked its eyes. It was so natural that it was even more bewildering.For some reason, Hongsam had a peculiar fondness for good-looking human males. Without knowing this fact, Jude, who had come to Chahyun’s house without knowing about Hongsam, still thought that Hongsam was a shy and introverted dog.Chahyun slowly took a step back and stepped out of the bed. Whether he planned to sleep next to Misha or not, the dog showed no sign of movement even when the owner dimmed the lights. Anyway, there was no intention of lying in bed together, but now there was no room for that.“Sleep well, Hongsam.”From a distance, it looked like two dogs cuddling with similar fur colors. Leaving behind the sight that was too precious to see alone, Chahyun left the room. Having prepared adequately, Chahyun stretched out on the sofa in the living room. It was the first time he had ever slept on his own sofa. Ironically, the dog he raised was lying on a good bed.It was truly an exhausting day. If you counted the actual time spent together, it might not have been that long, but it felt like the whole day was spent with Misha.With his arm on his forehead, Chahyun closed his eyes. Chahyun’s tangled problems seemed to be solved, but whenever it seemed that way, they repeated, becoming more complicated. Like a spiral staircase that goes down step by step when you walk. And the fact that the culprit of these problems was now sleeping on Chahyun’s bed was the most bizarre thing.The immediate problem to face tomorrow was not encountering the lustful colleagues at the club but facing Misha’s face in the morning. Recalling this fact slowly, Chahyun surrendered to the incoming drowsiness.***Wearing a T-shirt and pajama pants, Chahyun stood in the kitchen, opening the refrigerator. He was prepared to make a simple meal.With one hand pushing bread into the toaster and the other placing a pan on the induction cooker, it was a natural setting he did every morning. The only thing different from other days was that today, all the ingredients were for two servings.After a long time, the weather seemed good, and white morning sunlight poured in through the living room window. Chahyun placed bacon on the heated pan and cracked eggs. The sound of ingredients cooking and the fragrant aroma quickly spread through the living room. It was a peaceful morning.The loud noise from the bedroom came right after that. It was the sound of something rolling off the bed and hitting the floor with a thud. While rummaging through the eggs, Chahyun counted silently. One, two, three… Exactly three seconds passed, and then the bedroom door opened with a bang. From inside, two figures rolled out like dumplings.“Hongsam, did you sleep well?”Greeting the dog, which wagged its tail happily, Chahyun glanced at it for a moment. The troublemaker who ruthlessly disturbed the peace, Misha, who had fallen off the bed, looked bewildered, perhaps having hit his head against the bedside table. His eyes were swollen from crying and staring blankly at Chahyun, who seemed to build a new house on his head. It was quite amusing.“Yeah, you slept well alone. I was going to wake you up soon.”Saying so, Chahyun firmly grabbed the dog leash placed nearby. Judging by the tone of Chahyun’s voice, which lacked any fluctuations, Misha still seemed to be unaware of the situation, and he clumsily moved his head around. Only then did he notice the dog, lying on his legs, and belatedly let out a scream. Was it too much for someone who had just shared the same bed? Yet, Chahyun found the sight of Hongsam, who was playfully circling around Misha, quite endearing.“Where am I? Yuan, why…”Misha looked like a salaryman who encountered a tornado on his way home. A poor person who lost his jacket, tie, and shoes in the storm. Looking at the crumpled shirt and the pitiful black socks under the pants, who could call him a prince or a dandy? Chahyun had the urge to take out his phone and at least take a picture, but he suppressed it and calmly explained.“Don’t you remember that we all had a drink together at Red Beard yesterday? You lost consciousness midway, so I brought you to my house. The bed you were lying on until just now is mine.”Stopping there, Misha’s eyes widened like saucers. His cheeks began to turn slowly red as if water was filling them. Then, he awkwardly covered his mouth with his hand, like a shy young bride.“That means…”“Wait a moment.”Chahyun presented his palm like a Buddha.“What expression is that?”“Didn’t you just say you slept on my bed…”“Of course, I slept on the sofa. The one who slept in bed with you is our house dog. Greet him.”“…”Disappointed by Chahyun’s cruel words, Misha seemed to have lost his appetite. This kid really goes too far. Chahyun found it strange yet somewhat amusing. Chahyun had only recently realized that Misha could show so many expressions. He had always had a somewhat expressionless and lonely face from the moment they first met, so the human faces he showed now were unfamiliar.“After drinking so much yesterday, isn’t your head hurting? You might be a descendant of a Viking, I thought.”“I’m fine.”“The memory of coming to our house?”“I don’t have that at all.”“Then it’s not fine. Go wash up quickly and sit over there.”While Misha went to wash up and came back, the breakfast was smoothly completed. Chahyun divided the food from the pan onto plates, and Misha slowly sat at the end of the table.It seemed that Hongsam, who spent the night together with the man, became even more fond of Misha. Hongsam, with his massive body, stood up and placed his front paws on Misha’s lap as he sat on the chair. It might have been a cute gesture asking to be noticed, but due to his large size, his presence was quite unique.After wiping his face, Misha, now seeming to have the leisure to look around, finally placed his hand on Hongsam’s head. The palm-sized pink tongue licked Misha’s arm.“So, you have a dog now, Yuan. Is it a girl?”“Yeah. How did you know?”“It’s pretty.”Watching Misha throw playful kicks at the dog, Chahyun chuckled. It couldn’t be a coincidence. Misha slowly and gently stroked Hongsam’s fur as if touching a high-quality velvet.“I used to have a dog before. What’s this one’s name?”“Hongsam.”It means Red Ginseng. Chahyun didn’t forget to stylishly explain the English translation of Hongsam’s name at the end of his sentence. Most people who heard the dog’s name were curious about its meaning, considering that it was a common occurrence. Although Chahyun couldn’t guarantee the pronunciation was correct… Nevertheless, Misha was one of the colleagues who could understand Chahyun’s dog-like pronunciation.“Hongsam? Why?”“Because it has thick, reddish fur. And naming pets after food makes them live healthily. Besides, it’s even considered a healthy food, so it’ll live longer.”After a chubby response, Misha, who had been momentarily silent, burst into laughter. His smile was radiant. He wasn’t looking like a beggar now. Although Chahyun felt somewhat uneasy seeing him so happy, it wasn’t entirely unpleasant.“That’s why it’s named Hongsam. Good boy, Hongsam.”“He’s from Korea, so he can’t understand English.”“….”“Now, eat your breakfast. It’s nothing special, but you can’t go to morning training on an empty stomach.”“…Can I eat too?”“Should I just let you watch me eat?”As Misha looked at the dish Chahyun casually put down, his eyes widened. It was an expression as if he had just been presented with a rare artifact. Although it was a simple breakfast with toast, bacon, eggs, and two tomatoes, the alternating glances between Chahyun’s face and the dish gradually filled Misha with gratitude. Even though he felt somewhat uncomfortable, Chahyun had to admit that preparing breakfast for Misha was a very considerate gesture. However, seeing Misha enjoying it so much made him feel not entirely bad.The two sat silently while having breakfast, not saying a word for a while. Misha, poking the food with a fork like an archaeologist discovering a noble relic, soon bowed his head and started eating when the emptiness came over him. Bending his head over the table, he didn’t lift his head for a while.While watching this seemingly innocent sight, Chahyun bit his lip. He couldn’t help but recall Misha’s messy behavior yesterday at the pub, revealing Chahyun’s private life. The penetrating gaze, as if looking through Chahyun’s false presence surrounding a nonexistent lover. It was like an expression that said, “I won’t be swayed by such trivial matters.” If it weren’t for that, Misha might have dropped a bomb on the table, casually observing Chahyun and his colleagues’ reactions.In fact, having one lover wasn’t a big problem. It didn’t cause much trouble beyond angering some frustrated singles and receiving some petty jealous shoulder pats in the center hallway. It wasn’t much different from being betrayed by others. What bothered Chahyun more was the suspicion hidden behind Misha’s eyes, between the childish tantrums and the persistent stubbornness.Chahyun gazed at Misha’s forehead. Although he wasn’t used to scrutinizing someone, the desire to confirm was stronger.“Misha. How much do you remember from yesterday?”“Yesterday?”“Yesterday. Do you remember telling me that you have a lover at the table?”Misha slowly raised his head. Chahyun thought Misha might come up with some drunken excuse. However, Misha’s face remained expressionless, as if he had no intention of making excuses.“I remember. It was so noisy.”“….”“Everyone seemed shocked, but I guess they were really upset. I thought everyone already knew because they’re all close with Yuan.”With that, he didn’t change his facial expression. Swallowing his anger, Chahyun considered that admitting Yoon Chahyun’s claim of having a master wasn’t such a big deal after all. In order to proceed with his plan of strangling Misha, he had to officially acknowledge Yoon Chahyun’s claim that he had an owner. Looking at Misha, who had kept silent, Chahyun spoke.“Why didn’t anyone know, Yuan?”Misha’s gray eyes were sharp. Looking at him, Chahyun felt a sense of unease from last night. It was like watching an untrained beagle. Chahyun made an audacious expression.“Didn’t you see them trying to kill me yesterday? How do you tell that to those poor guys who gather even on weekends just to kick a ball around? I didn’t say a word. It’s all ruined because you spilled the beans.”“Even to Jude Ingram?”“He’s the scariest one.”Misha lowered his eyes and toyed with the edge of the plate with his fork. His expression was unreadable.“Is your lover that secretive? To the extent of hiding it from close friends?”“…Anyway, since I became a rebel because of you, if any solo steals my shoes, you have to hand yours over.”With a nonchalant remark from Chahyun, Misha seemed to think about something for quite a while before responding briefly.“Fine. Sorry.”It was a simple apology that lacked sincerity. Although his low-pitched voice didn’t reveal his true feelings, at least outwardly, it seemed like the incident had come to an end. As Chahyun picked up his fork, the meal resumed naturally. A discomfort pricked Chahyun’s heart like a needle, a lingering uneasiness stuck to his chest.Under the table, the dog lying down nudged his leg, and Misha suddenly looked down. It was a different, warm smile from before. The bacon he had in his mouth tasted strangely.***Chahyun drove slowly. Considering the worries about being late last night, it was a leisurely morning. The atmosphere on the streets was pleasant with the clear morning weather.The car headed towards the Winchester Training Center. Misha, sitting in the passenger seat, was wearing Chahyun’s spare club training uniform. The cuffs and hem were a bit loosely short. From Chahyun’s perspective, it was somewhat humiliating, but there was no help for it. Wearing a suit from the interview, even a crumpled one, to go to the club center would have been too much.Surely, he would be bombarded with questions, like where he spent the night, who he met, as well as accusations of stealing someone’s lover. It was somewhat pitiful.Glancing at Misha in the next seat as he drove towards the club, Chahyun thought.Since the breakfast, the conversation between the two had ceased. Even when Misha awkwardly walked out of the dressing room wearing Chahyun’s ill-fitting clothes, or when he greeted by patting Hongsam’s head, it was the same. For some reason, it was unclear for Misha, but Chahyun’s case was clear. The lingering atmosphere from the breakfast place still bothered him.In a sense, it was turning a blind eye. Issues left unresolved kept piling up, and the situation repeated like walking on thin ice. It was only a matter of time before slipping and falling.With his gaze fixed ahead, Chahyun spoke up.“Misha, I have something to say.”“Yeah.”“The things I said in the interview were sincere.”As the silence was broken, an uneasy atmosphere filled the space. Misha remained silent. It always felt like Misha knew what Chahyun was going to say. A strange calmness that seemed to know what Chahyun was about to say, even as he continuously sought affection. It was as if he was resigned to something.“So, from now on… You have to meet more people. It’s not right to limit yourself just because of the feelings you have now. There will be many people who will love you just as much as you love someone. You might not believe it, but there will be more than a hundred. Your salary is high, you have a good sense, and if you manage well, you’ll be running for another ten years. Well… you’re somewhat good-looking. And you can play the piano.”Although Chahyun’s intention was to express the need for Misha to open up to more opportunities, the words that came out were different. In the quiet atmosphere, Chahyun took a shallow breath. It was imperative to put an end to this, or it would be a problem.“But that’s not me. Misha, just because you like me, doesn’t mean I will stop liking you. But I won’t reciprocate the same feelings. Not forever.”Speaking calmly, Chahyun had a strong intuition that this would be the last time Misha would confess his love to Yoon Chahyun. Even though he was familiar with Misha’s persistent affection, it felt strange. He had a premonition that there would be no more such incidents between them in the future.“I’m sorry.”The inside of the car, now at its destination, was filled with silence. It was a profound stillness, like extracting a wisdom tooth that had been causing sleepless nights.