Strategic Mating Partner Chapter 26

But it wasn’t enough to stop the match. It was probably just a slight sprain, not a fracture. After finishing all his matches and heading to the medical room, Taehyun was faced with his ankle, now swollen and red.

“There’s no problem with the bone. Let’s reduce the swelling with physical therapy for the time being.”

Fortunately, the swelling subsided by the next morning. The hospital he revisited for physical therapy also told him it wasn’t a serious injury. Taehyun was relieved. He had had minor injuries before, mostly spraining his wrist from falling after an attack, but his main weapon, his leg, had always been safe. He regretted not being more cautious about injuries until now. I need to be more careful in the future. And throughout the following training sessions, Taehyun couldn’t shake a strange feeling.

“There’s this persistent tingling sensation….”

And then in February, the problem finally erupted. During training, where he repeatedly attacked a sandbag for a set time, the sandbag, whose connection strap was loosely fastened, suddenly toppled over towards Taehyun. If I get crushed by that, something will break. In that moment of crisis, as he dodged, he landed awkwardly on his left foot again, worsening the pain in his ankle.

At first, he thought it would subside after a few days of applying cold compresses, but the pain persisted even after a month. Eventually, it led to a cast. The cause was simple: overuse and impact from the wrong direction. It was a diagnosis common to all athletes, an occupational hazard. There was only one way to treat it: stop using it. The doctor first advised him to stop all training, but he couldn’t do that.

Doctor, I don’t want to ignore your advice, but the Olympics are less than a year away. What do you mean, rest? It wasn’t the right time. Taehyun continued training even with the cast on, doing his best to maintain his skills.

And now, a month later, the persistent pain had led to the drastic measure of a complete ban on all training for two weeks.

“…….”

So, if he had to choose between resting now and resting on the day of the Olympics, the former was the obvious choice. But with barely 100 days left until the Olympics, this felt like a bolt from the blue. Taehyun sighed deeply as he finished paying, while his manager was on the phone, discussing the situation with his superiors at the office.

“…….”

Taehyun waited for his manager to finish the call, feeling like a criminal. What could he say when he couldn’t do anything? He didn’t have the courage to tell him not to worry too much, that he would definitely win a medal after this short break. How much time had passed? The manager, who had finished his call on the nearly deserted emergency stairs, returned to Taehyun and said,

“I’ve talked with the managing director. It’s best for you to rest comfortably for the time being. Let me know if anything else hurts. You don’t have to come to the center, so don’t worry too much.”

The manager’s expression was dark. Taehyun could guess that the call hadn’t ended well, as the manager had been responsible for Taehyun’s condition. Taehyun, his face equally grim, looked down at his feet and apologized to Hoyong.

“I’m sorry, I should have been more careful….”

“No, don’t say that. It’s not like you wanted to get hurt. Think of it as a vacation and get some rest. I’ll drive you home today.”

“….Okay.”

Taehyun nodded glumly. Even if he thought of it as a vacation… it wouldn’t feel good. Even if his body rested, his mind would be heavy, as if weighed down by iron. As they headed to the parking lot, both feeling dejected, a heavy sigh escaped Taehyun’s lips.

“…….”

What could he do now that things had turned out this way? Taehyun stared out the car window the entire way home, and when the scenery finally became familiar, he asked his manager,

“You can drop me off up ahead. I’ll walk from there.”

Hoyong immediately scolded him.

“What are you talking about? You’re the one who needs to move as little as possible. I’ll take you right to your apartment, so just stay put.”

His tone was so firm that Taehyun couldn’t refuse. Arriving at his apartment in that uncomfortable and apologetic atmosphere, Taehyun felt a wave of melancholy as soon as Hoyong left. Even though he knew nothing would change by feeling guilty and agonizing over it. His already ruined mood showed no signs of improving.

“…….”

What should he do now? Should he go back to his family home? Taehyun, who had gotten his own apartment near the center at the end of last year for training, wasn’t used to living alone. Since he spent most of his day at the training facility provided by the agency, it had been fine to use this place just for sleeping. The thought of being confined to this small room for the next two weeks already made him feel suffocated.

‘…Should I invite some friends over?’

Everyone had been complaining that he hadn’t had a proper housewarming party because he was busy preparing for the competition. But the problem was that most of Taehyun’s friends were also active athletes. They were also preparing for the biggest event of their lives, the Olympics. No one in their right mind would be preoccupied with a housewarming party at such a crucial time.

‘….Ha.’

Then what should he do? Having lived his life solely focused on training, without any other hobbies, Taehyun’s mind was blank when it came to what to do alone if he couldn’t even hang out with friends. It would be perfect if he could at least exercise to pass the time. But what could he do when he couldn’t even walk too much? Taehyun limped to his bed and threw himself onto it.

‘I’m already bored.’

Two weeks of absolute rest. His joints might rust. Should he carefully practice pull-ups to keep himself moving? While he was contemplating ways to keep his body active, he received a message from his manager.

Manager

Don’t even think about doing anything strange and just rest at home

4:12 PM

He had to admit, his manager had a good sense for these things. Taehyun completely ignored his manager’s concern and walked towards the pull-up bar installed on his door frame. This much should be fine… He could do it with just one leg. He gripped the bar firmly with both hands, got into position, pulled his shoulders down, and pulled himself up. He was then startled by the loud ringing of his phone and got down from the bar. Before he could answer, the missed call notification disappeared, and a new message popped up.

Manager

I told you to rest!

4:16 PM

(Emoticon)

4:16 PM

Taehyun burst out laughing when he saw the emoticon of an ugly duck throwing a phone in anger. Well, if that’s what he wanted so badly, he couldn’t refuse a living person’s wish when even a dead person’s wishes were granted….

‘Or I’ll die of boredom.’

But since he was young, Taehyun had been a rascal whose bucket list was filled with things he wasn’t supposed to do. He had stopped since he started his athletic career because he had to be a role model for other students training at his coach’s dojang, but his playful and active nature hadn’t gone anywhere.

It was two days later when Taehyun, who couldn’t stand it if he didn’t move his body for even a day, received some good news.

🤺

[Mother, why do you think the person I love is your son?]

[What are you talking about? I….]

[From the moment I entered this house, there’s only been one person I’ve loved. Do you really not know who that is?]

[I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. You may leave now.]

[Mother!]

‘Wow… This drama is insane.’

It was only the second day of his absolute rest. Taehyun, having already binge-watched three episodes of a popular drama series known for its extreme plot twists, was glued to the TV, sipping a zero-calorie drink.