Black & Grey Vol. 4 Chapter 4

Rrrrrrr.

Yoochan, who was fast asleep in his dorm bed, woke up abruptly to the sound of his phone alarm. The screen displayed “AM 05:30” in large letters. Turning off the alarm, Yoochan saw the pair of rings on his wallpaper and smiled sleepily. The couple rings Jungeol had bought to mark his discharge day never ceased to bring him joy, even after two years.

Although the new couple rings were smaller than the 18K rings he used to wear, their sleek design continued to delight Yoochan. Unfortunately, both rings were currently in Jungeol’s possession. Yoochan had entrusted them to Jungeol to prevent losing them while exercising or leaving them in the dorm.

Frowning slightly at the sight of his empty left ring finger, Yoochan’s expression soon brightened when he saw <Jungeol Hyung> at the top of his phone. He opened the chat.

Are you awake?

Yoochan, unable to lift his head from the pillow, sprung up at Jungeol’s text and called him. Jungeol, who seemed to be looking at his phone, quickly answered, and a gentle voice filled the line.

[Hey, Yoochan.]

Hearing the sweet voice that perfectly suited his nickname “Honey Voice,” Yoochan couldn’t hide his happy expression and grinned as he replied.

“I just woke up. Why are you up so early, Hyung? You said you’d have lunch before going to work on Thursdays.”

Due to Manager’s strong recommendation, Jungeol had significantly reduced his schedule this year, leading to a more relaxed lifestyle. With the reduction in wrist pain, he had resumed boxing, spent more time with Gaang, and most importantly, had more time to talk or date Yoochan.

[I’m going to the gym with Taeho.]

The sound of the sharp morning wind mixed with Jungeol’s voice suggested he had just left the house. Entering the bathroom and yawning, Yoochan remembered that Jungeol had mentioned helping Taeho, who had gained weight recently, with his workouts and nodded.

“Has Taeho Hyung gained that much weight? I couldn’t tell when I saw him last week.”

[He seems to have gained 7 or 8 kg since last year.]

“Really? Taeho Hyung needs to exercise then. Too bad. If he leaves it to me, I can help him lose 10 kg in a month.”

Turning on the sink, Yoochan, suddenly too lazy to wash up, just wiped his eyes with his index finger like a cat and pulled out thick Rudolph socks from the drawer.

“What time are you leaving, Hyung?”

[I’m leaving now. You?]

“I’m about to head out soon.”

[Alright. Be careful not to get hurt today.]

“You too, Hyung. Have a good workout. I’ll call you again after lunch. Oh! And make sure to eat breakfast! They say breakfast is the best medicine.”

Jungeol chuckled at Yoochan’s cheerful tone and replied, “Alright, talk to you later.”

“Okay. See you later. Love you. You know that, right?”

[Yeah, me too.]

Starting his day with a call from Jungeol, Yoochan smiled broadly and took the phone away from his ear. Just as his thumb was about to end the call, it paused for some reason. Staying still for a moment, Yoochan, suspicious of the still active call screen, frowned and put the phone back to his ear.

It seemed Jungeol hadn’t pressed the end button yet. Yoochan, holding his breath and hearing faint breathing, couldn’t help but burst into a hearty laugh.

“Come on, Hyung. You said you were going to hang up. Seriously.”

[Okay, now I’m really going to hang up.]

Yoochan, pretending to be annoyed while feeling overjoyed, spoke, and Jungeol replied gently. Yoochan put on his sneakers at the shoe rack and said.

“Okay, we’ll really hang up now. Let’s hang up together on the count of three.”

[Alright.]

“Here we go… one, two, three…!”

Just as Yoochan was about to hang up, he twisted his finger and brought the phone back to his ear. Hearing the sharp sound of the wind, it seemed Jungeol hadn’t hung up yet. Yoochan, who was about to tease, “See! You didn’t hang up again! I knew it!” heard Jungeol’s gentle voice breaking the silence.

[Yoochan.]

“…Yes? What is it?”

Raising his eyebrows, Yoochan responded to the soft voice.

[It’s cold in the early mornings, so dress warmly.]

Stopping in his tracks, Yoochan smiled broadly, showing his teeth. Immersed in happiness, he missed the chance to reply, “You too, Hyung.” This time, the call truly ended.

Yoochan gazed warmly at his phone and then rubbed it against his chest. Placing it in the pocket of his jacket, adorned with the Taeguk symbol, he adjusted his sneakers and ran out with a smile still on his face.

The still-dark field was bustling with athletes who had arrived earlier. Yoochan lightly joined the line and began warming up, rotating his shoulders and bending his knees while looking around with a still somewhat naive expression. Despite being there for two months, Yoochan still found it hard to believe he was in the athletes’ village.

Initially, Yoochan had planned to live with Jungeol and attend university normally after his discharge. They had even discussed staying at Jungeol’s apartment temporarily until Taeho found a new place.

However, due to his parents’ opposition, Yoochan spent his second year in an officetel near the school. At his father’s urging, who had received an offer from the national team’s head coach, Yoochan unexpectedly participated in the national team selection. The following year, Yoochan found himself preparing for the Asian Games, D-240, at the athletes’ village.

Judo, which Yoochan had practiced since childhood following his father, was a closely integrated hobby, not a career aspiration. However, Yoochan won a silver medal at the national team selection, entered the athletes’ village without time for hesitation, and transitioned from a rookie competing for a starting position to a national team member preparing for the Asian Games this year.

Initially, Yoochan was disheartened by the thought of training early in the morning at the athletes’ village, 1 hour and 20 minutes away from Jungeol’s house, instead of enjoying a sweet cohabitation. However, he quickly adapted to the athletes’ village life, which suited him well. For something he had been pushed into, Yoochan found himself thriving in the athletes’ village environment.

Living a routine of early to bed and early to rise fit well with Yoochan’s usual habits. Building muscle through weight training and receiving specialized training were immensely rewarding and enjoyable for Yoochan. The buffet-style dining hall at the athletes’ village, with its delicious and plentiful food, was incomparable to school meals.

What worried Yoochan the most was dating Jungeol. Although Jungeol had more free time due to a reduced workload, the long distance was a concern. However, the athletes’ village life posed no issues for their relationship.

Jungeol visited Yoochan two to three times a week. Since athletes were free to go out from 6 PM to 9:30 PM on weekdays, Yoochan enjoyed meals at nearby restaurants with Jungeol. On weekends, Yoochan would take a day off to spend 1-2 days together. Their frequent phone calls kept their relationship strong and clear, much to the amazement of those around them.

“Hyung, hello! Oh, Noona! The persimmons were delicious. They were so tasty!”

Yoochan chatted warmly with acquaintances among the athletes and then joined the others in running around the field.

After the morning training, Yoochan devoured two bowls of dried pollack soup. Fruit and yogurt were served as dessert. Having eaten everything, Yoochan returned to the dorm to wash up.

Under the shower, water cascaded over Yoochan’s shoulders and body. Lowering his head to wet his hair, Yoochan looked at his arm in the mirror with a satisfied expression. Below the shoulder with the leopard tattoo, his first tattoo from Jungeol, was a second tattoo he got a few months after his discharge.

The size of the tattoo had been significantly reduced compared to the design they discussed, but the flowing mane was even fuller. The dynamic running horse tattoo was a couple tattoo, matched on Jungeol’s arm with the same size. Despite the peeling being over, Yoochan carefully washed the tattoo with a soapy wet towel to ensure the horse’s beautiful mane stayed intact.

After showering, Yoochan followed his schedule and went to the weight room. Taping his fingers and ankles, he began circuit training for several hours. In the middle of a heavy full squat, his phone rang loudly. Setting down the barbell, Yoochan picked up the phone.

It was Manager Yesul. It wasn’t unusual for her to call Yoochan, but a video call was rare. Yoochan leaned against the mirror, adjusted his wireless earphones, and accepted the call. Manager’s face filled the screen. Yoochan greeted her with a cheerful expression.

“Noona! What’s with the sudden video call?”

[Yoochan, I just wanted to see your face.]

Manager said cheerfully, waving her free hand while holding the phone. Yoochan replied while re-taping his loose ankle.

“I actually missed you too, Noona. This is great.”

Manager laughed heartily, playfully squinting her eyes as if Yoochan’s cute tone was irresistible. In reality, only three weeks had passed since Yoochan brought chicken to the shop to share with the staff. Manager, asking when Yoochan could visit the shop again, suddenly said,

[Jungeol Oppa just finished his work. Want to see him?]

“Well… I’m fine just talking to you, Noona. But if you want to switch to Hyung, that’s okay too.”

Understanding Yoochan’s implication, Manager seemed to disappear from the screen, and the phone wobbled. Yoochan, who felt shy at the thought of a video call with Jungeol, rubbed his nose as Manager set the phone on a table and stepped back to sit on a sofa.

As Manager adjusted the phone angle, Yoochan finally saw Jungeol leaning on the sofa’s edge. Jungeol hadn’t noticed the camera and was drinking something, his head turned away.

Yoochan’s face lit up like a sunflower in the sun. Staring at Jungeol’s face, Yoochan suddenly called out.

“Hyung! What are you drinking?”

Jungeol, realizing Yoochan was on the screen, raised his eyebrows. His stern face softened instantly upon seeing Yoochan, making Yoochan’s heart race anew.

[Just coffee.]

Jungeol replied.

[At the weight room?]

“Yeah.”

Yoochan answered with a bright smile.

“I was thinking of taking a break since you called. Ah, Manager Noona, join the video call too.”

Manager, who had stepped aside to give the couple privacy, peeked into the frame at Yoochan’s invitation. Seemingly eager to talk more with Yoochan, Manager moved closer and asked,

[Yoochan, how’s life there? Is it bearable?]

Sitting cross-legged and fixing his phone on the barbell, Yoochan replied,

“It’s bearable. But I want to leave.”

[Why? Is someone bothering you again?]

“Come on, Noona. This isn’t elementary school. Nothing like that.”

Manager asked, and Yoochan, shaking his head, burst out laughing. But Manager, still concerned, rested her chin on her palm and added,

[You said some seniors were subtly picking on you. Is that over now?]

“It’s fine now.”

Yoochan reassured, shaking his head lightly.

Initially, life at the athletes’ village wasn’t so pleasant. When Yoochan first arrived, the atmosphere was different. Someone had subtly spread negative rumors about him. Yoochan, often oblivious to such things, only found out through friends who told him about the gossip.

Apparently, it was because Yoochan’s mother had sent 100 million won to the athletes’ village as an encouragement gift, and Yoochan’s father, Baek Jungho, was a former national judo representative.

Hearing this, Yoochan felt upset but quickly let it go, true to his nature. Fortunately, the rumors subsided when Yoochan’s impressive achievements and skills from his youth, compared to his peers, came to light. Yoochan’s bright personality also helped him get along well with the seniors who had initially gossiped about him.

“Everyone’s nice to me now.”

[Then why do you want to leave?]

“Well…”

Yoochan’s eyes drifted to Jungeol. Seeing Jungeol watching him affectionately, Yoochan smiled shyly and hesitated.

“You know…”

Of course, he enjoyed training. People treated him well. The dining hall food was incredibly delicious. Yet, Yoochan preferred lying in Jungeol’s apartment bed, watching movies, and eating the home-cooked meals Jungeol made.

Because Manager was there, Yoochan held back from saying, ‘I just want to be with Jungeol Hyung every day!’ and instead shrugged and gave a roundabout answer.

“It’s cold, and we exercise outside early in the morning. The coach keeps telling me to practice instead of going out in the evening. They never leave me alone.”

[Ah, did you get in trouble with the coach?]

“Well, not exactly trouble, but the coach keeps nagging me. He says he’ll tell my dad if I don’t work hard and tells me not to get any more tattoos. I wanted to get another wrist tattoo with Hyung.”

Yoochan’s sulky expression and tone made Jungeol, who had been quietly listening, narrow his eyes. Yoochan had mentioned a wrist tattoo he saw on Instagram a few days ago, and it seemed he still wanted to get it.

Seeing Jungeol’s quiet smile on the screen, Yoochan quickly forgot the coach’s nagging and smiled happily. It was amazing how Jungeol looked even more handsome than a few days ago. Yoochan’s lips twitched with thoughts that would make anyone roll their eyes at his lovesickness. Just then, a shadow fell over Yoochan’s face and body, and someone spoke to him.

“Hey, Seonggol.”

“Oh? Yes, Hyung!”

“Let’s take a picture.”

“Sure.”

Yoochan, leaving the video call on, stood up on one knee.

[Seonggol?]

Manager’s puzzled voice was heard. Yoochan was about to explain to Manager and Jungeol but missed the timing and took out one earphone.

The person, who seemed to be taking a picture with Yoochan, put an arm around his shoulder and sat down. They both looked at the same spot and smiled for the photo.

Unlike Manager and Jungeol, who were curious about the sudden event, Yoochan seemed used to it, raising his chin and striking various poses for the pictures. After taking several photos, the person left, and Yoochan hurriedly put his earphone back in and said,

“Sorry for the wait. A Hyung I train with wanted to take a picture.”

[I see. But what did he call you earlier?]

Manager asked, and Yoochan replied nonchalantly, “Oh, Seonggol.” Manager frowned and asked,

[Seonggol? What’s that? Why do they call you that?]

“It’s nothing. Since my dad was a national athlete and I joined the team, the Hyungs call me that as a joke.”

[You’re not being bullied, right?]

Jungeol, also concerned, asked. Yoochan, startled, waved his hand and strongly denied it.

“No, really, I’m not. I’ve never been bullied in my life. Honestly, if anyone tried to bully me here, I’d win.”

Yoochan laughed heartily, finding it funny that Jungeol and Manager treated him, a 187cm tall national judo athlete, like a seven-year-old on their first day of kindergarten.

“Taekwang Hyung treats me well. He’s doing YouTube these days and uploads videos with the athletes’ village as the background. He asked me to help with that. Oh, what’s the channel name again?”

Yoochan added, recalling the channel name a bit late. Seeing Yoochan’s calm expression, Jungeol finally looked relieved. Just then, Yoochan suddenly shouted,

“Oh, right. Jungeol Hyung.”

Jungeol looked at him, waiting for him to speak. Yoochan, with an exaggerated voice as if he had discovered something amazing, asked,

“Taekwang Hyung went to the same middle school as you. Do you know him?”

Jungeol, puzzled by the unexpected question, asked back,

[Taekwang? What’s his last name?]

“Kim.”

Thinking for a moment, Jungeol shook his head, unsure.

[Doesn’t ring a bell.]

“Really? Well, Taekwang Hyung said he didn’t know you either.”

[How old is he? Is he my age?]

“Oh, he’s a year older than me. Six years younger than you.”

[……]

As Jungeol, taken aback, couldn’t find words, Manager burst into laughter and scolded Yoochan.

[Oh, Yoochan! How would he know a junior six years younger, especially from middle school? I don’t even know juniors from one year below me.]

“Why not? If you went to the same school, you could know each other!”

Yoochan frowned, finding Manager’s words even more surprising.

“I didn’t exactly get into trouble, but the coach keeps nagging me. He says he’ll tell my dad if I don’t work hard and tells me not to get any more tattoos. I wanted to get another wrist tattoo with Hyung.”

Hearing Yoochan’s sulky tone, Jungeol, who had been quietly listening, narrowed his eyes. It seemed Yoochan still wanted the wrist tattoo he saw on Instagram.

Catching a glimpse of Jungeol’s smile on the screen, Yoochan quickly forgot the coach’s nagging and smiled happily. It was amazing how Jungeol looked even more handsome than a few days ago. As Yoochan’s lips twitched, thinking lovesick thoughts, a shadow fell over his face, and someone spoke to him.

“Hey, Seonggol.”

“Oh? Yes, Hyung!”

“Let’s take a picture.”

“Sure.”

Leaving the video call on, Yoochan stood up on one knee.

[Seonggol?]

Manager’s puzzled voice was heard. Yoochan was about to explain to Manager and Jungeol but missed the timing and took out one earphone.

The person, who seemed to be taking a picture with Yoochan, put an arm around his shoulder and sat down. They both looked at the same spot and smiled for the photo.

Unlike Manager and Jungeol, who were curious about the sudden event, Yoochan seemed used to it, raising his chin and striking various poses for the pictures. After taking several photos, the person left, and Yoochan hurriedly put his earphone back in and said,

“Sorry for the wait. A Hyung I train with wanted to take a picture.”

[I see. But what did he call you earlier?]

Manager asked, and Yoochan replied nonchalantly, “Oh, Seonggol.” Manager frowned and asked,

[Seonggol? What’s that? Why do they call you that?]

“It’s nothing. Since my dad was a national athlete and I joined the team, the Hyungs call me that as a joke.”

[You’re not being bullied, right?]

Jungeol, also concerned, asked. Yoochan, startled, waved his hand and strongly denied it.

“No, really, I’m not. I’ve never been bullied in my life. Honestly, if anyone tried to bully me here, I’d win.”

Yoochan laughed heartily, finding it funny that Jungeol and Manager treated him, a 187cm tall national judo athlete, like a seven-year-old on their first day of kindergarten.

“Taekwang Hyung treats me well. He’s doing YouTube these days and uploads videos with the athletes’ village as the background. He asked me to help with that. Oh, what’s the channel name again?”

Yoochan added, recalling the channel name a bit late. Seeing Yoochan’s calm expression, Jungeol finally looked relieved. Just then, Yoochan suddenly shouted,

“Oh, right. Jungeol Hyung.”

Jungeol looked at him, waiting for him to speak. Yoochan, with an exaggerated voice as if he had discovered something amazing, asked,

“Taekwang Hyung went to the same middle school as you. Do you know him?”

Jungeol, puzzled by the unexpected question, asked back,

[Taekwang? What’s his last name?]

“Kim.”

Thinking for a moment, Jungeol shook his head, unsure.

[Doesn’t ring a bell.]

“Really? Well, Taekwang Hyung said he didn’t know you either.”

[How old is he? Is he my age?]

“Oh, he’s a year older than me. Six years younger than you.”

[……]

As Jungeol, taken aback, couldn’t find words, Manager burst into laughter and scolded Yoochan.

[Oh, Yoochan! How would he know a junior six years younger, especially from middle school? I don’t even know juniors from one year below me.]

“Why not? If you went to the same school, you could know each other!”

Yoochan frowned, finding Manager’s words even more surprising.

“I know a lot of my middle school seniors. These days, I’m busy, so I don’t get to play soccer with Baek Yoochan as often, but I still do sometimes.”

[Well, that’s because it’s you… Normal people aren’t like that.]

The manager murmured in admiration, and someone laughed loudly. It seemed like Jinwoo had overheard and laughed. Shaking his head, the manager waved goodbye to Yoochan and left.

Finally, Yoochan was alone with Jungeol. Wanting to see Jungeol more closely, Yoochan pulled his phone, which had been propped up against a dumbbell. With the phone positioned under his chin, Yoochan’s face filled the screen, and he spoke with a longing voice.

“You know, Hyung, every morning when I wake up, I think about how fun it would be if you were here too.”

[Why?]

“We could hang out in your room, go on secret dates at night, and have late-night snacks together.”

Jungeol smiled at the surprisingly sweet wishes.

[That sounds fun.]

“Right? It would be fun, wouldn’t it? Oh, Hyung, do you know about this?”

[What?]

Yoochan suddenly lowered his voice, as if sharing a secret.

“They give out condoms here. Isn’t that crazy?”

Jungeol had vaguely heard that the training village provided condoms. Although he already knew this, Jungeol acted as if it was news to him, raising his eyebrows in surprise. Yoochan moved closer to the camera to ensure no one else could hear and whispered, slightly embarrassed.

“There’s a basket full of condoms at the entrance of the building. Everyone here must be having sex with their partners. There are so many CCTVs that the management probably knows who’s dating who. Honestly, I’m a bit envious, but I’m okay. I’ll get to see my ‘snake’ this weekend.”

[True.]

Jungeol, now accustomed to Yoochan’s unusual choice of words, nodded without batting an eyelid. After years of hearing Yoochan refer to him as a ‘snake,’ Jungeol no longer found it strange. Noticing Yoochan’s flushed cheeks at the thought of their upcoming meeting, Jungeol asked with a hint of concern.

[Is there no one around you?]

He wondered if it was okay to have such a conversation in the weight room with other athletes around. Yoochan confidently replied,

“There are people around, but they’re all focused on their own workouts and don’t care about me.”

Still, Yoochan glanced around cautiously and spotted someone. He quickly took out his earphones and stood up to greet them.

“Yoochan, come here.”

Jungeol faintly heard a middle-aged man’s voice. Yoochan looked worried but gestured for Jungeol to wait and stood up. After a few minutes of conversation, Yoochan sat back down with a frustrated sigh.

“Hyung, the coach is driving me crazy.”

[Why?]

Jungeol asked, having waited alone for Yoochan. Yoochan propped up his knees and held his phone.

“He told me not to go out this weekend and to train instead.”

[Just you?]

“Yes. Everyone else gets to go out on the weekends, but I’m the only one… It feels like he’s being extra hard on me because he knows my dad.”

[…So we won’t be able to see each other this weekend.]

Jungeol rested his chin on the armrest of the sofa and muttered dejectedly. Uncharacteristically, his disappointment was evident. Yoochan had been looking forward to their weekend meetings, and Jungeol had been doing the same, keeping his schedule clear for their dates.

Seeing Jungeol’s disappointed expression, Yoochan apologized,

“I don’t know for sure. I’ll have to see what happens that day. I’m sorry I can’t keep our promise, Hyung.”

[It’s okay, don’t worry about it. It can’t be helped.]

Jungeol hid his disappointment and responded maturely. Yoochan, still feeling down, leaned on one hand and furrowed his brow thoughtfully. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he raised his eyebrows.

“I need to talk to my dad first. I’ll text you later.”

Jungeol agreed, and Yoochan ended the call with a determined wave. He immediately dialed his dad’s number.

“Dad, it’s Yoochan. Are you busy right now?”

Feeling utterly dejected at the thought of not being able to meet Jungeol this weekend, Yoochan spoke in a slightly whiny tone as soon as his dad answered the phone.

“Oh, it’s nothing serious. I just need some rest, but the coach won’t let me. Why do I want to rest? My ankle hurts a bit these days. What? How did you know I was exaggerating?”

Knowing Yoochan was in perfect health, his dad didn’t budge. Yoochan, pretending to be more distressed, continued.

“But I really need to rest this weekend. Can you call the coach just once? No, I don’t want to go home; I want to meet a friend. Please, just this once. Just once.”

Yoochan’s dad, swayed by his son’s plea, agreed to contact the coach. Yoochan nodded reluctantly and ended the call with the usual, “Yes, I love you too.”

After calming his restless mind, Yoochan picked up the dumbbells and resumed his workout. Building his pecs, biceps, and triceps was Yoochan’s favorite exercise. Moving his arms rhythmically with his lips pressed together, Yoochan soon forgot his worries about the weekend date.

Following his detailed plan, Yoochan finished his morning weight training and took a short break on the chest press machine. He noticed Taekwang waving at him.

Holding his phone high and talking to himself, Taekwang beckoned Yoochan over. Curious, Yoochan jogged lightly and sat next to Taekwang, who was live-streaming a video.

“Say hi to the subscribers, our cutie Yoochan.”

“Hello, Hyungs. I’m Baek Yoochan. Please take care of Taekwang Hyung.”

Not knowing what was happening, Yoochan bowed to the fast-moving chat beside his face on the screen and waved cheerfully.

“Say hi to the Noonas too.”

Elbowing his side, Taekwang prompted Yoochan, who waved both hands energetically.

“Hello, Noonas. My name? I’m Baek Yoochan, 23 years old, training with Taekwang Hyung. My height? 187 cm.”

“Yoochan, remember what I taught you yesterday? Do the like and subscribe thing.”

“Subscribers, if you find the video helpful, please like and subscribe.”

Having watched Taekwang’s videos a few times, Yoochan naturally promoted with a thumbs-up.

Wanting to help Taekwang, Yoochan tried to read more of the chat, but the messages moved too quickly. Giving up on interacting, Yoochan chatted away while Taekwang read one of the fast-moving messages.

“Do you have muscles? I showed my abs last week. Oh, not me, Yoochan? Yoochan, they’re asking if you have muscles.”

Running his fingers through his sweaty hair, Yoochan eagerly answered Taekwang’s question.

“I’m all muscles.”

“That’s right, this guy’s got a better body than me.”

Taekwang pointed at Yoochan with his thumb. Feeling proud, Yoochan puffed out his chest. Then, similar messages flooded the chat, asking him to show his muscles.

“You don’t believe me?”

Yoochan looked down at his body, feeling wronged.

“Can’t you tell I’m muscular even with clothes on? My shoulders alone should be different from most people.”

The chat united in wanting Yoochan to show his abs. Sensing the subscribers’ intent to provoke Yoochan into showing his abs, Taekwang joined in playfully.

“Since they don’t believe you, just show a bit of your abs.”

Taekwang aimed to increase views by showcasing Yoochan’s appealing looks. Unaware of Taekwang’s intention, Yoochan tilted his head in confusion.

“Don’t I look like I’ve been working out for a long time? People say I look fit even with clothes on.”

“Oh? Someone said you might be a skinny guy.”

Having lost a few kilos since entering the athletes’ village, Yoochan’s baby fat had reduced, and his jawline had become sharper. However, he still looked muscular, not skinny. It seemed someone used the term “skinny” to provoke him.

“Wow… skinny?”

Yoochan sighed as if his pride had been crushed.

“I’ve never been called skinny in my life, Hyung.”

Yoochan had been working out since he could walk, building his triceps with dumbbells while his friends held pens in school.

Skinny? To Yoochan, that word was a greater insult than being called stupid or foolish. It felt like his entire 23-year life had been denied.

“Ah, I’m really not skinny. Everything but my face is muscle.”

Unable to tolerate the insult, Yoochan grasped his shirt hem angrily.

“…Should I show you?”

The chat sped up, and it seemed like Yoochan might lift his shirt.

“Ah.”

Yoochan, with an excited expression, suddenly came to his senses, releasing his grip on his shirt and shaking his head. Despite the disappointed comments in the chat, Yoochan stretched his lips horizontally and explained apologetically.

“No, my partner will scold me. They told me not to take off my clothes just anywhere.”

The chat’s disapproval grew louder at the mention of a partner. Yoochan showed his palm, trying to calm the viewers, and said, “Taekwang Hyung has a great body too. Ask him to show you.” Then he slowly stepped back.

Even as the chat insisted, and Taekwang joined in to persuade him, Yoochan avoided taking off his shirt by directing viewers to the competition video on YouTube. Then he fled the scene.

After morning weight training, Yoochan had lunch with Taekwang and discussed the earlier live stream. While it was a bit disappointing that Yoochan didn’t take off his shirt, Taekwang was satisfied with the positive response to Yoochan’s appearance.

“Baek Yoochan, want to join me on YouTube? Kangmin is starting next week.”

Taekwang, seemingly unsatisfied with the short collaboration, asked Yoochan warmly. Yoochan took a spoonful of rice and asked,

“YouTube? What will I do?”

Yoochan, who enjoyed being in the spotlight, didn’t seem opposed to the idea. Taekwang explained that his channel focused on vlogs about athletes’ village life. Yoochan would only need to show his workouts and face.

“Daily life? Do people watch that a lot?”

“There are many people curious about athletes’ village life. Sometimes, you can show your diet, do mukbangs, and workout videos. If a handsome athlete appears for just three seconds, that video gets the highest views. Among those I’m currently working with, there’s no one as useful as you.”

“Oh.”

Still more interested in food than YouTube, Yoochan nodded while eating a large bite of japchae. Taekwang naturally placed his hand on Yoochan’s shoulder and continued.

“That’s why I’m asking you. You have the looks for it.”

Holding Yoochan’s shoulder with his arm, Taekwang placed his hand under Yoochan’s chin and said, then poked Yoochan’s cheek playfully as he stuffed his mouth with rice.

“It’s nice that the ladies like you.”

“Who likes me?”

Taekwang waved his hand as if Yoochan should know.

“Our subscribers. I streamed briefly with Kangmin yesterday, but it wasn’t as popular as today. Oh, keep this secret from Kangmin, okay?”

Not planning to tell anyone, Yoochan nodded and took another big bite of japchae. Taekwang lowered his hand from Yoochan’s shoulder and rested his arm on the table, watching Yoochan eat.

From the first time Taekwang saw Yoochan, he wanted to recruit him for YouTube. But he was initially intimidated by Yoochan’s height, 5 cm taller than himself, and kept his distance due to preconceived notions about Yoochan’s tough appearance.

Now, having assessed Yoochan over the past couple of months, Taekwang was ready. Though it had only been a short time, Yoochan had shown no rough edges, wasn’t overly sensitive, and was accommodating to most requests. Yoochan’s personality seemed perfect.

Above all, Taekwang found Yoochan’s appearance very appealing. Not to his taste, but to the subscribers’. Yoochan’s face was popular due to his sharp eyes and distinct features. Though he looked tough when serious, his image softened completely when he smiled. His eyes crinkled, and his straight teeth showed, making even other men find him cute.

Additionally, Yoochan’s tall stature and impressive physique made him perfect as the face of Taekwang’s YouTube channel. Taekwang, who hadn’t yet gotten a clear commitment from Yoochan, savored his food and suddenly asked,

“Kid, you know you’re handsome, right?”

“Come on, I’m just average.”

Yoochan laughed heartily. Though he never thought of himself as ugly and occasionally considered himself handsome, recent doubts had crept in.

“Stop pretending to be humble.”

“Really, it’s not me. There’s someone I know who’s genuinely handsome.”

Yoochan, itching to brag, looked at Taekwang. Already interested in finding good-looking participants, Taekwang’s eyes sparkled as he asked,

“Who? An athlete?”

“Not an athlete, but an acquaintance Hyung. Want to see?”

Excited to show off his handsome boyfriend, Yoochan eagerly pulled his phone from his jacket pocket and sent a text to Jungeol.

Hyung, can I show a picture of us to an acquaintance?

Sure.

With permission granted, Yoochan opened his photo gallery to find a picture of Jungeol.

“This Hyung is seriously handsome. I’ve never seen anyone better looking in person.”

Scrolling past dozens of recently staged photos of Manager and his friend Yeji, Yoochan finally found a collection of Jungeol’s pictures. He picked the one that best represented Jungeol’s real-life appearance and enlarged it to show Taekwang.

Taekwang let out a short exclamation at the sight of Jungeol’s face in the picture.

Often, Yoochan would post photos of himself with Jungeol on his profile or SNS, or subtly show Jungeol’s picture to new acquaintances. The reactions were always the same.

“He’s really handsome. What does he do?”

Proud to have such a boyfriend, Yoochan shrugged and began to boast.

“Super handsome, right? Looks like a movie star, doesn’t he? But he’s not a celebrity; he’s a tattoo artist.”

“Oh. A tattoo artist… Oh, is he the one who did your tattoos?”

“Yes. He’s amazing at tattoos too. Have you heard of Jet Black? No? Just search on Instagram; it’ll pop right up. Oh, and honestly, this Hyung doesn’t even look as good in photos. He’s much better looking in real life. And his body is incredible too. Have you ever seen someone with a back full of tattoos? This Hyung has it. When you look at his back, it’s like looking at a sculpture. Every time I see him, I think, ‘He’s got it all.'”

Yoochan continued to praise Jungeol’s appearance all through lunch, leaving his delicious japchae behind, while Taekwang, engrossed, internally decided on his next participant.

* * *

In the afternoon, during specialized training, Yoochan was called by the coach. Bewildered by the sudden summons, the coach asked Yoochan in a concerned voice,

“Yoochan. I got a call from your father. You need to go home this weekend for family reasons?”

“Huh?”

Confused, Yoochan soon realized his dad’s lie and nodded.

“Yes… I think I need to go.”

Not skilled at lying, Yoochan avoided eye contact and fumbled his words. But the coach, having received a direct call from Yoochan’s father, didn’t doubt him and patted his shoulder roughly.

“Be careful in the cold.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Don’t come back with more tattoos.”

“…”

“Answer me.”

“…Yes.”

Having hoped to secretly get another small tattoo from Jungeol, Yoochan answered reluctantly. The coach, satisfied, told him to leave.

Disheartened at not getting another tattoo, Yoochan slumped his shoulders and walked away slowly like a dejected puppy. But as soon as he rounded the corner and was out of the coach’s sight, he started skipping happily, excited about the weekend. He pulled out his phone and called Jungeol.

[Hey, Yoochan.]

“Hyung! Are you busy?”

[It’s okay, tell me.]

“Good news! I’m going out this weekend. The coach gave me permission.”

[That’s great.]

Though short, Jungeol’s reply sounded brighter.

[I’ll pick you up in the morning.]

“Really? But you don’t have to come if you’re tired. I can take the train.”

[It’s fine. What time should I pick you up?]

“As early as possible. Oh, by the way, Hyung.”

Yoochan hurriedly called Jungeol and then lowered his voice to add.

“On Saturday, you have to wear those briefs. You know? This week, let’s match in black. You know, the one with the gray band. You get it, right? Don’t forget and make sure to note it in your memo app. I’ll also wear black, so we match.”

There was a brief pause before Jungeol responded, a bit later than usual, to the couple’s underwear talk.

From the first navy couple’s underwear to the present, they already had over fifty pairs of matching sets. Yoochan often wore the matching underwear alone, while Jungeol didn’t wear them unless Yoochan wanted them to match.

Thinking about wearing couple’s underwear with Jungeol, Yoochan blushed and smiled, trying to contain his excitement. Just then, a familiar voice came through the phone.

“Who are you with? Is that Jaehyeok Hyung’s voice?”

[Yeah, Jaehyeok just passed by.]

“Oh, I hope Jaehyeok Hyung is at the shop on Saturday too. I haven’t seen him in a while. I missed him when we had chicken.”

[I’ll let him know you’re coming.]

As Jungeol replied, another familiar voice could be heard. Yoochan tilted his head, puzzled. The voice sounded like Taekwang’s, but since Taekwang should be training at the athletes’ village, Yoochan dismissed it as a mistake.

* * *

After the call with Yoochan ended, the gentle and peaceful expression slowly faded from Jungeol’s face. He rested his hand on the back of the chair where Manager sat, his eyes turning stern.

When Yoochan mentioned Taekwang’s YouTube channel name in passing, Jungeol didn’t think much of it, but Manager couldn’t contain her curiosity. She searched on the computer at the counter and said,

“Oh, the pictures were in the community posts.”

Jungeol glanced at the screen as Manager mumbled. The screen was filled with a photo of Taekwang, the person they saw during the video call, and Yoochan, both drenched in sweat.

“Wow, our Yoochan is getting a great response.”

Manager said, seemingly amazed. Jungeol squinted and read the text on the screen.

Isn’t that the person who appeared briefly in the previous video?

12:33

Morning Sun Boy…! Thank you, Taekwang, for making a separate video for him. Yoochan player is so heartwarming!

Jungeol’s expression turned displeased as he brushed his long bangs back. He hadn’t imagined that Taekwang was a popular YouTuber with 300,000 subscribers, nor that he involved so many people in his videos.

“There are so many guest appearances that it’s hard to tell which is which. Oh? Is this it? The comments say this is Yoochan’s first appearance. But why can’t I see him?”

Manager repeatedly hit the arrow keys, but Yoochan was not visible. The video Manager played was not focused on Yoochan. It showed Taekwang taking selfies with someone else and giving a tour of the athletes’ village.

“Is it this one? 12:33 Morning Sun Boy?”

Jungeol leaned over the counter, resting his elbows on the chair Manager sat on, to get a closer look. At around 12 minutes and 33 seconds, Taekwang turned the camera to show a special meal, and a tall man sitting across from him briefly appeared on camera.

“That’s Yoochan!”

Manager exclaimed excitedly. The man was indeed Yoochan.

Yoochan sat at the table, turning his head sideways to look out the window while drinking water. With only a little drink left, Yoochan’s prominent Adam’s apple bobbed as he gulped.

Manager, intrigued by seeing Yoochan in the video, tilted her head and said,

“But it looks like Taekwang uses a camera app. Yoochan’s skin looks really white.”

At that moment, bright sunlight poured through the window onto Yoochan’s face and neck. The auto-enhancement and reflective effect of the meal tray made Yoochan’s already good skin look even clearer and his skin tone bright as if under a spotlight.

Yoochan appeared with an unusually innocent atmosphere rarely seen. However, Yoochan’s appearance was brief as the video soon shifted focus from his face to the food tray filled with meals. Taekwang began reviewing the athletes’ village side dishes one by one.

None of the commenters were interested in Taekwang’s review. Most were talking about the newcomer, Yoochan.

12:33 Who’s the Pocari Sweat guy?? He’s drinking Morning Sun.

Oh? It’s really Morning Sun. Strange, he was definitely drinking Pocari Sweat earlier.