Along with countless applause, the gold medal was hung around his neck. Jeong Minha didn’t deviate much from his usual expressionless face, but it was a naturally brighter face.
With the Taegeukgi hanging high in front, the national anthem resonated. In salute to the flag, Jeong Minha placed his right hand on his heart. Unlike 4 years ago when he just stood still, now he could salute proudly.
Lastly, the award ceremony ended with taking a group photo.
* * *
“You suddenly made a comeback after 4 years this time—was there a special reason?”
Jeong Minha stood in front of microphones from each broadcasting station. He responded to an interview directly for the first time. Hearing a question asking about the past from the start, he calmly spoke.
“I had given up because the conditions weren’t right, but thankfully an opportunity arose and I was able to challenge again.”
As soon as he answered calmly, another question immediately came in.
“Right after your comeback, you achieved a world record with an amazing score! Is there some secret?”
This time it was a compliment, so the corners of his mouth twitched on their own. He held back as much as possible and spoke honestly.
“Generally, if I shoot with confidence, I seem to get decent scores.”
“The secret to a perfect score is scary….”
Then Jeong Minha, who seemed to be pondering something, soon answered with a natural smile.
“And… that confidence comes from the people who always cheer me on. Thank you.”
Camera flashes immediately went off at the touching answer. After that, he returned to a calm expression and only gave standard answers before finishing the interview.
However, then the camera director approached Jeong Minha. Hearing the director’s words, Jeong Minha was flustered for a moment. But as if making a decision, he nodded and immediately picked up a pen.
―MINHA
Jeong Minha held the pen cap in his mouth while holding the camera with his left hand and the pen with his right hand, signing on the camera lens.
It was a gift for a certain fan who had been waiting so long for athlete Jeong Minha’s signature.
* * *
Having finished everything, Jeong Minha hurriedly left the stadium heading for his destination.
It was like this 4 years ago too. Back then too, as soon as the competition ended, he ran out anxiously looking for the coach who had disappeared.
But this time was different. He ran out to an exact destination, with a joyful heart.
Jeong Minha, who arrived at the waiting room, immediately flung the door open.
“…! Mi, Minha―”
“Hyung!”
He ran to Seo Sihan, who stood up from the chair with a surprised face, and hugged him tightly.
“Hyung, I did it! It’s a gold medal! Look at this!”
Jeong Minha tried to lift the gold medal to show Seo Sihan. However, as soon as he saw Seo Sihan’s face, his hand stopped in surprise.
“……!”
Tears fell on his pretty cheeks. Seo Sihan was looking at Jeong Minha with his mouth pressed shut, holding back tears that kept trying to fall.
“Hyu, hyung…. Why… why are you crying?!”
“…Minha is so… really……”
It was a completely sobbing, trembling voice. Jeong Minha put his feet back on the ground and obediently waited for Seo Sihan’s answer.
Seo Sihan carefully held both of Jeong Minha’s hands.
Right after, he composed his voice as much as possible and opened his mouth.
“First of all, really… congratulations so much. Really… it was really amazing….”
“Ah, ahah…. Well… thank you….”
As Seo Sihan gave sincere praise, Jeong Minha smiled bashfully.
Seeing that, Seo Sihan started revealing his sincerity even more.
“I really… from the moment I first saw you at the Olympics 4 years ago… I think I’ve been hoping for this day….”
“…When did you say it didn’t have to be a gold medal.”
When Jeong Minha asked in a teasing tone, Seo Sihan added while sobbing.
“That’s not it…. I mean, I… wanted to see that athlete… be happy while competing. If that athlete’s goal wasn’t a medal, they would’ve been happy even after winning a silver medal. But back then, Minha’s expression was….”
“……”
“So now I know. The only case where that athlete is satisfied with themselves is a gold medal….”
“…Y, yeah.”
“That’s why it’s even more amazing. Not being happy with a silver medal, and only being satisfied if you’re first…. Getting annoyed if you can’t set a record….”
“…This isn’t an insult, right?”
Because of Seo Sihan’s honest evaluation, Jeong Minha made an uneasy expression. He couldn’t even refute it because it was all true.
Looking at such a proud athlete in front of him, Seo Sihan answered with a smile.
“But… you’re someone who actually does that….”
“……!”
When he said that with eyes sparkling even more from tears, Jeong Minha rambled in embarrassment. I-if you cry then laugh, you’ll grow horns. Seo Sihan just smiled slightly asking what that was, then continued speaking.
“Moreover, it turns out back then it was because of an unfair situation…. Even after quitting like that… in the end, in the end like this……”
Seo Sihan looked at the gold medal hung around Jeong Minha’s neck, then met Jeong Minha’s eyes and said.
“Making a comeback… and even getting a gold medal…. Minha, you’re really….”
Because of Seo Sihan who laughed then sobbed again, laughter finally burst out of Jeong Minha.
“Ah, jeez…. I’m not even crying, so why are you crying, hyung? Really what…. Why does it look like you’re more moved now than when I confessed to you?”
“N-no….”
As Seo Sihan became flustered, Jeong Minha smiled again and hugged Seo Sihan.
“It’s fine, it’s okay. Be very moved. I like that hyung is my fan.”
“Yeah, I’m really Minha’s fan….”
“…And I’m really grateful.”
“Hm?”
Jeong Minha opened his mouth while listening to Seo Sihan’s pounding heartbeat. This time it was his turn to convey his sincerity.
“Hyung says it like I did everything… but honestly, if it weren’t for you, hyung, I’d still be doing part-time jobs having given up shooting.”
“Even without me, Minha would….”
Before Seo Sihan could continue speaking, Jeong Minha pushed Seo Sihan. Then he declared while boldly meeting his gaze.
“No, really! It’s no different from hyung changing my entire life! …In a good way! I said once I won the gold medal I’d do everything my way, right?”
“Mmm….”
“I’m going to pay back everything I received now, so accept it even if you don’t need it!”
“……?!”
“Well, of course even if I get a gold medal salary, what you gave is much more. But I’m going to continue my athlete career from now on, you know? Then I’ll pay it back someday.”
“…I don’t want to accept that money―”
“If you say you won’t accept it one more time, I’ll get angry.”
“Mi, sorry….”
Jeong Minha was satisfied, but Seo Sihan made a gloomy expression.
Setting aside paying it back, the fact that he won a gold medal now means….
“……”
“…Do you dislike it that much?”
“Just one more month… can’t we live together…?”
“What?”
Because of Seo Sihan suddenly bringing up the cohabitation period, Jeong Minha was flustered. But soon the words he’d said in the past came to mind.
It was content they talked about during dinner after almost fighting when he joked about moving out early in the cohabitation.
―Until I win a gold medal… how about that?
“…Ah!”
“You could live separately now but… even just one more month….”
Seeing Seo Sihan’s restless appearance, Jeong Minha asked in disbelief.
“That was something I said long ago…. Hyung, did you forget we’re dating?”
“Hu… huh?”
Jeong Minha lifted and removed the gold medal hung around his neck.
“…This is no different from you giving it to me, hyung.”
Then he hung the string on his right ring finger and held it out to Seo Sihan.
“Originally it’s the left hand, but…. Hyung likes my right hand.”
“……!”
Seo Sihan, who suddenly realized the meaning of hanging it on his ring finger, looked at Jeong Minha with surprised eyes.
Jeong Minha ultimately couldn’t hold back his laughter and shouted while hugging Seo Sihan tightly.
“One month what, let’s just live together forever!”
* * *
After that, Jeong Minha had a hard time for a while. In the end, he struggled to soothe Seo Sihan who really cried.
To make him laugh as much as possible, he even told him about things he’d done for Seo Sihan in his own way.
Before shooting the last shot, smiling at the camera was because of you, hyung. It was a bit embarrassing but you always watch only my competition videos so much. So I smiled at the camera for you to see when watching this video.
And the signature on the camera during the interview was also for you, hyung…. Actually I wanted to try this too. You can just hold the cap with your hand but I unnecessarily held it in my mouth, you know? Ahaha, suddenly I’m embarrassed thinking about it again….
And I was going to just write my full name, but I like that you call me Minha so I did that. I wrote it in English in my own way…. Well, if you don’t like it, I’ll write it properly again on paper….
Having heard this far, Seo Sihan finally covered his own face with both hands. Far from laughing, he seemed to cry more, so Jeong Minha added in embarrassment.
And I received things too! In the middle, I remembered the past again… so my hands trembled and my score got lower and I was anxious, you know? At that time, seeing you sitting in the spectator seats, I could shoot a perfect score again! I was purposely not looking in case I’d panic more if you weren’t there….
But when I actually looked, you were staring at me so passionately that I even burst out laughing. Ah, what if it was filmed strangely? Anyway, so thanks to you, hyung, the gold medal…….
Because of Jeong Minha who unintentionally delivered the final blow, Seo Sihan now crouched down on the floor and bowed his head deeply. Receiving a gift from his favorite was happy, but hearing that favorite say it was thanks to him that they succeeded was more moving.
In the end, Jeong Minha gave up on comforting and just shut his mouth and sat next to him.
“…Ah, right!”
Then Jeong Minha, who realized an important fact, lifted the gold medal placed next to him again.
“Hyung, just your face for a moment….”
As soon as Seo Sihan slowly lifted his head, he hung the gold medal around his neck.
“Ah, it’s really pretty. I like it so much. I finally feel proud…. So I went through all this trouble to see this―”
Seo Sihan, who had been blankly shedding only tears, immediately placed his lips on Jeong Minha’s mouth.
“……!!”
He was surprised because Seo Sihan initiated skinship first for the first time, but Jeong Minha, whose purpose was to soothe Seo Sihan, held back his embarrassment as much as possible and accepted it.
