Having suffered from Dad’s violence since childhood, as I grew up I strived diligently to act as opposite to Dad as possible. I lived without spewing curses, without smoking, without hitting or threatening others for no reason.
However, I ultimately couldn’t break the habit of drinking alcohol. Even while blaming myself that I must be Dad’s son so I couldn’t help it, I emptied a bottle of soju I’d kept in the refrigerator.
In that slightly intoxicated state, I headed to Kwon Yujin’s house.
“Oh my, the handsome friend came again.”
The security guard who remembered my face greeted me at the building entrance. I simply wrote my name, but he didn’t verify my identity as thoroughly as before.
“Hello.”
“I’ll just quickly check your face. You really like masks, hehe. Are you a celebrity?”
When I lowered my mask, the security guard saluted and smiled as if telling me to go in. I bowed my head and pulled the mask back up.
Whether it was thanks to the alcohol or because I’d practiced showing my face to several people, this time I wasn’t as extremely nervous as last week.
Soon after, I stood in front of the 3rd floor door and pressed the bell. While waiting for the door to open, I recalled Kwon Yujin’s credit card I’d kept in my pocket. It had been quite a while since I received it, but I’d forgotten to return it. I should remember to give it back today.
While waiting with such thoughts, the door opened. And Kwon Yujin came out.
“You’re early.”
“……”
I stiffened for a moment at the unexpected scene. Because Kwon Yujin wasn’t wearing a top.
Wearing only training pants, he nodded nonchalantly with his upper body fully exposed.
“What are you doing? Not coming in?”
“Put on some clothes.”
Belatedly coming to my senses, I mumbled as I entered the entrance.
“What?”
My voice seemed to be muffled by the mask again.
“Why aren’t you wearing a top?”
“I just came back from morning training and it was hot.”
No wonder the pheromones are stronger than usual. I nodded while deliberately turning my eyes elsewhere. But my eyes kept going to Kwon Yujin’s broad shoulders and deeply carved abs and such.
Especially the places that had been injured and bruised from being hit by Dad in the past—I couldn’t help but observe them carefully. Shoulders, sides, chest, and so on. Dad had wielded violence mercilessly to a degree a child could barely endure.
Fortunately, the traces from that time had now completely disappeared. I’d already confirmed it several times whenever I went to watch competitions after first learning that Kwon Yujin was a swimmer, but this was the first time observing from this close.
“How were your records today?”
I asked while pretending not to steal glances at Kwon Yujin.
“Not bad. Wait a bit while I wash up.”
Saying that, Kwon Yujin, who had been heading to the bathroom, suddenly turned around and walked toward me again.
Since he wasn’t wearing a top, every time he moved, the shape of his well-trained, broadly spread shoulder muscles was nakedly revealed. It wasn’t this much when he wore clothes, but at a glance it was almost threatening.
I shrank my shoulders a bit even though I hadn’t committed any crime.
“What.”
“Hey. Did you drink?”
At those words, I hunched my shoulders more. Did it show? I thought he wouldn’t know since I was still wearing my hat and mask.
“A little.”
“You drank alcohol in broad daylight?”
One of Kwon Yujin’s eyebrows shot up.
“Yeah. I thought I’d need some alcohol in me to be able to take this off… later.”
I added like an excuse while tapping my mask.
Drinking isn’t a crime, but because I’d strived diligently not to resemble Dad, I was embarrassed to be caught drinking.
Does Kwon Yujin also think negatively about alcohol? Since he’s an athlete and someone who manages his body, he’d naturally dislike it, right?
While worrying and about to add that I drank a little but wasn’t drunk, Kwon Yujin received a phone call.
“Hello.”
He, with a towel draped over his shoulder, answered the phone. I just moved my lips soundlessly and sat obediently on the sofa. Thinking that I’d have to take off the mask soon kept making my insides burn with anxiety.
“Just schedule that as full until next week. Long sets in the morning. After the morning session ends, tell the trainer and Coach-nim that I’ll go to weight training too. Yes.”
Usually, as competitions approached, most swimmers were summoned to the Jincheon National Training Center or entered group training with their corporate teams. But according to what I’d heard through the media, Kwon Yujin’s situation was different.
His family was well-off enough to provide a private pool and personal coach, and his own skills were also world-ranked, so it seemed they often made exceptions and adjusted according to his demands. Being relatively free from group training, I heard he was training on a schedule tailored to himself.
“What’s this?”
I was sitting on the sofa passing time with various thoughts, when Kwon Yujin, whom I thought had entered the bathroom, approached me while on the phone. He was holding something in his hand.
He held out a large item, so I reflexively received it and found it was a liquor bottle.
I looked up at him in surprise and blinked.
“…For me to drink?”
When I whispered softly, Kwon Yujin nodded with his phone wedged between his shoulder and ear. Then he swiftly entered the bathroom.
If it’s in such a thick, large bottle, isn’t this expensive alcohol? Since I’d always only drunk beer or soju, I didn’t know much about other types of alcohol. Moreover, it was written in English, so there was even less way to know the information. At least I was certain it wasn’t wine.
It seems he gave it because I said I’d need to drink to be able to take off the mask….
I carefully lowered my mask below my chin and opened the liquor bottle. An alcohol smell I was experiencing for the first time stimulated my sense of smell.
Drinking too much is bad, but… since Kwon Yujin gave it, it was too precious not to drink. Besides, the alcohol from the soju I’d drunk before leaving home had long since worn off.
I glanced toward the bathroom where water sounds were coming from, then ultimately couldn’t resist the temptation and drank the alcohol. It went down very smoothly. Moreover, various aromas rose up, making it incredibly delicious.
“Expensive stuff really is different.”
Muttering that, I took a few more sips. Unlike soju, the complex aromas and the way it wrapped around my mouth meant my stomach didn’t burn.
I resolved again while drinking. That even if I heard from Kwon Yujin today that my face was disgusting or that he didn’t want to look at it, it couldn’t be helped.
And maybe… just like the women and alphas who gave me their numbers, Kwon Yujin might also be unbothered when looking at me, more than expected.
Anyway, what’s more important than how my face looks is restoring Kwon Yujin’s condition. My emotions or thoughts aren’t that important in that.
When only half the liquor remained in the bottle, I heard the sound of the bathroom door opening. At Kwon Yujin’s presence, I habitually pulled my mask up quickly. I don’t know why I did that when I have to take it off soon anyway.
“You already finished it?”
“No, just half.”
I appealed the point that I’d practiced moderation in my own way.
Kwon Yujin approached me while sweeping back his hair, which still had some moisture beaded on it. Like when he went in, he was shirtless, wearing only pants. Without knowing it, I swallowed dry saliva.
“You’re still wearing that?”
Discovering the mask covering my face, Kwon Yujin frowned. It was a displeased expression. I cleared my throat and rolled my eyes.
“Now, we’re doing it now, right?”
“Yeah.”
“…Then turn off the lights.”
Suddenly thinking the surroundings were too bright, I carefully requested.
“Haaa.”
Kwon Yujin sighed irritably. Then he leaned his body against the wall and tilted his head obliquely to look down at me.
What was contained in our meeting gaze were only negative emotions like contempt, irritation, and annoyance.
“Anyone would think I’m asking something tremendous from you. It’s just briefly touching lips, yet you’re making such a fuss.”
“If it’s just touching lips, there’s no reason the surroundings must be bright either.”
I know Kwon Yujin would dislike it if I make demands beyond my station, but I can’t help it. I hated showing my face in such a bright place more than being hated.
When I sat still with the momentum of not budging an inch, Kwon Yujin approached the wall and pressed a switch. At the same time, all the lights in the house went out except for one small light at the end of the hallway.
With blinds down on all the windows, we could only confirm each other’s silhouettes.
As the surroundings darkened, I finally felt relieved.
“Satisfied?”
“Yeah.”
I felt my hands trembling slightly as I completely removed my hat and mask.
