“I’m doing all this for hyung’s sake. Hyung, if you just sit around like that all the time, your back will get bad and your stamina will drop. Even though hyung is in your twenties now, once you pass into your thirties….”
“…….”
Seo Sihan gritted his teeth and did strength training while listening to Jeong Minha’s nagging. The more he listened, the more he had to admit everything was true.
Finally, after being held captive for a while, they switched turns. While Seo Sihan rested, this time Jeong Minha worked out on his own.
Seo Sihan caught his breath and leaned his back against the wall, drinking water. Then he watched Jeong Minha diligently lifting the equipment. Was it true that rewards come after suffering? Seo Sihan, who was both Jeong Minha’s lover and fan, felt his heart flutter greatly watching Minha exercise.
However, he soon fell into despair. He wanted to film because it was so good, but his arms were trembling and wouldn’t lift. He couldn’t have made me go first on purpose, right…? Feeling disappointed, he just committed it to memory with his eyes.
By the time he was being dragged around so much that you couldn’t tell who was the athlete preparing for the Olympics, Jeong Minha finally began to stop.
Whether it was because his stamina had really improved or he was doing it on purpose was unclear, but it was because Seo Sihan had made things harder for him at night. Even when Minha said he was sleepy, Sihan didn’t stop. Jeong Minha repeatedly passed out and woke up in surprise.
Eventually, Jeong Minha, who felt like he was really going to die, declared a temporary break.
“Hyung, please rest at home for the time being. I’ll go to the gym by myself.”
At those words, Seo Sihan’s face noticeably brightened.
…He didn’t really do it on purpose, right? Only Jeong Minha, who felt absurdly betrayed, burned with determination and exercised all day long.
Other than that, they hung out together normally.
Of course, Seo Sihan, whose standard of “normal” was different, kept making Jeong Minha’s heart drop. Whenever Minha said he was bored, Sihan would say “Want to go here?” and mention a place that looked incredibly expensive at first glance.
They’d done most activities during their time living together so far. During winter break early in their cohabitation, Minha briefly dyed his hair and went to an amusement park wearing school uniforms with Seo Sihan. Thinking about that time made him laugh. Back then, he had no idea things would turn out like this with hyung….
Anyway, Jeong Minha, who was fine with just playing simply, decided.
“Hyung, when we go out next week, can’t we also go to a karaoke place nearby? I heard they have swing chairs and I want to try them.”
Jeong Minha showed Seo Sihan the search screen on his phone as he spoke.
“And while we’re at it, hyung, instead of just shaking the tambourine, can’t you sing something, anything?”
Seo Sihan was about to say everything was fine but hesitated.
* * *
“…That’s what he said…. What song do you think would be good?”
“…….”
The next day, Monday morning, the Secretary who was summoned because there was supposedly an important issue put on a serious face. His face was already serious-looking, but it became even calmer. He said it was an important issue…. However, since his boss seemed to be in a good mood lately, the Secretary cooperated as much as possible.
“When I saw Jeong Minha-nim last time, he just picked anything from the popular charts.”
They’d even been to karaoke together all three of them before. Of course, even then, only Jeong Minha sang while the Secretary just shook the tambourine and Seo Sihan only filmed.
The Secretary, who had secretly found it fun amidst his busy company work, asked with slight anticipation.
“Am I going too, by any chance?”
“You can rest comfortably this time.”
“Yes….”
Swallowing his disappointment, he searched for the latest popular charts. And then he showed it to Seo Sihan without thinking, then quickly hid it.
“?”
“Uh… um….”
Why were there only breakup songs? The Secretary hid his flustered expression and scrolled down.
Then he found just the right song.
“I found it. It’s on the popular charts and it’s definitely a song that Jeong Minha-nim would know. Director probably doesn’t know it, but just memorize it.”
“Okay….”
* * *
The following Saturday, the two arrived at the karaoke place.
“You’re so―”
Jeong Minha sat on the swing chair and casually sang any random song. The chair was the goal more than the song. It was fun.
“The swing chair is really amazing. Hyung, are you really sure you don’t want to try it?”
“Yeah…. I’ll just sit in a regular chair. Minha, you keep riding….”
“Okay! Ah, now it’s hyung’s turn, right? You’re going to sing, right?”
“U-uh, yeah….”
Jeong Minha’s eyes sparkled as he looked at him. Seo Sihan pressed the number with nervous hands.
“I wonder what song… huh?”
Jeong Minha just wanted to see Seo Sihan singing. He was so curious about how it would sound with that nice voice. If it’s hyung, would he do something like a calm pop song?
However, following the ice hockey news from before, this time too Seo Sihan broke Jeong Minha’s expectations.
The upbeat intro that followed was an all-too-familiar song. It was a song he couldn’t help but know as a national team member. Jeong Minha, who burst into laughter, asked with an excited expression.
“Wow, hyung, how do you know this song? Don’t tell me you chose this because of me?”
“Yeah….”
As Seo Sihan shyly picked up the microphone, Jeong Minha tried his best to hold back his laughter. Hyung was admirable and cute. But this is a high song, how is he going to sing it? Even if he can’t sing it well, I’ll have to praise him a lot when it’s over. Jeong Minha resolved himself and listened to Seo Sihan’s voice.
“……!”
However, he sang better than expected. His calm voice resonated softly. So this song could be sung like this too…. Jeong Minha blinked his surprised eyes as he listened, and soon the lyrics entered his mind.
“…….”
Whether it was because of Seo Sihan’s calm voice, or because the lyrics were really like that, somehow it felt like Seo Sihan was saying it directly to him.
Jeong Minha turned his head, feeling something strange. Was it always this kind of song? Why does it feel like this….
When it reached the chorus, Jeong Minha began to immerse himself even more. He kept his mouth tightly shut and just looked at Seo Sihan.
Then he suddenly realized one thing.
‘The next lyrics are definitely……!’
At that moment, Seo Sihan, who had been looking only at the lyrics on the screen, turned his body to look at Jeong Minha.
Seo Sihan, who had been singing nervously, soon smiled and said.
“I love you….”
Jeong Minha, who somehow felt déjà vu, froze with his mind going blank.
Then, as he unconsciously tried to step back, his foot suddenly slipped. Just like that, the swing bounced forward and Jeong Minha rolled backwards with a strange sound.
“Uheok―.”
“Minha-ya?!”
Seo Sihan urgently got up whether the second verse was starting or not, and helped Jeong Minha up.
I-I’m fine. Hyung, you sing better than I thought, that was amazing, please continue with the second verse—Jeong Minha spat out words rapidly with a flustered face, but was rejected.
Sorry, I didn’t practice up to the second verse…. At Seo Sihan’s absurd statement, Jeong Minha quickly grabbed the microphone. He wanted to scream because of Seo Sihan’s confession-like song from a moment ago. And now was an opportunity to legally yell.
But since Seo Sihan sang something like this for him, Jeong Minha went into the English popular charts. And a song that Minha would know and was full of high notes was right there in the upper ranks.
After that, Jeong Minha enthusiastically sang a famous animated movie OST. Seo Sihan enthusiastically filmed.
Seeing his face still red as a tomato even after the song ended, Seo Sihan asked if he was okay. Jeong Minha, who was too embarrassed to say it was because hyung sang those kinds of lyrics earlier, just made excuses that it was because he sang too enthusiastically.
And afterwards, they ate a delicious dinner and returned home, where he regretted it.
“Ah…! I should have filmed hyung singing too!”
Jeong Minha now understood why Seo Sihan always asked if it was okay to film.
* * *
As they enjoyed their vacation enthusiastically along with training, it was already July.
“Finally….”
The time had come.
This year’s Summer Olympics opening is July 25th.
And the current date was July 11th, Friday morning, the day the shooting national team departed.
Jeong Minha, who woke up early as usual, went jogging, showered, and came back to wake Seo Sihan. However, this time it wasn’t to wake him up to prepare for work. Seo Sihan also had to go to the airport together.
A few days ago, when Sihan said he would go to the Olympic venue with him, Jeong Minha asked with a surprised face.
“Huh? What about hyung’s company? I’m in the advance team so I have to go two weeks before the competition….”
“It’s fine. I have Olympics-related work too, so I have to go anyway.”
“Whoa, really?”
Jeong Minha, who thought he’d be going alone and nervous to the Olympics he was returning to, immediately became excited at the thought of going with Seo Sihan.
“Then you’ll watch the competition from beside me too?”
“Of course.”
“Ah, I need to stay sharp and focused.”
Jeong Minha burned with determination, saying he absolutely wouldn’t make mistakes this time. Seo Sihan smiled and cheered him on.
In truth, Seo Sihan didn’t really need to go all the way to the venue for this work. Four years ago, he went because he hadn’t risen to director position yet and had to attend meetings in person. Now he was handling other tasks, so there was no obligation for him to go.
But Seo Sihan, who was Jeong Minha’s devoted fan, couldn’t back down.
