Chaehun slowly recalled yesterday’s memory. As Seunggeon had guaranteed, the red brick squash court building built in the spacious yard was excellent. Compared to the squash court building built to competition size, the house itself didn’t have much personality. The interior was still empty, with only necessary furniture in place.
Rather, the space that impressed Chaehun was the fitness room set up in the semi-basement. One wall of the spacious area was a mirror. And besides the treadmill, there were various exercise equipment for weight training.
Then his eyes caught the headgear and protective gear hanging on the opposite wall. Seunggeon said he used them when learning self-defense. That was the starting point.
When he first heard the explanation, he just let it pass. While eating the dinner prepared in the refrigerator, they talked about various things regarding self-defense, and then they ended up arguing back and forth about who would win if they fought.
Chaehun, who had been exercising consistently, was confident he could beat Seunggeon in a proper fight. And Seunggeon was also confident there was no way he would lose. It was something they could have just laughed off, but at some point it became a matter of pride, and they eventually decided to have a match.
The venue was the semi-basement training room with a mattress on the floor. Honestly, at first it was simply a matter of gauging each other’s skills. The atmosphere was gentle, and they decided to focus on breaking each other’s balance. However, after exchanging moves according to the manual a few times, they somehow became serious.
Chaehun knew that compared to Seunggeon, who was much taller than him, he was at a physical disadvantage. Once caught it would be over, so when Seunggeon charged at him, he dove into his embrace and struck his chin with his elbow.
At the ominous thud, Chaehun apologized first. Because the degree of impact transmitted to his elbow was considerable. But Seunggeon didn’t accept the apology and ground his teeth, his eyes flashing, saying just wait and see.
Chaehun, who had been at fault first, acted defensively and eventually ended up tripping when Seunggeon’s kick caught his ankle and he fell. Not missing that opportunity, he had to surrender to Seunggeon’s submission technique as he pinned his body down.
The sparring ended there. But because Seunggeon kissed him in that position, sex began right there. It was sex that deserved to be called intense.
Chaehun, who had been recalling last night’s memory, rubbed his flushing cheeks. The sex didn’t end in the fitness room and continued to the bedroom. Being carried to the bedroom on Seunggeon’s strong shoulders like luggage was a new experience.
The sex in the bedroom was also sticky as usual. He experienced with his whole body just how wide and sturdy the new bed was.
Up to that point, it ended well. However, when he woke up in the morning, he kicked away Seunggeon who immediately pounced on him wanting to do it one more time.
Chaehun had several complaints about Seunggeon, and among them were his beast-like stamina and sex drive. Chaehun was fairly confident in his own stamina too, but he couldn’t keep up.
Whether as sex partners or in a contract relationship, these kinds of issues had to be discussed and a compromise found. He felt anxious wondering if this time too Seunggeon would say it’s a contract so he’d do as he pleased. Thinking defensively in advance to avoid being disappointed in him felt a bit… not great.
“So two days in a row is too much.”
“Well… something like that.”
The conclusion was strange, but the meaning was roughly similar. As if displeased with the conclusion he’d reached himself, Seunggeon slightly wrinkled his nose.
Whether it was the terrifying power of rose-colored glasses, even that looked cute now. It was really serious.
“Huh? Isn’t that Chaehun?”
At the voice calling him, he turned his head. A man with a familiar face was approaching. He was Chaehun’s university senior. Due to the nature of the Department of Health Administration, not only classmates but also seniors and juniors maintained close relationships. Especially seniors and juniors with a one-year age difference tended to interact a lot. The man was a senior one year above who had even served as department president.
Chaehun immediately stood up from his seat and lightly shook hands while asking about recent happenings. While they were lightly asking and answering about each other’s well-being, the sunbae naturally gave his gaze to Chaehun’s companion, Seunggeon. His eyes were full of curiosity.
“Who is he?”
“Um… My lover.”
Chaehun paused for a moment before answering. He was about to say high school classmate, but thinking there was no need to do that when they were doing contract dating, he impulsively blurted it out.
The newly written contract stated that he could introduce him as his lover to people around them. His sexual orientation had already been indirectly revealed when he was in college. He had even dated a college classmate. There was nothing that would be a problem.
The sunbae checked Seunggeon’s face and soon laughed heartily.
“Your lover is handsome. I’m leaving now. Let’s contact each other later.”
After seeing off the sunbae who gave a simple greeting, Chaehun sat down in his seat. Since Seunggeon was giving him a look, he met his gaze. His expression was very subtle.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
He looked like he had a lot to say, but Seunggeon said no. In that brief moment, his face returned to normal. He was really skilled at controlling his emotions and expressions. But he himself wasn’t like that.
“I feel strange.”
“You do?”
“I’m scared about what will happen to the lies that have snowballed.”
But then again, once the contract ends, it’ll probably be nothing. The last thought couldn’t become sound and was swallowed down past his throat. Bitter yet sour, and heavy emotions slowly sank somewhere inside his body.
There were many differences between contract dating and real dating. They were lying to those around them out of necessity, and the end was determined. Since the beginning was unusual, the end would probably be different from the real thing too.
Chaehun looked at Seunggeon and thought about how it would end. At first, he just thought to endure for one year. After falling for him, the passage of time felt bittersweet yet regrettable.
He first met Seunggeon in winter when cold winds blew. And now, rain was falling, hastening summer. When winter came again, it would be over.
Seunggeon had set a limit of one year from the start. That hadn’t changed even when they rewrote the contract.
When winter comes, they’ll break up.
It seemed like some kind of prophecy and like a line from a poem. And it was an emotional thought unlike himself. He’d been especially like this yesterday and today. It was probably because of the rain.
Chaehun looked at Seunggeon and grinned. It wasn’t something to ponder over for long. Even if he couldn’t confess, he just had to like him to his heart’s content. It’s not like he was just going to suck his thumb. When he kept looking and smiling for a while, Seunggeon made that subtle face again.
“Why are you smiling like that?”
“Just because?”
“What?”
“Because the bruise on your chin is funny?”
Chaehun subtly deflected. Actually, the bruise was funny. This time Seunggeon made a sulky expression again.
“I won in the end.”
“I went easy on you, you know. You know that too.”
“Let’s do it again later. Don’t go easy.”
“I’m scared I’ll bruise your eye this time.”
“Same here.”
Trivial banter filled with laughter continued. Chaehun thought it would be nice if they could part with smiles like this even at the end.
* * *
It was just before 5 o’clock when Chaehun returned home in Seunggeon’s car. He told Seunggeon, who had a client meeting, to be careful, then parted ways.
Seo Jumyeong wasn’t at the officetel because he had business. Chaehun did the backed-up housework while waiting for Seo Jumyeong. After doing laundry, cleaning the sink, and dusting, 7 o’clock came quickly. And right on time, together with Seo Jumyeong who returned, they headed to the barbecue restaurant they always went to as promised. The routine was consistent.
They ordered meat and chatted. Though they saw each other’s faces every day for a month, because they were both busy, it had been a while since they had a proper conversation, so they talked about this and that.
Seo Jumyeong calculated the location and moving date of the new officetel he got. Chaehun talked about the paintings he saw today. Besides that, the rain has been falling for a long time. They say it’ll be hot this year. Check if the air conditioner in the officetel you’re moving to works well.
It was an ordinary dinner time. That is, until contact came from Seunggeon. Chaehun was surprised to see that the name displayed on the vibrating phone’s screen was Seunggeon. It had been a while since he called first instead of messaging.
Chaehun answered the phone while being conscious of Seo Jumyeong.
“Hey, it’s me. Is something wrong?”
—What are you doing?
“Eating.”
—With Seo Jumyeong?
“Yeah. With Jumyeong.”
Chaehun glanced at Seo Jumyeong. Seo Jumyeong, whose small eyes had widened round, soon smiled. It meant he’d figured out who was on the call.
—Where are you?
“At a barbecue restaurant.”
—Near home, right? Tell me the name.
“Why? Don’t tell me you’re coming?”
—Just tell me the name.
He asked thinking surely not, but Seunggeon asked for the name again, substituting an answer.
“This is Jeju Flavor Black Pork!”
