I stopped in my tracks at Lee Gyumin’s words, forgetting that I’d been about to rush home just moments ago.
“Is that really okay?”
“Of course. You’re someone helping our athlete.”
It was clear this person had no idea what I’d done with Kwon Yujin last night. He didn’t seem to know anything about our past either. Otherwise, there was no way he’d be acting so cheerfully. Naturally, he seemed to think I was helping Kwon Yujin in a very wholesome manner.
Of course, I hadn’t known things would flow this way either, so this situation was incredibly awkward and embarrassing. As I was reminded once again of the fact that yesterday I’d done unspeakable things with Kwon Yujin, deep confusion washed over me along with regret.
“Ah, but how about having breakfast first?”
“I’m fine.”
I was about to go up to the 37th floor to see Kwon Yujin right away, but for some reason the agent stopped me.
“The thing is, even if you go up now, it’ll be chaotic with the pool equipment being set up and makeup being done. The atmosphere is a bit hectic.”
I didn’t care whether the atmosphere was hectic or not as long as I could just confirm Kwon Yujin’s face, but I nodded, saying I understood.
“Then I’ll eat and go up.”
“Since it’s early, you can order food through room service.”
“How do I do that?”
I asked while internally rolling over the unfamiliar term “room service” that the agent had mentioned.
“You press 0 on the phone in your room and order.”
“If I say the food there, they’ll bring everything?”
At my question, the agent tilted his head as if he didn’t understand. Then, saying he’d excuse himself, he passed by me and entered the room. He found and opened what looked like a large booklet, then showed me the page with the menu.
“Here it is. The foods shown here can be ordered 24 hours anytime, so just look through and decide.”
“Thank you.”
“Well then, I’ll go gather some of the athlete’s things for a moment.”
I didn’t know what Kwon Yujin had requested, but the agent busily moved around the room. When he stood in front of the full-length mirror and pushed the wall to the side, a large closet appeared from inside. My eyes widened without my realizing it.
My curiosity piqued, I examined it closely. How did they embed the closet so seamlessly? They must have secured the base and fixed the main body to the wall, but there was absolutely no error in the door frame alignment and opening and closing. I’d been mistaken this whole time, thinking it was just a mirror attached to the wall.
Anyway, I’d thought there was no luggage of Kwon Yujin’s in the room, but it must have all been over there. I was observing with fascination as he gathered items when the agent approached me after a moment.
“And Taeyoung-ssi. You probably already know since you’ve heard, but the athlete will be going abroad soon for training camp. Could you wear some of the athlete’s clothes in advance?”
The agent held out one of the jerseys he’d taken from the closet. I could faintly sense Kwon Yujin’s fruit-like pheromones.
Right. He said he needed clothes with my pheromones on them. I nodded and immediately put the jersey on.
“Thank you. Then please have your meal and come up to the pool!”
The agent hurriedly left the hotel room carrying the luggage. Thanks to tidying up the bed and condoms in advance, even after looking around the room, he seemed unable to figure out exactly what I’d done with Kwon Yujin until the end. I felt relieved, inwardly thinking it was fortunate he was a beta.
Once I was left alone in the room again, I picked up the phone as the agent had said, pressed the 0 button, and ordered four bowls of egg fried rice. For some reason, the person who answered the phone confirmed twice whether it was correct that I was ordering four of the same fried rice.
Soon the doorbell rang, and a hotel employee carried the food inside. The amount per bowl was smaller than I’d expected, so even after finishing the meal, I wasn’t full. But it wasn’t insufficient enough to order more, so I got up from my seat.
While brushing my teeth in the bathroom before going up to the pool, it suddenly occurred to me that I hadn’t properly checked the food prices. Since it’s a hotel, it must be quite expensive. How much did it come out to? Should I have asked Kwon Yujin’s permission before ordering?
When I checked the order form again, next to the food it said things like “Egg Fried Rice 38.0” with numbers I couldn’t understand. …Surely it’s not dollars, right?
I left the room with an uneasy feeling, thinking I should ask the agent or an employee later.
When I arrived at the floor with the pool, even though it was early morning, the surroundings were quite bustling. There had definitely been no one in the 16th floor hallway, but here dozens of people were busily moving about.
“Okay, let’s go once more. Yujin-ssi, turn naturally this way and run your hand through your hair.”
When I carefully opened the pool door and entered, humid air rushed in. At the same time, a loud voice echoed and spread throughout the entire indoor space.
Perhaps because I was wearing a mask and hat, the hotel employee at the door didn’t block me or speak to me. They probably thought I was staff. Looking closely, there were several staff members dressed similarly to me.
“Yujin-ssi, look a bit farther into the distance. Like that, yes, good!”
Kwon Yujin was in the water alone, and I could see lights and cameras surrounding him, along with over a dozen people.
“That’s it! We got the shot.”
The director behind the camera set the mood while continuously giving new instructions.
I stopped in place and looked at Kwon Yujin in front of the camera, with only his upper body out of the water. His wet hair naturally flowed down to cover his forehead, and water droplets dripped down his smooth nose bridge and firm jawline. He looked very healthy and full of vitality.
Looking at him from this distance made what I’d done with him last night feel even more unreal. Had I really done the right thing? I still couldn’t believe that such a thing would help Kwon Yujin.
I’d never properly learned about morality or ethics, but at least I knew this situation was immoral. Thinking about my and Kwon Yujin’s past made me feel even more that I shouldn’t have done that.
Moreover, when I first met Kwon Yujin, he was only ten years old. A young child who couldn’t dress himself properly or brush his teeth on his own.
“They said he had a difficult personality, but looking at him today, he doesn’t seem that way at all?”
While I was lost in thought standing in the corner, I heard other people’s whispers nearby. I turned my gaze to check the direction the voices came from and saw staff members gathered together.
“Right? There were all those stories about him abusing his power, demanding all staff be replaced with betas and whatnot. But he’s not really asking for anything in particular.”
“He is handsome though. Look at those shoulders…. Think he’d give me an autograph if I asked after this is over?”
“He probably would. Even if he’s not super friendly, his personality doesn’t seem bad.”
“Ah, seriously, his face is incredible.”
As I listened to people’s words, I found myself examining Kwon Yujin’s face more carefully without realizing it. Even though I’d been so close yesterday, my consciousness had been hazy so I barely remembered anything. I only vaguely recalled the scene of him sweating profusely with veins bulging on his forehead and Adam’s apple.
Still, the fact that he looked sturdy and healthy to others’ eyes was something I felt very proud of.
“Just let me fix your hair once real quick.”
At that moment, the flashes that had been pouring endlessly stopped. Then a woman appeared from somewhere and carefully brushed Kwon Yujin’s hair back with a comb.
Before long, the people who had been standing far away gathered around Kwon Yujin and began talking to him. I didn’t know what they were discussing, but their expressions looked serious. Even as someone touched his face and hair, Kwon Yujin didn’t seem bothered or uncomfortable at all.
Then, as if he’d heard some joke, a faint smile spread across his lips. The staff around him all burst into laughter together.
“Ah, look at that. Even when he smiles, he’s insanely handsome.”
“How did he end up becoming a swimmer? He should just be an actor….”
The murmuring nearby grew louder.
Even while receiving so many gazes at once, Kwon Yujin seemed unfazed. He was very natural, without any signs of tension or stiffness. He even looked like it was only natural.
I watched without missing a single moment as he smiled slightly during conversation or wrinkled his nose bridge. It was all the Kwon Yujin I knew, but it felt unfamiliar because these were various faces he’d never shown me. So he can make such unaffected expressions too. I hadn’t known because he always had a stiff face in front of me.
