※ All content in this work is fiction and has no relation to actual history, places, people, events, or organizations.
Side Story 1. The Faster One
“She’s definitely from our school. I saw that strap. The one the drama club kids use. So… ugh, I’m going crazy. Since that day, whether my eyes are open or closed, I can only think about her! But wait, isn’t that guy over there your boyfriend?”
Leda—who after two years of preparation finally got accepted to our school—had been aimlessly wandering campus with me, getting all worked up about the ideal type she saw at the lesbian bar last week, when she pointed at Cheick in the distance and asked.
“Yeah, that’s my boyfriend over there. Why is he there?”
My boyfriend is Cheick Rowan.
And I still don’t know why this sentence makes my heart race.
“Whatever. I have class so I’m gonna go. You go have a nice date with your boyfriend.”
Leda lightly punched my shoulder with her fist as she spoke.
“Okay. I hope you find that girl you met at the bar.”
“Who said I wouldn’t.”
Leda shrugged her shoulders once, then ran off in her high heels saying she’d be late for class. What if she falls like that.
“Tchaiki!”
When I called out to him loudly with joy, Cheick smiled shyly and waved at me.
“Liam.”
He’s an Olympic gold medalist and now a world championship record holder, but Cheick is still Cheick. He’s still as humble and sincere as when I first fell for him, cautious about everything, and above all, easily embarrassed.
I immediately ran to Cheick and kissed him. The area around us became a bit noisy and unsettled. We’re quite a famous couple on campus. So some people curse at us, while others envy us.
I don’t really care what anyone says about us, but the thought that it might tire Cheick out and make him want to let go of my hand… sometimes when I think about that, my breath catches.
I don’t really want to let Cheick know I’m this anxious, so I keep my feelings tightly hidden away, but he probably knows. That I’m always worried about losing him somehow, unnecessarily anxious.
It’s really strange. It’s not that I doubt Cheick’s feelings at all, though.
“Um, today, well, that, uh, do you have time?”
While I was lost in thought and silent for a while, Cheick, who had been mumbling and killing time for no reason, oddly asked while looking at the pointed clock tower above instead of my face. Even stuttering—seems like he’s thinking about something particular.
“Why, do you have some plan?”
Wrapping my arm around Cheick’s long neck—I swear to God I love this well-formed neck—I asked him.
“Just… I was thinking we could have dinner together.”
Why is it so difficult for him to just say let’s have dinner? Does he have some romantic scheme? If so, I welcome it with open arms.
“Perfect timing. If you hadn’t mentioned it first, I was going to ask you to eat together.”
“Really?”
“So… what’s for dinner? Where should we eat?”
“I made… a reservation.”
Going to a restaurant that requires a reservation? Then there really must be some romantic scheme. Can I look forward to some fun event?
“Where did you make a reservation?”
“You know, that Italian fine dining place that comes up after driving a bit. The one where I worked when we were in high school…”
“Oh, there? How? That place is really hard to get a reservation at!”
“The manager I knew from back then still works there. And um, I have something important to tell you.”
What could this important thing be that he needs to tell me? Come to think of it, my birthday’s coming up soon—is he celebrating early?
“I don’t know what you need to tell me, but I’m happy that you made a reservation at a fancy restaurant for me.”
“I’m happy because you’re happy.”
“Haha.”
I got into Cheick’s car with an extremely excited heart and just waited to reach our destination.
Cheick’s car is no longer what he used to call his “clunker.” After it stopped starting well at some point, that car was sent to the junkyard for safety reasons. I remember the day he bought a new car, Cheick laughed with an uncharacteristically wicked face, saying now his child, and that child’s child, would inherit this car.
The current car is nice too, but sometimes I miss Cheick’s old car. We made quite a lot of memories for just the two of us there. Most of all, that car was where Cheick confessed to me while playing Backstreet Boys songs.
“If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve dressed more nicely.”
When we arrived at the restaurant and got out of the car, I jokingly said this to Cheick.
“No. My outfit isn’t anything special either. Most of all…”
“Most of all?”
“You look great in any outfit.”
Feeling good from the compliment, I entered the restaurant arm in arm with Cheick. I’ve heard this restaurant is famous for having terrible food compared to its reputation, but today I feel like I could forgive even the worst food. Well, things are better now, but just a few years ago I was having a chocolate bar for a meal, so I wonder if I could even tell if the food is terrible or not.
“……”
Cheick, sitting across the well-set round table from me, remained silent for a while, just drinking water. I waited anxiously to know what important thing he had to say, while smiling brightly at him whenever our eyes met.
I’m your Liam Blake. I’m ready to listen to whatever you have to say, anytime.
“Um, Liam Blake!”
Liam Blake.
Since it’s not common for Cheick to call me by my full name, I opened my eyes wide with tension and focused on what he would say. He bit his lower lip tightly, then fumbled in his bag for something and held it out in front of me.
A small, square jewelry box.
Seeing this, only one thought comes to mind, and I… I decided I would be the one to propose someday, so why? But…
Cheick might just want to give me a special gift. It’s too early to think about a proposal.
Barely suppressing the urge to shout “yes” before even checking the contents of the jewelry box, I opened the lid with trembling hands. Inside the jewelry box was a pair of platinum rings, and seeing them, I couldn’t keep my composure!
“This is…!”
But oh my God, before I could even gather my wits, Cheick grabbed the jewelry box, knelt on one knee in front of me, and slipped a ring onto my left ring finger.
I say yes, yes. My answer is definitely yes!
“Ah, this, the order, I should ask you first… No, since it’s come to this, there’s nothing I can do. Um, well, Liam.”
Cheick rambled out whatever came to mind, then held and rubbed my hand as he said:
“I love you.”
The words “I love you.”
They’re always sweet enough to melt my ears, but has this phrase ever felt as ecstatic as it does now?
“So… will you continue to stay with me for all the days to come?”
“Of course, of course!”
I shouted with certainty and knelt on one knee in front of Cheick. And I told him over and over again. That I love him, that the only answer I can give to his proposal is yes.
While expensive, tasteless course meals were brought to the table in order, I paid more attention to occasionally making eye contact with Cheick and smiling mischievously than to the boring food.
“…We’re not just going to eat and part ways like this, right?”
When I casually asked while poking at the dessert that came out for aftertaste with my fork, Cheick smiled and said “of course.”
“There’s an observatory nearby with a nice night view…”
An observatory with a nice night view. Of course it’s a good place to go together right after a proposal. But I want to do something hotter than just looking at the night view wholesomely.
“Night views are nice. But sweetie. Um, I have something important to tell you, so can you come closer?”
As soon as I gestured, Cheick leaned toward me. I whispered into his now-close ear.
“I’d love to look at the night view with you, but right now I want to do something hotter.”
“Ah.”
“…What do you think?”
Cheick lightly stroked my cheek to convey his agreement, then as soon as we finished eating, drove us to the motel we frequent—the place where we first slept together.
“Great minds think alike. I was just thinking of this place too.”
But then Cheick muttered that he’d changed his mind and parked the car in the parking lot of an extremely luxurious hotel.
“Today’s a special day.”
Cheick said that, then hurriedly got out of the car and checked in at the hotel reception.
After checking in, in the elevator going up to the room, I stuck close to Cheick’s side, sending subtle glances and flirting with him. As soon as we entered the room, before I even finished taking off my shoes, I climbed onto Cheick’s waist and hurriedly took off my top first. Then I pressed my lips to his plump, cute lips and persistently tangled our tongues.
