Ball-Boy Tactics

Today, the day Kwon Jungwoo promised to lend me the basketball court, I had classes until 5 PM. His practice wouldn’t finish until the evening, so I stayed behind in the department building to edit some photos. Since the assignment was related to lighting, the darker it got, the better—so it didn’t matter how late it was.— Where are you?It was just after 7 PM when I received a call from Kwon Jungwoo.“I’m at the photography department building. Are you done with practice? Should I head over?”— No. Stay there a little longer. What are you doing at the department?“Well… I’m in the computer lab looking at some photos. Have you had dinner yet? You must be hungry after practice.”— I’m about to eat. But are food and drinks allowed in the computer lab?“They should be. I’ve seen other students order delivery and eat here.”— Oh, good then.“…Good for what?”I got no reply. Instead, the quiet in the computer lab was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. A few students working on their projects let out quiet gasps.I turned my head toward the entrance, half expecting it, and there was Kwon Jungwoo, peeking inside the door. He scanned the room, and when he found me, he smiled.“Hey.”As he stepped into the computer lab, the logo of the sports brand on his gray sweatshirt came into full view. His clean-shaven knees and calves, visible below his black shorts, headed straight toward me.Seeing Kwon Jungwoo in the dull department building made him seem bigger than usual. Maybe it was because the ceiling was low, or because no one in my department had his build, but encountering him at eye level in the computer lab made him look even more impressive.“I could’ve come to you. Why’d you come all the way here?”“I brought sandwiches. Let’s eat together.”I stood up abruptly, and he handed me a small bag.Up close, Kwon Jungwoo looked different from his usual evening self. Normally, after practice, he’d look laid-back and calm, but today he seemed more put together, like he’d fixed his hair. Instead of his usual morning cologne, he smelled of fresh body wash—he must have showered.I didn’t have time to dwell on it. At this point, just thinking about Kwon Jungwoo was enough to make my cheeks flush, and I didn’t want anyone in my department to see us together. Kwon Jungwoo had become my weakness at some point. I could hide my face under a hat, but I couldn’t hide Kwon Jungwoo, which made it all the more dangerous.“A sandwich? Uh… then let’s go outside to eat. There’s a lounge on the first floor.”“Why? Are outsiders not allowed here?”Kwon Jungwoo asked, looking around at the other students. One of them, who happened to make eye contact with him, shook his head. I couldn’t remember if he was a sophomore or junior, but he was definitely a senior, and he was staring at Kwon Jungwoo with his mouth hanging open.“Outsiders are totally allowed! There’s no rule against it, and you can eat at your desk too, so feel free to stay as long as you want.”“See?” Kwon Jungwoo looked straight at me this time. His lips, still red from a day of practice, stood out even more than usual.“…Are you sure it’s okay to eat here?”With no more excuses to make, I asked one last time, and Kwon Jungwoo shrugged lightly.“Why? Do you hate it? After all, there was already a dating rumor about us, so there’s nothing left to hide.”“D-dating rumor? What are you talking about?!”Flustered, I stammered, and Kwon Jungwoo chuckled as if he found it amusing. I could be imagining it, but his playful eyes seemed to carry a hint of affection.“I mean, we’re just sandwich-eating buddies, right? We’re not anything special beyond that, are we?”“Ah… yeah, right. That’s what we are.”Wanting to appear cool, I nodded quickly, but I ended up agreeing a bit too enthusiastically, and my lips twitched in embarrassment. I felt pathetic for constantly showing Kwon Jungwoo my awkward side.The students who had been quietly working started chuckling at that point. It seemed like they’d been holding back since Kwon Jungwoo mentioned the “dating rumor,” but when I reacted the way I did, they couldn’t help but laugh.For some reason, Kwon Jungwoo didn’t seem to like that. His smile vanished.“What are you laughing at? Don’t butt in.”Maybe it was because he seemed taller in the low-ceilinged computer lab, but Kwon Jungwoo looked more intimidating than usual. If you didn’t know him, you might think he was joking, but since his reputation for being straightforward was well-known, no one dared to take his words lightly.“Let’s eat. I’m hungry.”Ignoring the tense atmosphere, Kwon Jungwoo reached out and playfully grabbed the brim of my baseball cap before letting it go, urging me to follow him. As if nothing had happened, he brazenly led the way to my desk.Kwon Jungwoo pulled up a chair and sat so close that our knees were touching. I didn’t mind the closeness. In fact, I liked it. I tried to pull my knee back gently, afraid that he might feel uncomfortable and move away, but no matter how many times I shifted, his long legs inevitably brushed against mine.He finished his sandwich in five bites and watched me as I ate. His steady gaze, with his chin resting in his hand, made me nervous, and I ended up biting into the sandwich wrapper. He laughed quietly, clearly enjoying the moment.He held out his hand, telling me to spit it out, but I couldn’t possibly do that into his precious palm. Trying to act nonchalant, I swallowed the wrapper, which thankfully caused no harm.By the time we headed to the basketball court, it was almost 8 PM. As I had hoped, the sky was pitch black, and the campus was eerily quiet. When we arrived at the gym, where I had brought the rented lighting equipment and camera, there was no one in sight.When Kwon Jungwoo unlocked the door and flipped on the lights, the massive gym lit up, revealing the light tan basketball court. The floor was so polished that you could see the basketball hoop reflected in it.“Ah, should I turn these lights off?”It seemed like he remembered the theme of my project, so he switched off the ceiling lights again. The gym, briefly bright, turned even darker than before.“Could you maybe turn on just one or two lights over there?”“I don’t think that’s possible.”He flicked the switches a few more times, but no matter what he tried, the lights I wanted wouldn’t come on. In the end, I decided to use the lighting equipment I had brought and crossed the darkened court.There was some light filtering in from the windows, but it was barely enough to call it moonlight. We couldn’t even make out each other’s faces.“Jiwon.”Hearing him call my name without my last name startled me. I responded with a quiet “Yeah?” and Kwon Jungwoo gently grabbed my hand in the darkness.“You can’t see well.”“……”The sound of our footsteps and the warmth of his hand in the quiet darkness made me instinctively lean on him. As my eyes gradually adjusted to the dark, I started to make out my surroundings, but Kwon Jungwoo didn’t let go of my hand. Instead, he held it even tighter and walked closer to me than usual. The basketball court was so big, but we were still walking side by side, almost glued together.“…I think this spot will do.”We reached the area beside the hoop, and only then did we let go of each other’s hands. It felt a bit awkward, as if we were both suddenly aware of it, and we each withdrew our hands in a slightly stiff motion.“How long will it take?”“I’m not sure. It won’t take long once I’m set up. Maybe 20 minutes? 30 at most?”“Can I help with anything?”“Not at all! As long as you don’t cast any shadows in the frame, you can relax and do whatever. Thanks.”I was worried since it was my first time handling lighting equipment, but the setup turned out to be easier than I expected. I fixed the camera on a mini tripod at knee height and placed the basketball in front of it, which was the subject of the shoot. I took off my cap as well. It was inconvenient when checking the camera lens, and I was also aware that Kwon Jungwoo didn’t like it when he couldn’t see my face because of the cap.While I was taking photos, Kwon Jungwoo spun the basketball with his fingertips, watching quietly. Every time I adjusted the intensity of the lights, his handsome features appeared slightly different, and I had to resist the temptation to observe him instead of the basketball.The shoot wrapped up in about twenty minutes. The basketball court, with its large size and high ceiling, was the perfect space for my project.“Ah, all done.”As I stretched my back and spoke, Kwon Jungwoo was wandering near the half-court line. Earlier, he had been muttering to himself about how the lighting was too soft or something, and now he was quietly walking along the lines on the court.He kept holding the basketball, not even dribbling it, as if it were a security blanket. Watching him like that throughout the shoot made me secretly laugh, something I doubt he’ll ever realize. The playful remark I made to him as he spun around towards me was also to hide my amusement.“Can you make a shot from there?”“You could get hurt.”“I’ll dodge skillfully!”Despite the dim lighting surrounding the court, except for the area near me, Kwon Jungwoo stepped back without hesitation. I thought he’d refuse, but he immediately got into position to shoot, full of confidence.It was too dark to see the expression on his face. The ball bounced a few times on the court, making a loud noise that echoed through the gym. Then, with a burst of speed, Kwon Jungwoo dribbled forward and leaped high from the half-court line, his sneakers squeaking on the floor. Even in the dark silhouette, you could sense the power in his movement.The ball left his hand, tracing a long, high arc toward me. For a moment, I wondered if he was aiming at me, but before I could process that thought, the basketball sailed smoothly into the hoop.“Wow!!”As the ball bounced off the floor, I quickly reached out to catch it. The ball had flown across half the court, which felt dizzying. Given how far away he was, Kwon Jungwoo’s success without any practice made him even more impressive.“It went in.”The person who made the shot, though, was surprisingly nonchalant.“Wow, that was amazing. How did it go in so easily? Isn’t it hard to score from there?”“If I’d missed, you could’ve gotten hurt. Wanna try shooting?”Kwon Jungwoo, who had been walking toward me, gestured for me to join him. As he stepped into the light, his face glowed softly under the gentle lighting, just as he’d described.“I haven’t played basketball since middle school gym class… It’s been ages since I’ve even touched a basketball.”“I’ll teach you. Come here.”Stopping right in front of the hoop, Kwon Jungwoo urged me to approach. Reluctantly, I picked up the ball and walked over. He turned me around so I was facing the hoop, then placed his hands over mine, which were holding the ball.“Alright, this is the ball, and our goal is to throw it into the hoop up there. Got it so far, Jiwon?”I felt a bit insulted by how much he was underestimating me, so I started to turn around, but Kwon Jungwoo laughed and cupped my face to stop me from looking. His large hand cradled my face, and suddenly my heart started racing. It had been nearly two hours since he’d showered, yet he still carried that warm, comforting scent.“I’m just kidding. There’s nothing complicated about shooting when you’re this close to the hoop. Just toss it lightly, and it’ll go in.”As Kwon Jungwoo spoke, my back vibrated with his chest pressed against me. At some point, I had ended up in a position where it felt like he was embracing me.While adjusting my hands back to the ball, Kwon Jungwoo lowered his head, as if to check my face, and in that moment, I froze. I was suddenly very aware that if I made even the smallest wrong move, our lips might touch. The soft lighting and the darkness made everything feel more intense, narrowing my focus.“…Weren’t you supposed to teach me?”The close proximity was making me self-conscious, and I didn’t want to embarrass myself by missing the shot, so I pretended to be frustrated. I glanced up at him through tightly sealed lips.Our faces were even closer than I had anticipated. Kwon Jungwoo must have noticed it too. The moment our eyes met, he flinched slightly. His gaze lingered on my eyes and lips, and just as the tension started building from the way his eyes remained on my lips, I quickly turned my head away.Behind me, Kwon Jungwoo let out a small sniffle, though he wasn’t even sick.“Alright. First, bend your knees a little… Lift the ball towards the hoop. You’re right-handed, so like this.”Kwon Jungwoo widened his stance to match mine and adjusted my wrist instead of my hand. With each movement, it felt as though I was being drawn further into his embrace.Though he told me to go ahead and shoot, I couldn’t bring myself to throw the ball. My nerves were making it impossible to act. Why was he still standing so close behind me, and why was his heartbeat, pounding against my back, racing just as fast as mine? Those thoughts distracted me from moving.“……”“Alright, now shoot.”Kwon Jungwoo seemed to know I hadn’t taken the shot because I was too conscious of him. This time, he stepped back slightly and spoke.Like a malfunctioning robot that only remembered commands, I quickly threw the ball the moment his words were out of his mouth. Predictably, the ball flew wildly, hitting the rim and bouncing off.“Ah… It’s still too hard. Guess I won’t be hearing any more suggestions about joining the basketball team from you.”Laughing awkwardly, I hurried over to chase after the ball. Because there was only one light, the ball cast a long shadow as it bounced a few times on the ground. When I threw the basketball back to Kwon Jungwoo, he caught it effortlessly.Embarrassed and feeling a flutter in my chest, I quickly returned to my original spot. I needed to start packing up the lights and camera before it got any later.“Not gonna try one more time?”Kwon Jungwoo was still standing there, asking.“I wouldn’t make it anyway… You’d just end up frustrated trying to teach me.”“It’s too early for that. Giving up after one try is too fast, don’t you think?”“Yeah, I’ve always been quick to give up.”I smiled sheepishly, realizing I had just revealed one of my strengths and weaknesses. Kwon Jungwoo, who had been quietly bouncing the ball on the floor, responded softly.“What’s that supposed to mean? Don’t scare me like that.”I quickly started packing up the equipment, worried he might suggest taking another free throw.I left the only light on and began dismantling the tripod and camera. I followed the instructions the assistant had given me, carefully disassembling the lens and cleaning it with microfiber. During that time, Kwon Jungwoo didn’t take any more shots—he just stood there, quietly bouncing the basketball.Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.The heavy sound of the ball hitting the ground echoed like a heartbeat.Curious about what was going through his mind as he stood there, I glanced at Kwon Jungwoo. Our eyes met. How long had he been looking at me? Instead of asking, I smiled silently. It was then that the rhythmic bouncing of the basketball stopped.Kwon Jungwoo had quite the stride. Taking large steps, he walked over and crouched down in front of me. The basketball he’d been playing with now lay quietly between us.If he had something to say, he could’ve said it from where he was. It was a vast basketball court, so why did he have to come all the way over and sit right in front of me?“What’s up?”In the quiet gym, with only a single light illuminating us, we were close enough to touch, so a small voice was enough.Under his particularly dark bangs, Kwon Jungwoo’s eyes sparkled. Even with just one light shining, his eyes twinkled like black glass beads, and his smooth skin glowed under the light. I wished I looked just as beautiful to him. I was filled with the same hope I’d had before.Then, Kwon Jungwoo spoke quietly.“Why do I always feel so anxious when I’m with you?”He licked his lips and swallowed hard. His Adam’s apple bobbed deeply.“Are we just going to stay like this?”Though his voice remained calm, the intensity in his gaze was undeniable. He hadn’t asked the question expecting an answer—the ball was still in his court.He placed his hand on the basketball, then reached out to cup both of my cheeks. With a small light gleaming in his eyes, Kwon Jungwoo leaned closer. In that moment, I realized something. Maybe Kwon Jungwoo felt the same way about me…We were so close that I could feel his breath. Kwon Jungwoo’s eyes were only focused on my lips. His long eyelashes fluttered gently, but I could sense his tension. When his eyes finally closed, Kwon Jungwoo’s lips brushed mine.His soft lips parted slightly as they gently bit down on my tender lips. His breath was so warm that, with just that touch, it felt like my heart was pouring out. I couldn’t believe I was kissing Kwon Jungwoo. Though frozen with shock, I somehow managed to close my eyes, just like him.His tender lips radiated warmth, constantly reminding me that this was Kwon Jungwoo. The subtle scent of his body wash, mixed with his breath, made my heart tighten. He must have noticed because he softly stroked my cheek in a soothing motion.His long fingers brushed along my temple and ear as his lips continued to move. The gentle movements were slow but persistent, leaving me restless. Before I knew it, my lips, once dry, were moist because of him.Kwon Jungwoo pulled back for a moment, then shifted slightly and pressed in again. This time, his lips were firmer, parting mine as he deepened the kiss. It was my first kiss ever, and I was completely overwhelmed. It was so soft and intoxicating that I didn’t know what to do, clenching my fists tightly in response.The soft, slick sound of lips meeting echoed faintly in the silent gym. Kwon Jungwoo seemed ready to change angles again. Suddenly, his soft tongue slipped between my parted lips. The feel of his tender flesh was so dizzying that I instinctively straightened my back.“Mmh, ugh…!”Perhaps thinking I was about to pull away, Kwon Jungwoo grabbed the back of my head as if blocking my escape. He also grabbed the basketball that had been between us and tossed it aside without care. Thump-thump-thump—the ball rolled away, and its sound faded into silence. Kwon Jungwoo used the now-empty space to pull me even closer.At the same time, the pressure of his lips intensified. His soft tongue pressed deeply inside, exploring me, while his large hands cradled my head and back. I was being pushed by his enormous frame, but with the firm grip on the back of my head, I couldn’t retreat even if I wanted to.The once gentle and tender kiss had become relentless at some point. When I could no longer bear it and struggled to breathe, I opened my eyes. I found myself staring into Kwon Jungwoo’s dark pupils, eyes that I thought were closed.I wasn’t sure when he had opened them, but with a frown between his brows, Kwon Jungwoo, upon meeting my gaze, pressed harder into the kiss, as if he couldn’t hold back anymore. Every time our lips parted, he would change the angle, kissing me deeper and without pause.“Wa-wait!”I tried to push him away and turned my head, but Kwon Jungwoo persistently chased after me, determined to continue the kiss. The more I tried to escape, the more forceful he became, as if he’d completely lost control. I frantically called his name, but Kwon Jungwoo simply kissed me between my words, undeterred.“Kw-Kwon Jung, uh, wait, let me, uh…! Why are you doing this, uh…!!”When I blocked him with my hands, he moved them aside and kissed me again. He kissed my defenseless hands, then my inner wrists, and tilted his head to nibble on my lips again, seemingly tireless. Growing frustrated by his refusal to let me speak, I shot him a glare. Only then did Kwon Jungwoo finally pull away, a smile playing at the corners of his eyes.“Why are you looking at me like that? Oh, right. You said kissing between guys is gross, didn’t you? I forgot to tell you—I’ve always been a disgusting guy.”“That’s not it, it’s just, I… I can’t even breathe… and this is all so sudden…”“It’s not sudden. You know that.”Kwon Jungwoo looked at me with more desire than ever. His lips, slick with saliva, looked as though they might burst with juice if bitten just a little.“Finally, after all this time… don’t you think?”“…….”“I like you.”With that, he tilted his head and kissed me again. His elegant fingers trailed from my cheek to my ear, down to the nape of my neck. The wet sounds of sucking, like birds chirping, continued.“Wait, we need to ta- mmm!”“We’re busy right now. Let’s talk later.”“But I want to talk… right now.”“Alright. Just 10 more seconds. No, one more minute.”Kwon Jungwoo pushed his tongue into my mouth again. The sensation of our soft flesh rubbing and entwining sent such a surge of pleasure through me that I unknowingly clung to his wrist. His eyes were tightly shut, as if focused solely on the kiss, his expression achingly sexy, making a wave of bewildering desire rise within me.One minute? No, much longer had passed, and I was helplessly wrapped up in Kwon Jungwoo’s embrace.With a final wet smack, Kwon Jungwoo carefully pulled his lips away. He remained just inches from me. I felt a slight tremor under my eyes, embarrassingly due to the tension, making it difficult to look at him directly. His ears, unlike his usual composed face, were flushed a rosy red, which made it even harder.“Jungwoo.”Biting my still-burning lips, I called him gently, just as he wanted. Kwon Jungwoo inhaled sharply. The kiss I thought was over brushed my lips once more, catching me off guard. When I ducked my head to escape, Kwon Jungwoo, as if offering an excuse, said, “Honestly, I couldn’t help myself this time.”“…….”I wanted to speak, but now that the moment had come, I didn’t know what to say. My mind was a mess, made blank like an old, faded film by Kwon Jungwoo’s confession and our kiss.“Aren’t you going to say anything?”“N-no, I will… But could you move back a little?”“My eyesight isn’t great, you know. You’ll understand.”“Liar.”“If you knew, you should’ve played along.”Kwon Jungwoo grinned innocently, though I was in no state to smile back.“Listen… this is all just a joke, right?”“A joke?”“You’re messing with me because you know I’ve never had a first kiss, right? Isn’t that it?”My downcast question made Kwon Jungwoo finally pull back, though still close enough that I could breathe more easily. Even so, he frowned deeply, saying, “What?”“You used to say I was a good guy, but now you’re making me feel like garbage. Did my sincerity seem like a joke to you?”“What I meant was… it just doesn’t make sense for you to like me.”“Why doesn’t it make sense? Does it make sense for you to like me?”“Wha-!?”I was so shocked I couldn’t even get the words out. The fact that Kwon Jungwoo looked amused, while I was stunned, made it even more jarring.“How… how did you know?”“It was impossible not to notice.”Kwon Jungwoo chuckled softly as he sat comfortably with his legs crossed, taking both of my hands in his. His fingers laced with mine, sending a familiar, ticklish sensation through me, causing my chest to flutter as always.“Every time my heart beats, your face turns red.”“…….”“Like right now.”As Kwon Jungwoo spoke, I caught glimpses of his tongue slipping between his thick lips. I couldn’t believe that something so sensual had entered my mouth. The events that had unfolded began to replay in my mind, gradually sending shivers through my body.In the midst of that sweet trembling, my gaze locked with Kwon Jungwoo’s. His usual calmness had disappeared, replaced by an intense, determined look.“This isn’t a joke, and I’m not teasing you. I really, really like you.”“…….”“So, let’s date.”His voice was steady yet filled with conviction. Even though Kwon Jungwoo rarely got nervous during presentations or even major sports events, now, he seemed unusually tense, making his words even more impactful on my already tangled emotions.His confession felt like a dream. My heart pounded so hard that I worried it might give out, but along with the overwhelming joy, a lurking sense of unease began to emerge.This wasn’t how I had envisioned our relationship. If things continued like this, there was no way we’d have a happy ending.This development didn’t fit into any part of the plan I had, and the confusion within me only grew.“I…, but the thing is… I….”“Am I not that important to you yet?”Kwon Jungwoo asked gently after my hesitation. I could feel the subtle increase in pressure as his hands rubbed the backs of mine.It was ridiculous. The truth was, I liked Kwon Jungwoo too much, and that was what made me hesitate. I just couldn’t bring myself to admit that I wasn’t confident about this relationship. I was afraid that if I expressed doubt, Kwon Jungwoo might say he wasn’t sure about us either. That thought terrified me.“Can’t you give me a little more time?”“Why?”“Why…?”Unlike my growing caution, Kwon Jungwoo was more straightforward than ever. His bold gaze, as if trying to see right through me, made it hard to hold his stare. It was so intense that I wanted to believe he truly liked me a lot.“We’re both guys. And not just regular people; we both have a certain level of fame. If our relationship were to be exposed, it could cause significant damage. Even though I’ve quit gymnastics and it wouldn’t affect me, you’re just starting out.”Even though Kwon Jungwoo’s confession had been unexpected, the logic behind my words was clear and inevitable.“If we were to become a couple, it would be a relationship for us, but to others, it would be seen as inappropriate. I don’t want to become a stain on your otherwise perfect life or cause you to be labeled unfairly.”Although I was being honest, this was still an excuse. The real reason I was hesitating to date him was that I was afraid of the inevitable breakup.Kwon Jungwoo had once said there was nothing more pathetic than staying in touch with an ex. Even the romantic relationship he once had, which must have been filled with sweet moments, had become nothing but a meaningless part of his past. I was scared of ending up like that, unable to even exchange casual greetings with him. It frightened me to want something that I knew wouldn’t last long—a relationship that was doomed from the start. I wanted to give up before it even began, just like I had given up gymnastics, which had once been everything to me.“So… this isn’t a simple issue.”“I don’t think it’s simple.”It’s not simple, that’s why it took so long.The weight of his added words felt heavy with sincerity.I remembered a time when I had tried to give Kwon Jungwoo clumsy advice on relationships at the training center. The same feeling from then returned. The reasons I had rambled on about at the time had probably already been settled for him. His steady gaze, unwavering, made that clear.Still gently stroking the back of my hand, Kwon Jungwoo softly began to counter my arguments.“The process may be complicated, but the conclusion is simple. I don’t know about you, but I have to do what I want. Just like how I play basketball because I want to, I want to be in a relationship with the person I want. I decided that person is you, so honestly, even now—”“…….”“I’m just waiting for another chance to kiss you.”At his calm confession, I instinctively lowered my chin, adopting a defensive posture. But Kwon Jungwoo didn’t seem to care, continuing leisurely.“That’s why I’m not really thrilled about your suggestion… but I’ll try to understand, if that’s the way to score points with you.”“…….”“So, how much time do you need to think?”He gathered both my hands in one of his and casually ran his other hand through his hair. Though his carefully styled hair was now disheveled, Kwon Jungwoo still managed to look effortlessly cool, as if he’d done it on purpose.“Hmm… about a month.”“Are you crazy?”His long, fox-like eyes widened in disbelief. His voice carried clear traces of frustration.“I’m barely holding myself back from giving you just five minutes, so think carefully before you answer.”“I am being careful…”“If it’s going to take you a month, with only 10 minutes a day of thinking, let’s just focus for 24 hours straight and talk about it tomorrow.”“…How about two weeks?”In truth, the length of time didn’t matter much, as I hadn’t planned on dating Kwon Jungwoo at all. The only reason I was asking for more time was due to my own selfish reluctance.“Two weeks?” Kwon Jungwoo murmured, tilting his head slightly. The light from one side cast shifting shadows across his face, creating a variety of expressions.“That’s how much I mean to you, huh? Enough to need two weeks to think it over.”“It’s not like that…”“I got it.”“Really?”“Well, I’ve always known you’re not the type to fall for someone easily.”I had expected Kwon Jungwoo to reject me, so his acceptance came as a surprise.I racked my brain, trying to recall if I had ever said something like that. Then it hit me—back when I had turned down a confession in the library. Kwon Jungwoo didn’t need to remember that. The truth was, then and now, I only had feelings for him.“Two weeks… hmm…”Not knowing what was going through my head, Kwon Jungwoo grinned. It was that typical Kwon Jungwoo smile, carefree and always doing things his own way without caring about how others perceived him.“Alright then, I’ll do my best to win you over in the meantime.”There was a weight behind his words. If anyone could commit to doing their best, it was Kwon Jungwoo, who had already overcome injuries and successfully made a comeback.Faint sounds of branches brushing against each other hinted at a breeze outside the basketball court. Amid that, Kwon Jungwoo whispered softly.“If I’d known this would happen, I’d have kissed you for longer.”Though he didn’t explicitly state what he meant, I understood right away. My mouth was dry, but my saliva glands reacted instinctively, making me swallow discreetly.Kwon Jungwoo had been watching me closely and leaned in slightly. True to form, there was no hesitation in his actions. What would he do if I backed away, embarrassed?As he moved closer, I could feel his warm breath, and I began to anticipate the sweetness I had tasted earlier. We were close enough for our noses to touch, and his lashes fluttered. Should I close my eyes or not? I was still pondering when he suddenly pulled his face away. His eyes, filled with affection, held a playful glint.“So, think carefully.”With that, Kwon Jungwoo stepped out of range, leaving me helplessly showing him how flushed my face had become. He watched me and laughed out loud, but he didn’t try to kiss me again.I was relieved Kwon Jungwoo couldn’t read my thoughts. If he knew that I still found his laughter charming, even in this situation, I might not have even gotten those two weeks to think things over.***The next day, starting at lunchtime on Saturday, the <Understanding Architecture> group chat lit up.[Yang Eunoh]: Hey, our nation’s grandson.[Yang Eunoh]: Have you had lunch yet?[Han Jiwon]: It’s so embarrassing when you call me that 😭.[Byun Seungjin]: Just say the word.[Byun Seungjin]: I’ll knock him out for you.[Han Jiwon]: I haven’t had lunch yet. How about you guys?[Yang Eunoh]: Then come out right now. There’s this amazing galbitang place.[Yang Eunoh]: <Map>[Yang Eunoh]: Let’s go here.[Han Jiwon]: Should I? 😆[Han Jiwon]: But are all of you coming? Just curious, haha^^![Byun Seungjin]: Probably just me and this guy Eunoh.[Byun Seungjin]: Jungwoo just had cereal.[Byun Seungjin]: That guy drank all of my milk, so I have to go buy more, damn it.[Han Jiwon]: Oh… I guess he was really thirsty.And so, we suddenly ended up going to the galbitang place. As expected, the basketball players had arrived before me, though what I didn’t anticipate was that there were three of them, not two.“You’re here?”Kwon Jungwoo waved and greeted me with a bright smile. I stopped dead in my tracks as I entered the restaurant, startled by his handsome face.“…Didn’t you say you ate cereal?”“I did. A while ago.”Byun Seungjin laughed, asking if thirty minutes ago could be considered “a while ago,” but Kwon Jungwoo remained indifferent.If I’d known he was coming, I would’ve dressed better. Sitting across from him in a plain black t-shirt, I felt sloppy next to him in his perfectly fitting beige shirt.As soon as I sat down, the galbitang they had pre-ordered came out right on time.So, I quietly focused on eating. After what had happened yesterday, it was hard to look at Kwon Jungwoo directly.When I woke up this morning, I half-expected the world to be split into three pieces, but everything was strangely normal. It was only now that I was starting to accept that Kwon Jungwoo was my first kiss. I had spent the whole morning dazed, unable to shake off the lingering feelings from the day before, and now I was having breakfast-turned-lunch with the very person responsible for that.As I listened to Byun Seungjin and Yang Eunoh’s trivial conversation, I was nearly done with my meal when it happened.Despite having eaten cereal, Kwon Jungwoo was the first to finish his bowl. Suddenly, he spoke up.“I’m gay.”Then he tilted his head.“Or maybe bi? Anyway.”While the three of us stared at him in dumb shock, Kwon Jungwoo continued, completely nonchalant.“I like guys.”His calm confession cast a silence over the table.I froze, spoon halfway to my mouth, wondering if I had heard him correctly.Did he just…?Did I really hear that?The first one to break the stunned silence was Yang Eunoh.“Okay—I’m in favor. I’ve always wanted a gay friend.”He cast his vote with the solemnity of a sports coach, and Byun Seungjin laughed at him.“Dude, do you believe that? He’s joking.”“I’m not joking.”But Kwon Jungwoo’s sharp rebuttal wiped the smile off his face.“What happened? Wait, don’t tell me… you like me?”Now suddenly serious, Byun Seungjin asked, but this time, it was Kwon Jungwoo’s turn to laugh.“I swear, even if you and I were the last two humans on Earth, we’d still face the apocalypse as good teammates.”His firm declaration made Byun Seungjin silently celebrate. Kwon Jungwoo joined in the light laughter that followed.“And I don’t need your approval about who I like, so don’t overstep.”“Then why’d you bring it up? Planning to hold a press conference?”“Should I?”Kwon Jungwoo said that, then looked at me. His face was full of warmth, almost as if he was asking for my permission. Kwon Jungwoo must be out of his mind…“I… I don’t think you should go around saying stuff like that so easily. What if rumors spread?”“So what if they do? I’ve got people I want to tell, but there’s no one I want to hide it from.”It didn’t seem like Kwon Jungwoo had any intention of being cautious.Late to the game, I scanned the restaurant for him, on alert. Fortunately, since it was the late lunch hour, most of the tables around us were empty, and the kitchen was noisy enough that I doubted our conversation had been overheard.Relieved, I took a deep breath, but Yang Eunoh raised his voice and asked, “So, who’s the person you like?”After that question, my eyes met Kwon Jungwoo’s again. He seemed to give me a slight smile.