Kiss the Ground

“Wow!”After getting out of the taxi, Misha blinked like a cow as he gazed at the bustling crowd. Tall buildings and wide roads stretched between them. In the middle, countless street vendors formed an endless line. The vendors were selling food targeting foreigners and trying to attract customers. Standing at the entrance of the street, flooded with tourists, felt like surfing on a giant wave.“There are so many people. This is my first time in an Asian street.”“Really? You’re totally a European country bumpkin.”“Do you come here often?”“Of course. This is right in front of my house.”Answering brazenly, Chahyun smacked his lips slightly inwardly. Having been busy traveling abroad since he was young, Yoon Chahyun was also a foreigner in Korea. However, the city of Seoul, designed for tourists, was welcoming their visit with a grand gesture.From now on, Chahyun had to take care of Misha. Looking around the street, he grabbed Misha’s wrist, who was standing idly by.“Let’s go, then. I’ll escort you.”“Are we going straight to get dessert?”The excited voice popped out before he finished speaking. Holding back a laugh, Chahyun shook his head.“No, we need to change clothes first. We stand out too much like this.”“Clothes… oh.”“If we’re wearing these clothes here, there’s no way we can go on a date.”Their outfits were the same ones they wore at the press conference, representing their respective teams. A white tiger emblem was emblazoned on Yoon Chahyun’s chest, and a Swedish football team cross mark was clearly displayed on Misha’s chest. Anyone could say they were patriots, but this fashion was definitely not suitable here. Since their meeting was widely known on social media, it was only a matter of time before fans recognized them.Upon hearing the explanation, Misha seemed genuinely flustered, covering his chest with his hands and making a sound like a field of flowers.“You’re right. Is there a shop nearby?”“There is, but I don’t know if you’ll like it. It’s off-the-rack.”They stopped in front of a truck selling tourist souvenirs. T-shirts, hats, and various items were densely packed inside, and the owner greeted them with open arms. At the same time, Misha’s mouth gaped open. His eyes sparkled like neon signs at the Oriental and exotic scene.‘I knew this would happen.’Chahyun quickly picked up a mask from the display and covered Misha’s and his faces. It was also Chahyun’s job to make sure his curious boyfriend didn’t get captivated by the merchandise.“Let’s quickly change clothes and have fun. Do you see anything you like?”“Anything is fine?”“Yes. Just pick quickly.”At the impatient question, Misha’s eyes spun around, looking at the T-shirts hanging all over. His gaze moved from a red shirt to a blue one. After browsing for a while, he pointed to a T-shirt hanging at the top of the truck.“I want that one.”Chahyun’s face turned as fierce as a tiger upon seeing the shirt Misha pointed at.“No! Except that one.”“Why? Why not?”“Why do you think! You don’t know, so you ask?”At the first warning in a month, Misha looked as if he was unfairly accused. How could wearing a T-shirt with Chahyun’s face on it, smiling broadly in a close-up shot from who knows what game, mean anything but giving up any pretense of disguise? Besides, he never gave away his portrait rights, so it was completely illegal.In the end, Chahyun ignored Misha’s wishes and bought random clothes and hats. It was a set of very plain black T-shirts. The front had a simple phrase printed on it.“I•SEOUL•U”“Yuan…….”Misha, who had been watching the purchase, slowly lowered his head like a withered plant. His broad shoulders drooped, and his drooping eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings.“Let’s go.”Avoiding Misha’s pitiful face that looked like it was about to shed tears, Chahyun wrapped an arm around Misha’s waist. Then, they quickly moved out into the afternoon street.The place they chose to change clothes was inside a large building. They slipped into the bathroom at the end of a hallway, past an empty lobby. It was a clean and quiet place, with few people knowing about its location, without a drop of water.After changing clothes in their respective stalls, they stood in the center of the bathroom, staring blankly at each other. Dressed in matching clothes, they truly looked like tourists now. Except… slightly like a crazy couple of tourists.“Yuan, this is too tight on me!”“Ahaha! Hahahaha.”Forget about Chahyun; Misha’s appearance was the real spectacle. As Chahyun bent his knees, bursting into laughter, Misha tugged at his chest, wearing a sullen expression. The letters on Misha’s chest were stretched so wide that it read as “I • S E O U L • U.” Aaiiseouluuuu…. The words seemed to read in slow tempo.“It’s too tight. It’s hard to breathe, and it’s uncomfortable.”“There’s nothing we can do; 3XL wasn’t available. That’s the largest size they had there.”“But this is too tight… it feels more like a rash guard than a shirt.”“Ah, this is too funny…….”Wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes, Chahyun took the clothes Misha was wearing and stuffed them into a shopping bag. Misha grumbled with a dissatisfied expression, as if he couldn’t comprehend it.“Yuan, this is not the time to laugh. It was the same when I wore your clothes before. Don’t you remember? Yours are too small and tight.”“It’s not that bad. What is it like….”Drawing a line firmly, Chahyun slowly looked over Misha’s body. The elegant face and body lines were overshadowed by the kitschy phrase. The T-shirt clung tightly to the round chest muscles and shoulders, creating taut horizontal folds across the front. Every time Misha breathed, the horizontally stretched “I•SEOUL•U” slowly rose and fell.Up and down… Up and down… Up and down…Suddenly, the smile disappeared from his lips.Chahyun placed the shopping bag on the sink and took a few steps closer to Misha. On the contrary, Misha took a step back, pouting. Chahyun’s usually quiet and reserved lover had become more prone to sulking recently. Chahyun reached out and grabbed his waist, making it impossible for him to escape.“You look good in anything, so why are you upset?”“I don’t know.”“You’re really cute.”“I don’t know….”“Kiss me.”At Chahyun’s words, Misha turned his slightly protruding lips to the side. If he moved to the right, they’d go left, and if he moved left, they’d go up. As he chased Misha’s slowly escaping lips, Chahyun whispered with a smile in his voice.“You… you’re upset because I didn’t buy that for you earlier, aren’t you?”“No.”Of course, he was. The way his eyes looked down as if he didn’t care was so cute that it made Chahyun’s heart pound. As he persistently kissed Misha’s lips, chin, and cheeks, Misha’s expression gradually softened.“Did you want it that much?”“Art is… an area with high return on investment and future asset value. That was a popular design.”“There’s a real one right in front of you, so why invest in a t-shirt?”“But….”A bootleg t-shirt violating portrait rights had suddenly become a high-priced auction item. But still, there’s no way he could walk around wearing a shirt that looks like a passport photo. Besides, the store owner’s eyes had started to grow more and more confused as he watched the two of them argue. When their noses touched and their eyes locked intensely, Misha’s long arms finally wrapped around Chahyun’s neck, as if he couldn’t resist anymore.“It was a picture of your second goal from last season’s Farmers’ game. I wanted to keep it.”His disappointed face was so endearing that it made him resent his own face in the t-shirt.“Not the photo. Didn’t you want to see me?”His tightly pressed lips finally started to move.“I did… want to see you.”“How much?”“I thought about you all day long.”Finally, an honest answer. His voice, breaking up with pauses, was filled with the same longing he’d had when he’d suddenly hugged Chahyun the day before.“When I was training, when I was practicing, I only thought about you. Even during the seminar, I looked for you on the screen. Resting wasn’t fun… and food didn’t taste good either. I just kept thinking about you….”“We’re the same. I only thought about touching you every day.”“Really?”“Really.”Chahyun’s hand slowly explored Misha’s waist, which he could feel under his fingertips. Misha, blushing deeply, slowly lowered his head and whispered.“Am I… the same as in your imagination?”“Hmm, I think you’re a bit different.”The excited breaths exchanged between their lips were just like the day before. But this wasn’t the airport. The fact that they were alone, clinging to each other in an enclosed space with no one else around, created a dangerous tension.“Your hair’s longer, your skin’s smoother, your body’s bigger….”“…….”“You’re even prettier than I imagined.”Satisfied with the honest answer, Misha finally pulled Chahyun closer by his back. His hand slowly slipped inside Chahyun’s couple’s t-shirt and slid up his back, as if tracing his spine. As Chahyun let out a sudden, irregular breath, he stammered.“Y-yes, when I went to pick you up yesterday.”“Mm.”“You were the prettiest one on your team.”At the sly compliment, Misha finally let out a laugh. The back of Chahyun’s neck was suddenly grabbed by the other hand, and their moist lips met immediately. As their tongues entwined and the saliva, which remembered the taste, filled his mouth, his body temperature spiked instantly. No matter how much he had, he wanted more.“Haa, Misha….”He felt like he was going to die. After a month, holding each other like this, in the bathroom of an unfamiliar building.“Yuan… Yuan.”Misha felt the same. His impatient hands, now very different from the playful attitude from earlier, quickly pushed Chahyun’s shirt up to his neck. In contrast, his pants and underwear slid down to his hips. The cool air inside the bathroom made goosebumps rise on Chahyun’s skin. While kissing him, Misha massaged Chahyun’s bare waist, then this time brought his hand forward to the front of his abdomen.“Ah.”Surprised by the sudden touch, Chahyun’s body jerked upward, but Misha, instead, slipped his hand inside his underwear. In the narrow space of his pants, Misha’s fingers clung tightly to Chahyun’s erection. The forehead pressing against his shoulder was burning hot. Without realizing it, Chahyun grabbed Misha’s shoulder as if to push him away, but Misha instead started to roughly rub his entire length as if in retaliation.“Haa… ah, you.”The pleasure that made the back of his neck tingle caused Chahyun to flinch his hips away, but Misha responded with a low, boiling sound. This guy likes this. Following that, he rubbed Chahyun’s erection roughly and quickly, causing Chahyun’s head to tilt back hurriedly.“Wait, wait, stop.”“Yuan, Yuan.”“Hey… hnn.”Misha pressed his warm lips against Chahyun’s neck. The sensation, which felt like his body was melting, was a pleasure he hadn’t felt in 30 days. The barrier in his heart dissolved like sugar. He lowered the hands that had been trying to push Misha away and finally leaned into his arms.If they wanted, they could have gone all the way, and he wanted to go all the way. Anything would be fine as long as he could be with Misha….But what brought them back to reality was the sharp sound of footsteps outside the door.“Ah.”Chahyun lifted his head. In front of him was Misha’s flushed face, also looking up. The sound of a couple of people walking in hard-soled shoes passed by the hallway leading to the restroom and then faded away. For the few seconds the hallway echoed, they held their breath and looked at each other.That’s right, they were in a corner of a restroom in an unfamiliar building. The realization that they had been clinging to each other in a public place sent a hot shiver through them.It was Yoon Chahyun who first moved his stiff lips.“Misha, we… we planned to go on a date.”“Ah, but right now….”“No. Not right now.”If they continued like this, they’d end up ruining their special day, hidden away in some dark place. He didn’t want to waste such a rare opportunity like that.“Later, okay?”Their lips brushed together regretfully. Gathering his strength, Chahyun pushed himself away, and Misha looked disappointed. Yoon Chahyun stepped back and began to straighten his half-removed clothes.“Let’s go out.”Misha, who had been left behind, still stood there with his arms outstretched, looking like an abandoned puppy. His expression was as painful and sultry as it was, but there was nothing he could do.Chahyun hastily grabbed his bag, slung it over his shoulder, and quickly pulled Misha out of the restroom. Both of them felt a pang of regret as their steps dragged along the floor.***A few blocks away from the main street, tucked into an alley, was a large three-story cake house that looked like it had been converted from a residential building. The lush garden was adorned with swings and unicorn sculptures made of flowers and plants to greet them. As they stared at the pink flowerpots, iron chairs, and the signpost wrapped in round light bulbs, Yoon Chahyun and Misha stood still.The café in front of them was Yoon Chahyun’s only ally, recommended by a twenty-year-old female relative who knew the busiest spots in Seoul. He had sent a desperate SOS message asking for a quiet and nice place, and he had believed the reply that came back right away without question. He’d asked for a hidden gem, not this! He hadn’t asked Yoon Chana to guide him to such a flashy and attention-grabbing place.However, Misha was already captivated by the sweet scent wafting from inside the café. As his eyes sparkled and he tugged at Chahyun’s sleeve, Chahyun eventually pushed his way through the flower-adorned archway.“Welcome.”The cheerful greeting from the staff made Chahyun bow his head as he quickly scanned the interior. The pretty café was mostly filled with young women and couples. People at nearby tables glanced at the two of them and whispered to each other about the sight of two large men.In a strangely tense moment, it was Misha, who had been clinging to Chahyun’s side, that suddenly dashed toward the huge glass display case in the center.“Wow!”The display case was like heaven. Even Yoon Chahyun, who had lived in Europe for several years, had never seen such desserts before. The colorful cakes inside looked so sweet they almost hurt his eyes, and they completely captivated Misha. Chahyun frowned as he read the tiny labels inside the display.“Earl Grey… Cherry… Magnolia Cheese Red Velvet….”After staring at the display case for a long time, Misha turned to look at Chahyun. His mouth was wide open, as if sweet drool was about to drip out.“Do you like it that much? What do you want to eat?”“I don’t know, I can’t choose. I want to eat everything.”There was no answer. Not from Misha, but from Yoon Chahyun. Chahyun turned around and headed straight to the counter. Well, since they’d come all this way, maybe just for today, it wouldn’t hurt to relax the rules.“Give me one of everything in the display case. And for drinks, I’ll take the sweetest one you have… the white chocolate iced blend? Add syrup and whipped cream to that, and one caffeine-free tea as well.”“Yes, got it.”The young staff member didn’t even lift their head as they busily punched numbers into the register. After paying, Chahyun led Misha toward the back of the café. People gave them curious looks as they passed by, but they shamelessly settled at a deep table in the back.Relieved by the noise in the café, Chahyun lowered his voice to a whisper.“You almost got us into big trouble. What were you thinking, touching me like that?”“Yuan, you were the one who touched me first.”“I was just checking your size! How much you’d grown….”“Liar. You touched other places too.”“My hand slipped….”Chahyun sprawled his body over the small, round table and let out a deep sigh. It hadn’t even been an hour since they left the press conference, and he was already feeling worn out. Misha, sitting primly across from him, seemed to have cooled down from his earlier sulking. Thank goodness. He must have been crazy to try and go all the way in a restroom.“Here are your orders.”The staff member quickly approached and placed the drinks on the table. It seemed that their tourist disguise was working well, as the server stood right next to them but gave no indication that he recognized Yoon Chahyun or Misha. Chahyun glanced at the back of the staff member as he adjusted his mask higher.“Yuan, can I really eat all of this?”Misha’s eyes sparkled as the sweet, creamy drinks were placed in front of them. Stars seemed to be shining in his eyes.“Of course. We agreed to have dessert, remember? But can you really eat all of it?”“Of course, I can eat all of this.”“Misha, you pig.”“Oink, oink.”Cute…Watching the cakes arrive one after another, the “sweet pig” adjusted his posture. In front of him were a vintage cake filled with cherries, a dacquoise dusted with powdered sugar, a heart-shaped panna cotta, a chocolate cookie muffin, scones and madeleines, and small cups of jelly and pudding. As he watched his boyfriend eagerly grab a fork like an untamed foal, Chahyun finally allowed his body, which had been tense with anxiety, to relax.A warm and settled atmosphere just for the two of them.It finally felt real that they were on a date. No longer caught in the gaze of others or hurried moments in a bathroom. Just yesterday, he hadn’t dared to hope they could stay this close and relaxed. His shoulders, which had been stiff all day, began to loosen, and a soft smile spread across his face.“You must have eaten a lot of this while I wasn’t around, right? I can tell just by looking.”“I calculated the calories and only ate a little. Otherwise, Yuan would have scolded me.”“Really?”“I swear.”Liar. You must have been indulging whenever no one was watching! Narrowing his eyes, Chahyun watched as Misha, noticing his suspicion, scooped up a forkful of whipped cream cake and brought it to Chahyun’s lips.“Ah.”The way Misha tapped Chahyun’s lower lip, urging him to open his mouth, was something Chahyun often did to him. It’s amazing how quickly he learns.“I’m fine. Just watching you eat makes me full.”“How can you feel full just by visual input without consuming anything? That doesn’t make any sense.”“……”“Ahh.”Reluctantly, Chahyun lowered his mask, and Misha gently pushed the fork into his mouth. As the rich cream spilled over his lips, Chahyun wiped his chin with his hand, frowning.“Ugh, it’s sweet.”“Isn’t it delicious?”“Well… it’s actually pretty good.”The combination of raspberry mousse and whipped cream made Chahyun’s eyebrows raise. He wasn’t a fan of sweets, but living with Misha had made him more accustomed to them. When someone you love enjoys something, you tend to follow along.“Next, try this.”Misha quickly dug into a tiramisu cup and brought another large spoonful to Chahyun, before taking some for himself. Seeing Misha’s contented expression as his eyebrows relaxed made Chahyun feel sweet too. When he reached out to wipe the cocoa powder off Misha’s lips, Misha rubbed his lips against Chahyun’s fingers like a child.“Silly… is it really that good?”“It’s delicious. It’s so sweet and soft, it just melts away….”Misha’s innocent comment brought a pretty curve to his lips. Seeing his gently curved eyes and mouth, Chahyun felt a strange mix of emotions. A suspicion he had harbored was slowly solidifying into certainty.Misha has indeed become more prone to smiling.It wasn’t an illusion. Whether it was weaving through the crowd at the airport or mingling with teammates at the press conference, Misha was smiling like this. He seemed completely comfortable joking and chatting with his teammates, exchanging banter with a warm smile. The way he greeted fans with a friendly smile was a significant improvement from just a few months ago. It felt like watching a once shy puppy grow into a confident adult dog.In other words, Misha has learned to wag his tail at people other than Chahyun.“……”Chahyun couldn’t deny the tiny thorn that had been pricking at his heart. A pointed thought that poked at his sense of maturity. Could it be that Misha was smiling like this even when Chahyun wasn’t around? Had Misha grown enough to share the sunny smile, the social skills, and the endearing personality that Chahyun had taught him with others?Of course, such a change wasn’t bad. It was exactly what Chahyun had always wanted. He had always hoped Misha would meet more people, not be lonely, make friends, and expand his relationships. He had played matchmaker like a busybody, so it made no sense to feel bitter about Misha’s sudden growth.‘But still.’Chahyun shoved another spoonful of tiramisu into his mouth. The question that came out next was utterly unrelated to his thoughts.“Misha, are you close with your teammates?”“Hmm?”“They don’t bully you, give you a hard time, or pick on you just because you’re the youngest?”“Why would they do that to me?”Misha tilted his head. As the youngest on the Winchester United F.C. and the Swedish national team, he could be punished for his impulsive actions yesterday.“If they tried, I’d kill them.”“No, there’s no one worth dirtying your hands over.”“Hmm…”That’s a relief. But…. Chahyun chewed on his cake silently, then slowly added,“That guy seemed awfully friendly with you. The captain, was it?”Kristian Wendel.189 cm, 82 kg, blond hair, blue eyes. The center-back of the Premier League club Oldcliffe and the captain of the Swedish team. The guy who was chatting and laughing happily with Misha. He’s my age, heavier than me, but I’m the better football player.Grinding the arrogant facts together with his cake, Chahyun lowered his gaze. After blinking a few times, Misha opened his mouth.“Yeah. Chris is a good captain.”“Chris?”A nickname?“He has good judgment, stays calm under pressure, and has a strong mental game. Plus, he’s got great focus during matches.”“Mental strength?”“Calm and composed. He’s reliable and trustworthy as a center-back, someone you can depend on.”Why all the praise?Chahyun swallowed his cake and questioned, “And?”“Since it was my first time on the national team since the youth team, I didn’t know much, but he taught me a lot. He seems to care about his teammates.”“And?”“He’s not shady at all, and at least he’s way better than someone like Cahill Love.”Oh, really?“It’s also easy to talk to him, so I ended up chatting with him a lot. I even sat next to him on the plane here, and he told me a lot about his club.”“Misha, you started the conversation?”“Yeah. I was the one who asked first. I think there’s a lot I can learn from him because….”Who asked for a play-by-play of your cute little conversation?Chahyun, spoon in his mouth, stared intently at Misha’s face. Now, Misha was eagerly adding more compliments, talking about how calm, mature, and relaxed the guy was. As Misha’s voice droned on, the soft smile of the man from the press conference earlier flashed in Chahyun’s mind, with those annoyingly crescent-shaped eyes.Listening quietly to his unusually talkative boyfriend, Chahyun rested his elbows on the table and slowly propped up his chin. A very quiet question slipped from his lips.“Do you like him that much?”“Huh?”The soft, steady voice abruptly stopped. Chahyun buried his face in his palm and gazed at Misha’s blank expression.“Do you like him more than me?”With the silence, Misha’s jewel-like eyes widened to the size of coins. At the same time, the fork he had been moving around suddenly stopped mid-air.“Yuan, I’m not sure what you mean….”“Who do you like more, him or me?”Chahyun lowered his eyes as he set his spoon on the table. He noticed Misha’s fists clenching tightly, as if they’d turned to stone.To be honest, he knew he was overreacting a bit. But Yoon Chahyun wasn’t mature enough to suppress the childish feelings that swelled inside him when he witnessed Misha happily conversing with someone else.“I can’t even sit next to you on a plane, but what am I supposed to do when you sit next to him while I’m stuck on the ground?”“……”“When did you change your mind? You used to only hold my hand when we were up high.”It was a mix of provocation and teasing. Chahyun wondered how Misha, sometimes so innocent and other times overly sincere, would respond.Feeling the low thrum of his heartbeat, Chahyun added with feigned dissatisfaction, “Don’t talk about other people in front of me.”Silence fell.“……”“……”The silence stretched on.Chahyun glanced sideways at Misha’s face, which had frozen as if he had never heard such nonsense before. His eyes, unmoving like a statue, stared blankly at Chahyun. The longer the lack of reaction, the more anxious Chahyun started to feel.“Of course, I’m not trying to interfere with your social life….”“……”“I mean….”Embarrassed, Chahyun shoved another spoonful of tiramisu into his mouth, but just as he did, Misha suddenly leaned in close to him.Then, in a very small whisper, Misha asked, “Yuan. Are you asking if I want to have sex right now?”Wow!Cocoa powder burst out of Chahyun’s mouth like a humidifier.“W-What are you talking about?”“I asked if you want to do it right now.”“Misha!”What kind of a curveball was this? Frantically looking around to make sure no one heard, Chahyun finally looked back at Misha’s face. But the furrowed brows and the firm set of his mouth showed that Misha wasn’t joking.“How did this conversation even go there? I wasn’t….”“Then what are you doing right now?”Misha reached out and grabbed Chahyun’s hand on the table, holding it tightly.“You’re teasing me nonstop.”Chahyun’s mouth fell open. The same person who had been chattering like a baby bird just moments ago was now gripping his wrist as if he might tear it off.“N-No, I mean….”As Chahyun stammered like a broken robot, Misha’s eyebrows drew down in a desperate arc. A voice, hot enough to melt, whispered in his ear.“Yuan, I want to do it too. In fact, at the airport yesterday, and even in the bathroom earlier, I’ve been wanting to have sex with you the whole time.”“Wait, not here….”“I don’t care where we do it, but you’re scared of things like that. So I’ve been holding back all this time.”