Kiss the Ground

The weather was unusually clear on the day of the second match in the quarterfinals. The coaches cheerfully remarked that it was a sign of Winchester FC’s impending victory. Indeed, it wasn’t mere bravado, as the game was clearly in their favor.Saint Ainsworth Stadium, their home ground, was as familiar to Winchester’s players as their own homes. If they lost by more than two points today, their advancement to the semifinals would be in jeopardy again, but no one seemed to worry about such an unlikely event. The stands were particularly filled with family spectators today, almost certain of the team’s victory.“Yoon Chahyun.”Amid the noise of journalists, league officials, and teammates bustling around, someone called Chahyun’s name quietly from behind as he changed into his uniform and talked with the coaches. The voice was clear and unmistakable.“Seongjoo hyung. Already filming?”“Of course. You, you… really deserve a good scolding.”Chun Seongjoo, whom Chahyun had spoken with three days ago, approached with a pout. His expression was a mix of scolding and concern. When Chahyun stood there awkwardly, he rolled up a few sheets of paper and lightly tapped Chahyun’s arm.“Are you going to score a goal today?”“I’m not, hyung, trust me.”When Chahyun rubbed his arm and frowned, Seongjoo sighed and scratched his head. Despite his doubts about Chahyun’s determined attitude, there was a sense of relief.“A guy with a mental state like tissue paper? You’re surprisingly okay. Can you really do it?”“Of course, it’s a game we’ve almost won. We’re going to the semifinals.”“I guess I can trust that… Well, knowing you’re not alone does put my mind at ease.”Chahyun nodded. From today on, he would be alone again.Last night, Chahyun told Misha he would leave his house. Although Misha didn’t move a muscle, Chahyun was sure he heard him. Misha’s avoidance of eye contact during their last breakfast together confirmed it.Chahyun was more certain than ever. His decision was the right one.Since that night, there hadn’t been a single conversation between them. Misha stood at a distance, preparing for the game with a slight frown. There was no contract, of course. Their cohabitation, the thin thread connecting them, would end with this game.“Your expression says otherwise. How about a hug from your hyung?”“Absolutely not, just cheer for me.”Seongjoo, who had spread his arms wide, smacked his lips at Chahyun’s protest. Then he tousled Chahyun’s hair with one hand. Though not sad, Chahyun felt a chill in his heart, as if he had just cried his eyes out. He bowed his head silently.The speed at which the sun was setting was inversely proportional to how quickly the stands were filling up. The energy of the huge crowd reached the players warming up in the lobby. The roar of the crowd and the music vibrating through the walls already heightened the excitement.As the game drew closer, Blue repeatedly expressed concern about Chahyun’s injuries. Seeing the bruises still visible from the beating Chahyun took in the first match made him anxious, but there was no way they could sit Chahyun out of such an important game. So, all Blue could do was encourage him.“Yuan, did you tape your knee? You need to be careful after what happened in the first match.”“My legs are fine.”“You might get hit again today. There’s no harm in being prepared. Do it while you still have time.”It was only after hearing Jude’s concern that Chahyun realized his tape was in the dressing room. The trainers were busy with others’ warm-ups, so he had to handle it himself. After a brief hesitation, Chahyun got up and headed to the hallway.The dressing room was naturally empty as the game approached. Chahyun walked into the quiet room, grabbed his team bag from his locker, and took out the tape. Sitting on the bench, he pulled down his stockings.Just endure today, just get through it, he thought, tearing off a long strip of tape, even though he wasn’t sure what he was enduring.“Yuan.”As the door opened, a low, solemn voice reached him. Chahyun stopped taping his left knee and looked up.“Are you taping?”“Oh, Cahill. Is it time for assembly already? I’ll be out soon.”“Not yet.”Cahill, standing at the door, shook his head and slowly walked into the dressing room. Maybe he had forgotten something like Yoon Chahyun had. Out of curiosity, Chahyun watched his movements, but surprisingly, Cahill approached him instead of going to his own locker.“How’s your condition? The coach seems very worried because they’re being too rough on you.”“It can’t be helped. I’ll just have to endure it again today.”“It’s better not to overdo it.”Acknowledging Cahill’s gentle concern, Chahyun started taping his knee. It seemed that the captain was worried about his teammate being targeted by rough defenders. He was indeed a diligent person. While they exchanged a few words, Chahyun finished taping his knee.But then, Cahill’s calm voice dropped to a lower tone.“Yuan, there’s something I want to ask you.”“What is it?”Applying the final piece of tape, Chahyun looked up at Cahill. He stood there, staring at Chahyun without any intention of sitting down. What could it be? The sudden secretive tone made Chahyun stand up to face him.In the silence, Cahill’s thin lips parted.“What is this… contract between you and Misha Asplund?”Chahyun blinked. The shock felt like a kick to the chest. Observing Chahyun’s confusion, Cahill continued.“I overheard Misha talking about it to you during your joint interview. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I was standing by the door, and I heard it.”“…”“There was a practice match that afternoon, so I was there to change. But I couldn’t in the end.”The memory resurfaced. Jude had mentioned Cahill’s presence when he burst into the locker room. At the time, Chahyun had dismissed it, thinking Cahill was just passing by, but clearly, that wasn’t the case. Cahill pressed further, confirming another detail.“And your contract involves kissing.”Then, suddenly, Cahill placed a hand on Chahyun’s shoulder. The unexpected gesture made the muscles in his arm tense up. The unsettling amount of interest in Cahill’s rational eyes gave Chahyun goosebumps.Anyone who overheard the conversation to that extent would probably guess it was a personal matter. Cahill wasn’t the type to gossip or take pleasure in others’ secrets. At least, that’s what Chahyun believed. So what was this strange curiosity?Cahill placed both hands on Chahyun’s shoulders, his thick eyebrows deeply furrowed. What he said next was entirely unexpected.“Are you being blackmailed? Yuan.”Chahyun responded dumbly.“What?”“I’m asking if Misha Asplund is forcing you into this with some sort of leverage or threat. Is that the secret of your relationship?”It was a wild conjecture. Chahyun’s heart pounded as he involuntarily gaped.“Why… how did you come to think that?”“Who wouldn’t, hearing talk of contracts and kissing?”His mind went blank with incredulity. Then, it started to process the situation backward.Maybe, maybe it wasn’t such a crazy thought after all. To someone who knew nothing of the situation, it wouldn’t have seemed like a normal conversation or context. Especially to someone as straightforward and ethical as Cahill Love.Chahyun raised his hands defensively, stammering. His tone wavered between confusion and denial.“Cahill, it’s not like that… I appreciate your concern, but what you’re worried about didn’t happen.”“Yuan. I believe I have both the duty and the right to intervene in such matters.”“It’s really not like that.”But Cahill’s eyes showed no intention of accepting such a clumsy denial.“If you’re afraid of exposing anything, don’t worry. Everything will be kept confidential.”“…”“I’ll gladly help if I can.”His light green eyes shone with sincerity. Though they were of different nationalities, Cahill’s upright spirit was indeed comparable to the scholars of old Korea. The strict righteousness that seemed ready to drag Misha by the neck to the league’s disciplinary committee…Chahyun grimaced. Regardless of their current relationship, he couldn’t put Misha in such a situation. To prevent that, he had to reveal a deeply embarrassing truth. It was a dead end with no escape.“No, that’s not it, Cahill. It’s… my…”Cahill waited with heavy eyes for Chahyun’s confession. Until now, Chahyun had never once imagined revealing this to anyone other than Misha.“…my superstition.”“Superstition?”The deep, low question made an unbearable heat rise in Chahyun’s chest.“Kissing is… my superstition. I have to do it before a match…”His nose tingled with embarrassment. He felt like a pervert confessing his lust to a pious priest, but Chahyun continued speaking somehow.“So… that’s what we were doing that time. You know there was a practice match afterward.”“…”“So technically, it was my request, and… Misha was helping me.”This time, it was Cahill who was left gaping. Though faint, his expression could be classified as shock. Chahyun felt as if his body were a boiling pot. Even the slow withdrawal of Cahill’s hands from his shoulders made him dizzy.“Is that even possible?”It was a reasonable question. Chahyun nodded awkwardly, eyes closed.“So, you and Misha Asplund have been doing this? Since when?”“For a while now. My condition was bad after the Umbertide match.”“By ‘a while,’ you mean even in the Round of 16.”“Yeah.”“And in the first leg of the quarterfinals?”Chahyun didn’t answer directly but averted his gaze. Cahill seemed to take that as confirmation. After a brief pause, he asked another persistent and frightening question.“Then, did you do it today?”Chahyun was at a loss for words. He had braced himself for explaining, but not to this extent. Feeling a mix of awkwardness and clarity, Chahyun shook his head.“…No.”“Why not?”“Because it’s not healthy… We decided to stop. Negotiations broke down.”Though vague, that was the essence of it. Cahill continued with a serious tone.“What about your superstition?”“I have to overcome it. They say it’s a mental issue. I’ve played well without it before.”Chahyun answered as nonchalantly as he could. Based on his own experience, he figured there were probably as many superstitions as there were players. And Chahyun believed Cahill Love would understand that.“Now that I’ve explained everything… if your curiosity is satisfied, let’s go. The game is about to start.”Chahyun brushed off his uniform unnecessarily as he turned away. At least he had cleared Misha of any misunderstandings. Having been mentally dissected, he figured it might be better to dive into the game. Sweating profusely and getting knocked around by the opposing players might actually be preferable…A firm hand grabbed Chahyun’s arm once more at that moment.“Yuan, we have to win the match. The team needs you for victory.”It was a very strange and peculiar nuance. Cahill’s gaze pierced straight into the side of his face.“Have you ever tried the same thing with another teammate?”What… what is he saying?The question, faintly hinting at an intention Chahyun did not want to guess, tightened around his throat.“Of course not. How could I do something like that with a teammate?”“If you’re okay with it…”Cahill cut him off. The deep resonance in his voice gave Chahyun no room to escape.“If you’re okay with it, I think I could help you.”Chahyun looked back and forth into his eyes. Unlike Chahyun’s wavering gaze, Cahill’s was as firm as a nail. His face was too earnest to be joking about such an absurd superstition.This isn’t a joke.“If you called it a contract, then there were no emotions involved in your relationship with him, at least not from your side.”“…”“Then there’s no personal issue.”The definitive statement shook Chahyun. Cahill seemed to understand Misha’s feelings. His low voice carried that certainty.“I wouldn’t make you uncomfortable like Misha Asplund did. I’m not that immature.”“Cahill.”“If the healthiness of the relationship bothers you, we could approach it completely professionally.”“…”“Why not think of it as a team with the same goal? Yuan, what do you think?”Even while reading Chahyun’s confusion, Cahill didn’t let go of his hand. Is he really serious? How can he say such things without even blinking? The question sprang from Chahyun’s mouth.“So you mean you’d kiss me just to win a match?”“Of course. Is there anything more important than winning the championship for our team right now?”His face was terrifyingly sincere. The thought flashed through Chahyun’s mind that Cahill Love was, in his core, not a sportsman. Misha had completely missed the mark. How could someone be so deeply and chillingly dedicated to sports?Cahill, who had been staring at Chahyun as if to break the ice that had frozen over him, suddenly shrugged and let out a laugh.“Don’t look at me like that, Yuan. That was a joke. You see me as too rigid… I just wanted to mess with you a bit.”“You…”“But I do need you enough to volunteer for something like that. Isn’t that reason enough?”“…”“See, you’re the one who’s rigid, not me.”A gentle smile played on his lips as he spoke. The rigid model student image Chahyun had of Cahill crumbled like whipped cream. Chahyun couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.It was so absurd that his mind, unexpectedly, became clear. Chahyun, still holding onto Cahill’s arm, thought over the proposal.Doing such a thing with someone else?With someone other than Misha.When he considered it, a sharp, intense feeling shot through his body, making his hairs stand on end. His heart began to bubble over like water at a boiling point, finally blocking his throat like hot steam.The final clause of the contract between Misha and me was not to kiss anyone else. It was an ambiguous struggle at a time when we were unsure of what lay ahead, an effort to keep each other in a special relationship. But looking back now, all those struggles seem utterly laughable.Because, in the end, it’s an issue with no room for doubt.Chahyun gripped Cahill’s wrist, the one holding his arm, with strength. Despite his mind flashing white, his fingers were full of power. The magma-like heat surging through his chest made it hard to breathe.“Cahill. That thing.”Hot air escaped from his throat.“That thing only works with Misha.”Cahill blinked momentarily at the clear assertion, then, uncharacteristically, tilted his head. The look in his eyes was close to curiosity.“How can you be so sure? You’ve never tried it with anyone else.”“It just is. For me.”Chahyun took a deep breath and exhaled all at once. Strangely, accepting it made everything easier. His mind was clear and pure, as if a tidal wave had swept through and left clarity in its wake.This is a feeling that cannot be explained to others, nor does he want to explain it. If he must, it should be to Misha Asplund. Only to Misha, and only with Misha.It was a dizzying realization. Explanation, restrictions, rules, conditions, clauses, contracts… none of those trivial promises were necessary. The certainty was right within Chahyun. Realizing this, his heart pounded so hard it felt like it would leap out of his chest.Cahill, gazing into Chahyun’s black eyes, narrowed his eyes as if intrigued. From his now firm lips came a faint hypothesis.“Yuan, do you perhaps… also…?”“Gather up! Line up in three minutes!”A staff member burst into the room, calling loudly. He seemed flustered upon finding two of the starting forwards still in the dressing room. Through the open door came the distant sound of cheers, and people could be seen moving haphazardly in the corridor.Before Chahyun could respond, another person stuck their head in from behind. Misha Asplund, a head taller than the staff member, seemed to be looking for something as well. He walked briskly into the dressing room and stopped when he saw the two in the center of the room.His deep eyes widened and then quickly sharpened. When he made that expression, Yoon Chahyun knew what he was thinking.“Hurry up! Move it!”Only after the staff member’s urgent urging echoed did Chahyun release Cahill’s hand. Misha silently watched as their hands parted in midair. Then, he slowly crossed the dressing room and picked up the towel that was lying in his place.Chahyun’s heart pounded loudly. As they exited the dressing room, accompanied by the thunderous songs from the ground, none of the three spoke. Walking down the corridor as if running, Yoon Chahyun only kept his eyes fixed on the back of Misha’s head.***The night wind blowing across the field brushed past Chahyun’s ears and scattered into the air. The crowd, filling the four-story stadium like a matchbox, continuously sang cheers for Winchester FC players. Music played from giant speakers echoed everywhere, and the waves of the crowd surged like a tidal wave at every move of the players. It felt as if this enormous dome had become a world of its own.Tonight’s stadium was filled solely with strong support and goodwill for Winchester FC. All the songs sweeping around were familiar to Winchester players, and the names the fans shouted were too. It was a completely different atmosphere from the first leg in the Netherlands.Perhaps due to the penalty of being the away team, Villadevalde CF’s aggressiveness had greatly subsided compared to the first leg. They seemed intimidated. Their attitude was 180 degrees different from a week ago when they swung their arms and legs wildly, especially targeting Yoon Chahyun.In the end, they managed to give Yoon Chahyun only a few bruises and some deep frustration. Considering how much Jude had worried, it was a rather anticlimactic result. Amidst the enemy players, Chahyun watched the ball crossing back and forth over the half-line in the distance.The direction of the ball shifted every moment. However, it rarely came into the front line where Chahyun was positioned. Loitering on the grass to conserve energy, Chahyun unconsciously searched for Misha. Having proven himself by scoring in the first leg, he was naturally on the starting lineup from the second leg.His performance remained outstanding. His form was flawless as he skillfully maneuvered back and forth, leading the team and securing the ball. He was full of vitality. The only thing that concerned Chahyun was his expression.