Kiss the Ground

“Uh…”“When you talk like that, I can’t hold back.”Oh… this is bad.I completely misjudged the situation. There’s only a thin line between innocence and desire. What was supposed to be a light tease had Misha diving headfirst into pure lust. I’d forgotten that Misha struggles with subtlety. Instead, it was Yoon Chahyun, who had provoked him, whose face was now burning with heat.“No, Misha. That’s not what I meant…”“I’m not good with hints. So, you have to say exactly what you mean, Yuan.”“That…”Honestly, I wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. Whenever I dealt with my straightforward and honest younger lover, I always ended up losing my composure. I could never manage to act like an adult. My mouth, still fumbling, managed to stammer out an excuse.“This is, well, like… a kind of affection.”“What does that mean?”This was driving me crazy.“It’s, you know, when you want to look cute to someone…”Explaining it in Korean words just made my ridiculousness all the more clear. Misha, noticing how I avoided his gaze, drove the nail in deeper.“Isn’t that the same as saying you want to have sex?”“Well… yes.”“When I want to have sex with you, I show ‘affection.'”That was an accurate interpretation. Every time Misha would snuggle into my arms, wagging his tail like a puppy, or pretend to be upset over something trivial, waiting to be comforted, it was all instinctual seduction. Misha had a knack for relationships. Being naturally good at receiving love, it was no wonder he found the push-and-pull games awkward. Chahyun, with a flushed face, spoke slowly.“Still, I didn’t mean right now. I meant later, when it’s just the two of us.”“If you don’t want to do it right away, don’t show ‘affection.’ It’s hard for me.”“Okay. I’m sorry, it’s all my fault…”Why am I apologizing all of a sudden? But holding Misha’s hand, while he whispered so seriously, made me feel soft, like cream. The sweet desserts suddenly seemed pointless as we sat there, our bodies heating up in a dizzying sensation.‘This is foolish.’Yoon Chahyun felt a bit stupid. Just the other day, he’d been thinking how nice it would be if Misha made more friends, but now he was acting childish over something so trivial. It seemed the time apart had only fanned the flames of his emotions.But he knew what this selfishness was. It was the agony of loving someone so much that it drove him crazy. Because we’re not just lovers. We’re…Chahyun moved his fingertips to gently stroke Misha’s fingers. Then, he fiddled with the circumference of Misha’s left ring finger, silently counting numbers in his head.Somewhere between 18 and 19.“Misha, when we get back to England…”Just as he was about to intertwine his fingers with Misha’s, someone suddenly approached their table.“Um, excuse me.”They both flinched and quickly pulled back. The hands that had been clasped together on the table were withdrawn just as quickly. Misha was just as startled. Chahyun snapped his head up as if struck by lightning.“Yes?”“You’re Yoon Chahyun, right?”The face in front of them was familiar. It was the part-timer who had taken their order at the counter. With a face full of both nervousness and excitement, he cautiously began to speak.“I’m really sorry to interrupt. I wasn’t sure when you first came in, but then I recognized your voice… I’m a really, really big fan.”He added a short comment, as if gauging Chahyun’s reaction.“It looks like you’re here for some downtime. I’m really sorry to bother you while you’re trying to relax.”“…No, it’s fine.”Chahyun belatedly forced a smile. The part-timer didn’t seem to have any other intentions, judging by how he was nervously holding a piece of paper and a pen. However, his sudden intrusion was more than enough to shatter the intimate atmosphere between the two.“Um, that penalty kick during the Red Hood game was amazing. Could I please get your autograph?”The piece of paper extended towards him was trembling slightly. Accepting the shaky paper and pen, Chahyun signed his name in long strokes. After receiving Chahyun’s autograph, the part-timer immediately handed another sheet to Misha.In awkward but clear English, he explained that he had enjoyed last season’s Champions League final, found it very exciting, and that he had been following Misha’s career. If he had watched the Champions League final, Winchester United vs. Red Hood Urban, then it was only natural that he’d recognize Misha Asplund too. With a strange expression, Misha took the paper and signed it just like Chahyun had. But then came the next issue.“Could we also maybe take a picture together?”“Us too.”The women sitting at a distant table stood up first, followed by the other customers in the cafe, who all began to rise from their seats. It seemed that everyone had now realized who the two of them were.As the requests from the crowd grew, Chahyun looked at Misha. Then, he mouthed quietly, “Let’s get out of here.”They had been found out. Their sweet little hideaway had been exposed.Misha looked down at the untouched desserts on the table, then slowly nodded at Chahyun.The two of them stood up and made their way toward the cafe’s exit. The cakes they hadn’t even touched were left behind on the table, looking lonely.143010: [Real-time sighting of Chahyun-hyung in Myeongdong]Might be with Misha, seems like they’re at a cake cafe.└ ???└ Huh? Did the press conference end already?└ If there’s no proof, it’s nothing.143121: [For real, Chacha and Misha are in a cafe in Myeongdong together, just got confirmation]Photos are all over the community, more are popping up too. Check the pictures.└ What? Does it look real? Is it really them??└ It’s definitely them. An employee said they even got autographs from both of them.└ ??? That employee just hit the jackpot.143210: [Why are they suddenly in Myeongdong together?]And what kind of cafe is that?? The place is so pink it’s dizzying to look at.└ Princess Terrace, Seoul, Jung-gu, Myeongdong 331-gil 32-1└ Wow, the address just pops up right away.143120: [Princess Terrace, LOL]Why would they go there together? It’s a themed cafe… They greet you with “Welcome, Princess” when you walk in, LOL.└ Apparently, they were the only ones there who looked like princes.143180: [Ah, I was just nearby! Should’ve gone to get an autograph!!!!!!!]I was eating hand-cut noodles with a friend in the shop next door, ugh Chahyun-hyungㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ└ Only princes and princesses can enter, so stop dreaming.143220: [But doesn’t the photo look a bit strange?]Are they really eating that much cake, just the two of them? It looks like they’re cleaning out the whole place.└ I thought they were filming a mukbang at first, but turns out it was just the Yoon couple… They were eating so happily until they got recognized, then had to run off without even taking the rest to go.└ ㅇ0ㅇ..ㅠ0ㅠ└ Damn, it breaks my heart… Let the couple enjoy their cake in peace.143233: [But am I the only one who isn’t bothered about the cake?]What are they even wearing?└ I SEOUL U, LOL.└ Maybe it’s for some friendly match or something since they’re Seoul ambassadors?143245: [Why is Misha promoting Seoul?]Isn’t he “I Stockholm U”?└ Isn’t Misha Korean?└ Maybe he knows Korean?└ Let’s just consider him one of us from now on.143260: [Eat lots of delicious food in Koreaㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]***By the time the two of them emerged onto the main street, it was late afternoon. Neon signs were already flashing brightly from all directions, luring in tourists. Misha stood behind Chahyun, looking down the street as a cool breeze blew past.Wearing hats and masks, and buying touristy T-shirts—thinking that hiding their faces would keep them safe was their mistake. They never imagined someone would recognize their voices. As a result, they ended up fleeing the cafe, leaving behind the desserts they hadn’t even had a chance to eat. There wasn’t even time to lament how close they’d come to enjoying them.“It’s a shame. You barely got to eat anything.”“It’s okay, I’m fine.”“Are you really fine?”“I’m fine…”Fine, my ass… His voice was calm, but Chahyun could hear a hint of childish disappointment. The way Misha’s long lashes lowered like curtains said the same. A boy who loves sweets, and to have the desserts taken away right in front of him—it must have been heartbreaking.“Just wait a minute, okay? I’ll find us another place.”They had to slip into hiding once again. While Chahyun was busy tapping away on his phone, Misha started looking around. His wide eyes and slightly parted lips soon took in the unfamiliar sights. A large cosmetics store at the corner, an even larger clothing store and restaurants, and countless street vendors and food stalls.Chahyun, still studying the map, moved closer to Misha. The way his eyes sparkled like gems as he gazed into the distance made him look like a cute little kid.“What are you looking at? Is there somewhere you want to go?”“Yuan, I want that.”Surprisingly, Misha answered right away. Chahyun turned to follow Misha’s gaze.“That?”He was pointing to one of the street stalls in the middle of the road. Squinting at the sign lit up by orange lights, Chahyun could make out the words “Fresh Fruit Juice.” The bright neon colors hinting at the flavors were certainly not a sign of nutritional value.“That’s basically just sugar. That ‘fresh juice’ stuff is a lie. It’ll rot your teeth.”“I want strawberry.”“…Wow. Not listening at all, huh?”“Buy me strawberry!”Misha turned his sparkling eyes on Chahyun. It was unusual for him to be this stubborn, but there was no helping it. Chahyun glanced back and forth between Misha’s face and the stall before finally giving in and buying a strawberry juice and a melon juice, each for 7,000 won.“Is it good?”“It’s good!”Misha, who had just finished sucking down his strawberry juice, now had lips stained bright red from the coloring and excitedly shouted. It reminded me of a picture I’d seen online of a dog caught after eating all the strawberry jam. The way his lips were stained and how he was bouncing around happily was exactly the same.“Yuan, can I try the melon flavor too?”“…Just one sip, okay?”“I promise.”As Chahyun mentally calculated the daily sugar intake limit and handed over his straw, Misha leaned in and took a “sip” of Chahyun’s melon juice. Watching half of the large takeaway cup’s contents get slurped down into Misha’s mouth, Chahyun’s jaw dropped.“You little rascal!”It was a yellow-card-worthy foul. But a sip was a sip. Misha, his lips now moist, caught his breath and said,“Wow. They both just taste like sugar.”“See? I told you. The food coloring messes with your senses. It makes you think they taste different.”“But it’s still really good!”Misha grinned, licking the twisted straw. Seeing how much he enjoyed it, any worries about his health evaporated like sand in the wind. So what if he consumed some food coloring? The kid was this happy, after all.The two of them blended into the crowd of people buying snacks. As they mixed in with the tourists from all over, no one gave Yoon Chahyun and Misha a second glance. They moved from one end of the long line to the other, checking out the food. Under the orange glow of the cherry-shaped lights on the display, various foods sparkled, vying for Misha’s attention. As they walked down the line, Misha pointed at the things he wanted with his finger.“This, and this, and this, and two of these.”“That’s a lot. Are you going on a trip or something?”Misha looked at Chahyun with pleading eyes and gently tugged at his sleeve.“Please, ‘hyung.’”“Mister, give us… give us all of it.”“I want this too.”“And this….”The orders seemed endless. Following Misha’s instructions, Chahyun bought bear-shaped cotton candy, sugar candies made from skewered strawberries and pineapples, churros, shrimp skewers, and shaved ice. He even bought a plate of crazy dumplings that cost 2,000 won each.“Yuan, ahh.”“Ahh.”When Misha offered him a dumpling, Chahyun opened his mouth wide. The hot dumpling went straight into his mouth, and Misha immediately asked,“How is it? Is it good?”Honestly, it was mostly just noodles inside. These scammers! But instead of criticizing their business ethics, Chahyun smiled and replied,“It’s good!”“Hehe.”Misha seemed to be enjoying everything. Seeing how much he enjoyed the street food filled Chahyun with a deep sense of satisfaction. They had pulled their masks down to their chins to eat, but no one approached them since everyone was busy enjoying the sights. Standing among the dense crowd was, unexpectedly, a much better choice than hiding away in a corner.The two of them walked through the street, enthusiastically devouring what they held in their hands. After snacks came street food. Misha ate a steaming hot honey-filled pancake while holding a few skewers of greasy fried food and hot fish cakes. Even though Chahyun had bought two cups of rice cakes as a recommendation, Misha only managed to take one bite before complaining that it was too spicy, leaving most of it for Chahyun to finish. Then, after whining that his tongue was burning, Chahyun had to buy him a spiral potato, and later, even feed him a strawberry rice cake.Laughing and chatting as they wandered around, the mountain of food quickly disappeared. After chewing for a while, Misha finally threw the pile of wrappers he’d been holding into a trash can on the side of the road. Chahyun’s eyes widened in surprise.“When did you eat all of that?”It was more than just dessert—it was almost a full meal’s worth of food. But Misha brushed it off lightly, as if he had only had a quick snack.“Whew.”“How was it? Was it good?”“It was tasty. Even the artificial flavors had their own charm. It was impressive how the local character came through.”With the tone of a sommelier, Misha slurped down his cola-flavored slushie. The two of them sat side by side on a bench installed at the edge of the street.“What did you like the most?”“The chicken, with the red sauce… I think that was my favorite.”“Dakgangjeong? You really like seasoned chicken, don’t you!”“I was very satisfied. I want to eat another one.”So adorably foreign. In his mind, Chahyun was listing off menus that Misha might like. He had a good idea of what would make him go crazy. Just as he looked up at Misha’s face, bam! A loud crashing sound echoed behind them.The sound was so loud it made their shoulders twitch. The two of them instinctively turned toward the source of the noise.Where they looked, there was a massive five-story arcade. People were flocking under the flashing sign, chattering excitedly. The loud noise seemed to have come from there.More precisely, it came from the large shooting game machine set up in front of it. It was a game where you kick a soccer ball attached to the machine, and your score is calculated based on the strength of the kick. A group of college students was laughing as they checked their scores. Misha, who had been wide-eyed the whole time, turned to Chahyun.“What’s that? There’s a ball attached to the front.”His big eyes were full of curiosity. Chahyun leaned in towards Misha as they both looked at the game machine.“Oh, you kick that with your foot. It’s nothing special, just a strength test… wait, is this your first time seeing a shooting game machine?”“I’ve seen ones you play with your hands, but not like that.”Misha mimicked the motion of holding something and turning it with his hands. He must be referring to the table football games installed in the Winchester Club Center’s game room.Misha slurped up his portion of strawberry juice, his lips stained bright red from the artificial coloring, and cheerfully shouted. The image of a dog caught stealing strawberry jam that he had seen on the internet came to mind. The way Misha’s lips were dyed red and how he excitedly bounced around was an exact replica.“Yuan, can I try the melon flavor too?”“Hmm… Just one sip, okay?”“I promise.”As Chahyun calculated his daily sugar intake in his head and offered his straw, Misha leaned over to take “one sip” of Chahyun’s melon juice. Watching half of the large-sized takeout cup disappear into Misha’s mouth in one go, Chahyun’s jaw dropped.“You little rascal!”It was a yellow-card-worthy offense. But a sip is a sip. Gasping for breath, Misha said, lips glistening.“Wow. They both just taste like sugar.”“I told you so. This stuff is designed to confuse your taste buds with food coloring, making you think the flavors are different.”“But it’s still really tasty!”Misha licked his bendy straw, grinning broadly. Seeing how happy he was, Chahyun’s worries about health vanished like sand in the wind. Oh well, what’s the harm in a bit of food coloring if he’s this happy?The two of them melted into the crowd, which had gathered to buy snacks. As they mingled among the foreign tourists from various places, no one cast a curious glance at Yoon Chahyun and Misha. They moved from one end of the long line to the other, browsing the food. Various items on display glittered under the orange cherry lights, trying to catch Misha’s attention. As they walked down the line, Misha pointed to the things he wanted with his finger.“This one, this one, and this one… and two of these.”“Isn’t that too much? Are you going on a trip or something?”Misha then looked at Chahyun with pitiful eyes, gently tugging at his collar.“Buy it for me, ‘hyung.'”“Alright, give me everything… everything he pointed to.”“And this one too.”“And this one…”The orders seemed endless. Following Misha’s directions, Chahyun bought a teddy bear-shaped cotton candy, strawberry and pineapple skewers coated in sugar, churros, shrimp skewers, and a cup of shaved ice. He even bought a plate of crazy expensive dumplings that cost 2,000 won each.“Yuan, open up.”“Ahh.”When Misha offered a dumpling, Chahyun opened his mouth wide. Something hot slipped inside, and Misha immediately asked,“How is it, tasty?”To be honest, it was just filled with noodles. What a scam! But instead of criticizing their business ethics, Chahyun smiled and replied,“Delicious!”“Hehe.”Misha seemed delighted with everything. Seeing him so happy over street food filled Chahyun with a deep sense of satisfaction. Although Misha had pulled his mask down to his chin to eat, no one busy enjoying the sights stopped to talk to them. Standing in the middle of the crowd turned out to be a much better option than hiding in some corner.The two of them enthusiastically devoured everything in their hands while taking in the sights. After snacking, it was time for some heartier food. Misha, holding some greasy fried foods and a few steaming fish cake skewers, nibbled on a honey pancake. Chahyun recommended they buy two cups of rice cakes in spicy sauce, but after just one bite, Misha whined that it was too spicy, leaving Chahyun to finish most of it. Misha even complained about his tongue hurting, so Chahyun bought him a tornado potato and later had to feed him a strawberry mochi.After wandering around and laughing for a while, the mountain of food they had bought disappeared in no time. After a long while, Misha finally threw away the towering pile of wrappers in a trash can on the side of the street. Chahyun’s eyes widened in amazement.“When did you eat all of that?”It was enough food for a decent meal, not just a snack. But Misha lightly brushed his hands off, looking like he’d merely had a light snack.“Whew.”“How was it, good?”“It was tasty. The artificial flavors had their own charm. I was impressed by how they captured the regional essence.”Like a sommelier, Misha made his assessment while sipping a cola-flavored slushie. The two of them sat side by side on a bench at the edge of the street.“What was your favorite?”“The one made with chicken, the spicy red sauce… I think I liked that the best.”“Chicken gangjeong? You really like seasoned chicken!”“I was very satisfied. I think I’d like to have another.”He was so adorably foreign. Chahyun could already picture a lineup of dishes that Misha would probably go crazy for. As he excitedly looked up at Misha’s face, BANG! A loud, thunderous noise echoed behind them.It was loud enough to make their shoulders flinch. Instinctively, they turned toward the source of the sound.There stood a massive five-story arcade. Underneath the dazzling, flashing sign, people were gathering and murmuring excitedly. The source of the noise seemed to be there.More precisely, it was a large shooting game machine set up in front. The machine involved kicking a soccer ball in the center, and the force of the kick would determine the score. A group of college students was laughing and checking their scores. Misha, who had been wide-eyed the whole time, turned to Chahyun.“What’s that? There’s a ball attached to it.”His round eyes were filled with curiosity. Chahyun leaned toward Misha, looking at the machine.“Oh, you kick that. It’s not a big deal, just a strength test… Wait, have you never seen a shooting game machine before?”“I’ve never seen one like that before. I’ve played a hand football game, though.”Misha mimicked the motion of grabbing something and spinning it with both hands. He was probably referring to the table game they had at the Winchester Club Center game room.“It’s a bit different from those gentlemanly games. This one’s more… brute force.”“Have you played it a lot?”“Ugh, I used to get in trouble if I played stuff like that.”Chahyun almost said “I got beaten up,” but quickly changed his words. Every time something like that slipped out, Misha would insist he tell him the name of the coach who laid a hand on him, coldly caressing the spikes of his soccer boots. No matter how much Chahyun explained that it was just the way things were back then, Misha could never understand the kind of discipline Yoon Chahyun endured in Korea. The fear of adults who would constantly warn them to act professionally and not to misuse their bodies.“You want to try it?”Chahyun asked, looking up slightly as he sipped Misha’s slushie.“Well, I’m not sure.”Misha shrugged. It was neither a yes nor a no—just a neutral response born from a lack of experience or preference. He’d probably never tried it before. Chahyun knew the reason behind Misha’s uncertain answer: indifference born from ignorance.As the conversation paused, a cheer erupted once more, cutting through the silence between them. Feeling a sudden itch, Chahyun finally gave in to the strange impulse.“Then why not take this chance and give it a try?”“Are you sure?”“As long as we don’t get caught by anyone, what’s the harm?”At the sudden suggestion, Misha quickly turned his head toward Chahyun. His eyes widened, as if to ask, “Are you serious?” But then they slowly softened, and he eagerly nodded.“If it’s with you… I want to try it!”His puckered lips and flushed cheeks were irresistibly cute. Chahyun pulled up his mask, which had been hanging under his chin, and stood up.“Alright, let’s do it. Just for today.”Just for today, only for today. Both of them had worked so hard, so this kind of small indulgence should be forgiven. Misha grabbed Chahyun’s hand as they stood up from the bench. A playful smile passed between them as their eyes met.The bustling arcade in the middle of the street was packed with customers enjoying the early evening. High school students in uniforms, young couples on dates, families with children, and foreign tourists—all had claimed a game machine for themselves.Misha and Yoon Chahyun pulled their hats down low as they approached the arcade. But none of the many people inside paid any attention to them. After Chahyun exchanged some coins at the counter, he found Misha already inspecting the machine with fascination.“How does this thing calculate the score?”“It’s simple. You just kick it as hard as you can, but you have to aim well. Watch closely. See this metal part, or the body here?”“Yeah.”“If you kick those spots and end up breaking your foot, I’d probably get sued.”Misha, with a serious face, raised his voice sharply.“I’d never sue you, Yuan.”“No, not you, you idiot.”I mean your countrymen. Imagining himself being remembered in Northern European soccer history as the Northeast Asian bastard who broke the leg of a promising midfielder, Chahyun inserted a coin into the slot and stepped back.“Let me show you how it’s done first. Watch closely.”With a playful sound effect, the ball rose up. The start button lit up, and the moment it did, Chahyun kicked the ball in front of him with a thud.“Whoosh.”BANG! The ball flew back with a loud noise. The ridiculous sound effect played as the score on the screen began to climb. The red numbers kept changing until they finally settled and flashed with the final score: 999. The top score displayed on the machine’s ranking board immediately changed to Yoon Chahyun’s name.“Oh man, I got a perfect score again…”“Yuan!”As Chahyun shook his head, Misha clung to him from behind, clapping and hugging him around the waist as if he had just scored a wonder goal in a big match.“Amazing! You’re in first place right now!”“Haha… Maybe I showed off too much with a kid’s toy.”“You’re incredible. That was so cool!”“Hahaha!”It was impossible not to feel a surge of excitement when someone made such a fuss over you. Honestly, it felt pretty awesome. He’s definitely going to fall for me all over again… Trying to hide his irresistible cockiness, Chahyun casually ran his hand through his hair as Misha peeked over his shoulder.“Can I try it too?”“Are you sure? Do you know how to do it?”“I know everything. I want to give it a shot!”Just like a sparrow can’t pass by a millstone, a soccer player can’t pass by a soccer ball. As Chahyun nodded, Misha, with an unusually flushed face, stepped forward. Seeing such a rare, joyful expression made Chahyun feel excited as well.“How about we make a bet? The winner gets to make a wish.”“Alright, but I’m not going to lose.”Since Chahyun’s score was a perfect 999, Misha had no chance of winning, no matter how well he did. But Chahyun didn’t mention that fact—partly out of a bit of unfairness, but also because he had a sly desire. The winner gets to make a wish… Doesn’t that have a slightly naughty vibe?“Hehe… Give it your best shot.”Chahyun stepped aside with a confident stride, leaving Misha to stand in the exact same spot he had been in. Even though he knew the outcome, he still felt a bit of tension. Misha warmed up by taking a few steps on the spot, and when the ball rose with a ding, he stepped back a few steps before sprinting forward and smashing the ball.But this time, it wasn’t the normal shot that Chahyun had kicked earlier.THWACK…!A powerful shot, launched with weight from a distance, sliced through the air like lightning before their eyes. The quick speed, as if light itself was flashing, tore through the air, and the hard instep of the foot mercilessly struck the flimsy cushion designed for general use.BAM! The metal device holding the ball suddenly broke off and smashed straight into the score display screen in a flash. The game machine, which had been destroyed by the kick, made a strange noise as it flickered.“Ah!”Yoon Chahyun jumped in shock. As if in chorus with Chahyun’s scream, the machine made a weird sound and sparked. The surroundings, which had been filled with various game sounds, suddenly fell silent as if cold water had been poured over them.“This can’t be….”He couldn’t believe what had just happened before his eyes. This result had far exceeded the 999-point limit. Even though Misha was a professional in soccer, he was an amateur when it came to games, so there was no way he would have applied his strength with any restraint.“Ah….”“M-Misha, are you okay?”Misha, too, seemed to realize what he had just done and stood frozen in place. Even without looking around, he could tell that everyone around them was staring at the two of them.At that moment, a man who appeared to be the arcade owner hurriedly ran out from behind the counter and clung to the machine. As Misha and Yoon Chahyun hesitated, the man, with a serious expression, inspected the broken ball and the shattered device, shaking his head in disbelief.“Hey! What were you thinking, treating the machine so violently?”“We’re sorry!”Chahyun, who was the more communicative of the two, quickly approached the man. His brain, still rattled by the shock, struggled to function. How could this have happened?“Did you really kick it? The joint is completely shattered, as if you deliberately tried to break it! This can’t be repaired; I’ll have to buy a new one.”“We’re sorry. My friend here is from abroad, and he didn’t know any better. We’ll pay for all the damages.”“This is a rare model that’s hard to come by these days; there’s no way to get the exact same one again!”The atmosphere was tense. Misha, the one who had caused the accident, still looked shocked. Seeing his state, Chahyun leaned closer to the owner and spoke earnestly in a low voice.“Sir, we’ll compensate you double the amount.”“It’s not about the money….”“Triple the amount.”Sticking close to the grumbling owner, Chahyun tried hard to negotiate. Misha, who had somewhat grasped the situation, paced nervously, his face pale. Finally, when Chahyun offered to pay four times the amount, the owner stopped complaining and accepted Chahyun’s card. It was a chilling moment.As soon as the payment was settled, Misha approached Chahyun sheepishly.“Yuan, did I kick it too hard? I should’ve held back, like you did, but I couldn’t control my strength….”Actually, I kicked it with all my might too… Looking at Misha’s downcast face, Chahyun first checked if he was okay.“No, it’s fine. Are your feet alright?”“My feet are fine.”“Really? It made such a loud noise.”“I think the machine was just a bit weak. I barely kicked it.”After completely wrecking the machine and acting as if nothing was wrong, Misha was proving his incredible physical prowess as a young man in his early twenties. Seeing his boyfriend’s ever-growing power made Chahyun chuckle. No matter how much they had to pay, or even if they had to cover the entire arcade, as long as Misha had fun, it didn’t matter. He was even ready to remodel the whole place if needed.However, just as he was smiling foolishly at Misha, Chahyun realized that the strange silence around them still hadn’t lifted. Many curious eyes were watching them.A cold sweat ran down his back. Were they causing too much commotion? Among the gazes were the lenses of phone cameras pointed at them. Just as this unsettling feeling was sinking in, a customer who had been playing a basketball game nearby suddenly spoke to Chahyun.“Uh, excuse me.”His bad feeling was right.“Are you by any chance… Yoon Chahyun, the player…?”“No.”A futile denial escaped his lips. As Chahyun lowered the brim of his cap and shook his head, Misha stepped forward as if to shield him.“Step back.”Meanwhile, a few more people, who seemed to be friends of the first, approached them. Their eyes sparkled with a certain certainty, as if they had just realized who Yoon Chahyun was and who the European standing beside him might be.“Uh, could we take a selfie with you?”“We’re sorry.”Like predators eyeing their prey, people began to gather around.The once-comfortable space instantly transformed into the spotlighted center stage. Being in the midst of everyone’s gaze, trapped in a dead-end space with no escape, was an all-too-familiar feeling for Yoon Chahyun and Misha. This was their “everyday life.”Their ordinary, enjoyable street date had come to an abrupt end once again. Yoon Chahyun knew it was time to make a run for it. Ignoring the approaching cameras, he moved closer to Misha’s back, whispering softly enough for only him to hear.“Let’s get out of here.”Misha nodded in response. There was no need for a signal or a countdown—this synchronized understanding was something they were both used to.One, two, three.With people closing in on them, the two of them quickly dashed toward the empty space behind them.