SPW 57

“I didn’t think you’d come all the way to watch.”

“Were you happy to see me?”

“Yes, did you see my celebration?”

“Of course, Sarang. You said that one was for me.”

“Did you see all three?”

“Aren’t you giving me the ball this time?”

“What?”

“You said you give it as a souvenir when you get a hat trick.”

“Ah, today’s is…”

Sarang, scratching his head with a troubled look, lifted the backpack he had placed at his feet. It was obvious he was debating whether to give it to him or not. He must feel like the second ball is a waste. Florian smirked and was about to look out the window of the newly started car.

“This is for you, Rian.”

What Sarang held in his hand was an ugly trophy, stamped with the Premier League’s representative logo, that looked like it could be either a trophy or a toy.

“What’s this now, Sarang?”

“It’s an award they give to the best player of the day.”

Florian looked down at Sarang’s clean fingernails, which were gripping the trophy tightly, and smiled.

“What about the ball?”

“Ah, of course I’ll give you the ball too.”

“What are you going to do if you give me all of this?”

Sarang looked at Florian with wide, round eyes, as if he didn’t know what he meant.

“You’re not going to ask for it all back when we get divorced, are you?”

“Ah~”

Finally understanding what he meant, Sarang’s cheeks rose in a smile. His dimples were cute. So was his hair, which was disheveled every which way since it hadn’t been styled after his shower.

“It’s all Rian’s, until Rian throws it away.”

The subject of the sentence was ambiguous, but Florian didn’t bother to question it.

“Alright, Sarang.”

“I didn’t think you’d come to the lodge last night, either.”

Florian, who had opened the canopy curtains and put on the wristwatch he had left on the nightstand, had put on his jacket and coat and said he would see him after the match. So Sarang had thought he wouldn’t see him before the game. But last night at 8 o’clock, Florian had knocked on the door of room 107.

“I figured you’d need me after the match, but I thought you’d need me more before the match. I changed my mind.”

“Thank you, Rian.”

“It seemed like you would have done very well today even without my help, Sarang. In fact, you’ve done well without me until now.”

“That’s right, I can do well even without Rian. But.”

Sarang handed the trophy to Florian and took the ball out of his bag. Out of habit, he pulled his sleeve down, wiped the surface of the ball, and handed it to Florian.

“It felt really good.”

“What felt so good?”

“Playing a match with a body that didn’t hurt at all.”

Florian took the ball, which was now even cleaner than it already was, and Sarang’s voice sounded a bit clearer. To think that playing a match with a body that didn’t hurt at all felt so good. It was easy to guess the pain Sarang had endured alone for the past two years. Suddenly, he remembered Sarang at seventeen, at the Korean training center. How he had snuggled into his arms with a feverish body and said he was in pain in a very small voice.

“Every day, somewhere hurt a little, but when Rian visits, all that pain disappears like magic.”

“Just a little?”

Sarang rolled his eyes for a moment, then his cheeks puffed up as he smiled.

“Sometimes it hurts a lot.”

“So use me often, Sarang.”

“You’re not free, Rian.”

“That’s right. I’m not free, but I’m saying that I am willing to spend my time on Sarang, right now.”

“…”

Sarang, who had been gazing quietly at Florian with eyes as bright as a border collie’s, let out a soft laugh.

“Rian, you treat me too well. That’s why I get the wrong idea.”

Sarang wasn’t the type to presume others’ feelings. So he organized his thoughts in his head and spoke honestly.

“You say you don’t love me, but you treat me as if you do.”

“Sarang, I don’t love Sarang as a lover or a spouse, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care for Sarang.”

“Why do you care for me?”

“Do people need a special reason to give their heart to someone and care for them?”

Of course, Florian had a special reason, but it was something Sarang would never find out.

“I was concerned about Sarang from the very beginning.”

This was true. Ever since the Sarang in his dream had appeared only as a bloodstain.

“Probably, there’s no one right now who wants Sarang’s happiness more than I do, you know?”

“Me too.”

“Hm? Sarang.”

“I want Rian to be happy too. I hope you don’t get sick. And I hope things aren’t hard for you.”

“Yes, that’s why you married me, isn’t it.”

Florian offered the ball he was holding back to Sarang again.

“Even though you don’t love me, you willingly married me, you agreed to be my heat partner whenever and wherever it might happen, and you promised to keep my secrets that you’ll learn while we live like this.”

“Rian.”

“Yes, Sarang.”

“Sometimes you say things so meanly.”

“You’ve caught me, Sarang.”

“But I still like it.”

Sarang took the permanent marker Florian offered him, tilted his head, and then uncapped it. Then, after getting confirmation from Florian as if asking if it was right, he touched the pen tip to the surface of the ball. He thought for a moment, then wrote with a scratching sound.

To Rian

December 26, ’00

From Sarang

Hooo—Sarang’s cheeks puffed up as he blew on the ink to dry it.

His looks and his actions were cute, but his physique was far from it. His eyes were like a border collie’s, but his physique was like a racehorse’s, no, maybe a leopard’s.

“But what do you like about it?”

“You, Rian.”

Sarang, having confirmed that the ink wasn’t smudging, handed the ball back. He didn’t see Florian’s expression, which looked as if he had been caught off guard by the words “I like you.” That was because Florian had quickly composed his features before Sarang looked up.

“I like that you show that side of yourself to me.”

“Sarang.”

“Yes, Rian.”

“By any chance, are you the type who likes to be tormented?”

Sarang, who understood Florian’s joke, crinkled the corners of his eyes and smiled.

“No, Rian. I like being cherished, cared for, and loved. Just like what Rian does for me.”

“You said I act meanly.”

“That’s only sometimes.”

“Well, there are many kinds of love, after all.”

Florian, who was wondering where to put the gifted ball and trophy, pointed to the space at Sarang’s feet.

“Can I borrow your bag?”

“Yes. But you can’t forget it and leave it behind.”

“Can’t you just make sure I take it, Sarang?”

“You can just say you’ll remember to take it, Rian.”

“You’re right. I find myself constantly wanting to be mischievous with Sarang.”

And becoming a bit childish, it seemed.

“I was sorry about yesterday, Sarang.”

“Yesterday?”

“Yes, Sarang.”

Sarang, who asked again cautiously to confirm even though he understood, smiled. Florian was apologizing for yesterday morning, when he had left room 107 after gathering only his belongings, without even a glance at Sarang.

“It’s okay, Rian. But next time, please look me in the face and say goodbye before you leave. No matter how upset you are.”

“I was a bit childish, wasn’t I.”

“But you came back in the evening. You held me and put me to sleep.”

“Aren’t you going to ask why I was being mean, Sarang?”

“…Can I ask?”

Florian, thinking he wanted to touch Sarang’s dark eyes as he watched him for his reaction, answered.

“I think I was upset.”

“You, Rian?”

Sarang reacted as if he had heard an answer he had never expected.

“Yes, Sarang. I thought we would get along well even after we divorce.”

“Ah.”

“But Sarang spoke as if you would never see me again after the divorce. Um, was I angry? Yes, I think I was angry.”

“Do you want us to get along well even after we divorce, Rian?”

“Yes, like friends, like brothers, or really like a guardian and ward. I’d like for us to know each other like that for the rest of our lives.”

“Then… we can just stay like this without getting a divorce.”

“Are you confident?”

Sarang, who immediately understood Florian’s question, took a short breath.

“Are you confident that you won’t love someone else in the future, Sarang?”

Florian, smiling gently, continued.

“I’m not confident. If I fall in love with someone else while I’m still married to Sarang, I would be committing adultery. And I don’t prefer such complicated relationships.”

“…”

“This contract marriage was possible because neither of us is in love with anyone right now.”

Contract marriage.

Sarang could tell instinctively. That Florian had used that phrase on purpose.

“Sarang, if you fall in love with someone else during the contract period, be sure to tell me. I will happily grant you a divorce.”

“…What if your pheromones aren’t stable by then, Rian?”

“Sarang, then our contract would be terminated even sooner. Since it would be proven that Sarang’s pheromones aren’t helping me, I would have to look for another alpha then.”

“I understand what you mean, Rian.”

Sarang, whom he had expected to be upset or hurt, still had bright, clear eyes.

“So for now, my pheromones are still helpful to Rian, right?”

Somehow, Florian felt like he was starting to understand Sarang’s personality a little. He was the type to not worry or fear the future that was out of his control, but to do his best in the present and then face the results. And in the process, he must have constantly objectified and trained himself.

“I think I understand a little why Sarang survived in the league without the help of pheromones.”

“What?”

“I meant that you’re admirable. That you’ve done very well so far.”

In an instant, Sarang’s face turned bright red.

Florian thought he knew why Sarang was loved in his home country, and in the league.