NHL 13

Why had Dylan called me earlier? Suddenly, I wanted to know the clear answer to that question. Even though I’d had several days, he had never sent me a single message before.

At the end of the long and boring relay of presentations from the executives, the moderator took the microphone again.

“Now, we need to prepare for dinner. They say we need to set the tables. So, we are going to take a 30-minute break. For smooth preparation, we need to clear out the event hall. Please take some time to look around the Christmas market, and I would appreciate it if you could re-enter in 30 minutes when the dinner preparations are finished. As a note, there is a blizzard blowing outside, so don’t forget to check your coats.”

At his last remark, mixed with a playful tone, people’s faces turned pale. To kick people out into a blizzard-blown winter night. However, it seemed inevitable for the sake of event preparation.

“The exit is this way. Please follow me. Please be aware that it is different from the entrance door.”

People who went out through the side door, guided by the event staff, were thrown into the middle of the Christmas market. Joeon looked up at the pure white crystals that had started to pour down from the pitch-black night sky.

Cotton-like snowflakes were piling up on top of the giant tree in the center of the square. Despite the inclement weather, there was no time to feel the cold as the streets were packed with people gathered to take pictures.

Joeon took a step back from the crowd and entered a quiet back alley where a construction sign was set up. As soon as he leaned against a building built with dark red bricks and took out his phone, he tried calling Dylan right away. Even though the dial tone repeated for a long time, Dylan did not answer.

Just as he was about to hang up, thinking that perhaps the timing was off, the dial tone cut off abruptly. After checking the screen and seeing the connection indicator, Joeon hurriedly held the phone to his ear.

“Hello?”

—Joeon?

“Have you been well?”

—Just okay. How about you?

Dylan asked back with a somewhat indifferent attitude. Joeon, who had been curious wondering if he was busy, answered hurriedly. He felt it would be better to apologize quickly.

“Me too. Did you call me earlier by any chance?”

—It was nothing special. I just wanted to say hello.

“I see. I was in a rush, so I couldn’t pick up the phone. I’m sorry.”

—It’s fine. So, are you able to talk on the phone now?

“Yes. I’m on a short break.”

At Joeon’s answer, Dylan paused and asked with a changed tone.

—A break? Didn’t you say you were on your way to the Christmas market? Are you taking a break while looking around?

“Ah, no. The Town Hall is being held here. The Christmas market is… well, there are so many people, it’s hard to look around.”

Outside the alley where Joeon was hiding to avoid the crowd, people were still packed together like a subway train during rush hour.

—…Then did you go with company people? It’s not like a date or anything? Are you alone right now?

“A date?”

Joeon let out a dry laugh at that remark.

“Yes. It’s just work. The main event just ended, and they kicked us out, saying we had to come back in 30 minutes to prepare for dinner, but there is a blizzard outside. Right now, I’m hiding in an alley alone avoiding the snow, and I might freeze to death. On a day like this, one should just stay home. Dylan, you should stay at home. It’s dangerous outside, so don’t go out.”

Low laughter could be heard over the phone. After a long silence, he asked.

—Where are you?

“Where? Well. I don’t know this place very well. Just an alley. I see a brewery sign…. Why?”

—Actually, I’m in the vicinity, too.

“Really?”

—Yes. It’s a break period I got after a long time, and it’s been quite a while since I went to the Christmas market. Also, it’s only open until the end of the year. When I thought about it, the opening season always overlapped with the league, so I don’t think I’ve ever seen it properly. No, actually, I could see it if I wanted to, but I didn’t really have a reason to go…. Because it’s been a long time since I went on a date…. So, I mean, once I return to the team, I won’t have any free time at all, so I thought I might look around like other people while I can….

Dylan, who had been listing this and that as if making excuses, stopped speaking suddenly and quietly muttered a curse mixed with a sigh. After that, there was no talk for a long while.

“Hello? Dylan?”

—It’s because you said you were on your way there.

“…Yes?”

—I came to see you.

While I was holding my breath, unable to distinguish whether it was a joke or the truth, Dylan added quickly.

—You said you had 30 minutes left, right? Use that on me. Meet me in front of the tree.

The phone hung up without giving him a chance to answer.

Joeon left the alley, still feeling uncertain. As he joined Trinity Street, which connects to the small square with the clock tower, he saw a street packed with people. Every few steps, shoulders collided and backs were pushed.

Even while pushing through the crowd, Joeon could not let go of the string of doubt. While thinking about whether Dylan had really come all the way here to meet him or if it was just a mischievous prank, he eventually passed the lights embroidered under the sky and arrived in front of the tree.

The area in front was bustling with tourists busy taking pictures. Joeon lifted his head from among the people. Because many people were wearing knit hats and wrapped scarves around their necks to cover their faces due to the blizzard, it was impossible to check everyone. Since Dylan was a head taller than others, he thought it would be faster to find a figure protruding from the crowd.

After looking around for a while, he couldn’t find even a shadow of someone who could be Dylan. Just as he was about to frown and reach for his phone, thinking he had been teased, someone stood closely behind Joeon’s back and whispered in his ear.

“I’m here.”

As he shivered and turned his head sharply, Dylan was smiling broadly, waving his gloved hand in the air.

“Dylan.”

“Hello. There are really a lot of people.”

“Yes. That’s how it is this time of year. Have you been well?”

“As you can see.”

Dylan shrugged his shoulders. Unlike when he met him at the skating rink, he was dressed in a neat coat. Inside the coat, which he glimpsed, was a suit.

“You look nice today. Looks like you went somewhere?”

Instead of answering Joeon’s question, Dylan took his arm and changed the subject, saying, “Let’s get out of here a little first.”

Judging by how he pulled up his scarf to cover his face, he seemed to be concerned about someone recognizing him. His blonde hair, which fluttered in the winter wind because he wasn’t wearing a hat on his tall frame, seemed sufficient to steal people’s attention. Needless to say, the combination of his eyes, nose, and lips was something you’d only see in a movie theater.

Joeon moved his feet so as not to fall behind him. The moment he escaped from the swarming sea of people, his breath opened up. However, no matter where he went, the lines were long because of people trying to avoid the snow, so one had to wait at least 30 minutes to an hour for a cafe where they could get a table and sit down.

Since Joeon had less than 30 minutes left now, the two ordered two cups of mulled wine (vin chaud: a drink made by adding spices to red wine and heating it up) from a street vendor. Then, avoiding the wind, they leaned against the wall of a building in an alley and caught their breath. It was an absurdly poor reception for a sports star whose market value is enormous.

“Will this do?”

“What do you mean?”

Even though he couldn’t have failed to know what he meant, Dylan tilted his head and shifted his interest elsewhere.

“It’s snowing a lot. Look. Everyone has taken shelter under the eaves that can block the snow. I’m glad we were able to snatch this spot quickly.”

Joeon stared intently at Dylan, who was chattering like a puppy excited to meet snow. Then, he asked quietly.

“Did you really come here because of me?”

Dylan took a sip of the fragrant mulled wine, from which steam was rising, and turned his head with a soft smile. Perhaps because the blizzard was reflecting, his blue eyes were shining like silver-gray today.

“Oh, of course.”

“Don’t joke around. I’m asking sincerely.”

“Then what would change?”