NHL 21

With a groan that sounded like pain, I tried to check the time, only to find several messages had arrived on my phone. They were Christmas greetings from colleagues and old university classmates.

“…Today is Christmas.”

My muttering voice cracked from the dryness. Looking at the time, it certainly didn’t seem like I had woken up early. A smile tugged at the corner of Joeon’s mouth of its own accord as he fired off return greetings.

‘I think I’ve sent them to everyone I need to.’

After confirming the messenger window with his eyes like that, Joeon impulsively pressed on Dylan’s name.

“…Because it’s Christmas.”

Then, moving his fingers slowly, he completed the message. Even though it was a message he had sent countless times like a machine, he couldn’t relax his tension until he pressed the send button.

「Merry Christmas」

However, the message Joeon sent remained unread even until Maya’s family returned from church and ate lunch together.

‘Was saying he was a friend just a pleasantry after all?’

Perhaps the wound to his pride he received the moment he was rejected had not yet recovered. If not that, he might have already started pouring affectionate attention onto someone else.

No, no. Since he’s with his family, he might just be trying to focus on them. Yes. That’s more likely. Today is, in its own way, a major holiday.

It was just as Joeon was playing both the drum and the gong—continuing his groundless doubts and defenses—that his phone vibrated to signal a message had arrived. Joeon hurriedly checked the reply that had arrived from Dylan.

「Hello, John.」

「I heard from Aaron.」

Joeon furrowed his brow. The sender of the reply wasn’t the person he had been waiting for.

「You said you returned home?」

「Can we meet?」

「No.」

「Are you still angry about what happened then?」

「No.」

「It seems like you are.」

「I just wanted to say hello」

「It’s Christmas, you know?!」

So not all incoming messages on Christmas are good. Holidays are equal even to trash. Joeon didn’t reply and blocked him.

His name was Sergio, one of the band members Aaron had brought over last Christmas. It could be said that he was the lowest-quality person among that bunch.

“Well, he wouldn’t come looking for me.”

He wanted to believe that, but Sergio was the type of guy who was perfectly capable of coming over. That was because he had an arrogant personality where he was so narcissistic that he felt better when he was bossing people around as he pleased rather than being considerate of them.

Last Christmas, too, he had been drunk and shamelessly displayed his twisted sociability. Mixing profanities at the end of every sentence was standard, and the smell of marijuana that was ingrained in his body was, above all, incredibly unpleasant.

His influence was a major reason why Maya and Tony disliked the music Aaron played. In truth, it was because they liked the friends he hung out with even less than the music Aaron played.

Joeon decided that although it probably wouldn’t happen, it would be better to return home quickly before Sergio could come looking.

“I should ask Tony to drop me off at the subway station.”

Just then, his phone rang again. This time, it was a call.

“This stalker-like bastard.”

He was about to reject the call in irritation, but on the screen, a handsome man wearing a hockey uniform was smiling. It was Dylan.

“…Uh, um. Hello?”

—Hello, Joeon. Merry Christmas.

Joeon, who had answered the call by accident, let out a long breath. For some reason, hearing Dylan’s low voice made the annoyance that had been surging up just a moment ago vanish like foam, and his heart started beating quietly. That was definitely a sense of relief.

—Is something wrong? Are you busy; did I interrupt you?

“No, no. Just….”

Hesitating, Joeon threw out a random question to change the subject.

“Have you been well?”

—No.

“Huh? Really? You seemed to be doing well. Scoring goals and all.”

The voice, which had been stiff as if he hadn’t expected it, softened.

—It seems someone has become interested in hockey.

His conscience didn’t allow him to affirm it. That was because Joeon still didn’t know the hockey rules in detail.

“That’s not it.”

—Then, is it an interest in me?

“…Maybe.”

Perhaps being overly honest was the poison this time; an awkward silence hung in the air. Joeon hurriedly tried to bring up something else, but Dylan was a step faster.

—What are you doing today?

“I’m….”

Joeon, who had inadvertently tried to draw a line again, listened to Dylan’s breathing for a moment before opening his mouth.

“I’m not busy. I’m at the house of the host family I used to live with. I’m about to head back now.”

—That’s a good thing. Should I come pick you up?

“Huh? Shouldn’t you be spending today with your family?”

—There’s no one. Everyone went to Puerto Rico.

“Ah….”

—I happened to spot a decent ice rink, what do you think? If it’s okay with Joeon, shall we have a night class today?

“To do that, I’d have to stop by my house to get my skates.”

—Where are you located right now?

“Here, I’m over by Jane and Finch.”

For some reason, there was no confidence in his voice as he gave his location. It was because it was a neighborhood quite well known for not having very good security.

—That’s quite a distance. It sounds like it would take a long time to stop by your house, wouldn’t it? I’m sure I have some skates I could lend to Joeon.

Where exactly was this ice rink he had spotted that it would take a long time to get to…?

Even if he went ice skating, at most, it would only be for an hour. Is he going that far just to skate? Joeon had his doubts, but he didn’t pry.

“If you insist….”

Once Joeon’s permission was granted, Dylan’s voice brightened significantly. He hurried to wrap up the conversation before the other person could change their mind.

—Send me your address. I’ll be there to pick you up soon.

After sending him the address as requested, Joeon sat in an armchair by the window overlooking the front yard and watched the empty road. For a while, there wasn’t even a stray cat passing by, and the boring scenery continued as if time had stopped.

Then, he heard the sound of an engine from somewhere. Joeon’s ears perked up and his neck stiffened. It was about 30 minutes after ending his call with Dylan when the black vehicle appeared.

“Maya, Tony. I’ll get going now.”

“Already?”

“Isabella! Aaron! Say goodbye to John!”

Hearing Maya’s booming voice, Isabella and Aaron came out to see him off.

“Bye, John.”

“Merry Christmas, everyone. And Happy New Year.”

Joeon and his host family exchanged greetings. Perhaps because even when he visited often, it was only about once a year at most, it was unclear when he would meet them again, but still, to avoid disappointing Maya, Joeon said, “Maya, I’ll see you next Christmas.”

“You’re coming in a year? John! Come whenever you want. This is your home.”

He knew that she had a temperament where she said things like that but would never force it. Joeon gave a faint smile, packed his bag, and left the house, leaving behind a sense of guilt in its place.

The black car, which had turned around in the driveway in front of Maya’s house, was parked precisely in front of the front yard so there would be no need to cross the street. Dylan, who had stepped out of the driver’s seat at some point, was leaning against the car body and spotted Ben and Isabella, who were stuck to the window Joeon had been sitting at until just a moment ago, and waved his hand to greet them.

Only then did Joeon recall the fact that Ben had started hockey a while ago. By now, he might be recognizing Dylan and jumping around noisily, banging on the window. Because they say he is one of the most famous players in this city.

If he meets Ben again next year, he might get an earful about why he hadn’t told him earlier that he knew Dylan.

“Get in.”

As he approached, Dylan said this while opening the passenger door. Although the gentlemanly attitude, as if escorting a woman, felt awkward and uncomfortable, he was chased by the impatience that he had to leave before Ben discovered Dylan’s identity, so he climbed in without a word.