NHL 49

The Saturday night game was broadcast on public television, so it held more importance than other games. This was because it would be exposed to the general public, not just die-hard hockey fans. However, his muttering was not about Dylan, who had to work even on the weekend. It was because a message had arrived from a headhunter.

「Hello, John. I’d like to add you as a friend; would that be okay? We have many great opportunities on our side. If you are considering a job change, please let me connect with you.」

On the day Tyler had given him advice, his new resume was already complete. He just needed more mental preparation before unleashing it into the world. The stories heard from colleagues not only from Daniel, but also in the pantry, the lounge, and secret corners of the office, served as a great driving force for turning plans into action.

Since then, Joeon had searched for his job title and submitted his resume to every single job posting that had distinct commonalities. It felt like he had returned to being a job seeker.

If there was one difference from that time, it was that the anxiety was less because he had ‘insurance.’ At the very least, as long as his current income was maintained, he didn’t need to seriously worry about the problem of making a living even if the job offer decision was delayed.

Waiting for that moment of acceptance, whenever it might be, he didn’t need to vaguely worry about the future, nor did he need to fall into the despair of being someone unwelcome by anyone every time he heard the news of a rejection. For that alone, Joeon could find peace of mind.

It is ironic that a company that doesn’t greatly acknowledge his ability serves as a shelter that protects his self-esteem. Joeon was relieved by its presence even while wanting to escape from it. Is this feeling—of being tired enough to be sick of it, yet unable to easily let go first—truly love-hate?

Whatever it was, if he hadn’t had that feeling, he wouldn’t have been able to stay at the same company for over two years. It had been a time endured by thinking that just as there are good things, there are bad things, and just as there are good people, there are bound to be bad people.

That doesn’t mean he can just repeat compromises forever. Now, he needed a change. And for change, he had to act. That was now. Especially now that he had become an adult, enough to realize that there are things you only gain by rushing in and clashing, even if you get broken sometimes.

「Hello. I am sending my resume. Please check it and contact me.」

Joeon took out the resume he had saved on his phone and handed the file to the headhunter. In truth, the opportunities introduced by headhunters had never really connected properly, so he didn’t have high expectations. It was just that he was desperate enough to lean on that, too.

🏒🥅

Dylan returned before one o’clock. He was holding the pasta Joeon had requested by message in both hands. Although he had confidently said he would handle it himself, looking at Dylan’s refrigerator, which only contained necessities for when they were needed in a hurry, it was difficult to think of any dish he could make.

Since he was in a position where he had to travel for long-term away games, he would naturally have emptied the refrigerator. Joeon shook his head, watching Dylan smile as if he had known this would happen.

“I thought you said you’d handle it?”

“There was nothing in the refrigerator.”

“Still, I thought you’d manage.”

“…Stop teasing me and give it here quickly.”

“What if I kiss you?”

Joeon approached Dylan, who was childishly threatening him while holding the pasta, grasped his cheeks with both hands, and forcefully bumped their lips together. Although it was only possible because Dylan had used his quick reflexes to bend his knees and lower his eye level.

As soon as he made a smack sound and tried to move away, Dylan forcefully hugged Joeon’s waist. Because he bound him with his body, the food in his hand poked Joeon’s buttocks repeatedly.

“Eat, let’s eat first. I’m hungry.”

Dylan savored the stinging taste of toothpaste lingering in his mouth and wiped his wet lips with the tip of his tongue. Perhaps because he had just washed, Joeon in his arms was warm and refreshing.

He definitely must have slept in for a long time even after he had gone to practice. Right on the very bed where they had rolled around messily and obscenely all night, covered in a blanket infused with his own scent.

Thinking that, his center heated up so intensely that it was hard to wait until they finished their meal.

“What should we do? I want to eat you more.”

Joeon shook his head in horror.

“Save me…”

It’s not like he’s in puberty, so how could it be this difficult to control his sexual impulses? Dylan hid his desperate expression in the nape of Joeon’s neck and took a deep breath.

Sure enough, he smelled good. It wasn’t just the smell of common body wash. This was Joeon’s body odor and breath. Thinking that he wouldn’t be able to smell this for over two weeks, his hands trembled with withdrawal symptoms already, and he felt like he was going to lose his mind.

If he had followed what his body was telling him, he would have pinned the Joeon who said he hated it onto the dining table, pulled down his underwear to his ankles, and fucked him until his mind went hazy.

But he is a gentleman, not a beast. Dylan barely managed to subside his impulses, and instead of leading Joeon to the dining table and pinning him on top of it, he pulled out a chair.

“After we eat lunch, can you help me pick out my clothes?”

“Clothes?”

“Yes. I’d like you to pick them out. The ones for today and for the six games.”

Is he asking him to pick out clothes to take when he goes on a road trip? Joeon, chewing on pasta noodles, blinked as if he didn’t understand the reason.

Joeon soon learned the reason why Dylan had told him never to leave and to wait at home. It seemed he had intended to ask for this from the very beginning.

The moment Dylan opened the closet door in the second bedroom, which he was using like a storage room, a considerable number of shirts and suits appeared. It was a number that couldn’t even be compared to the closet of Joeon, who was an office worker.

“Do you work two jobs?”

Dylan, bursting into laughter, answered slyly.

“Yes. Didn’t you know?”

“Seriously. What is it?”

“A suit model?”

Joeon scanned Dylan from head to toe. Although he was a large man reaching 195cm in height, Dylan basically had a slim, muscular body type. If he had met him outside without knowing his occupation, he surely would have believed the words that he was a model. Actually, didn’t Joeon also guess that he was definitely a celebrity when he first saw him?

“That’s convincing. Are you really a suit model? Why does a hockey player have so many suits? You won’t even have a chance to wear them all.”

Watching Joeon who was submissively acknowledging it, Dylan wore a subtle smile.

“Sometimes, I like the fact that you don’t know much about hockey.”

“Yes?”

“Because I can keep showing you new sides of me.”

Joeon, who had become silent for a moment, asked with an embarrassed look.

“…Is the new side today a suit outfit? What is it that I don’t know?”

Dylan grabbed Joeon’s shoulders and turned him toward the closet, then whispered while hugging him from behind.

“On days when there is a game, I go to work wearing a suit. I’d like it if you picked them out.”

“Really? Why? No, I mean, why do you go to work wearing a suit?”

“That’s the rule. It gives the image that I’m working professionally.”

“…Ah.”

“Wait. I know what you’re thinking right now. You’re thinking that instead of that, it would be better to reduce the number of times I get into fights on the ice, right?”

“Ah, n-no.”

“That’s also part of the game. Now, come over here quickly. Today, I’m going to wear the clothes you picked out and walk the runway. Ah, for the six away games, too.”

“A runway, you say…”

“For your reference, many photos of me are taken on my way to work every game day. So, I mean, really many.”

“Saying it like that makes it even more burdensome. I don’t really have a talent for this. I always tend to go with something safe.”

“That’s what I want. Today, let’s go with Joeon’s style, something safe.”

Joeon, having scanned the enormous amount of clothes with his eyes, clenched his fists and braced himself.

“…Okay. Let’s do it.”

“Ah, by the way. I really am a suit model.”

Dylan took out one of the clothes hanging there and pointed to the tag.

“I’ve been a model here for three years. It’s my family’s regular shop. Generations of our family have had their clothes tailored at this house.”