DASH

Chapter 40

"Anyway, you can't just give me an answer now? It's still very curious," Cha Sung-hyun said as he exhaled a puff of cigarette smoke. Jihong looked at his opponent for a moment.@@@@

"Well, since you're asking—"

"Oh--?"

Jihong, crossing his arms over his chest, calmly continued: "Athletes usually arrive at the camp about a week before the competition and stay there until the end of the competition. And during this time, regardless of whether their partner or spouse is visiting, sex is not allowed. Especially the day before the competition."

"Seriously?" Why?

"Because it reduces endurance

As Jihong explained prosaically, Cha Sung-hyun put a cigarette in his mouth, blurting out with a hint of disbelief, "Aren't you kidding?"

— I don't know why you are so surprised. Coaches are quite strict about this issue. Some national teams even limit the number of times athletes masturbate

— Какого черта. Ужасно глупо

In fact, Jihong shared his opinion. Although it made sense to ban excessive sex, limiting the satisfaction of physical needs is a violation of human rights. In truth, it was closer to an omen than a conclusion based on scientific research.

— Your industry is also nasty

Cha Sung-hyun threw the cigarette butt on the ground, not hiding his disgust.

"What are you doing here?"

The voice behind him made Jihon instinctively turn around. Jaekyung, who had just come out of the gym, walked towards them.

"Why didn't you call me?"

Jihong couldn't fully understand why Cha Sunghyun looked so smug.

"Did you want to make a surprise?"

Hearing his friend's playful remark, Jaekyung stared at him in annoyance. It was not as if he had run into his lover.

'Is he acting like this on purpose because I'm here?' thought Jihon.

Could Jaekyung even say, "Call me when you need me" on the phone, with such tenderness as before? After all, this guy isn't a robot. He's an ordinary person, so it's only natural that his behavior would change around someone he has feelings for. In fact, Jihong admired the fact that the guy was able to control his emotions so well. He is even glad that the athlete is trying to open up to the world, but the fact that the recipient of such efforts is Cha Sung-hyun was very upsetting. He didn't want Jaekyung to give his heart to such a selfish person. He knew it was his choice, but there was still nothing he could do about his own feelings.

"Jaekyung-ah

The words came out without a chance to stop. Jihon tried to express his opinion in a low voice.

"I think it's better to go straight to the hotel today

Jihon first intervened so openly, which greatly stunned the interlocutors.

"The hyunnim manager is worried, what if you get overtired. Are you really tired? Then I'll just come back alone.

The man, feigning anxiety, offered a choice. However, if they had planned to meet elsewhere from the beginning, Jaekyung would never have sent Cha Sunghyun back after all, he had come a long way to pick him up.

"I'm not that tired

"Seriously?" So you don't mind, do you? Then let's have dinner

— No, I don't

"But I heard a little different from Sunghyun-hyun

Mistake. Cha Sung-hyun is much worse. A four-year-old is more mature than this intended adult. In the end, Jihong took a deep breath.

"Are we going to talk about it seriously now?"

"If not now...

– Let's wait until the end of the championship, and return to this topic later

— No, I don't. I don't like the fact that you misunderstand me

"Misunderstanding? Before Jihong could ask a question, the guy immediately seized the initiative.

"There's nothing between us

"I know. You mentioned this before

— Hyung, he has a lover.

"Yes, I know that... Wait, what?

"You've seen him. The man in the passenger seat the day before yesterday.

"Wait... Isn't he a manager?" exclaimed Jihong in surprise.

— No, I don't. Hyun, watch the road or you'll get into an accident

Jihong quickly focused on driving, gripping the steering wheel tighter in shock. A calm voice rang out next to him.

"We've never met in private. The three of us were together when we were photographed in a pub. Reporters simply cut him out of the frame.

"Then what the hell?" Why do you keep seeing each other even though you are fully aware of the risks?

— To shift the focus of attention

Jaekyung's tone remained reserved, "In this way, people don't have any suspicions either."

It turns out that this is just a trick to distract others.

"Haha......

Jihon laughed, speechless. Be that as it may, Cha Sunghyun's mindset is truly selfish, he didn't take other people's situation into account at all. However, Jihong couldn't understand why Jaekyung ran to his aid every time.

"So why do you agree to this?"

"I owe him

"What do you owe him?"

"Just something

Jaekyung cut him off abruptly, hinting that there was no point in trying to find answers any further.