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Han Gyeom knows for sure Jaehan is a former judo player. In fact, he said that if he didn't choose to pursue dreams with music, he would definitely still be doing judo. At the beginning, even after meeting Jaehan personally, Han Gyeom did not really believe the information.
"Hyung, I'm now practicing boxing," Han Gyeom proudly told Jaehan, who was sitting on the sofa in the living room typing on his laptop. "Let's do sparring."
Jaehan raised his head, looking at Han Gyeom who was standing proudly in front of him. He softly chuckled. "How long have you been practicing?"
"A week," Han Gyeom replied, smiling broadly. "Let's spar!"
With furrowed eyebrows, although he was still smiling, Jaehan shook his head and looked back at his laptop. "Don't want to. You need more practice first."
"Aaah, Hyung!"
- - - - -
After the choreography practice, that night all of them returned to the dorm. Jaehan left the bathroom door open while he brushed his teeth. Usually Junghoon or Hwichan would catch up with him, accompanying him while brushing their teeth, but today the other younger brother he was not expecting showed up.
"Hyung! Let's spar!"
Jaehan frowned, gargling his mouth quickly before turning to the door. Han Gyeom stood at the door, with an excited face. He was wearing boxing gloves in the shape of black panther's paws. Han Gyeom is a true Marvel fan, and obviously the boxing glove is one of his favorite Marvel merchandise.
Han Gyeom looked at Jaehan, his eyes gleaming as Jaehan came out of the bathroom and turned off the light. He excitedly asked again. "In my room or Hyung's room?"
"Do we really need to do it today?" Jaehan asked tiredly, but still spoke in his sweet tone of voice. He smiled, patted Han Gyeom on the shoulder. "Another time. I'm already tired."
"Aaah, Hyung!"
- - - - -
Jaehan let his cheek squished on the pillow. He had woken up a few minutes ago, but decided to stay in bed longer. After all, today is a rest day for everyone, without any schedule. All of them can be in the dorm all day to rest or go out for a walk.
Pulling the blanket to cover his entire body to his neck, Jaehan closed his eyes. While enjoying the softness and comfort of his bed, he almost drifted to sleep again when there was a harsh knock on the door. Jaehan groaned.
"Hyung!" Han Gyeom's voice came from outside the closed door. "Let's spar!"
Jaehan pulled the blanket to cover his head. "Let's do it next time."
Han Gyeom opened Jaehan's door, making the light from outside radiate into Jaehan's dark room. Even from under the blanket Jaehan could see the bright light from the outside world. Han Gyeom walked up to Jaehan without any guilt. "Hyung, it's already 11 o'clock."
"So what?" Jaehan asked tiredly, still hiding under the blanket. "Han Gyeom-ah, you can just challenge the others to spar with you. Why should it be me?"
"Hyung used to be a Judo athlete. I wonder how great you can do," Han Gyeom whined, starting to annoy Jaehan by poking Jaehan in the stomach from outside the blanket. "Jaehan Hyung~"
"Gosh Han Gyeom-ah," Jaehan held the hem of his blanket and pulled it over quickly. The next second the blanket had already covered Han Gyeom's head. Jaehan has to force himself to not laugh. "If you're really gonna spar with me, you could die."
"Then, let's try it," Han Gyeom said excitedly from under the blanket. He didn't even bother to free himself from the soft fabric.
"You know, right, boxing and judo are a lot different?" Jaehan sat cross-legged on the bed, finally laughing at the sight of Han Gyeom who was standing still with the blanket covering his head to his knees. "You're just learning boxing. We're sparring judo or boxing?"
"Judo," Han Gyeom replied quickly, pulling the blanket from the top of his head and then throwing it on the bed with a big smile. "I also want to try judo. I am practicing boxing to make me stronger."
Jaehan shook his head, tidying up his blanket while standing up. "Okay then, whatever you like. Let's just try it. In the living room? I'll prepare a mat."
"The mat is ready!" Suddenly Junghoon emerged from the opened door, smiling widely at Jaehan and Han Gyeom. "Come on, we've been waiting to watch you guys sparring!"
"Huh?" Jaehan looked at Han Gyeom and Junghoon in turn. "Everyone gonna watch?"
Junghoon nodded his head vigorously. "There are currently Sebin Hyung, Hyuk, and Hwichan Hyung. Just now Xen Hyung said he would take a quick shower then catch up. Taedong Hyung and Kevin are making popcorn in the kitchen for a snack while watching you guys."
"Oh my gosh," Jaehan shook his head in disbelief. "Why are you all watching? You don't have to."
"Come on, Hyung!" Han Gyeom stubbornly pulled Jaehan's hand to the front of the wardrobe. "Wear comfortable clothes for sparring, I'll be waiting in the living room with the others."
After Han Gyeom and Junghoon leave his room, Jaehan opens the wardrobe. He didn't think the members would watch this "sparring". He just wanted to test Han Gyeom's ability, instead of competing. After all, he couldn't have actually used judo tactics this time, not like when he was in school. His opponent this time was Han Gyeom, not a real judo player. The boy never even actually practiced judo.
Descending into the living room, Jaehan wears a black T-shirt and gray training pants that he usually wears for choreography practice. He reminded himself not to really spar with Han Gyeom. The boy is not a judo player, he reminds himself many times. This sparring is just a light game.
But the fact is that seeing the members sitting around the mat in the living room made Jaehan's competitive blaze light up. He tried to suppress his own passion by constantly reminding himself that all this was just a simple game.
The game immediately started with Jaehan and Han Gyeom standing on the middle of the mat, with Han Gyeom gripped on the collar of Jaehan's t-shirt.
"You're not gripping strong enough," Jaehan gently told Han Gyeom, and with a single slash Jaehan easily freed himself from Han Gyeom's grip. "See?"
Han Gyeom frowned slightly, again gripping the collar of Jaehan's t-shirt as hard as possible. "Like this?"
Jaehan smiled. It was still too weak in his opinion, but he didn't want to make Han Gyeom discouraged. So he went on to tell him another technique. Jaehan stretched out a foot behind Han Gyeom's calf, tackled Han Gyeom until he almost fell. "Here, the next technique."
Suddenly Han Gyeom let go of Jaehan's collar, taking a step back with his arms folded in front of his chest. "Hyung, we're here to sparring. Why do you keep teaching me?"
A little shocked, Jaehan chuckled lightly. "What do you really mean with 'sparring'? Boxing and judo are very different. At the very least I need to teach you—"
Han Gyeom shook his head. "I already know the basic techniques, so I challenge you sparring."
"Hyung!" Hwichan who was sitting watching beside Junghoon raised his hand to call Jaehan. "Once in a while you need to show him that he made a big mistake by challenging you."
Han Gyeom smiled from ear to ear, nodding competitively. "Did you hear that, Hyung? Come on, I have been wondering if I can beat you."
Even though Jaehan knew Han Gyeom was just bluffing, but still he felt a little competitive. Maybe he will try defense first to test Han Gyeom's strength. So Jaehan took a defensive position. "Your turn to attack first."
Quickly Han Gyeom reached out and grabbed the collar of Jaehan's T-shirt. He uses all his strength to push, pull, tackle, and all sorts of ways he uses to knock Jaehan down. But Jaehan only took a defensive position, moved to follow Han Gyeom's attack, he did not fall, just resisted, and did not attack back.
During Han Gyeom's attack, Jaehan still had the peace and leisure to observe the faces of the members who were sitting around the mat. Hwichan chewed popcorn with Junghoon and Taedong, looking bored but still kept their eyes on the "sparring". Kevin and Hyuk playing with popcorn in their bowls. Yechan and Sebin looked at their phones, and Jehyun seemed to have lost interest and just looked at him absent-mindedly. Jaehan couldn't help but laugh.
Han Gyeom let go of Jaehan, snorting irritably, but his eyes had already lost focus and his breathing was a little breathless. "Come on, Hyung. Don't just mess around, do it seriously."
"If I'm serious, you can actually die," Jaehan retorted calmly, tidying up the collar of his t-shirt that I had been crumpled by Han Gyeom's grip. He smiled at Han Gyeom, making Han Gyeom's eyes flare again with the fire of competitiveness.
"Then do it seriously," challenged Han Gyeom, not taking his time to think about what consequences he would get.
And Jaehan actually prepared himself to use judo tactics like he had been taught in school. After Han Gyeom was ready and nodded, with one quick move he grabbed the collar of Han Gyeom's t-shirt and pushed him. At first Han Gyeom was able to stand his ground, barely, but that was because Jaehan only used a small part of his strength.
Although his hands were busy gripping Han Gyeom, Jaehan's eyes could still observe his surroundings. Now the members are refocusing on watching. Even Hwichan forgot to put popcorn in his mouth.
Jaehan added a little more strength, trying to tackle the back of Han Gyeom's leg, and Han Gyeom quickly tried to defend. Jaehan let Han Gyeom defend for a few more attacks, but as Han Gyeom's gasping breathing sound alarmed him, Jaehan released him.
Not strong enough to stand upright, Han Gyeom bent over with two hands holding his knees. His breathing was gasped, but he didn't hear any sound from Jaehan. So he looked up, looking at Jaehan, who was now looking at him worried.
"Are you really doing it seriously?" asked Han Gyeom, still in a defiant tone of voice. "Hyung's capability is just that much?"
"Han Gyeom-ah." Jaehan chuckled, not looking exhausted at all. "We are here to spar because of your stubbornness. You keep challenging me and now you want to become enemies with me?"
Han Gyeom smiled slightly. "Of course I don't want to become enemies with you." He stood up straight again, and then realized the members who were watching silently. "It seems that our sparring is not exciting, huh?"
"It seems," Yechan replied, grinning. "It might be more exciting if one of you fell on the mat. From the beginning you guys look more like dancing than sparring."
"Oh my God, so true!!" Sebin reached out his palm and Yechan greeted him with a high five. "Just like I thought!!"
Jaehan shook his head, still with a smile that didn't disappear from his face. He looked at Han Gyeom. "Shall we continue?"
"Sure." Han Gyeom quickly took a deep breath and got ready. "This time it's free style. Attack and defense."
"Okay, then."
Without wasting time, Jaehan reached out, first grabbed the collar of Han Gyeom's t-shirt, twisted his body, and slammed Han Gyeom onto the mat. He held Han Gyeom's wrist with his right hand and pressed it against Han Gyeom's neck, while his left hand held Han Gyeom's other wrist until he couldn't move. Despite the struggle, Han Gyeom couldn't break away from Jaehan at all, so he patted the mat quickly, a sign of surrender.
The next second Jaehan quickly let Han Gyeom go, pulling his arm gently from a lying position to sit on the mat. He looked at Han Gyeom worriedly, kneeling in front of him with his hand grabbing Han Gyeom's jaw. He gently tilted Han Gyeom's head up, and then checked his slightly bruised neck. Perhaps it was because of Han Gyeom's pale skin that the pressure he gave just now immediately left a mark. Regretfully Jaehan asked, "Are you okay?"
"Yes, yes, sure." Han Gyeom chuckled lightly, feeling embarrassed that he had already challenged Jaehan and lost. He is also ashamed why he challenges a person as good as Jaehan. Even when Jaehan wins, Jaehan pays attention to him first, checking if he is okay.
"That's why I told you I didn't want to do it seriously," Jaehan said in a soft voice, sticking his cold hand as a temporary ice pack on Han Gyeom's reddened neck. He turned to Sebin who looked at him in amazement. "Sebin-ah, please get an ice pack."
"Okay, Hyung." Sebin seemed to come back to his senses, then immediately stood up and ran to the kitchen.
Throughout the rest of the day, Han Gyeom spent his time with Jaehan. Now he admits Jaehan is really great. He has extraordinary judo skills, but remains humble and always be sweet no matter what. He also doesn't get hurt easily, always smiles, and is willing to accept the teasing and bothering of other members (including Han Gyeom) well.
It was also from that day that Han Gyeom decided to honor (adore) Jaehan. The only Hyung he called respectfully as "Hyung-nim".
The next day, when the manager started the car engine to drop off Han Gyeom for his boxing practice, he told the manager he had quit boxing.
Without any questions the manager turned off the car engine and nodded his head knowingly.