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“We’re heading to the club, wanna come?” Jaekyung’s dorm mate asked.
“The club? But I have a match tomorrow?”
Jaekyung had been having nightmares, which compromised the mount of sleep he was getting. His performance on those days he’d barely slept was subpar and caused him to lose big in most important matches. But going to a club would be very irresponsible, because he had no control over having nightmares, but intentionally losing sleep to party he did not agree with.
“You think I don’t? That’s why I’m inviting you. You’re wound way too tight when you’re in the ring,” the other fighter scoffed. “Trust me, dude. A change of pace will calm your nerves and help your game”
“And you’ll be the designated chick-magnet” he thought, but kept it to himself.
“It’s not like you ever sleep before a match anyway.” another athlete added.
Jaekyung was getting convinced. He couldn’t deny that taking off some of the tension had the potential to at least put him a bit at ease. If he were to wake up throughout the night in a cold sweat, he might as well just go with them. Just this once.
“Fine. Just wait twenty minutes, I need to shower and change”
Jaekyung’s non-negotiable aspect of taking care of himself was making sure he smelled good. After his shower he misted cologne lightly over his neck and chest. This one was quite fancy, as he got it for his birthday from Namwook hyung. He didn’t pay much attention to his outfit though: just a simple, fresh black T-shirt and a plain baseball cap.
The club was nothing special, flickering pink, purple and blue lights in a room pulsing with the beat of the music, the DJ working the decks. The dance floor was packed, shoulder to shoulder, bodies jumping and dancing to the rhythm. Absolute sensory overload.
Jaekyung watched the crowd, leaning on the wall with his arms crossed. With every song he regretted his decision more.
“Why the fuck did I come here?” he thought rolling his eyes and finding the whole experience tedious, contemplating going home. “I guess I’ll always be hanging round with the wrong crowd”
“Are you here alone?” a guy, shorter by head than him, approached and asked in a sweet voice.
Jaekyung stared him up and down. The guy’s body was on the leaner side. His face was not particularly striking, but it was hard to tell in the dim lighting.
“Well, might as well,” Jaekyung made up his mind and decided to see where it could go.
He was about to follow him, but then got distracted by a huge, glittery mascot in the middle of the dance floor. It was at least two and a half meters tall, a goose, flapping its wings to disperse the dancing flock of people, turning its neck as if searching for something. A moment later it met Jaekyung’s gaze and angrily dashed at him, honking maniacally, colourful sparkles following it.
“What the hell?” Jaekyung scoffed, not sure what to make of it.
The goose stopped right in front of him, its fluffy breast almost in Jaekyung’s nose.
Honk, honk! the goose yelled and moved a wing, as if pointing in a direction.
Jaekyung stood frozen. The bird looked so real he started doubting it was not a dream. He looked up and the goose was looking back expectantly. Mustering courage and filled with curiosity, he stuck out a finger and poked the bird’s front. The feathers were very fluffy, so he pressed his whole palm to touch them again.
Flap. The goose lost its patience and swung a wing across his face.
“Does this bird have a death wish?” Jaekyung growled under his breath and folded his hand into a fist, ready to smack back, but didn’t get the chance, the bird ducked down and stole his cap, holding it about half a metre above him.
Jaekyung tried to yank it back, but the bird held it way too high, out of his reach, then threw it far with force and leaned down again, this time catching the collar of Jaekyung’s T-shirt in its beak. The goose turned toward the exit, carrying Jaekyung like a stork would a newborn in a children’s book.
“This can’t be happening,” Jaekyung slapped himself to wake up. Unsuccessful, he was wide awake and aware of the goose walking with him hanging passively in the streets of Seoul late at night.
He tried to get the goose to let him free, but the goose was persistent, dodging his punches by skillful maneuvering.
Bamf! One of his punches struck right into the goose’s neck. Angered, the bird spread its wings and started waving them, ready to fly up to around three metres off the ground. This put Jaekyung into instant panic.
“Wait, wait! Be reasonable!” He was holding his T-shirt for dear life. “I will stop punching you, but I can’t have you carry me like a goddamn ragdoll.”
The goose landed and let Jaekyung down.
Honk, honk! the goose cried out, trying to communicate something, but Jaekyung used the moment to sprint away.
Jaekyung took a few turns to lose the bird. He stopped and turned back once he no longer heard waddling sounds behind him. After sprinting for about half a kilometre, he needed to catch his breath.
“Stupid featherbrain,” Jaekyung smirked, but not for long, as the silly goose reappeared in its whole glossy, sparkly glory from the corner of the building, midflight, lowering its neck so that it flew right between Jaekyung’s legs. As a result, the athlete had to clutch onto it so he wouldn’t fall and get hurt.
“Fuck this shit,” Jaekyung ground his teeth, pissed off.
He was now riding on the back of a goose flying between the buildings, gripping hard onto the bird. He looked around and down. They were passing streets far outside the typical area Jaekyung visited and he started to get worried about how they would get home.
“Listen, motherfucker, I have no idea where we’re heading, but if I do not make it to my match tomorrow, I will personally stuff you and turn you into a nice foie gras!” Jaekyung threatened.
The bird ignored him and kept flying forward all the way to a rundown residential neighbourhood. Most buildings had notices that they were ready for demolition due to revitalization projects. The goose lowered its flight trajectory and eventually landed in front of a stairway. Jaekyung felt a little dizzy and tried to get off, but the goose abruptly shook him off, resulting in him landing flat on his butt.
“For fuck’s sake,” Jaekyung propped himself up, massaging his sore buttocks and hurting lower back. The goose walked halfway up the stairs and stopped behind something, glowing and dropping sparkles down.
The something, or rather someone in front of the goose, was wearing army khaki and was leaning on their bag, crying. As if magnetized, Jaekyung climbed up and approached the weeping figure.
“Hey, stop! What are you doing blubbering outside in the middle of the night?” Jaekyung asked in his typical annoyed tone.
The man stopped for a moment, looked up, and their eyes met for the very first time - a moment Jaekyung would forever remember as a strike straight into his heart.
The man couldn’t be older than him, with huge, bright doe-shaped eyes now glistening with tears, a short brunette buzzcut, and full delicate lips. The only thing attempting to ruin the beautiful face was a huge bruise and cut on the right cheek.
“Oh shit, you’re fucking gorgeous!” Jaekyung exclaimed loudly with no filter and flushed red.
“What are you on about?” the man asked, both confused and equally in awe.
“What happened to your face?” Jaekyung continued, ignoring the question. He kneeled and leaned forward to take a better look. “It looks like the fresh result of a sharp jab. Were you hit?”
The man looked to the side, conflicted, and started shivering, about to cry again.
“Hey, hey, don’t! What is your name?”
“M-my name?” the man started hesitantly. “My name is D-Dan. Kim Dan.”
“I’m Joo Jaekyung, but we must be around the same age, so you can call me by my name,” Jaekyung smirked. “Unless you went straight to the military, judging by your outfit, then you could be one year younger and call me hyung.”
“I am a physical therapy student. I am 24.”
“You’re 24?” Jaekyung’s jaw dropped.
“Yes, 24.”
Oh
Oh
“I didn’t think I’d call you… hyung,” Jaekyung blushed again. “You look so young!”
“Yes, I have heard it my whole life, that I have a baby face.”
“I could think of a thousand different ways to describe your face and none of them would do it justice,” Jaekyung thought, still admiring Dan’s beauty. “So, since we came back to the topic of your face, tell me who did this to you.”
Dan hesitated. Jaekyung guessed that maybe he was not comfortable opening up to a stranger, his junior at that, but to his surprise the student picked the topic.
“As you already noticed, I did my military service. I was actually discharged today, but the apartment I live in got taken over and occupied by loan sharks. I was paying parts of my military pay to them to pay a debt I never took, but it turned out they did not care. I used to live with my grandma, but she often goes to the hospital now, as she’s quite sickly, so since the flat was empty they turned it into their hideout. When I went there, they asked for even more money, but I didn’t have the amount they demanded, so they beat me up,” Dan continued without stopping, barely taking breaths while getting it off his chest. “And now you know.”
“That doesn’t sound right! I am sure this is illegal!” Jaekyung started, frustrated and angry. “You should go to the police.”
“I cannot do anything about it, it’s been going on for years,” Dan replied hopelessly.
“So, what are you going to do? Sitting here and bawling will not help.”
“It’s easy for you to say. I do not need your judgment. Feel free to just go and leave me alone,” Dan answered, hurt in his voice.
“Shit, no, don’t get me wrong.” Jaekyung ran a hand over his face out of frustration. “I meant, let’s do something about it.”
“Do what? I don’t want to get hurt any further. I have to visit my grandma and I already look a mess.”
“How many assholes were there?”
“Three.”
“Were they big?”
“One of them was big, the other two not really.”
Jaekyung considered the risk. If he got the first one down with a knockout, he could manage it easily, assuming they were not too heavily armed or trained in martial arts.
He looked at Dan. If they were closer to his dorm, he’d smuggle him in, but since he had no idea where the goose took him, it could take all night to come back.
The Goose
“The goose.”
“What goose?”
“You haven’t noticed a massive almost three-metre-tall bird? Well, it stood behind you, but it was hard to miss.”
“I have no idea what you are talking about.”
Jaekyung paused to think. The goose had bathed Dan in light and sparkles, so how come there was no goose now?
He looked up; the light of a city lantern shone down on Dan and him. Glittery sparkles danced in the air in front of him. He inspected his T-shirt, it was covered in glitter dust, with every move pushing more of it into the air.
“Huh?” Jaekyung was utterly confused. The goose had been right there until it disappeared into the night. If he didn’t vividly remember the soft feather and the cool air blowing in his face, he’d swear he was crazy.
But whatever happened, whether the goose was there or not, the most beautiful person he’d ever seen was now vulnerable and upset in front of him, and he could change that.
“I guess you have nowhere else to go and I have no idea how I got here, so I cannot take you overnight,” Jaekyung smiled determinedly and grabbed Dan’s chin up. “I will help you, show me where you live.”
“N-no, that’s out of the question! You will also get hurt if you mess with those thugs. You can’t get involved.”
“Well, hyung, it so happens that it might turn into a hell of a night, but we will not be the ones suffering from it,” Jaekyung smirked. “You need to trust me on this one. I promise nobody will lay a hand on you as soon as you’re under my wing.”
***
“Is it this door?”
“Yes, the one over there,” Dan confirmed and grabbed Jaekyung by the arm. “How can you be so confident? You’re just a baby.”
“A BABY?” Jaekyung growled, baffled. “Listen, hyung, stay here and don’t come any closer. We’ll see if you still call me a baby after you witness me in action.”
Dan stood in place, looking hopeful but worried. Jaekyung puffed his chest forward, walked up to the door, and stood in position.
Knock, knock, knock, kick, knock, kick, kick, knock!
“Who the fu-?” a huge, pig-faced man peeked out from behind the door and got sucker-punched straight in his solid gut. “Au! You bloody punk!”
He collapsed under the force of the attack. The other two thugs came out to see what was happening. Jaekyung didn’t wait, he struck the medium-built shorter thug straight in the nose, turning it into a blood fountain. The third one swung at Jaekyung with an empty soju bottle, but the athlete was faster, dodged it, and kicked him directly in the groin, crushing his nuts.
“Pfffff, fucking assholes,” Jaekyung said, looking at the mess in front of him. “Get the fuck out, or I’ll turn all of you into a bloody pulp no Korean plastic surgeon could fix.”
The vampire’s favorite fondue and the cracked omelette took to their heels.
“Jaekyung, watch out!” Dan shouted.
The fat thug grabbed Jaekyung’s leg, trying to knock him off balance. The fighter got furious, and by shifting his body weight, sent a powerful kick to the already-bruised stomach. The thug curled up in pain and released his grip on Jaekyung. Unfortunately, Jaekyung felt himself losing balance and falling. For a split second, he was sure he’d hit his head on the glass shards from the bottle, the other thug had dropped. There goes his match, his title, maybe even his career, depending on the damage.
But none of that happened. Instead, Dan, who had already been running toward him as soon as he noticed Jaekyung in immediate danger, caught him, and they only slammed lightly against the wall.
“Wow, thank you, hyung. You alright?” Jaekyung sighed with relief.
“Y-yeah, I’m fine.”
They were both standing on their feet again. The big man was still whining in pain in front of them.
“You have ten seconds. If you don’t fuck off in time, I’ll add another injury to the damage,” Jaekyung crouched down and threatened him. “One… two…”
“You’ll regret this,” the thug spat blood at Jaekyung’s feet.
“Seven… eight…”
“Fuck.” The thug gathered himself and, holding his massive belly, walked away.
Jaekyung triumphantly turned to Dan.
“So, who were you calling a baby?”
***
Jaekyung ended up accepting Dan’s offer to sleep over. It was already 2 A.M. when they finally entered the apartment. The place was full of empty soju bottles, takeout boxes, and cigarette butts.
“I’m really sorry about the state of my place,” Dan apologized, clearly embarrassed. “Please, sit down and I’ll quickly clean up.”
“Don’t mention it, it’ll be faster if we do it together.”
Jaekyung felt a déjà vu, one he wished he’d never experienced, as it brought back painful memories of his childhood. For a brief moment, he second-guessed whether it was really a good idea to sleep in a place that reminded him of the cause of his nightmares, but Dan’s sweet voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
“I think that’s the last bag. Let me take it outside.” Dan took it from Jaekyung’s hands and smiled. “Thank you so much. If it wasn’t for you, I don’t know what I would have done tonight.”
“Holy shit,” Jaekyung’s heart skipped a beat. “Forget it. I would’ve fought three times as many thugs if the situation demanded it, just to see that smile.”
Dan came back and, to his joy, discovered there were fresh sheets in his grandma’s precious wardrobe. He laid them down on the mattress and aired out the room.
“I’ll go wash now. And as you see, I only have one cover, would that be a problem?”
“No, not at all,” Jaekyung answered immediately.
As soon as Dan closed the door, Jaekyung looked around the place. After they had cleaned up, it was modest but had a certain kind of homeliness to it. He stopped at a picture of a younger Dan and his grandmother. It reminded him of a more pleasant memory, when his old coach’s mom used to feed him meals when he was just a small, starving boy. He also only had her and his coach growing up, and the thought softened him.
Dan left the bathroom, changed into a worn-out white T-shirt and grey shorts.
“I have another T-shirt like this, but that’s all I have,” he said.
“That’s okay, I’ll wear it.”
Jaekyung went to the bathroom to freshen up before sleep. He put on the T-shirt. It was about two sizes too small and instead of loosely covering him, it just accentuated his muscles and hugged his biceps tightly. As for bottoms, he stayed in his boxer shorts.
He left the bathroom and was about to join Dan in bed, but noticed the student’s face was flushed crimson.
“Are you alright, hyung? You look a tad bit flushed,” Jaekyung smirked after realizing Dan was staring, and that it was likely him who caused this reaction.
“I-it’s just that… your body is…” Dan muttered, still embarrassed. “I’ve already had internships at a clinic and worked with some patients, but I’ve never seen such a picture-perfect body.”
“So… that’s what you look like reading your anatomy coursebook, hyung?” Jaekyung teased, enjoying every second of the banter with the cutie.
“W-what? N-no! I mean, technically…” Dan was lost for words, and it didn’t help that Jaekyung was waiting to nitpick anything he’d say. “What I wanted to say is, your muscles are incredible. Are you an athlete, by any chance?”
Jaekyung joined Dan under the cover. They lay on their sides, facing each other.
“Jackpot! I happen to be an MMA fighter,” Jaekyung grinned.
“Oh! That explains a lot,” Dan said in awe as everything clicked. “That’s why you were so amazing back there.”
“You thought I was amazing?” Jaekyung couldn’t stop smiling.
“Yes! They had no chance against you. I wish I could be like you,” Dan continued his praises. “I’m really grateful for tonight. I’m so lucky to have met you.”
All Jaekyung wanted to do was keep talking, but he knew better than to stay up all night again. He came up with an idea.
“Let’s exchange numbers, hyung. If you ever need my help, let me know.”
Jaekyung reached for his phone, which he had set aside after setting an alarm for 8 o’clock.
“O-okay.” Dan put his phone number in and gave it back. “Wh-what are you saving me as?”
Dan saw that Jaekyung immediately changed his name to Dannie Hyung <3.
“It’s my phone. Can’t I save my contacts the way I want?”
“No! I mean, yes, but it’s just a little…”
“Don’t overthink it, hyung.”
Dan let it slide and closed his eyes, falling asleep.
“Hyung, before you fall asleep,” Jaekyung said, waking Dan slightly. “I happen to have an important match tomorrow at 2 p.m. Would you like to come and watch?”
“At 2 p.m.? I should already be out of the hospital then. I’ll come if you want. It’s the least I can do, to cheer you on.”
“Great. I’ll send you the address.”
“Then goodnight, Jaekyung.”
“Goodnight, Dannie Hyung.”
***
Jaekyung woke up at the first alarm, not entirely sure where he was. He felt sweaty, warm, and… another person clinging to him from behind. The tiny room wasn’t much bigger than his dorm bedroom, but this definitely wasn’t a bunk bed. He also didn’t recognize the bookshelves in front of him.
“Mhhh…” He felt a breath against his nape, and goosebumps spread all over his neck, back, and shoulders.
Despite feeling a little icky from all the sweat and only getting a few hours of sleep, Jaekyung had a dreamless night, one that let him rest surprisingly well. He double-checked the time, and looking again at the screen helped him get his head together. He turned on the camera and switched to the front view. He had slight dark circles, but nothing too bad. Lifting the phone a bit above himself, he saw them both, Dan’s eyes closed, his expression calm, almost serene, in a room filled with his soft humming.
The trois-quart of Dan’s face, and just a corner of Jaekyung’s, were now immortalized by a shameless camera snap.
Slowly, Jaekyung started remembering last night’s ordeal in anachronistic order. The punches and kicks he landed on the thugs. The shining lights in the club. The moment when the streetlight fell perfectly on Dan’s brown eyes, the most beautiful ones Jaekyung had ever seen.
He started feeling giddy, slightly kicking his feet under the blanket, though he couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d forgotten some part of the story.
Ahhh, The Goose.
Whatever that was about, let’s just forget about it for now.
After giving his body a full stretch, extending his legs and arms in opposite directions, Jaekyung propped himself up and looked back. Dan was lying close to him, squeezing a pillow to his stomach with both hands.
“Adorable,” he thought, and got up to refresh in the bathroom.
Under the shower, he started contemplating his plan. He still didn’t know exactly where he was, so first things first, he needed to figure out how to get back to the dorms and get ready for the match. That should be easy enough. He also needed to send Dan the location, as he’d promised to come watch him fight.
Dan…
He’d be visiting his grandma, but the loan shark’s underdogs had taken his money. There was also a chance they might come back for revenge. Even if Dan called him every time those thugs showed up, that wouldn’t guarantee his hyung’s safety. This would need a more thorough, long-term solution.
When Jaekyung stepped out of the bathroom. Dan was already awake, looking through the pantry.
“Uhh, morning Jaekyung,” Dan inhaled before speaking, still a little sleepy. “Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, v-very,” Jaekyung said, his voice raspy and hoarse. He swallowed. “How about you?”
“Also good. I usually sleep better when someone’s next to me.”
“Heh,” Jaekyung chuckled. “That’s funny, because for me it’s the complete opposite, but I still had a good, uninterrupted night’s sleep.”
“I’m glad.” Dan smiled, still a bit groggy. “I don’t have anything to eat here, but I’d like to invite you to grab something on the way?”
“Didn’t the thugs take your money, though?”
“Ah, that… well, I don’t have much, but I really want to thank you, even if it’s not much.”
“Then I’ll accept it. Are you also leaving soon?”
“Yes, the visitation time at the hospital starts soon, so I was about to get ready.”
“I’ll wait for you. Let’s leave together.”
Dan put on light blue jeans, the white T-shirt he slept in, and a grey hoodie. Despite his clothes being visibly worn often, Jaekyung believed there wasn’t an outfit in existence that could make Dan look unflattering. Anything remotely shabby on him became shabby chic.
They went to the nearest supermarket.
“Is it really enough?” Jaekyung asked, holding a carton of milk and a small to-go salad. Dan had picked a triangle kimbap and a small iced coffee.
“Yes. I like to keep it light and healthy before my matches.” Jaekyung looked at the map app on his phone and turned it toward Dan. “It says I should take this bus, then transfer to this metro, and I’ll reach my destination. Does that make sense to you?”
Dan confirmed. He knew the public transport routes well. They exchanged goodbyes, and Dan reassured Jaekyung that he’d come to see him win.
***
“One hour left. You good, Jaekyung?” Namwook hyung asked, patting him on the back. “I heard you were naughty and left the dorms last night, very unlike you. Depending on how you perform, I’ll decide whether to scold you or praise you,” he smirked, clearly teasing.
“It was just too late to come back, so I slept over at a friend’s house,” Jaekyung rolled his eyes. “Nothing to get too excited about.”
“Oki, if you say so. Just remember, don’t overthink it. Do what you always do in sparring, and you’ll be fine.”
Jaekyung felt a little tense in anticipation, equally excited to get into the cage as to have Dan watching him fight.
If he managed to place on the podium, the prizes were sweet enough that he’d ask Dan out.
Actually, no, only if he placed first.
To the victor go the spoils.
***
It was fifteen minutes before the match when Jaekyung saw Dan enter the audience stands of the sports hall. He had given Dan’s name to the organizers earlier so that they’d let him in without trouble.
“Hey, hyung, you made it!” Jaekyung waved excitedly.
“I promised, didn’t I? I wanted to see you in action in your full glory.” Dan smiled and reached into his bag. “I know it’s nothing much, but I felt breakfast wasn’t enough of a thank you, so I got you a small charm.”
In Dan’s hand was a small laminated note. On one side, it read “You’re a Winner!” and on the other, “I Believe in You.”
“Hyung, have you never heard the saying ‘Don’t jinx it’?”
“Oh, is it…?”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Thank you.” Jaekyung laughed, only about twenty percent worried about the supposed jinx.
“So then, I also wish you good luck in person.” Dan leaned in for a quick hug, then gave him a small wave before heading to his seat in the audience.
At that point, the jinx concern dropped to about one percent.
***
“I think you’re my good luck charm, hyung,” Jaekyung said later that evening. “So take responsibility for me and help me with my jinx before every match.”
Jaekyung and Dan had gone to a malatang place that had great reviews. The athlete had completely dominated the competition and, to his and his teammates’ delight, placed first.
They’d been teasing him endlessly about skipping the team’s celebratory dinner. But as soon as he mentioned he had a date later, their teasing switched to whistling and calling him a dog for getting involved with someone the day before a fight.
He could already imagine the rumors spreading, but he didn’t care. It was none of their business, and if he didn’t feed into it, the gossip would die down soon enough. He preferred to focus on the person sitting in front of him.
“I-I thought you were incredible today,” Dan said, his tone sincere.
Jaekyung felt his pride grow. He had loved glancing at the audience mid-fight to see Dan’s eyes fixed on him, studying him, enthralled.
“So, will you come to more of my matches?”
“Yes, of course. If you want me to, I’d love to watch you fight again.”
Their bowls of soup arrived soon after. Dan noticed Jaekyung flinching slightly every time he reached for something with his left shoulder.
“Were you hurt?”
“Ah, this? No, it just feels a little stiff.”
“Oh, you should get it checked.”
“I will, I will.”
After dinner, they walked toward the metro station. Jaekyung was still visibly bothered by his shoulder.
“Would you like me to take a look later? You know, I’m not a professional yet, but I could at least give you a massage.”
“Are you inviting me over again tonight?” Jaekyung smirked, smug.
“I-I mean, if it’s not too inconvenient…”
“No, I’ll be happy to come over. I can leave again in the morning to train,” Jaekyung said, then fell into thought. “And besides, I’ll be right there if the thugs come back.”
Dan just nodded, and they walked down to take the metro together.
***
“Your hair really grew out, you look really handsome, Dan,” Namwook complimented, standing next to the water stand in the venue.
“Oh, thanks. I’ve usually cut it like this since I was little.”
Jaekyung was about to have his seventh match, with a streak of wins stretching over the last year and a half. Dan hadn’t missed a single one since the day they met.
Jaekyung approached them from behind and hugged Dan tightly.
“I-I thought it only works if I hug you,” Dan stammered, flustered.
“As long as I have my lucky charm nearby, I’m invincible,” Jaekyung said, not letting go. “Maybe you could give me a little check-up later, too.”
“Don’t spoil him too much, Danny,” Namwook teased. “You know the saying, give him an inch, he’ll take a mile…”
Jaekyung finally let go and, instead of saying goodbye, looked Dan straight in the eyes. “Keep your eyes on me.”
“He’s impossible,” Namwook sighed. “I almost feel bad for you, but you seem completely under his spell. Don’t you mind that he’s all over you like that?”
Dan just blushed and gave Namwook a look that could only mean one thing.
“At least you’re equally smitten with each other,” Namwook chuckled and shook his head. “By the way, you’re enrolling in your master’s soon, has Jaekyung talked to you about your future?”
“Well, we’ve discussed it now and then. I guess I’ll work part-time at a local clinic for the next two years.”
“I wonder if he’ll tear me apart for spoiling it, but since it was my idea, I’d say I’m entitled,” Namwook grinned. “Jaekyung and I are leaving our current team and starting our own gym, with him as director and me as head coach.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful,” Dan said, genuinely happy.
“It’s not all,” Namwook continued. “We’d also like to make you an offer to become his personal physical therapist.” He grinned wider, watching Dan’s smile grow. “Just, please, pretend to be surprised when he tells you.”
***
A skein of geese flew across the sky. Dan could swear he saw a glittering whoosh trailing along the cloudless horizon.
They were enjoying a sunny weekend in their garden. Dan was relaxing on a sunbathing chair, reading the newest issue of a physical therapy journal. He was leaving for a seminar next week and wanted to familiarize himself with the work of the sports health experts who’d be attending.
Dan glanced at Jaekyung, who was enjoying his swim in the outdoor pool. Even on his days off, he had to make sure he got at least some swimming or running done.
It had been almost seven years since they met and became friends. Dan also considered that time the very first turning point when his life began to truly get better. At first, he still faced challenges, he only got rid of the loan sharks in the second year of his master’s degree, when he finally managed to pay off his debt in full. He had already been living with Jaekyung by then, but despite making timely payments, he’d still notice thugs stalking him or loitering near his university campus or the Team Black gym. After being beaten up a few times by Jaekyung or one of his teammates, they eventually gave up on their excessive harrassment.
His granny's health had also been deteriorating, and eventually, she passed away. Jaekyung was there for him at every stage of his grief, from helping with the funeral arrangements to holding him at night when Dan cried himself to sleep. Eventually, they honored Okja by spreading her ashes over the very sea she had loved as a little girl.
The doctor cherished everything that reminded him of his beloved grandmother: the bridal wardrobe, the gray hoodie she gave him for his graduation, and all the photographs taken at every important event in his life. They all hung in Dan’s study, from his childhood to the most recent one from his master’s graduation ceremony, with him standing between his grandmother and Jaekyung. She had already been very weak then, but it was her wish to be there for him, even if it was the last time
The phone screen on the small garden table lit up. Dan sighed. It was Jaekyung’s. The screensaver he’d kept for years was a selfie he’d sneakily taken the first night he stayed over at Dan’s old, shabby apartment. It was endearing in a way, but Dan still wondered why he never changed it to one of the many more recent ones. Like the one from France.
That was Jaekyung’s comeback match after his suspension for attacking an opponent outside the cage. The rival had blown up a nationwide scandal claiming Joo Jaekyung was gay and involved with his therapist, something that didn’t translate well in conservative Korea. His sponsors dropped him one by one, and those who stayed renegotiated less favorable deals.
They started fighting a lot then. Dan even took a long holiday and moved out for a few weeks, an agonizing time for both of them. Dan couldn’t stand the thought that he was holding Jaekyung back, but to his surprise, Jaekyung doubled down and released a full statement about their relationship, declaring that if Korean society rejected him as their national champion because he loved Dan, then he no longer wanted to represent a country that didn’t support his values, and would stop wearing the Korean flag.
The backlash against homophobia was immense, both from international fans and the MFC itself, but it also brought a flood of offers from international branches. Under the pressure, the narrative began to shift. As a side effect, Jaekyung became a gay sports icon in Korea, a label he had mixed feelings about. Sometimes, he even hated the new fame, especially when he found out about the existence of a drag queen named Jeggeng the Empress.
Soon after the statement, Jaekyung called him: “Come back to me.”
And Dan did. It was the first and only time they had ever been apart for so long.
After securing a win against the French fighter, Jaekyung extended their stay in Paris and planned to make it special. They went to an amusement park in the morning, then sightseeing and dinner, and in the evening he booked a master suite with an impressive view over the cityscape.
With a bouquet of assorted flowers and a velvet red box in hand, Jaekyung went down on one knee and proposed.
“Kim Dan… the night we met you’ve forever become woven into the fabric of my life. You were the missing piece I hadn’t known I was searching for. The moment you left my side, was the my greatest loss and it made me realise that the only champion title I strive to uphold is being the winner of your heart, the keeper of your time, and the focus of your undivided attention.
Will you marry me?”
Dan just nodded and threw himself into his arms. The next thing they did was take a photo, Dan holding the flowers and showing off the rough diamond ring in a wavy white gold band inlaid with meteorite.
“What made you choose such a unique design?” Dan asked, admiring the craftsmanship and the unconventional beauty of the ring. “Is it because it’s black, your signature color?” he teased, giggling.
It was a nice memory.
The phone screen lit up again.
It was Yoongu, desperately trying to reach Jaekyung.
“Hey, Jae, Yoongu’s been calling. I think it might be important,” Dan said, sitting down at the edge of the pool and swinging his legs in the warm water.
“Oh, just pick up, honey. It can’t be anything about training. Potato wouldn’t call on my day off for something like that.”
Dan clicked on the green receiver icon the next time Yoongu’s name popped up.
“Jaekyung hyuuuung! Remember the time-”
“Good morning, Yoongu, this is Dan speaking”
“Ahh, Doc Dan! I am sorry for disturbing your weekend”
“Don’t worry. Should I pass along a message?”
“Oh, it is… I don’t know, it might be a bit complicated”
“Well, do you want to come over, then? Jaekyung can’t ignore you if you’re my guest.”
“Is it really alright?”
“Of course it is”
Yoongu came over around three in the afternoon. Jaekyung was a little displeased, he’d wanted to spend the whole day with his husband, enjoying his husband all to himself, but Yoongu had been invited by said husband, so his plans were thoroughly ruined.
“Please, sit down,” Dan said, inviting Yoongu to the table and serving an early, light dinner.
“So, what was so complicated you needed my consultation so badly?”
“So, I had the wildest night yesterday! I went out drinking and eating with Daehyun and Changmin, and you won’t believe who I saw!”
“Well, knowing you, it could be anyone from a K-pop idol to your neighbor’s pet hamster, so just tell us,” Jaekyung said, exasperated.
“Or maybe Empress Jeggeng herself,” Dan teased, knowing how allergic Jaekyung was to that name. As expected, he scoffed and rolled his eyes.
“The Goose!”
“A goose?” Dan asked, confused. Jaekyung also didn’t get it.
“The Goose! The sparkly goose! The one you told us about when you talked about how you two met. You said it was probably just a dream, but I saw it yesterday too!”
Now it clicked. Jaekyung had always believed The Goose was a product of his imagination, that maybe he’d drunk by accident and wandered far enough to sober up when he stumbled across Dan. Could it be that Yoongu had a similar experience buried in his subconscious?
“Okay, so you saw The Goose. So what? Maybe you just thought you saw it after one too many soju shots,” Jaekyung chuckled.
“Well, I…” Yoongu blushed all over his baby face. “It was so huge, I thought it would swallow me whole when it approached, honking and flapping its sparkly wings. But then it actually knelt down, and I instinctively knew it wanted me to get on and hold tight, like it was inviting me on an adventure. I remembered you said there was no point fighting it, so I just complied.”
“And what happened next? Where did it take you?”
“It waddled with me holding onto its neck for what felt like an hour until we reached the entrance of a bar. It was some kind of members-only, exclusive establishment. Suddenly, a slightly drunk tall man came out, hiding under a bucket hat, face mask, and sunglasses, mind you, at night!”
“I guess he was trying to disguise himself if he was a VIP,” Dan deduced.
“So let me guess, the duck dropped you on the ground, you had a meet-cute, and now you have a boyfriend?” Jaekyung snorted.
“No, I mean… not entirely,” the blush never left Yoongu’s face. “He actually climbed on the goose himself! He just sat behind me, holding me tight.”
“I cannot believe this bird,” Jaekyung thought, increasingly irritated as he remembered the creature manhandling him all those years ago. “Apparently, it has its favorites.”
“And it just took us to his apartment building. One moment we got off, and the next, there was no sign of it anywhere.”
“What happened then?” Dan asked, genuinely engaged.
“Well, we went up. I wanted to help him to bed, but we just ended up… drinking some more.”
“And then?” Jaekyung was losing his patience.
“He was actually kind of rude. He started blubbering about how it was possible that he’d waited all his life to see The Goose, and it brought him an ugly mutt or something. I got so offended I wanted to leave, but then he got on his knees and asked me not to.”
“And then you…?”
“Yeah, of course I stayed. Potato, po-tah-to, tomato, to-mah-to, little mutt, I can handle a silly, even slightly rude nickname when I have a gorgeous celebrity on his knees for me,” Yoongu admitted proudly.
“You stayed, and did he apologize?”
"I guess. He took his hat, mask, and glasses off then, and when he properly looked at me, he even said he found me quite cute. Afterwards, we just kept talking, and he said he’d see me on Monday when he came to enroll in our gym.”
“Oh, so you mixed me and my gym into it,” Jaekyung raised an eyebrow playfully.
“It’s my workplace, and besides, I didn’t mention it was Choi Heesung, so it should be good for publicity.”
“Yes, that’s correct,” Dan beamed. “I’m really excited about this. It must be the beginning of another love story.” He looked at Jaekyung with affection.
“If it’s fate, you can’t help it. Should we open a bottle of champagne to celebrate the news?”
“No, no, that’s not necessary.”
“Why not?”
“Well, even if it really is fate, hyung,” Yoongu said, looking between the couple, “just don’t jinx it.”