Ball-Boy Tactics

As I was about to turn around and ask if the locker room’s clean atmosphere was because of him, Kwon Jungwoo came over and turned my cap backward. Then, before I could react, he kissed me, making me shut my eyes tightly in surprise. He cupped my face, and before I knew it, I had closed my eyes as well.Holding coffee in one hand and standing awkwardly, I eventually wrapped my arms around his waist. The soft texture of his uniform brushed against my hands, reminding me once again that the man kissing me was Kwon Jungwoo, a basketball player.Even though we’d kissed so many times over the weekend, his soft lips still made my heart race every time they touched mine. While I enjoyed the sensation of his plump lips, Kwon Jungwoo gently pushed me toward the wall.The moment my back touched the cold white cement wall, my cap fell off. I let out a small ah, but Kwon Jungwoo didn’t seem to care and kept kissing me. He naturally took the coffee from my hand and placed it on a nearby shelf.The way his hands lingered persistently around my neck and shoulders made it clear that this wasn’t just going to end with a kiss. My skin was already heating up and tingling, as if he were caressing me with his fingertips.“The locker room…”“Yeah, this boring locker room.”I lightly pushed him back, trying to remind him where we were, but Kwon Jungwoo didn’t stop. He lifted my chin, deepening the kiss and sliding his tongue into my mouth. It always felt like he moved with certainty, with no unnecessary motions.“No, we can’t… it’s getting dangerous.”I pushed him away again, and this time he seemed to get the message, not attempting another kiss. Instead, he laughed softly, his eyes looking down at me with mischievous affection.“Why, Jiwon? What’s so dangerous? I was just planning on kissing a little longer. Were you thinking of doing something else?”“……”“We can’t. This is the locker room, after all. The other players come and go frequently, so it’s risky.”With his usual shameless expression, Kwon Jungwoo calmly explained the situation to me. His nonchalant attitude embarrassed me to the point where I couldn’t respond. His eyes still held that same playfulness, hinting that things might have gone even further.The lingering sensation of his lips on mine refused to fade, making me bite my lower lip. Kwon Jungwoo just stared at me intently. As I began to suspect that he was holding back laughter, he cupped my cheeks with both hands and lifted my head to meet his gaze.His handsome face was full of gentle affection. I’d always thought his eyes were sharp, but up close, I noticed that the corners of his eyes had a subtle, downward slant. It was something you could only see at this very close distance.“Han Jiwon, did you know? If you kiss for too long, your lips can get calluses.”“…Do you think I’m an idiot?”I glared at him as I asked, and Kwon Jungwoo burst out laughing. Every time he let out his rich voice, I could feel the vibrations through his waist where my arms were wrapped around him. After a few short pecks, Kwon Jungwoo looked at me with eyes that seemed to overflow with sweetness.“How can anyone be this cute?”“I’m a fully grown adult, you know…”“Oh, an adult? I couldn’t tell because you smelled like baby formula.”“……”“See? You’re just too adorable.”His broad thumb gently brushed under my eyes, then continued upward, as if tidying up my eyebrows. He caressed my temples and cheeks with warm hands, and the heat from his touch lingered around my mouth and lips.Being so close to him made my face flush with warmth. Even breathing felt tense, and I had to be careful not to let out a shaky breath. Sometimes, I wondered if Kwon Jungwoo enjoyed this kind of delicate tension.“So… have you ever gotten calluses?”“I’m about to find out.”Kwon Jungwoo grinned mischievously and leaned in again. As the faint scent of his cologne reached my nose, my heart tightened with excitement.“Jungwoo, how about I try this time?”Kwon Jungwoo raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly not understanding what I meant.Ignoring his confusion, I focused on his lips. They were fascinating. When closed, they looked calm and composed, but just a slight parting gave them a sensual appearance. Maybe it was the plumpness of the inner flesh that made them so alluring.I leaned in and pressed my lips against his. This time, the sensation was different.The soft, warm skin beneath my pressure felt uniquely tender. I closed my eyes and carefully explored his lips, gently parting them with my tongue. He willingly opened his mouth, and I softly slipped my tongue inside. I could feel Kwon Jungwoo flinch slightly at the contact.I traced his tongue with mine, tickling it lightly. I tried to imitate what he had done to me earlier, doing my best to mirror his actions. Wanting to get closer, I tilted my head and raised my chin. Wrapping my arms tighter around his waist, I even stood on tiptoes. Every time I felt like our saliva was about to spill, I sucked on his lips. The sound of our increasingly wet kisses was surprisingly satisfying.Unsure how to end it, I finished the kiss with a soft peck and pulled away from him.Feeling a bit embarrassed, I slowly looked up at him, expecting him to tease me for being so forward. I prepared myself to refute whatever comment he might make about how cute my clumsy kiss was.“You…”However, Kwon Jungwoo’s reaction was unexpected.His face was rarely this red, and he stared at me with an unfinished expression. He seemed to be trying to close his slightly parted lips, but it wasn’t working, and they opened again. It was as if he was at a loss for words.“Was it bad?”I asked, wondering if something was wrong, and Kwon Jungwoo frowned.“Are you good at everything physical?”As he said this, he pressed his hips against mine. I could feel his hardness through the thin uniform pants as he shamelessly rubbed it against my lower abdomen.“Are you doing this without planning to take responsibility? Isn’t this a bit much?”“Why is this happening… here…?”“Enough—”Keep going.His grumbling and the way he was begging so naturally made me laugh.I kissed Kwon Jungwoo again without hesitation. Since he said he was turned on because of me, I felt proud, so I kissed him more passionately than before. Judging by his light chuckle during the kiss, Kwon Jungwoo must have sensed my thoughts. His warm breath mingled with my lips.Even as we kissed, Kwon Jungwoo kept pressing his hips against mine. His erection lingered near my pelvis before it touched my sensitive area. I had been hard for a while now, so it must have been easy for him to find where I was. The cotton shorts and thin uniform didn’t hide our shapes at all.“Jungwoo…”I was getting more and more heated, and I felt like I couldn’t continue. As I pulled away from the kiss and called his name, his wet lips chased mine. Even though we had kissed all weekend, Kwon Jungwoo was still as insistent as a teenager newly awakened to desire.I thought it might be time to change the subject, so I pulled my lips away again. His handsome face, looking down at me, was flushed with heat. When Kwon Jungwoo didn’t hold back his desire, he was especially sexy.“…Aren’t you going to training camp?”“Should I not go?”He asked immediately after I brought it up, catching me off guard. His unexpected words made me laugh. Instead of inviting me to Jeju, he offered to skip the camp entirely. That straightforward attitude was so typical of Kwon Jungwoo.“Can you even skip it?”“If my lover is this beautiful, that’s more than enough reason to skip.”Kwon Jungwoo cupped my face, staring intently, before gently brushing my hair back. I let him do as he pleased, lazily wrapping my arms around his waist. I didn’t pull him that hard, but he easily leaned into me, pressing his body against mine. Then he buried his face in my neck, letting out a long sigh.“I feel like I’m going crazy because I want to show everyone that I’m dating you.”“…”“Should I get your name embroidered on my uniform? Even just the initials. What do you think?”I chuckled at the absurd suggestion.Seeing me laugh, Kwon Jungwoo seemed to take it as a yes. He quickly lifted his head to check my expression, only to realize it wasn’t what he thought. Then, he wrapped me in a tight embrace again. His gentle swaying, as if cradling a baby, made me move with him.“Ahh, I should’ve admitted it when the dating rumors started… I was too busy trying to look good for you and stayed quiet.”“Did you like me since then?”“Not just since then.”Kwon Jungwoo made a thoughtful sound as if searching his memory, before pausing. Already holding me tightly, he squeezed me even more, as if trying to absorb me into him.“I think it started from when I was still in my mother’s womb.”I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Even as he protested, claiming it was true, I couldn’t stop laughing.Suddenly, a wave of happiness welled up, making my nose tingle. Do other people’s relationships make them feel this thrilled and happy too? Maybe I’m in a special kind of relationship. It wasn’t just because it was my first time dating — I genuinely felt our relationship was unique.“Even your heart beats so beautifully. It feels nice.”Kwon Jungwoo murmured softly. I could feel his heartbeat clearly against my chest, just as fast as mine, and I imagined it was as handsome as his face.He slowly caressed my back. The grip he had on me didn’t loosen at all.“Is it okay to love someone this much?”“…”“When I’m with you, Jiwon, I get so nervous—”After taking a moment to catch his breath, Kwon Jungwoo continued in a voice tinged with a hint of sadness.“I’m a little scared… that I might never be able to overcome this nervousness.”“……”“I like you. A lot.”It was clear that I was having a special kind of relationship.Above all, Kwon Jungwoo said he liked me. Of course, it was special. I had thought that the peak of my life had already passed, that it was when I was a national athlete, but a strong thought crossed my mind: maybe the true peak was not my past, but this moment, being loved by Kwon Jungwoo.“Then, shall we take a look at Jiwon’s blushing face now?”Kwon Jungwoo suddenly pulled his upper body back, leaving me no choice but to reveal my flushed face to him. I wanted to hide my burning face, but Kwon Jungwoo just laughed playfully.His eyes, usually sharp, were now softened, dripping with sweetness. He didn’t even seem to realize that his own ears had turned bright red.***In just a week, it would be final exam time.At Kwon Jungwoo’s suggestion, we had been studying at the library for a few days. I would get there first, secure a seat, and study until the evening when Kwon Jungwoo, freshly showered from practice, arrived smelling of body wash. The air in the previously hot and sweaty reading room changed instantly. Kwon Jungwoo was like a human air freshener.Even now, I was pretending to study my textbooks, waiting for him to show up. Kim Hyoseok, a classmate sitting next to me, tapped my wrist and whispered.“Hyung, which photo do you think is better? This one or this one?”He showed me two photos on his phone.They were pictures of two people’s shadows together. The only difference was whether they had made a heart or a V-sign with their hands. It seemed like they were pictures with his girlfriend.“Hmm, this one.”Thinking a heart would be more fitting for a couple, I chose one, and Kim Hyoseok nodded enthusiastically before taking his phone back.Kim Hyoseok was the kind of person who made friends easily. He always had something to talk about, so there was never any awkwardness when we conversed. His natural way with physical contact meant that sometimes, I’d realize he had put his arm around my shoulder or placed his hand on my waist. It was clearly innocent, so I didn’t mind much.At the sports festival, he casually put his arm around me, and at that time, I barely knew his name. Now, I even knew which department his girlfriend was in, a testament to how sociable he was.“I posted the one you picked.”He whispered again, showing me his phone. The picture had been uploaded to his social media, but it had been cropped, making it hard to tell what the original form had been.The caption read:

“A lonely night by myself. (Emoji)”If someone who didn’t know him saw the picture, they wouldn’t know if it was just a scenery photo or a photo of people, and even if it was of people, they wouldn’t know whether it was a solo shot or a couple’s photo.“…But won’t your girlfriend be upset if you post it like that?”“Why?”“Because it doesn’t show that you took it with her.”Hyoseok suddenly burst out laughing, defeating the purpose of whispering.After hurriedly covering his mouth, he leaned closer to me with a sheepish smile. His next words were so quiet I had to concentrate to hear.“No one posts that obviously anymore. You know, the kind where you want to share your private life, but not really. As long as we know it’s a couple photo, that’s all that matters. Posting it alone still feels good.”“Ah…”“And cropping it like this looks cooler than posting the full shot. Oh, but since you don’t use social media, you probably wouldn’t know.”I didn’t understand what was supposed to look cool, but since it felt awkward to keep whispering, I pretended I understood. I grabbed my pen and acted like I was studying again, replaying Hyoseok’s words in my head.Wanting to reveal your private life, but not too much… I knew that feeling all too well. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to; I just couldn’t.Kwon Jungwoo, on the other hand, wanted to make our relationship known. I wondered if he’d like it if I posted something about us on my social media, too.“……”I absentmindedly flipped through the pages of my textbook and impulsively stopped on one page.Pretending to be doing something else on my phone, I opened the camera app and took a picture of my desk. The page number, “17,” was intentionally captured in the corner of the frame. The number seemed to suit Kwon Jungwoo more and more the longer I looked at it.It was the first time I had logged into social media since posting my statement denying dating rumors.What should I write? I started typing a message to wish everyone good luck on their exams, but deleted it after comparing it to Hyoseok’s simpler caption.Good luck with finals!It felt a bit too short, almost rude, but I decided to trust Hyoseok’s advice that short and simple was the trend these days.I selected the photo and pressed the upload button. After confirming that my post was live on the feed, my heart suddenly started pounding as if it were about to burst. Even though the number symbolizing Kwon Jungwoo was tiny and barely visible, I still felt nervous.The number of comments and likes increased in an instant. Some comments were just calling my name with heart emojis, while others wished me luck on the exam.As I scrolled through them, I felt my heart soften. I forgot the nervousness and sank into nostalgia.These were people I was truly grateful for.Back when I was a child—when I was in the news for something other than gymnastics—it was thanks to those who understood my pain and showed me consideration that I was able to grow up without trauma. It was a past that could have easily made me someone lost or full of mistrust.Of course, I still had a strong tendency to avoid things and found it difficult to form relationships with strangers, but I was grateful that it wasn’t to an unhealthy level. The fact that I could function as a person was largely thanks to the people who supported and encouraged me unconditionally.Sometimes I wondered if it was okay for me to post like this on social media…Using my introverted personality as an excuse, I hadn’t properly communicated with them before, and now it felt selfish. I wasn’t a celebrity or anything—just someone who did gymnastics… okay, not just a little; I was the best in the country. No, the best in the world.Well, in any case.Since starting a relationship with Kwon Jungwoo, I felt like my personality had started to change in ways I hadn’t noticed.I still felt burdened by the overwhelming love and attention, but I realized I had been too passive and defensive toward the fans. I couldn’t even blame my personality anymore. Thinking back on some of the bold things I’d said and done recently with Kwon Jungwoo, I realized I could be quite daring when I wanted to be.I tried to refocus on studying, but the words on the page just wouldn’t stick in my head. Before long, I found myself opening social media again. This must be what they call smartphone addiction.Luckily, it seemed like no one had noticed the reference to Kwon Jungwoo’s jersey number. Most people were curious about why a former gymnast was suddenly studying photography. I was just starting to feel tempted by the requests for more frequent updates when I spotted some familiar names.Yang Eunoh: I’ll be giving it my all starting the day before the exam.Byun Seungjin: Was this post meant for me?Both comments were posted around the same time. Was it their break time? I could almost hear their voices in my head as I smiled and tried to find Kwon Jungwoo’s comment, but no matter how many times I checked, I couldn’t see it. Given that both Byun Seungjin and Yang Eunoh had seen it, Kwon Jungwoo was probably with them too.For a moment, I wondered if he had deleted his account, but no, he was still in my follower list.Without thinking, I clicked on Kwon Jungwoo’s name. Expecting nothing, I was surprised to find a new post—a photo less than 10 minutes old.“……”I recognized the location in the photo.A neatly hung uniform and a pair of perfectly aligned shoes below it… though the photo was in black and white, I could immediately tell it was the place where we had kissed recently.Knowing Kwon Jungwoo, he probably took a quick snap of where he was at the time, but for some reason, it seemed artistic. Maybe it was the simplicity of the caption.18181818♡The meaning of the caption made me laugh immediately. It was so obvious that my face turned red. The heart following the number of strokes in my name made me lick my lips out of reflex.The photo, coded with hidden meaning, had already gathered many comments. One of them made me smile: “Even when he curses, it’s cute.” Yang Eunoh and Byun Seungjin’s comments were, as usual, attention-grabbing.Yang Eunoh: “I’m not sure what this is about, but sorry anyway.”Byun Seungjin: “Was this post meant for me?”No one seemed to have caught the hidden message in Kwon Jungwoo’s post. It was so obvious, though…A shiver ran down my spine and settled in my chest. So this is what it feels like to share a secret with someone you love. The excitement wouldn’t fade.***“Do you want coffee? I’m heading out to get some.”Kim Hyoseok asked as he packed his bag, saying he had a date with his girlfriend. Even though he had only been sitting for a few hours, he was already preparing to leave.I hesitated for a moment. Kwon Jungwoo was supposed to arrive soon, but I needed a change of pace. My head was still buzzing from the excitement of social media, making it hard to concentrate on studying. Maybe it was because I lacked good study habits, but my focus was especially weak whenever I sat in front of a desk.“Yeah, why not?”I figured I could use a caffeine boost, so I grabbed my hat and stood up. As I followed Hyoseok out, I remembered to send a message to Kwon Jungwoo.[Han Jiwon]: Just so you know, you don’t need to bring coffee when you come. I’m on my way to the cafeteria now, and I’ll grab one for you too.♡I debated whether or not to add the heart, then decided to include it as a sort of response to his earlier social media post. The secret romance that had once terrified me now filled me with excitement and even energy.The cafeteria was packed with students preparing for finals. I barely managed to order drinks and waited near the pickup counter. While waiting, I suddenly remembered the first time I came here.It was only a few months ago when all I could do was watch Kwon Jungwoo’s back from afar. Now, here we were, secretly dating, kissing, and being intimate—things I still found hard to believe.As I sank into my thoughts, feeling a tinge of nostalgia, Kim Hyoseok, who had been looking at his phone beside me, suddenly burst into laughter.“Oh, hyung! When did you post on SNS? You’re so openly cheering yourself on for exam season. Guess it didn’t pay off telling you, huh?”“Really?”“Yes! The textbook content is just too uncool. The page example being a flower bed makes it all too flashy. Hm, since we’re talking about it, how about we take a selfie together? I’ll show you how. Oh! The coffee’s ready.”Kim Hyoseok, oblivious to the hidden message in the photo, swaggered over to pick up the drinks. He handed me two coffees, bringing them right up to my face.“Hold these in both hands and cover part of your face a bit.”“Like this?”“Yes, and then…”Without warning, Kim Hyoseok slung his arm over my shoulder after turning on the camera app. He even tilted his face toward mine. Before I could even react to the sudden closeness, our reflection appeared on the screen—two guys looking friendly. With my face partially hidden by the hat and coffee cups, only my eyes were visible, while Kim Hyoseok’s face showed just one eye and the tip of his ear.“Like this.”The shutter clicked several times in succession.At first, I just watched the picture-taking process dumbly, but soon I found myself getting absorbed in following Hyoseok’s instructions for framing the shot.Even though I majored in photography, taking pictures for social media was really challenging. The composition and techniques I learned theoretically didn’t apply here, and yet there were so many things to consider.Kim Hyoseok even instructed me on how to hold the cups, and as I followed his lead, I was sweating bullets trying to manage my expressions. Eventually, I started to understand what Hyoseok meant by those so-called ‘cool-looking’ photos. Or maybe I didn’t. Honestly, I wasn’t sure.Where did he even learn this stuff? Just when Hyoseok was starting to feel a bit picky, I heard a familiar, warm voice behind us.“Wow. You two look good together.”Startled, I turned around to find Kwon Jungwoo standing there.Wearing a pink short-sleeved T-shirt and a sporty wristwatch, he stood at an angle and smiled brightly when our eyes met.“You sent me a heart, Jiwon, but what are you doing now?”He must’ve just showered, yet his hair looked neat, as if he’d styled it. How could someone look so fresh after a whole day of working out? Even though I was surprised by the sudden encounter, I couldn’t help but admire how good Kwon Jungwoo looked, making me hold my breath.Hyoseok didn’t seem startled, more like excited. His short exclamation, “Oh!” was filled with excitement. He looked like he wanted to say something to Kwon Jungwoo but hesitated when he got a call. Judging by his face, it was probably his girlfriend.His face was full of regret as he checked the caller ID.“Ah, man, I totally forgot I was supposed to meet my girlfriend. Hyung, I’ve got to go now. I’ll send you the pictures later. Uh… see you…”Hyoseok, acting uncharacteristically shy, gave a quick goodbye to Kwon Jungwoo and left. His bouncy steps as he answered the call faded into the distance.Normally, this wouldn’t be awkward, but suddenly being left alone with Kwon Jungwoo made me tongue-tied. I had been waiting for him so eagerly, but now, for some reason, I felt guilty and oddly anxious.Should I explain myself? His comment about me and Hyoseok looking good together stuck in my mind.But there wasn’t anything to explain. We were just taking photos, after all. I worried that saying too much might make things worse, so I thought it might be better to brush it off like nothing.“Han Jiwon.”Kwon Jungwoo called my name and took a step closer.The sense of smell is a powerful thing. The faint scent of soap in the air, mingled with the sound of my name, made all my worries vanish, and I started blurting out explanations without meaning to.“Uh, Jungwoo. I think you might’ve misunderstood, and honestly, I can see why. I don’t even know where to start, but the thing is, Hyoseok—oh, that’s his name, by the way. Kim Hyoseok. He’s a freshman in our department. Anyway, he was showing me how to take selfies for SNS because he says the aesthetics are important. We weren’t doing this the whole time. I mean, not the whole time. Well, maybe not briefly either? Anyway, we just took a few pictures, that’s all.”The longer I spoke, the more uncomfortable I felt, like I was treating Kwon Jungwoo as someone petty or jealous. It seemed he noticed the tone too. After listening to my rambling, he chuckled softly.“What misunderstanding are you talking about? Did you do something wrong?”“…What?”I blinked in surprise, not expecting that response.Could it be that by Kwon Jungwoo’s easy-going standards, there was nothing wrong with me hanging out with Hyoseok? Then what did he mean when he said we looked good together… Ah. It must’ve been a joke. Like a playful, light-hearted comment.“Did I… not do anything wrong?”“Nothing?”“Yeah. Nothing.”In hindsight, that was true. I had jumped to conclusions and started explaining myself unnecessarily, but all I did with Kim Hyoseok was take a selfie. As I nodded quietly, Kwon Jungwoo looked down at me calmly, as if trying to see into my thoughts.His long eyes blinked slowly. Then, Kwon Jungwoo took his coffee from me.“Right. So what if you took a few selfies together? You don’t need to make excuses.”He then took a sip from the straw. Even though he hadn’t drunk much, half the ice was already visible. Watching his red lips purse and part as he drank was so striking it caused a tight pain in my chest.Unaware of the effect he had on me, Kwon Jungwoo lightly licked his lips.“Would you hate it if I took photos with friends?”“No.”“Right? See?”Without warning, Kwon Jungwoo took off my hat.Startled by the sudden exposure of my face, I instinctively covered my messy hair, but Kwon Jungwoo placed his hand over mine. His phone, now with the camera on, captured our reflection. My eyes were wide with surprise, while Kwon Jungwoo wore a relaxed smile. His confident gaze seemed to pierce right through the screen.“Smile.”Before I knew it, Kwon Jungwoo’s face was too close, and then his cheek touched mine. I tried to pull away subtly, conscious of our surroundings, but I couldn’t escape his hand holding my head. Instead, he pressed in so hard that my squished cheek made my face look ridiculous on screen.Despite laughing, Kwon Jungwoo kept snapping pictures.I was the only one feeling embarrassed, unsure what to do. How could I not be when his mouth was so close that turning my head slightly would make our lips touch? I overheard whispers nearby, catching on that Kwon Jungwoo was teasing me.By the time Kwon Jungwoo let me go, the students around us were openly staring. The once noisy atmosphere had quieted down noticeably.Sensing my discomfort, Kwon Jungwoo placed my hat back on my head and positioned me so my back faced the crowd. All I could see in front of me was Kwon Jungwoo’s knowing expression. He didn’t seem to care at all about the attention.“How about we take pictures like this?”It sounded like he was implying this was how I took photos with Kim Hyoseok, but since he didn’t ask directly, I had no reason to explain. And it wasn’t true anyway…There’s no way it didn’t bother me.Even just being close to him made my heart race from his scent, and feeling his cheek against mine made me hyper-aware of his breath. The thought of Kwon Jungwoo acting like this with anyone else made my insides twist in pain.But I hesitated to voice my jealousy. When we started dating, I’d promised myself that I wouldn’t be the type to get jealous, that I’d be a relaxed partner. I wanted to be the kind of person who could say, “I like you, so I’m okay with whatever you do.”“I think it’d be fine.”“Really?”“Yeah. Friends can play around like this. People around us probably see it that way too…”“What if that friend were a girl? Or, well, maybe gender doesn’t matter anymore.”“…”The thought of him doing what he just did with a girl… I already felt like collapsing, but I managed to keep my expression in check after much effort.As I sipped my coffee in silence, Kwon Jungwoo scanned me thoroughly, then nodded slightly with a small sigh.“Well, okay… if you say so.”It seemed like he didn’t want to talk about it any further. He draped his arm over my shoulder and showed me the photos we had just taken.“What do you think? Like the photos?”It was obvious he hadn’t even checked the pictures, or maybe he just looked at his own face, which looked cool, like a sports star.In the photo, my face was squished against his cheek, my lips sticking out awkwardly. It was a natural expression, I guess, but still… I didn’t think I looked that bad when I wasn’t trying. Still, since it was a photo taken by Kwon Jungwoo, I couldn’t bring myself to complain.“Wow, it came out looking really natural.”“If you like it, set it as your profile picture. I’ll send it to you.”“No, that’s okay. It came out nice and natural… but maybe a little too natural…”Ugh, I wasn’t planning on saying that. Feeling bad, I glanced at Kwon Jungwoo to gauge his reaction.Despite my refusal, Kwon Jungwoo’s expression didn’t change at all. He just calmly sipped his coffee before playfully sliding behind me, wrapping me in a tight hug with no room to escape.“I took it for you. You’re really not going to use it?”“Uh, Jungwoo…!”“Got it. Then I guess I’ll have to do it.”Thankfully, Kwon Jungwoo didn’t hold me for long. His scent lingered just long enough to notice before it dispersed. He only gave me a quick hug, one that could easily be seen as playful by anyone watching.I looked at Kwon Jungwoo, wondering why he kept acting like this. He seemed to pick up on my question, but instead of answering, he playfully raised his eyebrows. Seeing that carefree expression I liked so much, I couldn’t help but smile.***[Photo]The cutest one these daysName: ♡ㄴ Name: First comment!Name: ♡♡♡♡Name: LOL this is too cute ㅠㅠName: GodJiwon, I love you ♡♡♡Name: Even with squished cheeks, Han Jiwon is so cute LOL, you can tell just from the photo how soft he is.Name: Jungwoo oppa, please upload more photosㅠㅠㅠㅠㅜㅜㅠㅜName: @Name Look at this LOL You can totally see their opposite personalities in this shot 🤭ㄴ Name: Haha are they really close? Looks like only Jungwoo is close, someone should ask Jiwon LOLName: Oppa♡ soooo hoooootName: TOP VISUAL OF THE SPORTS INDUSTRY ♡♡♡♡Name: I fully support your friendship.Name: Please visit my country♡Name: What if a dating rumor starts again, athlete 😁Name: Jungwoo, let’s go to nationals!!!Name: @Name Hey, is this the scene you were talking about?ㄴ Name: LOL yeah, at the library 🤣 They left together looking all buddy-buddy. Jiwon was smiling too, but the photo doesn’t show that side.ㄴ Name: Thank you for the eyewitness report ^^.Name: Either of you, come to my room.Name: God-tier visualsㅜㅜㅜ Oppas, I love you both.Byun Seungjin: ? Why is he messing with Jiwon like that?ㄴ Name: Oh, he’s here 🤣ㄴ Name: BYUN ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡ㄴ Name: Oppa, no live broadcast today?ㄴ Name: LOL Seungjin can’t even lay a finger on Jiwon 😭ㄴ Name: At this point, he’s practically Jiwon’s dad LOL.ㄴ Name: Summoning athlete Seungjin for Han Jiwon 😆Name: Jungwoo, how have you been? It’s Jung Kitae from the class next door in middle school. We used to play basketball together sometimes, remember? I even fetched water for you, haha. If you remember me, give me a follow back! Rooting for you, friend 🙂Name: I ship this couple.Name: Thanks for today. It’s 3 AM in Tokyo but I’m still alive♡♡ Is the coffee from today’s photo? Sleep well and keep working hard tomorrow! From your fan, Azusa ♡♡Name: How did they get so close? I know there were dating rumors.ㄴ Name: They go to the same school.ㄴ Name: Same class too.ㄴ Name: I heard Han Jiwon follows Kwon Jungwoo to all his games to cheer him on.ㄴ Name: Confirmed. If Han Jiwon is following him around with that personality, there’s gotta be something.ㄴ Name: What are you talking about LOL? Han Jiwon following Kwon Jungwoo? On sports day, it was official that Jungwoo dragged Jiwon away, what do you say to that?? Honestly, with Jiwon’s personality, he wouldn’t like all this attention or being mentioned. Athlete, just take the photo down LOL.ㄴ Name: Why are you jumping to conclusions? They probably agreed to post it—there’s even an eyewitness account above.Name: Please, answer this and save a life. What did you mean by “two days later” in the MVP interview? I’m curious.Name: Please, answer this and save a life. What did you mean by “two days later” in the MVP interview? I’m curious.Name: Please, answer this and save a life. What did you mean by “two days later” in the MVP interview? I’m curious.ㄴ Name: It was the basketball team dinner at Korea University that day~ They invited Jiwon, but he didn’t come 😭ㄴ Name: Thank you! I was dying of curiosity ㅠName: JW♡♡♡ I don’t understand what you’re saying… ENG PLZ♡♡♡Yang Eunoh: I think you uploaded the wrong picture instead of mine, haha.ㄴ Name: Haha.ㄴ Name: Haha…ㄴ Name: LOLㄴ Name: LOL!ㄴ Name: Eunoh Eunoh ♡♡♡♡♡♡ㄴ Name: You’re not cute, you’re handsome!!ㄴ Yang Eunoh: Thank you.ㄴ Name: LOL someone please compliment him more for being handsome!ㄴ Name: LOL he actually said thank you 😂Name: When will Jungwoo marry Jiwon? I’m waiting to hear this news.Name: Excuse me, why do you look more amazing every day? Do all athletes do this? Is it okay to replace training with your stunning looks? Why are you looking at me like that? Are you trying to kill me with your gaze? Cause of death: overwhelming beauty? Excuse me, why do you look more amazing every day? Do all athletes do this? Is it okay to replace training with your stunning looks? Why are you looking at me like that? Are you trying to kill me with your gaze? Cause of death: overwhelming beauty?