Kiss the Ground

However, not now. In this moment when all those constraints shattered like glass, Yoon Chahyun had authority. A power stronger than any force controlling Misha.In the distance, the exit to the ground finally began to appear. Against the backdrop of the bright white lights illuminating the field, he could see the silhouettes of teammates who had not yet fully lined up, scattered around. The narrow passageway, like a cave, led to the only gap to the ground where cheers, support, and affection poured out, glittering like a dream.He had finally brought Misha here.Just a few steps from where they needed to go, Chahyun suddenly stopped. Due to the momentum, Misha took a few more steps before stopping as well. Only then did Chahyun slowly turn to look at his face.As expected, Misha’s expression was quite astonishing. His eyebrows arched and his distorted eyes were comically filled with shock. The confession that he mistook his sister and himself for something more must have been quite a surprise.Chahyun tightened his grip on Misha’s arm and called his name.“Misha.”At that moment, a breeze blew from the exit behind them. It was the same air that had drifted through the window of Misha’s room the night before, the evening wind of Berlin. The warm and gentle breeze tousled their hair as it did then, scattering it back into the distance.Watching the beautifully dancing brown hair, Chahyun caught his breath.Even on that night, which was so happy and peaceful, Chahyun heard the lonely whistle from Misha’s heart. And now, it was the same. The sound ringing in his ears was Misha’s loneliness. At the same time, it was a desperate plea to pull him out of that chasm.Maybe this is an opportunity. These few urgent minutes and seconds that cut across the climax of life might be the chance to grab Misha’s hand. And Chahyun prided himself on never missing an opportunity in front of him.“Come out from there.”A firm voice flowed from his lips.“Come to me now.”“…….”“Leave everything behind and just come to me.”Misha still looked bewildered. Chahyun took a deep breath and continued clearly.“If you need a surname to put on your uniform, I’ll give you mine.”This was a proposal Yoon Chahyun had always thought about.He didn’t have the power to change the place where Misha was born, the soil that nurtured him, the water and light that raised him. Even if he had that power, he wouldn’t think of it. Misha, who endured alone for a long time and reached Chahyun’s side, was the most beautiful and noble person who had grown up.But he had no intention of leaving him in loneliness and pain. He had no intention of giving Misha’s value, his loveliness, his silver eyes, and his heart that could save others beyond love, to those who didn’t know him.What Chahyun had to do now was to completely bring him out of there.“So, for the rest of your life, forever… stay by my side.”A quiet gaze was exchanged. In the dizzying thrill as if time had stopped, Misha’s expression began to change slowly.“Yuan…….”Like a video of a flower blooming quickly, Misha’s face changed dynamically. His eyes opened wide, his lips parted, then they twisted and closed again. Then, like a fully bloomed summer rose, his face began to beautifully redden.Ah, so… blindingly red.Seeing Misha’s cheeks turn crimson, Chahyun felt a bit embarrassed, though the situation didn’t seem to warrant it. Did I say something that embarrassing? But Misha slowly raised his hand, covered his mouth with the back of his hand, and muttered in a trembling voice.“Is that…….”Their eyes met, black pupils and pinkish gaze. Through the fingers covering his mouth, Misha’s voice continued to tremble.“Is that… a proposal…….”“A… proposal?”Repeating Misha’s words, Chahyun’s jaw slowly dropped open. The realization struck him like a blow to the back of his head. A dizzying shock surged through him from head to toe like a tidal wave.I see, this is a foreign country.To offer someone your surname means nothing less than…That meaning!His pupils dilated and he couldn’t breathe. Chahyun’s eyes widened. His heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst, but the most surprising thing was the next scene that unfolded before him.“…Yuan…. I….”He couldn’t finish his sentence. Inside Misha’s eyes, tears suddenly welled up, rolling down his red cheeks. The unrefined beads that flowed from his deeply emotional eyes continued to fall down, down with gravity.It wasn’t a mistake. Misha was genuinely crying. The sight of his rose-tinted eyes, filled with shimmering tears reflecting Chahyun’s face, was so shocking and… unbearably beautiful.“Misha… wait.”Chahyun’s hands instinctively rose. Should he comfort him, or let him cry? He was at a loss, his fingers twitching as Misha tightly closed his eyes.“…Ugh, sob.”Then, he began to sob, his shoulders shaking. The pinkish droplets crossing his cheeks were not to seek love or to hold onto someone leaving. The source of that wellspring was an emotion he had never felt before. It was pure happiness and joy.He couldn’t leave him alone any longer. Chahyun stepped forward and hugged him tightly. His startled heart pounded erratically. What have I done… what have I said to make him cry like this? With trembling hands, he frantically wiped the tears from Misha’s cheeks.“Don’t cry… don’t cry.”This was a big problem. It was a completely unforeseen situation. Misha was young, they were still in the middle of the season, it was right before the finals, and Misha was so young…However, when Misha started to shed tears on Chahyun’s uniformed shoulder, his thoughts began to change in an unusual way.Upon careful reflection, isn’t this actually the best opportunity?He had certainly thought about it before. He wanted Misha. He wanted to monopolize him, to be with him alone. If he could live with him like this. If he could officially have a kind and beautiful lover by his side. If they could live together indefinitely. If they could dine at the same table every day, and fall asleep facing each other in the same bed like now…Wouldn’t that be a good—no, a quite reasonable—no, an excellent ‘justification’?Thinking this far, Chahyun couldn’t help but pull Misha’s neck closer and hold him tightly.“…Don’t cry, Misha. You’ll get dehydrated.”Maybe… maybe Misha’s name would be very pretty. The sweet initial consonant like cream and the final consonant like birdsong would go very well with Yoon Chahyun’s surname. It would sound nice, feel nice, and surely be good in terms of naming conventions too. The sound would roll beautifully into the mouth and slip out smoothly from the tip of the tongue.His heart pounded as if it would burst. Chahyun knew that he was half out of his mind with the proposal he had made without thinking and the engagement he had just accepted.As he fumbled and patted Misha’s hair, Misha extended his arms and wrapped them around Chahyun’s back. His body was pulled up and trapped in that broad embrace, heart to heart, as Misha poured out his sobs into Chahyun’s ear.“I’m happy, really happy. I love you, Yuan.”Chahyun extended his arms and embraced his back. As he became accustomed to the touch on his shoulders, finding his original warmth, Misha finally met Chahyun’s gaze and smiled.The expression with his eyes curved down and his eyebrows furrowed was a dazzling smile like sunlight reflecting off a stream, something that had never been seen on his face before. Chahyun, staring blankly at Misha’s face, unconsciously murmured.“I also… I also like you. I love you too.”What should we whisper in such a moment?I won’t let you lift a finger. Let’s stay together until our hair turns gray. Give me our children… Hundreds of phrases crowded Chahyun’s mind, and in that moment, Misha, who had been crying all along, whispered back in a serious voice.“I will make you happy for the rest of your life. I’ll protect you forever, so you won’t get hurt.”“Ah…”“I will be by your side. I won’t go anywhere. I’ll look at only you, love only you.”This time, it was Yoon Chahyun’s turn to blush. Could there be a more honest confession? The feeling was like being punched in the heart, rendering him dazed.It was at that moment that the loud announcement echoed throughout the building.It was an alert that seemed to drag the two out of their own vacuum. The overwhelming cheers were the threshold of this confession. Chahyun quickly wiped the droplets from Misha’s chin and whispered rapidly.“Let’s go together now. You promised to pass to me.”Pretending to be nonchalant, he stammered with a red face, and Misha laughed out loud.“…Alright.”Lowering his shoulders, which were still trembling from the aftereffects of crying, Misha rubbed the remaining tears from his eyes. Behind him, a female staff member stood with her eyes wide open, hands covering her mouth. She was the only guest, if one could call her that, to this urgent proposal. When Chahyun placed a finger on his lips and slightly smiled, she nodded frantically, her face turning red.Chahyun grabbed Misha’s hand and led him down the remaining path. Joining the back of the Winchester United squad lined up, Chahyun took one last look at Misha’s face.He had already erased any trace of tears, looking at Chahyun with reddened eyes.The gray gaze that had been solely focused on Chahyun since the distant past, even at this moment, was still fixed on him. The eyes reflecting the bright light of glory didn’t let a single shadow pass through.In the vast expanse of the field, Misha’s gaze was like a lighthouse guiding Chahyun’s path. It was a light that illuminated the dark and lonely road to the top, walking together with him.Facing that noble and beautiful gaze, Chahyun now thought of victory.Once he steps out, Chahyun would run forward. He would run until he was out of breath and his legs gave out. When he barely reached the post, the perfect pass would be waiting at the end. And when he finally succeeded in shooting, he would turn around without a moment’s hesitation,And run to Misha.Because this ground was the perfect stage for a ceremonial vow.