章 13: Meeting an Old Friend

Jun Hyeon followed the sports club assistant and walked across the hall that led to the glazed squash courts, looking around with curiosity. He was taken to the Squash court they rented for a session, and left alone in the small private lounge.

He expected to find Dae Won already waiting for him, but only saw his gym bag on top of the locker room bench that was in front of the court, and a set of lockers complemented the utilitary lobby. It was the first time he was at this club. Kim Jun Hyeon liked anything that could make him move, but he didn't play squash for a while.

The squash court could be observed through a thick glass wall, but his high school friend wasn't inside either. Kim sat on the bench, wondering where Dae Won was, and checked his watch.

He had already changed into comfortable sportswear in the men's locker room, so he just started to warm up, doing some stretching while he waited.

He sat again. He got up. He wasn't used to wait, and got bored and a bit annoyed in just four minutes of doing so, then he began to remove his accessories from his own gym bag, checking the tension of his racket strings, and walking around the bench, testing his shots with the racket in the air.

He was also thinking of the "no-date" he would have this evening with Ms. Nam.

Dr. Kim felt a chill in the back of his neck, feeling watched, but looked over his shoulder, and was still perfectly alone in the waiting area in front of the rented court. Despite being allegedly soundproofed, the space allowed some sound from the adjoining rooms to reach him, muffled as it was, but it only added to that strange feeling of not being all alone.

He took a deep breath, wondering if it was not just his slight discomfort from reuniting with Lee Dae Won, a person he felt he owed a great deal without ever being able to repay, and whose presence disturbed him for no plausible reason. Wasn't this person who had done everything in his power to save his noona? Kim Jun Hyeon was increasingly convinced that he was an obnoxious human specimen who could not have the gratitude nor respect a person like his hyung deserved.

When the door finally opened, and Dae Won arrived with a smile, Kim also smiled in response, going over to the newcomer and patting his back, friendly as expected. It was just expected within their relationship.

"Hyung, how's this flower-boy doing?"

The newcomer returned Kim Jun Hyeon's greeting in kind and with an embarrassed smile."What nonsense is this, Jun Hyeon? That's not even trending anymore."

"Well, if guys like you went out of style, that means guys like me might be in fashion."

The joke between them about Lee Dae Won being a flower-boy had been since high school, when the two met at the same elite school.

Lee Dae Won was still looking good, maybe even better than in boyhood. He was only about a foot shorter than the doctor, but his facial features were on the boyish side, which gave him the nickname flower-boy in high school. That and his artistic skills.

Interestingly, Kim Jun Hyeon had only one nickname at school: "the twin Kim", in an odd grammar just to mock of his poor education when the siblings come at that rich people's school, he recalled with a sudden aching heart. His noona suffered some bullying in the beginning, as well. Why it was so, he'd never had a grasp of. Then, Dae Won teamed up with the newcomer twins, and things got better.

Of course any nickname can be troublesome, and sometimes guys in the locker room teased him calling him Twinkie. But Jun Hyeon was known to be hot tempered in his teens, so it was never a good idea. His hyung, the ever gentle Dae Won, on other hand, was always the peacemaker and good boy. He was only one year older than the Kim twins, but one couldn't tell now they were adults.

"I've heard that actresses like your type more than mine. That's why I say I'm out of style." Lee also went to his gym bag to pick up his racket, but kept teasing the other man by bringing up the fact that the doctor had briefly dated a famous actress. Kim Jun Hyeon just laughed heartily, not commenting on that. Then they went beyond the glass door, now on the squash court itself.

"But I liked your hair, hyung. What color is that?"

"You liked it? Not kidding?"

"No. Not kiddin'. It's cool."

"Yeah, me too. At first I was reticent, but in the end, I liked it too. I don't know the name of it, though. "Jun Hyeon's friend shrugged. "The network's hairdresser said a shade color number, ...8-something. Speaking of color, what will it be? Yellow?"

"Wow!"Jun Hyeon exclaimed. "Are you feeling ambitious or what? I don't know if I'm ready for that, but you decide. "They were talking about squash ball colors, which were ranked by color according to the difficulty of play. Kim picked up his ball set and held it out for Lee to decide for them how difficult the game would be.

Something bothered him there, couldn't get rid of the strange feeling as if exposed. Was this sensation caused by the big wall of glass?

Lee actually caught the yellow ball, throwing it at the opponent. Kim hit the ball with his racket, laughing, but the game had not even begun. Dae Won began to stretch and warm up. His tone changed a little, but he kept his friendly smile:

"I am glad we could see each other today. You have even less time than me in the HTN's music department."

'In addition to regular patients, surgeries and congresses, the Foundation takes up a lot of my time, but I think you already know that."

"The Ji Hyeon Foundation has grown a lot in recent years."

"We're always looking for donors, so far people have helped, they understand and support the cause. But we can do more as more support we get." Kim sighed, catching himself getting into the subject he wanted to avoid the most today. He prepared himself in the service area, without even asking his game partner if they should decide their first serve by chance.

"When the time comes for the annual event, let me know, I want to help this year too." Lee Dae Won positioned himself on the court, but seemed to sense his friend's feelings and changed the subject:

"Your grandfather called me one of these days. He was looking for tickets to that musical that is trending right now. I got him a person who would have them. He said he would go with you. I was amazed at the news."

Now they were fully engaged in the game, and doing a lot of effort. No doubt picking a slow ball occupied them during the match, and Kim didn't have much time to ponder the comment, but he understood what Lee was amazed at. But his reply avoided that theme:

"My grandfather is always one step ahead of everyone. He forced me to take a woman out into this show. Tonight, by the way."

"Forced you? Taking a woman out? Are they trying to marry you, by any chance?"

"I don't think so, but it's a… long story!" He saw an opportunity in Dae Won's guard and explored it, lobing and forcing his opponent to the ground. He made a point and celebrated his good shot briefly. It wasn't as bad as he thought before the game started.

Lee rolled to the floor and laughed, getting up quickly to continue. He noticed that Kim Jun Hyeon seemed to be looking all the way around as if searching for someone. It made him worried.

"What's bothering you, Kim?"

"No, it's nothing." The other man shook his head and resumed the game, but the sensation of having something fixedly watching him lingered. But Kim Jun Hyeon smiled and made another serve.

And the hidden eyes that followed each of his movements and words continued to do so, from the secret place behind him.

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