DASH-Chapter 12Vol 2. : Side Story -

Finally, the grueling meeting ended, and Jiheon stepped out of the sugar-scented conference room in a daze. As he made his way back to the office, he ran into Team Leader Lee on the landing of the stairwell.

“Oh, Deputy Manager Jeong.”

Team Leader Lee called out to Jiheon like it was perfect timing.

“Today’s Jaekyung’s first follow-up appointment after discharge, right?”

“Ah, yes. But because of my meeting, Minwoo went with him instead.”

“I know, I know. Minwoo just called me a little while ago. The doctor said he can start training again next week. He was confident that as long as he doesn’t overdo it, Jaekyung can fully regain his pre-surgery performance. Sounds like it’s basically a full recovery.”

A soft exhale escaped Jiheon’s lips. He’d already had a feeling, based on the test results during the hospital stay, but hearing it from the doctor made it hit differently. Relief surged through him, and in one corner of his heart, he felt an overwhelming rush of emotion.

“You must have worried so much, Deputy Manager Jeong. You worked hard. Seriously, it’s such a relief. Congratulations.”

Team Leader Lee gave Jiheon a deliberately loud congratulation. As they went down the stairs together, she got to the real reason she’d pulled him aside.

“Anyway, so what I’m thinking is... do you think it’d be okay for Kwon Jaekyung to join the national team training camp next month?”

“Training camp?”

“Yeah. When the announcement came out, we weren’t sure if he’d be ready to train yet, so we said no. But if he’s starting next week, then two weeks of solo training and heading to Jincheon might not be a bad idea.”

“I’m not sure. I think he’s probably going to say no...”

Team Leader Lee said, “Knew it,” but still looked a little disappointed as she asked Jiheon to try persuading him.

“If it were any other time, I’d say it’s better for Jaekyung to do things his own way—more efficient. But right now, he still needs some monitoring. At the camp, there’s an on-site medical team and proper physical therapy facilities. It might actually be better. Coach Shin’s the type who prioritizes the athletes’ condition, so I think he’d manage Jaekyung’s pace well.”

Jiheon agreed with her to some extent. While Jaekyung was generally very aware of his own condition and knew how to manage his body, there were times when he deliberately ignored it. The second selection round was a prime example.

That’s why Jiheon had planned to assist with training and keep an eye on him for a while—to forcibly regulate his pace. But truthfully, that was the coach’s role. Jiheon wasn’t his coach, nor did he even hold a coaching license. For Jaekyung’s sake, it was right to leave that job to a properly certified professional. If only Jaekyung would actually listen to them.

“I’ll bring it up, at least.”

“Yeah, just try mentioning it. Personally, I think it’d be good for him to go.”

Even as she said that, Team Leader Lee didn’t look very hopeful. Jiheon felt the same.

So when he brought it up to Jaekyung, he didn’t push it either. He just casually asked while they were eating, “The national team training camp starts next month. Want to go?” He didn’t mention how long it was or where it would be (obviously Jincheon). It didn’t matter—it was obvious Jaekyung would say no no matter the details.

“When do I leave and come back?”

Unexpectedly, Jaekyung asked. Jiheon, startled, fumbled with his phone to check the email.

“May 13th to the 26th... so exactly two weeks.”

“Jincheon, right?”

“Yeah.”

Jaekyung seemed to think for a moment before shaking his head. Jiheon, not surprised in the slightest, set his phone back down. Of course this guy wouldn’t go.

While Jiheon quietly resumed eating, trying to calm his mildly startled heart, Jaekyung asked out of nowhere:

“Is your lunch good?”

“Wanna try it?”

Jiheon pushed the container toward him, but Jaekyung shook his head and took a big bite of the hamburger in his hand. Jiheon found it odd—Jaekyung rarely turned down food. He pulled the lunchbox back toward himself and only then realized why.

That night’s menu was gondre greens rice and grilled salmon.

On the second Saturday morning after Jaekyung’s discharge, Jiheon woke up for the first time in a while past ten a.m. Rubbing his swollen eyes and checking the time, he only then realized that Jaekyung wasn’t beside him.

No matter what—whether he trained or not, whether he went to bed at ten p.m. or one in the morning—Jaekyung always woke up at six a.m. sharp. And then he would lie quietly next to Jiheon, waiting for him to wake, only snuggling closer to murmur, “Did you sleep well?” once Jiheon stirred.

He must’ve gotten out of bed first today, realizing Jiheon ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ wouldn’t be waking up anytime soon.

Still sluggish from oversleeping, Jiheon got out of bed. When he walked out into the living room, Jaekyung was sitting under the sofa with earbuds in, staring at his phone.

Watching a video, maybe?

Jiheon drank a glass of water in the kitchen, then came back to the living room and flopped onto the couch.

“What are you doing?”

Leaning against the backrest lazily, he asked. Jaekyung turned, removing one earbud and saying, “Huh?”

“I said, what are you doing? What are you listening to right now?”

“Your heartbeat.”

“...What?”

For a second, Jiheon thought he’d misheard.

“You know that file the hospital emailed us last time? I was listening to your heartbeat from that.”

Thinking Jiheon genuinely didn’t understand, Jaekyung explained in detail.

“No, I know what it is. I just...”

Jiheon laughed awkwardly, feeling a little flustered and embarrassed, and nudged Jaekyung with his toe.

“Hey, that wasn’t meant for my heartbeat. It’s the baby’s. You’re supposed to listen to Jini’s heartbeat. Why are you listening to mine?”

“I did. I listened to it for a while. Now I’m listening to yours.”

Jaekyung grabbed Jiheon’s ankle as he spoke, then pulled out his other earbud and climbed up onto the couch. He hugged Jiheon, gently stroking his chest and stomach, and began kissing him. When Jiheon responded with a welcoming gesture, Jaekyung lay him down on the couch.

“Can I?”

“...We have the meeting with our parents today.”

“So what? It’s not until dinner.”

We’ve got plenty of time. Jaekyung mumbled with an incredulous look and tugged Jiheon’s shorts down without waiting for an answer.

Honestly, it wasn’t like this was some sacred ritual requiring a purified body, so what did it matter?

“I feel like it’ll slide in real easy right now.”

Jaekyung said this as he rubbed Jiheon’s entrance over his underwear.

And he was right. The hole, which had still held onto traces of Jaekyung’s presence from a few hours ago, was still quite soft. Whether it was the lingering sensation from the night before or not, just a slight stroke of the wrinkles had it twitching and dampening quickly.

“Do you not want to?”

Jaekyung asked, and when he touched the now visibly damp patch of fabric, he answered himself.

“Oh. Guess not.”

“You’re not saying no.”

Jiheon looked at Jaekyung, smiling, then reached for the back of the couch and sat up.

“I want to be on top.”

Jaekyung raised his eyebrows like, be my guest.

“Lie down.”

Jiheon grabbed his arm, pushed him down on the sofa, and stood up. He stripped off his underwear, let it drop to the floor, and climbed back on top of Jaekyung.

When he tugged down both pants and underwear at once, Jaekyung’s thick cock sprang free, already swollen even though it wasn’t fully hard yet. Even in Jiheon’s large hand, it was heavy and barely fit. Jiheon stroked it a few times, then braced his knees on the couch and lifted his body.

He positioned the shaft between his thighs, and his wet entrance parted on its own—opening and closing eagerly, as if waiting. As soon as the head touched, Jiheon slowly sank down. His hole, hungry from earlier, spread wide and swallowed Jaekyung’s cock with greedy ease.

“Mm...”

The thick shaft pierced through the already dripping wet insides, and Jiheon exhaled deeply, hands bracing against Jaekyung’s chest as his belly filled in an instant.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.”

Jiheon leaned down and kissed him. As his upper body tilted forward and his hips rose slightly, Jaekyung gripped both cheeks of his ass with his hands. When he began to knead them roughly, Jiheon broke the kiss and chuckled.

“Don’t.”

“I’m not.”

Despite saying that, Jaekyung grabbed even harder, squeezing until red handprints formed on the pale flesh. He let go, then grabbed again—hands overflowing with the soft, bouncy ass—and shook it.

“Ugh...”

The well-padded flesh bounced vividly in his palms, and with every shake, Jiheon’s hole clenched around the cock inside. The stimulation rocked through him, and his inner folds squirmed violently in response, eager and tight.

It felt so good. The way his insides tried to grip Jaekyung every time Jaekyung grabbed him tighter. And even better was the faint grimace and smile Jaekyung made whenever it happened. Whenever Jaekyung let out even the smallest moan or curse, Jiheon felt euphoric.

Wanting to see more of that face, Jiheon deliberately bounced his hips more dramatically. He planted his hands on Jaekyung’s firm stomach, lifting and lowering his hips so that the shaft was half visible before disappearing again.

“Hah, ha, ha...”

Each time he rose, slick strings of precum and fluids clung, trembling like membranes trying to keep Jaekyung’s cock from leaving.