SH Chapter 2.4

Will we end up fighting again like in the old days, saying all sorts of things we shouldn’t? But that was fine. Back then they were a couple who liked each other, so the fight itself was hurtful, but now it was just a bit annoying, and emotionally there would be no impact whatsoever. No, I’m going to be pissed if I lose, so I’m going to win first.

However, Aaron’s following words drained Jerim’s strength despite his earlier tension.

“So I’m your first and last? That sounds quite romantic, actually.”

That guy must have some sort of filter in his ears that automatically blocks out words like ‘slut’. Like how William overinterprets everything as self-deprecating…

Jerim lost his fighting spirit at this unexpectedly crazy reaction. It was like trying to beat a madman wielding a knife, but you’d end up running from a madman who suddenly throws off his clothes and charges at you naked. Jerim circled his finger at his temple and asked,

“Are you acting weird because of jet lag? Should I call the team doctor for you?”

“I’m fine. Thanks for worrying.”

So it’s not a jet lag issue but maybe some other mental problem. Come to think of it, I remember hearing somewhere that head injuries can make personality turn violent. Given how he often heads the ball, it’s better to believe he has brain damage from repeated impacts.

Jerim nodded weakly, completely ignoring his statement about being fine. Losing the will to fight further, he tried to turn his back again when Aaron’s voice came again.

“Jerim, is that all you’re curious about? Whether I haven’t adjusted to the time difference properly?”

“What else should I be curious about? Your condition directly affects our team going forward, so of course I need to care about it.”

In other words, he was saying he was curious about nothing except issues that could directly impact the games. Honestly, he didn’t want to care whether the guy was in pain or his mentality was unstable, but regardless of his personal feelings, it was certain that he was an undeniable talent who would greatly boost the team’s power, so he had no choice.

‘Before retiring, I need to win the Big Ear at least once…’

After lifting the championship cup in the Premier League, Champions League, and Cup competitions, he could retire without hesitation. Although he had achieved Premier League and Cup competitions victories after transferring to Sefton, the Champions League victory seemed far off. Despite easily advancing to the finals worthy of their Big 4 reputation, they always seemed to fall around the quarterfinals.

“You really haven’t changed. You’re disgustingly insensitive, and how are you even arguing the point, it’s so out of character.”

Aaron scowled at Jerim, his tone a far cry from before. Earlier, his tone had been sarcastic, but with the addition of a playful tone, it hadn’t felt like he was being accused, but now the conversation was purely accusatory.

His heart turned cold as he had tried to call for a temporary truce. The black history he had with him that had suddenly surfaced and Aaron’s hostile attitude slapped him in the face.

There’s no way I’m reconciling with this bastard. I must have been possessed by the spirit of Buddha for a moment. Jerim shoved his hands in his pants pockets and muttered in a gruff tone.

“Hmph, to each their own. You’re still as thick skinned as ever.”

“Me, thick skinned? No, you’re the one who is, Bunny.”

“Who’s calling who that? And if you call me by that nickname one more time–”

“Bunny. So, what are you going to do?”

The sudden urge to punch that smug face making exaggerated shrugging motions with both arms came over him. But he knew that if he did, it would leave a mark on that perfect face everyone adored, and he’d end up facing disciplinary action from the club.

Then should I aim for a spot that won’t be visible? He carefully observed areas like the thigh or abdomen, places usually covered by the uniform, while subtly loosening his fingers. His fingertips curled like grilled squid legs just from hearing that annoying nickname ‘Bunny’ again.

A place that was out of sight… thighs or the stomach were ideal spots. The problem was, hitting those areas could lead to serious injuries. If only there was a guarantee the injury would heal before the preseason ended, he’d punch him a hundred times over. But what if it resulted in a season-long absence?

Not only would the Big Ears trophy slip away, but this time, it wouldn’t just be a suspension—it’d likely turn into a lawsuit.

After weighing all possible outcomes, Jerim reluctantly suppressed his anger. Acting on impulse would cost him too much. Instead, he took deep breaths, trying to calm himself down.

“Fine. I’m not gonna act immature at my age… Look, I don’t want to waste any more time on you. I’m not interested enough to care. Let’s just be teammates, okay?”

No matter how much the coach insisted they reconcile, it was impossible. Keeping things strictly professional—with no private contact, only interacting during training and matches—was the most Jerim could manage. Even suggesting that felt like throwing trash into the conversation, so he spat it out carelessly.

“Hah!”

A derisive laugh pierced Jerim’s ears as his shoulder was roughly shoved. Before he could react, Aaron stepped right up to him, blocking his way. With a mocking smirk, Aaron’s eyes gleamed menacingly.

“Teammates? That’s hilarious. How can we just be ‘teammates’?”

“What’s stopping us?”

“There are plenty of reasons. Do you casually jerk off for your teammates? Or kiss them when they seem cute?”

“Yeah, I do. Not like I’ve only done it with you.”

Of course, he hadn’t. Just imagining doing such things with his current Sefton teammates made him nauseous. But his childish desire to win the argument fueled his bold demeanor.

At the same time, Aaron’s grip tightened painfully on Jerim’s shoulder. The look in his eyes suggested he might kill someone without remorse. After taking a deep breath to compose himself, Aaron sneered,

“…Didn’t you say you haven’t been with other men since me?”

“I said I didn’t date anyone, not that I didn’t do anything.”

After breaking up with Aaron, Jerim hadn’t dated or slept with anyone—men or women. To him, dating and sex couldn’t exist separately, so even with women, he’d never pursued purely physical relationships.

But if lying about it meant winning against Aaron, he was willing to make up anything. Meeting Jerim’s defiant gaze head-on, Aaron exhaled sharply before retorting,

“Fuck, and here you are calling me a slut. Aren’t you the slut?”

As Aaron emphasized the word ‘slut,’ he emphasized exactly who it referred to by flicking Jerim’s chin with his index finger. Naturally, Jerim’s eyes rolled back in fury after being treated as shit.

“What exactly did you do so well that you’ve been acting all high and mighty– Ugh!”

Jerim had no intention of listening to another word. To end this confrontation, he chose violence. Knowing he shouldn’t hit the face, stomach, or legs, he settled for punching Aaron’s shoulder with all his might.

He heard a sickening crack and felt a pang of unease, but one punch wasn’t enough. Confident that Aaron’s sturdy frame and his own controlled force meant nothing was broken, Jerim pretended to push Aaron’s shoulder while deliberately crushing the area with his grip before letting go. Watching Aaron’s face contort in pain was deeply satisfying.

His knuckles were red and swollen from the impact, but he ignored the sting, muttering curses under his breath.

“You fucking idiot can’t even tell jokes from serious comments. Did you take some pills or what?”

“…What part of that was a joke?”

“The part where I said you’re the only slut, fucking asshole.”

Even though Jerim had lied earlier about fooling around with teammates, being called a slut by a real slut infuriated him. He flipped Aaron off. Realizing Jerim’s words were all lies, Aaron shot him an incredulous glare.

“Still got that habit of pissing people off with pointless remarks, huh?”

“Yeah, and you’ve become insufferable. Right?”

“And yet, after ten years, you’re still the same.”

“Same as what—”

“Doesn’t it feel strange for me to talk back to you like this, mocking you point-blank?”

“…”

Jerim fell silent, struck by the truth in Aaron’s words. Despite their messy breakup, memories of their relationship remained vivid because they’d once been a loving—if somewhat dramatic—couple. Those memories had lain dormant until now, ready to resurface whenever provoked.

Back then, Aaron had been… surprisingly adorable despite his tough exterior. He ignored others but listened to his lover, was overly jealous yet affectionate, and often called Jerim embarrassing pet names like ‘my sky’ or ‘my bunny,’ making Jerim cringe every time.

Seeing him act so differently after ten years naturally felt jarring. Of course, Aaron had always been submissive only to Jerim; otherwise, his personality leaned toward arrogance. His goal celebrations and playing style alone earned him praise for having a ‘foul mouth.’

Provoking defenders after failed fouls, or intentionally scoring several goals in games with heavy booing from the opposing fans, then taunting them with celebrations near their stands—he was far from a nice guy.

Thinking about it, this was probably his true nature. With no reason to pretend anymore after their breakup, he was simply behaving however he pleased. But…

“That’s right. All you’ll remember is how pathetic I acted. As for everything else, according to your precious words, I’m not interested, so forget it all.”

Aaron unleashed a barrage of criticism at the quietly standing Jerim, who couldn’t suppress the bitter laugh that escaped him.

What the fuck gives this bastard the right to act so confident? Anger and frustration that had built up since Aaron started accusing him finally erupted. Jerim slapped Aaron’s cheek lightly, mocking him.

“Forget? Weren’t you the one who cheated? Shall I remind you how we ended things, Aaron Reyes?”

“…That’s… Hah, don’t tell me you’re still—”

Clearly struggling to respond, Aaron hesitated for a moment before exhaling deeply and murmuring softly. Just then, a loud knock interrupted the tense atmosphere.

Startled, both Jerim and Aaron turned toward the door. They’d been in the middle of exchanging things they’d never want others to hear, so the interruption shocked them.

When no answer came, the visitor pressed the doorbell and spoke through the intercom.

“Jerry, it’s me, Lehmann. Can I have a moment?”

“Lehmann Fritz?”

Aaron muttered the full name with thinly veiled irritation, clearly annoyed at having his fight interrupted. Laughing sarcastically, Jerim shouted toward the entrance to wait and began pushing Aaron toward the bathroom.

He didn’t want anyone seeing them arguing heatedly in the same room without unpacking their luggage. But kicking Aaron out immediately wasn’t an option with Lehmann standing right outside. After a quick deliberation, Jerim decided to lock Aaron in the bathroom.

“Just a sec!”

“Ow! Jerim, what are you doing?”

Ignoring Aaron’s groans, Jerim shoved him roughly, deliberately pressing on the spot he’d punched earlier.

“Don’t press on my shoulder, it hurts! Do you know how much I’m worth?”

“How much? Are you advertising yourself as a slut? Besides, I’m just as expensive as you, man.”

Without hesitation, Jerim grabbed Aaron’s shoulder firmly and dragged him to the bathroom, shoving him inside. Then, opening the door slightly, he gestured with his chin.

“I’ve got nothing more to say to you, don’t bother explaining. It’s ancient history, and you don’t need to justify yourself.”

When Jerim first learned about Aaron’s infidelity through news articles, he was furious. By then, Aaron had already transferred to England, so Jerim couldn’t physically confront him.

And honestly, though they hadn’t officially broken up, their relationship was already half-dead. Their unresolved fights led to silence, and neither reached out for a while.

They claimed it was ‘time to think,’ but deep down, Jerim knew the relationship couldn’t recover. Still, neither wanted to fully let go, he kept clinging to hope instead of cutting ties completely.

He’d convinced himself it was just tabloid gossip, expecting a denial soon. But no official statement came, and when the woman involved turned out to be the famous Spanish actress Gabriela Delgado, public speculation exploded.

‘Even Satan wouldn’t pull something like that.’

Learning about your ex’s new romance via rumors felt cruel. A young, handsome football prodigy and a beautiful Hollywood actress—it was the perfect scandal. Both sides remained silent, allowing the story to spread uncontrollably.

When photos surfaced of Aaron embracing and kissing her cheek, Jerim dropped his phone in rage, shattering it. He felt angry, pathetic, humiliated, and hurt—and somehow sadder knowing Aaron looked better with a woman than with him.

But that was then. Now, he felt nothing. Though flashes of anger occasionally surfaced, it wasn’t nearly as intense as before. Ten years had passed, after all.

Is there anything else that fades as quickly as emotions? Jerim no longer liked Aaron or felt hurt by his words or actions. And presumably, Aaron felt the same. Time hadn’t stood still for either of them.

Aaron’s fiery eyes dimmed instantly when Jerim mentioned their long-ended relationship. His grip on the doorframe slackened.

“Fine, if that’s how you feel. Thanks for saving me the trouble of explaining.”

“Good. Lock yourself in the bathroom and reflect on how grateful you should be.”

Sarcasm met sarcasm as Jerim waved dismissively, signaling Aaron to disappear inside. Closing the door himself, he shooed Aaron away like chasing pigeons from a square. The careless gesture visibly irritated Aaron, whose brow furrowed.

“Why am I hiding anyway? What kind of secret conversation are you having with Lehmann Fritz? Or are you two ‘just teammates’ too?”

“Yeah, we’re ‘just teammates’ sharing secrets. You barging in as a new transfer would look ridiculous, newbie. Stay here.”

Using his authority as captain, Jerim shut Aaron down. Reluctantly, Aaron entered the bathroom, dragging his feet. As the door slammed shut with a loud bang, Jerim clenched his fists tightly, suppressing his lingering frustration.

Opening the front door, he greeted Lehmann, who looked surprised upon seeing Jerim’s flushed face.

“Jerry, sorry to interrupt your rest. But why’s your face so red?”

Unable to admit he’d been fighting with Aaron—the ex who cheated on him—Jerim flapped his shirt exaggeratedly, pretending to be hot. Despite the freezing air conditioning, he faked overheating.

“It’s hot. Aren’t you feeling it? Korean summers must be brutal for a German.”

“I felt like a dumpling boiling alive outside, but indoors is fine. Is it really that hot even with the AC on?”

“…Yeah, a bit. So, what brings you here instead of resting?”

Seeing Lehmann’s dejected expression, Jerim guessed why he’d come and teased him further.

“Aren’t you tired? Long flights always leave me all sore.”

Chuckling awkwardly, Jerim patted Lehmann’s shoulder. But despite his efforts, Lehmann’s expression grew even gloomier. After hesitating for a moment, Lehmann mumbled weakly:

“…Jerry, I’m sorry. No matter how much I think about it, I was so pathetic for missing that goal… But worse than feeling pathetic is how guilty I feel toward you…”

“Hey, hey, I told you it was fine. Why are you still hung up on it? Forget it.”

Lehmann’s naturally gentle eyes combined with his sorrowful expression reminded Jerim of a wet puppy, tugging at his heartstrings. He patted the younger player, taller than him, trying to offer comfort.

“You don’t need to apologize. If you’re really sorry, just work harder in the future. Stop dwelling on the past—it’s bad for your mental health.”

…Though it was ironic coming from someone who’d just argued with his ex-boyfriend about ancient history moments ago.

Until Aaron reappeared, Jerim had genuinely moved forward, focusing solely on the present. Half-heartedly proud of himself, he rationalized everything as Aaron’s fault.

Why did he have to transfer to Sefton and stir up old feelings? As team captain, he was grateful Aaron joined, but damn, he hated it too. It was fascinating how conflicting emotions could coexist.