DASH

"Good job. Now let's watch a few excerpts from the footage, write down your reactions and final comments, and that's it," the head writer said, escorting Jihon to the empty dressing room.

He apparently wanted to cheer him up by telling him that there was very little left, but Jihong, not knowing how long the rest of the filming would take, felt even more exhausted. Making sure that there was no one in the dressing room, he practically collapsed on the sofa. Because of the sudden relaxation, the nausea came again.

Things are bad, Jihon thought, closing his eyes and leaning back on the sofa. "I'll have to stare at the screen all the time during filming. And this makes you even more seasick. What is to be done?"

At this moment...

"Hyung, are you okay?" A familiar voice rang out, and the sound of the door opening. Jihong opened his eyes and saw Jaekyung sitting across from him on the couch, holding a bottle of water in his hands. He must have followed her to Min.

"Here, have a drink."

"Thank you," Jihon drank almost half of it in one gulp. The cold water cleared up his blurred vision a little. He returned the bottle to Jaekyung, thanking him once more. And after waiting for him to finish the rest, he said carefully, "Jaekyung, don't say that during filming.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't say anything that can be misunderstood. Inyop will not be able to cut everything out during installation.

"What should I carve?" What did I say? Jaekyung looked at me with genuine bewilderment. But before Jihong could reply, he clenched the bottle in his hand and strained coldly, "And what does 'misunderstood' mean?"

"What do you think?" Jihon sighed briefly.

"That we're dating?" The stubborn man immediately said.

"Hey!" Jihon exclaimed, involuntarily looking around.

"There's no one here, what are you afraid of?" Jaekyung said, his voice full of indifferent irritation. Judging by the increasing sharpness, he was clearly not in the mood. Throwing the bottle on the table, he snorted barely audibly and continued, "In any case, whatever you imagine, it's their problem. Why should I be worried? I didn't admit to them that we were dating, and I didn't invent anything.

"Jaekyung-ah...

"I'm not lying, so why can't I do it?"

Jaekyung wasn't angry, but rather didn't understand the essence of the complaint. He tried to be careful, but still received a reprimand, which, apparently, hurt him.

"Those were unnecessary words.

— And what are not superfluous then? I came to this program to tell about you. And if I can't do either, then what can I do? Jaekyung asked irritably.

"About everything except me," Jihong replied firmly. Jaekyung immediately frowned.

Jihon sighed and leaned back on the sofa again.

"You need to talk about yourself, not me. The main star here is you. And the manager is just an addition.

"Who told you that?" Producer? Or is it written in the concept of the program? Jaekyung retorted.

Jihon rubbed his face silently, and the latter, looking at him, clicked his tongue and turned away. Then he picked up the crumpled bottle from the table and continued, "I've said many times that I came to this program because you're here. I want to show people what kind of person you are.

"People are not interested.

"Whether they're interested or not, I'll do what I want," Jaekyung said, subtly hinting, "I don't care about what people are interested in." – Didn't you want me to share with everyone how I was preparing for the Olympics? So that everyone can see how hard I train?

"Yes, but...

"And you're part of this job, so why can't I?" Jaekyung interrupted. Because of this, Jihong was speechless for a moment. "Whether we're dating or not, I would have done it anyway. Even if I hadn't participated in the Olympics, if I had a chance to talk about how I started swimming or how the Grand Slam became my goal, I would definitely do it. Because you are an integral part of my story.

With each word, the bottle in his hand crumpled more and more, making an excruciating sound. It seemed to Jihon that it was like the groan of a choking man.

"Yes, if we hadn't been together, I probably wouldn't have paid attention to what you said," Jihon quipped.

"And since we are dating, then we can't talk about it?" Jaekyung asked defiantly.

"We've already discussed... If suddenly the results do not live up to expectations, this will be a reason for criticism...

— Why on earth can the results not live up to expectations? Jaekyung interrupted him again.

— Of course, they will be good. Maybe even better... But still, you need to prepare for any outcome.

"No, there is no such option," Jaekyung snapped. He squeezed the mangled bottle even harder and then threw it on the table, saying, "Do you think I'm making excuses in advance in case I fail at the Olympics?" No, it's the other way around. I am sure that I will achieve excellent results.

His face retained its usual indifference, and his voice sounded even. Yet there was an unshakable confidence in him, far more powerful than when he raised his voice or boasted.

"That's why I'm talking about you. I want people to appreciate your contribution when I succeed. If I had stayed in the federation, everything would have turned out differently. I want to show everyone that thanks to you I succeeded. Because it's true.

Jihong always thought, "Where does he get so much confidence?" Seeing him train, he began to understand, but he was still surprised. Once he even envied him, fortunately this oppressive feeling had evaporated, but in its place came another: a painful realization of his own inferiority. It seemed that he simply did not deserve to be around Jaekyung.

"Yes, I understand what you mean," Jihong nodded. "I know you're doing this for me. And I am grateful to you.@@novelbin@@

"Then why...

"I'm grateful, but I don't need it," Jihon interrupted. "I'd better keep a low profile. Not to receive any criticism or praise, to be as inconspicuous as possible.

"What kind of nonsense?" It doesn't work that way," Jaekyung said, "You've always said that those who work hard should be rewarded. And you always liked to be praised.

"Yes, I like to be praised. This is my reward. It's enough for me that you succeed and people applaud you.

He wanted to object to something, but changed his mind and closed his mouth. He stared at Jihon silently for a while, and then suddenly said, "I've thought about it before when I've listened to your stories, but your approach to relationships is similar to the way you work.

Jihon's eyes widened in surprise, "Really? In what exactly?

– You always adapt to the athlete, do whatever he wants. If an athlete feels good, then so do you. You behave the same way in a relationship," Jaekyung whispered quietly, as if asking for confirmation.

"Yes, I guess you're right," Jihon was a little embarrassed, but he tried to keep a straight face and smile. — Unexpectedly, but it seems that this work is my calling.

He tried to laugh it off, but Jaekyung remained indifferent. His voice, smooth and colorless, sounded still calm: "That's why sometimes it seems to me that you are not meeting me, but working.

"That's right, I do both," Jihon replied, still smiling. "No wonder you're confusing.

— Yes. But I don't like it. I really don't like it.

Jihon fell silent again. Jaekyung looked at him, sighed, and ran his hand through his hair.

"In general, I will be more careful during filming. I have nothing more to say," Jaekyung said and stood up.

A moment later, the sound of the door opening was heard. Jihon did not move.