Hyun came to the pool less and less often, and soon there were rumors in the center that he was going to end his sports career.

Jaekyung, of course, did not believe it, but inwardly he was tormented by anxiety. He noticed that the hyun looked tired. This hardworking man attended training less and less often, and if he appeared, he only communicated with the coach without going into the pool. In the gym, when he began to do a warm-up or exercises, he soon stopped, wincing and suspiciously grabbing his shoulder.

Sometimes he would sit alone on a park bench, staring thoughtfully at the ground. Then one day, when Jihong suddenly smelled of fresh grass that Jaekyung hadn't felt before, his heart sank, "Is Hyun really going to give up swimming? Maybe he fell in love and started using perfume?"

The smell emanating from him became more and more intense, and a couple of days later, Jaekyung received confirmation of his alpha status from the results of a genetic test conducted at school. And the coach was overjoyed: "When Jihong was your age, his record in the 100 meters was 58 seconds. And how many do you have now? 54? Of course, you're an alpha! And Jihon is beta, and if you lose to him, then what about the honor of the alpha? Jaekyung, by the age of fifteen, you should definitely get to the World Championships. I got it? The title of the youngest medalist will be yours, remember that."

This man has always neglected his duties, came to work in a state of alcoholic intoxication, well, or from a bodoon, and now he is inspired and screams who knows what. At that moment, Jaekyung literally wanted to tear him apart. In the end, he asked the management to replace the coach. However, they immediately began to evasively refuse, but Jaekyung's mother filed a formal complaint due to drinking.

The new coach, a former athlete who supervised high school, was not much different from that man in his requirements. He also insisted on the World Cup. They all seemed to be obsessed with this title.

But Jaekyung firmly decided to perform at it after 17 years. He wanted this title to remain with the hyung.

This was not only a significant achievement for Jihong, but also of great value to Jaekyung. After all, thanks to hyung, he has achieved what he has. He had no intention of destroying this dear and important title.

May it always shine next to the name of hyun, so that every time Jaekyung looks back, he remembers those times with warmth and genuine happiness.

Fortunately, that mysterious aroma was gone. Jaekyung even thought that hyun had regained his peace of mind and decided to focus on his studies.

And then he promised himself: "As soon as he shows up in the pool, I will definitely ask him to show me how to swim. And I will also definitely tell him that I want to train with him."

But the reality turned out to be much sadder: Kwon Jae-joon said that Jihong seems to be retiring from the big sport and is going to take his things from the center tomorrow.

"Why...? Why...?" Jaekyung was so startled that he dropped his spoon.

To which Kwon Jae-jung looked at his brother and replied smugly, "Why? Because it's beta. How can beta beat alpha? Jihong realized that he had no chance. Because of the sneaky alphas like you, the beta have to suffer for the rest of their lives."

"Did he say so?"

"Why else do you think?" said Jae-jung confidently, but Jaekyung couldn't believe it. That person is not capable of thinking like that. If he was really going to quit swimming for this reason, he would have done so immediately after learning of his status.

But he didn't. And despite his secondary gender, he did not end his career and even won a medal at the World Championships. Jihon was the one who knew best that genetic status didn't matter. He supported Jaekyung, despite the fact that he is the alpha. And he praised him for his striving and diligence.

So Jaekyung, plucking up the courage, grabbed Jihon's hand the next day and asked, "Are you really quitting because you're a beta?"

He hoped that hyun would say no. He will say that this is not so. That he quits because of an injury and, after recovery, will definitely return.

But instead...

"Hey, I've never seen you talk so much before." Smiling, Jihong removed his hand and continued. - "I haven't heard your voice for a year, but today there are too many of it."

Taking a step back, he added curtly, "But what you're saying is so typical of alphas. I didn't know, because I never communicated with you normally."

Jaekyung was so dumbfounded that he was speechless. He hadn't expected such words from his hyung.

Looking at his impregnable appearance, Jaekyung couldn't hold back his tears. Gritting his teeth, Jaekyung stood as if rooted to the spot, swallowing the approaching bitterness.

Suddenly, Jihong, as if realizing what he had done, immediately began to calm him down in a trembling voice: "I'm sorry, I froze stupidly."

"I'm sorry, Jaekyung-ah. I was wrong," he continued to apologize, lowering his head, and Jaekyung could see how sincerely sorry he was.

Unable to answer, Jaekyung fought back tears.

As Jihong became more and more helpless, he eventually ran his palm over his face and muttered, "Damn... Sorry. I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you. You spoke quite normally, I just said nasty things to you because of my jealousy. Forgive me."

Jihong apologized again and again, and for some reason admitted his own insecurity. His face was in such excruciating pain that it looked like he was about to cry himself, and Jaekyung was still silent because any sound threatened to burst out along with the tears.

Because of this, Jihong leaned slightly, trying to meet his eyes, and calmly said: "Jaekyung-ah, you are very talented... If you try in the same vein, you will succeed. And with admission to secondary school, will you be able to get into the national team after passing the qualifying competitions? Regardless of whether it works or not, participate everywhere. The more you perform, the easier it will be for major events, such as the Olympics."

"I don't know if I'll even be able to make it to the Olympics," Jaekyung muttered. His harsh tone made the hyung smile for the first time.

"Well, who, if not you?" You will be able to fight for medals. Therefore, do not limit yourself to the Olympics, participate in the World Championships, and at the Pan Pacific, and at the Asian Games.

"If I win everywhere, it will be a Grand Slam," Jaekyung muttered in displeasure.

Jihong smiled softly, "Yes, that's what you need to achieve."

"It's not that easy," Jaekyung grumbled.

– If you take gold at the Olympics, then the rest will work out too.

"You are probably capable of absolutely anything," he added. - "You have excellent physical condition, and you are hardworking. Jaekyung-ah, you're really good. Among all the athletes I've seen, you're the best. It's true."

He spoke, still leaning over and looking at Jaekyung's face. After making sure that he was no longer crying, Jihon quietly said goodbye and left.

Jaekyung couldn't even say "yet," let alone ask to stay. All he could do was stare after him until his figure turned into a dot and tears blurred his vision.

In fact, even after watching him leave, Jaekyung didn't believe what had happened. It seemed that the next day, Jiheong would return to the pool, sit on a bench by the pool, and watch Jaekyung's workout.

And the real realization of reality came only a couple of months later. When Tuesday and Thursday, his training days, passed several times, and Jaekyung suddenly realized that he was alone in an empty pool: "He's gone after all."

By chance, he remembered how once the hyun almost silently muttered that he sometimes felt lonely.

Since then, this ailment has overtaken Jaekyung. Every time he swam in the empty pool, he felt an unbearably burning melancholy.

Turning over that drooping look and the sad face of the hyung in his head, he was ready to burst into tears at the same moment.