"Oh, you're yawning so wide that you're going to tear your mouth out soon," Manager Nam remarked, shaking the ashes off his cigarette.

Jihon, involuntarily yawning several times in a row, covered his lips with his hand in embarrassment and looked around. Fortunately, there was no one else in the smoking room except them.

"I'm sorry, I just didn't get enough sleep," he apologized, straightening his back, which had been bent from fatigue.

To which the colleague only shrugged his shoulders: "Come on, what's the matter. But where does such a lack of sleep come from? You don't seem to be late at work."

"Yes, I... I changed my bed recently," Jihon explained, somehow finding an excuse.

"Ah, well, yes, the bed is important," the manager nodded to Nam.

He even began to tell a story about how he once changed the bed and then his back hurt... Jihon listened to him without much interest: the fact was that he had no complaints about the new acquisition. On the contrary, he was quite pleased with it: the expensive thing turned out to be extremely convenient, and most importantly, the springs in it were so silent that no matter how much Jihon tossed and turned, or moved, or even jumped, they did not make a sound.

No, the real cause of his insomnia was who he had to share a bed with: Kwon Jaekyung, who had settled in his house.

As promised, he became a regular in Jihon's apartment, and in a completely impudent way: he showed up on weekdays and on weekends, whenever he wanted. Sometimes, he came before Jihon himself had time to return from work. On the day of delivery of the mattress, he generally arrived early in the morning and accepted the goods from the loaders, having previously signed all the receipts.

Well, this had its advantages: Jihon had a man who could look after the house and accept parcels while he was away.

In addition, Jaekyung, being completely alone, seemed to go into energy-saving mode: he almost did not move, did not litter, did not make any mess and did not even rummage through things.

And up to a certain point, Jihon was satisfied with everything.

However, the problems began when he, tired of a hard day's work, crossed the threshold of his own apartment. As soon as he washed and left the bathroom, Jaekyung immediately dragged him to bed and, not letting go of his embrace, began to shower him with burning tenderness, passionate touches and kisses. Of course, Jihong could not object, because they agreed that he could afford any liberties, except, in fact, sex. But how can you resist when you are so hugged, teased and playfully bitten?

Both the 21-year-old, vigorous athlete and the exhausted 27-year-old young man have both reached the peak of their desires. However, Jihong was optimistic about what was happening: after all, 27 years is not a sentence, and, as practice shows, he is still in good shape.

The only thing that infuriated Ji-heon was that after all these caresses, he had to cool down his ardor in his heart, while the impudent Kwon Jae-kyung calmly coped with his excitement right in front of Ji-heon. Neither requests, nor persuasion, nor threats did not work at all, like peas hitting a wall.

"Hyung, let's go together! Show me how you do it!" he insolently demanded.

But Jihong tried to answer as gently as possible: "Jaekyung-ah, be kind, save the hyun's strength."

He constantly explained to this small man that he was not made of iron. And if he is counting on something on the weekend, then he should moderate his appetites. To which Jaekyung, pretending to be a fool, obediently nodded.

But yesterday he was especially stubborn, as if he decided to act ahead. Jihong had barely managed to get out of the shower when Jaekyung immediately swooped down on him, kissing and nibbling. And, of course, by doing so, he quickly brought Jihon to the desired condition.

And Jihon, in an attempt to retreat, backed back to the bathroom, but the stubborn man left him no chance to escape, grabbing him by the wrist. And he demanded to do it right in front of him.

"If you show me, I won't touch you this weekend," Jaekyung promised.

Well, Jihong could not resist such a tempting offer - and this was his first mistake.

"Just look, keep your word," he warned sternly.

And then, having received confirmation, he undressed. And in his joy, Jihong showed Jaekyung everything he was capable of with unprecedented enthusiasm.

However, this, perhaps, was his second mistake.

Because, having enjoyed the performance, the impudent guy for no reason said: "No, this will not work. You're turning me on too much. We're going to have to do it over the weekend anyway."

"You... I'm going to kill you..." – Jihon hissed in fury, grabbing his collar. "Did you decide to bring me to a heart attack?"

Jaekyung, apparently, was not very happy about the prospect of being left without a partner and suggested: "Okay, then let's do it once today, and I won't touch you this weekend. Honestly, honestly! I promise!"

Of course, it was stupid to believe him, but Jihon fell for it this time, which was his third mistake. Because Jaekyung managed to do it twice, and the consequences were a heavy burden on poor Jihong, who somehow made it to the office today.

"He'll probably start harassing him again over the weekend," Jihong thought doomedly. "And all my reproaches that he broke his promise will not give a damn at all. Or he will say that it is in advance for the next weekend. Knowing Jaekyung, you can assume anything. Although, of course, the main culprit is the one who allows him everything, that is, myself."

But the trouble is different: the inexhaustible energy of Kwon Jaekyung. And, as luck would have it, now he had the only period of calm in the year. Qualifiers for the Olympics will be held only in late February - early March, which means that he is unlikely to start intensive training until November.

However, for example, he prepared for the Pacific Championship with all his might and brought his physical shape almost to perfection back in September. And at the same time, advertising shootings, interviews and other events did not tire him at all. In truth, Jihon was even frightened by the amount of energy that was bubbling within him.

"That's when you have to chase him in the pool until he's blue in the face," Jihong cursed to himself, and a heavy sigh escaped his chest along with a puff of smoke. And the fingers holding the cigarette trembled slightly.

He was already seriously planning to start taking ginseng tonic drinks.

Suddenly, Manager Nam interrupted his painful reflections: "Listen, you've just become prettier, even though you complain about lack of sleep."

"What? It can't be!" blurted out Jihong, staring at his colleague in amazement.

"How "pretty" is there if I participate in a sex marathon almost every night..." - Jihong was about to give himself away, but he bit his tongue in time and, feigning suffering, said: "What is there... I don't actually get enough sleep."

"Hmmm, isn't it?" And it seemed to me that you were almost glowing.

"Come on," Jihon waved him off.

"No, really," Manager Nam insisted stubbornly, blowing smoke. "Last month, when you were at that championship, well, Pan-Pacific, you, as I remember, were just thin. And now you're bursting with health, and your skin is shining over there... I thought something good had happened in your life. Or maybe you have a partner?"

Jihon's cigarette almost fell out of his hands. He sat there for a few seconds, as if struck by thunder, and then somehow came to his senses and gently asked, "Well, there are many factors that affect the complexion, but how does it correlate with personal life?"

"Well, how come? For mere mortals like us, there are essentially only two things that can make us happy: either winning the housing lottery or having a new love. And you kind of said that you don't have a lottery ticket," manager Nam reasonably remarked. "So it's just the relationship, isn't it?"

From such truisms, Jihon immediately fell into a mute shock.

"I'm kidding," Nam's manager playfully summed up and took a drag on a cigarette. And after blowing out a long stream of smoke, he continued: "I remember you used to complain that someone asked you to quit smoking. And, judging by your stories, this man is clearly not used to being refused. So I assumed that you were serious."

But despite his friend's encouraging smile, saying, "Don't take it personally," Jihong still shook up.

"Manager: Nam, I was thinking...

"Yes?"

"Do you happen to have the gift of foresight?"

To which the manager Nam burst into laughter: "There's nothing to guess about, it's obvious!"

"No, really! You have such intuition that sometimes it even becomes scary," Jihon admitted.

"So I'm right?" Do you have an affair?

"No, no, no! No romance," Jihon hastened to assure him.

"Well... That is... Of course, we see each other often..." he muttered confusedly.

Manager Nam froze for a moment, as if in disbelief, and then waved his hand: "Come on, anything can happen. Everyone has their own path," he philosophically summarized, confirming his reputation as a person who does not meddle in other people's business.

"The main thing is that you feel good. Isn't it?" and with that, he turned around and walked out of the smoking room.

Left alone, Jihong took another puff and began to replay his colleague's answer in his head: "The main thing is that you feel good... Do I feel good now? Well... Not to say that it is bad. It's a sin to complain when you get everything you want. But, on the other hand, to confidently declare that I feel good... I can't either. It's not that I'm delighted with what is happening..."

While he was indulging in useless thoughts, the cigarette burned to the filter. And Jihon, exhaling, crushed the cigarette butt on the ashtray and resolutely rose from his seat.

Piles of documents were already piled up on his desk. Mechanically, he grabbed the top sheet he had received by fax.

Eyes fell on the sender: "Korean Sports Council."

And at the same moment, Jihon's eyebrows met on the bridge of his nose.