Chapter 70: Eyes That Meet

Before he knew it, Ji-tae was standing right in front of Wooju.

More precisely, he had positioned himself in front of where Choi Seok-hyun had fallen after being pushed.

“Uh… I was just about to go.”

“Kang Wooju, hurry up.”

Though he spoke to Wooju, Seok-hyun bowed his head slightly toward Ji-tae.

Ji-tae responded with a subtle smile and returned the greeting.

It was the same kind of smile he had shown earlier when greeting Yoon-kwon.

“Did I interrupt something?”

“Interrupt what?”

When Wooju closed the locker door, the mechanical sound of it locking echoed loudly.

“It looked like quite a nice scene.”

Wooju wondered what kind of half-cut statement that was supposed to be.

But thinking about it, the only thing Ji-tae had seen in here was him wrestling with Choi Seok-hyun.

“That looked nice to you…?

Is there something wrong with your eyes?”

“It looked cozy.”

At that one sentence, Wooju made a gagging gesture.

Since it actually made him feel sick, he told him not to say anything more.

Won Ji-tae obediently shut his mouth.

Besides, hearing that people were already looking for them meant they should probably hurry.

Wooju walked across the row of lockers toward the door.

But suddenly Ji-tae grabbed the hem of his uniform shirt.

“What?

Do you have something to say?”

“…….”

Wooju turned around naturally now.

He had begun to vaguely understand that Ji-tae acted like this whenever he had something he wanted to say.

But Won Ji-tae simply stood there with his brows furrowed, staring at the ground like someone under a low-pressure cloud.

Normally, if a grown man—especially a tall one—stood there shrinking into himself like that,

the first thought would be What’s wrong with him? That’s creepy.

But why did Won Ji-tae trigger a protective instinct instead?

Even if that guy suddenly got dropped into a battlefield, he’d probably survive somehow with that nasty personality of his.

Wooju’s eyes caught sight of Ji-tae’s fluffy hair.

How did he even take care of it to make such thick hair sway like that?

Wooju slowly lifted his hand.

But at the same time, Ji-tae raised his head.

“It’s nothing.”

“Oh.

Alright.”

Wooju barely managed to withdraw the hand that had been about to pat his head.

Today’s off-season training took place in the weight room.

It was training meant to increase muscle strength and muscle mass for powerful spikes and quick plays.

By the time Wooju arrived, the training had already begun.

The team members were each focused on their exercises.

The team trainers moved around inside, giving coaching tailored to each player.

“The latecomer finally showed up?”

From far away, Choi Seok-hyun waved his hand.

Wooju shot him a glare and then immediately greeted the coach and the team captain, Lee Yoo-seok.

“Coach, thank you for cooperating with the filming.”

At Wooju’s words, Coach Kim widened his eyes.

“You brat!

You already said that before.”

“That was just for a short shoot.

This time they’re filming us pretty closely.”

Coach Kim, who had been staring at Wooju, suddenly smacked him on the back with his palm.

Of course, not hard enough to hurt.

“You act like you’re going to devour everyone during games.”

“When have I ever acted that rough?”

“Enough of that.

Just try acting like that at least half as much in your daily life.”

It was something Coach Kim often said to Wooju.

That he seemed like he wouldn’t, but actually paid attention to people’s reactions more than expected.

Of course, Wooju himself didn’t really agree.

Because Coach Kim was the only one who ever said something like that to him.

“Anyway, that’s your friend, right?

Won Ji-tae.”

Kim Hyun’s gaze shifted elsewhere.

There stood Won Ji-tae among the cameras.

Several team members who were already curious had gathered around him.

They were probably asking for autographs and chatting.

Ji-tae kept a polite smile as he responded.

Sooner or later, the trainer would probably step in and stop them anyway.

“Yes.

That’s right.”

“Wow, what a striking guy.

Actors really are different.”

Perhaps because he knew that Ji-tae had once made a name for himself in volleyball, Coach Kim showed particular interest.

“Right?

Doesn’t he look even more handsome in person?”

Wooju’s face brightened immediately at Kim’s comment.

“He surprisingly doesn’t look that great on camera.

You really have to see him in real life.”

People often said celebrities didn’t look as good on camera.

That photos and screens made them look worse.

Wooju had never really felt that before.

But after seeing Won Ji-tae, he finally understood what it meant.

Ji-tae looked handsome on camera too, of course.

But it still couldn’t compare to seeing him in person.

“Well, well.

You don’t look like the type who judges people by appearance.”

“What?

It’s not like that.

He just really looks different.”

When the coach teased him, Wooju hurriedly waved his hands.

Coach Kim stared at him for a moment and then spoke again with a satisfied smile.

“You look more relaxed these days, Wooju.”

Wooju moved his lips slightly, then simply nodded without saying anything.

“That’s enough chatting.

Go warm up your body.”

“Yes.”

Coach Kim practically chased Wooju away while smiling faintly.

Wooju started with a simple warm-up on the treadmill.

It was to loosen his body before beginning full weight training.

After stepping off the treadmill, Wooju instinctively looked toward where Ji-tae was standing.

Several teammates who were resting in between exercises were still hovering around him.

How often did someone get the chance to see a famous actor in real life?

Especially one who was currently at the peak of his popularity.

Of course people couldn’t help but look.

Still, Wooju felt a little uneasy.

What if Won Ji-tae felt uncomfortable?

He kept watching out of concern.

Just then, Ji-tae turned his head and their eyes met.

The corner of his lips lifted slightly.

“…….”

It was such a faint smile that it would be easy to miss if you weren’t looking closely.

But in that moment, Wooju felt something in his chest drop with a thud.

Come to think of it, something like this had happened before.

“Player Kang, aren’t you slacking off too much?”

At that moment, Choi Seok-hyun suddenly approached from the side and started provoking him again.

Because he stepped in front of him, Ji-tae’s face disappeared from view.

“Ah, move a little.”

Just like earlier in the locker room, Wooju shoved Seok-hyun aside.

But when he looked again, Ji-tae had already turned his gaze away.

“Ah, because of you….”

Wooju frowned at Seok-hyun for no reason.

Seok-hyun, who had been scolded without understanding why, was about to get angry as usual.

But then he suddenly put on a bright smile.

“Wooju, you’re really cold today.”

Wooju tilted his head, wondering what was wrong with him.

Soon he realized the reason.

A camera was pointed in their direction.

Understanding his friend’s intention to look good in front of the camera, Wooju chuckled and walked toward the barbells.

“Alright, set your posture.”

Following the trainer’s instructions, Wooju spread his feet shoulder-width apart.

He grabbed the barbell with both hands and straightened his back firmly.

He bent his knees, pushed his hips slightly back, and slowly lowered himself.

When the bar reached near his ankles, he stopped and then slowly stood back up.

It was a well-known weight training exercise that used most of the body’s muscles and helped strengthen overall muscle power.

“As expected, Wooju.

Your form is good.”

The trainer raised his thumb while continuing to watch his movements.

At that moment, Wooju suddenly felt an intense gaze from behind.

When he finished the movement and instinctively turned around, he saw Ji-tae hurriedly turning his head away.

What was that?

Tilting his head, Wooju moved to another area.

The next exercise was the snatch, one of the weight training movements volleyball players commonly did.

It involved grabbing the barbell, lifting it powerfully, bending and straightening the knees at the same time, and raising it above the head.

It was a movement commonly done by weightlifters.

It also helped strengthen the entire body, improve explosiveness, and increase jumping ability.

Wooju stood in front of the large mirror covering one wall of the weight room.

He checked his posture in the reflection and moved his body according to the trainer’s instructions.

Then suddenly he caught sight of something in the mirror.

Ji-tae was staring blankly at Wooju’s back with his mouth slightly open.

Looking at the dazed expression on his face, Wooju tilted his head.

“…….”

Soon, their gazes met once again through the mirror.

Immediately, Ji-tae quickly turned his head away again.

Wooju finally walked straight toward where Ji-tae was standing.

“Wh-why?

Do you want some water?”

Just like he had seen in the mirror earlier, Ji-tae looked completely shrunken as he timidly offered a water bottle.

Wooju squatted down in front of Ji-tae, who was sitting on a chair.

Then he simply stayed silent.

Eventually, Ji-tae moved first.

He slowly lowered his head after avoiding eye contact the entire time.

“Now you’re finally looking at me.”

“…….”

“No, it just seemed like you kept avoiding my gaze.”

Wooju scratched his head and stood back up.

Earlier that guy had smiled at him.

But now he was acting like someone who had been caught doing something wrong—twice.

There was no way Wooju wouldn’t be bothered by that.

And the fact that people had been paying so much attention to Ji-tae earlier also lingered slightly in his mind.