The day Joo Jaekyung realized he loved Kim Dan

PART 2: Can I ask you a question...?

A month. A whole month had passed since the match Jaekyung almost lost against The Butcher, and Dan couldn't help but wonder what was going on inside his head. He has been different towards him since that day, almost like he was avoiding him: if he arrived to the gym he wouldn't look twice in his direction unless it was needed, at home he would often eat alone or not see him there until late at night when Dan was already in bed, ready for sleep, and whenever he woke up he was gone. It was almost like living with a ghost.

The doctor watched from afar, observing how Jaekyung hit the boxing bag with strength and determination. No sex, not a glance in his direction, he didn't even breathe when he was near Dan. Was there something wrong? Last time they were together he even took the blame for his bad performance in the cage and the fighter even reassured it wasn't his fault, but now he only talked to him as if he was only his physical therapist but... wasn't that what he wanted since the beginning? Why is it bothering him now that his wish became a reality? He hated being used like a sex doll all the time, but now that he was being fully ignored it didn't felt right. Why was Jaekyung suddenly ignoring him after two years in this situation? Did he considered his debt was fully paid now, or did he do something wrong last time? There were only a few who would know, one of them was busy in the phone and the other one was just finishing his training session. He looked at the other side of the gym, away from where Jaekyung was working out in the boxing bag and smiled within when he saw Daehyun prepping his protein shake. Maybe he had some answers, as he is the closest one to Jae in this gym after coach Namwook and himself. Dan started walking towards him, and greeted him amicably, starting to explain what was bothering his mind about the champion at the other side of the gym.

Jaekyung hadn't stopped looking at Dan, not even for a second. He saw him when he slept, when he was looking away, as long as he didn't noticed he was cool with it. But when he saw Dan walking towards his "friend", he couldn't help but look away. Now this was personal. He had tried to convince himself that he didn't care about Dan's personal life, but doing this, right in front of him? Really? All he wanted was for Dan to stay in his corner and not talk breather next to someone else, talk, listen, or see anyone that wasn't him, but he couldn't stop him. He hit the bag once again, angrily thinking. Has Dan been intimate with Daehyun for a long time? He only found out last month how close they were, so who knows how long they've been at it. He has never used a condom with Dan, should he start doing so? He clenched his teeth strongly, feeling them gnash against each other and hit the bag one more time, breaking it. He stood still in his spot breathing heavily, then looked at the bag on the floor and the swinging chain that used to hold it.

"Boy, how many have you broken this month? Next time you do that I'll have to talk with you!" stated coach Namwook, sick of calling over and over to the sports store for another bag that Jaekyung broke. 

Jaekyung stayed silent, adjusting his fingerless gloves while trying to release some of his tension off of his body.  Coach Namwook was still screaming on his ear about another bag, as if money was ever a problem for the gym. Not listening to him, he looked over his shoulder, noticing Dan and Daehyun staring at him from their spot. Daehyun had half of a smile crossing his face, thinking Jaekyung was probably training as hard as always, but Dan's face was more of a worried one; he wasn't acting like himself. Just now, a six day streak of not tearing a boxing bag apart was broken. Dan looked at Daehyun.

"You see now? I know you're his friend, do you know if there's something bothering him?"

"I do see what you mean, Dan-hyung. But being honest, it's as easy to figure him out as it is to solve a crossword in a foreign language. He's a mystery sometimes..." Daehyun sighed, looking now at Dan after taking a sip of his shake. "I thought you two were close, I mean, you guys live together for the last, what? two years?."