Unexpected

Part 18

I'm not nearly as nervous today as yesterday. Since Sangmin (whom I've met) will be here, along with their older sister and her husband. They welcome us in, and Sangil gives his sister a hug. All three siblings are fairly quiet, but it's comfortable in their presence. We sit down to dinner right away.

They had made bulgogi, and the brother-in-law told Sangil to make a wrap for me and feed me. I think that this time my face turned red, and I was debating whether to tell him not to. But he took a lettuce leaf and was putting ingredients on it.

"Nothing spicy," I tell Sangil in a quiet voice.

"Don't worry, this won't break your diet guidelines."

"And not too big."

When he's finished he turns to me and holds it out. Trusting him, I eat it, trying to put it all in my mouth like they do. It's good. But still slightly embarrassing.

"And now you should make one for Sangil, Sochi."

If we weren't on camera I might have behaved differently. As it is, I try to make him a wrap that I think he'll enjoy. "Say ahh."

As he chews, his sister and her husband sigh and lean on each other across the table. "Young love."

"You guys got married just a few months ago!" declares Sangmin. "Maybe you should feed each other."

"We do," she assures him. "Don't worry about us."

We don't stay too long after dessert. We take a commemorative photo, I hug everyone goodbye, we ditch the camera crew, and leave for the sauna. When we arrive it's full of young men.

"It appears that most of my friends have made it. Let me introduce you," says Sangil after we dressed and joined the group. Most of the members of Imfact, Up10tion, KNK, and Astro are here, along with non-celebrity friends of Sangil's.

"I'm going into the hottest room," I say. "Anyone wanna join me?"

"Are you crazy?" asks Sebin.

"No. I love the sauna."

"Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you."

It is hot, but not as hot as the Russian saunas I've been in. I soak in the warmth for several minutes until I'm almost sweating. Then I rejoin Sangil and the others in the warm room.

"Had enough?" asks Suhyun.

"It's not bad at all. In Russia we stay in the sauna until we're sweating profusely, then jump in a cold lake. When we're in Russia for the Grand Prix I think we should try it out together."

"NO. I don't think I'll recover." Sangil clasps his arms around himself in a protective gesture.

"I think you should try it, hyung," Taewoong suggests. "Sounds invigorating."

"I disagree. You don't want to see his skinny chest. No pectorals to speak of," Woosung butts in.

"Make up your mind. He either has the best body in Snuper, or no pecs. Not both," I declare.

"Looks like you have the bigger chest," Sebin tells me.

"Sebin! What is wrong with you?!" Taewoong is shocked. "Every time you open your mouth you insert your foot."

"I'm so sorry! All I meant was that Sochi exercises more than Sangil and has more defined muscles."

"Then that's what you should have said in the first place."

"Didn't you already see his body at the hot springs in Japan?" asks a member of Imfact.

"Yes, I did. It was delectable. I especially liked the little freckle on the left side."

Sangil slaps a hand to the spot as if I can see through his shirt. "Yes, well, and I liked your, um ... yeah. That thing on your shoulder."

"My TB vaccine scar? It is sexy. Wait, that's on my arm." I pull up my shirt sleeve to have a look, even though I'm fairly certain that he's just trying to say anything. "Maybe this scar? It was from a go cart accident."

"How many accidents have you been in?" Sangho asks.

"Too many to count, but only three major ones."

"Broken any bones?"

"Surprisingly not. Most accidents in single seaters aren't serious, injury-wise. Usually the most we get is bruising. Last year, during the last race, one of the drivers flipped his car and got stuck on a fence. Was checked out by the medics and was fine. Didn't even complete one lap, poor fellow. Not how anyone wants to finish the season."

"Do most drivers finish the race?"

"Most do, but it's rare for all drivers to cross the finish line in any race. Last year it didn't happen once. Most races have two to four DNFs. That means Did Not Finish."

"Sounds like a dangerous sport," says Suhyun.

"Yes and no. It is dangerous to drive at over 350 kilometers per hour, but it's safer than a road car if you crash. Our suits are fire resistant, we have a six point seatbelt harness, helmets, and a bunch of other gear that protects us in an accident. But I can't dwell on the dangers or I wouldn't be able to do my job."

"How does your family deal with it?"

"Also by not thinking about it. They know I love what I do. I know the risks. And they've made their peace with it. We actually have a driver coming back to F1 after eight years. Robert Kubica. He was in a horrific rally accident and was in recovery and rehab for months. His right hand is only partially functional. And he's not returning because he has a death wish, but because he loves being a Formula One driver."

"What if I watch Formula One, but end up cheering for someone other than you?" asks a member of KNK.

I laugh. "That's perfectly fine. You don't have to be my fan. There are also fans who cheer for a team, not the drivers who race for them."

"Do you have a favorite driver?"

"Lewis Hamilton. I've admired him ever since I saw his interview on Top Gear. He's the reigning world champion."

"Do you want to be a world champion?"

"Of course. But I'm concentrating on doing a good job this year so I get a contact for next year. Most rookies can only dream of being a title contender."

"How long do contracts last?"

"Usually a year or two. But it's often contingent on performance. Bad results can lead to an early termination."

"A high stress job, then?" inquires a friend of Sangil's.

"It can be. It's a very mental sport. One needs ways to relax and calm down."

"What are some of your ways?"

"Spending time with family. Being in a natural environment, like the forest or beach. Journaling. Listening to music that I love, or playing the piano. Certain exercises, such as riding a bike or skiing. Massages. Quite an assortment of activities."

"Spending time with people you like in a sauna?" someone asks.

"Absolutely."

They play a game that I sit out (too much Korean is involved), introduce me to sauna food and drink, and some of us end up sleeping there. The next morning I say my goodbyes and fly back to Japan. Less than two weeks to go before the season opener in Melbourne. 

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