Chapter 2
--- Chapter 2. A New Encounter ---
Unlike what Jaehee had thought—that she’d be able to return to her normal life—Chris greeted people around the club enthusiastically. But she avoided him the first couple of times. The more she avoided him, the more he stuck to her. Realizing that his behavior was drawing attention, Jaehee eventually settled for returning his greetings briefly before slipping away.
But Chris wasn’t satisfied with just that. He followed her around even in front of others. And when they were alone, he constantly threw flirtatious remarks her way.
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“Still thinking about it?”
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“How about tonight?”
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“You’ve become a body that can’t do it with anyone else but me.”
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“Don’t look at me when I’m playing. You’ll make me hard for no reason.”
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“This is the longest I’ve gone without sex. So you should take responsibility, right?”
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The players, who had no idea about her situation, casually joked things like, ‘Looks like Chris has a crush on the trainer!’ Some even became curious about whether Yoon Jaehee would end up with Jung Jiheon or Chris.
But to Jaehee, they were nothing more than a pitcher she had unrequitedly loved for ten years before finally giving up… and a batter looking for a sex partner.
“Trainer, Chris says he wants physical therapy. When’s he available?”
“…Two hours from now should work.”
Since she kept avoiding him, he finally brought an interpreter and scheduled it officially. As someone responsible for player conditioning and therapy, she couldn’t refuse a specific player. As expected, the moment she gave him a time, the corner of Chris’s lips lifted high—like he had just won something.
Her head already throbbed at the thought of what nonsense he’d say in the treatment room.
“Me too. Do mine too.”
Now, following Chris, even Jung Jiheon asked for a massage. The number one and number two people she wanted to avoid appeared one after the other—it felt like her stomach might develop a hole.
“Let me check the schedule with the head trainer.”
“I want you to do it.”
‘I want you…?! Are you crazy, Yoon Jaehee?’
Her mind went blank for a moment before she snapped back. There was no way Jiheon would say something like that. She clearly still hadn’t gotten over him. She needed to keep her distance.
“It might be tight before game time.”
“It’s fine. I’ll just wait next to you and get it right after Chris is done.”
“…Okay.”
Chris’s expression turned sour, but he quickly forced a smile when he noticed people watching. Jiheon, on the other hand, remained indifferent from start to finish.
Still, it was better having Jiheon around. Chris had been throwing outrageous flirtation at her lately, but he wasn’t reckless enough to do it openly in front of others.
…Or so she thought.
“Jaehee, when will I get your answer?”
“Didn’t you come here for a massage?”
“You know why I came.”
Contrary to her hopes, Chris dismissed even the interpreter and immediately resumed flirting. Jaehee pretended not to hear and focused on the massage.
She knew he had a good physique and lots of muscle, but feeling it firsthand—his body was exceptionally well-built.
“Hurry and decide. I can’t play well because it’s on my mind.”
“You can’t play well without a sex partner? Then back in the U.S., you must’ve—”
“I wouldn’t go this far if just anyone worked.”
“…What?”
“It has to be you.”
Jaehee blinked, wondering if she heard wrong.
This was a new kind of temptation. And for someone like her, who had no resistance to men, it was lethal.
Her heart suddenly began pounding.
“Ah!”
“S-sorry!”
Lost in thought, she bent his arm too far back, making him let out a low cry. Only then did she come back to her senses and refocus on the massage, though her face was burning red.
“Jaehee, if you’re sorry, how about tonight? One time and I think I’ll forget the pain.”
Chris lightly wrapped an arm around her waist—the same arm he had just complained about hurting.
But Jaehee didn’t fall for it. Instead, she pressed hard on his other shoulder.
“Agh!”
She giggled as he cried out, and he ended up laughing too.
Just then—the door creaked open.
Jung Jiheon.
“……”
Silence fell over the training center instantly.
Jaehee hurriedly removed Chris’s arm from her waist. Chris exaggeratedly let go with a reluctant expression.
…And the tension only grew thicker.