Vacation Begins

The moment the referee blew the final whistle, the players barely had time to celebrate sitting atop the league table before a flood of ecstatic Arsenal fans poured onto the pitch, forcing them to clear out.

The stewards reacted fast enough that no one was hurt, and the squad made it safely into the locker room.

But when word came that the awards ceremony would be held right then and there, I simply stayed put on the bench with Hong Seoin.

"Hyung, how many assists you got?"

The stewards had formed a protective circle around us, so it wasn't particularly dangerous.

"Eighteen."

"So you're the assist king, then?"

"Probably. Your goals?"

"I've got twenty, but I'm not sure."

Unlike Hong Seoin, who had already pulled ahead of the leading contender Dove for the assist crown as of Matchday 37, the race for the Golden Boot had been razor-tight.

Every player had been scoring so evenly that I only ended up in the running at all—I didn't think it was anything special, really.

Word on the top scorer would probably come through any second now.

"Yujin! You're the top scorer!"

"For real?"

Just like that, Padric appeared right on cue.

"Yeah. Joint top scorer."

"Who's the other one?"

"Ver."

"The Chelsea striker?"

"That's the one."

Padric naturally dropped onto the bench beside us and we chatted away until, before we knew it, the fans had filtered back into the stands and a podium for the ceremony had been set up.

"That was pretty quick, huh?"

I hadn't expected an awards ceremony today at all, yet everything had been ready in under an hour. It was almost uncanny.

"The league office already knew Arsenal was going to win it."

"Haha."

I moved forward, listening to Padric's not-quite-joke.

Fans were visible in the stands, holding back the cheers they clearly wanted to unleash, an electric current of excitement running through the whole place.

Yet no one broke the atmosphere.

One by one the players stepped onto the podium with their league winners' medals around their necks and took their places in front of the photo line and the waiting press.

Once the whole squad was gathered, Captain Wright appeared in the distance carrying the Premier League trophy.

He walked toward us slowly.

Everyone held their breath waiting, and the emotion of the title swelled higher with every step.

How hard had it been?

Without that sixteen-match unbeaten run, this title would never have happened.

And with me right in the middle of it, the feeling doubled.

As Wright drew closer mouths began to open; the Arsenal players could no longer hide their excitement.

Then Wright reached the front of the squad and hoisted the trophy high into the sky.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!"

Players, staff, and every single person in the stands erupted together.

BOOM—!

At the same instant red confetti cannons exploded, dyeing Emirates Stadium crimson.

With no match left to play, Arsenal cracked open the champagne. It had been so long since I'd tasted alcohol that I knocked back far more than I meant to without realizing it.

"…Hah."

"Yujin. You drunk?"

"…No? Not really?"

"Hmm. So the kid's got a weakness after all. Alcohol's pure trash for you."

"Let's never let him drink ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠again."

"I can hold my liquor just fine, though."

Maybe it was because I was standing there red-faced and grinning.

I wasn't drunk at all—why were they treating me like this?

Still, everyone was laughing.

The whole squad took their time with the victory ceremony, and the masters of England were decided beyond any doubt.

Once the Premier League's thirty-eighth matchday was over and Arsenal had lifted the trophy, the communities lit up.

Arsenal's 35/36 season closed with the curtain falling on a wave of anticipation for the next campaign.

"If any of you want to go to a deserted island for pre-season training, feel free not to stay in shape."

After their dramatic league title, Arsenal's vacation officially began the moment Manager Alexandro finished that warning at the Colney training ground.

He's not actually going to do that… right?

Whether he had real experience with it or not, I had zero interest in a deserted island.

I figured the others felt the same and would keep themselves sharp.

"Yujin. Don't overdo it while you're in Korea."

"Can I still play football during the pre-season?"

"Only as long as you don't get hurt."

The manager clearly understood that "not playing football" was never an option for me.

"Understood."

I nodded with a smile once I had permission.

"Yujin. You're heading back to Korea?"

"Yeah. Hit me up next time you come visit."

"Alright. See you in a month."

One by one the players left for their holidays.

Four weeks of vacation.

Everyone vanished from Colney in the blink of an eye, and I hurried home myself, excited at the thought of returning to Korea after so long.

Guess it's been getting warmer lately.

It was almost June, after all.

Plenty of people were already walking around in short sleeves.

And that hit me hardest the moment I stepped through the front door.

"This is nice…"

A chill so thorough it made my whole body go soft.

The air conditioning was blasting full power—perfectly cool.

"…Noona?"

Jia noona, who normally came out to greet me every single time I returned, wasn't there. Curious, I walked farther in and found her sitting on the sofa.

"Oh…"

The second our eyes met I lost my words, and it was entirely because of what she was wearing.

A tube top that was nothing like her usual style.

It left her navel, collarbones, and shoulders completely bare—maybe a little much under normal circumstances, yet her beautiful figure and presence turned it into something proud and untouchable.

Like there was an invisible wall you couldn't cross.

…It does look good on her, though.

Compared to a year ago, when Jia noona had seemed like nothing but bone, muscle, and a little flesh, the difference was night and day.

In that single year her body and entire aura had grown.

And right now she was exactly the way I liked her best.

Long arms and legs that looked perfect in pants.

Of course I liked Jia noona no matter what, but it looked like she'd been out—she was wearing ripped jeans and a denim jacket.

The couple ring, necklace, and earrings especially caught the eye.

"Yujin, you're home?"

"Yeah. I am… but did you go out like that? You didn't, right?"

There was a hint of jealousy in my voice, and she covered her mouth with a soft laugh.

"Hehe. No. I just went up one floor to see a noona I know for a bit."

"…Good. So what were you doing just now?"

"Hmm…"

Jia noona tilted her head for a moment, then grinned.

"Seduce you?"

"…"

A completely different atmosphere from usual.

Instead of the calm teasing I was used to, she was being outright aggressive.

Her expression was basically announcing she planned to tempt me, and my heart started hammering.

…Ah. This is getting dangerous.

Those alluring black eyes that already looked like they'd reeled me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in, the pale skin she made no effort to hide.

Cute, pretty, and proud all at once—my heart showed no sign of slowing down.

"So our Yujin likes this style, huh? I'll wear it more often. You're so cute. Want to go on a date? Or stay home and get handsy?"

"…Haha."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Listening to her completely unfiltered flirting made a laugh slip out on its own.

"Noona."

"Yeah, Yujin."

"You're really beautiful."

I told her my honest, unfiltered feelings, then scooped her up in a princess carry.

"Hehe. First time wearing something like this—I'm glad you like it. Yujin, do you like pants?"

"A little?"

I didn't hate skirts either.

They each had their own charm.

I just personally thought Jia noona's appeal stood out most in pants.

That was why she looked even prettier right now.

"I'll keep that in mind."

I gazed at her beautiful smile for a moment, then wordlessly carried her toward the bedroom.

"Yujin, I love you."

"I love you too, Noona."

My vacation began with the most beautiful, cutest, proudest Jia noona in my arms.