Ji-hoon was standing in the middle of the ring, pouring all his strength into the punching bag. Sweat was dripping from his muscular body onto the floor. Every punch he landed echoed like an explosion.
At the same time, in a noisy alleyway of the city, a person was walking slowly with their hoodie cap pulled over their head. Hidden in black boots, baggy cargo pants, and an oversized hoodie, this figure was Echo. They adjusted their bag on their shoulder and looked at the Elite MMA Club board visible ahead.
The atmosphere of Elite MMA Club was always filled with masculine heat and the smell of sweat. Ji-hoon was standing in the corner of the ring, drinking water from his bottle. He was the best fighter in this club-arrogant, powerful, and completely straight. He had never imagined in his dreams that any "man" could ever impress him.
Then, the heavy door of the club opened. A person entered who grabbed everyone's attention. Long baggy cargo pants, black combat boots, and a loose hoodie. Their hair was short, but a strange spark in their eyes and a sharp jawline made them very handsome. It was Echo. Echo took off their bag, set it aside, and instead of going toward the manager's cabin, they walked straight toward the ring. There was such "Dominance" in their walk that the big wrestlers standing in the way automatically stepped back.
Ji-hoon watched them closely. He felt something strange about this new guy. They were delicate, but their energy was very "Alpha."
"New here?" Ji-hoon asked in his heavy voice, crossing his muscular arms over his chest.
Echo stopped. They looked Ji-hoon up and down, exactly like a predator looks at its prey. They didn't look away; instead, they took a step closer to Ji-hoon. So close that Ji-hoon could feel the heat of their breath.
"I am new..." Echo said softly, their voice slightly deep and raspy. "But I've heard that the old players here like new challenges."
Echo extended their hand and lightly tapped Ji-hoon's chest with a finger. "Especially you... Ji-hoon."
Ji-hoon's heart suddenly thudded loudly. He wanted to jerk Echo's hand away in anger, but there was such mischief in Echo's smile that he went numb.
"How do you know my name?" Ji-hoon asked sternly.
Echo gave a light wink. "The world itself tells the names of the best. See you... Partner."
Echo turned and walked toward the manager's cabin. Ji-hoon stood there watching them. He couldn't understand why a guy's attention was making him so "uncomfortable."
---
The next few days became difficult for Ji-hoon. Echo had joined the club and was around Ji-hoon all the time. Echo's style of flirting was very mysterious. They didn't express it directly; instead, they bothered Ji-hoon with their body language.
One evening, Ji-hoon was doing bench presses. He was lifting heavy weights when suddenly he felt someone standing behind him. Echo was standing at his head, acting as a spotter for the weights.
"Apply a bit more power, Ji-hoon. I expected more strength from you," Echo whispered, leaning down near Ji-hoon's ear.
Ji-hoon lifted the weight and said breathlessly, "You... why are you standing behind me? Go do your work."
Echo helped put the weights back on the stand and then leaned right over Ji-hoon's face. Their wet hair was touching Ji-hoon's forehead.
"I am doing my work," Echo whispered. They placed one hand on Ji-hoon's bicep and squeezed it slowly. "Your muscles are quite hard... but why is your heartbeat running so fast?"
Ji-hoon jumped up and stood. "Stop all this! I am not some girl you're flirting with like this. I am straight!"
Echo laughed. A laugh that felt like honey being poured into Ji-hoon's ears.
"Who said you are a girl? I am just praising a 'Friend'," Echo said mischievously and walked away picking up their towel. "But remember Ji-hoon... some things in the world bend despite being 'straight'. Your time will come too."
Ji-hoon left from there in anger, but he couldn't sleep all night. Echo's leaning and their touch kept spinning in his mind. He was starting to get scared... was he actually changing?
---
The atmosphere in the club was a bit different today. The light was low and only the big light above the boxing ring was glowing. Today Echo wore a black tank top and shorts; because of their muscles and the binder, the flat chest gave them a perfect "Pretty Boy" look. Ji-hoon was wrapping tape on his hands when Echo slowly came behind him.
"Let me, I'll do it," Echo took Ji-hoon's hand in their soft but strong hands without permission.
Ji-hoon tried to pull his hand away. "I can do it myself, Echo."
"Sit quietly," Echo said a bit firmly and looked into Ji-hoon's eyes. Their style was so dominant that Ji-hoon stopped. While wrapping the tape, Echo lightly touched Ji-hoon's palm with their fingers.
"Why are your hands trembling, Ji-hoon? Are you that scared of me?" Echo looked at Ji-hoon from below, a wicked smile on their lips.
Ji-hoon swallowed. "I'm not scared... I just don't understand these antics of yours."
Echo finished the tape and kissed Ji-hoon's hand-just for a moment-and then let go. Ji-hoon felt as if electricity had run through his body.
"Come on, see you in the ring. Let's see how much this masculinity of yours lasts in the boxing ring," Echo said with a wink and jumped the rope into the ring.
Ji-hoon entered the ring in anger and confusion. Today he had to teach Echo a lesson. Both wore gloves and the match began.
In the beginning, Ji-hoon landed some hard punches, but Echo was dodging very fast. Echo's move was like a dance. Suddenly, Echo changed moves and came very close to Ji-hoon-so close that their guards were touching.
"What happened Ji-hoon? Hit me... or does your heart not want to hurt your 'friend'?" Echo whispered while punching.
Ji-hoon wanted to land a big punch in anger, but Echo locked his arm, spun around, and grabbed Ji-hoon from behind (clinch). Echo rested their face on Ji-hoon's wet shoulder.
"Your scent... is very peaceful," Echo said, breathing into his ear.
Ji-hoon's mind went numb. He pushed Echo back forcefully. "Fight Echo! Stop these dirty antics!"
"Dirty?" Echo laughed and attacked again. This time Echo pinned Ji-hoon against the ropes. They placed both gloves on either side of Ji-hoon's head, blocking him.
Both were panting. Sweat was flowing from their bodies. Echo lowered their head and brought it so close to Ji-hoon's neck that Ji-hoon thought they were going to kiss him.
"You know Ji-hoon... the more you run from me, the more fun I have in capturing you," Echo said with eyes shining in the blue light. "Tell me... do you still have the courage to call yourself straight?"
Ji-hoon couldn't say anything. His body had surrendered. His heart wanted to grab Echo, but his mind was stopping him.
Echo lightly tapped Ji-hoon's cheek with their gloves. "That's enough for today. Next time... I will come even closer."
Echo got out of the ring and left, and Ji-hoon sat there on the floor leaning against the ropes. He realized that he had fallen into a swamp from which escape was impossible.
The match in the boxing ring had left Ji-hoon in a bad state. He went to the locker room to take a shower, thinking cold water would cool down the heat in his mind. But when he came out after showering with only a towel wrapped around his waist and stood in front of his locker, he heard the locker room door slowly closing.
Ji-hoon turned and looked. Echo was standing there.
Echo hadn't taken off their sleeveless hoodie yet, but it was soaked in sweat. They locked the door and slowly moved toward Ji-hoon. Their way of walking was like a lion cornering its prey.
"You... what are you doing here? Everyone has left," Ji-hoon tried to keep his voice strong, but his gaze was fixed on Echo's deep eyes.
Echo said nothing. They stopped right in front of Ji-hoon. Ji-hoon's muscular chest and Echo's boyish but dominant look were very close to each other.
Echo raised their hand and slowly pushed back Ji-hoon's wet hair. "I told you Ji-hoon... I would come even closer."
Echo brought their hand down and placed their warm palm on Ji-hoon's cold body. They slowly moved their fingers over Ji-hoon's muscles.
"Your body is shaking," Echo whispered, with a masculine growl in their voice. "Are you scared of me? Or are you scared of this feeling I'm waking up in you?"
Ji-hoon tried to grab Echo's hand to remove it. "Echo, stop! I... I'm not a toy. I said I am straight!"
Echo pinned Ji-hoon's hand to the wall with a jerk. Their style was so sudden and dominant that Ji-hoon couldn't even move. Echo leaned near Ji-hoon's ear and slowly touched his earlobe with their lips.
"Straight?" Echo gave a light chuckle. "Straight men don't breathe like you are breathing while being this close to a guy. Your heart wants me to force you even more... why?"
Echo took Ji-hoon's chin in their hands and forced him to look into their eyes. There was no friendship in Echo's eyes right now, only the obsession of a "Top" and the hunger of an "Alpha."
"I can make you dance on my fingertips, Ji-hoon. And you are liking this," Echo said, becoming bolder, placing a hand near Ji-hoon's waist where the towel was tied.
Ji-hoon's breath stopped. He felt that he had completely surrendered before Echo. His mind said 'run', but his body had become a slave to Echo's dominance.
Echo said right near Ji-hoon's lips, "Tell me... will you still say you aren't mine?"
Ji-hoon closed his eyes; his courage was gone. "You... you are doing what you want, Echo. What can I say?"
Echo left a soft but bold mark on Ji-hoon's cheek with their tongue and stepped back, but their eyes were still on Ji-hoon's body.
"This is just the beginning, Partner. Next time... I won't even ask for permission."
Echo left, and Ji-hoon sat there on the floor against the wall. He was losing his identity, and the worst part was that this loss felt very beautiful to him.
The next day in the club, Ji-hoon's condition was worth seeing. He was repeatedly avoiding eye contact with Echo. Whenever Echo passed near him, Ji-hoon would get busy with some work or look the other way.
But Echo... they were enjoying this game. They would stand far away looking at Ji-hoon with mischievous eyes, and whenever Ji-hoon accidentally looked their way, Echo would give a deep and "Knowing Smile," as if saying, "How long will you run from me?"
In the evening, when everyone was packing up, Echo stumbled slightly while lifting a heavy weight. Because of the sharp metal, a long cut appeared on their hand and blood started flowing.
"Careful, Echo!" the Manager shouted.
As soon as Ji-hoon saw the blood, he couldn't stop himself even if he wanted to. He ran over and grabbed Echo's hand. "Are you crazy? Why are you so careless?"
Echo looked into Ji-hoon's eyes despite the pain. "Why? Does it hurt you?"
Ji-hoon didn't answer and started tying a bandage on the hand. When everyone had left and the club was about to close, Echo started checking their bags. Their face suddenly looked worried.
"What happened?" Ji-hoon asked, taking out his bike keys.
"My house keys... maybe they fell somewhere in the boxing ring or locker room. I can't find them and I don't have a duplicate," Echo said innocently (but that same old mischief was in their eyes).
Ji-hoon took a deep breath. He knew this was a danger, but he couldn't leave Echo on the street. "Fine... you can stay at my house tonight. Call the locksmith tomorrow morning."
---
Ji-hoon's apartment was small but minimalist. There was a strange silence and tension in the air.
"I'm thirsty," Echo said, throwing their jacket on the sofa.
Ji-hoon took out beer from the fridge and placed two glasses on the table. Both started drinking. Ji-hoon was worried, so he was drinking a bit fast to end the confusion in his mind. But Echo was very clever. They were only touching the glass to their lips; they didn't drink much. They wanted Ji-hoon to get a little "Loose."
When Ji-hoon got a bit intoxicated, his wall of being "Straight" started falling slowly.
"Echo... you... you have destroyed my life," Ji-hoon said in a staggering voice and sat on the sofa near Echo.
Echo smiled and put Ji-hoon's glass aside. "I didn't destroy it Ji-hoon... I just introduced you to yourself."
Echo placed a hand on Ji-hoon's shoulder and slowly pushed him back. Ji-hoon lay on the sofa and Echo came over him. This time there was no boxing ring, just a closed room and dim lights.
Echo opened the top buttons of Ji-hoon's shirt. Their dominant style was now at its peak. They leaned near Ji-hoon's lips and said, "Tell me... do you still want to run from me?"
In intoxication and emotions, Ji-hoon put his hands around Echo's neck and pulled them even closer. "No... not anymore."
Echo started kissing Ji-hoon. The romance became so intense and bold that Ji-hoon tried to put his hand under Echo's hoodie. As soon as Ji-hoon's hand moved up from Echo's waist, Echo suddenly got a jolt. If Ji-hoon moved his hand further, the biggest secret would be revealed.
Echo suddenly jerked back and stood up. They were panting.
"What happened Echo?" Ji-hoon asked in wonder and intoxication. "Why did you stop?"
Echo fixed their shirt and looked at the door. There was now fear instead of dominance on their face. "I... I'm not ready yet. Ji-hoon, go to sleep. You've had too much to drink."
Echo ran to the bathroom and locked the door. They saw their reflection in the mirror... there were tears in their eyes. They had started loving Ji-hoon, but they also knew that Ji-hoon loved them.
"If he finds out my secret, will he hate me?" Echo thought in their heart.
---
When the morning light entered through the window, Ji-hoon's head was splitting with a headache. He remembered the night's events vaguely, but one thing was fixed in his mind-Echo's aggressive kiss. When he woke up, he saw Echo standing in the kitchen making coffee, perfectly peaceful, as if nothing had happened.
"You... why did you stop me last night?" Ji-hoon asked directly, coming from behind.
Echo gave a mischievous smile. "You had too much to drink, Partner. I take pleasure, but not with unconscious people."
Ji-hoon watched them closely, "But you were the one who started it..."
"Then stay conscious next time," Echo handed him the coffee mug and patted his cheek. "Come on, we're late for the club."
In the next two weeks, Echo started testing Ji-hoon's patience. They would seduce Ji-hoon again and again in the club, the locker room, and the parking lot.
One afternoon, when the gym was empty, Ji-hoon was doing bench presses. Echo came and opened the buttons of Ji-hoon's shirt.
"It's very hot, isn't it?" Echo whispered and placed their cold hand on Ji-hoon's bare chest. Ji-hoon's breath hitched. Echo leaned down and left a mark on his collarbone, but as soon as Ji-hoon moved his hand to grab Echo's waist, Echo jerked back.
"Not yet... work is left," Echo said laughing and left.
Near the club's swimming pool, Echo cornered Ji-hoon. Echo took off Ji-hoon's shirt and threw it away, pinned him to the wall, and captured his neck with their lips. In passion, Ji-hoon was about to put his hand inside Echo's T-shirt when Echo harshly jerked his hand away.
"Stay in your limits, Ji-hoon," Echo said in a flat voice and walked away.
Ji-hoon couldn't bear it anymore. He was going crazy. He was straight, then because of Echo he accepted himself as gay, and now Echo was leaving him halfway.
One evening, in the locker room when Echo tried to tease Ji-hoon again, Ji-hoon grabbed their hand, spun them around, and pinned them to the wall.
"Enough is enough!" Ji-hoon shouted, anger and pain both in his eyes.
"What happened, Ji-hoon? Why are you so angry?" Echo still maintained that masculine growl.
Ji-hoon grabbed Echo's collar and shook them. "What do you want, Echo?! You seduce me yourself, you come so close to me yourself that I forget everything... you even take off my shirt, and as soon as I try to touch you, you stop me!" Ji-hoon looked into Echo's eyes, his voice was now low but intense. "You made me your slave in every way... I even changed my identity for you. So why do you leave me halfway every time? Am I just a game to you?"
Echo's silence became deep. Their heart wanted to tell Ji-hoon how helpless they were, that they couldn't let him touch them.
Echo lowered their gaze. "Ji-hoon... it's not as easy as you think."
"Then make it easy!" Ji-hoon thundered. "Today you have to decide. Either accept me completely... or leave my life forever."
---
There was fire in Ji-hoon's eyes; there was passion and humiliation in his body. When Echo lowered their gaze, Ji-hoon's patience broke. He felt Echo was making a joke of him.
"You don't think it's easy?!" Ji-hoon grabbed Echo's collar tightly. "I've started hating my identity because of you, and you don't think it's easy?"
Echo still said nothing, standing there biting their tongue.
After one week It was the late watch of the night. The silence in Ji-hoon's apartment was so deep that both their heartbeats were clearly audible. Both were lost in each other on the sofa.
Echo was in a completely different mood today. They had Ji-hoon pinned against the wall and were leaving marks on his neck with their lips. Ji-hoon was completely in Echo's control. Echo's dominant style was driving him crazy.
"Echo... you... why are you so beautiful?" Ji-hoon said in a staggering voice and filled Echo's waist in his hands.
Echo gave no answer; they were just busy opening the last buttons of Ji-hoon's shirt. They forgot who they were at this moment.
In passion, Ji-hoon picked Echo up and laid them on the sofa. Echo pulled Ji-hoon toward them and their kiss became more intense. Ji-hoon's hand slowly went under Echo's shirt.
At first, Echo didn't realize; they had their fingers tangled in Ji-hoon's hair. When Ji-hoon's hand moved from Echo's back toward the chest, they felt something soft and different there instead of masculine hardness (pecs).
Ji-hoon didn't stop; he slowly touched Echo's chest. He felt the hard strap of the binder, but the curves beneath it could not belong to a man.
Echo was still enjoying Ji-hoon's touch with eyes closed. They forgot that they hadn't stopped Ji-hoon's hand.
Ji-hoon suddenly opened his eyes. His hand was still there. He looked more closely and then slowly lifted Echo's shirt.
The binder was clearly visible... and the female form was clearly reflecting from under that binder.
It was as if ice ran through Ji-hoon's body. He jerked his hand back. As if Echo came to their senses, they sat up with a jolt. They saw Ji-hoon looking at them as if he had seen a ghost.
"This... what is this?" Ji-hoon's voice was trembling. He pointed toward Echo's shirt which was still slightly up.
Echo saw their binder and realized... the secret was out. Instead of crying or running, they took a long breath and looked into Ji-hoon's eyes.
"You asked why I stop?" Echo said now in her real girl's voice, which was soft but still confident. "This was the reason, Ji-hoon."
Ji-hoon touched Echo's face with trembling hands. "You... you are a girl? I... I fell in love with a guy... and you are a girl?"
Echo grabbed Ji-hoon's hand and placed it over her binder. "I am Eunha. But Ji-hoon, look at me. Was this style of mine, this strength of mine, this control over you... was it a lie? Did you fall in love with me because I am a man, or because I am your 'Echo'?"
After Ji-hoon went into shock, Echo (Eunha) was sitting in the quiet room looking out the window. She was thinking about her identity. She remembered that she had been different from other girls since childhood. She never liked the delicacy that the world expects from girls.
Ji-hoon's whole world had turned upside down. After that night, he sat in his room in a state of shock for many hours. He was questioning himself: "Am I gay? Am I straight? Or was I just cheated?" But the biggest question was that when he closed his eyes, he didn't remember Eunha's delicate girl face; instead, he remembered Echo's dominant style, their pinning him to the wall, and that heavy voice.
The next day Ji-hoon went to the boxing club, thinking he would talk to Echo, or maybe shout at them. But Echo wasn't there.
One day passed, two days passed... Echo didn't come to the club.The club's atmosphere made Ji-hoon feel like he was going crazy. The ring where they had sparred, the locker room where Echo had teased him-Echo's memory was everywhere. Ji-hoon realized there were hundreds of men in the club, but he wasn't feeling anyone's presence. He was only feeling the lack of Echo.
"Hey Ji-hoon! Where is Echo? Their phone is also switched off," the Manager asked.
Ji-hoon didn't answer. He landed a hard punch on the punching bag. He realized it didn't matter to him what was under Echo's binder. He had become addicted to that "Energy" which only Echo had. He had fallen in love with that masculine "Alpha" girl who made him dance on her fingertips.
---
On the third day, Ji-hoon couldn't bear it anymore. He ran straight toward the old apartment where Echo lived. He knocked on the door loudly.
"Echo! Open the door! I know you are inside!" Ji-hoon shouted.
The door opened slowly. Eunha was standing in front. She wasn't wearing a binder today, just a loose shirt, and instead of that usual masculine hardness on her face, there was exhaustion and fear.
"Why have you come here?" Echo asked in a soft voice. "You were the one who looked at me that night as if I am some sinner."
Ji-hoon said nothing. He moved forward, grabbed Eunha (Echo)'s hand, and pulled her close with a jerk. He looked into Eunha's eyes-those same deep, mysterious eyes that drove him crazy.
"I haven't been able to sleep for three days," Ji-hoon said, panting. "I looked at every girl, every guy... but I didn't see anyone like you. I've understood Eunha... I wasn't in love with your body."
Ji-hoon placed Eunha (Echo)'s hand on his heart. "I am in love with the person who controls me, who has the courage to defeat me. That 'Echo' who is inside you, I am in love with that. And that Echo is still inside you."
Tears came to Eunha's eyes. She gave her old dominant smile and grabbed Ji-hoon's collar, pulling him inside the house.
"So that means you've surrendered?" Eunha asked while pinning him to the wall. Her same old "Alpha" style had returned.
Ji-hoon smiled and lowered his head. "Forever."
After pulling Ji-hoon inside the house, Echo locked the door. The room was dimly lit. Ji-hoon was still emotional; he wanted to take Eunha in his arms, but Eunha placed a hand on his chest and pushed him back.
"Wait, Ji-hoon," there was that same old command in Echo's voice. "Listen to me first."
Ji-hoon stopped; his breath was still heavy.
"You've found out that I am Eunha. But if you're thinking that after the secret is out I will change... or I will become soft under you like those common girls... then you are wrong."
Echo took a step closer to Ji-hoon and looked him right in the eye. They grabbed Ji-hoon's tie (or collar) and pulled him down slightly.
"I was born a girl, but my role is the same as it always was. I am the Top, Ji-hoon. I know how to control, and I will control. I don't like being a 'bottom', nor will I ever be. Can you accept a girl who handles you like men do?"
Ji-hoon saw Echo's intensity. He realized that Echo's feminine body is just a shell; inside she is that same "Alpha" who defeated Ji-hoon in their very first meeting.
Ji-hoon smiled slowly and placed Echo's hand on his heart. "I wasn't in love with your delicacy, Echo. I am in love with this strength of yours. If you want to stay Top... then I am happily ready to surrender for you."
This was the first night after the secret was revealed. Both silence and heat were felt in Ji-hoon's apartment. Echo wore an old oversized black hoodie of Ji-hoon's, but her masculine walk and that dominant "Alpha" aura were still the same.
Ji-hoon was sitting on the edge of the bed, his head slightly lowered. All this was new for him-loving a girl who controlled him like men do.
Echo slowly came near him. They grabbed Ji-hoon's chin and lifted his face up. There was no delicacy in Echo's eyes at this moment, but an intensity and passion.
"I told you Ji-hoon... nothing will change after the secret is out," Echo whispered in her heavy voice. "Are you ready to accept that you will always be under me?"
Ji-hoon looked into Echo's eyes and slowly nodded. Echo smiled and started opening the buttons of Ji-hoon's shirt. Her style was completely masculine and dominant. When Ji-hoon was bare, Echo signaled him to lie on the bed.
Echo climbed on top of Ji-hoon (straddling him). They took both of Ji-hoon's hands above his head and pinned them down firmly with one hand.
"Wait Echo... I..." Ji-hoon was panting.
"Quiet," Echo commanded. They took off their shirt, but they were still wearing their binder. They were handling their body not as a woman, but as a Top.
Echo placed their lips on Ji-hoon's neck and left a firm mark (hickey). For the first time, Ji-hoon felt that Echo's girl body and her masculine energy together were creating a fire he had never felt before. Echo seduced Ji-hoon in every way, but she didn't allow Ji-hoon to turn and touch Echo back.
Whenever Ji-hoon tried to grab Echo's waist, Echo jerked his hand away. "I said... only I will control. Your job is only to surrender."
That night Echo made Ji-hoon her slave completely. Ji-hoon realized he had nothing to do with Echo's girl delicacy; he was in love with this "Power" of Echo's that knew how to break him completely and put him back together.
Ji-hoon stood at a distance, smiling. He saw that Echo had turned their identity not into a weakness, but into their greatest strength.
In the evening, when everyone had left, Echo was packing their bag in the locker room. Ji-hoon quietly entered and locked the door.
"You were amazing today, Echo," Ji-hoon said, coming up behind Echo and wrapping his arms around their waist.
Echo forcefully brushed Ji-hoon's hands away, spun him around, and pinned him against the wall. Echo grabbed his collar and said mischievously, "There is no man or woman here, Ji-hoon. There is only me and you. And remember... whether it's home or the club, I am the 'Man of the house'."
Ji-hoon laughed, lowered his head, and kissed Echo's hands. "Always, my Alpha. Always."
The night had grown deep, and the atmosphere in Ji-hoon's apartment had become very heated. Echo had given Ji-hoon permission to touch them and feel their body, but only within a certain limit. Echo was still that same "Alpha" who was controlling every move.
Ji-hoon slowly placed his hand on Echo's waist and pulled them close. This time, Echo did not push him away. Ji-hoon gave soft kisses on Echo's neck, making Echo's breath quicken. Ji-hoon felt that Echo's body was soft, but their soul was still hard and dominant. Suddenly, Echo grabbed Ji-hoon's face and looked deep into his eyes. There was a cunning smile on their lips.
"You're working quite hard, Ji-hoon," Echo whispered. "But do you think you can break this 'Alpha' pride of mine?"
Ji-hoon looked on in surprise. Echo leaned close to his ear and said something that set Ji-hoon's body on fire.
"I'll give you a chance. If you fully satisfy me tonight... if you make me feel what I've never felt before... then I am ready to become the 'Bottom'-but only on the bed. For tonight only, I will put the control in your hands. But remember... if you fail, you will become my slave forever."
Ji-hoon's heart began to thud loudly. This was the biggest test of his life. He looked into Echo's eyes, where there was both a challenge and a fire.
"Challenge accepted, Echo," Ji-hoon said in a heavy voice.
Ji-hoon slowly laid Echo on the bed. Echo spread their arms, as if wanting to see how much strength Ji-hoon truly had. Echo was still judging Ji-hoon like a "Top," but Ji-hoon had decided to use his full masculine intensity tonight.
Ji-hoon took possession of Echo's lips. This kiss was dominant, exactly like the ones Echo used to give. Ji-hoon graced every part of Echo's body with his love and passion. He showed Echo that he didn't just know how to surrender, but that he could take his partner to those heights of pleasure where they would forget everything.
Eunha (Echo), who always stayed in control, slowly began to loosen up. Her "Alpha" wall began to crumble. When Ji-hoon touched her with full intensity, a suppressed moan escaped from Echo's mouth.
Echo felt that Ji-hoon had indeed begun to satisfy her. She was gradually coming down from her "Top" position. She dug her nails into Ji-hoon's back in a blend of intoxication and peace.
Ji-hoon didn't stop. He made Echo feel sensations she had never experienced before. That night, for the first time, Echo let go of her control. She became soft beneath Ji-hoon, and she enjoyed the "Bottom" role that only Ji-hoon could give her.
When the morning light entered the room, Echo was wrapped in Ji-hoon's arms for the first time. Her face was peaceful.
Ji-hoon asked softly, "So... did I win the challenge?"
Echo opened her eyes and gave that same old mischievous and dominant smile. She suddenly flipped Ji-hoon over and came on top of him.
"Only on the bed, Ji-hoon. Only on the bed," Echo gave a light bite on his nose. "In the outside world, and in the club... I am still your 'Top'. And remember... next time you'll have to work even harder if you want to make me the bottom again."
Ji-hoon laughed and pulled Echo into a hug. It didn't matter to him what role Echo played; he just knew that the two of them were incomplete without each other.
There was a big sparring event at Elite MMA Club today. Old fighters from the city were also present. Echo stood outside the ring, wrapping tape on their hands. They weren't wearing a binder today, but a masculine oversized tank top and that same old arrogance still made them the "Alpha Echo" that people feared.
Ji-hoon stood behind them. Everyone's eyes were on them. People were whispering that perhaps their relationship had changed after the secret was revealed.
"Listen, Ji-hoon," Echo said without turning around. Their tone was harsh and dominant. "Bring me my water."
Ji-hoon silently picked up the bottle, approached Echo, and helped them drink. Seeing this submissive behavior from Ji-hoon, a rival fighter laughed loudly.
"Hey Ji-hoon! Such a big man and you've become a girl's servant? It would have been better to find a real 'Top'," he mocked.
A silence fell over the entire gym. Everyone thought Ji-hoon would get angry. But Ji-hoon only smiled and looked toward Echo.
Echo stopped wrapping the tape and slowly stepped down from the ring. They went right up to the fighter, who was much larger than Echo in stature. Echo looked into his eyes and grabbed his T-shirt collar so tightly that the guy stumbled.
"A real 'Top' isn't made by the body, but by the mind," Echo whispered in his ear, but the voice was deep enough for everyone to hear. "Ji-hoon is not my slave... he is my 'Partner'. And he does exactly what I say because he knows that no one else in the world can give him the kind of control I do."
Echo pushed him back with a jerk, turned toward Ji-hoon, and extended a hand. Ji-hoon immediately grabbed Echo's hand and kissed it-in front of everyone.
"For me, only Echo is my 'King'," Ji-hoon announced to everyone.
Before going to the locker room, Echo grabbed Ji-hoon's collar, pulled him close, and gave him a dominant and possessive kiss in front of everyone. This kiss was the answer to those who thought Echo had turned "soft" by being a girl. After entering the locker room, Echo locked the door behind them and pinned Ji-hoon to the wall.
"You performed quite well today, Ji-hoon," Echo said mischievously, her fingers trailing over Ji-hoon's chest.
Ji-hoon grabbed Echo's waist and pulled her even closer. "So... will there be the same 'Challenge' again tonight?"
Echo laughed and whispered in Ji-hoon's ear:
"Of course... but remember, outside the bed, I am still your Boss. Now come on, pick up the bag and let's go home. I'm hungry."
Ji-hoon picked up Echo's bag and followed behind her. Their strange, unique, and dominant love became an example for the world-where body and gender had no importance, and only their "Chemistry" and Echo's "Control" were everything.
A few months later, the Elite MMA Club was decorated with flowers and lights in a "Classy and Dark" theme. It was the wedding day of Echo (Eunha) and Ji-hoon. The world thought that Eunha (Echo) would appear today as a soft and delicate bride, but Echo was always born to break the rules.
Ji-hoon stood on the stage, looking like a prince in his Black tuxedo, but his eyes were fixed on the door. Then the music changed, and Echo (Eunha) entered.
The whole hall fell into a stunned silence. Eunha was not wearing a heavy, embroidered dress; instead, she wore a Pure White Tailored Suit. Her short hair was neatly set, the same old dominant smile was on her lips, and there was that "Alpha" pride in her walk. She looked less like a bride and more like a "handsome man."
When she reached Ji-hoon, he extended his hand. Eunha (Echo) grabbed his hand and whispered softly, "Are you scared? There's still time, you can run."
Ji-hoon laughed and looked into her eyes. "Being in your captivity is the greatest peace of my life."
When it was time to put on the rings, Eunha (Echo) held Ji-hoon's hand a bit firmly, in that same dominant style from their first meeting. "Ji-hoon, from today, you are mine. Only mine. To the world, you are a National Champion, but to me... you will always be my submissive."
Ji-hoon bowed his head in front of everyone. "Only yours, My King."
On their wedding night, as they entered their new home, Ji-hoon locked the door and turned around. He thought that perhaps today Eunha (Echo) would have softened a little, but Eunha took off her white suit jacket, threw it on the sofa, and grabbed Ji-hoon's tie to pull him toward her.
"We're married, Ji-hoon, but that doesn't mean I'll give up my 'Control'," Eunha said, pinning him against the wall. She looked into Ji-hoon's eyes, where there was only love and surrender.
Ji-hoon placed his hands on her waist. "I never wanted you to change. I am in love with this 'Alpha' form of yours."
Eunha gave Ji-hoon a dominant kiss and then whispered in his ear, "Come then... tonight you'll have to prove that you can be my best husband. And remember? Tonight, I am the 'Top' as well."
Ji-hoon picked her up in his arms and moved toward the bed. Their marriage was not bound by the old traditions of the world. Their relationship was above bodies-a competition of souls-where Eunha's control and Ji-hoon's love merged to create a world where only the two of them were rulers.