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 hoodie cap pulled over their head. Hidden in black boots, baggy cargo pants, and an oversized hoodie, this figure was Echo. He adjusted his bag on his 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.
Suddenly, 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. His hair was short, but a strange spark in his eyes and a sharp jawline made him very handsome. It was Echo.
Echo took off his bag, set it aside, and instead of going toward the manager's cabin, he walked straight toward the ring. He was such "Dominance" in his walk that the big wrestlers standing in the way automatically stepped back. Ji-hoon watched him closely. He felt something strange about this new guy. He were delicate, but his energy was very "Alpha."
"New here?" Ji-hoon asked in his heavy voice, crossing his muscular arms over his chest. Echo stopped. He looked Ji-hoon up and down, exactly like a predator looks at its prey. He didn't look away instead, he 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, his voice slightly deep and raspy.
"But I've heard that the old players here like new challenges."
Echo extended his 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. He didn't express it directly instead, he 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. He's wet hair was touching Ji-hoon's forehead."I am doing my work," Echo whispered. He 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 a 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 him 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. 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 his sleeveless hoodie yet, but it was soaked in sweat. He locked the door and slowly moved toward Ji-hoon. He's 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 dominant look were very close to each other. Echo raised his 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. He slowly moved His 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. "What... what are you doing what you want, Echo.
What 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... he were enjoying this game. He 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 his 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 his 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. He were only touching the glass to their lips; he didn't drink much. He just 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 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 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.