A Taste of Normalcy

Felix stepped out of his room after changing clothes, feeling slightly more composed but still riding the emotional wave from their earlier encounter. As the Omega walked into the kitchen, he found Sunghwa half-naked—wearing only an apron and boxer shorts—while effortlessly preparing lunch. The Alpha's toned physique glistened with a sheen of sweat as he occasionally paused to sip from his protein shake, his muscles flexing with each movement.

Felix rushed over to the man, an involuntary excitement bubbling within him. "Let me help!" he offered, his voice bright with eagerness.

Sunghwa's lips curved into a warm smile, appreciating the boy's initiative. "Sure. You can prepare a salad while I cook the meat."

With Sunghwa's captivating form before him, Felix found it increasingly difficult to concentrate. His heart raced as he occasionally stole glances—admiring the sheer beauty of the athlete's physique—a stark reminder of the intimacy they had shared in the bathroom.

"What's wrong? Do you want some?" Sunghwa asked, noticing Felix's lingering gaze and offering his protein shake with a teasing smirk.

Felix paused, caught off guard. He nodded, not wanting Sunghwa to see through the impure thoughts clouding his mind. Taking a sip, he found the drink surprisingly delicious.

"How is it? Tasty, right? It's my secret recipe," Sunghwa said proudly, his golden eyes glinting with mischief.

"Secret recipe? What's in it?" Felix asked, genuinely curious.

"Hmmm... Bananas, chocolate protein powder, almond milk, natural peanut butter, cocoa powder, and chia seeds," Sunghwa explained, puffing out his chest. "I call it Kang Sunghwa's Super Power Protein Chocolate Banana Shake Special."

Felix burst into laughter, the sound bright and infectious. "Pfffttt… What a silly name!"

"Hey! Its benefits have proven effective in maintaining my health and vitality for years, you know!" Sunghwa said, flexing his muscles like a bodybuilder, the playfulness in his demeanor was undeniable.

"Okay, I believe you," Felix smiled, returning to his task of preparing the fruit and vegetable salad.

"Wait a minute, there's still enough left for a glass." Sunghwa grabbed a clean glass and poured the remaining protein shake from the blender for Felix. "Drink this. It will help you, especially after the physical training we just did together."

Felix accepted the glass filled with the still-cold drink, his fingers brushing against Sunghwa's in a fleeting touch that sent a spark through him. "Oh. Thank you..."

"You'll need it. Especially if we're going to engage in activities that are much more intense and intimate than what we did in the bathroom earlier," Sunghwa teased, his tone laced with a playful challenge. "I don't want my partner to faint and run out of stamina after just one round."

Felix, caught mid-sip, suddenly choked on the drink. "H-Hey! What do you mean!?" His face flushed a deep crimson.

"Oh, come on. Your knees and that slim body of yours clearly trembled after just one orgasm," Sunghwa continued, unabashedly playful. "Just so you know, in bed, I can be quite wild and can engage in intense sex for hours. You need to be ready for that." His grin was sharp and wild, filled with teasing promise.

"W-Wicked! You pervert!" Felix exclaimed, his embarrassment palpable, but a small thrill flickered in his chest.

"But you like it, right?" Sunghwa joked, his voice low and teasing.

"Stop saying such lewd things! It's still daytime!" Felix protested, trying to maintain a semblance of dignity.

As they continued their culinary activities, laughter and teasing filled the air, creating a comfortable atmosphere between them. Sunghwa felt a wave of relief that Felix's attitude hadn't turned awkward after their intimate moment earlier.

The man then recalled his earlier conversation with Minho, the serious tone lingering in his mind.

***

"Good news. The tickets for your match next week have sold out. And several sponsors have already submitted offers to establish an exclusive contract with you after the match. Of course, if you win..." Minho's voice echoed through the phone.

"Okay. You don't need to worry. With the preparations we've made thoroughly, my victory is assured," Sunghwa responded calmly, confidence oozing from him. "I can say the probability is 99.99%."

"Oh. Not 100%?" Minho joked, a mix of jest and concern in his tone. "Then what's the 0.01%? I don't want anything to go wrong."

Sunghwa paused for a moment, clicking his tongue.

"Hey, Sunghwa-ya! Don't tell me… It's about that kid?" Minho pressed further.

"Actually…" Sunghwa sighed while brushing his hair. "Last night, there was this mysterious black van… And I felt like it was following me. Then this morning, I saw a similar car while jogging with Felix. He said that the car reminded him of one that belonged to the mafia syndicate that was chasing him."

"What!? Why are you telling me this now!?" Minho yelled, panic creeping into his voice.

"I didn't want to worry you." Sunghwa tried to calm his manager down. "Nothing happened. It might just be an insignificant suspicion..."

"Hey. You do realize your situation right now, don't you?" Minho retorted, urgency lacing his words. "Even though you're favored to win, you can't let your guard down. Especially with your match just a few days away."

"I know," Sunghwa said firmly. "I've taken pictures of that car and the people in it. Also, the location where they stopped. Can you check it out? It might be a lead for your uncle if he intends to investigate Felix's case."

"Okay. Send it to me. I'll pass it on to my uncle," Minho replied. "And just to be safe… Should I send some guys to guard and watch over you? Maybe Jaemin or Jinhyuk?"

Sunghwa pondered for a moment, feeling a reluctance to involve anyone else in his space with Felix. However, he knew Minho wouldn't be swayed easily once the manager was in protective mode.

"Hmmm… Alright, just as a precaution," he finally relented.

"Okay. I'll contact them and give a special schedule to keep an eye on you," Minho concluded.

"Whatever. Just don't place them here!" Sunghwa requested sternly.

"Don't worry. I know," Minho chuckled. "I'll make sure they won't disturb your privacy with Felix," he teased.

"Yeah. Yeah..." Sunghwa rolled his eyes and snorted slightly. "Okay, that's enough. Bye, Minho-ya!"

"Hey, wait! Don't hang up yet, you—" Minho shouted, but Sunghwa had already hung up the phone, a smile tugging at his lips.

***

Returning to the present, Sunghwa found himself more relaxed now. The man sprawled on the living room sofa with a book in hand. He wore a simple gray short-sleeved t-shirt and black jogger pants, looking effortlessly handsome with his reading glasses perched on his nose. Meanwhile, Felix settled beside him—clad in an oversized long-sleeve sweater and soft-colored chinos. Their contrasting appearances highlighted their different yet complementary natures.

"Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable...?" Felix read the title of the book in Sunghwa's hand, his curiosity piqued.

"Uh-huh..." Sunghwa murmured, turning a page as he continued to read.

The young man then glanced at the stack of sports-related titles on the table, intrigued.

"If you're interested, just read it. Or if you're bored, you can install a game on your phone and play it… Or watch TV to continue the anime series you were watching last night," Sunghwa suggested, glancing sideways at Felix.

"Oh no. I'm just impressed that you read books like this that aren't about boxing..." Felix picked up one of the books and laid down on Sunghwa's lap to read along.

Sunghwa smiled down at the Omega, warmth blooming in his chest at Felix's comfortable proximity as the intimacy between them deepened. "Well, as an athlete, I can't just rely on my physical strength. I also need to develop my body and mind. Things like this can help broaden my horizons, especially in strategizing against my opponents."

Felix nodded, feeling admiration swell within him. Sunghwa's image was far from what the boy had initially thought; the man exuded maturity and wisdom in ways he hadn't anticipated. Yet, it left him feeling a touch of inferiority, though he kept those feelings to himself—not wanting to burden the Alpha with his insecurities.

As they basked in the calm, relaxed atmosphere, a sudden ring of the doorbell pierced through the tranquility. Felix shot up, while Sunghwa immediately stood and then walked toward the front door with a frown marring his face.

The man was slightly annoyed that their serene time together was interrupted. He recalled Minho's conversation about sending junior athletes as his bodyguards, but it seemed too soon for that.