As Jiheon had sensed from their email exchanges, Oliver was indeed an excellent coach. If he were to express it in his own way, he could say that Oliver was an unequivocal professional. His stance was clear: if he received payment, he had to deliver results without excuses.
So this time, upon arriving at the gym, Oliver wasted no time and headed straight to the second-floor swimming pool to assess Jaekyung’s condition. He did not even try to postpone his schedule using the long flight time and travel as an excuse. Instead, he promptly took out his stopwatch and had Jaekyung perform the 200m freestyle, 100m backstroke, and 200m medley in that precise order. Luke was instructed to record a video using his cell phone.
The 200m freestyle went smoothly. The lap time was 1:43.98, which was far short of the world record Jaekyung had broken at last year’s Asian Games—but it didn’t matter because the goal wasn’t the record anyway. Besides, the results this time were not bad. The 100m backstroke was similar at 52.57 seconds.
The issue arose during the 200m medley. Oliver furrowed his brows shortly after Jaekyung began, and as soon as Jaekyung completed the final 50m freestyle, he said:
“You know the problem, right?”
Jaekyung nodded and pulled down his goggles.
“The stroke count in butterfly.”
“Yeah. You added one more.”
To put it simply, a stroke refers to the movement of swinging one’s arm. If the stroke count during the butterfly section was too high, it consumed excessive stamina. Conversely, if the stroke count was too little, the speed would be slower. That was why all swimmers aimed to find their optimal stroke rate and trained to maintain it.
In the 200m medley, Jaekyung’s stroke count in the first 50m butterfly section was 16. This was quite low among medalists. The reason he could achieve such high speeds with so few strokes lay in his incredible shoulder and arm strength. However, upper body strength alone couldn’t produce that speed. A powerful kick to support the stroke required strong core strength. You also had to master posture and rhythm to minimize water resistance. Jaekyung’s exceptional performance was the result of all these elements working together.
But this time, the stroke count had changed.
“You didn’t deliberately increase it, did you?”
“No.”
“Since when did it become 17?”
“Today.”
When Jaekyung informed him that it was still 16 strokes last week, Oliver crossed his arms.
“Hmm. How are you feeling?”
Jaekyung pondered for a moment before responding.
“Not bad. If anything, I thought I felt pretty good today.”
“Really? You seem a bit more excited than usual.”
Oliver signaled for Dr. Gleason. She promptly retrieved a laser blood collection device she had brought from Australia and drew blood from Jaekyung’s finger. Soon, the results of his lactate level came in.
“5.7 mmol.”
“As expected.”
Oliver furrowed his brows.
“But you don’t feel particularly off, do you?”
Jaekyung nodded.
“Then perhaps it’s due to nerves from the test after a long break. Or maybe the excitement of meeting us got you fired up.”
Dr. Gleason playfully suggested. Oliver nodded in agreement.
“Let’s take a 20-minute break and try it again.”
However, the results after the 20-minute break were not promising. The butterfly stroke count returned, but the speed significantly decreased.
“It’s because you consciously tried to reduce the stroke count. Your upper body is more tense than usual, overloading the muscles and disrupting the overall movement balance.”
Jaekyung nodded, acknowledging the fact.
“I don’t think pushing harder in this situation will make things better.”
Oliver recommended that Jaekyung shouldn’t swim anymore for the day.
While Dr. Gleason attended to Jaekyung, assessing the condition of his muscles, Jiheon took Inyeop to the waiting room.
“Please cut that part.”
“What? You mean the fact that Kwon Jaekyung’s speed was slower?”
“The part before that too.”
When Jiheon requested that the entire 200m medley segment be removed, Inyeop looked baffled.
“No, what’s the big deal? Why should I cut it all out? They said it wasn’t a very serious situation. Hey, and if there are days like this, there are days like that too. Do you think athletes would be at their best condition for 365 days a year? That doesn’t even make sense.”
“That’s true, but people don’t always think that rationally. They might say Kwon Jaekyung’s form has deteriorated because he’s been filming commercials and acting like a celebrity for two months.”
“Ah, well, they might think like that for a moment. But he’s going to show us what he’s good at right afterward anyway. We can just change the editing order and release it.”
“No, just remove it all.”
“Jeez! Hey, other people are asking me to include a scene like this too.”
Inyeop stomped on his feet, saying he might go crazy at this rate.
“We can set the tone to be serious, ultimately showing that a star overcomes a setback with unwavering effort. Think about it. In this situation, you and your company’s role will shine even brighter. You can show them that you’re supporting the athletes and providing mental care to help them achieve better results—”
“I don’t need it. It’s not the company’s concern either.”
Jiheon spoke firmly.
“Jaekyung will excel on his own even without that. I don’t want to film him on that one day of the year when he’s not in good condition.”
Inyeop responded to Jiheon’s resolute stance and scratched his head.
“Ugh, seriously. I’ll edit it so that people won’t make such comments, okay? Even celebrities who rely on their image wouldn’t do something like this. Even if Kwon Jaekyung hears such a thing, in the end, if he wins an Olympic medal, everyone will cover it up and say it’s not a problem.”
“I don’t want to hear any of that, even for a second.”
“Do you think Kwon Jaekyung is sensitive to that? No. I don’t think he cares about what other people say either.”
“No, I don’t like it.”
Jiheon stated firmly. At his stern tone, Inyeop scratched his head and chuckled in disbelief.
“Oh fuck it, seriously……. You and Kwon Jaekyung.”
Inyeop cursed for a long time, then crossed his arms and spoke in a serious voice.
“Hey, honestly, I don’t really care about this, okay? But Jiheon-ah, don’t do this with someone else. Otherwise, he might hear even harsher words because of you.”
“I’m sorry.”
Jiheon lowered his head and offered an apology.
Even though Inyeop was looking at Jiheon like that, he continued to laugh as if he couldn’t believe it, and then he let out a sigh.
“Never mind, then. As you said, if it weren’t for me, we wouldn’t have filmed this in the first place. We’ll make up for the lost footage next time. We’re planning to air this as a New Year’s special anyway, and we still have time. So, let’s shoot more next week or in early December, no matter what.”
“……Please.”
Jiheon reluctantly agreed.
“Look at that frown of yours.”
Inyeop playfully chided, asking, “Is this the time to make such a face?” Then, as if he had just remembered something, he turned to Jiheon’s back.
“Hey, take a cam, seriously. Film something today.”
“You said you had dryland training scheduled for the afternoon, right? I think it’s better not to do it today.”
Oliver commented as he left the gym.
“Let’s get some rest and check the lactate level again tomorrow. Your heard what Dr. Gleason said; there are many possible reasons, be it excitement or nervousness.”
“Okay.”
Jaekyung responded briefly.
Minwoo arranged to take Oliver and Dr. Gleason to the hotel. Before that, Jiheon offered to treat the two to a meal on behalf of CEO Kang, but they politely declined.
“Right now, I prefer rest over food.”
Dr. Gleason smiled and added, “Please understand that we’re getting old.” She then gently pushed Luke forward.
“Could you take care of this young bloke for us? Luke might be hungry right now.”
While Luke felt somewhat embarrassed by Dr. Gleason’s unexpected help, he did not say anything specific, such as saying it was okay or that it was not necessary.
Nevertheless, it was Jiheon’s responsibility to ensure Oliver and Dr. Gleason’s comfort during their stay in Korea, and that included taking care of their companion, Luke. Jiheon willingly offered to drive Luke.
“Is there anything you’d like to eat? Or a specific restaurant you’d prefer?”
As he started the car, Luke immediately fastened his seatbelt and replied, “No!”
“I’m, I’m fine with whatever Jaekyung wants….”
His cheeks flushed red again as he spoke, and it seemed like he genuinely meant it. He seemed eager to go along with Jaekyung’s choice.
“Let’s just go to McDonald’s.”
Jaekyung suggested, placing his arm on the passenger window frame.
It was clear that he was saying this not because he wanted to do as Luke wanted, but because he was just too lazy to go somewhere else. The reasons were different for each person, but Jiheon was glad what they wanted was the same. He drove to the McDonald’s near the old municipal building, their usual spot.
Upon arrival, Jiheon and Jaekyung naturally headed to their usual four-seat corner table. They usually sat facing each other at this table, but now that there were three of them, Jaekyung naturally tried to sit next to Jiheon.
“No, I need to have the cam. Sit in front of me.”
Jiheon used the camera as an excuse to make Jaekyung sit across from him. Jaekyung briefly narrowed his eyes but eventually took a seat next to Luke, opposite Jiheon.
Jiheon turned on the camera, set the shooting mode as Inyeop had taught him, and then spoke to Luke.
“I think the two of us should go and order something. Is that okay?”
Jiheon explained that he needed to film Jaekyung’s ordering scene, and Luke nodded enthusiastically, saying, “Yes, yes.”
“What would you like to eat?”
“I’ll have whatever Jaekyung orders!”
‘……It might be quite a challenge to eat everything though?’
Jiheon thought, but he didn’t voice his concern.
‘Well, all right. Maybe he just wants to try the same menu at least once.’
So Jiheon just bought him whatever he wanted, and sure enough, Luke was taken aback when he saw the mountain of food piled in front of him.
“Jaekyung, do you eat like this every day……?”
Luke asked Jaekyung, who was sitting beside him.
“Yeah.”
Jaekyung replied succinctly, took a sip of his shake, and turned to Jiheon across the table.
“Hyung, stop filming and eat.”
“Okay, I’m all done.”
Jiheon said, but he didn’t actually put down the camera. Jaekyung glanced at the lens, then suddenly picked up one of the fries, dipped it in a lot of ketchup, and put it in Jiheon’s mouth.
“Hey, what the hell, why are you doing this? Stop it.”
Jiheon was so baffled that he pulled his body back. It wasn’t just because of the cam. To be honest, he was more embarrassed because Luke was staring at him from across the table.
“That’s why I told you to stop filming.”
Jaekyung spoke calmly and smiled as he put the fries he had meant to give to Jiheon back in his mouth.
“You’re seriously….”
Jiheon sighed and eventually turned off the cam. He had tried to film more, but Kwon Jaekyung seemed grumpy and uncooperative. So, he gave up, folded the camera, and placed it in his bag. But it was only later that Jaekyung curiously asked:
“Do I have to film you too, hyung?”
“No.”
“Why not? The show is about a star and their manager. So, I should film you too.”
“Hey, even if that’s the case, the main star is the star. Who the hell wants to see a solo shot of the manager?”
Jiheon urged Jaekyung to eat quickly and stop the nonsense. Jaekyung smiled and sipped his shake once more.
Luke looked at Jaekyung with a slightly blank expression, but then spoke with all his courage.
“You know, can I… also call you ‘hyung’?”
Jaekyung gazed at Luke with a questioning look, and Luke’s face immediately turned crimson.
“If, if I call you Jaekyung h-hyung….”
“No, don’t call me that.”
Jaekyung swiftly responded, not even listening to Luke’s words.
“Why not……?”
Luke asked with a puzzled face, as if he didn’t expect to be rejected.
“Because I don’t like it.”
Jaekyung said briefly as he unwrapped his hamburger.
As Jiheon had sensed from their email exchanges, Oliver was indeed an excellent coach. If he were to express it in his own way, he could say that Oliver was an unequivocal professional. His stance was clear: if he received payment, he had to deliver results without excuses.
So this time, upon arriving at the gym, Oliver wasted no time and headed straight to the second-floor swimming pool to assess Jaekyung’s condition. He did not even try to postpone his schedule using the long flight time and travel as an excuse. Instead, he promptly took out his stopwatch and had Jaekyung perform the 200m freestyle, 100m backstroke, and 200m medley in that precise order. Luke was instructed to record a video using his cell phone.
The 200m freestyle went smoothly. The lap time was 1:43.98, which was far short of the world record Jaekyung had broken at last year’s Asian Games—but it didn’t matter because the goal wasn’t the record anyway. Besides, the results this time were not bad. The 100m backstroke was similar at 52.57 seconds.
The issue arose during the 200m medley. Oliver furrowed his brows shortly after Jaekyung began, and as soon as Jaekyung completed the final 50m freestyle, he said:
“You know the problem, right?”
Jaekyung nodded and pulled down his goggles.
“The stroke count in butterfly.”
“Yeah. You added one more.”
To put it simply, a stroke refers to the movement of swinging one’s arm. If the stroke count during the butterfly section was too high, it consumed excessive stamina. Conversely, if the stroke count was too little, the speed would be slower. That was why all swimmers aimed to find their optimal stroke rate and trained to maintain it.
In the 200m medley, Jaekyung’s stroke count in the first 50m butterfly section was 16. This was quite low among medalists. The reason he could achieve such high speeds with so few strokes lay in his incredible shoulder and arm strength. However, upper body strength alone couldn’t produce that speed. A powerful kick to support the stroke required strong core strength. You also had to master posture and rhythm to minimize water resistance. Jaekyung’s exceptional performance was the result of all these elements working together.
But this time, the stroke count had changed.
“You didn’t deliberately increase it, did you?”
“No.”
“Since when did it become 17?”
“Today.”
When Jaekyung informed him that it was still 16 strokes last week, Oliver crossed his arms.
“Hmm. How are you feeling?”
Jaekyung pondered for a moment before responding.
“Not bad. If anything, I thought I felt pretty good today.”
“Really? You seem a bit more excited than usual.”
Oliver signaled for Dr. Gleason. She promptly retrieved a laser blood collection device she had brought from Australia and drew blood from Jaekyung’s finger. Soon, the results of his lactate level came in.
“5.7 mmol.”
“As expected.”
Oliver furrowed his brows.
“But you don’t feel particularly off, do you?”
Jaekyung nodded.
“Then perhaps it’s due to nerves from the test after a long break. Or maybe the excitement of meeting us got you fired up.”
Dr. Gleason playfully suggested. Oliver nodded in agreement.
“Let’s take a 20-minute break and try it again.”
However, the results after the 20-minute break were not promising. The butterfly stroke count returned, but the speed significantly decreased.
“It’s because you consciously tried to reduce the stroke count. Your upper body is more tense than usual, overloading the muscles and disrupting the overall movement balance.”
Jaekyung nodded, acknowledging the fact.
“I don’t think pushing harder in this situation will make things better.”
Oliver recommended that Jaekyung shouldn’t swim anymore for the day.
While Dr. Gleason attended to Jaekyung, assessing the condition of his muscles, Jiheon took Inyeop to the waiting room.
“Please cut that part.”
“What? You mean the fact that Kwon Jaekyung’s speed was slower?”
“The part before that too.”
When Jiheon requested that the entire 200m medley segment be removed, Inyeop looked baffled.
“No, what’s the big deal? Why should I cut it all out? They said it wasn’t a very serious situation. Hey, and if there are days like this, there are days like that too. Do you think athletes would be at their best condition for 365 days a year? That doesn’t even make sense.”
“That’s true, but people don’t always think that rationally. They might say Kwon Jaekyung’s form has deteriorated because he’s been filming commercials and acting like a celebrity for two months.”
“Ah, well, they might think like that for a moment. But he’s going to show us what he’s good at right afterward anyway. We can just change the editing order and release it.”
“No, just remove it all.”
“Jeez! Hey, other people are asking me to include a scene like this too.”
Inyeop stomped on his feet, saying he might go crazy at this rate.
“We can set the tone to be serious, ultimately showing that a star overcomes a setback with unwavering effort. Think about it. In this situation, you and your company’s role will shine even brighter. You can show them that you’re supporting the athletes and providing mental care to help them achieve better results—”
“I don’t need it. It’s not the company’s concern either.”
Jiheon spoke firmly.
“Jaekyung will excel on his own even without that. I don’t want to film him on that one day of the year when he’s not in good condition.”
Inyeop responded to Jiheon’s resolute stance and scratched his head.
“Ugh, seriously. I’ll edit it so that people won’t make such comments, okay? Even celebrities who rely on their image wouldn’t do something like this. Even if Kwon Jaekyung hears such a thing, in the end, if he wins an Olympic medal, everyone will cover it up and say it’s not a problem.”
“I don’t want to hear any of that, even for a second.”
“Do you think Kwon Jaekyung is sensitive to that? No. I don’t think he cares about what other people say either.”
“No, I don’t like it.”
Jiheon stated firmly. At his stern tone, Inyeop scratched his head and chuckled in disbelief.
“Oh fuck it, seriously……. You and Kwon Jaekyung.”
Inyeop cursed for a long time, then crossed his arms and spoke in a serious voice.
“Hey, honestly, I don’t really care about this, okay? But Jiheon-ah, don’t do this with someone else. Otherwise, he might hear even harsher words because of you.”
“I’m sorry.”
Jiheon lowered his head and offered an apology.
Even though Inyeop was looking at Jiheon like that, he continued to laugh as if he couldn’t believe it, and then he let out a sigh.
“Never mind, then. As you said, if it weren’t for me, we wouldn’t have filmed this in the first place. We’ll make up for the lost footage next time. We’re planning to air this as a New Year’s special anyway, and we still have time. So, let’s shoot more next week or in early December, no matter what.”
“……Please.”
Jiheon reluctantly agreed.
“Look at that frown of yours.”
Inyeop playfully chided, asking, “Is this the time to make such a face?” Then, as if he had just remembered something, he turned to Jiheon’s back.
“Hey, take a cam, seriously. Film something today.”
“You said you had dryland training scheduled for the afternoon, right? I think it’s better not to do it today.”
Oliver commented as he left the gym.
“Let’s get some rest and check the lactate level again tomorrow. Your heard what Dr. Gleason said; there are many possible reasons, be it excitement or nervousness.”
“Okay.”
Jaekyung responded briefly.
Minwoo arranged to take Oliver and Dr. Gleason to the hotel. Before that, Jiheon offered to treat the two to a meal on behalf of CEO Kang, but they politely declined.
“Right now, I prefer rest over food.”
Dr. Gleason smiled and added, “Please understand that we’re getting old.” She then gently pushed Luke forward.
“Could you take care of this young bloke for us? Luke might be hungry right now.”
While Luke felt somewhat embarrassed by Dr. Gleason’s unexpected help, he did not say anything specific, such as saying it was okay or that it was not necessary.
Nevertheless, it was Jiheon’s responsibility to ensure Oliver and Dr. Gleason’s comfort during their stay in Korea, and that included taking care of their companion, Luke. Jiheon willingly offered to drive Luke.
“Is there anything you’d like to eat? Or a specific restaurant you’d prefer?”
As he started the car, Luke immediately fastened his seatbelt and replied, “No!”
“I’m, I’m fine with whatever Jaekyung wants….”
His cheeks flushed red again as he spoke, and it seemed like he genuinely meant it. He seemed eager to go along with Jaekyung’s choice.
“Let’s just go to McDonald’s.”
Jaekyung suggested, placing his arm on the passenger window frame.
It was clear that he was saying this not because he wanted to do as Luke wanted, but because he was just too lazy to go somewhere else. The reasons were different for each person, but Jiheon was glad what they wanted was the same. He drove to the McDonald’s near the old municipal building, their usual spot.
Upon arrival, Jiheon and Jaekyung naturally headed to their usual four-seat corner table. They usually sat facing each other at this table, but now that there were three of them, Jaekyung naturally tried to sit next to Jiheon.
“No, I need to have the cam. Sit in front of me.”
Jiheon used the camera as an excuse to make Jaekyung sit across from him. Jaekyung briefly narrowed his eyes but eventually took a seat next to Luke, opposite Jiheon.
Jiheon turned on the camera, set the shooting mode as Inyeop had taught him, and then spoke to Luke.
“I think the two of us should go and order something. Is that okay?”
Jiheon explained that he needed to film Jaekyung’s ordering scene, and Luke nodded enthusiastically, saying, “Yes, yes.”
“What would you like to eat?”
“I’ll have whatever Jaekyung orders!”
‘……It might be quite a challenge to eat everything though?’
Jiheon thought, but he didn’t voice his concern.
‘Well, all right. Maybe he just wants to try the same menu at least once.’
So Jiheon just bought him whatever he wanted, and sure enough, Luke was taken aback when he saw the mountain of food piled in front of him.
“Jaekyung, do you eat like this every day……?”
Luke asked Jaekyung, who was sitting beside him.
“Yeah.”
Jaekyung replied succinctly, took a sip of his shake, and turned to Jiheon across the table.
“Hyung, stop filming and eat.”
“Okay, I’m all done.”
Jiheon said, but he didn’t actually put down the camera. Jaekyung glanced at the lens, then suddenly picked up one of the fries, dipped it in a lot of ketchup, and put it in Jiheon’s mouth.
“Hey, what the hell, why are you doing this? Stop it.”
Jiheon was so baffled that he pulled his body back. It wasn’t just because of the cam. To be honest, he was more embarrassed because Luke was staring at him from across the table.
“That’s why I told you to stop filming.”
Jaekyung spoke calmly and smiled as he put the fries he had meant to give to Jiheon back in his mouth.
“You’re seriously….”
Jiheon sighed and eventually turned off the cam. He had tried to film more, but Kwon Jaekyung seemed grumpy and uncooperative. So, he gave up, folded the camera, and placed it in his bag. But it was only later that Jaekyung curiously asked:
“Do I have to film you too, hyung?”
“No.”
“Why not? The show is about a star and their manager. So, I should film you too.”
“Hey, even if that’s the case, the main star is the star. Who the hell wants to see a solo shot of the manager?”
Jiheon urged Jaekyung to eat quickly and stop the nonsense. Jaekyung smiled and sipped his shake once more.
Luke looked at Jaekyung with a slightly blank expression, but then spoke with all his courage.
“You know, can I… also call you ‘hyung’?”
Jaekyung gazed at Luke with a questioning look, and Luke’s face immediately turned crimson.
“If, if I call you Jaekyung h-hyung….”
“No, don’t call me that.”
Jaekyung swiftly responded, not even listening to Luke’s words.
“Why not……?”
Luke asked with a puzzled face, as if he didn’t expect to be rejected.
“Because I don’t like it.”
Jaekyung said briefly as he unwrapped his hamburger.
