Hello, I have to tell you first that actually this matter has been posted on the JLC app for quite a long time. But I just had the opportunity to put it in Dek Dee. This is another short story that we really enjoyed writing and hope that you all will enjoy reading it.

If you have any suggestions? Please feel free to comment and criticize as you please. Thank you <3

“Give me another beer. And another big plate of french fries."

The young waiter named Andrew had a smile on his lips. After seeing a number of empty alcohol bottles on the table and plates stained with ketchup that were stacked in three layers on the table. His chubby fingers deftly held a pen and jotted down items in a dull notebook. Then ask if this regular customer would like anything more.

"Let's do this first, thank you."

Max replied, glancing up at the waiter, who they'd been seeing more often lately than usual, as he disappeared into the bustling kitchen.

Outside the window, rain was falling. It makes people who are walking into the night have to run and find shelter, and one of the best places to hide is an old bar decorated in a retro style that is currently being used by a young man.

Max likes this bar because it's quieter and less crowded than other bars in the neighborhood. It sits on the last corner of a small road that leads to the main thoroughfare in the heart of Los Angeles. The city that never sleeps

Not long after, the same young waiter walked up to him again with a bottle of ice-cold beer and a large plate of golden-yellow fries drenched in hot oil.

Max actually wanted to order pure liquor, but he was afraid he'd get so drunk that he wouldn't be able to return to his dorm and become a loser sitting on the side of the road vomiting.

A graduate student like him was once too arrogant to call himself a loser. Until I tasted the feelings of a heartbroken person for the first time...

Max poured the bubbly yellow liquid into the cylindrical glass until it was full before downing it all in one go. Then he sat still. Letting his coldness flow throughout his stomach, it slowly turned into a burning sensation that could warm his body.

But what good is a warm body if the heart is still cold?

Max popped a potato chip into his mouth and chewed it as he looked out of the store's large glass doors. He tried to stop himself from thinking about the incident three days ago that had cost him several dollars on these intoxicants, even though he wasn't a heavy drinker.

Who will believe that a young man with a beautiful history like him will be thrown away by the person he has been courting for a long time just because he is too boring?

The more I thought about it, the more it hurt... Blank brown eyes watched the people and cars passing by in the rain. Sometimes you don't even know what you're looking at. It drifts on and on without a destination.

No matter how many miles you float But the image of the other young man sitting at the far end was still in his sight...

Three days of drinking beer in this bar. Max always found the man sitting at this table as if it was his favorite seat.

Everything looked normal until it felt like every time I looked up, I was met with a pair of deep eyes that seemed to be watching from afar all the time, and even if there was someone else sitting in between, I couldn't avoid them because of their shape. His height

If looking from this distance He was a handsome young man, with white skin and dark brown hair. He was neatly dressed in a t-shirt, long pants, and sneakers. On the table was a large, cream-colored coat casually stacked with a large, half-eaten sundae and dark glasses.

There were times when Max intended to strike a cord with a smile. But he never got it back even once.

What started as narcissism changed to discomfort, embarrassment, and eventually resentment.

When patience reaches its limit The young man then decided to get up from the table and walked tensely towards his opponent with a beer in his hand. Max believed that everyone in the store could clearly see how serious his expression was. But he chose to sit and eat his ice cream sundae in peace.

"I'm sorry, sir..."

Max decided to call out. And when I had the chance to meet him clearly, I couldn't help but think that he looked as good as expected.

“Sir, did you hear that? I'm calling you."

His voice was even stronger than before, causing the young man sitting there to nod his head in response.

It was then that his smooth face was adorned with large eyes. A high nose and thin pink lips were revealed.

"Are you talking to me?"

This stranger's first voice was soft and pleasant. Conceals the innocence of youth

"Yes," Max replied, sinking into the vacant chair. Sharp eyes looked carefully at the person sitting upright in front of them.

“Do we know each other?” he asked.

"No, but we'll get to know each other now."

"Why are you looking at me?"

Instead of showing some signs of apprehension, But this sweet-faced opponent smiled. That made him even angrier.

"What does this smile mean?"

"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

The tall man hurriedly corrected himself and took a deep breath, holding back a laugh from escaping.

"I thought that this must be the case."

“Then tell me what's your problem. Listen, I've been here three days now. I see you every time and you stare at me every time. Do you know that it's rude?"

“Oh...like this. No wonder you look so annoyed."

"But you always sit in front of me?"

Max gulped as he suddenly forgot the words in his head, not because of the teasing expression or those white cheeks.

“Yes, it's like, this is my usual place. If it's free, I sit. Just like you."

Max watched those thin lips twitch into a wide smile. If you don't think you're in a bad mood. He would probably describe it as the most beautiful smile he had ever seen in his life. Overtakes Joshua's ranking The person who broke his heart without seeing the dust.

The strange young man didn't say anything else before scooping ice cream into his mouth and acting like he was an ethereal person again.

Max sat with a frown. The embarrassment doubled. Realizing that he was carrying a glass of beer, he drank it all and watched the other person sit and eat ice cream.

"Look, I'm still sitting in front of you, in case you forgot."

His broad shoulders twitched slightly, his hand reaching for a piece of paper to wipe away the whipped cream stains stuck at the corner of his mouth.

"Sorry, I thought you were gone."

Max laughed deep in his throat. "How much will it bother you?"

"Nothing. You just keep quiet."

“Okay, I'm not in the mood to play with you. Stop joking, look at my face, don't I look so hilarious?"

Max spoke sternly again, moving his face closer to the young man. But that person was not afraid of those angry expressions. On the contrary, it was Max himself who felt the loss of face. It's similar to when you smile but the other person just ignores you.

“Okay, fine, I don't want to know. But I would like to warn you to make merit..."

"Don't look at anyone like that again, understand? You're lucky it's me. If it were anyone else, you would definitely get hit.”

Max kills softly like an intellectual who avoids violence. Then he suddenly stood up from his chair.

The person who was still sitting in a golden state smiled again.

"When I hear you say this I really wanted to look at you."

His voice was as cold as flowing water, powerful enough to cause those who were upset to look back.

"What did you say just now?"

"I said I really wanted to look at you."

The young student sneered, "Heh! And what was this called in the past? I don't know."

A white-skinned young man picked up an empty glass of water and drank it to quench the sweet, sore taste of vanilla ice cream.

“I have a big mouth like that. In fact, I can't even see you..."

"Since when?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Oh, so what are we talking about?"

"oh..."

"Twelve years old"

Max placed his beer glass on the table and looked at the handsome young man in front of him with interest.

“What happened?” he asked.

"The cornea is infected."

His whole heart fluttered after hearing this answer.

"Both sides?"

"Um, well...when I went to see the doctor, I was already blind on one side. The other side gradually became blind."

Max was silent, his frustration disappearing after he learned that his opponent was visually impaired. This means that past disputes were purely caused by misunderstandings.

"It's a bit bad."

"No, I'm used to it."

Max bit his lip until it hurt, feeling ashamed. Slender eyes were watching the other person reach out and pick up a piece of paper to wipe his mouth again, there was no searching or searching anywhere to be seen.

At first, he thought that maybe only he was so stupid that he couldn't see it. But when I saw those agility, I immediately stopped wondering.

"You don't look like a blind person."

Ye Xin shrugged and hurriedly swallowed the water in his cheeks.

"Everyone says this."

"You really don't see anything?"

"not at all"

Max smiled, "Then you've been clueless about your own body for a long time."

"Thirteen full years."

The young man, who had no experience with the visually impaired before, began to wonder why it was so difficult to break free from these blind eyes.

Or it may not be related at all...

Max was silent for a long moment. He then looked deep into those eyes and found a small, milky white spot within his brown iris.

“What if I said you were a good-looking person? Will you believe me?”

Ye Xin smiled at the corner of his mouth.

"Believe it."

"Really asking"

The young man, who was a few years younger, laughed.

"You're not the first person to compliment me like that. Just so you know."

Strangely, those simple words caused a depressed heart to gradually swell without the owner even realizing it.

"Are you still there?"

Max was taken aback, like a person who had just regained consciousness.

"live"

"oh..."

"But it's this close?"

The young man hurriedly pulled himself back to his original position and prayed that the other party would ignore the loud bang he had caused.

Ye Xin laughed amusedly. Eyes that are accompanied by a good mood are even more charming.

“The rain has stopped. I have to leave first. Thank you for sitting here as a friend,” he said, pulling out a bill and covering it with a bowl of ice cream. He turned to grab a coat and a foldable walking stick for the blind. He skillfully managed to free it and spread it open.

“Where are you staying, Yesin?”

Max jumped up from his chair when he saw the young man walk away.

“At the apartment with my brother. Just walk back up three blocks."

"Can I walk you there?"

Max offered as he ran past him to open the door and his strong hand grabbed one of his arms.

"Don't worry. I've been here since I was born. It's just a minor matter to go home."

"I'm not worried. But I want to go too."

His wandering gaze and slight smile made the young man's heart pound as if it would burst out of his chest.

Moreover, Another heart beats hard in the same way.

The rhythmic sound of the cane hitting the pavement stopped as it brought its owner safely to their destination.

Max isn't usually a good talker. I just like to ask questions about what I want to know. It was different from Ye Xin who spoke in a tongue-in-cheek manner as if they had been close friends for a long time. And on the way The two talked and exchanged many things.

"How do you know you've walked home?"

Max asked, scanning the large apartment between a bakery and a daycare center.

"Have you ever heard that? They say that if a person is lacking in one area, they will have talent in other areas to make up for it.” Ye Xin replied, lightly tapping his temple with his index finger, “I have a good memory.”

"Thank you for coming to deliver."

"nevermind"

Ye Xin smiled relaxedly. In my heart I was curious and wanted to see if the other person might be smiling as well.

"So...good night," he decided to say goodbye. Before one arm was held back by a strong hand again.

"I just realized I still haven't apologized to you," Max said.

"Sorry about what?"

"That's why I'm looking for trouble with you. Who says good memory? I'm more of a braggart."

When the audience heard this, they laughed.

“How dare you call that kind of friendship a fight, huh?”

"I'm much better at making friends than that, believe me," the young man replied, his face heating up.

"Anyway, please call me-"

"...Do you like watching MLB..."

Max gasped after being interrupted.

"MLB...baseball?"

"yes"

"Well...just like that. Why do you ask?"

"I happen to have two tickets for The The Dodgers and Kansas are playing tomorrow. But my brother has urgent business so he can't go with me and..."

"Wait a minute," Max interrupted, "are you telling me you like watching baseball?"

"Um"

"I like watching baseball."

"yes"

“Is it even possible- uh...I don't underestimate you. But I really want to know."

"I've been watching mine since I was a kid, any die-hard Dodgers fan will tell you," Yesin boasted.

"And if you want to know...go look with me."

"Damn, you never cease to amaze me," Max laughed, glancing at the taller figure who stood anxiously waiting for an answer in front of him for a moment, then finally agreed.

"Let me come pick you up here," he volunteered.

"Sure, see you at five."

"okay..."

The young man smiled and let out a long sigh to relax from his nervousness.

Until now, I still haven't been able to take my eyes off this blind man who is so charming in appearance. Both this person's words The only downside is that it's only slightly taller than him.

“You haven't returned yet?” Ye Xin asked.

"not yet"

The tall man chuckled, "You can go back now. If it rains again it will be difficult to come back."

When Max looked at the gloomy atmosphere around him he agreed.

"So...good night," he said.

"good night"

Even though Ye Xin had already disappeared into the long hall, But the other man was still standing in the same place with various feelings clashing in his head. Two of which seem to be the most obvious:

Neung-Yesin is an interesting person.

And two - he doesn't know how to watch baseball.

The evening of the appointment Max drove the car and parked in front of the apartment. He found Ye Xin already waiting on a bench on the sidewalk, dressed casually, similar to when they'd met at the bar the previous night: a round-neck t-shirt. black jeans Sneakers and your favorite long cream coat.

"Hi," Max got out of the car and greeted. The young man smiled after noticing that Ye Xin had an old baseball glove with him.

"Are we going yet?"

Ye Xin stood up and stretched out his hand to feel his slender body until he found his forearm.

"I'm too lazy to use a cane. Please allow me," he said as he grabbed that arm.

The twilight weather was quite cool with heavy rain falling throughout the night. But his sweet voice and the touch of his arm made Max feel warm.

Even though I'm a bit clumsy But at least Max was able to guide a blind stranger into the stadium seat according to the number on the ticket just in time for the game.

The other night, a young man spent a few hours studying for his baseball homework and the results were worth it. That is, he doesn't understand anything.

If it's basketball, it's like...

Max had once believed that an old student like him wouldn't fall into anyone's trap so easily. He couldn't speak fully.

"Do you think I'm boring?" Max asked as he watched a Los Angeles baseball game. The Dodgers and Kansas City Royals joined thousands of supporters in the stands.

“What are you asking?” Ye Xin was surprised. His eyes looked out at the vast field in front of him as if he was really intent on watching the game.

"I want to know, so I'll ask."

Ye Xin turned to face him.

"Saying it like this... means you must have encountered something."

"You can tell each other."

The young man sighed and shook his head.

“It doesn't matter. You answer my question, that's enough."

"You're not boring. If compared to baseball"

“Baseball is played for nine innings. Many people say it's boring."

"Crazy! It's going to be fun."

Ye Xin heard him blurt out like that and laughed loudly.

"You don't even know how to watch baseball, Max."

"Oh, you look right."

"Don't pretend to be nice. If you look like that, you must have reported the game to me by now."

The tall man continued. Meanwhile, the person sitting next to him began to shrink smaller and smaller.

"Usually when I come with my brother He always gives me game reports and listens to the voices of the supporters. That's how I watch baseball."

"...You know, when you can't see You'll hear it more than anyone else..."

Ye Xin explained, then leaned back on the chair and took a deep breath into his lungs and let it out slowly and comfortably.

Max didn't say anything but looked at the other person before picking up a baseball glove and putting it on.

"If you're bored, you can leave first."

"Are you chasing each other?" Max said jokingly, but intended to sound serious like that.

"Nothing. I'm so considerate."

Ye Xin raised her mouth to argue. His childish expression made him unable to hold back his laughter.

"Instead of telling me from the beginning that I don't know how to watch it, eh, or that you wanted to watch it anyway?"

He shook his head in denial.

"Actually, I'm one of those people who think baseball is boring."

"Then why did you come with me?"

Haven't gotten the answer yet. The shouts of excitement from the surrounding people resounded throughout the stadium. Ye Xin turned left and right and smacked the other young man's legs with his palms.

"What happened? Grand Slam?"

"No, there's someone near us who can pick up a baseball from number thirty-five."

"Really? How lucky! That's Cody Bellinger. I like him."

Max smiled at the other person and then turned to continue watching the game.

"Hey, you still haven't answered my question."

"Why did you come with me?"

When Ye Xin asked again The young man then moved his sharp face closer to the white cheeks on that sweet, youthful face.

Not asking to be too close, just asking to be close enough for the other person to be able to feel his breath.

"At first I just wanted to know how you watch baseball..."

"But when I think about it...I think I'd rather look at you."

A slender white hand pushed the other person's face away. The adorable smile on his chubby cheeks showed that it wasn't out of disgust. Embarrassment

"Trust me, you're not boring."

"At least for me..."

If there is any voice louder than the voices of hundreds of thousands of baseball fans, It must be the sound of these two lonely hearts regaining their vitality.

It was another night of heavy rain. The road was now wet and covered in small puddles. Max spread his leather jacket over his head to shield Yesin from the rain as he walked him to his apartment after the match. It's over.

“Do you want to go inside first?” Ye Xin asked.

"No, it's late. I don't want to disturb you."

"Are you very wet?"

"A little, it's okay."

Ye Xin took out a small handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to the person in front of him.

When he was about to receive it, his hand was pulled away.

"I'd better wipe it up."

With that, he slowly stretched out his hand in front of him until it touched a face he had never seen before.

Max stood still. Let the other person use the soft cloth to pat his own moist face until it's dry. Before another hand reached out and caressed his eyes, nose, mouth, and even the outline of his face, as if investigating something.

"What are you doing?"

"Imagining what you're like."

"So how is it?"

Ye Xin put his hand down. Big, round eyes drifting away, laced with a gentle smile.

"do not know All I know is that you're smaller than me."

Max grinned. The warmth from his palm still hasn't faded.

“Thank you,” Ye Xin continued after being left listening to the sound of the rain falling for a while.

Max watched the young man walk down the apartment hall swinging his cane. But after walking only a few steps, he had to turn back.

"Max...are you still there?"

“There you are,” he answered immediately.

Ye Xin whistled softly, feeling strangely relieved.

"Will we meet again?"

The young man in front of him caused his emotions and his entire heart to tremble.

"It's up to you."

He only replied after standing and thinking for a while. Then he smiled knowingly that it was useless before turning and walking away, wondering why speaking directly had become so difficult.

"Who sent it?"

"friend"

Ye Xin replied to Jensen. The elder brother heard his voice coming from the living room.

"Benny?"

"No, it's a new friend. We happened to meet at a bar the other day.”

"Oh...and what was the score?"

"You should already know."

"Well, I'll ask and see if I really went to see it or not."

"Be quiet."

Jensen laughed loudly as he walked over to the dining room table where his brother had left his rain-soaked coat.

“How many times have I told you not to take your shirt off and lay it all around? I'm too lazy to keep up."

"Can't help it. You like moving the clothes rack yourself."

Jensen, in his early thirties, was a little annoyed at being argued back like that. He picked it up and held it in his hand, looking at his younger brother who was sitting on the sofa using a towel to dry his wet hair.

"So, are you going to tell me what the score is?"

“Oh, you probably don't have to. I believe you actually went to see it..."

"How did you get there?"

Ye Xin frowned, “What?”

"It's the baseball in your coat pocket. Damn it!" I don't know how many times I've gone to watch with you and never been so lucky."

The more he heard his brother's commotion, the more confused he became as to how it had gotten into his coat pocket.

"Eh, this is my phone number."

Ye Xin was taken aback, “What?”

"telephone number Someone must have written it on the baseball with a pen.”

"What the hell is this?!" Mookie Betts is flirting with you?” Jensen continued to insist.

The young man's heart skipped a beat. His hand was trembling and he was reaching for his phone in his pants pocket.

"Cody Bellinger, maybe? Come on, give me your number."

two one three seven one two seven five two four

Ye Xin still remembered this number by heart even though more than an hour had passed since Jensen said it. He was now lying on a bed in a private bedroom. But my heart wanders far away

He deleted the number before starting to type it again. Listening carefully to the numbers one by one, he decided to call.

Each time the dial tone made him nervous. But the noise didn't last long before it suddenly disappeared.

"hello..."

Ye Xin greeted, and the heart that was waiting to hear a reply jumped.

"Hi...stranger."

…Completely completed…