Episode 5
* * *
“I’ll use my free pass.”
At Seol Gihun’s words, the crowd began to murmur.
It was a direct ticket to the main round that each judge could use only once. Their expressions showed they couldn’t believe he had used such a thing on a nobody fatty.
“What? Didn’t he just kick it hard?”
“That’s it. Those broadcasting guys love rigging things. They passed that crippled pig bastard to craft some tear-jerking story.”
“Disgusting. I at least believed in Seol Gihun.”
They eventually dismissed it as the broadcasting company’s scheme. Unable to accept the truth, they had begun to evade reality.
Of course, I heard those whispers too.
And so did I Seonghyeon, who had been standing blankly beside me.
“Hey, you. What did you just say? Crippled pig bastard? Want to get smacked once for every syllable? Huh?”
“And who are you!? …yo?”
“I’m this pig bastard’s older brother!”
At I Seonghyeon’s growl, the people froze up. And they had reason to be; this man was a former pro boxer. He retired due to injury and changed jobs to become a coach, but the muscles from his youth of beating people up remained. And with cauliflower ears to boot, they couldn’t help but be terrified.
“Aren’t you going to apologize quickly? Want me to make you?”
“S-sorry.”
“Louder!”
“I’m sorry!”
“What’s going on over there?”
Only when a staff member intervened did the commotion finally die down. I Seonghyeon spoke, swinging his arms around as if satisfied.
“Hey, how was your hyung? Reliable, right?”
“Uh… yeah. You’re dependable….”
“What? What’s with that lukewarm reaction?”
What do you think?
It’s because you stole my meal.
In my past life, and now too, I never held back against guys like that. So just as I was about to step forward and fire back a retort, I Seonghyeon beat me to the punch. But it’s not like I could say he did a bad job.
*Tch.* I smacked my lips and sat down, and I Seonghyeon asked back.
“But how are you so good at soccer? You were a kid who only knew studying.”
Seeing the piles of books strewn around the room, he had a point. It was strange enough that a study bug had suddenly transformed into a soccer genius.
How could I explain this….
While I was thinking, someone approached.
“Could I talk to you for a moment?”
It was Seol Gihun, the judge who had given me the free pass.
“Yes.”
“Let’s go somewhere else for a moment.”
He glanced at my brother slightly, seeming to want to talk alone. Perfect timing. It was hard thinking up an excuse. I limped and followed Seol Gihun.
“…Your leg seems quite uncomfortable.”
“I’m fine.”
“With your weight constantly shifting to one side, there’s no way you’re fine.”
Like the former pro he was, he accurately knew the problems my leg had. I had no proper excuse and stayed quiet, but an unexpected voice came.
“That’s why I used the free pass for you.”
What was this now?
As I listened, Seol Gihun continued.
“Actually, the third round was a stamina evaluation.”
“Ah….”
He was saying that seeing my obese body and abnormal leg, he had quickly passed me through. I wouldn’t have failed something like that, but from a third party’s perspective, it was a test worrisome enough.
I’d unintentionally gotten a free ride.
I’ll have to pay him back if things go well later.
As I was thinking useless thoughts, Seol Gihun asked again.
“But why didn’t you sign a youth contract? Someone at your level could have debuted easily enough.”
“I wasn’t thinking about playing soccer.”
“I see. That’s understandable enough. Then have you changed your mind now?”
“Yes.”
“You mean you intend to make a living playing soccer?”
“Yes.”
“Then how about the place where I am?”
Huh?
Out of nowhere?
It was a scouting offer I hadn’t expected.
I thought it over carefully.
‘If it’s Senior Seol, he should be coaching in K League 2.’
I was probably right. I may not be book-smart, but my memory is excellent.
‘Senior Seol has pretty good instincts.’
Even if I had shown a glimpse of my true skills, it was ultimately just one shot. Using the free pass on just that, and even wanting to bring me into his team on top of it, meant he had considerable confidence in his own eyes. Of course, it was something to be grateful for, but it wasn’t enough to decide my future.
“I’m sorry. I’d like to enjoy this tryout a little longer.”
At my answer, Seol Gihun nodded without a word.
“Well, I figured as much. A talent equal to my junior wouldn’t be interested in the second division.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s like I poked at a persimmon I couldn’t eat. Then what’s your goal? K League 1? Or maybe Japan or China?”
“Barcelona.”
There was nothing to think about. The place where I had lived and become the best was only that place.
Seol Gihun looked at me, seemingly quite surprised, and stayed quiet for a while. Then he suddenly burst into loud laughter.
“Ahahaha!! Wow, that was a truly unexpected answer.”
“Is that so.”
“Yeah, to the point that I was reminded of a junior I loved very much for a moment. That’s right! A man should have that much guts!”
A junior he loved very much.
It felt a bit iffy, but I let it slide. I couldn’t pour cold water on a face smiling so brightly.
“Your name was I Dohyeon, right?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, I’ll remember. Fighting, let’s meet again in the main round.”
The third evaluation was about to begin. Seol Gihun immediately returned to his seat for judging. I watched his retreating figure and walked back to where I Seonghyeon was.
“Hyung.”
“Huh?”
“Let’s just go home. I’m done here.”
And so, my tryout preliminary round came to an end.
* * *
On the way home, I Seonghyeon, not the least bit ashamed of his hulking frame, shouted endlessly.
“Hey, I Dohyeon! Since when have you been so good at soccer!?”
“Dunno, speak a little quieter.”
“No, if you don’t know then who would! I was really shocked when you shot like that! Did the ball fly five hundred meters or what!?”
“Stop saying weird things! Does it even make sense for a ball to fly five hundred meters?”
“I’m saying that’s how it felt! Don’t you know what ‘perception’ means? Haha!”
I Seonghyeon flexed his bulging muscles and laughed refreshingly.
Family is family after all. Seeing him so happy for me, I wished he’d speak a little quieter, but I guess he couldn’t even do that.
“Hey, by the way, what did that Seol Gihun guy say when he took you away? Did he say he made a mistake using the free pass and wanted it back?”
“Nope.”
“You brat, stop copying me. Then what did he say?”
“He asked if I’d join his team.”
“You little… keep copying… what!? Isn’t that a scout offer!?”
Ah, I told you to speak quietly.
“Is it true!? That guy tried to scout you!?”
“It’s true so be quiet. I’m dying of embarrassment.”
“What’s embarrassing about this! It’s a family celebration, you fool! Finally my little brother is becoming a proper person! Haha!”
I Seonghyeon suddenly hugged me and laughed hoarsely.
The problem was that this was the subway. I hurriedly escaped from him and spoke.
“No, really. Stop it! This is totally crazy.”
“Hahaha!”
The commotion continued at home too.
“Mother, Father! Something huge happened!”
“Huh?”
“What, did you cause another accident?”
“No no, it’s I Dohyeon!”
“So what?”
“Our Dohyeon, why!?”
“He’s incredibly good at soccer!”
“…….”
“…….”
Why the hell is he telling them that?
We agreed to keep it a secret!?
I hurriedly tried to shut I Seonghyeon’s mouth, but the water had already been spilled. The mister shook his head and went inside, and the missus smacked I Seonghyeon’s forearm and spoke.
“…Goodness, you burn victim. Go inside and sleep or something. To think he’s the son I went through labor for.”
“No, I mean that brat passed a tryout or something!”
“What the hell is that!”
“Tryout!”
“So what the hell is it!”
Fortunately, the missus seemed not to know what a tryout was. I should step in about now. Just as I was trying to gloss things over and end the situation, I Seonghyeon’s blabbering started again.
“It’s a public admission test.”
“Huh? Admission test?”
“Yes, it’s like an evaluation process clubs watch to select players.”
The missus, listening intently, asked back in bewilderment.
“What does that mean? Our Dohyeon is becoming a soccer player?”
“Yes.”
“What? A kid who’s not even in good health playing soccer…? Isn’t that dangerous?”
“It is. He could get injured.”
“Then why would you do such a thing. Just keep studying like you were…!”
As the missus’s nagging began, I glared at I Seonghyeon. This is why I wanted to keep it secret. He ruined everything. Whether I Seonghyeon knew his fault or not, he quietly shrank back, and I had to rack my brains to explain.
“M-ma’am… no, Mother. Soccer isn’t such a dangerous sport.”
“Of course it is. The news is full of player injury reports. Didn’t someone named Ji Hakyeong die not long ago?”
“He didn’t die because of soccer, it was a heart attack….”
“He got a heart attack because he overworked his body like that, didn’t he?”
This was beyond the stage of reasoning. Moreover, I had never tried to persuade anyone in my life. Whenever I spoke, people around me just followed.
‘This is… really tricky. What do I do?’
Just as I too was about to fall into panic,
*Bzzzt—.*
A phone call came.
“One moment. It’s an unknown number?”
Right now, I had to answer even unknown numbers. When I pressed the call button, a strange man’s voice was heard.
“Yes, this is I Dohyeon.”
“Hello, participant. I’m PD O Cheolmin from Superstar K League.”
“Ah, yes. Hello.”
“It’s regarding your advancing to the main round stage this time.”
“Yes.”
“So we’d like to conduct an interview with your family members, would that be alright?”
It was a savior. I immediately handed the phone to the missus.
“Please take this call.”
“What call?”
“The broadcasting station.”
“Why the broadcasting station all of a sudden?”
“Just answer it. Then you’ll know.”
Older folks can’t help themselves when it comes to broadcasting. Sure enough, the missus—
“Oh my! An interview?”
—was overjoyed.
What a relief.
* * *
“Phew….”
Sweat pours down like rain. My whole body trembles and my heart pounds like it’ll burst. I’ve been running for two months already, but it’s still hard.
“I’m gonna die.”
I flopped flat in the alley and thought about the conversation with the PD earlier.
“The main round will be held in two weeks. It will proceed as a training camp. The evaluations will not end until 22 remain out of 500 applicants.”
He said 22 would pass the main round. The final stage is 11 vs 11. It meant it would be a formal match.
“The location is the Paju National Team Training Center. For reference, you will be doing a lot of running from now on. This isn’t something I should normally tell you, but Judge Seol insisted I let you know….”
It seems Senior Seol intends to nurture me until the end. I’m truly grateful.
“Understood. Thank you.”
“Yes, then I’ll see you at the main round.”
The call ended there. It was a conversation containing quite a lot of information.
‘The part about doing a lot of running means we’ll be playing matches in the main round just like the final round.’
It probably won’t be a formal match. Since the final round is a formal match, there’s no way they’d do the same in the main round. Then it’s highly likely to be mini football played 4v4 or 5v5….
‘And I’ve done that countless times.’
Actually, mini football doesn’t really require much individual skill. Since everyone is positioned close to each other, you can get to the goal with passing alone. But that’s merely the easiest and most ordinary way to win. In this kind of competition, ordinariness is unnecessary. I have to stand out unconditionally. More than anyone else. Only then can I reach the place I want.
‘For that, individual skills are the best.’
I’m saying this just in case, but I’m someone who thinks team play is very important. I never do anything that risks the game’s outcome because of personal greed. Conversely speaking, it means no matter what I do, I’ll unconditionally win in a game of this level.
I picked up the ball beside me. The symbol of the World Cup, worn and faded—a 2002 Fevernova.
‘I need to revive my senses from now on.’
I had no intention of holding back whatsoever in this evaluation. If someone else gets eliminated because of me, that’s their lot. That was the path Ji Hakyeong had walked, and the only way to become the best in the world.
I began to dribble quietly along the dark alley.