Kiss the Ground

Once he filled his chest, Hongsam rushed out like an arrow and scratched the front door. Chahyun followed him, thinking that he couldn’t raise a big dog if he didn’t exercise. Just before opening the door, he took out his phone one last time to check the time, and his younger brother’s final reply arrived.▶[Fighting]Just three letters. After checking the message, Chahyun stepped out of the door. It was a cool afternoon. The storm was brewing.***At nine in the morning, the limousine bus carrying Winchester FC players and coaching staff arrived at the club’s outdoor ground. The weather was amazingly sunny, as if the entire wish of Winchester United had reached the sky. Under the bright sunshine, a massive crowd had already gathered at the entrance to the parking lot where the bus was entering. Despite still having a few minutes to go before reaching the actual training ground, it was already like that.“How do I look now?” When people started appearing outside the window, Aloys stood up from his seat with a nervous expression. Participating in a big match watched by thousands of spectators, he always seemed particularly tense on open training days. He explained that communicating with fans up close was exciting, but considering he had even done his hair yesterday at the salon, it was clear he had personal motives.“It looks pretty good. Cute!”“Tell me specifically….”Winston, who had been asked the same question ten times already, shouted as if he was fed up. Whether or not he said anything, Aloys continued to comb and tidy his hair without hesitation.Having stopped by the club in the morning, dressed in the uniform and prepared, by now the tension should have eased, but there was a subtle nervousness different from during the game at the fan service event. It felt like being a chef who usually serves completed meals suddenly finding their cooking process exposed in an open kitchen. Even when cooking normally, there might be a feeling that you should put on a fire show if someone suddenly watches with keen eyes…The bus slowly stopped at the entrance to the ground. Chahyun woke up Jude, who was dozing off like a sick chicken, by poking his side. The nerves in his body were remarkable, able to sleep soundly even in a position where it was easy to sleep.As the engine turned off, the excitement of the people waiting for the players to disembark could be heard from outside the window. Chahyun stood up to take his bag and looked back at the rear seat. Other players were slowly getting up and preparing to disembark.“Now, I’ll say a few words before getting off.”Blue standing in the front spoke with a friendly face. The attention of the players immediately turned to him.“Everyone probably knows, but… when you get off the bus, people will rush towards you like crazy. Like lions. While it’s optional to sign autographs, remember that there’s a separate time for fan service after training. Please be flexible, as if you make a wrong move, you might get dragged in. And don’t forget to always be mindful of safety.”Blue’s speech, resembling a principal’s sermon, ended, and the front door of the bus opened. The players one by one stood up and approached the door.With the first player’s disembarkation, the crowd erupted in thunderous cheers. The shouted names changed rapidly as players descended one after another. There was no time for conversation with the neighboring player amid the tremendous noise.What was so restless inside the bus became somewhat amusing outside. Aloys, with a model-like expression, walked through the crowd of fans like a runway. Under the set hair and uniform, his biceps looked somewhat provocative. His commitment to doing a razor advertisement this season seemed sincere, and the bulk-up was quite noticeable.Blue being pulled into the crowd happened in an instant. Despite the warning to be careful, eventually, as he was about to sign autographs, he got caught, and in an instant, he was surrounded by fans, and not a single strand of his hair was visible due to the chaos.“What if he said to be careful and then gets dragged himself?”Jude chuckled while watching the scene. As security guards in yellow jackets moved fiercely to extract the coach, Chahyun entered the ground.The cheers when the players entered the ground were on a different level than those at the parking lot entrance. The presence of a thousand people crowded along the edge of the fence near the ground was much more palpable than the arrogance of tens of thousands sitting in the stadium stands. Perhaps it was because the players’ eye level matched that of the fans.Including the fans lingering outside the ground who unfortunately didn’t win tickets, an enormous crowd had gathered. Only those supporting Winchester FC. Although the event had the word ‘training’ in its name, it focused more on sponsor promotion and fan service than actual training. Therefore, Yoon Chahyun couldn’t ignore the fans. Most of them were local Winchester fans, but among them, numerous Korean banners proudly displayed their presence. Chahyun didn’t forget to wave to the noticeable flags here and there.“Is it always like this? I feel too overwhelmed.”Leroy, who received cheers just by putting on stockings before warming up, mumbled with an anxious expression. Unless it was the moment he personally kicked the ball, he was generally cautious about everything, and he seemed unable to adapt to this excessive attention.“So… I did some jumping jacks earlier, and they started cheering for the cheer songs.”Donoban replied with a stern face. Fans curious about the players’ every move were observing their actions almost to the decimal point. Unlike players participating in a large open training for the first time, who couldn’t hide their awkwardness, Jude, who had some experience, was already lying on the mat, naturally stretching, with a foam roller on his back.“Relax, just relax… It’s no different from a regular match.”“He acts like it’s his living room.”Leroy smirked at that nonchalant sight. In a somewhat absurd tone, Jude closed his eyes and pointed to the other side where other players were.“He’s not that bad.”Chahyun, including his teammates, simultaneously turned their heads in the direction Jude’s finger was pointing. Standing there were commonly known faces of Winchester – Misha Asplund and Cahill Love.The crowd around them wasn’t only spectators; most of the journalists on the ground encircled them, tirelessly taking photos. It seemed like there were at least twenty of them.In the overwhelming attention, Cahill was leaping through the yellow ribbons without any disturbance. If he was deliberately ignoring it, it was truly an incredible mental strength. However nonchalant his personality might be, enduring that level of attention was quite a feat. Recognizing the nonchalance of Cahill, Chahyun furrowed his brow.Next to him, Misha was in a similar situation. Wearing his usual earphones, he sat on the mat, quietly stretching. His posture had a different kind of grace compared to Cahill. Facing the camera surrounding him seemed like the most natural thing. For someone who had received more attention than anyone else due to his striking appearance, it was probably a matter of course.“What… is that like a different world over there?”“To say it’s overwhelming, it has to be at that level, right? Isn’t that so?”Only then did Leroy and Donoban nod in agreement and returned to their places. Understanding the situation and quickly accepting it, they lay on the mat and started routine stretching. It was a moment where Jude’s expertise shone.Rotating their wrists and ankles lightly after the stretching and running, the players gathered in the center of the ground. The menu varied depending on the position, but their faces, more tired than usual, were all the same. It was understandable, considering they had to respond to the enthusiastic cheers of fans every time they moved a limb.The training schedule was almost the same as usual on the center ground. People enjoyed seeing unique warm-ups and stretches that they usually couldn’t witness, but there was also intense interest in dribbling and shooting practice. During group games, cheerful cheers erupted from various places, as players who were thought to only play rough soccer engaged in cute games like tag or stealing chairs.Approaching the players from a distance, Blue had disheveled hair. Perhaps due to being preoccupied with responding to fans’ attention, his face looked somewhat distracted as he brought the players closer.“Shall we start the team game now?”At Blue’s breathless words, Chahyun let out a very small sigh. Finally, this moment had come…“Don’t overdo it, and remember that the important thing is not now, but the upcoming Birmingham match next week. If you feel uncomfortable, come to me right away for an examination.”The duty trainer, holding a first aid kit in his hand, smiled slyly. While appealing for attention would be a method, Chahyun remained silent, neither avoiding nor wandering around the ground, as that wasn’t his style.One coaching trainer came in with a small box, walking into the player’s circle. The box contained the names of all the players on the ground. The team game was conducted with randomly divided two groups playing against each other. The intention was to avoid unforeseen situations like injuries or expulsions by not sticking to the same players every time and trying various combinations.Players each put their hands into the box. Conducting a draw in an era where almost everything is digital had a considerable aspect of fan service. The effect was evident every time the audience cheered when each team member was determined.“This worked out well. I’ve been wanting to tackle Yuan at least once these days…”Unlike Team A’s Chahyun, Jude, holding Team B’s draw, spoke in a subdued tone. Although he had played team games only once or twice, Jude often ended up on the same team as Yoon Chahyun. That had been happening quite frequently. It was a bit too much to have Misha, Cahill, Aloys, and the forwards from the Winston line, all except him, assigned to the opposite team. Although the positions were not meticulously divided, the ratio seemed truly unreasonable. The unequal distribution of positions was indeed an interesting aspect of the game, and it was likely to appeal to the audience’s hearts.With a frustrating feeling, Chahyun was thinking about strategies when someone raised their hand on his shoulder. It was Leroy, the midfielder who happened to be on the same team as Chahyun.“Yuan, what should we do…”“What should we do? I’m here. Don’t you trust me?”“You also these days…”“…”In the face of Leroy’s honesty, Chahyun silently lowered his head. While putting on vests for team differentiation, neither of them spoke.Whether Chahyun’s mind was complicated or not, the game had cruelly begun. What’s a team game anyway? Don’t defenders understand the essence of soccer? As Chahyun exchanged handshakes with the opposing team, he muttered to himself.The team game that finally started was truly an exaggeration to call it a game between the attacking team and the defending team. The metaphor of spear and shield was appropriate. Since the outcome was decided by scoring goals, in the end, the game favored the attacking side. However, Yoon Chahyun thought that if the shield swung wildly like crazy, it could slap the cheek of the guy holding the spear.Whether he didn’t know that he would charge in like a madman or not, the members of Team B seemed a little surprised. As if to prove that, the team consisting of attackers easily gave up the front more than expected, and beyond the half-line, there were passes and kicks galore.Except for Jude, who seemed determined to overcome Yoon Chahyun like an evil spirit, Yoon Chahyun’s main opponent was central midfielder Misha. Even in the absurd situation of having no defenders in the team, he was performing his role properly.Whenever Yoon Chahyun dug into Team B’s territory, Misha tried to disrupt the flow with a slightly rough charge. Despite being familiar with competing against bigger foreign players, Chahyun, who had become accustomed to it, also had a momentary force in Misha’s defense that seemed to push him away.Is he really going to confront like this? For a moment, surprised, the drive to win consumed Yoon Chahyun’s reason. It wasn’t just a simple sense of competition; tightly blocked emotions seemed to surge. He absolutely didn’t want to lose. Only to Misha Asplund.Players who had forgotten it was just a practice game rushed aimlessly. Despite the inappropriate seriousness, the outdoor ground was filled with the cheers of the audience.After a 40-minute competition in total, the team game came to an end. Even though it was only a game time equivalent to one futsal match, players who had given their all were all panting.The game ended with a score of 2:3. Yoon Chahyun’s Team A scored 2, and ultimately, they lost. However, it was a very successful defense, as they only conceded 3 points against a team with only attackers. Winchester’s seasoned defenders had done more than enough.Yoon Chahyun genuinely sweated joyfully after a long time. It was so long ago that he couldn’t remember the last time he concentrated so much. He was not even aware of the thunderous Chahyuncheers from the spectators.Misha persistently defended against Yoon Chahyun’s attacks until the end, regardless of whether his team was winning or not. Even without mixing in a single word of conversation, his sincere dedication was conveyed. It was the simplest and most passionate communication during recent interactions with Misha. It felt as if the old chemistry had briefly returned.“At first, I was worried, but it wasn’t bad. Yuan, you know I supported for the second goal, right?”“Really? It felt like I pushed through on my own…”“No, you didn’t.”Chahyun drank his drink with a relieved feeling. The public training session of Winchester FC had now come to an end. However, the remaining schedule was the most crucial, serving as the highlight of today’s event. It was a short time to express gratitude to the fans who had watched and cheered for the players throughout the day, engaging in conversations, taking photos together, and signing autographs.The service time was indeed an opportunity for fans and players to communicate most closely. The spectrum varied from a five-year-old baby who had been supporting Winchester with their parents since inside the womb to an old man who was a fan of Winchester through generations. Therefore, players made an effort to sign as many autographs as possible, often returning without even their own uniforms.During the short break between training and service time, players were given a rest period to relax their bodies. From players lightly moving their bodies and stretching their muscles to those engaging with the audience by the fence in conversation, the ground presented a diverse array of scenes during the brief moment of freedom.Yoon Chahyun, holding a cold pack for cooling down, sat on the edge of the ground. After a refreshing run, his muscles must have heated up a lot. Cooling down, which helped settle post-exercise fatigue and excitement while promoting recovery, was as important a step as warming up.A few reporters approached near Yoon Chahyun. Pointing their cameras as if to take a V-sign, Chahyun was surprised by the familiar face among them.“Mr. Ilya.”“Chahyun, I watched the game. It was fantastic!”“Since when have you been here?”“I arrived a bit late, but I saw the team game.”Seeing Ilya after a few days, he had a familiar face as always, carrying a heavy equipment bag. Yoon Chahyun smiled with joy.For a moment, the two exchanged brief conversations about the open training. Ilya mentioned the sunny weather being conducive to good outdoor photos and inquired about their well-maintained conditions. After light topics, Ilya, at one point, casually looked around and then leaned down to whisper softly into Chahyun’s ear.“…Nothing happened?”“No. Nothing at all.”“Good. I’ve been worrying since that day when I contacted you.”Lowering his voice as if to avoid being heard by anyone, Ilya kept his gaze fixed on the packed stands beyond the fence. It seemed like he was concerned about the unidentified crowd. Chahyun responded quietly.“I’m sorry if I caused you worry. Looking back, it seems like it was just a prank. It was the first time something like that happened, but…”“Don’t worry too much.”Ilya patted Chahyun on the shoulder to comfort him. The warmth of the touch reached through the uniform. Grateful for Ilya’ affection, Chahyun smiled quietly instead of responding.“Service time is about to start, right? I should get going. I have fan interviews to do…”“You’ve worked hard.”“Chahyun, is it just you?”Ilya laughed coolly and hoisted his equipment again. Despite being busy throughout the weekend, he remained enthusiastic. Chahyun waved as Ilya briskly walked away.***The fervor of the fans up close was overwhelming. Even when heard from a distance, the cheers were beyond imagination. Wandering around the fence, exchanging greetings with people, Chahyun, more than any other Winchester FC player, had his uniform taken away first. The recipient was a blond girl holding a small Taegeukgi. It was partly because the child, nestled in her parents’ arms, shyly called Chahyun’s name with awkward words, making her adorable. Yet, the practical reason for giving uniforms to children rather than adults in public was to minimize conflicts.After that, dozens of uniforms, easily more than thirty, simultaneously sought Chahyun’s autograph. Chahyun responded to the fans’ cheers tirelessly, his arms moving mechanically like a signing machine. Seeing the multitude of people with uniforms, it was understandable that the official club store was doing well in terms of profitability.‘How about it? Is it bearable?’Jude, standing a little apart, looked at Chahyun, silently asking with just the movement of his lips. There was a timidness as if he was conscious of the camera recording live right next to Yoon Chahyun’s face. Chahyun responded by nodding his head, and since making any sound would not be heard anyway.From the moment they arrived at the center early in the morning, the live cameras attached to the players had been providing continuous, close-up coverage from training to service time. Yoon Chahyun’s sister, who had passionately proclaimed his love for Cahill yesterday, would probably be watching this screen by now. The disappointed expression of him seeing Chahyun’s face filling the monitor must have been vivid.With all the schedules completed, the players and coaches of Winchester FC gathered in the middle of the field. After taking a group photo with the stands as the background, the realization hit that they had overcome a significant hurdle. The only thing left was the Round of 16.Coaches stepped forward to organize the chaotic atmosphere behind the event. While the staff cleaned up the mats and cones scattered on the field, the players bid their final farewells towards the stands. The limousine bus was already waiting at the exit of the field. Players holding team bags in one hand formed a line and moved toward the bus.The path to the exit was still crowded with people who didn’t want to send off the players. Those still excited shouted loudly behind the security guards, as players passed closely. The harmony of the crowd calling out support for the passing players was emotionally overwhelming.“Yoon Chahyun!”Standing in front of the stairs to board the bus, a new voice behind Chahyun penetrated like an arrow. What accurately caught his attention amid the loud cheers was the very natural Korean pronunciation. Yoon Chahyun turned around, facing the direction where the sound came from.Amidst the crowd shaking pickets without focus, there was a man with a familiar face. He was an East Asian man of not very tall stature, carrying a backpack as large as his body. Yoon Chahyun narrowed his eyes for a moment while looking at his face.He was the person Chahyun had met in the Winchester FC Training Center parking lot two weeks ago. The one who picked up the keys Chahyun dropped and received his signature on a bag full of goods, an avid fan of Chahyun. The reason Yoon Chahyun quickly remembered him was that he was wearing the exact same outfit as back then. The deep blue, Winchester’s home uniform, and even the tensed smile on his face were identical. The only difference was that this time, there was Chahyun’s signature on the chest of the uniform.“Oh…!”Yoon Chahyun let out a small exclamation unconsciously. It turned out to be true that he had won the ticket for the Open Training Day. The tone of the man, who had proudly announced the fact of his winning with a pleased face, came to mind. The man was shaking hands eagerly with Yoon Chahyun amidst the crowd.In a welcoming gesture, Yoon Chahyun wanted to call out to him, but he knew nothing about the man. He regretted not asking for his name after signing so many autographs. With a sense of disappointment, Chahyun walked a few steps towards him.As Chahyun approached, the fans near him reached out and cheered. Chahyun smiled warmly at the man. When Chahyun had met him before, he was going through a rough condition, and the man’s enthusiastic support had lifted his spirits.“Nice to see you again!”Approaching, Yoon Chahyun extended his hand for a handshake. The man responded with his characteristic nervous smile, offering his hand.However, the man did not shake Yoon Chahyun’s hand. Instead, he raised his hand upward swiftly, almost as fast as the sound of the wind.Suddenly, Yoon Chahyun realized that the man was attempting to strike his face with his hand. It happened so abruptly, and he seemed unable to move his legs, as if they were firmly fixed to the ground.Yoon Chahyun flinched as the man’s raised hand approached. In a brief moment, he stared blankly at the man’s hand, noticing a gleaming metal fragment caught between the man’s fingers.“Step back.”Someone grabbed Chahyun’s shoulder for an instant, pulling him backward. Under an immense force that seemed to contract his entire body, Chahyun tumbled unceremoniously backward onto the ground. His vision turned momentarily white as his back collided forcefully.Immediately following the loud impact, screams and shouts erupted from the crowd. Dozens of people rushed in within seconds, surrounding the area. In the chaos, several individuals grabbed Yoon Chahyun’s back and pulled him out.Dragged outside the crowd, Yoon Chahyun finally lifted his head and looked ahead. Amidst the flashes of security guards’ yellow uniforms, a familiar brown-haired figure with bowed head became visible through the gaps. Chahyun gasped.Probably aiming for Yoon Chahyun, the assailant wielding a blade was pinned down by security personnel. Amidst the clamor, the wheezing sound of his heavy breathing was unnaturally distinct.On the assailant’s uniform, above Chahyun’s autograph, there was a serene pattern of Misha Asplund’s blood splatter, vividly crimson.***Yoon Chahyun sat in a chair in the center lounge.The phone placed on the adjacent seat vibrated incessantly, shaking the metal chair. The eerie alarms, which he dared not check, created an unsettling atmosphere.The lounge was noisy and bustling. The footsteps around Chahyun were reminiscent of the moments just a few hours ago when they were preparing for the open training. However, the ominous atmosphere within was a stark contrast to the lively and hopeful outlook they had while preparing for the upcoming schedule.Chahyun wrapped his head and bent deeply at the waist.From head to toe, he felt a chilling sensation as if a frigid waterfall were pouring down on him. Suddenly, it seemed as if the floor he stepped on disappeared, and his entire body was floating in mid-air.The outdoor ground of Winchester FC turned into chaos in an instant due to the abrupt injury incident. External security personnel, aiming to calm the excited spectators and protect the players, encircled Yoon Chahyun and his colleagues.The assailant was subdued on the spot, and the situation was quickly brought under control. However, the screams of startled fans did not cease.Isolated from the crowd, surrounded by security personnel like being quarantined, Chahyun peeked through the gaps to see Misha in the distance. Turning his back in the opposite direction, like other players, Misha was surrounded by those trying to protect him. His tall figure kept disappearing and reappearing.Under the sunny sky, the fresh blood flowing vividly. As Chahyun recalled that scene, he found himself halfway leaning out through the crowd. He didn’t expect to have a conversation with him, but he felt the need to confirm his face.Squeezing through a narrow gap, Chahyun’s arm extended outward was grabbed from behind by Jude. Chahyun instinctively tried to shake off his hand. However, Jude seemed resolute in not letting Yoon Chahyun go towards Misha. Despite Chahyun’s attempt to protest by shaking his body roughly, Jude’s grip on his arm remained firm. Meanwhile, Misha had already moved somewhere, blending in with the staff.And that was the end of it.***The event quickly concluded, and the organizers hurriedly dispersed the crowd. Led into the limousine bus by his colleagues, Chahyun observed the scattered people like a surprised ant colony.With the staff’s announcement that they would move to the club first, the bus slowly began to move. Chahyun, without sitting in the front seat, stared absentmindedly at the people scrambling around like startled ants.The staff mentioned that they would accompany Misha to the hospital. As the bus moved through the outskirts of the city towards the training center building, a chilling silence enveloped the inside of the bus. The only sound that echoed was the frantic conversation of someone on the staff’s phone amid the eerie silence.