ALL NOVEL Chapter 7
– Han Gyeouri: Hey, lol, what’s this folder with the stork? There’s even a video inside?
– Jinho: It’s a football tactics video.
– Han Gyeouri: Hmmm~
– Han Gyeouri: So I can check what this file is, right?
– Jinho: Yeah, you can look.
– Han Gyeouri: Come on, are you nervous?
– Han Gyeouri: If I ask winter sister to stop right now, she would.
– Jinho: No, lol, I’m serious, it’s a tactics video! Let’s check the content first.
– Han Gyeouri: Wait, are you sure I can see the file? Is it really okay? It’s not going to have some weird tentacle stuff, right?
– Han Gyeouri: I wonder what our Jinho’s perverse taste is~~~
– Han Gyeouri: …Oh.
– Han Gyeouri: It really is a tactics video. How boring ㅡㅅㅡ
– Han Gyeouri: Jinho, I’m seriously asking, are you a virgin?
– Han Gyeouri: So is there no shaking in this sister’s sexy body?
Since I got called up to the U-19 National Team, Gyeouri has been sending messages every day. She’s probably worried about me joining the U-19 National Team in advance and feeling lonely being home alone.
– Jinho: Gyeouri, I’m adjusting well, so don’t worry too much. And you’re feeling lonely without me, right?
– Han Gyeouri: Lonely? What are you talking about…. Anyway, I have to go study now, so bring me Melona on your way back~!
Gyeouri, feeling shy after her inner thoughts were exposed, left off with her “bring Melona” joke.
I wasn’t just saying it to reassure her; I really had been adjusting well to the U-19 National Team.
The seniors in my position began to see me as a strong competitor, but there was no bullying or isolation happening.
On the contrary, the U-19 National Team players had a personal maintenance time. They held a welcoming party for me, the newcomer.
“Hey, who’s taking so long to message?!”
“My girlfriend.”
I smiled and answered to my roommate Cha Dongwon’s question.
“Oh~ girlfriend~ is she pretty?”
“She’s a total knockout.”
“A knockout?”
“I mean, ridiculously pretty.”
“You little brat, are you cursing in front of your older brother now? Soon you’ll drop the honorifics too, huh?”
“Yeah. Nice to meet you, Dongwon Tuna.”
“…Wow. Is this what kids these days are like?”
Shaking his head disapprovingly, Dongwon Tuna left. I followed him to where the welcoming party was taking place.
There, the seniors were already seated, and I chatted with them without any hesitation.
“Jinho, if you make it big later, don’t forget your brother.”
“Oh sure. I’ll make sure to check in every holiday.”
“You promised, if you don’t contact me on the holidays, I’ll write online that Jinho has changed.”
“Jinho, you’re in trouble. This guy is really so petty he would actually write that.”
“Haha. I’ll be sure to reach out not just on the holidays but whenever I need advice, too. And seniors, feel free to contact me if you need any help.”
“Oh right, we haven’t exchanged numbers yet.”
As I exchanged numbers with the seniors, I reflected on how well they treated me despite being competitors.
Well, there was no special reason for it.
The U-19 National Team is made up of the best football players in the age group, and obviously, everyone is aiming to become a pro.
Would pro-aspiring players bully or ostracize someone on the team just because they were four years younger? That would practically mean declaring “I have no interest in becoming a pro.”
No matter what anyone says, football is a team sport.
But which pro team would want a player that disrupts the all-important locker room atmosphere? Ah, of course, they might choose such a player if there’s a bribe involved.
And more importantly, the U-19 National Team I was called into isn’t just full of little kids either. Most of the players were already part of universities or the K League, and they’ve seen and experienced so much playing football in Korea. We understood the power of connections well enough.
“Jinho, do coaches still openly accept envelopes of money nowadays?”
While I was briefly lost in thought, one senior asked. I nodded and replied.
“Our school doesn’t accept them because the chairman blocks it, but I know some schools do.”
That question led our conversation naturally to which coach was the biggest sleazeball.
“I remember in elementary school, my parents must have forgotten to give me a bribe or something. One day, they suddenly switched me to a full-back position.”
“Wow. Are you looking down on full-backs?”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Hey, still, you’re better off than I am. I’m the one stuck with a coach who supposedly lets the useless kids that took money to play end up in the game and then drinks himself into a stupor afterward.”
“Wow. That’s pretty harsh.”
“After that, our coach was accused of sexual harassment on a parent.”
“…C’mon! You win this round. How did you keep your mental together?”
“Since she wasn’t my mom, I was fine. I just asked to transfer that day and moved to another school.”
“Hey, did you experience any unfairness like that?”
“I lost my parents at a really young age…”
“Ahhh! Dongwon Tuna, shut up!!”
Of course, besides the intentional losses ordered by the coach, there were bribery, violence, and lots of other disgusting things too.
Maybe it’s because despite experiencing all these filthy and repulsive things, I hadn’t given up on my dream of becoming a football player and kept working hard.
As we chatted, we unknowingly felt a camaraderie. You know, it’s kind of like how you feel oddly happy when you meet someone in the same profession. It was just a bit deeper than that.
“Hey, Jinho. But do you really need to be on the U-19 National Team right now? Since you’re a latecomer, you could join next time.”
Well, of course, just like in society, not everyone could be nice.
And honestly, I could somewhat understand the feelings of the player who brought it up. It must be that desperate for a pro contract.
But seeing him bring it up in such a public place didn’t seem like he was that malicious.
If he were really nasty, he would have called me into a secluded alley and threatened me instead.
“…”
I fell silent at the senior’s desperate request. It was hard to find a suitable response.
“Why do you even mention that, man?”
“Coach, as you said, a football player’s skill is everything. Is someone going to care about age in the pros?”
The situation could have gotten awkward, but fortunately, the other seniors broke the tension at the right moment.
“…Jinho, I’m sorry. I was a bit hasty.”
“It’s okay, hyung.”
As soon as the coach was mentioned, the senior who initially spoke to me offered an apology, and I accepted it with a smile.
“It’s getting late, so let’s wrap this up.”
“Yeah.”
“So who’s the winner?”
“Obviously you, you brat. How could you lose that? You’re just joking, right?”
“No, damn it. Do you want me to recite what the coach said that day too?”
Maybe it was the awkward atmosphere, but that meeting ended like that. I returned to the room with Dongwon Tuna, my roommate.
While Dongwon Tuna was getting ready for bed, I lay on my bed, slowly recalling the words of Coach Han Gwangjong.
“Selecting players will depend solely on skill. Your age and background won’t matter at all! The one who performs best will get to play! Ah, and just so you know, if you cause even the slightest problem, you’ll be kicked off the team without mercy, and won’t even be able to step foot in the domestic leagues!”
Coach Han Gwangjong’s statement served as a great buffer for young players like me. Unless they were sure of their success overseas, there wouldn’t be a big player willing to go against the promising coach backed by the association.
Honestly, I’m not afraid of such situations as an adult now. But emotionally, I can’t help feeling irritated and annoyed.
“Oh, by the way. Wasn’t what the Hanyang High coach said about being called up to the U-19 National Team?”
I suddenly remembered the Hanyang High coach’s significant words.
From the looks of it, it seems the Hanyang High coach spoke separately to Coach Han Gwangjong. Choi Gi-hyun was acting like it was all thanks to him, but from my perspective, that guy didn’t seem to have helped much at all.
I should subtly test the waters with the Hanyang High coach next time I see him and express my gratitude. Because it’s true that I got a great opportunity thanks to him.
– Han Gyeouri: Hey, Son Jinho, are you sleeping?
Just as I was starting to doze off, I received a message from Gyeouri.
– Jinho: No, I’m still awake.
I quickly replied.
– Han Gyeouri: No training tomorrow? How can you still be awake!
– Jinho: It feels weird not having you next to me, so I can’t sleep.
– Jinho: I miss you, Han Gyeouri.
After my last words, Gyeouri, who had been silent for a while, sent me a voice message shortly after.
– Han Gyeouri: (voice message)
I held my smartphone to my ear and played the voice message. Hearing Gyeouri’s softly muttering “me too” in a shy voice, I couldn’t help but smile.