Ch.143Who are you?

“What, what? Marriage? That marriage I’m thinking of? Seriously? Not a joke?”

“Of course it’s a joke, how could I think about marriage just from looking at a magazine.”

Evelyn shrugged her shoulders and laughed.

“I just said it because he’s so cute and handsome. He has a wild charm too.”

“That’s true, that’s true. Hmm, right. Honestly, a face like that is extremely rare.”

“Rare? It’s more than that, it’s unique. I’ve never seen someone this handsome before.”

The manager nodded in agreement with Evelyn’s words.

There wasn’t a single incorrect statement.

‘Where did they find someone like him?’

The cover itself was extremely simple.

All the usual flowery language used for magazine cover models had been removed.

Simply just three things.

Kim Donghu, Actor, Boxer.

Nothing else was written.

The audacity to make people buy it if they wanted to know more.

But the cover itself justified that audacity.

‘If you cover his face, it’s just a fit young man with his upper body exposed wearing a leather jacket.’

The pose was simple enough to be commonly seen.

One hand raised to his head, the other lowered.

A typical masculine pose often seen in magazines.

But.

‘It’s so different depending on who does it.’

The face pulling it off was on another dimension from the usual.

Perhaps because he was still young, there was no sensuality.

But everything else was perfect enough to cover for that.

“Just based on the feeling, this could sell over a million copies?”

Evelyn said lightly while touching her flowing blonde hair.

And at those words, the manager’s gaze briefly settled on Evelyn.

Skin like white jade and eyes that shone brightly like embedded sapphires.

And the golden waves of blonde hair that accompanied them.

That appearance, like a cliché of Western beauty, was impressive enough to draw admiration no matter how many times you saw it.

“I think he’s really going to become extremely famous.”

Evelyn continued as she opened the magazine.

Flip, flip.

One page, two pages.

As if looking for something, she flipped through the magazine until stopping at a certain section.

“His manager is a woman? Same age… they seem close, the photo was taken very intimately.”

There was a photo spread of Kim Donghu and Shin Yerim pressed close together.

Like dancing the tango.

Their waists pressed firmly together.

Kim Donghu embracing Shin Yerim as if he was going to devour her, kissing her neck.

“I’m extremely cool-headed, so I don’t really mind this kind of thing.”

It was truly a provocative photo spread.

“The girl has good fundamentals too, she looks like a model.”

“Really?”

“Yes, she’s barely hiding her embarrassment. But she still took a good photo.”

But I think my body is much better?

Evelyn said this as she walked to the full-length mirror.

In truth, there was no comparison.

She was already 22,

And the girl in the magazine was still an underage kid.

Anyway.

“I’d really like to meet him sometime.”

“Huh?”

“I want to see him, in person, with my own eyes. I might stop by Korea sometime when I have time.”

That was Evelyn’s conclusion.

“The interview is quite… overflowing with confidence, I wonder if it’s readable.”

The manager laughed helplessly while looking at the interview in the magazine.

‘Is it confidence that comes from youth, or belief that comes from real skill?’

Saying this, the manager read the page with the interview again.

Q. Is it true that you’re aiming for a gold medal in Rio?

A. That’s right. My goal is the heavyweight gold medal at the Rio Olympics.

Q. There are many formidable athletes, what would you say to challenge them?

A. Forfeiting will be the safest defeat you can choose.

It was literally a very ‘hot’ interview.

+++++

Right after Kim Donghu’s confident interview was released.

Most podcasts were talking about Kim Donghu.

Among them, there was one podcast that people were listening to most attentively.

It was a podcast where WBC heavyweight boxers evaluated Kim Donghu live.

“There was a really hot interview recently, did everyone see it?”

“Yeah, wow, I was really surprised. That an Asian could talk like that.”

“He’s young too, just 19 years old.”

“Huh? Then can’t he participate in the Olympics?”

“No, he can participate next year. He’ll be an adult then.”

“First Olympics, heavyweight division, gold medal, Asian? Wow. None of these words go together.”

“Right, exactly. Honestly, it would be laughable just hearing this far. If only he wasn’t the young boss of Drake Gym.”

The young boss of Drake Gym.

At the host’s words, the athletes were surprised.

“Really? Seriously? That Asian is the young boss?”

“Yes, that’s right. Drake told me directly. He even sent a video.”

“Video? What video?”

“To show that he’s not just boasting.”

ㄴJust a manipulated video, is there any need to watch it?

ㄴDo we have to see an Asian performing here?

ㄴHe’s just a minor anyway, obviously low level, why bother?

The chat suddenly filled up at the mention of watching the video.

The podcast viewers didn’t want to see the Asian’s skills.

Moderate racism, dismissal, contempt, and mockery.

They wanted an atmosphere of making fun of the immature Asian.

They didn’t want to see him actually performing well.

But.

“Calm down, we’re professionals. We should watch everything before judging.”

“Right, otherwise why are we even here?”

“We didn’t invite professional boxers for nothing, let’s watch the video.”

The host and guests said this as they played the video received from Coach Drake.

It simply showed Kim Donghu sparring.

One-two, one, one.

Step, step, one-two, one, one.

There was nothing particularly noteworthy to analyze.

It was truly textbook movement.

ㄴWhat? Nothing special?

ㄴThis is why Asians…

ㄴI don’t understand why he spoke so confidently X)

ㄴWho just spoke like they used a cheap translator?

ㄴHe probably won’t even qualify for the Olympics

ㄴThis video shows how pathetic Korean boxing is

ㄴDrake Gym being prestigious is all in the past, who trains in such an old-school way these days

ㄴKids are low level

Perhaps because of this, viewers seized the opportunity to tear into Kim Donghu.

In contrast, the professional boxer guests and the host were astonished.

‘What is this kid?’

‘Why… why are there no bad habits?’

‘Isn’t he operating too textbook-perfect?’

It was like watching a well-choreographed play.

‘I’ve never seen such clean handling before.’

First, what caught the eye was his solid guard.

Then, as if predicting the future.

His guard was already exactly where the opponent was going to hit.

And simultaneously, he delivered a counter as if he had been waiting for it.

To someone who doesn’t know boxing well, it might look like a very simple child’s play.

Blocking, avoiding, deflecting the opponent’s fist, and delivering a counter.

In a way, it was just a repetition of simple movements.

But.

“Wait, is this for real?”

“Even if Coach Drake sent it, this is a bit…”

“What the hell? What is this?”

That was the ideal of boxing.

Not getting hit while hitting one-sidedly.

That’s the ideal that boxing should pursue, something only children imagine.

Of course.

“Is it because it’s sparring? Because it’s just sparring?”

“No, but how can he have no bad habits? He’s 19. Shouldn’t he have at least one bad habit?”

“His guard is too solid. No, even before the guard, his evasion ability…”

The professional boxers continued speaking while mimicking Kim Donghu’s movements.

“His weight transfer is too free. When he throws his lead hand and rear hand, his foot movement is too…”

“Wow, I thought he was just a kid talking nonsense, but he’s actually good?”

“Still, his weakness is… probably his neck. He may be handsome, but in the heavyweight division, a thin neck goes down quickly.”

“Oh, right, I agree with that. It’s probably because his main job is being an actor?”

“But he seems to cover that with head movement…”

What was supposed to be a podcast revealing how reckless Kim Donghu’s childish remarks were.

But the viewers were confused by the unexpectedly serious analysis.

ㄴWhat are they doing now?

ㄴSo that Asian actually has real skills?

ㄴStop joking, are you serious? This must be a joke

ㄴStop the ridiculous acting and show your true thoughts! It’s the worst, right? X)

ㄴWhy is he talking like this, can’t you speak English? Are you a translator?

Regardless, the host and professional boxer guests:

“Play that hook part again, yes, here.”

“Look here, this is really… you have to fight him to understand. Everyone here will wonder why? Why does the opponent get hit by this boy’s fist? Is this staged? That’s what they’ll think.”

“But it’s not, it’s not. You saw it right. This is a hook that’s never visible from the front. It comes in at an angle.”

“How flexible are his joints? Did you see that? The hook bends while being thrown?”

“He never allows clinching. Look how he immediately throws an uppercut as soon as they try to approach. Or delivers a body shot.”

They replayed the video with serious faces, adjusting their posture.

ㄴSo what’s the conclusion, do you really think he’ll amount to something?

ㄴWhat can a ching chong do anyway, his eyes are small too?

ㄴThe comment above is ridiculous, small eyes? His eyes are probably bigger than all the money you’ll earn in your lifetime

ㄴI agree with this, criticizing his looks makes no sense

ㄴIt’s true, he’s really handsome

The viewers were slightly confused when the content didn’t flow in the direction they wanted.

Because of this, the podcast’s atmosphere wasn’t about mockery or disparagement.

It continued in the direction of thoroughly analyzing Kim Donghu.

Perhaps because of that.

“Wow… how many people are watching right now?”

The podcast recorded 20,000 viewers that day.

In 2015.

Considering podcasts weren’t mainstream yet, it was an incredible number.

“Kim Donghu, Surprises Americans!”

“20,000 People Shocked! The Protagonist is Kim Donghu?!”

This immediately became news in Korea.

ㄴTastes like national pride lol

ㄴBring out the makgeolli lol

ㄴAmazing lol First time seeing such a handsome kid lol

The public’s delighted reaction was a bonus.

++++++

Time flew by quickly to early December.

“Are you leaving already? Stay a little longer.”

“I need to adjust to the time difference soon.”

I prepared to say goodbye to the people at Drake Gym.

The national team selection was at the end of December.

It was unreasonable to delay my return any longer for condition adjustment.

“You’re going to the Asian qualifiers, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll come cheer for you then.”

“You don’t need to come all the way to cheer, it’s fine.”

“No, if it were anyone else I wouldn’t, but you’re our young boss, I have to come cheer.”

Coach Jack Drake held my hand firmly and spoke as if he meant it.

“Donghu, you’re the face and pride of Drake Gym. No matter where you are or what you’re doing, Drake Gym will support you.”

“Thank you, and I hope Homkin makes the national team too.”

“Yes, Donghu! I want to meet you at the Olympics!”

“Good.”

That was the end of the greetings.

With a final deep embrace, I headed straight to the airport.

‘It’s nice to fly business class both ways.’

Come to think of it, I wanted to see more of the magazine reactions.

I couldn’t properly check because of training.

‘That’s a shame.’

Thinking this, after boarding the plane.

I hurriedly sat down in my seat with my tired body.

‘Long-distance travel is quite tiring after all.’

While thinking this.

“Are you Donghu?”

“What?”

“Should I marry you after all? Hmm?”

Suddenly, the blonde beauty in the next seat spoke to me.

Who are you?