Chapter 10: The Shocking and Terrifying Roster Announcement? (1)

Huh, what?

Why this reaction?

Perhaps because God had implanted memories in me, I remembered even the truly trivial things from Jeong Tae-woo’s childhood.

So, Jeong Tae-woo… no, I was just trying to joke around with a memory I liked…

“Hey, hey, why this reaction? Don’t tell me you’re talking about the marriage we mentioned when we were kids-“

Thwack!

“Ugh! Why did you hit me all of a sudden?”

I clutched my stomach and curled up. Da-min’s fist was fast and strong.

“It’ll take you 100 years to become like Leo.”

“Aish, but still, did you have to hit my stomach?”

I got up from the floor, sat on the bed, and looked around the room.

“But the room hasn’t changed a bit since then. Huh? That’s…”

My eyes fell on a drawing of a soccer player we had drawn together as kids, now on the bed.

‘What, she didn’t throw it away and even decorated the wall with it?’

“Hey, you said my drawing was terrible back then, but you kept it and even hung it on your wall?”

“Isn’t that obvious? If you become famous, I have to sell it secondhand. As a memento of that, sign it over there.”

“Hey, I can’t just do it for free. Try saying, ‘Please, Oppa.’”

‘Why is she staring at me so scarily without saying anything?’

“Hey, at least say something. It’s scary when you just stare without saying anything.”

“Jeong Tae-woo, I’ll give you two choices.”

It wasn’t an angry expression, just a smiling one, but that very 모습 was even more terrifying.

“Wh-what is it?”

“One. Sign it and get out. Two. Just get out.”

‘What is this… It’s just telling me to get out.’

“Number 1. I’ll sign it and get out.”

Hearing my words, Da-min climbed onto the bed.

She stretched her body towards the wall where the picture was hanging and reached for the frame.

‘Pfft~ Ah, she’s really cute.’

The frame hanging on the bed was higher than expected, and Da-min, who was short, struggling to take down the frame, looked as cute as a squirrel diligently trying to pick something.

At that moment,

“Ugh!”

“Hey, be careful!”

Da-min’s foot slipped, and I reflexively reached out to catch her.

Whether my goalkeeper’s reaction speed kicked in here too, I barely managed to grab her waist, but I lost my balance as well, and so we fell onto the bed together.

“Phew~, are you okay?”

I asked, catching my breath.

Da-min looked up at me.

In our current position, with me on my back on the bed and Da-min in my arms, we could vividly feel each other’s breath.

‘She’s really pretty up close.’

Da-min’s appearance in my eyes right now was beautiful enough to make any man harbor ulterior motives.

Her skin was dazzlingly white, and her flushed cheeks contrasted against it, making them stand out even more.

‘And why are her lips so red.’

Her lips, as alluring as red rose petals, were trembling slightly.

“Q-quickly move.”

“I don’t want to. You get out.”

I replied with a playful smile.

I was also flustered and embarrassed enough, but Da-min’s flustered appearance looked so cute that I didn’t move, wanting to tease her more.

“Hey, Jeong Tae-woo! Stop messing around.”

“Hmm, but how long are we going to stay like this? Don’t tell me you…”

“D-don’t tell you what?”

I whispered right into her ear.

“You don’t like being like this with me, do you?”

“Th-this is crazy!”

Da-min shouted as if surprised and wriggled her body.

‘Her reaction is this good, how can I stop teasing her?’

“Hey, hey, alright, just stay still, I’ll— Ugh!!!”

But at that moment, an unexpected, enormous impact came.

Da-min’s knee had forcefully struck my sensitive area.

“Hey, you! Even if I was joking, ugh! This is too much.”

A sharp pain shot through my entire body.

“So who told you to joke around? Just go home already, hmph!”

After speaking, Da-min left her room.

“Hey, don’t go, please just pat my back.”

But Da-min was already gone.

‘Jang Da-min, just you wait, I’ll get my revenge.’

Though I couldn’t see it because I was doubled over in pain, Da-min’s face was as red as if it would explode at any moment.

Unaware of that, it just became a day where I vowed to avenge my precious jewels.

***

Late evening at 8 PM, I left Da-min’s house and was walking towards my own.

‘Come to think of it, I wonder what their reaction will be.’

Even if high school tournaments receive a lot of attention, it’s naturally not easy for a high school student to be selected for the Olympic team, not even for the U-17 World Cup or the U-20 World Cup.

No, it’s almost unheard of.

Considering it took time for Da-min’s parents to believe my words, I became very curious about my mom and sister’s reactions as well.

‘Will they not believe me like Da-min’s parents? But come to think of it, Da-min believed me right away.’

Da-min had immediately believed my seemingly outlandish claim that the Olympic coach had come in person to recruit me.

It was true, but I realized anew just how special Da-min’s reaction had been.

Arriving home like that, I calmed my pounding heart for a moment, pressed the keypad code for the front door, and went inside.

“You’re here, Tae-woo?”

Mom was sitting on the living room sofa, watching TV.

On the TV, a popular entertainment show, “Star Mission Challenge,” which I had never seen in person but existed in my memories, was airing.

“Star Mission Challenge” was a popular variety show where famous celebrities from various fields, such as entertainers, sports stars, and politicians, gathered to perform missions, and it was our very own Ms. Yoon Seo-jeong’s favorite program.

“I’m home, Mom.”

“Yes, is Da-min’s family doing well?”

“Yes, well, they still love soccer and are as boisterous as ever.”

“Haha, yes. It’s always boisterous over there.”

At that moment, I didn’t miss the fleeting sadness in Mom’s eyes as she spoke.

It was natural, since our house didn’t have a dad to make things boisterous…

Dad was a firefighter, but when Jeong Tae-woo was five, he died in the line of duty, falling from a building while trying to save someone trapped in a 7-story building.

But Mom had no time to grieve.

Mom had me and Mi-na.

Mom worked day and night, took on side jobs, and even worked on weekends without rest.

Thanks to Mom’s efforts, Mi-na and I were able to grow up without lacking anything, and our family’s financial situation improved.

However, I could sometimes glimpse Dad’s longing in Mom’s eyes.

‘What can I do to fill Dad’s empty space?’

Jeong Tae-woo was also clueless about such things, and during his Kim Chan-ki days, he never had parents who cherished him like this, so he had no idea what to do.

Just then, the sound of the “Star Mission Challenge” cast members laughing and talking came from the TV.

[No, production team, do you really think this is right? You bring in a rising star and then tell them to bungee jump?]

[Yes, that’s correct.]

[No, it’s absolutely not because I’m scared, phew~ Mr. Cheol-min, haha, you don’t want to bungee jump, do you? If our great actor doesn’t want to, I’ll use my strength once-]

[I love bungee jumping!!!]

[Wow, kids these days have guts.]

[Hahahahahaha]

If I were to go on that show, would Mom like it?

‘Well, it’s better than not doing anything. It’s Mom’s favorite show, so an offer will definitely come after the Olympics anyway.’

To get an offer from a show like “Star Mission Challenge,” I would at least have to make it to the main competition and perform well there to raise my name value.

But in my mind, the option of not performing well in the Olympics didn’t even exist.

“Mom.”

“Hmm? What’s wrong, Tae-woo?”

I took a deep breath and said.

“I… I’m participating in the Olympic soccer team this time.”

Mom, who was watching TV, turned her head when she heard my words.

Her eyes widened as she looked at me.

As if she had misheard.

“What did you say?”

I spoke again slowly and clearly so Mom could hear well.

“This time, the Olympic coach came in person and asked me to go to the Olympics with him.”

But the reaction came from the side.

“Hey, what kind of nonsense is that?”

I replied in an annoyed voice.

“Hey, I’m talking to Mom right now, so can you just go to your room?”

But my sister didn’t back down.

“No, I just heard something so ridiculous. Does that even make sense? A first-year in high school going to the Olympics?”

Just as I was about to get angry at my sister, Mom’s voice was heard.

“I’m proud of you, my son.”

“No matter how I look at it, he seems to be mentally unstable these days and talking nonsense…”

Mom replied in a soft but firm voice.

“Jeong Mi-na, you have to believe your family. And who told you to speak informally to your older brother?”

“Th-that’s…”

“Jeong Mi-na, apologize to your older brother quickly.”

Mi-na hesitated for a moment, then sighed and said.

“Phew~ I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, it seems you still don’t know your older brother’s greatness. Watch the Olympic games carefully. And anyway, why would I tell a lie that will be exposed when the roster is announced tomorrow, you idiot?”

I tried to change the mood by speaking in as playful a tone as possible, and it seemed to work, as the atmosphere quickly improved.

“Alright, so how are you going to the Olympics? Tell me the details.”

At Mom’s question, I took a deep breath and began to explain what had happened today.

Mom and Mi-na listened to my story with wide eyes, completely focused.

“Wow, if the coach came to find you himself, our son must be really amazing.”

“Haha, Mom’s son is a bit amazing, isn’t he?”

Mi-na made a momentarily disgusted face at my appearance, but perhaps because of what happened earlier, she didn’t say anything.

The chaotic conversation in the living room, stirred by my announcement, finally ended around 10 PM, and I returned to my room to rest on my bed.

Just then, someone burst open the door.

“Mom?”

“No, it’s me.”

The voice from the doorway was Jeong Mi-na’s.

“Sigh, what brings you here?”

“Um… I’m sorry about earlier.”

“About what?”

‘All of a sudden?’

“I’m sorry for not believing you.”

It seemed she had been dwelling on what happened earlier.

I hadn’t really thought much of it; honestly, it was something hard to believe anyway.

“Wow, Jeong Mi-na actually came to apologize in person, what’s gotten into you?”

Mi-na’s face turned red at my playful tone.

“I apologized, so I’m going.”

Mi-na said hurriedly and closed the door.

“Hey, go slowly, or you’ll fall!”

“Mind your own business!!!!”

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Hearing the sound of Mi-na’s footsteps running to her room, I let out a chuckle.