Chapter 79
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Just a Smile
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Park Si-hyun smiles. Just smiles.
2002. The man leading the Spanish national team.
Jose Antonio Camacho.
Once the symbol of Real Madrid, a left back who lifted the La Liga trophy ten times.
No one could deny his career.
But glory didn't last forever.
With the national team, he was always the icon of misfortune, crumbling before the quarterfinal wall.
That trauma had gnawed at him since his playing days.
So in 2002, he picked up the knife again.
This wasn't just any opportunity.
It was a man's revenge drama to reclaim his life.
But right now, he was on shaky ground.
Unlike his fame as a player, no one trusted him yet as a manager.
He started as a coach at Real Madrid in 1989 and bounced around teams to survive.
Then, in 1998.
He finally took over from Jupp Heynckes as Real Madrid's manager.
'That moment, I believed I could have it all.'
But the result?
Just 22 days.
Resigned due to clashes with the coaching staff.
Real Madrid chose the coaches over their manager.
And discarded him.
The team he had built with his blood and sweat turned its back without mercy.
It was the cruelest betrayal for the man who believed he was 'Real's symbol'.
But the real hell came after.
Someone else filled the vacancy he left.
His name: Guus Hiddink.
Now, his quarterfinal opponent in the World Cup.
At first, he scoffed.
'I failed, so what can he do?'
A team that even a legend like him couldn't save.
How could this guy with no notable playing career change Real Madrid?
But—
Hiddink did it.
He revived the team, took control of the squad, and earned the media's praise.
The world called Hiddink the hero of Real Madrid.
And him?
Forgotten.
'The praise should have been mine, Hiddink. I was Real's legend.'
Camacho glared at Hiddink's face on the TV.
That smile. That composure.
Those arrogant eyes, as if he could do anything.
Truly revolting.
Now, he was a firefighter once more.
This time under the name of South Korea, rewriting World Cup history.
Camacho's pupils trembled faintly.
'No matter what it takes, I'll end your history here.'
This 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup quarterfinal.
He would win.
No matter how dirty or despicable the means.
Even if it wasn't soccer anymore.
Then, Hiddink's voice came from the TV.
"I'm still hungry."
Camacho's lips twisted upward.
"Yeah, that hunger... I'll burst it for you."
The ember at the cigarette's tip glowed red.
Gray smoke rose, slowly enveloping his face.
He was smiling.
The face that was once a hero to someone was now stained with defeat, envy, jealousy—
The face of a deranged villain.
"Hey, Kim Nam-il."
"Why so grumpy?"
"Kim Nam-il, you want Lee Chun-soo?"
"Oh!"
Laughter exploded across the training ground like a bomb.
Players rolled on the floor clutching their stomachs, and even the coaches couldn't hold back their laughs.
Hiddink himself wore a smile.
Yeah, I was smiling too.
On the outside.
But inside—
I was rejected.
Big time.
'How could a girl reject Park Si-hyun's confession?'
So perfect, handsome, rich, tall, and even his muscles are a work of art?
Ha... the world's gone mad.
Thinking back to that day still makes my head spin.
"You want Park Si-hyun?"
The moment those words left my mouth, all sounds around vanished.
Lisa's eyes widened, and for a full minute, she said nothing.
Just stared at me.
Yeah, up to that point, I was certain.
'It's over. 100% yes.'
The future Billboard queen ends up with soccer god Park Si-hyun.
'We'll have two sons inheriting my talent, one daughter, living happily in a big mansion.'
Park Si-hyun never even glances at another woman once he's in love.
Yeah, that's how deep in the fantasy I was.
Her face flushed, eyes trembling—that's proof her heart was moved, right!!
But—
Her response shattered all my dreams.
"...Uh, let me think about it a bit. Sorry..."
That moment, 'sorry' from Lisa hurt, but what came before stung more.
'Think about it.'
No, why think?
Just accept it.
Just take Park Si-hyun!
That was the moment the Park Si-hyun Style nearly crumbled.
'No. If I mope here, Park Si-hyun's image gets damaged. Gotta smile instead.'
They say men should smile more when they're sad.
So I—
"Hahahahahahaha!!"
Laughed louder than anyone.
"Hahahahahahaha!!"
The more my laughter echoed, the more a corner of my heart bruised black and collapsed.
But no one would know.
No one would see the blood I was vomiting behind that laugh.
"Hey, is Si-hyun going crazy?"
"Damn... let's back off."
Players slipped away one by one.
Watching their backs, I laughed louder, more maniacally.
"Hahahahaha!! I'm happy!!!"
Yeah, I'm happy.
Lisa Schmidt was the one who missed out on the world's greatest guy.
I wasn't rejected; she just fumbled a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
Comforting myself like that, I kept laughing.
Because no matter how sad, Park Si-hyun has to smile.
"Lisa, you okay? Your face is so red."
"It's nothing."
In the car heading back after sharing the song made possible thanks to Park Si-hyun.
Lisa Schmidt's face was still flushed.
Because that moment kept replaying in her mind.
'...Was that a confession?'
Park Si-hyun's voice still echoed vividly in her ears.
'You want Park Si-hyun?'
It had to be a confession.
That confident tone, brimming with baseless certainty.
The most Park Si-hyun way possible.
If it were anyone else—or past Lisa Schmidt—she'd have been offended.
'You see me that way?'
But strangely, her heart raced uncontrollably now, her face kept reddening.
Her reflection in the window felt alien.
No negative feelings at all.
Instead, her mind filled with oddly warm, soft thoughts.
'But... it was too sudden.'
Lisa had never been in love before.
She sang of love on stage countless times, but those were others' stories.
Sentences from others' perspectives, melodies born of someone else's imagination.
Those emotions weren't truly hers.
So back then, she couldn't be sure.
If this feeling was really love.
But the more she thought of Park Si-hyun, a fresh emotion welled up from her heart untaught, unrevealed.
Lisa quietly placed her hand on her chest.
'Is this... love?'
Lights streamed by outside, a faint smile touched her eyes.
'No, I don't know yet... But...'
She leaned her forehead against the window.
Park Si-hyun's face, smile, voice—none of it faded from her mind.
'Thinking of him makes my heart race, I miss him, he looks cool no matter what... If that's not love, then love must be something I can't even comprehend...'
Lisa slowly closed her eyes.
Her world was quietly coloring with the name Park Si-hyun.
"We're at Gwangju World Cup Stadium! The moment every Korean has awaited—the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup quarterfinal between Korea and Spain is about to begin!"
"Yes, Spain is a traditional powerhouse, but Korea has now proudly joined the ranks of the strong teams."
"The key variable today is stamina. Both teams are fatigued physically and mentally after the round of 16. Whoever overcomes that burden and maintains team cohesion to the end will decide the winner."
"Right. Korea has already beaten Europe's powerhouse Poland and even Italy. How does today's opponent Spain compare to Poland and Italy?"
"Poland was stamina-strong, Italy pragmatic defense-focused. Spain excels in technical polish and maximizes individual talent. Their defense shows solid organization too."
"Indeed. But Korea thrives against fast, technical soccer despite less power. In that sense, Spain is cleaner than Italy—only five cards in the run to quarters... High chance of a fair match."
"And right as I speak—! The kickoff whistle blows! Korea vs. Spain, 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup quarterfinal has begun!!"