Fellow Rookies, Let's Give It Our All!
Kim Se-rin stared at Kim Hu-seong's face for a long moment before quietly asking, "You okay?"
Kim Hu-seong dropped his head weakly and replied, "I feel like I'm gonna die..."
"Really? Then why'd you drink so much?"
"I didn't plan to... hic... but they bought drinks 'cause I did well today... ughhh."
"Sounds like you had a blast then?"
"No... I'm so sad."
Kim Se-rin widened her eyes at his words. "Why sad? Wasn't today an amazing day?"
"Today... there was someone I wanted to see... but I couldn't."
Hearing that, Kim Se-rin tilted her head. "Who?"
"Just... someone."
Kim Se-rin cocked her head slightly but didn't press. Instead, she softened her voice. "Then why'd you wanna see them?"
"I saw them by chance yesterday... and it felt so good. So today... I did well... and wanted to see them more..."
From then on, his voice started to waver little by little.
"But suddenly they dragged me to some team dinner 'cause I did well. So I missed them, and it sucks so bad. I did well just to see them..."
'Did well to see them? That's me, right?'
"Kim Hu-seong. Do you know who I am?"
"Hmm... no idea. But you smell nice."
Kim Se-rin gazed at him for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Pfft... hahaha. What? You're so damn cute."
"..."
But Kim Hu-seong was so wasted he couldn't say much.
"Where's your place? Time to go home."
Kim Hu-seong barely lifted his head. "Over... there... apartment..."
Kim Se-rin gently took his hand. "Your hand... it's warm."
"Yeah. Come on~ You can walk. Let's go. I'll take you home today."
At that warm touch, Kim Hu-seong somehow managed to stand. His body wobbled, of course, but with someone holding him, he stayed upright.
"There you go. Up. You'll be in big trouble if you collapse here."
Kim Se-rin smiled softly, not letting go of his hand. "Now let's go."
His body wouldn't obey—staggering, swaying, steps all over the place.
"Just a bit further."
Almost there, Kim Hu-seong mumbled in his drunken slur. "Really... such a shame... huuuuhhh."
"What, crying? Why cry?"
"I wanna see Se-rin noona~"
Kim Se-rin laughed back. "Hahaha. You can see her next time. If it's that person... you'll see her again, right?"
"If I miss today, I feel like I'll never see her. Hweaaaaah."
Kim Se-rin laughed at him for a good while. "Alright, let's go."
"Ughhh..."
I slowly opened my eyes. My head throbbed—not just pain, but a splitting headache pulsing like crazy. My mouth was parched, throat burning with thirst.
Hangover. Damn hangover.
Of course, after drinking like that yesterday.
I tried to sit up but flopped back down. I really felt like I was dying.
"Mom... water please..."
I barely managed that.
"My boy did so well yesterday, so I have to give you some~"
Mom came in soon after with a cup of warm honey water. The sweet honey scent wafted over as I grabbed it with both hands.
But I had to tilt my head.
Huh? How'd I even get in?
I remembered drinking, but nothing about getting home.
I sipped the honey water a few times, then cautiously asked, "Mom... did I make it home okay?"
"Someone kept banging their head at the door, so I dragged you in. You somehow made it this far."
I blanked out for a sec. Banging my head? What the hell did I look like?
No memories surfaced, just vague fragments.
What... I remember drinking, but...
I closed my eyes and focused. What came up was a pleasant scent. Not sure what—perfume? Shampoo? Something mysteriously comforting.
That was the end. No more memories.
What was that? Pleasant scent?
I finished the honey water and pulled out my phone from under the covers. To find answers.
Time to text Son Tae-ho sunbae.
I waited a bit, and my phone rang right away. I picked up in a panic.
"Hey! You make it home?"
Son Tae-ho sunbae's voice was bright.
"Dude, you drank like a champ?"
I clutched my head and replied, "No. I feel like death. My whole body regrets it."
"Really? You seemed fine?"
"But sunbae... do you know how I got home?"
"You? Called a cab. Why?"
I sighed in relief. "Ah... nothing..."
"What's up? Something happen?"
"Nah, just blacked out... remember drinking but not getting back..."
"Haha. As long as you got home safe. Oh, and there's optional training today—gonna go? If you wanna impress the manager or coaches, sure, but with that hangover, maybe rest."
"Ah... right."
"I'll tell the manager I made you drink. Handle the rest yourself. Listen to your body—no forcing training. Oh! If you're driving, be careful. Morning breathalyzer could nail you for DUI."
"Ack! Got it, thanks sunbae!"
I hung up and sat there dazed for a while. What a relief. Cab meant no big issues.
But then something odd hit me. I frantically checked my pockets—pants and shirt from yesterday.
And that's when bigger panic set in.
My cash was untouched.
What? Should be less. Cab fare.
Sunbae paid ahead? Maybe?
What the hell?
The cash in my wallet was exactly the same as yesterday. Should've been short at least a few bucks for the cab.
But it was all there.
"What... is this?"
My mind raced. Did I forget to pay? Driver wouldn't just leave...
Thirst hit again. More honey water, but the confusion lingered.
What the hell happened yesterday...?
Thinking about it made my head hurt worse. Hangover? Or the memory gap? Who knows.
"Ughhh... whatever. It'll be fine. They'd call if there was a problem. Apologize then. Rest more first. Dying here..."
I pulled the covers over and curled up again.
But my head swirled with questions. How'd I get home? Who brought me? Why's the cab fare still there?
Tuesday, April 4, 2023. The two opening games were done, a rest day passed.
Now heading to Jamsil for the Eulji Crows game.
Schedule said arrive by 1, but I left early and got near the stadium just after noon.
But my body's condition was trash. Hangover aftermath.
Head heavy, stomach empty. Still, pro means train and play, so I forced myself to walk, focusing my dizzy gaze. Cap pulled low.
Then someone whipped around from the front—I had no time to dodge and collided.
"Ah!"
A short yelp. I stumbled back two steps; she hit the ground.
I snapped alert. "Sorry! You okay!?"
I bowed quick, offering a hand. Her bag spilled, stuff scattered—including a purple-tinged uniform. Turkeys, our team name bold.
I stared blankly a sec, then snapped to, gathering her clothes and handing them over.
"Sorry. Really sorry. Um... cheerleader?"
She blushed faintly. "Ah, yeah! Gocheok Turkeys cheerleader."
"Oh, cool! I'm a Turkeys player too. Rookie this season. Nice to meet you."
I grinned awkwardly.
She smiled back. "Really? I'm new to cheerleading this year too. Total rookies, both of us."
We shared a quick laugh. Awkward, but weirdly nice. Team bond? Felt familiar despite first meet.
"Thanks for always cheering. Gives me strength during games."
"Seeing players hustle fires us up too. Two wins already! Good luck today!"
She checked the time and freaked. "Oh no! Late!"
She hastily smoothed her hair, hugged uniform and bag, and bolted.
"Sorry! See you later!"
"Yeah! Be careful!"
I stood there dazed for a long time. Her footsteps faded, wind filling the space.
"Fellow rookies, let's give it our all..."
I muttered to myself and started walking again.