Woman Power Magazine Editor Kang Suyeon (4)
Woman Power Magazine Editor Kang Suyeon (4)
021
The match between Hojin University and Sungsil University played out simply.
Soccer is a sport where you win even if you're just one goal ahead. Because of this, there was a tactic that some extreme pragmatist coaches often used...
Namely, extreme defensive tactics.
What you might call "parking the bus" in front of the goal.
It's a tactic where you pack players in front of the goal, used purely for all-out defense and "space defense." It's like in StarCraft, where you plaster the high ground with Siege Tanks, mines, bunkers, and turrets and just wait indefinitely.
Naturally, the team on the receiving end goes absolutely crazy.
Just like right now.
"Fucking hell! Move that shitty bus already!!"
"Hey, let's use polite and proper language, like a leader should."
"Grrr...!!"
Coach Oh Sang-tae felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck at the two buses parked in front of the goal and the bus driver mocking him with a big, goofy grin.
"What kind of tactic is that! That's anti-football, anti-football!! You should be kicked out of the soccer world entirely!!"
"Whoa there! Anti-football? It's a defensive tactic, kid, a defensive tactic. If you don't like it, try breaking through."
"We're the ones attacking the whole time! Look closely!"
Losing by one goal or two goals is the same defeat. At least in the preliminary league, where goal difference isn't counted.
That's why Sungsil University, having given up the first goal, pushed their line up to launch an all-out offensive to somehow score an equalizer, but...
"Can you even call that an attack? It's just passing the ball around."
Oh Sang-tae couldn't even refute Coach Na Geon-seong's sneering remark.
Because as the coach, he knew all too well that while they appeared to have the initiative and were attacking, it was actually just exhausting, futile flailing without a single proper chance.
On the other hand,
"Heyyy!! That bastard is running again!! Stop him, you assholes!!!"
Hojin University's counterattack, carried out by just two players.
They were being mercilessly toyed with and beaten every time a counterattack occurred.
'Fucking hell... again?'
At the center of it all was Sungsil University's captain and ace, Jeong Hyo-gi.
Jeong Hyo-gi, Coach Oh Sang-tae's trusted man, the symbol of reliability, the pillar of the team, was getting absolutely shredded like a dog today.
'Where is it? Where is it this time?'
Jeong Hyo-gi stared at the ball with wavering eyes.
The opposing team's number 15, tapping the ball lightly and shaking his body frantically.
That devilish bastard is pulling a fake again.
It definitely looks like his body is leaning to the right... I feel like I could steal it if I stick my foot out now...!! No! I have to hold back! How many times have I been fooled by this pattern already?
He felt like he was losing his mind, but gritting his teeth—
"Huk!"
He got past me.
Again.
"Jeong Hyo-gi, you son of a bitch!!"
At the coach's roaring shout, Jeong Hyo-gi snapped his body around and chased after him frantically.
How many times has this been? Four? Five? And the first half isn't even over yet?
This is the first time in my life I've ever been shredded like this by a single player.
Half out of his mind, Jeong Hyo-gi tried to shove him with his body, not caring about committing a foul, but,
Spin.
Using Jeong Hyo-gi's forceful shove as a lever, the opposing player spun around. In the process, the ball spun too, and suddenly it was right in front of the opponent's feet.
Jeong Hyo-gi's mind spun along with that graceful turn.
"Fuuuuck!!!"
Thwack!
"Ack! Ugh!"
With his eyes rolled back, Jeong Hyo-gi delivered a shoulder charge, and the opponent went flying and fell like a piece of paper. Jeong Hyo-gi realized his mistake too late, but it was already done.
Peeeeep!!
The referee, who had been watching the highly agitated Jeong Hyo-gi, rushed over as if he'd been waiting for this and pulled a red card from his chest pocket.
"No, no!"
And that was Sungsil University's last act of defiance that day.
"Oh, sweet."
For some reason, my condition was good, and since the opponent seemed agitated, I kept playing in a mocking way on purpose, and they just self-destructed.
The opponent's key player was sent off just 35 minutes into the first half.
After that, Sungsil University couldn't show much, and the match ended 1:0, a victory for Hojin University.
We could have scored more, but our team's tactics were too defensive, and the opposing team gave up on attacking entirely and hunkered down. I mean, it takes two to tango to score goals.
Because they were just staying far away and flailing at nothing, the coach substituted me out early at the 10th minute of the second half.
A substitution to prevent any potential injuries since the opposing team was a man down and had no intention of attacking.
It was a shame, but I was already feeling a bit sore from being rammed from behind by a giant over 190cm tall, so whatever.
After being subbed out, I got checked in the infirmary, lay around, and when I snuck out after the game ended, the coach pushed me from behind.
"Hey kid. Go do some fan service."
Fans? What fans?
Does our team even have fans?
Looking where the coach's finger was pointing, I saw a group of female college students huddled together.
Every one of them had a phone in their hand, filming this way, and when they saw me looking, they shrieked in surprise, which was quite heartwarming.
"When did they get so numerous?"
"I don't know where they heard the rumors, but they've been increasing one by one. Looks like they all came to see you, so go say hello."
Not team fans, but personal fans.
It's a situation I've never experienced before, so I'm bewildered, but it feels good.
I approached with an awkward smile, and the female students cheered and started pouring out all sorts of things.
"You're handsome!!"
"How old are you!"
"Date me, noona!! I'll treat you well!!"
"Please wave your hand just once!"
Ugh, it's chaotic.
They say one high school girl is equal to three special forces soldiers. How strong must a female college student be, having evolved from a high school girl?
My heart swells with pride for our country's robust national security.
I was frantically waving, shaking hands, taking photos, and smiling, when suddenly a massive telephoto camera lens was shoved right in front of my face.
"Uh...?"
"Wait, wait a second. Can you sweep your hair back once?"
What, what is this?
A woman with a completely different vibe from the surrounding college students shoved a large camera lens at me.
"L-like this?"
Somehow, being among the college students who still had a youthful freshness even as adults, the contrast was stark... not that she lacked beauty.
In fact, the woman with the camera was far more beautiful.
However... maturity? It was a feeling of an adult, different from the freshness of the college students.
'She really looks like a career woman.'
Ah, right. A career woman.
She's exactly that kind of woman.
"Hnnng... a man drenched in sweat...."
"...Yes?"
Along with some strange sound, she started aiming the camera in earnest.
Ah~ It's that woman with the telephoto camera from earlier. I didn't know when I saw her from afar, but with her shoving it in my face like this, the pressure is no joke.
"Are you a reporter, by any chance?"
No matter how I think about it, a normal woman wouldn't carry around a telephoto camera like this.
Especially at a soccer field like this.
If so, it has to be a reporter... Could she really be a reporter?
"R-reporter? Uh, um, yes, that's right, a reporter."
She's stuttering, which is suspicious. Is she really a reporter?
As if sensing my suspicious gaze, the woman quickly pulled out a business card.
It looks like a very high-class business card, but the name is...
'Woman Power Magazine? Editor Kang Su-yeon? Are reporter business cards usually like this?'
I'd have to have done an interview to know.
I just tilted my head while looking at the card, and the woman spoke urgently.
"I'm not a sports reporter... I came to cover something nearby and happened to see the game. But you were just so picturesque."
"Ah, I see."
I don't know what that means, but let's just nod for now.
"Um. So, that's why, could I take some photos?"
"Of course, of course. Feel free to take as many as you want."
Even I get startled by how handsome I am every time I look in the mirror, so how must a first-timer feel?
Ha... being too handsome is also a problem. It's really exhausting.
I smiled contentedly and let her take photos as she wanted.
...But isn't she taking too many?
It feels like it's been over 10 minutes already.
And a few days later.
Popularity began to explode.
Su-yeon was restless and kept checking the Editor-in-chief's seat.
'Sigh, I'm crazy.'
They say regret is always late, and humans always regret.
Su-yeon was in the middle of a full-blown regret session.
'Why on earth did I do that? What kind of guts did I have?'
The day after she got her fill of peace of mind, feeling like "who cares about the company or feminism," Su-yeon saw her bank statement and fell into belated regret.
'Rent, savings, pension, phone bill, taxes, living expenses, fangirling expenses... and on top of that, car repair costs this month!!'
The one fortunate thing amidst the misfortune was that she must have had some sanity left, as she had sent in an article that evening.
And the true misfortune was that the "article" was just the photos of her peace of mind from that day—the super-handsome boy who was healing just to look at—and an article she had scribbled down roughly.
It was too late to turn back.
The magazine for this month had already been published yesterday.
'No. Even so, the Editor-in-chief must have cut it in the middle. Surely she didn't publish it as is.'
She tried to find peace of mind for a moment.
'No, wait. If that were the case, she'd be raising hell at me today. I'd rather she just missed it and let it slide.'
But then she'd think,
'No! That would mean it really was published in the magazine exactly as I scribbled it! That really can't happen!'
and she would despair.
The Editor-in-chief didn't show up for work until the restless morning passed.
'Is she on leave today...!?'
Leave, my ass. The Editor-in-chief, who arrived well after lunch, raised her voice as soon as she sat down.
"Hey, Kang Su-yeon!!!"
"Yes, Editor-in-chief."
Su-yeon poked just her face out from her desk.
"What? What are you saying! Speak up!!"
"Yesss!! Understood!!"
Damn it. Crazy bitch.
She made a tearful face at the Editor-in-chief, who was nitpicking uselessly as usual, but then she saw her beckoning with her hand.
What is that gesture?
"Come here!!"
"Yesss!!"
She jumped up and ran over, and thwack, the editor spread something out on the desk.
"This is?"
"Our magazine that was published yesterday."
"Ah, yes. But why is this...?"
The Editor-in-chief glanced at Su-yeon, flipped through the magazine, and stopped at a certain section.
"Look at this, look at this."
There it was, the photo of the pretty boy. The A-grade cut photo that Su-yeon had chosen and chosen appeared with a ta-da.
"Gasp! I, I'm sor—"
"This photo!! No, this model!! Who on earth is he!! What is his identity!!"
"Th-that is... that is..."
Su-yeon's face turned pale as she skimmed the page.
Fucked. It really was published exactly as I sent it.
This crazy editor bitch! I suspected it, but she didn't even review it!
She should have cut it or asked for revisions at the Editor-in-chief level, but it was clear she just passed it on because she was lazy. However, she couldn't say "Do your own job properly!" here.
The excitement of quitting, the newly found target for her fangirling that hit her taste, and the photos she took to her heart's content. Su-yeon couldn't bring herself to continue speaking about her block of text that contained all her tastes, fandom, and fangirling.
"Well done!!! Look! You can do it if you try!!"
"Huh?"
"The readers' reaction is no joke!! The passionate readers are already going crazy saying they want to send fan letters!!"
"What kind of dog... no, what kind of nonsense..."
"Whaaat!! What did you say!?"
"Ah, nothing!!"
The Editor-in-chief, who had been glaring, slammed the desk.
"Good! Go quickly and set up an interview with him!!"
"Suddenly?"
"They say you should launch the boat when the tide comes in!!!"
'It's "row the boat when the tide comes in."'
"Why aren't you going quickly to launch the boat!!!"
Su-yeon, who had scurried back to her seat at the Editor-in-chief's roar, rummaged for the contact information.
"Oh!! And don't forget 'that hand gesture' when you take the photos!!!"
"...Holy."
Staring blankly at the absurd request,
"Then I'm off to leave work!!"
The Editor-in-chief, who had just arrived, was leaving like the wind.
It's 2 PM right now.
'Cr, crazy bitch....'
But that crazy bitch is her boss. What's even more maddening is that the psycho is the president's niece. Damn it.
"Ah. First, the contact... contact info, contact info... huh?"
No matter how much she looked, there was no contact info. Su-yeon thought carefully. Did I exchange contact info?
'I gave him my business card, though.'
I only gave him the card.
"......."
Fucked.