Sitting Still and Getting a Windfall (1)
Sitting Still and Getting a Windfall (1)
022
It was a day like any other.
One day, while morning training was underway as usual.
The team atmosphere was great thanks to the one-sided victory we'd secured a few days ago, and although there was no visible stat increase, it was a day where I felt motivated for no reason, just from the feeling of making progress.
While we were in the middle of training, Coach's phone rang loudly.
<Why does love run away~ Like a shy child~> Annoyed by the ringtone that kept going off, Coach turned off his phone. A moment later, a young administrative staff member came running over, panting, and scolded Coach.
"Seriously, Coach! Why do you have your phone turned off! I've tried calling you so many times!"
"Ahem. Cough. Well, my apologies. I didn't know it was from the administrative office."
Coach, who had been dragged away while getting scolded by the young female staff member, only reappeared after a long while, and...
"Hong Min-jun. Come out here."
He called me out abruptly.
What is it?
Head Coach, who was leading the training session in Coach's stead, asked on everyone's behalf.
"What's going on, Coach?"
"Our team has some good news."
It was only a moment ago he was being dragged away looking pathetic, so why is he suddenly so smug?
I stepped out, receiving the bewildered gazes of the squad, and Coach put his arm around my shoulder, smiling with satisfaction.
"I told you, you need at least one good-looking guy. Look, because we have a guy with a face, things like this happen."
"What is it?"
"Ahem. Our visual captain Min-jun has received an interview request. Everyone, applause!"
An interview?
At the news of "good news," the seniors who had been full of anticipation instantly made bored faces and clapped half-heartedly.
"I knew something like this would happen someday from the moment I first saw that bastard."
"Me too. Honestly, with that face, it'd be weird if he didn't get interview requests."
"Coach! Then what about us? Since it's good news for the team, we'll be doing it too, right!?"
As everyone grumbled, Go Ji-sik Senior, true to his role as captain, asked in a loud voice.
Looking around at the expectant team members, Coach fell silent for a moment before opening his mouth heavily.
"I'm sorry. You guys aren't included."
"Why, why the hell!! Why only that bastard...!"
The senior who was pointing fingers flinched as if he realized something.
"Because you guys can't do this, this."
Coach put his hand in front of his face and shook it up and down as if to deliver the finishing blow, and everyone couldn't help but shed tears.
Phew. I almost got caught up in that.
What would I have done if I caught their ugliness?
"Damn, I'm jealous! Even getting in the school newspaper!"
"Huh? It's not the school newspaper, though?"
"...If it's not the school newspaper, then where is it?"
"Where did they say... Some women's magazine or something."
"......Ah."
A sad silence fell.
"But Coach! Why is that good news for our team? I'm not happy at all!"
"That's right! This is only good news for Min-jun!"
Coach gestured for the clamoring losers... no, the potato-men, to calm down, and then,
"Because Min-jun is interviewing as a representative of our Soccer Club!"
he laughed loudly.
What is this? Isn't it just a good thing for me in the end?
"Hey!! He's representing the Soccer Club! You get it? The Soccer Club is one body! Don't you know about the trickle-down effect! If Min-jun does well, you guys do well too!"
"Boooo!!"
I almost got chased out by the team members like a president on the verge of impeachment.
Men's jealousy is truly ugly.
"I heard an interview request came in from a women's magazine called Woman People or something."
"Woman People?"
Is there such a magazine?
And anyway, why the hell a women's magazine out of the blue?
"Coach. Why would a women's magazine interview a soccer player? It's not like I'm on the national team."
"That's what I'm saying. It's strange, but they specifically picked you. Don't you know either?"
"I don't know. I'm hearing Woman People or Purple or whatever it is for the first time today."
"That's weird."
Coach tilted his head, stared at me, and then satisfied himself.
"Well, I guess with this face, it makes sense."
"......."
What's with the "everything leads to face" logic?
"Anyway, the school tends to accept most interview requests as long as it's not a weird place. Whether it's a newspaper or a magazine, if the school's name gets out there, it's all publicity, right? So, the school said it's a bit hard to just send you, and negotiated to add one more person if we're going to do it. You know, our school is pushing the arts and sports departments. So, since we're doing it, we decided to bundle it as 'promising sports prospects' and have two people interview... is that okay?"
I wondered why he was rambling on, but it turns out he's just sticking someone else into my interview.
"I don't mind."
"Good, it's not like you have no connection with the person you're doing it with."
Connection?
Who do I know at school besides the Soccer Club members?
More than that, a women's magazine wanting to interview me... I'm more worried about what kind of questions will come my way.
After a quick shower, I followed Coach to the interview location, and a cozy space of about 350 square feet was waiting for us.
There was a table in the center, and chairs were arranged in a face-to-face configuration, one on one side and two on the other, so it looked like it had been prepared in advance.
"You can just wait here. I'll be going now."
Coach sauntered away, and as I sat on the sofa, munching on the snacks set out on the table, the door swung open with a sound of cheerful footsteps.
"Oh? You're already here. Hi, hi!"
"Hello."
The person who entered was a slender beauty with flashy blonde hair and a contrasting snow-white tennis skirt, an outfit that was pleasing to the eye just by looking at it.
Just like her cheerful impression, her ponytail, tied in one, swayed playfully from side to side in time with her light footsteps, which made her short skirt flutter.
......I want to try pulling it once.
But why does she look familiar?
There's no way I would forget a beauty with such a cheerful impression. That's strange.
The woman, who approached while swinging her horse-tail-like ponytail and brushing away her bangs that had fallen down as if they were a nuisance, plopped down next to me and suddenly held out her hand.
"Nice to meet you, nice to meet you! Maybe it's because I've heard a lot about you from my younger brother, but you don't feel like a stranger! But you're way more handsome than I heard!!"
What's with this tension?
I hadn't even reached out my hand yet, but she grabbed it on her own and shook it vigorously.
"Ah, yes. But when you say younger brother, who...?"
"Huh? My younger brother is my younger brother!"
No, woman, I'm asking who that brother is!
Then, someone flashed across my mind.
"Yoon-hyeok Senior's sister?"
"Correct! You guessed too late, so there's no prize! Hehehe, we don't look alike at all, right?"
Her giggling gave her a mischievous impression that didn't match her age.
Since she's Yoon-hyeok Senior's sister, it's clear she's older than me... how old is she?
Looking only at her face, she looks like a freshman who just entered, but considering Yoon-hyeok Senior is 22, she's at least 23.
Gasp! Could this mischievous older sister be in her mid-20s!?... I was thinking that when she suddenly pointed a finger at me.
"Ah! You just had a rude thought!"
A finger poking at the tip of my nose.
"No, I didn't."
I didn't lie, I didn't.
I was just wondering how old she was.
"You really did."
"What?"
"They said you were slick, and you really are slick, aren't you?"
"Ha. Me? Slick?"
Such baseless criticism. It's unfair.
"That, don't tell me Yoon-hyeok Senior said that?"
"...No?"
"Wow~ I didn't think Yoon-hyeok Senior was like that, talking about me like that behind my back~"
"No, no. My brother didn't tell me."
"Then who did you hear it from?"
"...Just a rumor?"
"Don't lie. You're seeing me for the first time today. It's Yoon-hyeok Senior, right?"
Since we're facing each other right next to each other, I can see her eyes rolling around.
It might be because her eyes are big, but it seems like she's just an honest person by nature.
"Oh, what's the interview about today?"
Seeing her try to change the subject so obviously and look around is cuter than I thought.
What's up with this sister? Why is she so cute?
"I don't know either. What did they say... A women's magazine called Woman People or something."
"Huh? A women's magazine? Why would they interview us?"
"That's what I'm saying."
The sister, who had been staring at me with wide eyes, asks.
"Why don't you know?"
"Uh... because no one told me?"
"I see."
Then she stares at me with wide eyes again.
It's a bit burdensome because she's staring so intently.
"Yoon-hyeok Senior said you're a tennis player."
"Yeah. Oh, did you hear? I won the WTA Tour Korea Open this time!"
"WT... what?"
"WTA! Women's Tennis Association! It's hosted by them... you don't know?"
I hurriedly waved my hand at her suddenly sulky expression.
"Ah, I know, I know! My senior bragged that you won this time."
It's true. It's not a lie, it's not.
Because my senior mentioned it in passing during night self-training.
"Right! The winning points are much higher than tournaments hosted by the ITF! I went up 280 points this time!"
"Oh! Awesome! They give you 280 points? That's amazing."
"Hehehe! How about that."
She shrugs her shoulders and holds her nose high... I'm sorry. I have no idea what you're talking about.
However, she looked so happy with her eyes sparkling that I just gave her endless praise.
"You're a pretty decent kid, aren't you?"
After chatting excitedly for a while... or rather, after listing off her own accomplishments one-sidedly, she smiled with satisfaction.
I'm tired now. I want to go home.
"Actually, there's no one interested in tennis, so I don't have many places to brag."
Crossing her legs and resting her chin on her hand with a pout, the sister sighs with a cynical expression.
When she's expressionless, she has an unexpectedly cold impression, this sister.
"Our country is a tennis wasteland. Especially for women. That's why I attend any interview opportunity I can. Because I have to get the word out somehow. I have to do it if I can show myself to the public even one more time. That's what I have to do as a female tennis player."
I was left speechless by the words she let out like a sigh.
Soccer is a major sport. Perhaps it's the most globalized sport.
There might be sports with larger prize pools and higher player salaries, but no matter what anyone says, soccer is the most popular sport worldwide.
That's why I had never once worried about having to promote soccer until now.
So this was the kind of hardship a player in a minor sport had.
The sister who only seemed mischievous looks new to me, but...
"I'm sorry I'm late!!"
The door opened once again.