First Championship (4)
First Championship (4)
047
*I would appreciate it if you could check the author's note..!!
Reporter Noona, who was looking around with an awkward expression as if the place felt unfamiliar, whispered in a low voice.
"Can I really be here?"
"Of course. I handled it."
"Ugh... I feel bad for putting pressure on you."
"Pressure? What pressure. I promised you'd have my exclusive interview."
It was true.
When word got out that Reporter Noona would be handling my exclusive interview, which was the most anticipated one of this tournament, the reporters boycotted... or, is it more accurate to say they were sulking? The reporters were pissed off.
"They're so narrow-minded. I want to do my interview with who I want, what's it to them? Ridiculous. Damn trashy reporters."
"No. They are trashy reporters... but we were a bit unreasonable this time."
Reporter Noona moved only her lips, as if she were doing ventriloquism.
"It's not like I'm from an established media outlet, a famous journalist, or a sports reporter. I'm an editor for a women's magazine, and I'm the exclusive interviewer. Even if I were a reporter, I'd be offended."
"What's wrong with you?"
At my blunt reaction, Noona smiled with a mature expression.
"Can't be helped. It's my fault."
Back when the feminist movement was at its peak, she was an editor for a representative radical feminist magazine that played a leading role.
Even if the momentum has died down now due to the anti-feminist backlash, people who remember the frenzy back then would be uncomfortable. On top of that, someone like that was chosen as the exclusive interviewer over the other reporters.
"Above all, I'm pretty. Look at them now. They're distracted, stealing glances at my body. Right?"
"I know you're pretty, Noona. Your body too. Your breasts and pussy."
"You're crazy, absolutely crazy."
"They can't hear us. You making a scene is more noticeable."
To calm down Reporter Noona, who was flapping her arms, I quickly continued.
"So what about it?"
"Ahem. What do you think they'll say if I only give an exclusive interview to someone as pretty as me?"
At Reporter Noona's exaggerated actions, as she playfully brushed back her hair and looked smug, I could hear men whispering in the distance.
Well... it's understandable they'd misunderstand.
"But it's not a misunderstanding."
"...Right."
Since I was planning on rolling around with Reporter Noona after the interview today anyway... it's not a misunderstanding.
"It's more of a problem because it's not a misunderstanding. If you get caught, imagine the rumors. You have to manage your image well from the start; once it's ruined, it's hard to fix. Especially for someone like you who attracts a lot of female fans. Let's cancel the exclusive interview and go with a real reporter..."
"Forget it."
"Min-jun?"
"I said forget it. Why are you deciding that?"
"I mean, because of me, you might get—"
"No~."
Stumped by my baseless pouting, Reporter Noona looked stunned.
"Noona. I promised, didn't I? That I'd give you the exclusive interview. Now, and in the future, my exclusive interviewer is you."
"Okay, Min-jun. Thanks for thinking of me. But let's do that opportunity later... after I pass the Journalism Exam and become an official reporter. For now, leave it to the reporters—"
"Stop it, Noona."
I recall the scene from earlier.
The sight of her cowering among the reporters.
I call her Reporter Noona, but I only misunderstood at our first meeting; strictly speaking, Su-yeon Noona is not a reporter.
She's just a magazine editor, or to put it more bluntly, an employee.
So what about it?
"I only refused the exclusive interview, I allowed the joint interview. The reporters were the ones who refused that."
"Min-jun."
"And above all. I don't want to see you feeling down."
I don't want to see Noona feeling down.
The media? Of course, it's important.
If the media is favorable, you can get a higher evaluation than your actual skills, and it can have a better influence on your image or brand value. Then, opportunities to film commercials might come along too.
But for someone like me... with my future potential and my looks, I'm the one with the power, not the media.
I may just be a university leaguer now, but who knows where I'll be playing in a few years... no, even next year.
I will continue to improve, and eventually, I will be a Ballon d'Or winner.
Not just with my skills, but with looks like this, I'd be a hit regardless of East or West.
If I capture both skill and looks, what would that marketability be like?
What was David Beckham's popularity and brand value like? And Beckham was an excellent player, but never the number one. Ronaldo? He'd be more similar. But even Ronaldo didn't become the undisputed number one.
I'm different.
I will become the number one with overwhelming skill.
I am not the subordinate. I am the boss.
I can't be at odds with the media, but I don't need to be dragged around by them either.
Moreover,
"I'll say this clearly. I can't stand seeing my woman feeling small in front of nobodies."
Needless to say, that's not even considering breaking my promise to my woman.
"So don't worry about it and hurry up and do the interview."
"...Thank you, Min-jun. I'll definitely pass the Journalism Exam. I'll become a reporter with dignity, and I won't be ashamed to be with you."
"Ugh, so cringey. Noona, can you straighten my fingers for me?"
"You really... sigh, I don't know much about soccer yet, will it be okay?"
"It's fine. You said you're studying."
"I am studying. I'm preparing for the Journalism Exam, preparing documents to establish a media company, and studying soccer, which I've never been interested in my whole life... I don't think I even did this much in my senior year of high school."
For someone saying that, your skin is glowing.
"Right? My skin has been strangely good lately. No, not just skin. My condition is super good every day, you know? I'm studying really well too. If I had this level of concentration in school, I would've breezed into Korea University."
"Do you know why that is?"
"Why?"
"It's thanks to me."
"...Huh."
She looks flustered, but it's true.
Because,
"They say a woman in love changes. You love me, Noona, that's why."
"Where did you hear that?"
"Maybe a movie...?"
"Oh, please."
She crossed her arms and scoffed, but her face was blushing red.
Cute.
"So, do you know? Hmm?"
"...I-it does seem true. Yes."
"See? I told you. It's because you love me."
"Oh, stop it... sigh, yeah. I've definitely changed since meeting you. My body feels different."
"Yeah, yeah. That's the power of love."
"No, that's not it... oh, forget it."
Fanning her flushed face, Noona quickly took out her recorder and turned it on.
"Ahem. Starting the interview now?"
"As much as you want."
"...I don't know soccer well, so tell me right away if my questions are weird."
Reporter Noona said she didn't know soccer well, but the interview went smoothly.
Since she's been studying soccer, it was a huge improvement compared to before when she didn't even know the basics. Even if she's not a professional soccer reporter, this is okay.
"I think I'll need 1-2 hours to finish, where will you be?"
"I'll go to a nearby cafe and write the article. Let me know when you're done."
"Why don't you go to my place instead?"
"If you mean home... you mean the place where you're living together?"
"Yeah. It's a penthouse, so it's really nice."
Reporter Noona, who was looking at me with an ambiguous expression, sighed.
"Don't decide on your own. Did you get permission from the woman you're living with?"
"No. I'll get it now."
"...sigh. Forget it. I'll be at the cafe."
"Hey~ it's okay, it's okay. Trust me."
"...The problem is I can't trust you, you idiot."
"You can't trust me? Really? Want to check in bed?"
"Not that!"
Reporter Noona, her face flushed red, shouted and quickly looked around. After confirming there was no one around, she let out a sigh of relief, then became gloomy again,
"Ah. I'm really worried."
She let out a deep sigh.
"Ah, seriously. What are you worried about again!"
"I'm worried because I'm thinking of quitting my job, trusting only you."
"Hey. Can't I feed you?"
"No, I'm not worried about that. I could feed you if it came to that. It's not like I don't have the ability."
"Then what is it?"
"Are you going to marry me?"
"...Huh?"
At Reporter Noona's question, I was speechless.
That's right. I said I'd take responsibility for Reporter Noona, but I had absolutely no intention of getting married, not even a little bit.
It's not because she's Reporter Noona.
In the first place, I had never thought seriously about marriage. Whoever it was.
"I know. How popular you are, and how many women are around you. And... that you're not a man I can aim for... I know that I'm not a partner worthy of marrying you."
"No, that's not it... Noona, listen."
"Forget it. You don't have to make excuses. It's a path I chose, so I have no regrets."
As I was stammering, Reporter Noona said firmly.
"I can be satisfied just by being by your side. So promise me this one thing. You won't dump me, right?"
"Of course. Why would I dump you?"
"Whatever, just keep that in mind, okay? If you ever say 'I'm tired of you now' and dump me, just you wait! I'll...!"
"...You'll what?"
"Why? Curious? Are you planning to dump me later?"
"No, no, that's not it! I'm just curious~"
She raised her finger, pretending to poke her own eye, then turned it around and poked my eye, saying,
"I'm watching everything~ You know how much information I have that would be a huge deal if I leaked it, right? If you dump me, we both go down together, seriously."
"O-of course. Nyahaha. There's no way I'd dump you~"
"Yeah. I'm trusting you and quitting my job. Ah~ seriously. I must be crazy~ Turning down a monthly salary that comes in like clockwork for a one-person media outlet. And on top of that, sports, which I've never been interested in."
"I'll give you great interviews. You write my exclusive articles like crazy."
"That only works if you get famous so the views get sweet. So do well in tomorrow's game."
"Don't worry. I'll carry the team tomorrow too, so you just watch well from the press box."
"Yeah, yeah. I don't worry about our Min-jun's skills. Don't get hurt. Take care of your body. You know there's the Olympics after this, right?"
"That's right. The Olympics. My body wasn't just my own. I've been called by the country. Right?"
"Of course~ Our Min-jun's body isn't just Min-jun's. I have a stake in it too. Just try getting hurt."