Revenge (1)
Last match. Ahead of the game against Suwon Red Motors, the players gathered at the Gimpo Green UTD training ground to steel their resolve.
The club's first-ever promotion. Their first trophy since turning pro just three years ago. And a slew of colorful records to boot.
Those who knew the weight of all this better than anyone weren't the fans chattering outside—they were the ones right here inside.
Captain Chaewoo was more fired up than ever, rallying the squad. Vice-captain Dojin kept discipline tight as always.
And me... sorry to kill the vibe, but honestly? No real thoughts on it.
More precisely, no special emotions stirring anymore.
If I hadn't overcome my trauma, my head would've been spinning with all sorts of worries. But now? I just want to prove it, plain and simple.
I felt it back in that Gyeongnam Twin Towers match—that I'd fully shaken off the failures of my past life. Now I just want to confirm my judgment was right.
Winning? That's a given, obviously.
Suwon's squad is tough, sure. But somehow, I don't feel like we'll lose. Even if I sit this one out, my teammates will crush them.
"Olmunt. If that rude prick Lee Yeongik swings at you again, just look my way. I'll handle him."
Donghan hyung's got my back, no question.
"Olmunt. Give me just two killer passes. I'll bag a goal." "Hyung Olmunt, no mistakes this time for real. Just let me at that bastard Lee Yeongik."
Ever since that loss to Suwon last time—when I had to hold everyone back for a while—they've all made a point to drop a line my way.
It felt burdensome at first, but now? I'm just grateful. How could I worry when they're burning with this kind of fire?
I'll train hard, prep hard, and show them. And now, even facing Lee Yeongik doesn't scare me much.
Unless he shoves me first.
"Urgh!"
Whoops. Got lost in thought and tensed up.
"Minsu. Sorry." "You speak Korean fine, but you only pretend to fumble when it's convenient."
Minsu's sharp jab hit home, but I played dumb and moved on to the next drill.
"Huh? What?" "Goddamn it!"
Nothing special. Just like always. We prepped smoothly for the Suwon clash.
...
The bus was eerily quiet. Even when Miguel was causing chaos, it never got this silent.
Chaewoo hyung, who always snored through rides. Hyeongjin hyung, glued to his phone. Today, both stared out the window, lost in thought.
Hoo...
Just the occasional deep breaths easing tension, mixed with the bus's low rumble. Otherwise, dead silence.
Everyone steeling themselves in their own way, I guess.
The quiet felt awkward, but not bad. I joined in, waiting for the bus to pull into Suwon Red Motors stadium.
Dong dong dong! Suwon~Dong dong dong! Suwon~
Typical Suwon Red Motors stadium— the roar hits different. They've been out of the second division so long, stepping in here feels overwhelming.
Why the hell are you guys still stuck in second division? I think it every time I come here. And here we are again. Total mystery.
I did some light stretches and headed back to the locker room.
"Alright, everyone, huddle up."
As we sorted our kits, Coach ditched his usual sunglasses and called us in.
"Seen the standings? Where are we?" "First place." "Louder!" "First place!" "Those bastards? Third. Why are we acting scared?"
A beat of silence followed Coach's words.
"Last time, they shut down Olmunt and won. You gonna let 'em do it again like chumps?" "Donghan. Even if you get sent off after 80 minutes, go wild if they get dirty. Retaliate." "Yes, sir!"
Donghan hyung grinned, smacking his lips.
"Last time we lost limp. But Olmunt ain't that Olmunt anymore, and neither are we. Things are different today. They touch us, we all swing. Got it?"
Coach took a deep breath, scanned us once more, then bellowed.
"No cowards here, so I won't even ask. Let's go stomp 'em!" "Let's go!"
Chaewoo hyung's shout kicked it off, followed by a chorus of roars as we lined up at the tunnel.
Our feral energy had the Suwon players glancing nervously as they walked beside us.
My eyes locked on one: Lee Yeongik, out of the whole pack.
His face didn't look great even right before the handshake. Maybe a twinge of guilt now?
As our hands clasped, Lee Yeongik leaned in and whispered.
"All that cocky strut like you're hot shit, but you're nothing. I'll turn you into Yoon Jongmun too."
Jun Kyung hyung, shaking hands behind me, sensed something off and started to intervene.
But Lee Yeongik switched to stone-faced neutrality, brushing past with a handshake like nothing happened.
Consistent as ever. Good—means I won't feel bad getting rough this game.
Beep!
Suwon kicked off. I jogged up to their defensive line.
Lee Yeongik's probably my shadow. If I were Suwon's coach, that's what I'd do.
"Hey? Here to flop again?"
I ignored his smirking taunt, biding my time.
Where there's a Lee Yeongik...
"Agh! Ref, not a foul?"
...we've got Donghan hyung.
The lanky foreign striker crumpled after Donghan hyung stripped the ball clean.
No hesitation—hyung fired it to Jinho hyung.
Jinho hyung shielded it with his rock-solid back, then passed to Kvirin Moll.
Thwump~
Kvirin's shot cracked like thunder, landing right at my feet.
Light first touch to settle it, then I spun away from Lee Yeongik's charge.
Against him, a simple change of direction shakes the first mark. The physical stuff comes after.
Lee Yeongik grabbed my jersey right away, pulling that subtle foul.
Just enough tug to mess with balance—ref might miss it.
But I wasn't falling for those cheap tricks anymore.
Counter? Keep your focus. Don't overthink, and you stay upright.
As the gap widened, a panicked Lee Yeongik yanked hard. It barely fazed me, but I sold the flop.
Thud!
Beep!
Paulo and Chaewoo hyung, slicing in from the side, stormed over furious at the noise.
Donghan hyung was still leashed by Dojin hyung—too early for him to unleash.
Two reasons for the dive.
One: Lure Lee Yeongik into complacency. Gotta create clear chances.
Two: Gauge the ref. Even lenient ones call this. But on a dangerous play like this, strict refs flash yellow.
Ref Jo Hoyun's infamous for inconsistency—cards swing game to game.
Yellow? I'll milk more dives to get him sent off. No card? Time for payback fire.
I watched tensely as Jo Hoyun jogged over.
"Watch it. One more and it's a foul."
Verbal warning only—he must be in a chill mood today. Free kick it is.
Plan B: Revenge time.
Lee Yeongik sneered at me, oblivious. Exactly the face I wanted.
We'll settle this on the indirect free kick.
Our taker: Munich warrior Kvirin Moll. Late-season, I can read his shots by face alone.
Beep!
Beautiful arc bending my way. Lee Yeongik gritted teeth, elbowing to block.
Others shoved rough to mark me. Effective? On old me, yeah.
I powered my legs harder than usual, shrugging off the grabs and leaping.
Rip... creak!
Clothes ain't as tough as me—fabric stretched audibly.
Perfect jump timing. I stomped hard on Lee Yeongik's flailing foot as he nudged me.
"Aaaagh!"
He staggered into my elbow and crumpled.
Chaos erupted. Amid it, my header sailed over the stretching keeper into the net clean.
Thud... thud... thud.
Cheers and protests exploded as the ball crossed the line.
"Ref, that's a foul! Foul! Can't you see Yeongik's leg?"
From players protesting to the ref.
"Hey, Olmunt! What the hell was that?" "I speak Korean." "Right. That's still a foul."
To ones hounding me. Suwon players were a mess.
"What foul? Even Suwon fans know that's Hollywood. Hate it? Check VAR!"
Donghan hyung, repping that inexplicable Seoul DNA from Gimpo.
"Ref, come on. That's normal in a challenge, right? Don't buy these protests." "Plus, he's been elbowing nonstop. Time for a warning."
Our captain duo working the ref's ear from the other side.
Coaches were at it too, naturally. Suwon drops to fifth if they lose here. We're chasing the title.
Every goal like this? They'll freak.
Jo Hoyun eyed the frenzy, then—finally ref-like—headed to VAR.
Stadium inside and out went quiet, waiting.
He checked the screen himself.
Beep-beep! Beep!
Goal stands.
"Woooooo!" "Wake up, ref!"
Heavy boos rained down. I just hi-fived the boys lightly and jogged back.
Half-expected it.
All the marking funneled at me—cameras couldn't read intent clear.
My foot stomp, elbow nudge? Looked accidental.
If that's a foul, then Arsenal-style clinging is too.
Through protesting Suwon players limping and glaring daggers—Lee Yeongik, eyes full of rage.
Not scary anymore. He's just some nobody who can't touch me. No glance his way.
Mad? Live better. It's only 15 minutes in—plenty of time. I'll torment him slow.
Winning the game goes without saying, of course.