Practice Match (2)
Kim Jeongtae was a veteran defender.
He'd faced all kinds of forwards in his time.
Some barreled in on raw physicality.
But Olmunt was something else.
Thud... thud...
"Huh?"
In that split second of realization, Olmunt slipped past him.
He could dribble with eerie finesse. He had monstrous physicality and a towering frame. But players who had both? Rare as hell.
Bait him into dribbling, pull back distance, and he'd nutmeg you with skill and speed.
Go in for a physical duel thinking he'd shy away, and he'd hold his own with surprisingly scrappy grit.
This type wasn't in Kim Jeongtae's encyclopedia of forwards.
So it felt like death by a thousand cuts.
"Hey, Kim Jeongtae! Get your head in the game! Mark properly! Snap out of it!"
But Coach Sim Hyeonjae, oblivious to his plight, just hissed reprimands at him.
"Ha..."
He let out a deep sigh, glaring at Olmunt.
He'd been shredded all first half, but he couldn't afford another slip. One more, and Sim Hyeonjae would have his head.
Right on cue, during Gimpo's counter, Olmunt latched onto a long ball.
'Time to prove those breakthroughs were flukes!'
With that thought, Kim Jeongtae squared up for the one-on-one.
Olmunt toed the ball lightly, testing the waters.
'Predictable. This guy's all about shooting—he'll try to beat me and cut inside.'
As he shifted to block the center—
Olmunt bolted sideways.
"Tch..."
He'd lost the mind game, but quitting wasn't an option. Kim Jeongtae gritted his teeth and chased. One breakthrough here, and it was over.
His backpedal had delayed his start, but he lunged anyway, ready to foul if needed.
It was justified. A clean break would leave the keeper one-on-one.
But he couldn't stop it.
Olmunt wobbled as Kim Jeongtae grabbed him, then booted the ball clear and sprinted.
"No!"
Kim Jeongtae hit the turf in a pathetic roll, yelling desperately. But Olmunt slotted it home coolly against the keeper.
Splash!
The net rippled satisfyingly.
Kim Jeongtae instinctively glanced at the coach. Sim Hyeonjae's face was beet-red, like a volcano ready to blow.
"I'm dead..."
He muttered, staring at Olmunt.
The Swede was hugging teammates in celebration.
Annoying all first half, but this moment made him want to kill him most.
"Did he really get reborn or something...?"
Unaware he'd nailed the truth by accident, Kim Jeongtae dropped his head in despair.
* * *
The first half ended shortly after my goal.
I'm still kinda dazed. That tingling buzz lingers in my toes from the shot.
Firing without pain...
I thought I'd gotten used to it, but real action hits different.
This body's gonna keep delivering, so I'll adapt.
"Olmunt, what're you doing? C'mon, let's go."
Lost staring at my boots, Chaewoo hyung called out with his usual friendly grin.
The teams heading to the benches had night-and-day vibes.
Gimpo's? Electric. Overflowing motivation across the board.
Jeju Mobiles'? Funeral home confirmed.
Players hadn't even gathered, and Sim Hyeonjae was already screaming, face purple.
"What the hell's wrong with your heads? Getting owned by second-division scrubs? By that idiot Olmunt, no less?"
Ah, this guy's clueless I speak Korean.
Gimpo players' smiles vanished at his words.
The issue? Sim Hyeonjae doesn't know I get Korean fluently.
Even most Gimpo guys don't, outside Chaewoo and Dojin hyungs.
But even accounting for that, the coach crossed a line. Glancing around, everyone looked pissed.
Dojin hyung stepped up.
"Apologize."
Quiet, but firm enough for all to hear.
In the powder-keg tension, Sim Hyeonjae fired back.
"Apologize? Never seen such rude bastards. What for?"
"Apologize to Olmunt. Isn't that rude?"
This coach don't play. Sim Hyeonjae's face flushed deeper, exploding.
"Why the hell should I apologize to that dumb foreigner? He won't even understand."
I'm not even mad. I don't fully feel like Olmunt yet.
Just weird being the storm's eye.
Gimpo players charged like angry bulls.
Jeju folks looked awkward, like 'that's too far', calming them down.
In the chaos, someone clapped my shoulder and pulled me away.
"Alright... let's call it. Just apologize and wrap it. You don't want practice match drama hitting the net, right Coach? World's scary these days—racial slur plus dissing another club..."
Coach Nam's polite threat left Sim Hyeonjae frozen.
His red face cooled to normal. Reality check hit.
I stifled a laugh at the sight, watching. Then our eyes met.
"Th-that bastard's mocking me?!"
Sim Hyeonjae pointed and stormed over. Ballsy guy.
No apology energy, but plenty to shift blame.
As he closed in, Hyeongjin hyung held me back.
"Olmunt! Calm down, please... He's not a bad guy deep down. Yeah?"
I'm not even mad yet. And hyung, you can't confirm he's good.
Sim Hyeonjae shut up, maybe clocking my build more than expected.
I tossed out one word.
"What?"
Foreigner card. Time to push.
Jeju doesn't know my Korean's solid.
"Problem?"
Sim Hyeonjae gawked, then bolted.
Embarrassed 'cause he thinks I don't speak Korean?
But I'm Korean at heart. No guilt.
Don't do racism, play ball.
Gimpo players blinked in confusion, then returned to seats.
I played it cool in front of Jeju, heading back quietly.
Coach started briefing, still buzzing.
"That was awesome! Holding our own against a top team! Especially Olmunt—you blew me away."
Less briefing, more non-stop praise for me.
Face heating up, but proud I made a mark.
Second half saw most starters subbed. Lee Junkyung hyung took my spot.
We leaked three to Jeju, ending 3-3.
Second-string match—Jeju's superior class won out.
Still, Coach grinned and encouraged, no anger.
He knows: first-half winners are the real victors.
Post-match, coaches chatted animatedly. Wonder what they said.
* * *
"Nam Suhyeon's grown. Thought he was a total rookie. They'll avoid last place at least."
"Nah, I was shocked too. Thought we'd win, but draw. First-division class, haha."
The coaches shook hands, chatting.
One still simmering, the other holding back laughs.
"Olmunt carried. Admit it?"
Nam Suhyeon poked without mercy.
"Hah, one good game from a second-division mercenary and you buy it?"
Sim Hyeonjae swallowed rage, snapping back.
"He could do that all season. We'll see. Don't get relegated—you'd hate dropping after promotion."
Nam Suhyeon smirked, turning away with a nod.
"Oh, your tactics felt a bit dated. Wanna learn? Hit me up—from the bottom, though. Cone sorting first."
Ruckus from behind, but Nam Suhyeon scampered off.
Thinking it the most satisfying moment of his career.
* * *
↳ VikingBraincellZero: Nah, back to dumb Viking mode soon .
↳ SkepticKing: What Olmunt? Wanna smash the scout's head who signed him.
"Hmm... folks still don't buy it. But once the season starts, they'll all believe in you."
Jump scare. I stared at the hyung tapping my back, clueless to my thoughts.
"Why're you here? No vacation?"
"Nowhere to go. Family schedules don't match. Plus, you're meeting the coach, right? Moral support."
Fair enough, no retort.
Chaewoo hyung shrugged nonchalantly and stood. Post-training, no friends, so we stuck together—now this.
Thought about Sweden, but ditched it. Three days? No one to meet anyway.
We've gotten close. Close enough for surprise meet-the-coach tag-along.
Wonder why he wants to see me?
Not getting cut, right? After humiliating Jeju?
"Scared? Didn't think you got scared. When'd you give that death glare to their coach?"
Seeing me shake, he teased like I'd grown a second head.
Was my face that scary? Just made him face his shame.
Soon, he scooted close, serious.
"You won't get cut. Who'd release you after that Jeju masterclass?"
Guilty twinge, but played cool.
He laughed at my reaction, continuing.
"I want you playing like that Jeju game every match this year. I'm enlisting next year—last shot before army."
Chaewoo hyung sighed, adding.
"First regular here, first to get crazy fan love. Sounds nuts, but I want promotion. So run every game like Jeju."
I nodded, thoughts swirling. Couldn't reply.
This Gimpo Green UTD? I like it. Coach, players—all good.
But my goal's Europe eventually.
Still, hyung's inspiring.
Can I be a player fans believe in like that?
Promotion...
Starting spot's shaky now—can I lead the charge?
Doubts creep in, but possible. Europe scouts K1 anyway.
I stood, heading to the meeting room. Time, and words ready.
"That Jeju game's my real level. Don't worry."
Didn't see his face, but probably not bad.