Curtain Up on the Semifinals
Paang!!
Bang!
“Nice one, Hassan! One more!!”
A booming voice echoed across the training field.
Coach Lee Tae-jeong, back in his wheelchair, was diligently overseeing the pitchers.
He hadn’t fully recovered yet, but with Ma Deok-su out of commission, he’d returned early and was passionately conducting the final checks.
Crack!
“My ball!!”
Ji Suyong bellowed thunderously.
He wasn’t in center field today but right field, fielding balls there.
Paang!
“Okay, nice defense!”
Ji Suyong showed steady, reliable plays one after another.
Coach Myeong Sinu, hitting fungos, nodded in satisfaction and called out to him.
“Suyong, how’s it feel? Manageable?!”
“Yessir!! Feels awesome!!”
“Heh, good, good!!”
Coach Myeong had watched Seong Muk play center for the national team and thought, I want to use him there too!!
He’d worried about Ji Suyong’s hearing issues making corner outfield tricky, but the kid’s senses had sharpened from his deep-sea fishing days, so he handled corners flawlessly now.
“Everyone, good work. Lunch, then game prep!”
“Yes, sir!!”
Mealtime, the players’ favorite part.
With the away game in Jeonju, they’d figured on cafeteria grub since Mom couldn’t come.
Suddenly, Coach Myeong rolled up his sleeve, checked his watch, and eyed a truck pulling up to the field with a knowing smile.
“Oh, here it comes.”
The truck parked in front of the training field.
The coach eyed his team quietly.
“You guys watch that show Blue-White Chef?”
“Who hasn’t these days?”
“We binged the whole thing on the boat trip!!”
It was a mega-hit variety show—unless you were Seok Un-gang, detached from worldly entertainment, everyone had seen it. The team wondered why he was bringing it up now.
“Wait, no way…”
Do Dojin and Choi Adam caught on.
Right then, the truck’s wing body lifted with a whirr!
“Alright, everyone, get excited. Your star chef came all this way to feed you before the big game.”
Olivia emerged as the door rose.
She wore a crisp white chef’s uniform, ponytail as usual.
The players gasped at her beauty.
She shyly waved to Seong Muk watching from afar.
…So that’s what she meant.
Seong Muk had gotten a heads-up.
Olivia had texted about a pre-game gift for the team. Turned out it was a food truck—with her cooking.
The team lost it over the surprise.
Eat from the beauty they’d only seen on TV?
Starving after practice, they couldn’t resist.
“Thanks for the grub!!”
“Outta the way, man!! Ever hear of respecting your elders?!”
A mad dash for first dibs.
Olivia smiled brightly, serving each player personally.
“Damn, this is too good!!”
“Best decision ever joining Munhyeok baseball. Sniff.”
Spicy oven-baked chicken breast, fresh pickled veggie salad, clear shellfish soup, and yuzu ade to finish. The team was in heaven.
As they devoured it, Coach Myeong dropped a bombshell motivator.
“Oh, she said she’ll come back again if you make the finals.”
“What…?!”
“We get this again?”
Eyes bulging.
Instant fire in their bellies.
“Baekro High? Dead meat.”
“Sorry, but you’re our stepping stone.”
Seong Muk grinned watching his hyped teammates.
He nibbled the chicken, savoring it.
Olivia’s skills have leveled up for sure.
Korean-focused group meal handicap, yet this quality? Leaps and bounds from when they met.
“Mm, thanks. All done.”
“What? Already?”
Ryu Ji blinked as Seong Muk stood.
He’d eaten way less than usual.
Team stared curiously; he shrugged.
“Just not that hungry today. Eat up, don’t mind me.”
He turned and bolted.
Choi Adam smirked, catching on.
“Heh, go get her, bro.”
“Wait, that?”
Shin Hyeji grinned too, onto it.
“……Ahem.”
Caught off-guard, Seong Muk hurried off.
Reaching the alley behind the field, an exotic beauty greeted him.
“Seong Muk! You came!”
Olivia beamed.
He felt the same.
“Thanks. Guys loved it. Said it was unreal.”
“So glad they enjoyed. Should’ve done it sooner…”
“Nah, this works. Big game like this is perfect for feeding the crew.”
“Heehee, you’re always too easy on me.”
Olivia’s radiant smile.
She slipped him something from her waist.
“Here, your bento.”
“Ooh, thanks. Same menu?”
“Totally different!”
She shook her head firmly.
Seong Muk raised a brow.
“Could’ve overlapped a bit. Why?”
“……Well.”
“?”
Olivia hesitated, then blushed.
“Can’t give the guy I like the same food as everyone else.”
“Ah.”
Seong Muk’s jaw dropped.
Direct hit.
“God, why are you so cute.”
He ruffled her hair.
She leaned into the firm touch but pouted a tad.
“Cute? Me?”
“Obviously. Ahh.”
He got why the subtle reaction.
Noa loved “cute”; Olivia preferred “pretty.”
Quick pivot.
“But more pretty than cute, of course.”
“…Hmng.”
She flushed, turning away sharply.
Adorable, he thought.
“Anyway, I’ll cheer hard today. Go get ‘em, Seong Muk.”
“Thanks. I’ll devour this.”
Seong Muk waved goodbye.
As he vanished, Olivia sighed deeply.
“I worked so hard today…”
Away game group feast meant extra effort.
Should’ve asked for a reward?
Still buzzing from England, the regret lingered.
But she shook her head.
Nothing that’d distract him.
Tournament’s almost over. Hold out till then.
Self-imposed limits for now.
Post-championship? All bets off.
Just a bit longer, Seong Muk.
Olivia scrolled her phone furiously.
Sexy outfits flew by.
The kind for celebrating with your boyfriend.
Jeonju’s landmark, Jeonju Hanok Dome.
Today’s Sejong Cup semifinals here.
Jeonju powerhouse Baekro High vs. Seoul powerhouse Munhyeok High.
The dome entrance was chaos even before the clash.
“Need infield seats? Tickets here!”
“Outfield, three left!”
Hype so insane, scalpers couldn’t keep up.
Grins ear-to-ear as sales boomed.
“Ah, game time soon!”
“Let’s go!”
Teams lined up, shaking hands.
Captain Seong Muk faced Baekro’s super ace, Lee Tae-bin.
Grrrind!
Sparks flew on grip.
Grip strength made arms tremble.
“You pack a punch, Lee Tae-bin.”
“Same to you, Geum Seong-muk…!”
Slightly outmatched but smiling through.
Lee Tae-bin had a real question, though.
“Why aren’t you starting, Geum Seong-muk? More fun rematching me than some scrub like Cheon Ji-uk.”
“True, but if I pitch you, big problem.”
“Big problem?”
“Can’t face Seo Hui-geon in finals then.”
“Ah, uh…”
Lee Tae-bin grimaced awkwardly.
Like he had words but held back.
“Nah, you’ll see for yourself…”
“Huh?”
Cryptic mutter.
Then he released, smiled, backed off.
“Anyway, let’s have a good one. Geum Seong-muk!”
Ignored everyone but Seong Muk.
Barely glanced at matchup Hassan.
Massive pride.
This Lee Tae-bin no-hit the national team till the 8th.
Average players? Not worth notice.
Could Hassan and Park Chan-jun handle him?
Probably a war of attrition.
Tough scoring till he tired.
They had to hold till late innings.
“Pitchers, huddle.”
Seong Muk gathered the three.
Eye contact, low voice.
“Coach Deok-su’s watching from his hospital bed.”
“……!”
First they’d heard he was awake.
Not dire, Seong Muk said, but watching live? Lit a fire.
“Not planning to embarrass him, right?”
“Never.”
“No way.”
“Not a chance.”
Nods all around.
Seong Muk clapped starter Hassan’s shoulder, firing him up.
“Hassan, show the world who taught you.”
“Yes, Seong-muk hyung! I’m off!!”
Hassan thumped his chest proudly.
Manlier now.
Before the mound, eyes closed, he chanted.
“Ishq (اشتیاق / Longing), Zang (زنگ / Corrosion), Azm (عزم / Resolve), Noor (نور / Light), Haqq (حق / Truth), Fajr (فجر / Dawn), Iman (ایمان / Faith)!!”
Calm recitation now.
Eyes sharpened instantly.
“…Can’t lose. For Coach Deok-su.”
Allah’s apostle descended on Jeonju Dome.
No giving up this game.