Conflict - The Long-Awaited 2016 Opening Game
The momentous 2016 opening game was finally upon us.
The matchups were set based on the teams' standings from two years prior: 1st vs. 6th, 2nd vs. 7th, and so on. Since we'd finished second in 2014, we were paired against the seventh-place Seoul Bears. Naturally, the game would be at our home, the Gocheok Dome.
This was the stadium where we'd won the Korean Series, and now it proudly bore the name Gocheok Heroes. On top of that, we were the only team in the country with a domed ballpark. To celebrate the opener, there were plans for a special performer's concert, along with ceremonial first pitches and hits. Word was, it would feature the boy group that included the owner's son.
As I headed to the training field to oversee the players' warm-ups, a commotion erupted from the bullpen. Today's starting pitcher, Lee Ji-seung, was in the middle of his routine, but the noise was getting a bit much, so I made my way over.
Lee Ji-seung had solidified his spot as our ace after winning MVP last year and Rookie of the Year the season before. He had few equals among pitchers in the entire league, not just on our team.
When I arrived at the bullpen, two pretty-boy types were grilling him about something. Ji-seung, who had to be on edge as the opening-day starter, was humoring them anyway. Knowing full well how touchy starters could get, I stepped inside.
They didn't even glance my way, chattering away and tossing balls around like they owned the place. So these were the idols practicing their ceremonial pitches—learning the mechanics beforehand. But there was no reason for today's starter to be bothered with that.
"Ji-seung, you're starting today. This okay with you?"
My words drew every eye in the bullpen.
"Who the hell are you?"
This kid, who looked a good decade younger than me, snapped back in banmal. I was floored.
"That's rude to the manager."
Lee Ji-seung hadn't lost his cool once amid their playful antics, but the second this guy sassed me, he fired up.
"Oh... he's the manager? Kid yourself and already running the show? Impressive."
Ji-seung's warning didn't faze him. He sauntered over with this smug air, sticking out his hand like I had to know him.
"You know who I am, right?"
I'd never cared much for boy groups to begin with. Girl groups, maybe. But his entitled vibe was ridiculous.
"Who the hell are you?"
My banmal made his face twist up.
"You don't know Ji-hoon from Kisses?"
He shot back in banmal like it was the most obvious thing. The guy had zero manners—might as well be allergic to them. So this was the owner's son from that boy group.
"What kind of chocolate-bar name is that? You the owner's kid?"
"You trying to get fired, coach?"
Ji-hoon scowled at my jab, spitting nonsense. The manager who'd delivered a championship on day one of his pro career—the first title in franchise history—getting threats from this punk? Laughable. Looked like he'd skipped charm school.
"You? Fire me?"
"Go tattle to Daddy. Tell him Manager Lee Jin-ho blocked your pitch. Your spot's going to the guy next to you. Anyone else teaching this clown his mechanics gets demoted to Double-A, effective immediately."
"Yes, sir!"
The players around us barked back in unison.
"You... you... just you wait."
Ji-hoon stormed out, fuming. I snorted at the sight. Strutting like he owned the world because Daddy ran the club? Pathetic. Even if he begged his old man to boot me, it wouldn't fly. No owner in their right mind axes a winning manager.
A winning manager? The thought hit me with a hollow laugh. In just two years, I'd gone from bullpen catcher barely scraping by in Double-A to untouchable—even by the owner himself.
I wrapped up the training field and headed to the diamond when the cheerleaders' lounge caught my ear—another ruckus. Looked like today was their lucky day.
I'd never set foot in there last year. With Seon-ah around, I didn't want rumors. But after that bullpen mess, something told me to check. If those clowns were involved, trouble was brewing.
Sure enough, inside were the cheerleaders, those two idols, and their manager. The manager was chewing them out. What fresh hell was this?
I hung back, watching quietly.
"Why you yelling at our girls and making them uncomfortable?!"
"That's not... they're the ones keep asking for our numbers and hitting on us..."
Lee Yeon-ju, the senior cheerleader, spoke up to the manager.
"Ha, unbelievable. You cheerleaders got no clue? You know how hot our boys are right now? You'd need a whole fleet of fan trucks to get near 'em!"
"What'd you say? 'Cheerleader trash'?"
"You know Ji-hoon in our group? Owner's son. One word from him, you're all fired. This industry's tiny—you won't work anywhere."
Yeon-ju hung her head at the endless Ji-hoon crap. I knew how cheerleaders got treated like dirt.
Then Seon-ah stepped up from the back.
"They're the ones in the wrong—why chew us out?!"
"And who the hell are you?"
I knew Seon-ah wouldn't take that lying down.
"It's true! They come to 'learn choreography' for the show, but they're groping us on the sly, then asking for numbers behind our backs. That's harassment! Idols can't act like that!"
Her words painted the picture. Not just pitches and hits—they were planning to join our cheerleaders for fan chants on the field. Sneaky touches during dance practice, apparently.
"Ugh, fuck! Who do you think you are? I'll make sure you never work here again. Just wait."
Words failing, the manager dialed someone, huffing.
"Ji-hoon? Can you swing by the cheer room quick? Yeah. We'll wait."
He hung up, smirking. "Ji-hoon's on his way. You girls are done."
Seon-ah's face hardened. Things were escalating. I couldn't sit it out.
"Hey, I've been listening, and that's some nasty talk."
"Who the hell are you?!"
I was known in baseball circles, but these idiots—Ji-hoon included—clearly had no clue. Total outsiders. Kinda stung my pride.
"This team's manager. Watch your mouth."
"You? Manager? You're a kid!"
"Lose the banmal. I just told you who I am."
The manager flinched. Then Ji-hoon burst in.
"Manager, what's up?"
Backup arrived; the manager perked up.
"These girls accuse our boys of harassment or whatever—yelling at them."
"What? Who the fuck says that shit? You guys do that?"
Ji-hoon turned on his teammate, who shook his head no.
"See? Didn't happen."
"Really. We'd never lie."
Seon-ah protested, indignant.
"Hey, bitch. Get out. You're fired as of now."
"I said watch your mouth, asshole."
I couldn't hold back anymore—grabbed Ji-hoon by the collar as he cursed at Seon-ah.
"Wanna go all the way?"
Collared, he smirked defiantly.
"Don't you know Ji-hoon's the owner's son? Let go!"
The manager demanded I release him, but he couldn't budge me.
"Take your brats and scram. Don't ruin opening day."
I shoved Ji-hoon hard; he hit the deck.
"You'll regret this. I'll tell my dad—you're done."
"Daddy? What are you, five?"
Ji-hoon huffed out, and the manager with his idol trailed after.
"Everyone okay? It'll blow over."
I reassured the cheerleaders.
"Thank you, Manager."
Yeon-ju spoke for them. Seon-ah shot me a grateful look.
Seemed settled—for now. But the real storm brewed later.
Players finished warm-ups on the field; visitor side took theirs. We huddled in the dugout for final strategy when the door flew open. Owner Lee Jang-sik stormed in, red-faced.
"Manager Lee Jin-ho! Where's Lee Jin-ho?!"
Whatever his son told him, he was raging.
"Right here. What's this about? Game's starting soon."
An owner barging into the dugout pre-game, throwing a fit? Unheard of. I got why he was here, but it was beyond rude.
"You assaulted my son! You out of your mind?!"
Lee Jang-sik jabbed a finger, bellowing. I'd never liked him much—his money-first ways—but this pushed me over the edge. No more holding back.