Dear Mom, You're Coming to England!
“Mom, you’re coming to England this time?”
“Of course I’m coming. It’s my son’s debut match. The club is covering everything.”
“Mom, my son really pulled off a great transfer, right? It’s totally normal for a superstar prospect like me.”
“Our son, he’s been getting more cheeky by the day. And transferring to Manchester City… is it because of Da-min?”
“Aigoo~ Mom, we’re not choosing the team because of Da-min.”
Of course there was a little behind-the-scenes maneuvering…
“Hmm… I’m still suspicious. All right, son. Come to England and meet us. We should really thank Manager Chan-kyu for taking such good care of you with a meal.”
“Mom, maybe Chan-kyu-hyung is even a better cook than me…”
“What?”
“No, Mom, I’m so homesick for your cooking. Hehe.”
“Well, train hard and I’ll call you back~”
“Yes, Mom. Take care.”
I hung up the phone and let out a sigh of relief.
I definitely hadn’t told anyone I was dating Da-min, yet the tone she used… it hit like a dagger.
Is this what women’s instincts feel like?
* * *
The Premier League opener for Manchester City is against Crystal Palace.
On paper and in history it looked like City would steamroll them, but the last season between the two teams had ended 1-1. Mathias had scored a last-minute equalizer in stoppage time, and if you watched the match the scoreline was actually a crushing defeat for City.
There were two big reasons for that result. First, Crystal Palace’s new owner was pouring enormous amounts of money into the squad. During Kim Chan-ki’s time City had been famous for oil-money deals, but now it was Palace’s owner bankrolling a massive transfer spree on the back of the same kind of cash. The club had changed hands mid-season last year, so they hadn’t signed as many players as expected, yet they still brought in several named world-class talents.
That was the second reason. In our squad the only true world-class player was Mathias. Palace, however, had Umtiti and Gabriel—both marquee signings who had cost seven-figure fees. Number of world-class players doesn’t decide everything, but when one player is on fire he can dictate a match, and on that night it was Umtiti and Gabriel against City.
Plus this season Palace had even more money to spend, so they were stronger than last year. Their fans were pumped, their feet were already on the train to the stadium, and the Holmesdale Road Stand was alive with noise.
In the South London district of Croydon, Selhurst Park already thrummed with excitement. Supporters were belting out songs as if they’d already won, their voices echoing off the stand and clearly showing they expected victory over the Manchester visitors.
“Tsk, that’s annoying,” Guerrero muttered, tongue clicking.
“What now?”
“They’re already acting like they’ve won.”
I gave his shoulder a playful slap. “Come on, even we fans have traveled all this way to cheer.”
I scanned the pitch. Between the red-and-blue waves of Crystal Palace supporters, the sky-blue Manchester City fans stood out. Numerically outnumbered, yet their energy was fierce.
“Yeah, whatever. Me being the greatest prospect in the world, of course fans are losing their minds.”
“Guerrero, you’re not the greatest prospect. I am.”
Sanchez’s deadpan reply earned a hollow laugh from Guerrero. “Sanchez, from the moment we step on the field you’re acting like you’re competing with me. That’s not healthy. You’ll trip over your own ego.”
“Can’t even eat English food properly and you’re talking walls?” Castillo drawled from beside us.
Sorry, Castillo, but only a handful of English people actually eat the fish-head pie.
But then I thought… it was kind of funny.
I was standing right here and they were fighting over who the best prospect is? My name is Tae-woo! Of course I’m the best! The fans’ favorite once the squad is picked… Tae-woo!! Most handsome… Tae-woo!!! Why are the other guys fighting over the title when the answer is right next to them?
“Hey, among the four of us I’m clearly the most promising. Have you four won any Olympic gold?”
That humble line was actually serious. There isn’t a single footballer who can match me in skill.
Guerrero’s eyes blazed. “What does that have to do with anything? I’m the best, end of story!”
“Yeah, we’ve never won a single tournament~” I grinned.
“What? You’ve never won?” Sanchez asked, innocently.
“Oof, that’s going straight to my ego…”
Guerrero clutched the back of his neck. In Brazil he’d been the league’s top scorer, but they lost on goal difference and finished second. Sanchez and Castillo had come from winning teams; I was the only one without silverware.
“What? You’re all talk and suddenly you’re champions?” Castillo’s blunt remark finished Guerrero off.
“You idiots! Winning and skill are completely different things! I’m still the best!” Guerrero roared.
“This season all four of us are debuting, so it’s a showdown. Whoever’s the greatest prospect wins!” Sanchez answered casually.
“Fine by me.”
“I don’t want to be compared to the guy who’s never won,” Castillo added with a smirk.
“Aaaah, seriously!”
Guerrero covered his head and groaned.
Wait… Guerrero’s image has changed so much. At the start he was cocky and confident, but now he sounds exactly like Lee Tae-yang?
* * *
“Ah, Mom! Here we are!”
Yoon Seo-jung, Jung Tae-woo’s mother, had finally arrived in England for the first time. She was nervous, staring at the unfamiliar airport. Then a tall man waved at her from a distance.
“Excuse me, you’re Mr. Chan-kyu, the manager taking care of my son?”
“Yes, that’s me. Lee Chan-kyu. I came to pick you up.”
“Aigoo, I heard so many wonderful things about how well you take care of our son. And he’s so handsome too!”
“Hehe, Mom, you’re even prettier. That’s why Tae-woo turned out so good.”
Yoon Seo-jung smiled shyly, heart swelling with gratitude. This manager was going above and beyond for her boy.
“I’ll take you straight to the stadium,” Chan-kyu said politely.
Once they reached Selhurst Park she couldn’t hide her surprise. “Wow, this is such a huge stadium… Tae-woo’s playing here?”
“This isn’t City’s home ground. It’s Crystal Palace’s. City’s stadium is much larger,” Chan-kyu explained.
Her eyes widened even more. For someone who didn’t know football, just this stadium looked enormous. The thought of her son stepping into something bigger made fresh worry flood her.
Tae-woo, you have to stay calm even in a place this big…
She followed him into the VIP area, which gave a perfect view of the entire pitch.
“Mom, you can watch comfortably from here,” Chan-kyu said.
Just as she sat down, the door opened and several people entered.
“Mom, these gentlemen are from the Manchester City club.”
“Ah… hello?”
Yoon Seo-jung forced a smile. She didn’t speak English, and the sudden rush of foreigners made her tense. She instinctively looked at Chan-kyu for help.
Fortunately Chan-kyu noticed her unease instantly and moved closer.
“Don’t worry. I’ll translate for you,” he whispered.
Phew, thank goodness.
Yoon Seo-jung breathed a sigh of relief inside. The club officials greeted her with warm smiles and started speaking.
She understood none of it, but their kind faces and gentle eyes clearly conveyed goodwill.
When they finished, she turned to Chan-kyu.
“They say my son is doing really well and will soon be one of the greatest goalkeepers in the world,” Chan-kyu translated.
“They’re also very grateful for how you’ve raised him and for sending him to City,” he added.
A proud smile spread across her face. The praise made her chest swell, and thinking of her hardworking son adapting to a strange new environment, her eyes welled up. She bowed her head in silent thanks.
She had worried about possible racism in a foreign country, but the officials’ warm reception eased her fears. It seemed Tae-woo was settling in just fine.
They chatted in the VIP area until the referee’s whistle blew.
Every eye turned to the pitch. Yoon Seo-jung’s gaze locked instantly on the goalkeeper in blue warming up in front of the goal.
She knew exactly how much effort her son had poured in, how strong his will had been to chase his dream. This was the boy who had fought through hardships, the boy who had changed his own destiny.
Tae-woo, fight hard! Mom will always be on your side.