Chapter 6
Chapter 6
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Good Vibes and Nerves - 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
There was a match over the weekend.
The opponent was Atalanta, but I wasn't called up.
Meaning I couldn't even make the bench.
I thought I had pulled my weight in the practice match, so I was a little hopeful...
It seemed the coach still didn't think I was ready for a real match.
So, the next week, no, wait.
This weekend is when Ji-woo arrives.
Time is running out, and not even making the squad list is a bit gut-wrenching.
But there's nothing I can do about it, so I just did some individual training.
Truth be told, it was greedy of me to expect a spot on the squad just for playing a bit in a practice game.
Anyway, the weekend passed like that.
And the weekday training began.
On Monday, I trained with the bench group.
Tuesday, and Wednesday as well, training with the bench group.
And then Thursday, when the anxiety was growing by the minute.
"Lee Ji-an. Ji-an, you go over there."
"Huh? Ah, yes, sir!"
I was called over to the starting lineup group.
And I trained with them.
I was genuinely happy, but I had no time to enjoy that happiness.
The first thing we did after I was called over was tactical training.
Just like all other training, basic drills or physical training can be done with your brain turned off to some extent, since they're mostly repetitive.
But tactical training is the kind you can't let your guard down for even a second, so I had to be completely focused.
Luckily, the tactical training wasn't that complicated.
I trained with the other players in the same position as me, the Second Forward spot.
There were three players, including me, who could play that position in the starting lineup.
The first option was Gino Calvani.
The second option was Andrea Mondi.
And the third option was me.
We trained by taking turns performing our roles in the given situations.
Because of that, I had no choice but to train more ferociously than ever.
Think about it.
Whenever a situation was given, Gino, Andrea, and I would go in in that order and show our respective plays.
It's an environment where it's too easy to be compared.
What if Gino or Andrea solve the situation easily, but I show a flustered performance?
The coach would probably think this.
"Hmm, he's still lacking a lot."
"It's too risky to put him in a weekend match!"
Whatever the case.
The main focus of the training was two things.
One was how to carry the ball from midfield to the final third when we had possession.
The other was how to finish in the final third.
For these two situations, we performed partial tactics, coordinating with midfielders or other forwards.
What was a bit interesting was that even in the same situations, the three of us had completely different styles of play.
Gino, having played as a starter for a long time, had great chemistry with his teammates.
Andrea tended to solve things with his individual skills.
I, on the other hand, just used my teammates or chose to go for a personal play depending on the moment.
Of course, that doesn't mean I was the most complete player.
Gino's play was smooth, and Andrea stood out.
I was just barely getting by, trying not to get criticized.
Still, the power of desperation was more amazing than I thought.
I was able to finish the training without making any particular mistakes.
In fact, there were times I got praised when Gino and Andrea were the ones getting pointed out.
Well... that's probably just because the expectations for them are different from those for me.
"Alright. Good work, everyone. Get plenty of rest tomorrow. Manage your condition well for Saturday. I'll see you on Sunday."
"Thanks for the hard work!"
Hoo.
Anyway, I did my best in the given environment.
Whether I can play in the weekend match or not is now entirely up to the coach's choice.
To be honest, I know it's greedy to hope for a spot on the match squad after just one training session with the starting lineup.
But right now, I have no choice but to be greedy.
Ji-woo is coming tomorrow.
I shouted inwardly, shamelessly.
Please.
Please, give me a chance, Coach!
···
The day after I finished training on Thursday.
At noon on Friday, my phone was on fire.
A message was coming in about once a minute, and they were all from Ji-woo.
Ji-woo: [Photo]
Ji-woo: I've finally arrived!!!
Ji-woo: Now I'm taking a taxi to the city center!!
Ji-woo: The streets are so pretty ㅜㅜㅜ
Right.
Ji-woo was here.
To be honest, I didn't really feel it until yesterday, but now it's hitting me.
He's really here.
I was in a panic.
I felt a fire under my feet, so I quickly took a shower first.
"I should've bought some clothes beforehand."
I opened the closet after washing up and let out a sigh.
All I have are uniforms and training clothes.
I have some jeans and T-shirts, but they're from when I was a kid, so they look a bit dated.
Well, nothing I can do.
I'll just go in my training clothes.
It's not like I'm meeting a girlfriend.
Ji-woo: I've arrived at my homestay!!
Ji-woo: We can probably meet in about an hour!
An hour?
What could he possibly be preparing for an hour?
The house where Ji-woo will be staying wasn't that far. If I had to guess, it was in the next neighborhood over.
He said he'd be homestaying at a regular family's house and would go to school once it started.
Luckily, it was a different school from mine.
Speaking of which...
Hoo.
Since I had some time to kill, I lay on my bed and stared blankly at the ceiling.
I felt a strange feeling.
I was a little... tense, you could say.
I don't know why, but my heart was beating a little fast.
Even so, we were together almost every day as kids.
And we've been in constant contact since I came to Italy.
I don't know why I'm getting so nervous now.
...It's not like I'm going on a date or anything.
Hmm.
Still, it's not the kind of nervousness that feels bad.
What do you call this again?
A good kind of flutter...
I don't know.
"Still no text."
I sighed and checked my phone again.
It was about time for the team to send a message.
The call-up list text.
Does it usually take this long to come?
It feels like it's especially late today.
Hoo.
Will I be able to play, or not?
I did pretty well in training, though.
If I don't make the list, what excuse am I going to give Ji-woo?
Tell him I'm resting this week?
Or would it be better to say the opponent is weak, so there's no need for me to play?
Ugh.
I don't know.
Usually, I'd be happy not to get the call-up text.
But now, I can't wait for it.
Hurry up, please!
Ji-woo: I'm all ready!
Ji-woo: Come out now!
...I wasn't talking to you.
Anyway, I should get going.
I'll take a look in the mirror before I go.
"Are you coming back after eating dinner?"
"Yes. I'll eat somewhere nearby."
"Alright. Have a good time. Don't be out too late."
I had told my dad beforehand.
Ji-woo used to visit our house occasionally, so my dad knows him well too.
I was about to put on my shoes and leave when my dad spoke.
"Son."
"Yes?"
"Do well."
"...Do well with what?"
"Nothing. Just go and come back safely."
"?"
What am I supposed to do well?
"...I'm off."
I pouted my lips and left the house.
*
"This is the place."
The place where Ji-woo would be staying was about a 20-minute walk from my house.
He had just arrived, so he didn't know the way and asked me to pick him up, so I had no choice but to come to the front of his place.
I sent him a message saying I was here, telling him to come out, and let out a sigh for no reason.
Why am I so nervous? It's annoying.
Now that I think about it, it really has been a long time since we met in person.
It's been 3 years.
I wonder how it'll be. It might be a bit awkward.
Nah.
We've been friends since we were 7.
And we've been in touch this whole time.
It shouldn't be awkward.
...
I was lost in these thoughts as I waited.
"Hey!"
I heard a familiar voice and looked up.
It was Ji-woo.
Ji-woo was hopping towards me with a wide smile on his face.
Whoa...
I stared at him for a moment, dumbfounded, then awkwardly raised my hand.
"Uh... hi."
Even I knew it was a stupid greeting, but I couldn't help it.
Man... he's changed so much.
I'd seen him in photos, but seeing him in person felt different.
The Kim Ji-woo I knew was almost like a boy...
"Hey! What kind of greeting is that? Aren't you happy to see me?"
"...Huh? Y-yeah."
"...? Excuse me?"
As I stood there babbling like a broken machine, Ji-woo waved his hand in front of my face.
A scent, like hand cream, rushed in and made my head spin for a second.
I deliberately turned my head away and said.
"What's with the clothes?"
"Clothes? Why? Aren't they pretty?"
Ji-woo laughed, turning his body this way and that as if to show off.
"...You never used to wear stuff like this."
Ji-woo was wearing a dress.
Did he always like dressing up?
Well, it's a style that a lot of tourists wear, but...
He used to only wear pants, no matter what.
Ji-woo tilted his head and grinned.
"Why? Do I suddenly look like a girl because I'm wearing a skirt?"
"What the..."
"Then why can't you look me in the eye? Huh?"
"Ah, why are you like this?"
"Are you smitten? Huh? Huh?"
Every time I turned my head, he followed, trying to make eye contact, so I just turned my whole body away.
"...Let's just go eat."
"Do I look like a girl to you?!"
Well, if he's not a girl, then what is he?
His appearance has changed, but deep down, he's the same.
"Let's go together!"
Seeing him enjoy teasing me like that, I finally felt like the Ji-woo I knew was really here.
*
"Wow... the atmosphere is great. What is this place? Did you look it up?"
"I just saw it and came in."
"Really? But it's a really nice place."
"This is how all the places are around here. It's just a regular neighborhood restaurant."
"Wow... Europe is really something else..."
I chuckled as I watched Ji-woo marvel while looking around the restaurant interior.
Ever since we were kids, if someone suggested going somewhere, I was always the one to follow.
Whether it was going somewhere to play, to sightsee, or to do something.
Ji-woo was always the one to suggest it first.
Now it's the other way around, and I don't know...
It makes me feel like I've become an adult or something.
To be honest, I don't even have that many good memories since coming to Italy.
I casually poured myself some water and drank it, not even looking at the restaurant's interior.
I was acting like I came to a familiar neighborhood restaurant.
In reality, I had found it by searching for a good restaurant, and I'd never been here before.
The same went for when we ordered.
"Hmm... I guess we should order two pastas. And should we get something to share in the middle?"
"Uh... whatever you want is fine. I don't know."
"This place's Bistecca is good, so... I'll order now."
To be honest, I've never ordered for myself at a restaurant since coming to Italy.
If I came with my dad, he ordered. If I came with the coaches sometimes, they ordered.
I was nervous for no reason, but I ordered as nonchalantly as possible, like I do this every day.
"SÌ. Non avete altro da ordinare? (Anything else to order?)"
"Perfetto. (That's perfect.)"
"SÌ."
Acting cool and nonchalant.
After finishing the order, I slapped the menu shut and pushed it to the side. Ji-woo looked at me with an inexplicable smile.
"...What?"
"Huh? No, you just look a little different."
"How?"
"Up until you were in Korea, you were such a baby. I had to take care of everything for you. You've grown up, you've grown up."
"What are you talking about."
I scoffed as if it were ridiculous, but it was true. But now it's the opposite, so I felt a strange sense of pride.
...But actually, now isn't the time to be acting cool like this.
I still haven't gotten the call-up text.
"So, the day after tomorrow? There's a match, right?"
"Huh? ...Yeah."
"Can I look forward to it? Finally, I get to see our soccer prodigy in action?"
I was already feeling guilty, and he hit right on the mark.
Why is he so excited when he doesn't even like soccer that much?
I deliberately avoided Ji-woo's gaze, which was staring at me with wide, expectant eyes.
"Well... that's up to you."
"Then make a promise."
"What promise?"
"Score a goal in tomorrow's match. How about it? You can do that much for a friend you're meeting for the first time in 3 years, right? Our Ji-an is a genius, after all."
"...That's a bit of a tough promise."
"Why? Is it difficult?"
"It's not that it's difficult, but..."
I trailed off, and Ji-woo tilted his head.
Man... geez.
What excuse should I make?
Should I just be honest and say, "Forget scoring a goal, I don't even know if I'll be able to play in the match"?
Up until yesterday, the bravado was flowing out, but now I'm on the verge of being found out, so I can't speak carelessly.
"Hmm. Well, it's not like you can just score a goal whenever you want."
But still, did he really come here with such high expectations?
When I didn't answer and he made a disappointed face, I was about to say something to make an excuse when it happened.
Vrrrr-
A phone in my pocket vibrated.
I checked it right away, and it was a message from the coach.
After checking the message, I put my phone back in my pocket and calmed myself down before speaking.
"Why do I have to make a promise for something like that? How hard can it be to score a goal? How many do you need?"
The message said I was included in the call-up list for the Sunday match.