Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: A New Experience -4
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I've realized something recently.
A penalty kick is an advantageous battle for the kicker.
It's not just somewhat advantageous; it's overwhelmingly so.
So much so that missing a penalty kick is expressed as a "missed shot."
Because scoring is the obvious outcome.
That's why, ironically, the kicker feels even more burdened by a penalty kick.
For the goalkeeper, it's unavoidable if they concede, but a save is a huge success.
For the kicker, you have to score to break even, and if you miss, you become a sinner.
That's why I hated penalty kicks.
If I miss, it's a total disaster.
I'm not the type to like something that's a massive burden.
Of course, I practiced a lot.
During training, whether I was kicking into an empty net or with a goalkeeper in front.
I took time out to practice separately.
Ever since I was in Korea.
But the training didn't go well.
Even if I set up situations during training, and told myself this wasn't practice but the real deal, even if I tried to control my mindset...
In the end, training was just training, and it didn't work.
It wasn't because there was a problem with my kick.
During training, there's nothing easier than a penalty kick...
But in an actual match, with the ball on the spot and facing the goalkeeper one-on-one... it feels like my breath gets caught in my throat.
I couldn't think of anything.
Even though I'm someone who never stops thinking on the field.
Just standing in front of them, thinking that everyone is watching only me, my mind goes blank.
Actually, it wasn't like that from the very beginning.
When I had just started playing soccer, when I was playing purely for fun, I used to take penalty kicks quite well.
Of course, I don't remember that time exactly, so it might be distorted, but I'm certain it didn't feel scary.
The first time I started to feel scared was... probably around then.
I don't remember the name, but it was the semi-final of a very important tournament.
I took a penalty kick in that game.
It was right before the end of the second half, and if I scored, we could have made it a draw and gone into extra time.
But I missed.
Whoosh. The ball I kicked flew over the goalpost.
I still vividly remember that moment.
When my shot flew over the goal, the opposing team's kids cheered, and my teammates looked at me with disappointed faces.
My heart was pounding like crazy.
It was the first time I felt like something was closing in on me from all sides.
I felt like I was going to cry, but I held it in.
But that held-in tears burst out as soon as the game ended and I saw my mom's face.
So I got scolded again.
I think she scolded me, saying something like, "Why are you crying over something like that?" It seemed like she also told me to take more responsibility because I was the one who made us lose the game.
Thinking about that time, a thought suddenly crosses my mind.
What if someone had offered me a word of comfort back then?
If that had happened, I might not have come to fear penalty kicks so much.
Probably...
...Well, anyway, that's how it was.
After that, whenever there was a chance to take a penalty kick, I always backed away.
Because I was afraid of something like that happening again.
But strangely, I'm fine now.
Why?
I don't know.
The biggest reason I was afraid of penalty kicks was that I was scared of people's reactions if I missed.
The moment the faces of those who looked at me, expecting me to naturally score, changed to disappointment.
That was the scariest thing.
The opponent's reaction didn't matter.
What was most terrifying was seeing the people I thought were on my side looking at me with disappointed eyes.
So, now.
The reason this isn't so scary anymore... I think it's probably because of my trust in the people on my side.
Ji-woo, my dad, my teammates.
They are the people who would offer me comfort first, even if I fail to score this.
They aren't the kind of people who would look at me with disappointed faces.
At least... that's what I believe.
So I think that's why I'm not scared.
Ta-ta-tat!
It's really a strange thing.
That so many thoughts can flash through my mind in that short time after the referee's whistle blows and I run towards the ball.
Considering I used to go blank-headed whenever I took a penalty kick.
Boooong!
I lightly swing my right foot, aiming for the left corner.
I didn't necessarily look at the goalkeeper while shooting.
I just looked at the ball and kicked it.
The reason a penalty kick is an advantageous battle for the kicker is that if you kick it accurately and fast, it's absolutely unblockable.
So all I had to do was kick it accurately.
Whooshhh-
Thwack!
The net ripples, and the stadium, once filled with jeers, falls silent.
At the same time, my teammates rush towards me.
A penalty kick that I was so scared of...
Turns out it was nothing special after all.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Woooooo!”
“Haaaaaah!”
No one is in their right mind the moment a team they're cheering for scores a goal. Especially if they're a fan who followed the team all the way to an away game, or someone close to the player, you could say they're practically in a subconscious state during the scoring moment.
“Jian-aaaaa!”
“Good job! You did great! Give 'em another one!”
Kim Ji-woo and Lee Won-hoon were no different.
Ji-woo and Won-hoon, sitting at the very end of the away stands, jumped to their feet and punched the air.
It was the moment Lee Ji-an's penalty kick shook Bologna's net.
“You can't do all the cool stuff by yourself! Yeah! Our Jian is the best!!!”
Ji-woo shouted.
Her rationality was half-gone, so her true feelings came out without any filter.
It was always like this whenever she watched Jian's games.
There were times she'd cover her mouth too late, but it was fine since everyone around was also out of their minds, just like Won-hoon was now.
“Who do you think you are, you lot, jeering like that! I should just shut all of you up, yeah!?”
The little reason she had left, telling her not to swear in front of the young kid next to her, barely filtered her words.
But shouting at the Bologna fans, who were sitting just one row below them, was just as crazy.
How dare these bastards jeer at someone else's precious son. What's with that "woo woo" sound. I wanted to sew all their mouths shut, but seeing them all shut up like mute fools now made my heart feel clear.
“Huuuuh...”
She managed to calm down a bit and as she sat back down, Won-hoon realized his whole body was trembling.
He was literally trembling all over.
Actually, he was too scared to watch.
The moment Jian took the penalty kick.
How could he watch that? No matter how strong-hearted someone is, no one can watch their son take a penalty kick with their own two eyes.
He wasn't even strong-hearted, so he couldn't even peek from the side. He just buried his head and prayed.
That's why, when he heard the cheers from the surrounding spectators, his first reaction was a sigh of relief.
The cheers of joy came second.
“He's really... amazing, isn't he. Even though he's my son...”
“Yeah. Even though he's my friend, he's really...”
Won-hoon and Ji-woo looked at Ji-an from afar. Usually, he's just a son they want to take care of, and a friend.
But the look in their eyes as they watched Ji-an now was mixed with respect.
If it was this hard just watching, how much pressure must the person himself have felt?
With so many people watching, hoping for him to fail, how nervous must he have been?
It was natural to feel burdened; it was natural to be nervous. It's not because he's weak. It's natural for any human to feel that way.
Won-hoon just hoped his son knew that.
Feeling burdened? It's not because you're weak. It's because you're human.
In fact, it's amazing that you faced it head-on without running away, and that you overcame it.
“You're amazing, Jian.”
“He is cool. Jian.”
The distance between the stands and the field was far, so the players looked small.
But to Won-hoon and Ji-woo, Lee Ji-an looked enormous.
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“It's 1-1!”
“How so?”
“Because the penalty kick doesn't count! If I had taken it, I would have been the one ahead!”
“You might not have scored if you took it.”
“There's no way I would miss!”
I let out a sigh at Romero, who couldn't let go of his lingering regrets even though the game was over.
We won the game 3-0 and advanced to the quarterfinals.
I scored two goals, and Romero scored one.
But since one of my two goals was a PK, he's claiming it's a 1-1 tie. This guy.
That's ridiculous.
How hard is a PK?
“Anyway! Let's call it a draw between rivals for today!”
“Call it?”
“...Do, do it! A draw!”
Ugh.
I saw the captain from the other side looking at me with a pitiful smile, so I nodded.
When Romero's face brightened up, I couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
“Wow, I got scolded again. The coach is so strict.”
Bonaventura, the senior who joined us late, grumbled as we all went to greet the away fans.
He had been scolded a lot during halftime too. It seemed he got called over and scolded again right after the game ended.
It was because he had given me the PK without the bench's instruction.
Because of that, the coach got angry to the point of being scary. He said, "We're winning? No, it's 0-0. What if you put that kind of burden on a kid?"
“Seriously. I gave it up with good intentions, and all I got was an earful. Isn't that too much?”
“Just endure it, senior.”
“Do you think I did it with bad intentions? That baldy... Ah, no. Not you.”
Before Bonaventura could finish, Saponara, who was walking ahead, turned his head as if asking if he was called. I desperately held back my laughter.
This isn't something to laugh at.
It's not funny. It's not funny.
“Anyway, there's no senior who takes care of our maknae like me. Right? I'm the best, right?”
“Of course.”
“Hahaha! That's all that matters!”
Thinking about it, I've become quite shameless myself.
Being the maknae, it seems I've learned more about social skills than my soccer skills.
Am I growing up to be an adult like this?
“Me! Me! Why won't you give it to me!?”
“You? I can't give it to someone who looks like they won't score.”
“Why! I'm a genius too! Don't discriminate against me just because I'm on loan! I'm being treated unfairly!”
...He needs to grow up fast.
I clicked my tongue looking at Romero, who was pleading that he's a genius like a little kid.
Isn't he old enough to be mature at 16?
And his birthday is earlier than mine too.
It just makes me feel embarrassed for no reason.
“Forza-!!”
“Grazie!”
Anyway, once we reached the away stands, we thanked the fans.
I also bowed my head sincerely to greet them.
I can't see them, but my dad and Ji-woo must be somewhere out there. If it weren't for those two, I might not have been able to overcome the pressure of the penalty kick.
It wasn't something I overcame with my strength alone.
If the people who taught me what trust is didn't exist, I wouldn't have been able to overcome it.
It wasn't because I was great.
I knew that better than anyone, so I had to thank them with all my heart.
“Wait a moment.”
As I was greeting the fans, I slipped out from between the seniors who had their arms around my shoulders while bowing.
Then I went and stood next to Romero.
“Come here for a second.”
“Wh-what is it!”
I put my arm around his shoulder.
Ji-woo was probably watching from somewhere, but I didn't want to just show him a view of me buried between the huge seniors.
Stay still. Let me look a bit bigger too.
“I-It feels like I'm getting shorter! Don't press down on me!”
I'm telling you to stay still.
I hugged Romero tightly and stood up straight, waving to the fans.
In moments like this, Romero was actually useful.