Transfer (3)
Sera suddenly burst into tears, leaving me at a complete loss. I scrambled to calm her down.
"S-Sera? Hey, why are you crying out of nowhere? What do you mean, 'abandon'?"
"Waaah... S-Sniff, sniff... I h-heard everything! When the c-captain came... The transfer request! From a Division 1 team... Waaah... Th-they asked for our c-coach! So you're gonna go there, right?! Division 1 pays so much! Hic... Waaaah!"
Tears and snot streaming down her face, Sera could barely speak anymore, her sobs only growing louder. Her pitiful wails echoed through the café, drawing curious stares from everyone toward our table.
"S-Sera? I think there's some misunderstanding here. Just let me explain..."
"Hic... I-I'll do better. Don't go... Don't abandon me. Sniff... I can't be without you, Coach... Hic, so please don't abandon me..."
Sera already stood out with her striking looks, and now that she was bawling her eyes out, all eyes were naturally on us. The people at nearby tables had overheard her words and started murmuring.
And damn, the content of those murmurs made it sound like I was the stereotypical scumbag who toys with his pretty disciple's feelings and dumps her...
No, I'm not that guy! What kind of lunatic would sleep with a girl like Sera and just toss her aside?
But I had no idea what was going on myself—how could strangers? From their perspective, it was an easy misunderstanding.
As their chatter painted me more and more like garbage, I finally grabbed the crying Sera's hand and dragged her out of the café.
Afterward, we sat in a small pavilion built for resting, and I tried to soothe her without a clue what had set this off. What the hell was this disaster?
After much coaxing, she calmed a bit but was still sniffling, clutching my arm with pleading eyes.
"Coach... Don't abandon me, okay? You're the first person who's ever been this good to me... Sniff, besides my aunt... I'll do better... So don't go to another team. You said you'd get me to Division 1. I won't go pro without you. So stay with our team, please?"
Sera begged me with the pitiful eyes of a lost puppy.
From what she was saying, it seemed she'd overheard my conversation with the captain yesterday in the meeting room—the transfer request and meeting schedule.
It was a fact only I knew, but Sera was emotionally unstable. She'd been through so much crap growing up.
I wasn't a psychology major, but even without classes, I knew kids who'd endured that much emotional trauma needed someone to lean on.
And from her words, it looked like she'd latched onto me as that anchor during dorm life.
Sera kept wiping her tears, clutching my collar as she pleaded.
"Coach, don't abandon me..."
Her quivering voice rang in my ears again.
Seeing her cry reminded me of the obvious truth I'd forgotten: if I went back to being a player, these girls would be left behind.
Veteran pros could fend for themselves with or without me, but these were all raw amateurs I'd handpicked and raised myself.
If I bailed after summer to play pro, they'd feel abandoned.
I remembered telling them after recruiting: get a pro mindset, follow my coaching, and I'd make them the best.
They'd believed it, grinding through brutal training without a single complaint. If I ditched them now?
There was no one else to take over coaching right away.
Sure, their skills were skyrocketing, but they were still rookies who hadn't even finished one season post-debut.
For newbies, the coach's guidance was everything. Early foundations carried you to retirement.
"Coach... Why won't you answer..."
Her voice trembled. She must be terrified I'd leave.
The usually quiet girl was rambling desperately to hold onto me.
I stroked her hair, and she leaned her head against me, like a puppy believing it would keep its owner from leaving.
At the same time, the status window kept glowing green and chiming away.
[Status Window] - Pinging Green
This damn thing, read the room! Even without your nagging, I was planning to stick around until the contract ends, got it?!
"Yeah, where would I go without you girls?"
"Then..."
"I'm not going anywhere, so relax. Sorry for worrying you."
Sera sniffled into my chest, wrapping her arms around my waist. To onlookers, it might've looked like lovey-dovey couples showing off.
"Don't go anywhere. You have to keep coaching me. Until Division 1—no, even after. Promise."
When I first joined the team, I hated that the coach was a guy.
The drunk driver who crashed into my parents' car and killed them—a man. The bastard who tried to rape me when my aunt wasn't home—a man. The trash at school who spread rumors I was seducing my uncle-in-law, then casually said, "You're a slut, right? Hook me up too"—all men. The scum who got the girl bullies to torment me viciously when I refused—all men.
Luckily, my teammates were great and helped me fit in despite the awkwardness. And the coach? Unlike any man I'd known, he never touched me outside of game stuff.
But during scrims, I screwed up.
I thought the enemy team was trash-talking us—me—so I chased them down, fighting instead of playing.
Just like when I snapped in class with a cutter knife against the bullies.
Coach scolded me, then later called me in and said he'd met my aunt and heard everything.
My heart dropped. My dirty secret, known only to her, was out. Everyone else called me orphan slut, whore. I was terrified of those looks again, so I tried to quit.
But Coach... he said none of it was my fault. He said he liked me as I was. That I could stand above opponents without fighting, earn respect—for the first time, someone said that.
Back in my room, I bawled alone. Besides my aunt, no one had ever comforted me so sincerely, treated me so warmly. No one had valued me.
So I practiced like crazy to repay his faith. He promised to make us a Division 1 team. I gave my all to become worthy. It was his dream.
I felt a twinge of betrayal learning Hayoung-unnie and Seon-ah-unnie got special training, but he soon included us all—and delivered.
Then, on vacation eve, I overheard impossible words from his meeting room.
"There's only one reason you'd ask that. A transfer request."
Transfer? Who? Coach? To Division 1? Then us? Me?
I'd practiced staring only at him. Imagining his joyful face when we hit Division 1 got me through anything.
And now he was transferring? Abandoning us—me?
"If possible, they asked about transfer fees and urged you to consider positively."
Consider positively? So he's really leaving?
No... I won't pro without him. With him, I'd endure to Division 1 no matter how long.
I practiced for him, but he's ditching me for elsewhere?
"As expected from those Division 1 teams—if Coach Kang wants, we can schedule a meeting on your preferred date—"
I couldn't take it; I knocked. If that convo continued, he'd transfer for real.
I wanted to beg him not to go, but seeing his face, other words failed. Tears welled; I fled.
"Auntie, I'm back."
"Oh, Sera! Long time no see. Team life okay? Oh my, what's this? Samgyetang?"
"A gift. Bought it with my salary. You love samgyetang."
"...Our Sera's all grown up. Already earning and buying auntie gifts."
"Yeah... Sorry, I'm tired. Gonna rest in my room."
Even home, that convo haunted me.
If Coach leaves... what's left for me? Pro without him is nothing. He's the first truly warm, good person.
What if I return and he's gone?
Couldn't stay long.
Next day, I told auntie more practice for Division 1, returned early.
Thank god, Coach slept on the sofa. But...
"Gotta meet someone today."
My heart sank. Meeting another team, obviously.
Couldn't sit still; dragged him out, demanded food. He followed.
Didn't want food—time. Wandered aimlessly with him.
Cosmetics shop caught my eye. Seon-ah-unnie and Eunjae-unnie browse an hour on off-days. Dragged him into one, no clue what they sold.
Clothing store—saw Yuna-unnie shop there. Tried stalling; he called a clerk. When clerk assumed we were a couple and he denied, I got pissed, yanked him out.
Same after. Not hungry, but hit ice cream, tteokbokki, hot dogs, chicken skewers to kill time.
To keep him longer. Maybe he'd stay.
Arcade first-timer: botched basketball game, won a plush at claw machine. Not wanting it, gave it to him as a "gift."
Too full for much sushi; nagged for café. He said last stop.
That "last" felt loaded—today's end, or our time together?
He got drinks, voiced concern. How I usually was vs. today. Not pro, but your coach—spill.
I was right. Not just good at games and teaching. Best person I'd known.
Coach, our coach, my coach. Stay by our—my side. Don't need Division 1 or TIC without you. Just you.
Why leave us—me?
Emotions burst; I cried, begged not to abandon us.
He took me to an outdoor bench, soothed me. After time, said what I craved.
"Yeah, where would I go without you girls?"
Like a lifeline from heaven.
"I'm not going anywhere, so relax. Sorry for worrying you."
Even then, he apologized for upsetting me.
Ahh, Coach, my coach. Having someone this good nearby... Childhood misery vanished before him.
Overwhelmed, buried my face in his chest, hugged tight.
Warm...
His hand stroking my hair felt so gentle.
I just need Coach. Picturing his joy at our success lets me skip sleep, food. Don't need anything else.
Coach... Yuseong oppa... Kindest after auntie. First to accept me without pity or scorn. So kind, warm—I love you so much.
Don't go anywhere.
Never abandon me.
Keep leading me.
Stay by my side forever.