Lionel Messi
The day after the test, the mail arrived.
"Is the pass-or-fail decision written on this?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Hurry up and open it."
Lee Eunha tore open the envelope and pulled out the paper inside.
"Oh! You passed. Congrats."
"Mom believed in her son the whole time!"
Ju Seohyun wrapped Lee Junho in a hug, pouring out every ounce of her joy. Junho still struggled to match his mother's energy, but he didn't mind it. He knew full well that having people who cared about him this much was a blessing. In his previous life he had been an orphan, always alone.
"So we start going from tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
"Do your best."
"Thanks."
Hmm. In my past life, every brother-sister relationship I saw on TV looked like they were one second away from killing each other. After reincarnating and actually getting a little sister of my own, I realized that had all been a lie. We were this close, after all.
I spent the rest of the day feeling just how slowly time could crawl, and the next morning finally arrived.
"Hey Jorge, you're early."
"Yeah. Showing up an hour before the appointment's become a habit."
"Nice habit."
Anyone who spends time with people eventually learns that being on time matters. Seeing a gentle giant like him already carrying that kind of discipline only made me like him more.
"Man, I'm getting nervous, though. It's not just any club—we actually got into the famous Barcelona. Feels like I'm dreaming."
"Haha. No need to get tense already. We're only standing at the starting line, right? From here we work hard, debut in the first division, put in great performances, and become the best footballers we can be."
Jorge's face went blank at my answer.
"You think I can actually do that?"
"That's the part nobody knows."
Disappointment flickered across his features. He had probably wanted me to say of course he could. But empty reassurance never helps anyone. No matter how hard you try, there are things you can do and things you simply can't.
Still, I had chosen to challenge football one more time. I might slam into another wall and fall into despair again. Even so, I refused to end it here.
Lee Junho dies after a career stuck in K-League 2.
I did not want that ending. As long as I could keep moving forward—even if I had to crawl—I would inch ahead. If I did that, I believed I could debut in the first division. I had wanted it desperately enough. Besides, what kind of footballer never even plays in the top flight once?
Even if a road of thorns waited ahead, if I could force my way through it I was certain I would grow one more step.
"Even if I hit my limit, I still want to try right now. This is the path I chose."
Jorge's eyes hardened with resolve. Right. If a real thirteen-year-old could live with that kind of mindset, there was no way a guy past forty—counting his previous life—could just quit.
"Yeah. Same here."
An awkward silence settled between us for a while. Saying those earnest words had felt fine in the moment, but once they were out the embarrassment hit hard.
That was when the man who had supervised yesterday's test walked in.
"Hey kids, good to see you. You all passed the test, so you're going to be seeing my face every day from now on. Name's Garcia. Looking forward to working with you."
The rest of us who had made it through the trial answered in a chorus of polite greetings.
"Alright. Since it's the first day we won't do anything special—just a full physical check. When I call your name, head over for the medical."
"Didn't we already do that yesterday?" one of the boys asked.
Garcia shook his head. "Yesterday was a simple screening. Now that you're Barcelona players, we check everything properly."
"Okay then—Santiago, you're first."
And just like that, my first day as a Barcelona player began with medical testing.
"Wait, are you seriously thirteen? You didn't fake your age, did you?"
"I'm really thirteen."
A little incident popped up during the checks. The staff member taking Jorge's measurements simply could not accept that the mountain of a boy in front of him was only thirteen.
"What an incredible physique..."
The paperwork said thirteen, so they eventually had to believe it. Even to my eyes, though, Jorge's build looked like it could match most adults, never mind kids his own age. Over 180 cm already, with that overwhelming frame and thick muscle—it was ridiculous. The babyish softness still left in his face was the only giveaway that he was still young.
"And he's fast, too."
Jorge looked slow and heavy at first glance, but his speed was anything but. He was the second-fastest person there.
"Whoa!"
Of course the absolute fastest was still me. I had been quick in my previous life, but after reincarnating into this new body I could run even faster.
Anyway, time marched on and everyone finished their medicals.
"Alright, that's it for today. You're all free to go."
With that, the medical staff packed up and left.
"See you tomorrow, Jorge."
"Yeah."
No reason for me to stick around either, so I said goodbye and walked out of the grounds. The sky overhead was a perfect, cloudless blue.
When I got home, Dad was already there.
"How've you been?"
"You're home!"
Mom was the one who lit up the brightest at the sight of him. Their relationship was so solid that every time I saw them together it left me feeling warm.
"So, Junho—you joined Barcelona?"
"Yes. I started going today."
"Huff... That's my boy..."
"Dad, why are you crying again?"
Dad was an emotional man. Tears came easily to him.
"I wasn't crying..."
"Just wipe your face and talk. Here, tissue."
"Sniff!"
Still, he was a good man. Even with a busy business, he never neglected his family. That was probably why he and Mom got along so well.
"Dad..."
"What's up, sweetheart?"
"I'm out of allowance..."
"Of course I'll give you more. Anything my daughter wants."
Classic daughter-obsessed father—he could never refuse Eunha anything.
"Thanks, Dad!"
Allowance in hand, Lee Eunha bounded up the stairs to her room.
"Honey... aren't you giving her a bit too much pocket money these days?"
"How can I help it? Look at that pretty face. Who does she take after, asking so cutely? Of course I have to say yes."
"You and that silver tongue..."
Mom smiled at Lee Taesan's words. Every time I watched them I was reminded how impressive Dad really was. The man could drop lines like that without even flinching. If I ever tried saying something similar... just imagining it gave me goosebumps. Better leave that kind of thing to the professionals.
"Dinner's ready."
"Looks delicious!"
Still, I loved this family. If someone out there had chosen to reincarnate me, I wanted to thank them for letting me meet parents like these.
My childhood friend showed up at the house.
"Hello, Auntie. It's been a while."
"No need for formal talk. How long have we known each other? It just makes us feel distant."
"Ah—yes! Auntie."
"Call me Mom, like you used to when you were little."
"Mom!"
"There's my girl! Welcome back!"
Watching the little comedy routine between my childhood friend and my mother made me suddenly want to leave the room. It felt like I was intruding on something.
Mom, still chatting with her, turned to me.
"Son, you make sure you treat your girlfriend right."
"Ah!"
Park Jieun's face flushed crimson at Ju Seohyun's words.
"She's not my girlfriend!"
"Okay, okay, I know. Just be good to Jieun."
With that ringing in my ears I retreated to my room. Of course my childhood friend Park Jieun came right along with me.
"Hmm... what has our Junho been up to, I wonder?"
Smiling, Park Jieun marched straight to my computer.
"Aha!"
She opened it up—and immediately looked disappointed.
"Aw, there's nothing interesting."
"What exactly were you expecting?"
My computer held nothing but football: match videos, tactical breakdowns, the works. Pure football content.
"I dunno... dirty stuff?"
"I don't have any of that."
"Seriously? That's weird. I heard every boy your age has at least one folder of that kind of thing hidden on their computer."
I gave her a thoroughly unimpressed look.
"Who told you that?"
"I'm not telling."
Park Jieun flashed a mischievous little smile.
"Whatever."
When I made it clear I had zero interest, she actually drifted closer and latched onto my side like a puppy.
"You're really not curious?"
"Nope."
"Hmph. Fine then."
She pouted for about three seconds. I already knew how this went—she would bounce back almost immediately.
"Oh, by the way, did you watch it?"
"Watch what?"
"Last week's match—Barcelona versus Real Madrid."
"Ah, I missed that one."
"What? And you still call yourself a Barcelona player?"
"Those two things aren't related."
"They totally are!"
Park Jieun was getting properly worked up now.
"Alright, fine. So who won?"
"Obviously the royal family—Barcelona!"
"Oh, they won. Nice."
Park Jieun was a hardcore Barcelona fanatic. Living here, it was actually harder to find someone who wasn't a Barça supporter. Me, though? I only ended up at Barcelona because I lived in the area. I didn't carry any special loyalty. If anything, I thought Real Madrid's white kit looked cooler than Barcelona's.
"Anyway—congrats on joining Barcelona!"
The sincerity in her voice made me smile.
"Thanks."
The next day.
"Kids, this is our new friend."
"Nice to meet you. My name is Lionel Messi. Looking forward to playing together."
Standing in front of me was a baby-faced Lionel Messi.