BVB Dortmund - 3
Due to Coach Choi Gi-hyeon's passport issues, my departure got delayed, but Gyeowol and my mother-in-law left for Dortmund as planned.
"What? You didn't check the passport expiration before an international trip?"
"Um... Jinho. Not to make excuses, but isn't Coach Choi Gi-hyeon just a bit... you know, dim?"
Gyeowol and my mother-in-law's dumbfounded expressions as they boarded the plane were priceless. And yeah, it was totally understandable. The guy appointed as my guardian hadn't even prepared his own passport.
She was probably thinking something like, 'Sending this deadbeat—what a bunch of incompetents at the soccer association, same as always.'
"Jinho, everyone's human and makes mistakes sometimes. So sometimes you gotta forgive with a generous heart..."
Choi Gi-hyeon, stuck somewhere between a virtuous leader and a total screw-up, brazenly opened his mouth on the subway back to Seoul. I stared into his shifty eyes—clearly pricked by his conscience—and asked.
"Whose fault was it that we couldn't fly to Germany today?"
"...It's me."
His awkward smile set off my laughter.
'Agh! Ki-hyun-shi!'
If it weren't for the reports we had to send to FIFA and the Korea Football Association, I would've ditched him at the airport and boarded without a second thought.
"You can get home alone, right? I gotta swing by the association to explain the situation."
Well... at least Choi Gi-hyeon had a shred of responsibility. He went straight to the association to clean up the mess.
That evening.
"Son-in-law, wanna go out for some steak?"
"Let's do it, Father-in-law. I'll take the lead."
I went out to eat with my father-in-law, who had just gotten home from work. As we sliced into the meat, I realized that even in my previous life, times alone with him had been rare enough to count on one hand.
"Oh yeah, remember when Gyeowol broke Mom's favorite vase and I almost got chewed out instead?"
We chatted about all sorts of things over dinner, mostly stories about Gyeowol.
"I remember. That kid tried to pin it on you, but when she realized she was really in trouble, she clung to Miyeon's leg saying it was her and not to scold our Jinho."
A smile crept onto my father-in-law's face. He was reminiscing. As a kid, I didn't get what that expression meant, but now I understood.
'Come to think of it, when I was little, I eased my longing for my parents by hearing stories about them from Mom and Dad-in-law.'
Like him, lost in old memories, I felt a fresh wave of gratitude. I'd always been surrounded by good people.
Gyeowol, my mother-in-law, my father-in-law, Chairman Hwang Geum-sun, and my teammates.
— It's me?
Yeah... even our Ki-hyun-shi was a good guy at heart. The thought of him made me burst out laughing.
'Agh. Ki-hyun-shi.'
Ruining the touching mood. Smiling to myself, I lightly scolded Coach Choi Gi-hyeon in my head.
After dinner with my father-in-law, I got home and waited for Gyeowol's call. It was 9:30 PM. They'd taken an 8 AM flight, so they should be landing in Germany soon.
— Bzzz─!
My phone vibrated by my ear. Heart racing, I unlocked it to see a message from Gyeowol.
I grinned as I messaged back and forth with Gyeowol. Nothing hilarious, but these little exchanges made me smile anyway.
I shook my head at Gyeowol's de facto anti-marriage stance. No matter how many times I heard it, that condition was laughable. Man U winning the Champions League? Even the infamous Earth author, roasted endlessly for plot holes by fans worldwide, would go, 'Whoa, that's a stretch...'
I let out a quiet sigh at her follow-up and saved the message.
Later, when Man U devolves into total darkness, I'd show it to her. Wonder what face she'd make.
Two weeks passed, Choi Gi-hyeon's new passport came through, and our departure was rescheduled.
I sent Han Gyeowol a message as I boarded, then switched to airplane mode. I wanted to chat more after her reply, but it was dawn in Dortmund—she'd be fast asleep.
"Jinho. Not excited?"
Choi Gi-hyeon whispered from the seat next to me. I pocketed my phone and replied.
"Excited about what?"
"Heading to Germany! Germany!"
"It's just a six-month study abroad."
"Six months my ass! If Dortmund offers a youth contract, you extend the stay! What, no confidence you'll get one?"
I just smiled without answering. That say enough? A matching grin spread across his face.
"You little shit."
Splitting wood? Harsh way to put it. As I gave him a look, the plane slowly took off. We flew from Incheon via Munich to Dortmund. No issues.
Immigration went smoothly too. Even a slowpoke like him could speak decent German. Foreigners who bother with the local language always get a warmer reception, so we wrapped it up in a friendly vibe.
"Kid! Crush those Schalke bastards later!"
"Danke!"
Well... maybe he was just a Dortmund fan.
"Son Jinho─!!"
Anyway, there was Gyeowol at the gate. Just two weeks, but it felt eternal. I ran straight to her and hugged tight. I saw foreigners holding signs saying 'Welcome to Dortmund, Son Jinho', but ignored them.
"Kyaa─! So many people, what are you doing? Crazy?"
A cute squeal escaped her at the sudden embrace, but she didn't push away—guess she didn't hate it.
"Everything okay?"
I poked her rice-cake cheeks and asked. We'd talked daily, but seeing her in person eased my mind.
She beamed. "Yeah, no issues. Club gave us an interpreter, took good care of us. All thanks to our Jinho."
"Where's Mom?"
"Said two guys couldn't possibly eat properly, so she's home cooking up a storm now."
Hm. We'd had steak every day. Anyway.
"Jinho, welcome to Dortmund."
"Danke schön."
I exchanged light greetings with the Dortmund staff, took Gyeowol's hand, and headed out.
"Huh? Why'd you turn around suddenly?"
She looked puzzled at my action.
"Nah, feels like I forgot something."
Something useless but essential left at the airport.
...It's me?
Uh... where'd Ki-hyun-shi go?
At the same time, Choi Gi-hyeon stared at the empty gate in panic.
"...Abandoned at the airport while I went to the bathroom? It's me."