Six and the City
Six and the City. ***
That evening after the Cologne match.
I got check-in messages from a ton of people.
I hadn't meant to, but it seemed like the tears I'd shed before kickoff had brought my story back into the spotlight once again.
Thanks to that, my jersey sales had exploded too.
It had already been selling like hotcakes and ranking high, but after the tears, it went global and claimed the top spot.
Korea in 2011, still short on national pride fodder, went wild over my No. 1 jersey sales news.
My name hit the media again, making waves, and my story got re-examined in the process.
With public attention refocusing on the football association thanks to newly elected chairman Jeong Do-cheol,
he used public opinion as a shield to crush internal resistance and dove straight into reforms.
Fans were split on Jungse too, but Jeong had proven himself in archery,
appointing football hero Cha Boom-geun as vice chairman and pushing reforms hard, giving the public real hope. I wasn't holding my breath, though.
Vice chairman doesn't actually have much power, surprisingly.
'I think there were like 10 vice chairmen at peak times?'
Since the chairman appoints them, they often feel more like figureheads than the boss himself.
No wonder none of those 10 opposed the match-fixing pardon scandal.
Only the pro league secretary general opposed it in the board meeting, sparking huge controversy.
Even among the 2002 heroes, not one tried to block it, disappointing the nation big time.
Well, not entirely—coach Han Myung-bo, as executive director back then, flat-out refused the match-fixers' pardon.
That was his redemption after the 2014 Brazil World Cup backlash.
He'd gone in unprepared as coach, but with a new chairman, maybe this time it'd be different.
Korea entered a dark age after 2014 Brazil. Hopefully, reforms succeed this time, keeping Korean football out of the abyss.
Didn't matter to me since I'd retired from national duty, but rising popularity would boost my value too.
'Even without that, folks I know are playing K-League. More fans would be great for them.'
As I pondered Korea's football future,
"Son Jinho...! Am I just getting fat? Do I look ugly?"
Han Gyeowol's voice rang in my ear.
"Nah, you're the prettiest in my eyes, Winter."
Had she seen some weird post online again? Since the match ended, she'd clung to me without letting go.
Squish─!
Like a puppy marking territory, she rubbed against me. Her needy affection didn't bother me at all. Peeking over her shoulder at her posts while hugging her back,
"Ow!"
I flicked her tiny head with a knuckle rap. What the hell was she doing?
***
The day after the Cologne match. Han Gyeowol's day of reckoning for her past karma had arrived.
"Son Jinho! You watching the game too?"
"Yeah. Feels like it'll be fun today."
I plopped down next to her on the sofa.
Premier League Round 9: Manchester United vs. Manchester City.
"Let's watch Chelsea after too!"
I convinced my mother-in-law, heading to her room, to join us.
Fun stuff is always better shared.
"Yeah! Mom, watch with us! United wins, Chelsea wins!"
Han Gyeowol boldly declared victory, dragging her mom to the sofa by the arm.
"Not really in the mood."
Mom sat reluctantly just as kickoff hit.
22nd minute: David Silva threads to infiltrating wingback James Milner, who cuts back to Mario Balotelli.
Balotelli's low drive rockets into the corner, shaking United's net.
Han Gyeowol looked stunned. "...Not yet! Just one goal! We'll catch up soon!"
She was still confident then.
"...We can chase down two."
60th minute, City’s second, and her voice shrank.
Third goal, and she went silent. Fletcher pulled one back for United, reviving her briefly.
89th minute, City's fourth—her eyes bloodshot.
"Oh my, just four goals down. Plenty of time to turn it around."
Fifth goal, and Mom covered her smile, consoling Winter—who'd hated watching United but now beamed enjoying it.
Right before full time, City's sixth sealed Six and the City.
"Hey. You crying?"
"...Hng. Don't talk to me."
Tears flowed. I snapped her face-in-cushion sobbing and posted to the group chat.
New prey born?
Vrrr─
Her phone blew up like incoming calls. Checking it, her face flushed red.
"Oh... It's HongikIngan."
***
***
October 25, 2011. DFB-Pokal Round 2. Dortmund faced second-division SG Dynamo Dresden.
Neither Dortmund nor Dresden had good luck.
In the DFB-Pokal, up to Round 2, pro teams (1st/2nd division) get pro seeds, others amateur. They pair pro vs. amateur; leftovers match within seeds. Amateur hosts if paired with pro.
Both pro seeds, so Dortmund—drawn first—got home.
SG Dynamo Dresden captain Alexander Schnetzler steeled himself in Signal Iduna Park's tunnel.
"Champions? Screw that—we beat Leverkusen, last season's runners-up!"
They'd upset Leverkusen in Round 1, riding high.
"Gehen! Gehen!"
But passing through the tunnel, witnessing over 80,000 Dortmund fans roaring...
"Heiliger Scheiße (Holy shit)...."
Their spirit broke.
Signal Iduna Park was hell.
. . .
Full time.