Invincible (3)
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Spanish coffee is notoriously strong. Spaniards prefer their espresso neat with just a splash of milk, and every sip leaves Kim Min-seok wondering, Why do they enjoy this? Still, whenever he's in Spain, the journalist always orders it. Somehow, it makes him feel like he's truly arrived.
Clink.
He set his coffee cup down gently and glanced at the man across from him.
"Whoa..."
A quiet sigh of admiration escaped his lips.
The Madrid café they were in had an interior that was, frankly, too ordinary. But the man's radiant presence made the whole place seem luxurious in an instant. Only when he looked away did Kim Min-seok realize it was all an illusion.
I get why everyone's more obsessed with his looks than his skills.
He'd known from photos that Cha Tae-oh was handsome, but in person? He was on another level. Had he ever been this awestruck by a man's face before?
"Uh... Mr. Journalist?"
Maybe he'd been staring too openly, because Cha Tae-oh tilted his head slightly.
"Aigoo, my apologies, Cha Tae-oh. Sorry about that."
"No, it's fine."
"I know you've heard this a million times, but your looks are seriously top-tier. You're number one among anyone I've met in person."
Cha Tae-oh gave an awkward smile, looking a bit embarrassed. His skin was a touch tanned, and his hair wasn't perfectly styled, but with a little grooming, he could outshine most male celebrities.
With those skills and this face? He's going to be a massive star.
Kim Min-seok took another bitter sip of espresso before getting to the point.
"First off, thanks for agreeing to this interview. It's not even a full formal one, really. I just really wanted to chat with you."
"I was pretty surprised you came all the way to Madrid just for me."
He hadn't wanted to pressure him, so he'd mentioned upfront that he was in town for El Clásico coverage. Just to show it was no big deal if he said no. Thankfully, Cha Tae-oh had accepted readily.
"You mentioned sending several emails."
"Ah, yes. That's right."
"Let me apologize first for turning them down all this time. It was at my request to the club."
"No, no, that's totally understandable. Interviews can feel intrusive."
Cha Tae-oh paused thoughtfully, then spoke up softly.
"Actually... it wasn't about feeling burdened."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. More like... I wanted to focus solely on soccer for a while. After the news about my pro contract with Alcorcón hit Korea, I got flooded with messages."
He didn't know that Kim Min-seok was the one who'd broken that story first. Most people don't check the byline that closely.
"At first, it felt great. I'd never gotten that much attention or congrats just for soccer in my life."
"Ah..."
"Then I realized people were more interested in my looks than my game. I was okay with that at first. But then..."
"That 'released by Gimpo' label started bothering you?"
Kim Min-seok finished the thought, and Cha Tae-oh looked mildly surprised.
What? Is he a mind reader?
"How'd you know?"
"Just a hunch."
Other journalists had speculated he was getting arrogant and ghosting them. But Kim Min-seok saw it differently. He'd talked to players who'd shared a locker room with Cha Tae-oh at Gimpo United, and they still saw him as "that guy released from K League 2."
"Let me say upfront: I don't see you that way at all. I've watched highlights from your B-team games and last year's Gimpo footage—all of it."
"Even Gimpo? That's night and day compared to now..."
"Yeah, total difference. Honestly, it felt like two different players."
Kim Min-seok pressed on.
"At first, I was baffled. How does a guy's play change that much in two months? Then I figured it out."
"Figured what out?"
"You were always capable of this level, but something held you back at Gimpo. Coming to Spain unlocked your potential. That's my take."
He grinned and added, "Though it's still wild how much you've improved in just two months."
A slight upgrade? No way. The gap between Gimpo-era Cha Tae-oh and his AD Alcorcón B form was like night and day.
He's actually watched all my games.
Cha Tae-oh was impressed. Finding footage from fourth-division games wasn't easy, even in Spain where coverage isn't widespread.
This guy doesn't see me as 'the player Gimpo dumped' at all.
Even without pro proof yet, Kim Min-seok had spotted his talent early. Cha Tae-oh felt grateful.
"No exaggeration—I truly believe you could dominate in La Liga 2. Passing, dribbling, physicality, speed, vision, composure, link-up play... Man, I could go on forever. Haha."
Suddenly, Cha Tae-oh wondered: Is this really an interview? Feels more like chatting with a superfan.
Visibly excited, Kim Min-seok kept going.
"I see you carrying on Korea's striker legacy soon. And not just me—every soccer fan should know how skilled and full of potential you are."
"That's my goal too."
"The problem? Hard for fans to dig up fourth-division footage. Even La Liga 2 barely gets views in Korea."
Spotlight's always on the top tier. Second division gets undervalued inevitably.
"But there's one way around it."
"Way?"
Cha Tae-oh tilted his head, and Kim Min-seok's eyes turned deadly serious.
"Use video platforms like NewTube."
"...!"
"Who reads articles anymore? Everyone gets info from NewTube videos these days, haha."
He let out a self-deprecating chuckle, a bit deflated.
"My company's running a NewTube channel. About 220,000 subscribers."
"Not bad."
"Eh, middling at best."
Smiling faintly, he continued. "This idea just hit me now, but if you're open, it'll have huge reach. I'm confident."
"What kind...?"
"I know you're in a title race."
"Yeah, two points off first."
"Until the season ends, I'll document your run in docu-style."
"...!"
"You just focus on soccer. Maybe a few interviews for footage."
He'd felt it from the moment he learned about Cha Tae-oh: This guy was destined to lead Korean soccer. But one regret nagged him—Korean fans weren't buzzing yet.
Kim Min-seok was convinced this idea would fix that.
"PR like this is usually an agent's job... but you don't have one, right?"
"Correct."
"Obviously to focus purely on soccer."
"Yep."
Grinning confidently, he said, "I'll handle your promotion."
"You will...?"
"Ah! If it feels off, say no—no pressure. But I promise: It won't interfere with your soccer at all."
Cha Tae-oh blinked in surprise.
Journalists do this?
"No money involved. Just cooperate on shoots. I'll handle the club. My company will back it once they hear—it's buzzworthy."
"Hmm..."
"Starts with your looks drawing eyes. But soon, it'll be your play. I'm sure of it."
His eyes burned with passion as he added, "Even my mom, who hates soccer, would call your game miraculous."
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It was a sudden pitch.
A docu right in the middle of a title race? But honestly, I had zero reason to refuse.
They'd handle everything—no extra work for me, plus free promo? Why say no?
I wasn't hyped or anything. It was just his personal brainstorm, barely past the idea stage.
Whatever. I'd stick to my job, period.
But...
"Shooting starts next game. Company's already on board."
Everything wrapped in days? Wild.
"Honestly, didn't expect it to move this fast."
"Me neither."
"All thanks to Alcorcón. They jumped in more eagerly than I expected. Even got game footage access. Haha."
Made sense. Free promo for AD Alcorcón back to Korea? Club wins big.
"Like I said, just focus on finishing the season strong."
I couldn't ignore it completely, but I'd tune it out. My priority was...
Beeeep—!
"Woooaaah—!"
"Alcorcón's young warriors!"
"Fight to the end and win!"
"Victory and joy for us!"
"¡Vamoooos!!!"
...achieving this dramatic title myth, nothing else.