Chapter 62
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Cheon So-young (7)
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“Kyaaak!”
So-young bolted awake from the nightmare that had been tormenting her for who knows how long—a dream where a ghost shedding bloody tears chased after her. Sweat poured down her face as she instinctively recited the Lord's Prayer, and the overwhelming fear gradually ebbed away.
'That dream again?'
It was a dream she'd started having after Maeng-ho told her the ghost was still hanging around. She'd been meeting up with him occasionally and hadn't had the nightmares during that time, but now that he was away at the wrap-up camp for two weeks and they hadn't seen each other, the dreams had come back to plague her relentlessly.
Normally, she could brush it off like it was nothing, but for some reason, tonight it felt even scarier than usual.
'Is it because it's been so long since I last saw him?'
It had been almost twenty days since she'd last seen Maeng-ho. Even so, whenever she met up with Ji Maeng-ho, the nightmares would stay away for a good while...
Thump, thump. Just thinking about Ji Maeng-ho made So-young's heart start pounding.
'What's going on? Why is my heart acting like this?'
The fluttering in her chest at the thought of a man. It was a feeling she'd never experienced before, leaving her flustered. And that fluster soon turned into shock.
'No way... Do I like Ji Maeng-ho? Sure, he's handsome and all...'
Come to think of it, her heart had raced every time she met Ji Maeng-ho. And now, just thinking about him was doing the same.
'For real...?'
In truth, it was only natural for her heart to pound whenever she saw Maeng-ho. They were talking about ghosts late at night in some creepy, shadowy spot where one might actually appear.
But So-young had never been in love, not even felt a crush on a guy, so she had no idea what this pounding really meant. Memories of her time with Maeng-ho flooded her mind.
Starting from the day they learned the ghost's name, to figuring out what it was and brainstorming how to help it pass on.
Their last meeting had revealed that the ghost was going by the name "Branch Rickey." And while Maeng-ho was away at camp, she'd managed to dig up info on her own—someone connected to eyes, who also used the name "Branch Rickey."
'Branch Rickey. Major League Baseball pioneer. GM for the Cardinals and Dodgers. The legendary executive who brought the first Black player into the majors.'
To learn that, they'd held hands. And at their final meeting, they'd even hugged. Then came the embarrassing memory. At that abandoned building, Maeng-ho's swollen... thing had poked against her body. And witnessing high school kids doing it right there in front of her... The memories she'd tried so hard to bury resurfaced.
'Eek! What am I even thinking!'
She shook her head to clear the shame, only to catch her reflection in the mirror.
“Is that... my face?”
Her face was beet red, like it might explode. Seeing her face like this for the first time only amplified her embarrassment.
Q. My face gets red and my heart pounds when I think about him. Is this love?
She posed the question to herself, and the answer came quickly.
A. Yes. It's love.
If some guy's junk touched your body, anyone who wasn't a perv would blush—but So-young, already convinced it was love, didn't have time to dwell on that.
And the human brain has a funny way of turning what you believe into "truth." Confirmation bias, they call it.
Under that bias, the pounding in her chest slowly morphed into a sweet tremble. Memories with Maeng-ho swirled chaotically in her head.
During the physical test, how he'd tried so hard to impress her.
'So cute and boyish.'
When she'd freaked out hearing the ghost was still following her, how he'd comforted her.
'And so reliable.'
Trapped in that abandoned building, pacing anxiously—how he'd offered his leg without hesitation.
'There was that incident, but still so thoughtful.'
And all the other little things.
Once she started believing it was love, every single one of Maeng-ho's actions charmed her. Even his slight playboy vibe was starting to seem forgivable.
'Yeah, that's just how guys are. Grandpa was like that, Dad too. They had mistresses besides Grandma and Mom.'
So-young pulled out her phone. Perfect timing—the wrap-up camp ended today. She missed Maeng-ho after two weeks apart.
-Me: Maeng-ho, wrap-up camp ends today, right? Can we meet up?
'Should I send it? Or not?'
The message was ready, but she'd never messaged first before, so she hesitated. After a moment, she hit send.
'Sent...!'
Once it was out there, So-young realized something crucial.
'Right! It's the crack of dawn!'
She'd sent it right after waking from the nightmare—way too early. What if it interrupted his training? Worry set in.
'Good, the 1 is still there.'
He clearly hadn't seen it yet. Relief. But that lasted only a moment.
'When's he gonna check it? No way he's ghosting me, right? It's about time for morning practice...'
So-young, who'd never dealt with this in her twenty-five years, was utterly flustered.
'Come to think of it, so many firsts with Maeng-ho...'
Figuring out the ghost? First time. Comforted while crying, outside family? First. Holding hands and hugging another guy? Firsts. ...And embarrassingly, feeling a guy's thing against her? Also a first.
Thinking of Maeng-ho made her face heat up again.
'When's he gonna check the message...!'
Her embarrassment twisted into mild resentment. And that resentment softened into anticipation. An anticipation that didn't feel half bad.
Twenty-five, and her first love—fashionably late.
-Cheon So-young: Maeng-ho, wrap-up camp ends today, right? Can we meet?
What's this? A message like that from her? Checking the timestamp, it was the wee hours. Sending something like this at dawn—did she have a nightmare or something?
Suddenly, I recalled how she'd mentioned having ghost nightmares before the camp.
'Kinda feel bad. Probably 'cause of me, right?'
She hadn't had them until I brought up the ghost stuff.
'Since when do you worry about a girl?'
'Huh? Yeah...'
I liked Hyun-ah, Hye-jin noona, and even Jo-eun a lot, but this feeling was different.
'Probably 'cause she's special.'
The reason So-young stood out from them. That was the only explanation. A girl just for me, not shared with Rogers. ...And she matched my type perfectly. Of course, liking her didn't mean I'd ditch the others.
This was this, that was that.
'You trash bastard. Our deal was sharing sensations during sex, wasn't it? Though I never expected a lowly race like you to keep promises.'
'Jealous again? Rogers, I told you—men's jealousy is ugly.'
'...You damn monkey!'
'But you enjoy it plenty when I'm with other girls, right? I'll bang even more, so tone down the jealousy... Please. I said, men's...'
'Shut your trap, you fucking yellow monkey!'
Listening to Rogers' racism—which I oddly missed now—I typed a reply to So-young.
-Me: Sorry for the late reply. Where should we meet?
-Cheon So-young: Can you come to my place? I'll send the address. The nightmares keep coming, so... No weird ideas, okay?
Her reply came in under a minute. She must've been waiting.
-Me: No misunderstandings here. Just send the address.
-Cheon So-young: Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu ..........
-Me: Leaving Icheon now, so around dinner time?
-Cheon So-young: I'm at work now, so that's fine.
Wrapping up with So-young, Woo Kwang-hyung had already packed and left. Should send him a message...? He's forty—text okay? Decided on text.
-Senior: Ji Maeng-ho here. This is my number. Thanks for the training offer. Let me know what I need to prep. I'll pay it forward to juniors someday. Appreciate it.
That should do. He's the team elder—gotta be polite.
'Where'd that interview fire go?'
'That was your idea, Rogers! And talking to reporters vs. the team vet? We'll be together years.'
'Tch, no guts.'
Rogers tsked like it was boring. I'm reckless, but not dumb enough to piss off the AT Thunderbirds' top dog—bigger influence than the coach.
'Growing up. Boringly.'
'...Don't masters get emotional seeing disciples improve?'
'Heh, depends on the disciple. Watching your idiocy was fun.'
Sigh. One of the world's five saints, and I gotta endure this. With a heart like his, even nirvana leads to hell. But Rogers, don't worry—I'll save you from hell someday! I'm one of the five saints!
'...Idiot.'
'Figured she'd live in some ritzy apartment 'cause she's rich. Office-tel, huh? Still nicer than mine.'
The building's exterior looked sleek, and the parking lot had So-young's familiar car plus a few foreign luxury rides.
“You're here?”
Waiting in the lot, So-young approached in a casual hoodie. Even I, fashion-blind, recognized the high-end brand logo. Foreign car owner perks... Jealous.
“You were waiting?”
I greeted her normally, hiding my envy.
“Yeah...”
What was it? So-young seemed off today. Not her usual self—kinda ticklish vibe? Made it more awkward than last time.
'A bit awkward... Gotta lighten the mood.'
“This your place? You seem classy, so I pictured some fancy apartment. Tower Palace or, like, Lotte World Tower penthouse.”
“Cl-classy? Th-thanks.”
Stuttering? Definitely nightmare aftermath. Otherwise, she wouldn't reach out first. Looking closer, her face was flushed.
“Your face is red. You okay?”
I naturally touched her forehead. Exorcism work made this level of contact routine; she accepted it fine.
“No fever.”
“...L-let's head in! We have stuff to discuss.”
“Sure.”
Following her inside, the place was surprisingly tidy. Well-organized, clean vibe?
“Have a seat? I'll get some tea.”