Chapter 34
Chapter 34
I don’t usually say things like this, but today, I was lucky.
When I woke up, it was ten minutes before my alarm. I lingered in bed for a bit, then got up and washed. When I left the house, the elevator arrived right on time. I greeted a neighbor who got off at the same floor and headed straight to the first floor.
From home to the stadium, I had to take the subway. I could have taken a taxi, but the weather was too nice, so I walked to the station. Every crosswalk changed at the perfect moment. The subway arrived exactly as I reached it. Meeting fans along the way, chatting and taking photos, I got to the stadium in no time.
Again, the crosswalks timed perfectly.
And then, “Hailey?”
“Ah, Park Si-woo!”
At the stadium, I ran into PD Oh Na-eun playing with Danny’s daughter, Hailey. I had heard Danny was joining today, but I didn’t expect to see Hailey first.
“Hi, do you remember me?”
Shy, Hailey nodded slightly. Cute as ever. This was healing. But why were they here together?
“Danny Jones went to see the coach, so Hailey was just playing for a bit! Wait a moment!”
Oh Na-eun raised her camera and began filming me and Hailey.
“Is it okay if I film like this?”
“Yes! She’ll be so happy to appear on YouTube!”
I played with Hailey until Danny arrived.
“Hehe, double the views? Then quadruple? 400,000? Hehehe.”
Oh Na-eun laughed a bit strangely, but Hailey didn’t seem to mind.
Everything was going well… until a sudden shiver.
Had I developed some sort of psychic ability? People recoiling and avoiding me when I looked at them? Useless in reality, but unsettling. It reminded me of my Phoenix days. I’d been in a good mood all morning, and now this.
I sought someone to explain.
“…Why me?”
“I thought you’d know best.”
I caught Senior Park Hyun-woo, who normally flinched and avoided people around him.
“Whoa… ha. Huh.”
“It’s okay, just be honest.”
“…Really? Did you watch yesterday’s Baseball Club show?”
“Baseball Club? What’s that?”
Park Hyun-woo hesitated, then explained.
“So, Senior Jeong Se-won mentioned me, and maybe people are avoiding me just in case?”
“No, they’re not avoiding you. They just don’t want to risk anything, so they’re careful.”
“Good to know.”
“What?”
“I thought seniors avoided me because I brought bad luck.”
“…What kind of guy says that?”
“Eh?”
“What kind of guy says that? Yeon Seung-ho? Lee Geon-woo?”
“Uh… it was a joke. Just a joke.”
“…Really?”
“Yes, just joking. Are you okay?”
Hyun-woo claimed it was a joke, but his eyes trembled. This wasn’t like the always-smiling Hyun-woo.
“Ha. I’ll apologize for them. Our team must have suffered enough from him.”
“Thanks. If I set a record today, I’ll credit you.”
“Do that.”
“I’m heading to the bullpen now. Want to come?”
“No, I’m picking up Senior Lee Dong-hoon. Make sure you’re ready.”
Hyun-woo waved me off.
At the bullpen, Gale and Senior Kim Min-ki were waiting. Gale was expected, but Kim Min-ki catching my pitches was surprising.
“He said you want to pitch well tomorrow. Did anything happen while we were in Daegu?”
“Uh, I don’t know.”
They treated me normally, unaware of the Baseball Club show.
“Min-seok coming?”
“Yes. Warming up a bit.”
“Want me to catch?”
“You?”
Kim Min-ki had only caught my pitch once during spring camp.
“Recently Min-seok’s really improved. I’ll help him feel the pressure. Watching me catch should give him that sense.”
“Sure. Should we start?”
“Good. Gale, watch for a bit. Look here, okay?”
Gale wiped sweat and sat back. Kim Min-ki got into position with his usual gear.
“Is that okay?”
“Yes. During spring camp, I hadn’t warmed up fully. I caught a knuckleball before, though it was nothing like yours.”
Kim Min-ki handled it confidently, missing a few but improving with mitt adjustments.
He felt different from Min-seok. Min-seok reacted instinctively, but Kim Min-ki relied on experience.
“How’s that?”
“Good.”
“Throw a faster one.”
I placed three fingers on the ball.
“…Forget it.”
Kim Min-ki waved off as the difference became clear. Soon, Min-seok arrived.
“Senior, hello!”
“Where’ve you been?”
“Sorry! Jeong Se-won wanted an interview, so I took a call.”
“Who?”
“Jeong Se-won. He asked about your pitch and whether you can set a record today.”
“Ugh, that’s messy.”
Kim Min-ki seemed aware of it too.
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I need a favor regarding that…”
I explained, and his expression hardened.
“These guys… really…”
“I’m fine. Hyun-woo already explained.”
“…Hyun-woo?”
“Yes, but he suddenly got angry, so I was a bit surprised.”
“Hyun-woo’s fine now, but he used to be wild. I got bitten a few times.”
…Bitten?
What in the world was Hyun-woo like back then?
“Anyway, I’ll do what you asked. We’ll talk later.”
Marines players gradually entered the locker room.
“Anyone know why?”
“Senior, do you?”
“No, I don’t.”
Kim Min-ki’s sudden assembly confused everyone.
He entered.
“Alright, everyone here?”
“Yes. Except a few called by the coach or manager.”
“Good. Nothing serious. Our performance last week wasn’t great, right?”
“Yes.”
“I called you to forget that and start fresh. We need to win today, right?”
No one answered. Kim Min-ki scanned the players one by one.
“Alright, I get it. Senior’s accuracy is terrible, especially to us. But if you’re thinking like that, keep it to yourself. Don’t vent on someone innocent, okay?”
“No, it’s not that…”
“Then tell Si-woo. Si-woo, step forward.”
I stepped forward, took a coin from my pocket, and showed it.
“Front.”
‘Front.’
‘What is he…?’
“Front.”
I flipped it again. Front. Repeated several times.
“Back.”
Back as I said, the players buzzed.
“How many times in a row?”
“About ten.”
Even a 50/50 coin toss ten times in a row is impressive. What was the point of this?
“See that?”
The Marines waited for my explanation.
“I’m just really lucky today.”
“…Huh?”
“This morning, I woke before the alarm, got ready, caught the elevator immediately, never waited at crosswalks, and the subway arrived perfectly.”
Small things, but I was sincere.
“So, don’t worry about what Jeong Se-won said. Thank you.”
That was it.
Petty, trivial. Some players didn’t get it, some stared at me like I was crazy. But at least…
“Ten in a row is impressive.”
“Si-woo’s lucky? Maybe he’ll break another record today.”
The thought vanished among the team. Hyun-woo smiled and pulled me aside.
“Crazy.”
“Thanks.”
“Not a compliment. I thought you’d mess it up. But that was a tiny move.”
“Experience shows small things can work. You’ll manage. Just ask me next time.”
“Understood. Thanks.”
“How did you do it?”
“The coin flip?”
“I just tried it. Works. I said I’m lucky today.”
I really felt like anything could go right today.
The first batter reached base after a misplay, and the game began with my wry smile.
Watching live, Jeong Se-won smiled quietly.
“Ah, that’s a shame. Usually Chae Jae-hoon would catch that easily, right?”
Comments poured in.
“I’m seriously sorry, Si-woo, looks tough today.”
“Enjoying wrecking your rookie’s record?”
Se-won’s subtle self-promotion drew reactions. More viewers joined. My presence alone commanded attention.
“Challengers are bunting, aiming for one run in the first inning.”
“Strikeout! Lee Ye-jun goes down. Timing looked okay.”
Still safe. One hit could score a run.
“First pitch! Chae Jae-hoon catches, ending the inning scoreless.”
Se-won sighed inwardly. Just the first inning. All that mattered was to prevent runs today.
Then, I retired three straight batters for three innings, pushing Se-won to act.
“All right, I’ll make a pledge. If Si-woo finishes today’s game with zero runs allowed, I’ll send a coffee truck to Sajik Stadium at my expense! Please let me spend my money! Si-woo, fighting!”