Chapter 2
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 2
Chapter Title The Eldest Son Desperately Wants Soccer
In truth, after saving my parents, I wondered if I really had to play soccer.
Id clung desperately to the path of becoming a soccer player because I thought it was the only way I could succeed, but it had been so grueling that honestly, I couldnt muster the will to do it again.
Of course, I figured that if I started over, I could turn my past failures into a textbook and succeed. But human psychology being what it is, the urge to try something new inevitably outweighed the desire to repeat what Id already done once.
There was just one problem, though.
I remembered taking an IQ test in my previous life, and the score had been incredibly high...
Separate from my intelligence, I had issues in other areas.
Studying? Id given up early because I couldnt sit still in one place. When I tried other things, I discovered I had the worst handeye coordinationcouldnt draw, couldnt make anything. Total klutz.
Cooking was the one thing I could kind of do, but that was just something Id picked up out of necessity from living alone for so long, not any real talent.
Business?
If I couldnt even study, what business could I run?
I didnt have the brains for it to begin with.
Right, in the end, the only thing I could rely on was my athleticism.
My motor skills were innate, werent they?
Lets try something other than soccer.
Funny thing was, sports were the same story.
I was great at anything done with my feet, but anything with my hands? Total failure.
And what footbased sports were there besides soccer?
Footvolley? Sepak takraw?
Sorry to the other foot sports, but without soccer, there was no money in it.
I didnt want to pursue a sport where Id worry about making a living after retiring.
Anyway, in the end, the only thing I could do was soccer.
Now that I wanted a prosperous life for my family, it felt even more urgent.
Of course, I couldnt be 100 confident of success in soccer.
That is, if I were a talentless everyman who hadnt lived a future life already.
I was confident.
I had the talent for it.
This wasnt just my subjective opinionit was backed by the objective evaluations from people whod seen the old me.
Youre a real genius!
Ive never seen talent like yours!
If youd started soccer earlier.
If you hadnt gotten injured.
If you hadnt been scammed.
You mightve even won the Ballon dOr.
You wouldve gone down in history.
You couldve been the synonym for soccer.
Those were the words from coaches and teammates in my past life.
Sure, they mightve been hindsight bias and exaggerated praise, but stripping away the hype, it boiled down to highperformance software outpacing broken hardware.
And thats exactly what it was.
In my head, I dominated soccer.
I could visualize everything scoring goals, assists, creating space, breaking through defenders, escaping pressureall of it.
The problem was my body couldnt keep up.
Because my body was wrecked.
In my past life, Id started my career with knees ruined from beatings by the orphanage brothers, and driven by the fear that missing any chance would end my life, Id pushed myself way too hard and burned out my body.
Excessive training meant constant injuries, and terrified of missing games, Id hide them until they became chronic.
Unsystematic workouts led to pointless bulking and wrong methods that killed my core muscles.
With that trashed physique, Id become one of Koreas top soccer playersand competitive in Europepurely on soccer talent and sense alone.
Now here I was, starting over.
If I used my past mistakes as a textbook and honed myself properly, how far could I go?
Even I was curious.
Sure, at 13, it might be a bit late, but I hadnt played matches, and just in case, Id consistently maintained my body.
Id done systematic core and strength training suitable for a youth.
Not touching a ball was a slight worry, but kids bodies adapt fast, so I was confident I could catch up quickly.
Now, just one thing left.
Parental permission.
Timing it right, I caught Dad alone and blurted it out to him.
I want to play soccer.
Soccer? Out of nowhere?
Looking at my surprised father, I put on a resolute expression and nodded.
After a moments thought at my declaration, Dad nodded along.
Come to think of it, youve watched soccer every single day without fail.
Now that he mentioned it, yeah.
Yeah, well...
So you wanted to try it yourself?
Right?
Soccers not as easy as it looks. Dont you lack athleticism, son?
What was Dad saying...?
Why would I lack athleticism?
You take after Mom.
Mom did lack athleticism.
And I took after Mom more than Dad in looks.
Unlike Dads dark skin and sturdy build, I had Moms fair, slender frame.
No wonder Dad assumed my athleticism followed suit.
But my motor skills werent just inherited from Dadtheyd evolved.
Youll know once I try.
True enough.
Dad nodded and said,
Alright, heres the deal. You know I play early morning soccer, right?
Yeah.
Come with me there and see what soccers really like up close. Then think it over carefully. Soccers not an easy sport.
I smiled at Dads words.
You think watching will be enough? I need to try it myself.
Son, you seem to be underestimating early morning soccer. Those guys have crazy ball control. Theyre rough too. Once you see it, youll think, Whoa, soccers dangerous!
Then why do you do that dangerous stuff, Dad?
...You really take after Momyou never back down in an argument.
Anyway, I think I have to play soccer, Dad.
Dad stared at me silently, then shot up from his seat.
Fine, lets do this.
Yeah?
What decides if youre good or not at soccer is raw talent. Lets see if youre talented or not. If you take after Mom, you wont have talentyoull have trash feet.
Seriously?
If Im not trash, youll let me play soccer?
Nah, more like... hm, yeah, think of it as passing the paper screening.
Then lets do it right now.
Alright, got it. Get dressed!
Dad said that and headed into the master bedroom.
A moment later, it wasnt Dad who came outit was Mom.
Son? Whats this sudden talk about soccer?
Are the siblings asleep?
Yeah, all out cold. But soccer? Why?
Uh... it seems like itd be fun.
Mom grinned at my words and said,
If it seems fun, you should try it. Your dads all hyped upgo knock that smugness right out of him.
Mom never stopped me from doing what I wanted.
I nodded.
Ill shock him so bad his eyes pop out.
Just dont make them actually pop.
Yeah.
What are you two whispering about? Ready? Lets go.
At Dads words, we headed to the park in front of our house.
Dad, looking all serious, chipped the ball up with his instep and trapped it effortlessly.
Hows Dad doing?
Showing off in front of his son like, This is your old man.
If I were a daughter, maybe Id go Wow, Dads the best! But Im a son.
No cutesy stuff from this boy.
I casually held out my hand.
Ill give it a try too.
Disappointed by my lukewarm reaction, Dad snorted and passed me the ball.
Go ahead, give it a shot.
The ball Dad passed rolled across the dirt ground, hit a rock, and bounced up.
I lifted my leg and extended my foot toward it.
Hey! Thats not how you...
Seeing me, Dad started to instruct but stopped midsentence.
With my right foots instep, I dragged the ball forward, then trapped it alternating left foot, right foot, popped it high, flicked it with my heel, let it go over my head, and gently trapped the falling ball under my sole.
How was that?
......
Dads eyes bulged he couldnt say a word.
And the next day.
Coach bro. Looks like my eldest is a genius.
Dad introduced me to the director of his early morning soccer group.
Your son?
The uncle, who looked way older than Dad, glanced between me and Dad and asked.
Must take after his mom, huh?
Yeah, but bro, thats not the pointIm telling you, my sons a genius!
Fathers always say that. I thought my son was a genius too.
Uh, hm... really?
What do you mean really, Dad?
Uh, but I dont think so this time, bro.
Hmm... Youre one to brag about your kids, but your ball skills are legit. If even you say so, he must be something special?
Thats what Im saying, bro. His ball trappings better than mine!
At that, the coach eyed me like, That so?
The early morning soccer coach looked at me.
Kid, uh... Taeyang, right? Can you show this uncle how you handle the ball too?
Yes!
At my enthusiastic reply, the coach yelled to the members, Hey, give me a ball!
Meanwhile, Dad said to me,
This coach bro was a K League player, you know.
Really?
A K League alum coaching early morning soccer? Thats surprising.
Given his age, maybe its his retirement hobby.
Here, catch.
The coach passed the ball to me.
Not a light tapa pretty hard shot.
Like, if I cant even trap this, no hope?
I slightly lifted my foot, trapped it under my sole, rolled it forward, and chipped it up with my instep.
Just like with Dad, alternating left and right feet for a light ball trapthe coachs face gradually turned serious.
Definitely good feet.
Right?
After various tests, the coach thought long and hard, then said to Dad,
First time playing soccer?
Yeah, right, son?
Yes. First time with soccer.
Dont they teach it in schools anymore?
Dad nodded.
My kids at an innovative schoolthey absolutely dont do competitive sports.
I tried it for the first time last week, soccer. Just passing, though, and that was it.
Hard to believe for normal school kids, but true.
No competitive sports at all.
Even PE class is just pretendrecently, a kid broke his arm catching a pass in basketball, so soccers just miming now.
Plus, Im 13 on the outside, but with all the life Ive lived, why play with kids?
Truth is, I dont hang out at all.
Mom worries about my social life, but anyway.
Hearing Dad, the coach sighed and said,
Kids need to play rough, get hurt a bitthats how they toughen up and build willpower.
Exactly, bro.
Anyway, I cant confirm if your sons a genius, but he definitely shows talent. So, heres the thing...
Me and Dads eyes turned to the coach.
I have some connections at Seoul UTDs youth team. Want to go try out?
Whoa......!
Dads face soured.
Seoul...? Bro, uh, anyone in Suwon...? No? Got it.
Our dad was a true blueblooded Suwon man.