Chapter 39
Chapter 39
Translator Wjin
Chapter 39
The shocking result of a called game loss filled Taiwan's portal sites with related articles, and most of the thumbnails featured Cha Tae-hyun. The Taiwanese people's reaction to Cha Tae-hyun was divided into two groups.
└ Brothers, I really think we need to suspect Cha Tae-hyun of using drugs.
└ Am I the only one who just dislikes this player?
└ Me too, I get angry just looking at his face.
└ Agreed. And he has no manners. He's always grinning.
└ Disrespectful young man.
There were people who blindly criticized Cha Tae-hyun like this.
└ But as a baseball fan, I'm excited to see a big star emerge in Asia.
└ Right, even though our team lost, he seems to be an excellent player without a doubt.
└ Brothers, let’s not be like that and cheer him on. He seems to have a bright future.
└ You get angry just by looking at his face? I think he’s handsome.
└ Let’s just enjoy baseball for what it is, brothers.
And people who purely cheered for Cha Tae-hyun. However, as a photo of Cha Tae-hyun's rather smug smile during the game began to spread, he was instantly branded a disgrace to sportsmanship.
Just as anti-Korean sentiment was about to rear its head, a social media post went viral and quickly settled the situation.
[I've made a truly unforgettable memory!]
Thanks to Cha Tae-hyun, I was able to make a truly unforgettable memory at this Baseball World Cup. I’m grateful enough that he smiled and signed a cap for me even though we approached him suddenly, but he even gave us a signed bat for our child. And it was a bat he was using. And he saw our family off with a smile until the very end.
[Photo]
[Likes: 17265] [Dislikes: 231]
└ So he was smiling during the game because he's a cheerful player.
└ Korea is truly a developed country. The players' consciousness is excellent.
└ I’m so moved!
└ Polite young man.
└ Brothers, isn't this 'jeong' (affection)!
└ This is true fan service and sportsmanship!
└ Who was it? The ones who slandered our Cha Tae-hyun hyung-nim!
└ Can you share the bat information? It's exactly my style, but I can't find it.
This post didn’t just become a hot topic in Taiwan; it quickly spread around the world through TokTik, NewTube, and other platforms. It even reached the New York Mets locker room.
“Hehe…”
“Hey Ho-san, are you on drugs? You look pretty happy.”
His teammate's words were a joke, but if you consider patriotism a kind of drug, he wasn’t entirely wrong. Of course, he wouldn't think so himself. Kim Ho-san’s teammate glanced at the screen of the phone he was holding.
[Taiwan cried! China cried! Japan cried! America cried! The whole world cried!!! Cha Tae-hyun, who showed the 'jeong' of Korea!!!]
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[A K-baseball player stops the tears of a child who was sobbing after a shocking called game loss? Cha Tae-hyun moves the world!]
“Hmm… I don’t understand Korean. Anyway, it must be a really fun video.”
“No. It’s just about our national baseball team beating Taiwan. I’m so happy about it.”
His teammate said, "Oh…" and let out an exclamation of admiration. "Just as I heard. Your patriotism is truly admirable. If a war broke out in Korea, you’d probably run there right away.”
“Of course.”
“Ah, come to think of it, doesn't everyone in your country have to serve in the military? You must have already served. That’s amazing.”
“It's nothing. Every man born in Korea goes to the military and receives rigorous training with the sole purpose of defending our country. It's our duty.”
His teammate nodded, as if genuinely moved, and gave Kim Ho-san a thumbs up. Another of Kim Ho-san's teammates, who was eavesdropping on the conversation, tilted his head.
'I'm sure Ho-san bragged to me about his gold medal once?'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇;
The national team's lodging was divided into single and double rooms. Since there weren't enough rooms, the older players usually got the single rooms. But I, a sophomore, was now using a single room.
“Anyone have a problem with Cha Tae-hyun using a single room?”
It seemed the manager favored me a little. Well, I was happy about it. I was the type who couldn't sleep well if I heard even the slightest snore or grinding of teeth, so I was relieved to be alone.
I was planning on happily going to dreamland, but…
“Love is an open door~”
…a strange song was coming from the door. I tried to ignore it, but they kept singing, so I opened it. It was the trio: Jin Tae-hyun, Kim Yu-bin, and Kim Shin-hwa.
No, there was one more person behind them. Lee Ji-ho? That was a little unexpected.
“Hehehe… Tae-hyun, don’t you know this bastard Lee Ji-ho is a total sissy?”
Kim Yu-bin pointed at Lee Ji-ho with a sly grin.
“What are you talking about, all of a sudden?”
“He’s a total gay, a gay. I was so surprised.”
What…? Lee Ji-ho had that kind of preference? Did the world line get twisted because I intervened? "Really?" I looked at Lee Ji-ho with that question in my eyes.
“No, you bastard…”
Hmm. This was really not it. It was the first time I had ever heard Lee Ji-ho curse.
“Hey, why are you getting so worked up over a joke? Anyway, Ji-ho came to us for advice. And do you know what it was?”
“No, if you say that…”
Lee Ji-ho hurriedly tried to cover Kim Yu-bin's mouth, but Kim Yu-bin stepped back and spoke.
"He was rambling on for thirty minutes, hahaha! He just wanted to make up with you! Between men, all you have to do is say sorry, right?”
Kim Shin-hwa, who had been standing quietly next to him, nodded.
“I can’t deny that. It’s definitely a bit gay, Lee Ji-ho.”
“No, you piece of… ha… never mind. I’ll say it.”
Lee Ji-ho sighed, came up to me, and bowed his head.
“I’m sorry for everything, Cha Tae-hyun. I’m late with my apology.”
…Lee Ji-ho was apologizing with a really serious face, but the problem was that I had no idea why he was doing it.
“But… what are you really sorry for? I’m not trying to make fun of you, I really don’t know.”
“Because I’ve been treating you like trash based on groundless rumors…”
Jin Tae-hyun suddenly covered his mouth and muttered, “Blas… blasphemy!”
For some reason, the mood kept getting broken because of the kids next to me, but anyway…
“Was that it? I didn't even know you were doing that. I don’t care.”
Lee Ji-ho, who had raised his head, looked at me with newly moved eyes. No… you’re making me suspicious again.
“And I don’t have any hard feelings, so don’t worry about it.”
“...Really?”
“Yeah. Like I said, between men, why would we hold a grudge over something like that? Are you really gay?”
Lee Ji-ho chuckled and replied, "That's not it. Anyway… thanks.”
“No problem.”
As the heartwarming atmosphere continued…
“Shin Tae-hyun’s mercy is like the sea…”
“Oh… we have no choice but to worship him.”
Now even Kim Yu-bin was starting to follow this strange worship concept.
“So, you’re done with your business, right?”
I hinted that they should leave, but Kim Yu-bin shook his head.
“We decided to have a one-at-bat for drinks with Kim Shin-hwa in the morning.”
“No… I’m starting today—”
“What, you chicken? You think you’ll lose to me because your arm is sore?”
“…Follow me. I’ll show you the difference in class.”
I would have let it go, but a very, very important text had just arrived on my phone.
“Everyone, get out. I have a really important call.”
As I spoke with a serious face, Jin Tae-hyun said, "Oh… the god has commanded…" and led the others out.
[Ms. Mi-yeon: Tae-hyun, are you back at the dorm?]
Well, Ms. Mi-yeon's text was a major event.
[Yes, I’ve arrived…]
I stopped typing and dialed her number. Texting was good, but right now, I just wanted to hear her voice.
- T-Tae-hyun…?
“I was going to text, but I just wanted to hear your voice.”
- I-I see?
I heard a small laugh, though it was faint, as if she had moved the phone away from her mouth for a moment.
Anyway, I had called because I wanted to, but now I couldn’t think of what to say. After a moment of thought, I just said what was in my heart.
“I really miss you right now.”
There was no answer again. I held the phone closer to my ear, and a small voice from the speaker tickled my ear.
- …Me too.
Was it possible for such a short answer to bring so much happiness? I had to put the phone down to hide my bursting smile. I calmed down for a moment and picked it up again.
- I also… miss you, Tae-hyun.
I had to put the phone down again.
“Hoo…”
This is a big problem… I really miss Ms. Mi-yeon so much.
Since I don't have a schedule tomorrow, should I just take a plane and go see her…?