I'll Wait
"Huh, well I'll be damned."
In one corner of the lounge at the Chicago White Sox's away lodging for Major League players, Choi Seung-taek—the team's starting catcher and a core pillar—stared intently at his laptop screen. He wasn't the type to go hunting for Korean high school baseball videos the night before a game, but tonight, his hand had inexplicably wandered there. It all started with a random article that caught his eye.
As a Suseok High alum, Choi couldn't resist clicking. He scrolled through the piece.
The interview snippets came off pretty cocky.
"Proved it on the field, so I earned the right to say it? Hoo, this kid's got my vibe."
"Hype? Hmm... A high schooler's talking about hype?"
"Overall skills... Can't argue with that. But kids like him use it either to troll or dodge criticism. Which side is he on?"
"Not going to the national team?" Choi frowned.
"Hmm... Yeah, the youth team coaches do butcher pitchers to pad their stats, so I get it."
As Choi kept reading, something about Kim Jeong-ui's words and expressions felt familiar.
"Hmm... What is it? Feels like I've seen this before..."
Choi furrowed his brow.
"No way—Kim Jeong-seok's sunbae’s kid?"
Choi had faced off against Kim Jeong-seok a few times when he'd returned to Korea. Sure, by then he was past his prime, but the unique underhand pitching stuck in his memory.
"Hmm. But in the majors, he was a straight-up legend..."
Kim Jeong-seok was the stuff of legends. Blasted through the minors in three months, proved himself in the bigs. Perfect innings under his belt—no one from that era didn't know him.
"Still a legend now. But his kid's on that level?"
Doubts lingering, Choi clicked over to the Cheongryonggi tournament footage. His mind changed fast.
"Hoo~ This guy's fun."
Choi's lips curled up.
"Every pitch popping right into the catcher's mitt like clockwork—not ordinary control. Too precise. Reminds me of Sani. Sigh. Gotta see it live to really judge, though?"
Bzzzzt.
Right then.
"Ow. Who's calling this late?"
His phone vibrated, a name lighting up the screen: Scott Boras.
"Hmm? What's up?"
Choi stood, strolling to the window as he picked up.
"Yeah, what's going on?"
Rapid English poured from the other end. Contract talk.
Choi gazed out the window, took a breath, and responded coolly.
"Ah~ Is that so? I'll think it over. Plenty of time left. Sure, I've given this team my all... but it's no big market, so yeah, makes sense."
The footage he'd just watched flashed in his mind. And out came words he'd never normally say.
"But hey. I spotted a good one. Mind if I recommend him?"
A beat of silence, then Scott Boras came back:
— Choi. Recommendations are fine, but you saw him yourself? Season's in full swing—no time for that.
Choi let out a breathy chuckle.
"I'll go see him in person. After the season. He's too young to sign right away anyway."
— Young player? Hmm. High schooler?
"Yeah, something like that. But he's the son of a famous guy. You'll know the name right away."
* * *
Why not confess again? Confess? I didn't confess back then—I just...
The memory hit, my face burning.
"Uh... Hoo..."
I closed my eyes for a second, sorting my thoughts.
Recent events flickered through my head. One conclusion emerged.
"I still like you. No—honestly, the moment I saw you, I've liked you nonstop."
My blunt words made Yoo Sera look away. Blushing?
"But..."
"But...?"
"Dating right now... it's tough."
"What do you mean?"
She looked flustered.
"Sigh... I'm about to become captain of our school's baseball team. We'll hit a ton of tournaments with the guys. Sure, I'm a good player, but I can't win every game solo."
I hated saying it.
"I don't like Seung-min much? But he's still a key team member. Best hitter among the second-years, honestly. But..."
I met Sera's eyes straight on.
"He's got an inferiority complex toward me. Probably. He was the top second-year ace, lined up for captain, then boom—this rolling stone shoves him aside. Friendly rivalry? Maybe. But I'm better, with the fame too, so it's full-blown resentment. And..."
I paused, just looking at her.
"...And?"
"You know it too, right? He likes you."
"Yeah..."
"Him feeling like that, and you dating me? Ah... Team vibe wrecked. I can see it."
"..."
I spilled my inner worries.
"Me? No issues ahead. Cheongryonggi showed what I can do—teams will call even if I slack senior year. But... the other second-years, the ones becoming juniors? Different story."
I sighed.
"Some second-years look up to me. This guy's gonna lead us to wins, like Cheongryonggi. But I'm not like Captain Seok-hyeon hyung. Pitchers can do that much—or more. Hitters? Nah. We need a solid bat too."
"So what's your plan?"
Sera's voice cooled.
"...Wait for me. Until I lead the second-years to a championship."
"Choosing the team over me? What if Seung-min confesses and I date him in the meantime?"
Her eyes hardened.
"..."
Ah... Worst thing to hear. Hurts...
"That hurts... Can't even imagine it."
"..."
"Then... no choice. It'd kill me, but I'd let you go. Your call."
I watched her face. Her gaze softened—warmer, even?
Then Sera stepped close and hugged me.
Thump.
"Uh...?"
Soft. Small.
"You're sneaky."
"W-what's sneaky?"
"Jeong-ui... You know my type, right?"
"Your type?"
What was it again?
"No clue?"
"My type's the ace or captain of the baseball or soccer team."
...?
"So why're you acting like ace and captain? Showing up like my favorite version of you—what am I supposed to do...?"
"Huh?"
"If I hug you like this, you gonna dodge?"
"Doubt I could."
"Exactly. So confess."
She buried her face in my chest.
Thump thump. Whoa... Driving me crazy.
"..."
But I stayed quiet.
"Hate you."
"..."
I knelt to meet her eyes.
"Just a bit longer. I'll win it quick."
"You said it's not easy."
"Yeah... It isn't. But wait a little. Until I fulfill my duty."
"When I'm a senior, I might have no time. Concours here now, but senior year it's overseas a lot. No time... So unless we start now, no chance."
Ah... It came to this?
"No regrets if you wait? If you don't confess now..."
Hmm...
"Feels like we'll be together 80 years or so. One year's a blip."
"Huh?"
She blinked, thrown.
"Squeeze in meets during that busy year—make it even better, right?"
"...No. I want to study music abroad. Not now, it's over."
"Where abroad?"
"Top music schools overseas. Mostly US."
US? Distance hit hard. Wait—if I make majors...
"US? Cool, I'll chase you there. Deal?"
I grinned.
"You... Fine."
Sera looked begrudging, but accepted.
"But I'll change my approach too."
Her face set with resolve.
"I like you too, Jeong-ui. So let's date."
Wait, her confessing?
"What?! What was that 'fine' just now?"
"Your answer?"
"Uh... Well..."
"What? Didn't see that coming?"
Her tone shifted—playful tease.
That's when voices approached from outside. Friends.
"Got it. I'll wait, your way. But on my terms."
...?
"I'll make it obvious. Stick by your side on purpose. Whisper in your ear. Tease you."
She leaned in, murmuring like a secret.
"Until you confess to me."