Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Soccer Reserves and Blind Date Buzz
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Ah... I'm tired.
I've been stressing these past few days, so yeah, I'm wiped out.
At least I don't have to worry about pregnancy anymore.
I need to keep an eye on it a bit longer, but the odds are under 1% now...
"Yawn."
With one worry off my plate, I feel a ton better already.
Sober me has no clue what got into me back then...
Honestly, any guy would've cracked. Hell, we didn't even start with foreplay or anything—I just went straight in. No way to hold back.
'Cherry blossoms are blooming everywhere.'
April.
They're not in full bloom yet, but you can see them popping open here and there.
The campus is already buzzing with that pink, romantic vibe...
Girls' outfits are way brighter and cuter too.
And just like that, I plunged into a funk.
Why does everyone else get to be happy but me!
Ring ring.
That's when my phone rang—first time in ages.
What the? Nobody ever calls me.
【Kim Myeong-jun】
Whoa? He actually called.
Probably about that 3-on-3 blind date. He said we need one more guy.
"Hello?"
'Hey, it's Kim Myeong-jun.'
"Yeah."
Our awkward vibe makes even the phone feel stiff.
Hell, it's worse over the phone. Face-to-face wouldn't be this bad.
'Not about that—calling about soccer.'
"Soccer?"
I figured it'd be the blind date for sure.
Why soccer? Something feels off...
'Sports day in May, and we're short players.
Need 11 starters plus 3 subs, but we're not hitting the numbers.
Thought of some friends, and you came to mind.'
What the hell?
I only played once! Why me!
'You got a free period now? The seniors wanna know if you guys can swing by.'
Time? Never in a million years.
The words were right on the tip of my tongue.
Ughhh... Myeong-jun... I'm offering you a blind date, and you're hitting me with soccer duty...
"Fine... I'll come."
'Cool, we're in the lounge. Head over now.'
"Yeah..."
Sob...
There are so many guys across freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors—how are we short!!!
Seniors maybe, but even freshmen through juniors combined can't scrape 14 soccer players? No way!
"This is my fate..."
Seniors are calling. Gotta go...
Better than them ignoring me...
I wanted a quiet, chill college life... Not sweating it out with the bro brigade building camaraderie...
"I'm going..."
What can I do? Gotta go.
Every time I feel lonely, karma drops the hammer.
Lonely? We'll fix that—pack you in with dudes! Lol.
"Hey, Jun-young! Long time!"
"Hello, seniors!"
And here I am, Yi Jun-hyeong. Guess they never plan to learn my name.
How to describe the lounge vibe... Suffocating.
Pure guys-only zone. A dudes' den. Not the cozy gaming spot kind.
This is a rugged pad built for soccer, boozing, and nothing else.
Department lounge? Could pass for a construction site office.
"Yeah, yeah, Jun-young, grab a seat."
"Yes... Sure, senior."
Tiny space crammed with over ten dudes... Can't breathe!
Locked eyes with Kim Myeong-jun in the corner. You little...
"Myeong-jun filled you in?"
"Yes, yeah. He did."
"We need 14 for sports day soccer.
Short exactly one spot."
"...Yessir..."
How are we short exactly one...
Last time, just eyeballing it, we had over ten soccer guys in the department.
"Uh... Are we really that short on players?"
"Well... We got numbers, but... Circumstances."
Circumstances?
A rumor from days ago flashed in my head.
Something about a fight in the soccer club... Overheard it.
What the fuck. It's not a player shortage—y'all fought and thinned your own ranks!
"Other departments fill gaps with girls if needed.
But we can't waste real talent."
...I'm the real talent?
Shit... That one flashy cross I nailed...
"No pressure, kid.
Think of it as backup.
Unless something comes up, you won't play. We'll handle it."
"Win prize money, and backups get a cut too.
Or big team dinner or whatever."
Prize is peanuts anyway—probably just drinks...
I nodded for now.
Third backup? Probably won't play.
They're trying to be nice, I guess.
Better than dumping me on reserves without a word...
"Yeah... I'll do it."
"Good man, Jun-young. Thanks."
Jun-hyeong...
Squad's full now—everyone relaxed with a sigh.
They're dead serious about soccer. One sub blunder from me, and department life's over?
"But hey, Jun-young."
"Yes... Yeah, senior."
"Heard you're rounding up for a blind date."
...
Word spread.
Doesn't seem like Kim Myeong-jun blabbed.
Probably just casual "wanna blind date?" chats snowballed.
"Yeah... Yeah."
"Who's it with? Know any girls?"
"Uh... Yeah. High school friend begged me to set it up..."
Suddenly, all eyes on me—even from the indifferent ones.
Fuck, more focus than soccer.
"Which department?"
"Liberal arts side..."
"Whoa, Jun-young, didn't peg you for a player."
Insult or compliment?
I shrank back. Freshman blind date—surely juniors/seniors won't crash?
Handsome guys only, and Yu In-ha won't care much... But no hot seniors?
"Hot?"
"Mm... Objectively pretty, yeah."
"Pics?"
Pics... Kakao profile maybe.
Should I show? What if Yu In-ha spots me later: "Hey! Blind date broker!" Nah, probably not.
"Uh... Here..."
"Lemme see."
Senior snatched my phone—ten guys swarmed.
Aaah fuck! Piranhas!
"Whoa, she's smoking hot."
"Damn, jackpot."
Lounge erupted.
Huge mistake. Cold sweat.
Glanced at Kim Myeong-jun—he looked away. Hey!
"Jun-young... Mind if hyung steps in?"
...Pardon?
Mouth shut. Honestly, seniors' looks... Not Yu In-ha's type. More sweat.
"Kidding, kidding. Can't steal freshmen blind dates."
His eyes say otherwise?
Starving lions, fierce glares.
"Nail it, and you'll set up more, right?"
"Yeah, yeah. Ace it, and their sophs/juniors might join next."
I said nothing—they hyped themselves up.
"Gotta make this blind date legendary."
"Hook up our ace Myeong-jun and one more stud.
Hype that our department's got the hottest guys—boom, blind dates everywhere."
This fuck...
Soccer was the excuse—they wanted blind date deets!
Seniors, couldn't speak—stuck sweating.
"Yo, what's the racket?"
"She here?"
Then the usual senior girls and female classmates piled in.
How many people in this shoebox...
"Whatcha looking at?"
"Oh? Blind date."
"Blind date?"
Phone safely back.
Girls zeroed in too.
Not... friendly stares this time?
"Who's blind dating?"
"Freshmen. Checking who."
"Oh?"
...Scary faces.
Makes sense—not thrilled from their side.
Other department girls, and snagging the hotties? Bad optics...
"Who's setting it up?"
"This guy. Jun-young."
"Ah."
Seems they know me...
Was here for soccer—might've seen my face.
Girls' stares crushing. Gonna die. 'You? Setting up blind dates?' Terrifying.
"What? Hook us up too?"
"Juniors doing blind dates? Grow up."
Too... many... people...
Introvert hell. Can't breathe...
"Hi."
Soul floating away, one girl spoke up.
Ah... Physics class girl... Ju Ye-jin?
"Uh... Hi."
Ju Ye-jin grinned and vanished back. No seat next to me.
Mood lifted instantly. Finally, not just dark-cloud dudes.
"Anyway, festival plans?"
"Booth, right?"
"Gotta."
Festival...
End of April or early May, I think.
Sports day mid-May.
It's not a real festival—just food stalls... Idol guests matter most.
"Man, it's intense now. Getting old sucks."
"Freshmen can do it. Brainstorm ideas."
"Maybe."
...Why the dread?
Senior grinned slyly.
Why grin?
"Jun-young. Busy?"
"...Not... really."
"Let's get busy?"
What cheesy line? Like "Wanna rub one out?" Same vibe...
"Prep soccer and festival together. Sound good?"
"..."
Wanna cry.
Hate Kim Myeong-jun.
I wanna live quietly... Never complain about loneliness again. Spare me...
"Chat over food?"
"Drinks? Craving booze."
"Post notice. See who's in."
Trapped in senior's arm—shaken down...
Hate sweaty department life...