Episode 36 - TV Broadcast
I'd made a splash on the European stage and returned home, but there was no welcoming crowd.
A dreary arrivals hall.
Well, I expected as much.
I'd heard that news about me had gone quiet back home.
A few people were interested, but even they didn't know I was throwing my hat into the NBA Draft this year.
Still, one of those few had come out to the airport to greet me.
"Seojun!"
A man waving at me.
It was Song Kyung-bae, a director at the pro basketball federation.
We'd been in touch occasionally. I'd told him my arrival date today, but I hadn't expected him to show up in person.
"Hello. I didn't think you'd come yourself."
"Haha, of course I had to. It's your first time back home."
Kim Yunmi was glancing around, wondering who he was. When I introduced him as a federation executive, she jumped in surprise.
Song Kyung-bae extended his hand first.
"Hello, Subin's mom. We've been enjoying Subin's performances too. He really stood out in that last game—fantastic play."
"Oh, hello! Thank you so much for the kind words about our Subin!"
He'd said he kept tabs on our game stats, and it looked like he really did.
He hadn't gotten hold of the footage yet, though, so in the car, he started grilling me on the details.
Anyway, I got a ride home.
Song Kyung-bae soon got to the point.
"Seojun, you remember our talk from before?"
"The Asian Games?"
"Yeah. I think we can make a spot for you. I've been hyping up your European exploits to everyone. The commissioner seems positive too."
Unlike baseball or soccer, basketball went all-out at the Asian Games.
With slim odds of gold if they stacked the roster with guys dodging the military, they mostly picked veterans without service obligations.
"So there's only two spots for military exemptions. And with last season's Rookie of the Year taking one, that leaves just one."
And he was slotting me in.
I shrugged.
"No need to go to all that trouble for me."
"What do you mean?"
"This is confidential. Can you keep it quiet?"
"Of course."
I hinted that I was entering the draft—and stood a real chance of getting picked.
Gulp! Song Kyung-bae swallowed hard.
"Fair enough. If you really get drafted, I won't need to hustle. Public opinion will demand we put you on the national team."
"Exactly."
Shin Won-hyung had told me that if I made the NBA, it'd have the impact of a Korean signing with Manchester United back in the day.
With the Asian Games right after, calls to include me would flood in.
"But getting picked in the NBA Draft isn't easy. It's like finding a needle in a haystack. Even with your strong Serbian league run."
"Just watch."
I kept the Denver deal under wraps.
Song Kyung-bae took it as mere possibility.
"Anyway, don't worry about me—push Subin instead if you're recommending someone."
"Subin?"
"He's entering the domestic draft this year. You need a young face for the league, right? Subin's handsome enough to pull in all the female fans."
"..."
Song Kyung-bae glanced back, sizing up Subin.
He smacked his lips.
"Nice. Yeah... not bad at all!"
His face lit up as gears turned.
We arrived in Gwnggyo and got out.
"Wait for the good news!"
Song Kyung-bae rushed off, suddenly busy.
The Asian Games...
It was basketball's biggest event domestically.
Time for me to shed my no-name status and step up as a sports star. Military sorted as a bonus.
"Seojun, what were you talking about with Director Song?"
Mom asked with genuine curiosity.
On the way to the apartment, I filled her in.
"Subin's doing the draft this year, so I suggested pushing him instead of me. He seemed on board."
Thud! Mom dropped her suitcase handle.
"O-oh... Subin in the Asian Games...?"
"Nothing's set yet."
But I figured it was as good as done.
If I rode public opinion onto the team, the pressure to include Subin—who'd grinded in Europe too—would be huge.
"What do we do! What do we do!"
"I said it's not set."
"Nonsense! A federation director's recommendation is as good as done!"
Mom was over the moon. With me there, gold was a given, apparently.
No need to explain how much easier pro life got with military exemption.
"Thank you so much, Seojun. I don't know how to repay you."
"Haha... calm down."
"How can I? Alright, I'll whip up a big dinner tonight! I'll have Suryeon do the shopping."
Home was... a disaster.
With the homemaker away, it was inevitable. Hard to notice if you'd stayed, but after four months, we saw it clear as day.
From that dim, stuffy house emerged Suryeon unnie.
"Oh, Mom. You're back?"
Messy hair. Baggy loungewear. Snack bag in hand, crumbs on her mouth.
Mom exploded at the raw sight.
"Hey, Shin Suryeon! In front of Seojun? What's with that mess! And the house—why's it like this? I told you to clean while I was gone!"
"I did clean... And so what if Seojun sees? He's basically family..."
"Family has limits! And this is cleaned!? Huh!? Look at this place!"
Smack! Smack! Smack! Back-smashing galore.
Subin ignored it and tugged my arm. "Let's go."
Thursday of the second week in February. Graduation day.
Our basketball team gathered at the gym for the first time in ages.
Players and athletic specialists ran a casual scrimmage.
I needed to shake off rust anyway, so I went hard—and the kids were floored.
Changmin, who knew us best, was especially bug-eyed.
"Yo, Lee Seojun. What the hell?"
"What."
"Your dribble! How'd it improve that much!? Makes no sense!"
"You can tell?"
"Hell yeah! You're a whole different guy from four months ago!"
Pride swelled.
Feeling it, I showed off Serbian jump shot variations and floaters. Changmin was speechless.
Meanwhile, Subin was the talk too.
"You were always this jacked?"
"Dude bulked up huge..."
Subin, tall at 194cm but lacking standout physicals before, now outpaced teammates in speed and power.
Kids asked his secret.
"Hyung Seojun told me to train like this. Right, hyung?"
"You? You're at 50% maybe. Needs another year to finish. Bulking ain't easy."
"...Hyung says I'm not there yet."
Subin grinned oddly.
Changmin looked bitter.
"Shoulda gone to Serbia with you guys..."
"Dude, it was brutal. Subin lucked into a spot—you'd have competed with Michichi."
"Michichi? He's that good?"
Subin answered.
"Totally insane. No joke."
Coming from him, everyone shivered at the implication.
Post-graduation, we kept the gym for afterparty games.
Family watched courtside.
Then Changmin gathered everyone, dead serious.
"Yo, who's that chick? Point her out."
He eyed a girl among spectators.
Pretty in a sky-blue casual dress.
Did makeup too.
She stood out.
"If girlfriend, no mercy. Sister? I'll bow. Spill."
......
Silence flowed.
I raised my hand sheepishly.
"She's my girlfriend."
......
More silence.
"Don't troll."
"This punk's messing again."
"Agh, get your brain girlfriend outta here."
Proof time. No phone needed—live verification.
I broke off, heading to Eun.
She lit up as I approached.
"Oppa, done?"
"Little longer. You can wait outside."
"Don't know anyone out there. I'll stay."
"Fifteen minutes then."
Back on court, they stared, speechless.
Shock hit hard—full 30 seconds of silence.
After graduation.
I chatted with Eun at a nearby café.
"I see. Back to Serbia..."
"Then the US after. Won't be home till July."
"Yeah..."
Eun looked downcast. We'd distanced for her exams; now college without meetings bummed her out.
I'll be abroad forever anyway. Unless marriage, it'll always be like this.
I cautiously revisited an old talk.
"If it's tough, let's take a break. You'll meet tons at college. Then..."
Zap! Eun shot a fierce glare.
"Oppa, we said no more of that. Say it again and I'll really get mad?"
"...Nope."
"And who was that sister earlier?"
"Huh?"
"The tall one who gave you flowers."
Suryeon unnie.
"Friend's sister. Teammate's sis from Serbia."
"Not close?"
"We are... kinda?"
"Oh? How close?"
Eun smiled, but chill sharpness cut through. Same tone, deadly vibe.
Topic switch, stat. Jealous Eun was unstoppable.
Say we lived together? Days of hell.
"A-anyway. What'd your folks say?"
"Hm? They said no need, you're embarrassed enough. They wanted to come today, but I stopped 'em. Didn't wanna stress you."
"Got it. I'll visit later."
With their debt money.
Eun nodded understandingly, then pulled an envelope from her bag.
"What's this?"
"Savings from allowances and New Year's money since we were kids. Use it, oppa."
Three million won inside. Huge for a college freshman.
"This flips who owes who. Giver shouldn't add more."
But Eun saw it as right.
She had to chip in on debt to my parents.
"Jeez... I'm fine. No pinch."
"Still. Spend it. I got no use."
"Mm... me neither."
Grateful for the heart.
So.
Bitcoin it all.
Early April Adriatic League.
Regular season wrapped.
Adriatic League Standings (Final)
1. KK Partizan 21-5
2. Crvena Zvezda 20-6
3. Mega Bemax 19-7
4. KK Cibona 18-8
5. KK Cedevita 16-10
Our Mega Bemax locked third with a 12-1 playoff push since December.
Adriatic playoffs were unique.
1vs4, 2vs3 semis; winners to finals. All single games.
Michichi explained the single-elim: "Multi-game playoffs mess EuroLeague schedules."
EuroLeague first; no Adriatic hiccups allowed.
Of four playoff teams, only Partizan hit EuroLeague Top 16.
That made our playoffs all single games.
Stung my pride, but tension skyrocketed.
Semifinal at Zvezda's home.
We crushed them at ours, but away was different.
-Rooooaaarrr!!
Deafening roars.
14,000 voices hurled curses and trash talk.
Subin's first taste—face went white.
Not me.
Impressive. But not Anfield level.
And I'd pelted potato-flingers there.
This? Nothing.
...But tough game overall.
Single-elim pressure jacked FTs; shot clock violations hit 9 combined. Defense insane.
Started cold, ended colder: 69-61 our win by 8.
Post-game, locker room zombies.
Kakic the GM: "Cibona lost. Finals vs Partizan."
All knew it was coming.
Serbia's top draw, EuroLeague attendance kings, hooligan notoriety.
Personal ties for me.
Wonder if they remember ghosting my email and slamming the door...
Whatever. Finals revenge? Sweet.