The Last Dance in Belgrade

With eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, the score was 95-68. The game was already decided.

Since KK Partizan had already waved the white flag by pulling all their starters to the bench, there was no reason for our starters to stay on the court either.

Is this how it ends?

I was secretly hoping to secure a triple-double, but I knew there was nothing I could do. Our club prioritized player development for the upcoming season.

But then, Coach Dejan Milojević gave me a nudge on the back.

"Go on back out there. Get those last stats for the fans."

"...?"

I only understood what he meant once I stepped back onto the court.

"Leeeeee!"

"You did amazing!"

"You deserve to have your jersey retired!"

"You'll come back to us someday, right?!"

With the KK Partizan fans having left the arena early due to the devastating point deficit, the voices of our own fans—only about five hundred of them—finally rang out loud and clear.

There were only five hundred, but the support they poured out felt as grand as a crowd of thousands.

Adults whistled and cheered, while the children screamed my name at the top of their lungs.

I forgot.

No matter how small or modest a club was, to someone, it was just as precious as Real Madrid or the New York Yankees.

"Thank you! Thank you!"

I waved to them as I resumed play.

I was just two assists and one rebound away from a triple-double.

Every time I edged closer, the crowd erupted.

Swish! Shin Subin caught my pass and converted it into a hook shot. He flashed me a thumbs-up, reminding me of the milestone.

"Now let's get that rebound!"

On the next defensive possession, my teammates aggressively boxed out, forming a wall so I could secure the rebound.

The demoralized KK Partizan players didn't bother contesting it, allowing me to grab the ball under the protection of my teammates.

"Just one more assist!"

"Only one left!"

"Let's go, Mega!"

It felt a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bit like a manufactured triple-double, handed to me on a silver platter, but today, I didn't feel a shred of embarrassment.

"Hyung, let me get that last assist for you," Subin said, showing his determination.

He had scored 13 points today. Two more would bring him to 15, his personal career-high, but he wasn't thinking about that at all.

Instead, his focus was entirely on helping me secure my first career triple-double.

A sudden wave of emotion washed over me.

"Alright, you finish it."

My final possession in Serbia.

Receiving the ball at a forty-five-degree angle on the right wing, Subin used a screen from Radović to drive inside, then pulled up for a jumper from the elbow.

Whoosh. The ball drew a beautiful arc through the air.

This was a symbolic play for Subin.

It had been his signature move in high school, but after being shut down by the likes of Zach LaVine in America and elite European players, he had stopped using it.

Subin has stepped up beautifully too.

When he first insisted on following me to Europe, I wondered how it would turn out. But he had found his own answers, broken through his limits, and entered a new chapter of his career.

Swish!

The ball snapped through the net.

It marked Subin's career-high of 15 points and completed my 30-10-10 triple-double.

"Yeahhhhh!"

Whistles!

The Mega Vizura fans erupted in cheers.

Even some of the remaining KK Partizan fans stood up and applauded.

This was one of the great things about Europe. They might hurl curses and casual racism during the heat of battle, but they knew how to show respect when it was deserved.

The opposing team was no different.

Tweet! Even though there was no tactical need, Coach Duško Vujošević called a timeout to give me a proper send-off.

Coach Duško Vujošević clapped twice, offering a brief nod of congratulations before coolly turning away.

I bowed my head slightly in gratitude and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠headed toward the bench.

"Brat!"

Nikola Jokić was the first to pull me into a tight embrace.

Having recorded 16 points, 11 assists, and 13 rebounds today, he had achieved a triple-double of his own. We had done it together.

"Great job, Seojun."

Vasilije Micić ruffled my hair. Though his own stats weren't flashy because he played completely unselfishly, he had served as the perfect glue guy for the team.

Dangubić, Radović, and all the others...

...patted my back and chest, congratulating me on the milestone while expressing their sadness at my departure.

This is the perfect ending in every way.

A natural smile spread across my face.

I didn't know who my future teammates would be, but there was no doubt that these guys were some of the best I would ever play with.

Pop! Champagne sprayed everywhere.

When we won the Adriatic League, we were on KK Partizan's home court, and our tight budget didn't allow for such celebrations. This time, however, our new sponsor had pulled some strings.

Even so, we only had four bottles to pop. Jokić, Micić, Dangubić, and I grabbed one each and sprayed the foam all over.

We had achieved the Double Crown, winning both the Adriatic League and the Serbian Super League.

Although we had been eliminated from the Radivoj Korać Cup after fielding our bench players, we had secured the two most prestigious titles. The undisputed champions of the season were Mega Vizura.

"Yeahhh!"

"Whoo! Let's party like crazy tonight!"

The players jumped around, already planning the after-party and their off-season schedules.

But I didn't have the luxury of joining in on the long-term fun.

The NBA Draft was just five days away. Even if I booked a flight immediately, I would only arrive three days before the event.

On top of that, Korean reporters who had traveled all the way to Serbia were flooding me with interview requests, making my head spin.

I only attended the championship night party to bid my teammates farewell. Politely declining the interview requests, I spent the very next day packing in a rush for the United States.

Subin and his mother, Kim Yoon-mi, who were traveling with me, were just as busy.

The day before our flight to New York, Subin's mother took us to a department store to buy some clothes.

"Subin, how about this one?"

"Looks good."

"How about this?"

"Looks good."

"And this one?"

"Looks good."

"Oh, honestly! How can everything look good? Seojun! What do you think of this one?"

She held up a suit and showed it to me.

The scene overlapped with memories of my own parents when they were alive, giving me a ticklish, emotional feeling.

"Hmm, this suit... doesn't quite suit you. Hold on, let me find another one."

"I'll help you pick, Mother."

"Alright, let's go together."

She warmly linked her arm with mine.

Lately, the distance between us had shrunk significantly. Living abroad and relying on each other had brought us closer, but it felt like we had moved beyond just being close acquaintances.

The turning point was probably...

...right after high school graduation.

When she found out I had a girlfriend back then, she had been visibly disappointed. Apparently, she had secretly hoped to set me up with Subin's sister, Shin Su-ryeon.

While we were chatting about it, the topic of marriage somehow came up.

And I had said:

"If I ever have a formal family meeting, you can stand in as my parent, Mother."

It was my own self-deprecating black humor about not having parents... but she had taken it completely seriously.

"Of course! I'll absolutely be there. Don't you worry about a thing, Seojun!"

Since then, she never mentioned Su-ryeon again. Instead, she showered me with questions about Seo-eun—asking when I would introduce her, if she was a nice girl, and if she knew how to cook.

She acted just like a mother-in-law eager to learn about her future daughter-in-law.

"Seojun, how about this?"

"The gray one?"

"Yes, I think gray really suits you."

"Haha... I think so too. I'll go with that one."

"Perfect!"

She immediately went to pay for it. I tried to stop her, but she insisted, saying it was only natural for an elder to take care of these things.

Subin patted my back with a wry smile.

"Once Mom gets like that, there's no stopping her. You're basically part of the family now, Hyung. Just get used to it."

"Y-Yeah..."

It was still a bit embarrassing, but it didn't feel bad at all.

After shopping, we headed to Belgrade Airport to catch our flight to New York.

Subin's mother was busy making calls.

"People all over the world will be watching! Make sure you dress nicely, dear! And make sure you tell Su-ryeon to dress up too!"

After that, she bragged to her friends about being invited to the NBA Draft, urging them to watch the live broadcast.

Anyway... I had someone to call as well.

Let's see, the time in Korea is... Ah, I can call her right now.

I dialed the number, and before long, Seo-eun's voice came through the line.

"Yeah, Seo-eun. Can you talk right now?"

After a brief exchange of greetings, Seo-eun spoke in a pouting tone.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know I'd be invited to the Green Room back then. Is there no way you can cancel that volunteer work at the animal shelter?"

"I guess you have no choice then."

"It's fine. You're doing a good deed. Work hard."

Seo-eun sounded deeply disappointed. Sensing my chance, I cautiously brought up the next topic.

"By the way, Seo-eun. I'm going to the draft with a teammate's family."

"Yeah, Subin, his mother, his father..."

"...and his sister, Su-ryeon."

"You remember her, right? The one who gave me flowers at graduation."

"...Seo-eun? Why are you quiet?"

What on earth?

"W-Wait. Didn't you say you absolutely couldn't cancel because of the donations?"

"Hold on. What will your friends think?"

"We're all going together anyway. Subin's family is basically like my own family now."

"Well, we did plan to sightsee around New York for a day. It's my first time there too..."

...

"Seo-eun?"

...?!

Somehow, I managed to soothe her jealousy.

Of course, she wouldn't be Seo-eun if she let it go that easily.

"Oppa, you know I haven't spoken to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a single guy in private since starting college, right? I ignored everyone who tried to talk to me. I didn't go to the membership training, and I refused to go to any gatherings with guys, even when my close friends invited me."

"Y-Yeah. I only have eyes for you too."

"Hehe, I know!"

After making me reassure her several times, she finally cheered up, wished me luck, and hung up with a laugh.

By the time the call ended, I was completely drained.

I'm glad she likes me so much, but...

Dating like this after regressing made me feel like my cringe tolerance was being severely tested.

Then again, it made no sense for a nineteen-year-old to date a woman in her mid-thirties, so it was just something I had to adapt to.

Or I could just propose right away and get married.

Anyway.

As I put my phone away, I noticed Subin staring at me with a blank expression.

"What?"

"Nothing. It's just my first time seeing you so whipped, Hyung."

"Relationships are hard work. Not that a handsome guy like you would know."

Of course, Seo-eun's intense jealousy made it even harder.

Still, she didn't do things like secretly check my phone or make unreasonable demands to meet up immediately. At her core, she trusted me.

"Whew! At least everything is sorted out."

Before boarding the plane, I decided to check on my Bitcoin wallet one last time.

I wanted to convert the championship bonus of about one million won into Bitcoin.

Wow, it went up a lot.

It had been about six months since I started accumulating Bitcoin, and my return was already sitting at +94%.

The thought of it growing exponentially in the future was exciting, but it also brought some concern.

Making a fortune off Bitcoin wouldn't look great in the eyes of the public.

I should stop at a reasonable point and dump the rest into that graphics card company.

Once I made trillions of won, I wanted to buy a football club.

I wanted to achieve the championship glory I never got to experience in my past life, even if it was as an owner.

While I was busy mapping out the distant future...

...Subin, who was sitting next to me, glanced over and spoke.

"Hyung, you're getting scammed."

"Huh?"

"That Bitcoin stuff. Changmin said it's a scam."

Subin had apparently known I was buying Bitcoin for a while, and he seemed determined to warn me this time.

"Hyung, if you try to withdraw that money, they won't let you."

"Well, there are scams like that, but this is different. Haven't you heard of the guy who bought pizza with this?"

"Really...?"

"Besides, do I look like someone who would get easily fooled by a scam?"

"No, not really. But is it really up a hundred percent? You put almost all your weekly wages into it."

"Yeah. Right now, withdrawing is a bit tricky, just like you said, but it'll get easier over time."

I figured this was a perfect opportunity.

"Subin, you should buy some too. If anything goes wrong, I'll personally reimburse your principal."

"What?!"

It was rare to see Subin look so flustered.

A bold investment proposal from a close older brother—naturally, he hesitated.

"I'll ask my mom then."

"No. I'll guarantee your principal no matter what, so just trust me. Keep it a secret from your mother."

"Why...?"

If she found out, she would only worry and nag him, but more than that...

"Because we're going to give her a mind-blowing surprise later."

It would indeed be an astronomical surprise.

Subin hesitated for a moment, but...

"Just trust me. You don't trust me?"

...at those words, he finally nodded in agreement.