Newlywed Buzz and the Ace's Opening Day Glory
The rising popularity of romance and marriage variety shows, combined with the explosive pairings fans had only dreamed of, had the KBC new program "From Today, We're Newlyweds" blowing up. The homepage forums were overflowing with posts. Ads were plastered everywhere, especially from the Minions Group—their sponsorship budget dwarfed industry averages. PD Na and PD Choi couldn't stop grinning.
Just as the "From Today, We're Newlyweds" teaser dropped and fan hype peaked, the KBO League—main-sponsored by Korea Bank—kicked off.
The Minions, who had skyrocketed fan expectations with a perfect game in the exhibition season…
Still, Minions fans reset their minds, insisting regular season would be different…
Despite Camelia Estevez—the $200K Cuban import—dominating with 6 scoreless innings, the bullpen collapsed, and they lost 7-3. Opening Day lit the Minions community ablaze.
But the next day, even more Minions fans flooded Jamsil Stadium than on opening night. Expanded multiple times, it holds 90,000 for soccer or 70,000 for baseball—but plenty were turned away.
Today's starter for the Minions: Han Jimin. Not content with dazzling in high school ball, he notched a perfect game in exhibitions—rumored as a rookie ace already. In a world starved for male pros, Jimin wasn't just an athlete. Mango Chart #1 singer, genius producer who elevated Foxy to world-class, top drama actor via The Perfect Man—ultimate entertainer.
The camera panned to the away fans, catching familiar faces—the stadium erupted.
The atmosphere was electric before first pitch. Wives cheering husbands—peak romance in this world. Jimin, warming up on the mound, spotted Ria and Seoyeon, drew a heart with his arm. Fans home and away screamed in envy.
Game 2 underway.
"Han Jimin! Han Jimin! Han Jimin—!"
"Jimin! Show 'em!!!"
"One more perfect!!!"
With roaring fans behind me, I recalled the Seoul Twins' lineup: LF, SS, 3B—tricky for any pitcher, all contact wizards.
Maybe that's why last night at the team hotel, Jeong Hayoung and I talked most about their weaknesses.
Guess ten days apart left her body itching…
My eyes went to Jeong Hayoung behind the mask. Last night, just being in the room soaked her dolphin shorts—she was in heat. But I didn't hold her. Per our deal, her exhibition stats didn't meet my bar.
Instead, in front of her, I had manager Jeong Hye-ryeong and trainer Rozelaine double-team me orally, stoking Hayoung's body and mind hotter.
Wonder how long it'll last…
Her eyes burned watching them suck me—bet she'd show something today.
Pitching began. Windup like a stretch—smooth flexibility from skills, core work since starting baseball kept me balanced. Left hand back, spun power into my legs.
Thwack!
Woo Da-jung swung at the first-pitch fastball, whiffed.
"Strike—!"
Judges call drew eyes to the board. Away fans went berserk.
"Wooooaaahhhhh!!!!"
"Han Jimin! Han Jimin! Han Jimin! Han Jimin!!!"
155 km/h. Solid league heat in old-world KBO, but in this women-dominated league? Unhittable even if you know it's coming.
Velocity's not climbing as fast as I'd like.
Wanted to chuck 160s like a novel munchkin, but tougher than thought—shoulder fresh, skills helping, still.
A-rank pitching boosted average velo and control noticeably. No way these women used to 140s could touch it easily.
* * *
"Whoa, whoa— so fast!"
Unlike other women here, Ria knew little about baseball. That's why she joked Jimin could perfect again after exhibitions. She preferred soccer—national team games at best—static baseball bored her.
But this variety-show debut shattered that—pure thrill.
Waaaahhh— Han Jimin! Han Jimin—!
Concert-level cheers every pitch from her husband.
Crazy part: away game.
"Waa!"
Jimin's pitch slammed the mitt in a blink—Ria shuddered like she caught it.
"Ah—! Ah, she couldn't hit it…."
Baseball fan Seoyeon, though, was locked in—unlike Ria.
"Haa…. Normal to whiff that?"
Her uniform? Seoul Twins—not Minions. Ria stared, baffled.
"Wait, who're you even rooting for?"
"…Heart's with hubby. Head's Twins."
"……Whoa."
"What? Can't help it. 20-year Twins diehard."
True—snot-nosed kid on their youth team. Even in morning-drama days, she threw ceremonial first pitch in stripes at Jamsil.
Cameras on them caught every second.
"This footage is gold. Edit right, tons of fun moments."
"Yeah. Never guessed Seoyeon's Twins fan."
"Youth team too… old clips exist?"
"Check with Twins side, just in case."
PD Na and writers for "From Today, We're Newlyweds" smiled. Wanted wives cheering hubby—Seoyeon's superfan vibe made it fun and pretty.
Plus…
"Ah! Ball's in, why? Why no out?"
"…That was a ball."
"What's that?"
"Wha— you don't know strikes and balls? What've you been cheering?"
"Three in the zone, we win. Batter hits, we lose?"
"……."
Ria's cluelessness vs. Seoyeon's frustration. Explaining rules, bonding—viewers would eat it up.
Jimin shut out the Twins through 8, snagged the W—Minions won 8-4.