Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Unknown Player (2)
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"Bong-su, you think that kid's running tomorrow too?"
"Who else is gonna run if he doesn't?"
"Won't he get tired running like that?"
"He will. But kids who train recover fast, right? What're you on about? You've trained before."
"True. He's young, so he'll bounce back quicker."
Jeong Bong-su and Lee Hae-dong were getting turned down by Kim Young-tae at the public sports field.
They'd approached as politely as possible, but maybe showing up in shabby workout clothes was the issue. The baseball coaches had even worn sunglasses, and they seemed to chat with him for a good while. Still, rejecting a quick request for a moment of his time, no matter how rundown they looked?
"Argh! Should've stuck to baseball."
"Ehehehe! You would've been great at stealing bases."
Jeong Bong-su let out a silly laugh and downed a shot of soju.
"Man, that kid's seriously fast. Not just the 100 meters—the relay felt like watching my old self."
"Yeah, yeah. Like anyone here hasn't anchored back in the day."
"I really did, you punk!"
"Me too, jerk!"
Lee Hae-dong refilled Jeong Bong-su's glass and raised his own. Jeong Bong-su clinked glasses with him. The soju sloshed in their cups.
"Kaaah—hits the spot!"
It did. Old friends knocking back drinks after ages apart. So what if they couldn't snag that speedy prospect? Still, it stung.
Lee Hae-dong recalled the relay prelims.
The first runner shot out of the curve with solid form from years of track. The second and third were smooth with baton passes despite getting caught on the straight—hands like octopus suckers, snapping batons runner to runner.
Then the anchor, the real star.
Insane! Turning it around like that.
Up to the third runner, they were in fifth. Pitiful compared to the leader's power, barely hanging on thanks to baton work. But the moment the baton hit the anchor, the whole stadium jumped up.
Woooaaah—! The roar still echoed in his ears.
Like a motorcycle throttling wide open, front wheel up, the anchor dominated the track. Charging like a tiger with prey at the finish.
Taeyang Elementary took first.
Snapping back, Lee Hae-dong poured the last of the soju into Jeong Bong-su's glass, eyes misty like he'd run it himself.
"You heading to the stadium tomorrow?"
"Gotta. Where else after all this booze?"
Lee Hae-dong's eyes burned hot from the liquor.
The kind to spark misunderstandings.
And words that fanned the flames.
"Sleep over with me tonight."
"People'll talk! You psycho!"
"Save on lodging."
"Should've said that first, dude!"
Middle school soccer coach pay didn't go far.
Rushed same-day trip, no per diem approved.
"Eat up, eat up! Teacher's buying!"
"Whoa! Back-to-back pork belly two days in a row—first time in my life!"
Wahahaha.
Jo Seol-chan's cheeky grin was something even Jin-hyuk, with nearly fifty years across two lives, couldn't match. Maybe the kid was a regressor too—Jin-hyuk chuckled. Plenty else to smile about, even without him.
Gold medal, huh. Got plenty of academic awards studying, but first from sports.
And Dad's excited voice hit different—pure pride in his son. Made coming to the meet feel right. After vowing happy family life with parents and sister, more joy and laughs the better.
Miss Mom and Dad. Yu-jin and General too.
Sitting in the rowdy outskirts BBQ joint, Jin-hyuk thought only of family.
Clinking glasses, chatter, sizzling meat. Unchanged kid voices blended in.
Other qualifying teams hogged two or three tables for pork parties. The country butcher boss grinned ear-to-ear, bustling service.
Big-hearted lady boss plunked stew and spicy whelk salad on Jin-hyuk's table.
"Service here too. Wow, just four kids, but running tomorrow too?"
"Auntie! This guy's gold today too! Three finals tomorrow!"
Jo Seol-chan couldn't hold back, pointing proudly at Jin-hyuk.
Humans brag when even loosely connected folks shine. Old Jin-hyuk would've griped about unsolicited chatter. Now? Grateful friends boasted for him.
Why's teacher acting weird?
Kim Young-tae had been off since earlier.
While kids gorged, furtively checking his wallet? Normal kid, Jin-hyuk too, would've fixated on sizzling pork belly, bubbling soybean stew's savory steam. But Jin-hyuk wasn't a kid. Storm-crossed seas had forged captain's calm—he sensed the teacher's worry.
Short on cash?
Regression didn't grant omniscience.
Experienced events faded in detail; uncharted fields stayed blank. This new timeline diverged. Rural school sports budgets? Zero clue.
Just guesses.
Probably shoestring. Parent fees for meets.
Come to think, no fee demand for him. Uniform from Taeyang Elementary. Debt stirred. Nothing to do now—kid pulling cash would crush teacher's pride.
"Looks like plenty eaten. Digest and crash early. Finals tomorrow."
Jin-hyuk's move: block extra orders.
Kim Young-tae grinned awkwardly, like waiting, and headed to the counter.
"How much?"
Jin-hyuk perked ears.
"That table over there paid."
What?
Playing deaf, Jin-hyuk eyed the corner beer drinkers.
Those guys...
Obligation gnawed. Uniforms, waived fees. National rep or not, outsiders. Jin-hyuk owed Kim Young-tae and Taeyang Elementary.
Those dinner-payers irked more.
Sunglasses crew from daytime lurking.
"You kids head out first. Teacher's chatting with a friend."
Bright to kids, but Jin-hyuk caught underlying anger. Sure enough, Kim Young-tae approached stern-faced, talked, then paid at counter.
Didn't know Teacher Kim was like this.
Previous life, forced transfer to Taeyang Elementary—saw him around. Uncle-type, joking in PE. Now? Unyielding scholar.
Jin-hyuk would've done same.
Obligation binds action. Free meal risks unintended sway on a kid's future. Jin-hyuk pictured teacher's concern.
Debts piling up.
Teacher like ship's hull cleaving waves, crew do your jobs. Mentors exist for that. Another favorite after Choi Eung-muk. Respect transcends schools, naturally.
Jin-hyuk scanned for friends.
Yeom Byeong-taek at payphone, calling home.
"Yeah, Mom. Can't come tonight. Finals tomorrow. For real! Why treat your only son like a liar? Don't believe? Come see!"
Mom short on trust.
Park Ji-beom queued behind; Jo Seol-chan hands-on-hips, scanning dark sky. Said it made distant parents visible.
Miss Mom, Dad too.
Jin-hyuk joined sky-gaze.
Like a child again.
Then back to friends.
Past life, never swapped words.
Town's sole elementary, eleven classes near fifty kids—big for rural. Wrestling banners at gate: wins, placings. No track awards recalled.
They deserve medals.
Sorrier now.
To teacher, friends.
Only one way to repay...
Time for focus.
Han Yu-young was more shocked than her husband.
Son took after Dad academically, sure—but sports too? Guessed sturdy legs from chasing Oggol Chicken and puppy at home. Morning-evening sprints, nonstop school runs.
Thought just fast in sticks.
Korean record? TV-less life till '86 Asian Games black-and-white set for games. Now color, but baby-blocked '88 Olympics. Pros that fast?
Movement day not that speedy.
Ah, long jump unrelated?
Han Yu-young scratched damp hair. Cursed sports ignorance.
"Oppa, skip tomorrow?"
Son Gwang-yeon blindsided. Mom instinct, though. He wanted to watch son run too. Tomorrow: 100m, 200m finals, relay. Three events.
"But other kids..."
Other parents absent, just teacher escort. Only theirs showing? Kids might sulk inwardly.
Son Gwang-yeon knew—prioritize own, hurt others. Best avoid.
"Jin-hyuk might feel pressure too."
"Yeah. Better hold back, like you said."
Han Yu-young scooped sulky daughter, to bedroom.
Alone in living room, Son Gwang-yeon fiddled latest film camera. Never left hand on family outings.
Dim light, in-out repeated—chest swelled watery emotion.
"Hooo—."
Forced long exhale, hoping regret fled.
How lonely life.
Seoul with Mom, harsh trials. Early loss. No family at events, awards, graduations. Met love beyond life, built home—handsome sturdy son, angel daughter.
"Better hold back," to wife—but...
Fiddled silent camera.
Wanna go... see in person.
Watch over.
Our boy running.
Son Gwang-yeon pocketed camera, bit lip hard.
Bed, tossed long, stroked wife's still-girlish cheek.
Mysterious sighs; breathed silent.