Chapter 35
Chapter 35
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Nameless Player (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Jin-hyuk, you've got one more race left, right? Feeling okay?"
Dad asked over lunch.
These tournaments usually had the organizers collect entry fees and provide boxed lunches. But meals for families and cheering squads weren't included, so families either ate at nearby restaurants or brought their own food.
"Ah, this gochujang bulgogi is so good."
Not only Jin-hyuk's parents, but the other kids' parents had packed food too. They couldn't possibly sit still at work when their kids were in the relay finals for the first time ever.
Han Yu-young took care of the flustered Kim Young-tae.
"Teacher, there's plenty. Have more."
"Ahaha, thank you. I'm imposing on you unexpectedly."
"Imposing? We're the ones grateful for how well you've looked after our Jin-hyuk."
They had to eat in the stands, but seeing most people gathered around the track's edge for meals, the Sun Army team followed suit without hesitation.
Bulgogi, kimbap, kimchi soup, seasoned vegetables, even sandwiches for the kids. A feast of parent-prepared dishes spread out. Yeom Byung-taek's parents even brought a big thermos of coffee and fruit tea.
"Feels like a picnic."
"Totally. When do we ever get to eat outside like this with you guys and Jin-hyuk? Oh, your class has a spring outing soon, right?"
Jo Seol-chan had become a total Jin-hyuk fanboy, every conversation revolving around him. No one from his family showed up, but nobody minded, and Seol-chan joined in freely.
"We'll see each other in middle school anyway."
"Yeah, true."
Yeom Byung-taek, chatting with Jo Seol-chan, tilted his head with chopsticks in his mouth.
"But don't middle schools have track clubs either? No athletes?"
"Really? Only National High School has one around here."
"So Jin-hyuk and Ji-beom are going to a school with a track club, Teacher?"
Yeom Byung-taek asked Kim Young-tae.
"If they want to keep doing track systematically, yeah. But in Korea, most schools form ad hoc track teams just for tournaments. And if there are athletes, a club will pop up even if there wasn't one."
All schools were registered with the Track and Field Federation.
Meaning, if you wanted to compete, enter whenever there was an event—even without a dedicated club.
"Ad hoc... what’s that mean?"
"Seol-chan, it means training just before events, like Jin-hyuk."
Park Ji-beom explained to Jo Seol-chan, while Jin-hyuk quietly ate and listened.
'It's fun, but I don't want to be a pro athlete.'
Just as a hobby.
I've decided to live ordinarily.
Living ordinarily was one thing.
But since they'd come this far, Jin-hyuk wanted to make memories with his friends. He also felt he owed Kim Young-tae. Not gold, but with some luck, bronze was possible in the relay.
After lunch, Jin-hyuk and the friends walked barefoot on the grass for a while. Occasionally Yeom Byung-taek mentioned Kim Yang-nee or Choi Yang-nee, and Jo Seol-chan brought up Muyang-muyang, but they all seemed to share the same thoughts.
Especially Park Ji-beom, who wanted it more than anyone.
'The first and last chance to place in relay—or track at all.'
Because Son Jin-hyuk was there.
Jin-hyuk was locked in for 100m and 200m nationals, so he'd probably team up with others for relay there. Anyway.
Not for Park Ji-beom.
He'd been the fastest kid in their rural area since childhood, but the world was wide, and talented runners abounded. Even in low-population Chungnam, ten elementary kids broke 13 seconds in 100m. Nationally, times got faster, numbers higher.
'Feels weird thinking it's the last.'
Three years of track, no medals, semifinals tough.
He'd decided early track had no future for him. Like his Sun Elementary seniors, he'd talked parents into a middle school with soccer.
Park Ji-beom lay on the grass, watching Jin-hyuk far off giving his little sister airplane rides.
'Take care of it, Jin-hyuk.'
His last track meet.
Park Ji-beom gripped the blue baton, recalling yesterday's good vibes.
[On your marks...]
A pleasant tailwind blew.
[Set...]
He straightened his legs, eyes wide, teeth gritted.
The reddish track that defined his boyhood filled his view.
The merciless urethane that never yielded a medal—now the finale.
[Bang!]
The gunshot trailed long in the wind.
Sip— whoosh!
How many breaths in the 100m curve?
Park Ji-beom's face burned red, veins bulging on forehead and neck. Desperation fueled high knees. Grip the baton tighter for speed? He clenched his fist too.
Pass!
Perfect handoff to second-leg Yeom Byung-taek. As other lanes' seconds pulled away, Ji-beom collapsed there.
"Huff... ugh! I'm dying!"
Never this wrecked after 100m.
Regret? Eyes stung hot.
Receiving the baton, Yeom Byung-taek read Ji-beom's eyes. How desperate to run bloodshot like that?
Not top-tier, but straightaways were his thing.
Leaning forward like he'd crash, he charged. Looked upright head-forward to watchers. Arms swung outward scary-like, ready to swat chasers. Pigeon-toed pounding.
Pass!
"Jo Seolll—! Run! Run! Ruuuun!"
Yeom Byung-taek bellowed Jo Seol-chan forward.
No dialect coach for Jo Seol-chan.
Track since fourth grade, but pigeon-toed form uncorrected. Always behind Ji-beom and Byung-taek, first meet ever. Last for elementary too.
Huff-huff-huff!
Tat-tat-tat-tat!
Pigeon-toed mastery! Curve rival to Ji-beom—that's me, Jo!
Heh-heh-hek!
Jin-hyuk closed his eyes, deep breathing slow.
[Bang!]
Park Ji-beom nailed the start, first baton flawless. Smooth passes followed.
Wow.
Dropped to third, then fourth, but Jo Seol-chan barreled in eyes fierce, tears streaming.
Jin-hyuk lightly hopped in place. Other anchors ran to receive; he'd catch firm, then bullet out.
Superior start, sprint anyway.
Ji-beom started strong, flow good. No fumble, bronze doable.
Full muscle squeeze ready.
For Park Ji-beom watching him collapse post-all-out.
'Can't slack this time.'
Jo Seol-chan closed to ten steps.
Whoosh!
Head up, leg pitch higher.
Half his stride length per step forward.
Thud-thud-thud!
1st, 2nd, 3rd anchors off.
Footsteps boiled battle lust.
Tap!
Cylinder deep in palm.
Gripped crush-hard.
Solid. Baton good.
"Jin-hyuk! Pleaseee!"
Jo Seol-chan's plea missed Jin-hyuk's ears.
Whoosh—.
Wind-whip ears fiercer than ever. Typhoon-run illusion.
Third's head vanished instant.
Toe felt track rebound. Up ankle, taunting thighs. Returned firm. Pang! Track rang crisp, not thud.
Second's shoulder blurred.
"Hrraaagh!"
Deep breath, seal throat.
First briefly shouldered even, side-eyed Jin-hyuk? Ignored, eyes front. 10m left.
Phew—!
Swollen cheeks leaked air slow. Legs, arms no rest. Fiercer swings, thighs near-burst.
Fatigue heavy legs.
Abs clenched, yanked thighs up.
Roooar!
Distance to rising arm-raising Park Ji-beom shrank fast. Cheers, Teacher Kim's voice drowned.
But he knew.
'We did it!'
Park Ji-beom rushed first, hugging Jin-hyuk tight.
"......Ughblub."
......Thanks, Jin-hyuk. For the memories. He said.
Ji-beom clung long.
Yeom Byung and Jo Seol ran tears-flying.
Two officials peeked at the hug pile.
"Kids, separate a sec? Or stick out medals?"
Gold medals draped four Sun Army reps.
Son Gwang-yeon's camera captured it.
Jung Bong-su scowled fiercely.
Lee Hae-dong chewed gum, eyes track-fixed.
"You see that?"
"Saw it too, punk."
"Ha— fuck. That brat yesterday was joking."
"No words. Thirteen-year-old?"
"I hit stop at 91's start. Lemme check..."
Lee Hae-dong squinted, head back, glaring at wristwatch. Presbyopia blurring numbers.
"10.50? Not precise."
Absurd record, rough measure.
But no viewer could deny the scene sans exaggeration.
He ran farther than others, late stop. Lee swallowed the explain.
"About that. Give up the dream."
"Why?"
"That talent? Just do track."
Lee nodded at Jung Bong-su's mutter.
Too wasteful for other sports.
"Let's go."
"Yeah. Home."
Lee Hae-dong and Jung Bong-su brushed butts, rose, shedding regrets.
But they knew. They'd return for that player. Miss him, what prospect then?
'Ah, didn't catch the name.'
No scoreboard.
The friends headed to ops booth for the nameless player's name.
Glare up-down once each.
Dream's over, huh.
Sun Elementary front gate banner up.
Kim Young-tae and kids finished morning exercise, reliving the thrill.
Always opening ceremony, first closing ever. Army's 4 golds lost overall trophy to jumps, distances, girls.
"Teacher Kim, got the receipts?"
"Yes, thank you."
Unexpected finals.
Grateful admin chief covered travel; Kim's emergency fund safe.
'Parents' thank-you envelopes? No need to mention.'
Jin-hyuk's dad gave 200,000 won.
Thanks for caring for his kid despite other school.
Big money.
'Buy kids samgyeopsal.'
Post-exercise, Park Ji-beom and Yeom Byung-taek benched, milk-gulping. Track-toned torsos despite elementary.
"Ji-beom, wonder what Jin-hyuk's up to."
"Seen him little, but miss him."
Park pulled photo from tracksuit top.
Post-relay gold, beaming with Teacher Kim and four legs. Kind Jin-hyuk dad enabled forever memory.
Yeom Byung-taek side-eyed pic, laced fingers stretched yawn.
"Ugh! Woulda been better our school."
Obviously.
Gate banner different too. Park silently figured it'd be 'Son Jin-hyuk 4-Crown King'.
That banner hung at Eodong Elementary.
Short despite narrow gate, text cropped sides.
"Kekeke— 4-Crown Kong."
"Didn't even trim school name."
Kids giggled.
'Better on tree like quiz banners...'
Hoped no banner, but knew brag-loving admin; Jin-hyuk said nothing.
"Nationals when?"
Neighborhood pal Choi Mi-kyeong asked.
Lips reddening sans balm, smile crinkling eyes prettily. Boy-heart-flutter smile. Past life transfer at ten; first seeing her growth.
Jin-hyuk answered before shoulder-poke.
"Yeah. Late June."
"Cheer?"
"School day. No. Training camp with other regions too."
Mi-kyeong pouted disappoint.
"Running home today?"
"Yeah."
"Bus with me. Or walk..."
Why this? Past life no-girlfriend Jin-hyuk still had confessions, adult attention.
'Girls mature early.'
But Son Jin-hyuk? Maturity near adult.
4 crowns by experience.
Same age physically, friends kids.
Hurt closest friend? No.
'What now...?'
How-to manual recalled fuzzy.
Fog cleared, phrase etched.
Confess, stay good friends?
'Try?'
Mi-kyeong sighed at brow-furrowed pondering Jin-hyuk.
He finally spoke.
"Us..."
Jin-hyuk stared tense at Mi-kyeong.
Gulp. Throat bobbed loud.
"Wh-what us?"
Shrunk Mi-kyeong chin-upped.
Jin-hyuk snapped sane.
"Wanna run home with me?"