124. Discipline.
The game ended 2-0, but the locker room was filled with silence. It was only natural, because the incident where I threw a sincere punch on the ground was almost unprecedented.
I had seen other football players perform their unique techniques on the ground a few times, but those were just light scuffles. I had never seen a real punch thrown right in front of me, so I was quite surprised.
And the protagonist of that unprecedented incident, Valentina, was just bowing her head without saying a word.
‘Why…?’
Honestly, from my perspective, I didn't really understand. It was common for players to play roughly to stop someone like me.
But thinking from Valentina's point of view, it could be. After all, we've been friends for 10 years, and Valentina is still a young kid.
Her body was like an adult, but Valentina was only 16 years old. Even in Korean age, she's only 17. At that age, friends are everything, and it's not strange for one's body to react first when a friend is being hit in front of them.
Perhaps if I were a real teenager in my mid-teens, it would be hard to hold back if a friend was rolling on the floor being hit. ...Well, at that time, I didn't have a friend like us who knew each other for over 10 years.
‘Ha... Did I overact? I was just trying to buy time because the game wasn't over yet.’
Honestly, it didn't hurt that much when Yasmine kicked my shin, but I did roll on the ground to buy time because the game wasn't over. But reacting so intensely... I feel sorry for Valentina because it happened because of me.
‘...No, I told her to calm down!’
And I was a bit angry. I had been telling her since she was little to calm down her personality, but she ended up causing this big accident. It seemed like I really needed to scold her when we got back to Barcelona.
“...I'm sorry. I couldn't control my anger for a moment. I shouldn't have done that.”
...Even though she swung at me for me, seeing Valentina bowing her head with a dejected face apologizing to the people in the locker room made my heart uneasy.
‘Sigh, but since it happened because of me, I have to help her.’
Scolding Valentina can be done later. For now, solving this situation is important.
“...No. It was because of me, Ha-neul.”
“...Huh?”
And when my words echoed in the locker room, Diana, the coach who had been staring at Valentina with cold eyes without saying a word, finally reacted.
“Before the second half started, I complained to Tina a bit, and Tina got excited because she remembered that and punched you. I'm sorry. That is, Yasmine said some strange things to me during the first half.”
“...Strange words?”
“Yes. She kept saying things like 'let's get married' and such kind of words... I complained to Tina about it, and Tina must have taken it to heart.”
If it was just that she didn't like the rough foul I received and punched, there would be no more chances in Diana's regime. Perhaps she would be quietly kicked out from Barcelona as well.
Barcelona was the dream club for all football players, and there was no reason to use a player who was a ticking time bomb causing trouble unless they were a player at world best level.
But if she got angry at trash talking, it might be somewhat justifiable. The world's best football player had been scolded for family insults and punched in the final of the World Cup, the most important stage in the football world.
Of course, the same thing didn't happen in this world, but similar incidents happened many times, so the probability of it being justifiable was high.
“Um... If that's the case, there will be something to say in the press conference coming up soon.”
And the coach seemed to understand to some extent. Moreover, when I spoke, the other teammates also patted Valentina's shoulder and encouraged her.
Valentina's action had risen to a level where it could be forgiven as an un-understandable action.
‘With this, the team atmosphere is settled... Ha, I have to say such things...’
Actually, even though it was for Valentina, I didn't want to say such things. It could lead to 'male rights' or something, and 'that's why men can't' could come out.
I wouldn't have said this if it wasn't for Valentina. But this violent act could result in a suspension of at least half a year. And if a 16-year-old who is in the prime of growth gets half a year suspension, it could be a serious threat to her future career, so there was no choice.
After the situation was somewhat resolved, I approached Valentina and spoke in a small voice.
“Tina... Let's go see her.”
“Sorry. Ha-neul.”
“I told you to calm down. You're a gangster, what?”
“...I won't do that again. I got too angry for a moment too. But, is that true?”
“What?”
“Getting married and such.”
“If it's true, what then?”
“You bastard...”
“Calm down. Then every time you hear me say that, will you keep punching someone like now?”
“......”
“And, it's natural that Ais is being restricted. Will you do this every time I get tackled? Even knowing that if you leave, the team will suffer? Today was lucky because the game wasn't over. You almost made us lose because of you. Understand?”
“...Sorry.”
“You don't have to apologize to me. You have to apologize to the other players and the fans. You're a pro. Us. I understand that you did that thinking about me today, but don't do it again. I want to win when I play.”
This should be enough for Valentina to understand my intention.
But thinking long term, this incident was better that it happened now.
Given Valentina's personality, this was something that would happen someday, and if it was a really important game or if Valentina was playing as starter, it would have been a bigger problem.
Given Valentina's potential, if she accumulated experience, she could be a player who could compete for the starting spot at Barcelona. Her overwhelming physique and stamina, the defensive power that grew storm-like from 1:1 training with me, plus above-average passing skills from La Masia's education, and high football intelligence thanks to my tutoring since she was little.
Perhaps, Valentina would become a reliable teammate who could be relied upon even in big stages like Champions League finals.
But if such a Valentina, who has grown well like this, suddenly punches when it's like a Champions League final? That would be a disaster.
So, rather, it was better to get this preventive shot now.
“......I'm sorry.”
“Don’t do that in the future. Okay?”
“...Yes.”
And fortunately, Valentina understood my words and answered with a dejected voice. It was funny that a guy with a messy face was doing that, but since her face was pretty, it seemed to suit her.
And the pretty face of Valentina, who is surprisingly pretty even to her long-time friend me, luckily steered this situation in a pretty good direction.
*
“What are you looking at so much?”
“Just... Tina, you really have to thank your parents.”
“...?”
“You gave birth to a pretty girl. Be grateful that it ended up like this.”
“...What nonsense?”
“Again, again. Bad words.”
“...Sorry.”