Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Canary Prince (4)
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“I hesitated until the very last moment. I couldn’t be sure.”
“No way!”
“Yeah, she didn’t teach me how to make mojo sauce!”
Leaving the rowdy pack of barbarians laughing uproariously behind, I focused on my recovery training. Those idiots weren’t worth conversing with as a group.
And among them, Dani Castellano was the worst offender.
Pedri, slapping Dani Castellano on the back and cackling, was disappointing too—a total letdown in every way. Next to the mat where I was stretching, Castro approached with a smile.
“Kim, wanna grab lunch tomorrow?”
“Nah. Tomorrow I’m going to Tenerife with Dad.”
“On a trip?”
“School trip. We’re climbing Teide.”
As recovery training proceeded in sequence following the coach’s demonstration, Castro kept chatting.
“Teide National Park? Nice place. Heading into Santa Cruz port?”
“Yeah.”
“There’s a spot with great mejillón dishes. Want me to tell you?”
“What’s that? No idea.”
“Hmm… You know clams? It’s like that. Red flesh, black shell.”
Castro’s explanation felt like a quiz. I’d have to look it up in a dictionary when I got home. Even if he’d explained in Korean, I doubt I’d have known the type of shellfish.
“Tell me anyway. Where is it?”
The next day.
I woke up at dawn, took a boat from Las Palmas port, and arrived at Santa Cruz port. It was an hour and a half drive to Teide National Park.
I handed Dad, in the driver’s seat, some sliced banana for breakfast.
“Hope we get to see the sea of clouds today. Remember last time, when the clouds covered the base of the mountain?”
“Yeah. Not sure with this weather.”
“We’ll see when we get there. High up like that, they’re bound to be.”
Chatting with Dad as we drove the rental car out of the city, the island’s signature palm trees started thinning out.
The higher we climbed, the more squat trees up to knee height and boulders appeared.
We could’ve taken the cable car to the summit, but Dad and I decided to hike. Past the midpoint, clouds spread out below the road.
No dedicated parking lot, so we parked on the roadside and prepared to hike. The roadsides of Teide National Park glowed with morning sun, packed with cars of cable car visitors.
“Shall we start hiking up?”
“Yeah.”
Unlike me, Dad really loved mountains. I followed him up, a light smile on his face. We’d been here eight months ago, but it felt fresh again.
Closer to the summit, it was filled with red soil and rocks. Strange red plants I’d never seen in Korea, and sparse bushes among the gravel.
“¡Qué sorpresa encontrarte aquí!”
A Teide National Park guide recognized me and went off for an autograph, leaving the bewildered tourists behind.
Ignoring my beaming dad beside me, I kept moving upward. We had to descend in time for the evening ferry back to Gran Canaria.
We finished the hike faster than expected, then had an early dinner near Santa Cruz port with Dad. The “clam-like thing” Castro mentioned was mussels. Pretty good.
“Suits your taste?”
“Yeah. How about you, Kyung-hun?”
“Not bad.”
“Mussels are tasty. Have more. Castro told you about it?”
“Yeah. He said it’s a spot he hits every time he’s in Tenerife.”
Dad liked Castro’s recommendation, but he was even happier about the owner’s autograph request and the complimentary dishes.
Eating in the city center brought a flood of autograph and photo requests from locals.
It hadn’t been this intense before. I could barely tell if the mussels were going in my nose or mouth. Cameras flashed from all sides.
“Guess we should eat quick and go.”
“Yeah. They’re snapping a ton of pics. You’re a celebrity now, Kyung-hun.”
“I’ll have to work even harder.”
We finally reached Las Palmas port as dusk settled.
Stepping through the front door, I felt just tired enough for a good night’s sleep. After a warm shower in the bathroom, I heard Dad on the phone.
It was Uncle Bari.
“Kyung-hun, Uncle Bari wants to stop by. Should I tell him to come over?”
“Yeah, that’s fine.”
A bit tired, but experience told me if Uncle Bari was coming to the house, it was worth making time.
Uncle Bari was Dad’s close friend and the agent who got me signed with Las Palmas.
“Kyunghun!”
“Hey, Uncle.”
Uncle Bari, who spoke Korean haltingly but knew it, had been a huge help to Dad and me.
The first person to rush over for any local troubles or injustices. I couldn’t be all smiles and soft-spoken due to my personality, but I was truly grateful for him.
“Amiga! Came with some messages to pass on.”
“Yeah. Take your time. Tea?”
“Mix coffee for me.”
Uncle Bari loved instant coffee.
I’d offered tea out of courtesy, but Uncle Bari often grumbled that he’d started gaining belly fat the moment he tried Korean instant coffee.
“Won’t bore you again, but Kyung-hun’s running too well, causing issues.”
“What’s up?”
“First, Las Palmas wants to re-sign you. Conditions aren’t amazing, but put that aside. Second, transfer offers. Not through the club, but they want your interest. Whether you’re thinking of moving or not.”
The sudden transfer talk threw me off. I still lacked stamina for starting spots, and now transfers?
“Talks were bubbling under even before the injury, but you’re killing it post-recovery, so a few teams got serious. Don’t overthink. As your agent, I gotta relay them.”
“From where?”
“Three La Liga clubs. Celta Vigo, Valladolid. And Atletico Madrid.”
Offers from the top flight were exciting, but not a snap decision. Dad’s settled life here, changes to my environment—all to consider.
Would I even get consistent play there?
“Guaranteed game time?”
“Celta Vigo’s tough. They’re flirting with relegation; no patience there. Valladolid’s 12th, but league’s not even half done, so hard to say for either.”
“Atletico Madrid’s even harder, right?”
“No first-team guarantee. You’d start in Segunda B. Atletico Madrid B team. If you hate that, loan back to Las Palmas like Pedri. Name value says go, I don’t think you can’t handle it, but it’s a big challenge.”
Dad listened quietly without a word.
“What do you think, Dad?”
“This isn’t my call. You decide.”
“Sí, exactly. You choose, Kyung-hun.”
Too tough a choice for indecisive me. Uncle Bari laughed heartily, saying no rush. Doing well at Las Palmas meant no big issues.
“Re-sign conditions good?”
“So-so. Not bad. Better than Pedri’s last year, but only by a bit. Plus one year extension, so not great either.”
“Pick one or the other?”
“Nah, haha. No re-sign needed. Just giving options. Can’t decide for you. That’s it. Don’t overcomplicate.”
Like he’d just dropped by for fun, Uncle Bari switched to chatting with Dad about Teide National Park, no more contract talk.
“I’ll head out. Gotta get home.”
“Thanks.”
“Right, Grande Kim, check this.”
Grande Kim was Uncle Bari’s nickname for Dad. He pulled a magazine from his pocket and handed it over.
“Out this morning. Feature on Kyung-hun. National mag, haha. Says your son’s Spain’s next superstar!”
Not spiked with alcohol in his instant coffee, but Uncle Bari spilled excited words, vanishing out the door before Dad could even say goodbye.
The magazine Uncle Bari gave was folded in the middle. Dad shoved it at me, insisting I look first—half forcing it. I was curious anyway. How did I look to others as a player?
* * *
An island 1,400 km from southern Seville. Closer to the Sahara Desert than the mainland, Estadio Gran Canaria sits there. Fans who saw the 14-15 La Liga 2 playoffs would applaud the dramatic promotion to the top flight; those who endured Las Palmas away games in the two seasons since 2015 would shudder at the horror.
Into this remote island comet-like appeared a player.
Last year, Pedri dazzled and won Barcelona’s heart. Now, Kim Kyung-hun from Korea stuns with substance in his play. In just 4 games: 7 goals, 1 assist. The 1 PK won feels like a bonus.
Check the minutes and details—it’s even more impressive.
All 4 as sub, regular time just 90 minutes. Small sample, sure, but Kim racks 8 attacking points per full game. 0 turnovers in 4 games. 9 shots, 8 on target—89% accuracy.
Of course, these stats will drop over more games. But Kim was born in 2002. He’s 16! This prodigy, Pedri’s age-mate, is setting La Liga 2 ablaze on Estadio Gran Canaria’s pitch.
Fútbol Deporte brings you an interview with Las Palmas coach Pepe Mel to sate curiosity on Kim. Can Las Palmas keep the storm going with him?
〉First off, belated congrats on the Fuenlabrada win.
-Thanks.
〉Won, but lots to ask. Like your “volcanic” coach interview, first red card of the season. Fun for viewers, but blood pressure-inducing for Las Palmas, right?
-Yeah (laughs). The red was from overexcitement fixing tactical errors. Happy with result, but process needs reflection. More training fixes ahead.
〉Las Palmas hit 30 points first in La Liga 2 with Cadiz. In 13 rounds, Kim delivered 4 wins—12 points. Stats and details amaze. Expected as coach?
-Result-wise, yes. Kim came to Gran Canaria a year ago. Gave adaptation time for his talent, but he delivered steadily in Las Palmas B. Not flashy, but scores when needed. How could a coach bench that?
〉Goals are goals, but experts raved his Fuenlabrada dribbles. Didn’t know he had that in him.
-Kim has many great skills. Scoring alone is huge, but I value his situational awareness most. Builds on team tactic understanding, switches to individual play with snap judgment when needed.
〉Fans worried about his injury.
-Las Palmas got lucky. Quick recovery, playing freer now.
〉How’s he in the team? Settled in Gran Canaria?
-In my view, yes. Spanish not fluent yet, but he’s trying. Knows he’s got a warm heart. Vets like Castro, Aythami, Dani like him.
〉Post-match, Kim said he ate with you—buzzworthy. Do you eat with players often, or special for him?
-Don’t set meals for specific players. After Kim joined first team… Ate alone before training once. Worried about issues, so dinner together that night. Guess he liked my recs.
〉Mojo sauce?
-Yeah (laughs).