Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: The Misunderstanding is Cleared Up
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- The customer isn't answering...
'Oh no... this is bad.'
Choi Seung-taek couldn't get in touch with Park Ga-young.
As evidenced by the multiple missed calls from her on his phone, it was his turn to reach out this time.
He tried calling several times, but she wouldn't pick up.
'Should I at least send one last text?'
- Ga-young, everything you saw online is a misunderstanding. The team will post an article soon.
Just as he finished sending the text, Hwang Kang-kyung called out to him.
"Seung-taek, the game's about to start. Hurry up and join us."
'Damn...'
He still hadn't heard back from Park Ga-young.
"Whew... she'll see it. Yeah! Coming right now."
In the end, Choi Seung-taek headed to the dugout to watch the game without connecting with her.
Information is power.
That's why pros analyze their opponents as much as possible and exploit weaknesses based on that intel.
And the same goes for them. They scrutinize our weaknesses—and our team's—to plot their strategy.
With even Choi Seung-taek out of the lineup, the Daejeon MacPhies' batting order looked even weaker.
Crack!
- Busan Sea Gulls! Swinging hard from the first inning!
The MacPhies' number-two starter, the import Damon, was a player who'd spent three years with the Busan Sea Gulls.
- Asechi! Hit drops between left and center field! Runner from third scores!
That carried a positive connotation—he'd survived three years in Korean pro baseball—but...
Thwack!!
A dull thud echoed.
- Cleanup hitter! Choi Seok-jun clears the outfield wall at Daejeon Stadium!!
Having pitched for the Sea Gulls for three years, they had plenty of dirt on Damon.
'Damn, is this my fault?'
Choi Seung-taek watched the game with a heavy heart.
Five runs down in the first already. It might have been a familiar sight, but it still hurt.
Especially the second-team catcher who'd suddenly been thrust into the starter's mask—he looked exhausted.
Crack!
- Another hit fills the bases!
Teams that can't win have their reasons.
- Sixth batter Yoon Jung-bak swings! Oh... foul. Wait!! The catcher misses the ball. Not out—the batter to first, runner from first advances to second safely.
The pitcher was getting shelled, and now the catcher botched a block, letting the ball skip behind.
Consecutive defensive errors widened the gap between Busan Sea Gulls and Daejeon MacPhies right from the first inning.
Avenging yesterday's loss, the Sea Gulls pressed their merciless attack, and the endless first inning showed no sign of ending.
"What should we do?"
Manager Han Geun-seong stared at the field inscrutably.
"Pull the catcher at the sixth."
"For Choi Seung-taek?"
"No, someone else."
The chief coach furrowed his brow.
'What the hell is he planning?'
"Manager... but."
"We need to see what the others can do. The better one between them backs up Choi Seung-taek."
"Then?"
"From now on... Choi Seung-taek is the starter. We're just temporarily scouting a backup."
The chief coach's face brightened a bit.
"What about the pitchers?"
"Let Damon go through the second. Then test the FA arms we brought in, rotate from there."
"Got it."
"And... after the game's done, send Damon to the second team to fix his balance or whatever. He's useless. If he doesn't shape up, cut him."
"I'll pass it on."
Manager Han Geun-seong's notebook filled with notes on various players again.
A few were headed to the minors.
The game against the Busan Sea Gulls ended. Final score: 11-1, a total blowout.
Though it felt odd to ask after a loss, Choi Seung-taek sought out Captain Taepyeongyang.
"Senior."
"What."
His expression soured by the lopsided defeat.
"One thing I wanted to ask."
"Shoot."
"How do you clear up a misunderstanding?"
It was a weird question out of nowhere, but since Choi Seung-taek never asked idle ones, Taepyeongyang pondered before answering.
"Give it your all to fix it. As soon as possible."
"As soon as possible?"
"Yeah, that's the answer. Waiting for it to blow over just piles on more misunderstandings. Clear it up quick—that's best."
"Got it. Thanks."
Heading to the locker room, Choi Seung-taek called Park Ga-young again.
Still no answer.
'Then...'
Instead of home, he drove toward her place.
'Three hours to Seoul right now. Three back—home after midnight.'
Daejeon MacPhies catcher Choi Seung-taek and cheerleader Lee Na-eun are not dating.
Unlike recent online rumors, the team flatly denied any romance.
"Knew our Na-eun wouldn't do that."
The mystery man who'd read an internal MacPhies reporter's article wore a satisfied grin.
"Still..."
He minimized it and opened a folder on his computer.
Inside: photos of cheerleader Lee Na-eun.
He clicked the latest.
"This guy's still bugging me. Hitting on our Na-eun? Baseball player my ass?"
The sight of Choi Seung-taek peering at her phone with her grated on him.
Worse: her beaming smile at him.
"Can't have this."
The mystery man started typing another post.
'This oughta get him disciplined by the team, right?'
He screenshotted Choi Seung-taek's grim dugout stare and penned a sensational headline.
Is the MacPhies' discipline okay like this?
Rookie catcher shows blatant discontent after not being used
'Perfect.'
The online article targeted Choi Seung-taek on purpose.
But the comments weren't what he wanted.
- Saw that face during today's game. I'd look pissed too.
- Pitcher's trash, and the other catchers up there were a mess. Almost miss Jeong Kyung-ho.
- Just use Choi Seung-taek! Solution's obvious!
Having a boyfriend who's killing it as a baseball player is great.
Park Ga-young felt good about Choi Seung-taek's performance the day before.
Then, enjoying a lazy weekend searching about him, she stumbled on shocking news.
Falling for a MacPhies girl?
'What the hell?'
A photo of him cozy with a stunning woman at sandwich shop Train.
She was smiling brightly at him.
Park Ga-young's heart sank.
'Dating... her?'
She called him immediately.
No answer.
Kept calling.
Still nothing.
'Why isn't he picking up?'
Suddenly, she felt suffocated.
Frustrated, she searched the woman from the article.
"Lee Na-eun, the cheerleader?"
Lee Na-eun was one of Daejeon MacPhies' popular cheerleaders.
"She's got a ton of fans..."
Stadium shots, hotel selfies, street candids—all turned out gorgeous.
Park Ga-young's mood soured further. An inexplicable wave of sorrow hit her.
- Hate you.
- Why no reply?
- Die! Just die!!
After that last one, she flung her phone, curled up in bed crying, and fell asleep.
...
She woke in the evening.
Checking her phone:
- 9 missed calls
- Missed messages
Seung-taek: I'm at your place now, coming in.
Park Ga-young jolted awake.
'Huh? What? In front of my house?'
"Ga-young~!"
Mom called from outside.
"Seung-taek's here."
'No way! Why'd he come here?'
"This Ga-young's room?"
Knock knock
"Ga-young, can I come in?"
Choi Seung-taek's voice.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Her heart pounded wildly.
She scanned the room.
It was a disaster.
"No! Wait!"
She scrambled to tidy up.
"Aigoo, you never clean normally. Now you rush 'cause he's here."
"Haha..."
Mom's scolding and his awkward laugh filtered in.
Finally, she finished and quietly opened the door.
"Aigoo, all done now, sweetie?"
"Yeah... but why're you here?"
"Why? To see my girlfriend."
Park Ga-young froze at his words.
"Can I come in now?"
"Huh?"
He stepped right in.
"Wait..."
"Listen! Took the married senior's advice and came straight here. You got mad at me today, right?"
She stayed silent, still pouting a bit.
"Hmph, go hang with the popular cheerleader. Why come here?"
"Total misunderstanding. Team posted a new article."
His eyes were earnest. She wavered again.
"What about the photo? You two were so close."
He pulled out his phone.
"Ta-da~ Daejeon's healthy eats list! Got it from Lee Na-eun back then. Nothing else."
"..."
"And Ga-young, one more thing: ballplayers and cheerleaders dating? Unwritten rule against it. One of us gets cut. Me, her—both fine, 'cause it's bogus."
Her heart softened gradually.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Only you for me."
He leaned in close to her face.
"...No talking to other girls from now on."
Her voice trembled, teary.
"Got it. But fans asking for autographs?"
"Banned."
Her shaky, whimpering tone was adorable to him.
"But I can talk to Mom, right?"
"Yeah."
"So, misunderstanding cleared?"
"Mhm."
"Then c'mere and hug me. Today was rough for me too."
Park Ga-young hugged him.