Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Motivation
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"Uh…. Seung-taek? Are you going to keep holding me?"
"Yeah."
Choi Seung-taek and Park Ga-young had been stuck together for over ten minutes, but Choi Seung-taek showed no sign of letting Park Ga-young go.
"Seriously, you're gonna keep holding me?"
"Yeah. I was really worn out today too. I need some recovery time."
"Is this your recovery?"
"Yeah, charging up. Holding you makes me feel good. Good vibes filling up."
"Ugh, what is this."
As Choi Seung-taek spouted cringeworthy lines while hugging Park Ga-young tightly, her heart completely melted.
"But my legs hurt."
"No way. I wanna keep holding you."
"No…. Then let's sit on a chair."
"No. I'm heavy—if we sit together, the chair'll break. That's a chair for featherweight girls like you."
Choi Seung-taek's will seemed ironclad, so Park Ga-young had to rack her brain.
"Then let's sit on the bed."
"Won't that look weird?"
Park Ga-young looked up at Choi Seung-taek.
"Pervert."
"Pervert what."
"Then we'll just sit on the bed, but in return, let me snuggle up to you."
"Hmm…. Fine."
In the end, Choi Seung-taek released the hug and sat on Park Ga-young's bed with her.
Then Park Ga-young sat down beside Choi Seung-taek.
"Liar."
Choi Seung-taek immediately voiced his displeasure.
"Huh? Why."
"You said you'd snuggle up."
"Sigh, alright, fine."
Park Ga-young finally sat sideways on Choi Seung-taek's lap.
And Choi Seung-taek pulled her straight into a hug.
Just like that, Park Ga-young ended up tightly embraced by Choi Seung-taek.
"Hehe."
"You like it that much?"
"Yeah, obviously."
Choi Seung-taek found Park Ga-young, cutely nestled in his arms like a little doll, utterly adorable.
"But you were staring at other girls like that?"
"Hey, Ga-young, that jealous?"
"Yeah."
"That's why I'm feeling so great?"
"Great? I felt awful."
"Hehe. But you don't need to worry."
Choi Seung-taek spoke firmly to Park Ga-young.
"No need to worry?"
"Our bond is rock-solid!"
"Rock-solid my foot."
"I already saw our grandkids with you! Doesn't that make it solid?!"
"What grandkids?!"
Park Ga-young let out a hollow laugh at Choi Seung-taek's words.
"Didn't know? When I first confessed to you, I was already planning our son and daughter."
"Pervert."
"Pervert what. I mean I wanna build a family—get it."
"Then when did the grandkids show up?"
"When you kissed me?"
For a split second, recalling that moment in the car, Park Ga-young flinched in surprise before her face turned a bit shy.
"Hmph…. I'll buy it."
"Yeah."
As the two flirted away, Park Ga-young suddenly remembered a chat with her university friends.
"But Seung-taek."
"Yeah, what's up?"
"I was talking with my uni classmates about random stuff."
"Yeah, and?"
"More girls are baseball fans than I thought."
"And?"
"But I don't know baseball well, so I had nothing to say. Had to contribute something, right? So I mentioned my boyfriend's a pro baseball player."
"Yeah?"
Humans are social creatures.
You can guess what's coming next from the nuance of words and the other's expression.
If it were something good, Park Ga-young would've been beaming, bursting to spill it….
But to Choi Seung-taek, she looked like she was about to drop something ominous.
'Unsettling.'
The pathos of a weak team player.
Suddenly, a victim complex hit Choi Seung-taek at the MacPhies.
"So…. They all went 'wow! wow!' super surprised."
'Maybe not?'
Choi Seung-taek kept his cool as best he could and replied.
"So?"
"Then they asked which team."
'Really unsettling now?'
"Did you tell 'em?"
"Yeah. Daejeon MacPhies player. But then…. They all burst out laughing."
"Ah…. Knew it."
Choi Seung-taek squeezed his eyes shut.
"They roasted it hard. Called it the comedian squad. Showed me a highlight reel of all the dropped balls."
"Cough."
Choi Seung-taek found no peace here either. The unexpected gut punch hurt like hell.
"Last-place team. Defense sucks."
"Ugh."
"Ar…. You okay?"
"Yeah…."
Seeing Choi Seung-taek in mild agony, Park Ga-young hurriedly switched topics.
"Ah! One classmate's from Busan."
"Yeah? So?"
"She's a Sea Gulls fan."
Choi Seung-taek grew uneasy once more.
"That team's trash too!"
'Ugh.'
Having spent seven years with the Sea Gulls, this stung worse than the last.
With Choi Seung-taek still a bit glum, Park Ga-young floundered before deciding to pep him up again.
"Seung-taek! You were the star at our school! You'll crush it at MacPhies!"
"Yeah. I got this."
"Really? For real? Even this year?"
Someday, sure.
But this year?
'No way. Absolutely not. Not this year.'
"Tough this year, but I'll give it my all."
Park Ga-young shot back seriously at his earnest words.
"Yeah? Then promise me one thing."
"What?"
"You do interviews after winning the championship, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then say my name loud and clear."
'Huh? What?'
"Huh? Why my name all of a sudden?"
"Last time you botched it. This time, win and say it right."
Choi Seung-taek wanted to die of shame.
'Damn! She knew?'
The next day, Choi Seung-taek arrived early at the Daejeon stadium.
He'd barely made it home before 1 a.m., crashed immediately, and headed straight to the stadium.
As he changed in the locker room, the team manager approached.
"Choi Seung-taek, early bird today?"
"Yes, manager."
"Perfect timing. Was gonna call you—you've got an interview today."
"Interview?"
"Yeah. Your opener performance was solid, and the other catchers tanked yesterday. They really wanna talk to you."
"Aha…."
Choi Seung-taek's face soured a touch.
"And they wanna clear up that cheerleader scandal this time too."
"Shouldn't we suppress that instead?"
"If you'd actually met her, sure. But you didn't, so the club's like, whatever."
"Aha…. Got it."
Choi Seung-taek suited up in his uniform and followed the manager to the interview nook in the stadium corner.
"Player Choi Seung-taek?"
"Yes."
"Hello, I'm from Sports Korea—doing your interview today. Guy behind's the photographer."
"Nice to meet you, reporters."
Choi Seung-taek took a seat with the sports journalists.
One pulled out a notepad to jot notes; the other stepped back to snap photos.
'Standard setup.'
"Photos done—few questions now."
"Sure, fire away."
"Signed with Daejeon MacPhies—what's your take so far?"
Basic opener question.
"Thrilled to join a great team. Tons of skilled catcher vets—learning a lot already."
"On that note about great catchers: three got hurt, making you starter. Think you'd crack the 1st-team lineup even if they were healthy?"
Pretty pointed.
'Ugh…. Best answer? Ah! Pitch manager Han Geun-seong.'
Sensitive, but Choi Seung-taek handled it smoothly.
"Manager Han Geun-seong always deploys good defenders. I'd probably get some starts 'cause I handle defense well."
'Whoa…. Kid's got interview chops.'
The Sports Korea reporter was impressed by the deft reply.
"Your goal this year?"
"Mine? Or team's?"
"Both, if you can."
Choi Seung-taek paused to think.
"Hmm…. Right now, holding down starting catcher. Too many injuries already—wanna stay healthy and lead the team."
"Solid take. Team's goal?"
"Win the championship."
"Pardon?"
The notepad reporter froze at the bold claim; the photographer nearly cracked a smile but held it.
'Ah…. Championship? Too much. Or did I push? Kid's got fire.'
Choi Seung-taek stayed cool and confident.
"Such confidence!"
"Yeah! I'm dead serious. Gotta win—promised someone."
The reporter's eyes gleamed.
"Aha! That someone the MacPhies' Lee Na-eun cheerleader?"
Playful jab.
"She'd want a championship too, sure. Nothing to do with me, though."
"Still denying any connection?"
"We barely know each other. Just crossed paths once on that 'train' by chance."
Choi Seung-taek stayed nonchalant; the reporter pressed.
"Same team—never bumped into her?"
"Ugh, training's insane. Nonstop. No time for chit-chat. Everyone's grinding to get better."
The reporter dropped it—pushing more risked club backlash.
"Oh, right—lotsa talk on manager Han Geun-seong's brutal training. Any gripes?"
Plenty, but with nights off secured, no bashing now.
"Eh…. I'm looked after fine. Manager Han's got flexibility—cuts us slack when needed."
"But weren't you benched yesterday?"
Flashback to the sudden snub—anger flared, but Choi Seung-taek reined it in.
'Ah…. That's crossing it.'
Can't feed the beast, so he borrowed from the head coach.
"Like I said earlier. Less 'benched me,' more 'gave others a shot.'"
'Damn, airtight. No slips.'
Reporter inwardly wowed.
"Finally: to Choi Seung-taek, who is manager Han Geun-seong?"
…
Choi Seung-taek reflected on his MacPhies days. 'Hellish training,' 'told to stay away then yanked to the stadium,' 'prove it in three days then benched.' Bad vibes flooded in.
Suddenly, 'unhappy' mode hit.
Emotion control failed—too blunt.
"Meh…."
"Pardon? Meh…. What?"
'Oops! Screw it. Reporter'll read between lines, right?'
"Ah! Uh…. Manager Han's 'meh' in my book! Haha! Gotta bounce."
Choi Seung-taek fumbled through and bolted.