Victory Date
Choi Seungtaek turned on his phone.
Park Gayoung: How did it go? Did you win??
A message had arrived from Park Gayoung.
Seungtaek: Of course I won.
Choi Seungtaek replied shortly.
A moment later, a reply came from Gayoung.
Gayoung: Then do you have time tomorrow?
Seungtaek: Tomorrow?
Sunday was a date, but there was still a game on Wednesday.
Seungtaek: But I have a game on Wednesday...
Gayoung: Is the game that important?
"Yeah? What kind of question is that? Of course the game is important."
"Su-ngtaek, what are you doing?"
Kim Minjae walked into the dorm.
It had been a tough game, but since the team had advanced to the president's cup quarterfinals, everyone was buzzing with excitement as they wandered around.
"Me? I was on a call just now."
"Hmm?"
Kim Minjae, who had sensed something off about Seungtaek's appearance, snatched the phone from his hands.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"..."
Kim Minjae's face hardened.
"Hey, you idiot! Get out."
Once a mischievous spirit, Kim Minjae was frustrated by Choi Seungtaek's foolish behavior and decided to help.
Kim Minjae handed the phone back.
"What are you planning to do?"
"You're not lending me your phone?"
"I could just check it tomorrow at the PC room like anyone else."
"What the hell, this guy really is an idiot."
Kim Minjae started to act up over Choi Seungtaek's behavior.
Seeing Kim Minjae lose it, Seungtaek had no choice but to change his story.
Seungtaek: Ah, I was just kidding! We'll see each other tomorrow!
Gayoung: Really? Great! When should we meet?
"Minjae, when should we say we'll meet?"
"Are you going home today?"
"No, I'm staying in the dorm."
"Then where are we meeting?"
"Anywhere near school should be fine, right?"
Kim Minjae fell into thought for a moment.
'Hmm... there are places near school worth hanging out at.'
"Then let's meet in the morning. We can eat lunch together, play around, and head back for dinner."
"That works."
Seungtaek: The sooner the better.
Thud-thud-thud.
Park Gayoung was happy that Choi Seungtaek had made such a casual comment.
But she couldn't show it. Park Gayoung decided to do a little more probing.
Gayoung: You want to see me that much?
"You want to see me that much?"
"Damn. I really should have killed you."
The previously cooperative Kim Minjae was turning back into an evil spirit.
"He's definitely got a crush on you! Just stop being weird and go meet up."
"Wh-what?"
Choi Seungtaek somehow became smaller than a woman.
Choi Seungtaek had only ever cared about baseball, so he was weak in this area. It had been the same in his past life and was still true now.
"Give."
Kim Minjae made a gesture for the phone.
'Should I give it to him?'
Choi Seungtaek oddly decided to listen to Kim Minjae's advice.
Tada-tada-tada-da-tada-tada-da.
The sound of pressing the phone came.
Kim Minjae flicked the phone a few times and asked.
"What do you want to eat?"
"What?"
"What are you eating for lunch tomorrow."
"Hmm... meat?"
"Hey, you idiot. Who eats meat for lunch?"
"Haa... still, meat is good, right?"
"Alright. Just wait."
Seungtaek: Of course! I can't wait to see you right now.
Gayoung: Suddenly gross~ Just kidding. Then what do you want to eat?
Seungtaek: Hmm... meat?
Gayoung: Eeeh. Meat for lunch? No way. I'm having pasta. Since I'm paying, just come along.
Seungtaek: Okay.
"Failed."
"Then what do we do?"
Gayoung: You looked pretty upset.
Seungtaek: No, actually I like pasta too. I just hadn't had the chance to eat it.
"Let's eat it quietly."
Fortunately, Choi Seungtaek had eaten pasta before. While watching a show or something in his past life? He vaguely remembered that the cream pasta had been pretty good.
"Do you know pasta?"
"I do."
"That's good. Then..."
Gayoung: Oh~ Really? Great. Then let's have pasta for lunch, watch a movie, and have meat for dinner.
Seungtaek: You're the best.
Gayoung: Then I'll see you tomorrow.
Seungtaek: Yeah, see you tomorrow~
Fortunately, the conversation ended well.
"How do you use such embarrassing things so well?"
At that moment, Kim Minjae looked at Seungtaek with disappointment.
"I used it as a fool too? I wanted to cut off my fingers, but you were sighing in admiration. You're really serious. Too serious."
Choi Seungtaek had no response.
* * *
Since he had no date-appropriate clothes, Choi Seungtaek headed out in casual sportswear.
But unlike Seungtaek, Park Gayoung had dressed with care, and her graceful appearance left Seungtaek frozen.
"Should we eat first?"
"Uh... yeah."
"Why? Seungtaek-ah?"
When Seungtaek looked dazed, Park Gayoung waved her hand in front of him.
Seeing Seungtaek's damaged state, Park Gayoung felt pleased.
"Just... you looked really pretty today."
The words slipped out before he could think.
"Eh? What did you say?"
'Oh crap!'
Choi Seungtaek immediately shut his mouth.
"Anyway. Let's go~. Even if we're going to eat something like pasta, you followed me well."
With a bashful smile, Park Gayoung led Seungtaek to a restaurant they knew.
It was near school, but luckily there was a decent place there.
It was an Italian restaurant, but the atmosphere wasn't particularly romantic.
It didn't feel like a spot for couples to go on dates, but Seungtaek entered quietly.
There were guests around them. Most were couples or groups of women.
Looking at their clothes and then at his own casual outfit, Seungtaek felt a bit embarrassed.
'Whatever. I'll just eat without thinking too much.'
"Welcome. How many people?"
"Two."
Choi Seungtaek and Park Gayoung followed the host to a good table by the window. It was a bit early, so they got a nice spot.
"What do you want to eat?"
"Hmm..."
"I'm having the cream pasta."
"You have to choose a kind."
Choi Seungtaek looked at the menu. There was bacon and shrimp. But thinking of a healthier diet, he chose the pasta with mushrooms.
Since his taste had become a bit more mature, mushrooms weren't a problem.
"Mushroom pasta."
"Mushroom?"
Park Gayoung gave him a look of surprise.
"What are you drinking?"
"Just water's fine."
"Really?"
Park Gayoung's expression showed she was very puzzled by Seungtaek's choice.
"I'm an athlete. Big flaw. I have to manage my body."
"Haha."
At Seungtaek's words, Park Gayoung chuckled.
"Why are you laughing?"
"No. Your image as an athlete is a bit different from what I thought. But it's good you're a pro player."
"Of course."
After ordering, a little while later the food arrived: one salad and two pastas.
While eating, Park Gayoung and Seungtaek chatted about various things.
"So, do you think this tournament will go well?"
"Of course. We're on a good run. If we keep it up, we'll reach the finals and win."
"Yeah, the teachers who like baseball were talking a lot about this tournament. Especially about you."
"Really?"
There was a strange atmosphere on campus about the tournament, and Seungtaek felt a bit of pressure.
"But... I have something I want to ask."
"What?"
"Do you think I'll be able to go straight to the pros?"
"Hmm?"
'Should I tell Gayoung about it?'
When Seungtaek's eyes became serious, Park Gayoung looked surprised too.
"I... I'm going to the pros. I can make it."
Somehow, he wanted to tell her everything.
"Apparently, there are quite a few teams interested in me right now."
"Really? That's great!"
Seungtaek scratched his cheek, feeling a bit embarrassed. Seungtaek wasn't good at self-praise.
Park Gayoung knew that going pro was definitely a good thing, so she clapped her hands in joy.
"Of course, it's not the end of the road for going pro..."
Slurp?
While eating pasta, Park Gayoung gave Seungtaek a strange look.
"Even if you go pro, you won't be able to do well?"
"That's right, but... even there, I have to keep working hard. It's going to be endless competition. I have the qualifications, but this is just the beginning."
"I see."
Choi Seungtaek had all sorts of thoughts, but explaining it was difficult, so he vaguely waved it off.
"What is your dream?"
"Me?"
Thinking about it, Seungtaek realized he didn't know much about Park Gayoung. He asked about her.
"Well, I want to be an announcer?"
"Announcer... that fits you."
Choi Seungtaek thought that the graceful Park Gayoung overlaid with an announcer would suit her perfectly.
At that moment, a staff member came over to clear the table.
"How many bowls to clear?"
"Yes, thank you."
They removed the salad plate.
"It suits you. Surprising."
"Really?"
"Yeah! Announcers are pretty."
"So what?"
"Then you are too."
"..."
The sound of dishes being cleared from afar.
Choi Seungtaek and Park Gayoung sat in silence, unable to do anything else but quietly eat their food.
Their faces were bright red, and the only thing they could do was quietly munch.
"Let's talk about something else."
"..."
"It feels embarrassing..."
* * *
Choi Seungtaek and Park Gayoung walked outside awkwardly.
"Do you want to do something?"
'Do something...'
Choi Seungtaek looked at Park Gayoung. He didn't quite understand why such a pretty girl wanted to spend time with him.
But strangely, his feelings for her were gradually growing.
"Hmm... um... want to go together?"
The place he pointed to was the school.
"School? What do you want to do there?"
"Exactly next to it. The training field."
Choi Seungtaek wanted to go to the indoor training field.
"Why there?"
"You study well, don't you?"
"Yeah. That's right."
"Just... I want to show you the things I do well."
Park Gayoung thought Choi Seungtaek was a little cute for wanting to do that.
"Uh-huh. Really? Then let's go!"
Leading the way, Park Gayoung let Seungtaek quickly follow.