First Contact
The ball brushed against the opposing defender's foot. All that was left was to pull it back. But Suhyuk didn't give him even that split-second chance. He waited until the defender fully extended his leg. The moment a gap opened up, he slipped the ball right between the guy's legs. With just the right amount of force, he tapped it forward. The ball floated up slightly as Suhyuk lifted both feet off the ground. A quick jump, then landing. Naturally, the ball dropped right under his control.
Three opponents charged at him without hesitation. That was gegenpressing—pinning the player down and pressing until they stole the ball. Suhyuk used his small frame to shove his shoulder in, shifted his center of gravity forward, and naturally dragged the ball along before tapping it again with his back foot. Once more, the ball threaded between an opponent's legs. Suhyuk claimed it again. Before anyone realized, he had already reached the edge of the penalty arc.
This time, five players rushed toward him. Suhyuk feinted like he was passing to John, disrupting their focus. A no-look pass with his back foot. The ball found its way to Daniel.
"Here!"
Suhyuk sprinted forward. Daniel delivered a precise cross with his trademark accuracy. The ball dropped perfectly from Suhyuk's chest to his knee, then to the top of his foot. One-on-one with the goalkeeper. A calm finish, slotting it neatly into the corner.
Thwack—!!
He had essentially beaten ten defenders all by himself. Everyone who witnessed the absurd scene stood there with their jaws hanging open.
"…See? I told you! I said I believed in Lee! You bastards, dinner's on you!!"
By eight o'clock that evening, the late team dinner was decided: the ten defenders would foot the bill. Surprisingly, those ten didn't seem angry about having to pay. They accepted it. Losing to such a brilliant genius wasn't something to be ashamed of.
"Fuck, Lee! What the hell did you do? How did you improve this much?"
"No, seriously—why the hell were you hiding skills like this? You crazy bastard!"
"…With talent like that, how did you keep putting on such pathetic performances before? I just don't get it."
Some of them were blunt, even harsh, but the core message was the same: they were all stunned by Suhyuk's talent. They swarmed around him.
"…If you can't pull this off in a real match, that'd be a talent in itself. Some real skill."
"You crazy fucker. Are you Messi or something? You're actually insane at this."
"How the hell did you get this good in just one day? Lee, I couldn't even read your movements once today."
Suhyuk varied his dribbling with perfect weight control, and no one could stop him. And there was one more thing.
"What the fuck is with that monstrous stamina… I'm about to die from exhaustion over here."
Every player was drenched in sweat. And for good reason—look at today's training. Running laps on the track, individual position drills, passing exercises, a practice match, bodyweight stretching, and then two extra hours of training on top of it all. The ten defenders had been rotating in and out, but Suhyuk had been running nonstop. John had basically been treated to a hospitality game, while Hugo and Daniel had only needed to send in crosses…
"So basically, you've been the only one actually running the whole time?"
"Is that kind of stamina even possible?"
"Must be because he's from the Land of Park Ji-sung or something?"
"…Is this what it felt like for the players who watched Lee Seunghoo at La Masia? Korean geniuses really are built different."
"Ugh, you genius bastard. Why the hell didn't you show this level before? What was the reason?"
The players pressed Suhyuk for his secret. Suhyuk glanced at John. He was curious whether their relationship had truly mended. After all, he'd promised to pass to John but had finished the play himself.
"…You did well. As for me, I just need the stats. Score a goal in the derby. I'll get the assist on record."
John accepted it. He'd spent his whole life comparing himself to others. He'd lived with an inferiority complex his entire life. Everyone had their own driving force. For John, it was that very inferiority. He hated being worse than someone else. He wanted to surpass them. So he'd worked harder than anyone. And because of that, he'd been jealous of Suhyuk. He'd hated him.
But…
'I guess people have different sized vessels.'
Today's play from Suhyuk had planted inspiration in him, not envy.
'If those defenders pressed me like that, could I move like Lee?'
Could he pull off those bold, intelligent dribbles as naturally as breathing? The answer was no.
'It's not competition—it's breathing together.'
Ben's words echoed in his mind. Yeah. If they were on the same team anyway… there was no choice but to use that talent. If he gave Suhyuk the ball and Suhyuk scored, the assist would go to him. That was how he'd have to stack up his stats. He didn't have some grand dream of becoming the world's best player. He just wanted to play in one of Europe's top five leagues. Most players dreamed of simply getting their foot in the door of those leagues.
John decided to acknowledge Suhyuk. Or more precisely, to acknowledge the difference in their talent. He'd let him go ahead. If he kept working hard, maybe one day he'd brush shoulders with him, even if just for a moment.
"Hey, Lee. So what's the secret, you bastard?"
We'd come out for paella for dinner. After just one extra training session, my teammates—who were suddenly all buddy-buddy again—were asking me for my secret.
"There is no secret. I might still flop in the actual match."
I answered grumpily. I was still terrified of pressure. That pressure was the shackle around my ankle.
"Come on, there must've been some kind of motivation, right?"
"Motivation…"
"Don't tell me… it's a girl?"
Daniel, who was usually quiet and blunt, casually dropped the question. How the hell did this guy know?
"No way. Even if Lee's young, he's been grinding for a whole year. You expect me to believe one girl suddenly flipped his form?"
"Exactly. Besides, for us Espanyol youth players, meeting girls isn't that hard, is it?"
"True. Look at Daniel over there—his girlfriend changes every month."
Wait, seriously? The usually silent Daniel changes girlfriends once a month? Never mind that—
"It's easy to meet girls?"
"Lee, you haven't… never met a girl before, have you?"
"…"
"Wait, hold on. Don't tell me the motivation really is a girl?"
Hugo Romero asked with his eyes wide open. Those buttonhole-like eyes had doubled in size. What was so shocking about it? You bastards.
"Lee."
"Yeah?"
"Can you introduce me to a girl? There are quite a few who think you're cute."
Our Golden Sun John… no, big bro John personally placed his hand on my shoulder.
"For real?"
"What? This kid really has never met a girl? Were you playing soccer just to meet girls?"
Big bro John… no, this absolute son of a bitch had been testing me. Wow. What a fucking asshole. You don't joke with someone like that… He was seriously bad.
"You sons of bitches."
It was something you'd never say back in a Korean sports team hierarchy, but this was Spain. Everyone burst into roaring laughter at my words.
"Kahaha! What a cute little bastard!"
"This kid is seriously adorable? Hey, then we really have to introduce him to some girls, right?"
"Lee, I'm serious—there really are quite a few girls who like you. The ones around me have shown interest."
"…Really?"
"Well, just score a few goals in the derby. I'll use that as an excuse to set something up."
Okay, big bro John. Got it.
"Anyway, our maknae is seriously cute."
"Right?"
"Still never met a girl, huh?"
"We need to boost our maknae's confidence."
"Alright, Lee! If you get a hat-trick this time, I'll introduce you to a girl."
"We'll help you as much as we can. Give it a shot!"
Yeah, please. Because of the bullshit I said, now I have to get a hat-trick. Huh? Wait a second. If I get a hat-trick… I'd get way too much out of it. Fame and fans' love aside—
'Couldn't I go on dates with different girls every day?'
It seemed entirely possible. Ahh, our team is the best! These hyungs turned out to be real men, true alphas, absolute alpha males!!
"…You better keep that promise. Got it?"
Our hyungs burst into laughter again. Laugh all you want. As long as you introduce me to girls, everything's okay.
At that moment.
"The maknae's girl just texted him!"
Fourteen love experts suddenly crowded around me. …This is way too much pressure. I don't want to be stuck with fourteen guys.
"I-I'm heading out!"
I bolted straight out of the restaurant.
Marry me?
…Time out.
I went back into the restaurant.
"How should I reply to this? Should I just ask her out?"
The players looked at me like I was a monkey in a zoo, then clutched their stomachs and howled with laughter.