Second Half Chapter 55

“Wow, that was too much! That towel actually hurts quite a bit.”

“He started it!”

Jerim argued back, pointing a finger directly at Aaron, who was hunched over while clutching his mouth. Then William, wearing the face of a solemn judge, stepped closer and asked.

“Lehmann, tell us what you saw and heard from right beside them. Who started the fight?”

“Uh, um… I, I think it was Reyes, but then again it might not have been…”

“Did you threaten Lehmann too?”

“Crazy, no!”

Because Lehmann avoided eye contact instead of saying what he had seen and heard—which was, ‘They were both working hard to pick a fight with each other, regardless of who started it’—William glared at Jerim with eyes as sharp as awls. That cold gaze did not vanish until morning training was finished and lunch was fully eaten.

Terrified that he might be extorted for another fine if he stayed in William’s sight for too long, Jerim finished his meal in a scramble. William seemed preoccupied with deciding what the fine for assault should be. Although his own situation—laying low as quiet as a dead mouse throughout the meal because he didn’t know when the confirmed assault fine amount would come out of William’s mouth—was pathetic, Jerim couldn’t make a peep.

Taking advantage of a gap when William was distracted by a phone call with his daughter, Jerim succeeded in escaping out of the cafeteria and headed to the meeting place. Not long after, Aaron and Lehmann, who had agreed to do individual training together, showed up one by one.

“…”

“…”

“…”

With just the three of them gathered without other teammates, a suffocating awkwardness rushed in. It was only after seeing their respective sulky faces, which looked like they had absolutely no intention of opening their mouths first, that Jerim realized this selection of people was wrong—terribly wrong.

‘This is screwed…’

Aaron seemed annoyed at Lehmann for being prickly even though he was doing him a favor, and Lehmann probably just disliked Aaron’s mere existence…

In such a situation, Jerim couldn’t help but be seized by the obsession that he, who was at least on decent terms with both and wearing the captain’s armband, had to break the ice. Jerim first glanced at Aaron.

“You… is your mouth okay?”

“It hurts. It’s swollen, so I couldn’t even eat properly.”

“Lehmann, did you eat well?”

“Just so-so…”

This is driving me crazy. Why on earth did both of them say they couldn’t even eat well? Should I just roll around violently on the ground pretending to have a leg cramp and go home. Why did I suggest individual training… why did I push them to get a massage… It was just as Jerim was secretly regretting his own rash words and actions.

“Jeri, do you have a moment?”

Just then, a staff member he was usually quite friendly with approached and spoke warmly. It was truly a savior in itself. Jerim immediately grabbed the staff member’s arm and shot him a desperate look, as if pleading, ‘Please take me somewhere.’

“Yes. Is something the matter?”

Even if nothing is the matter, I’ll follow you first. While thinking that, Jerim nodded his head like a madman, and the staff member smiled brightly and pointed behind the corner of the cafeteria building. It was the moment he went around the corner, puzzled by the tone that suggested an introduction to a surprise gift.

“I have arrived.”

“…Coach?”

In the secluded back alley, the CEO of the agency Jerim belonged to, his old mentor, Coach Kang Juhan, was standing with his arms wide open. As if telling him to run quickly and be hugged. Jerim immediately abandoned the two teammates who were making his life difficult and ran to be hugged in a single bound.

“Coach! Seriously, the timing, wow, really…!”

It was the moment of liberation he had longed for.

The corners of Jerim’s mouth drew a happy arc as he babbled that he wouldn’t be able to train today because a very important guest had come to visit. He broke the promise he had made as if he had been waiting for the chance and moved lightheartedly to the reception room.

Jerim personally pulled two cups of capsule coffee and placed the sweet caramel latte in front of Juhan. His own portion was an Americano with no additives.

After taking a sip of the coffee, Jerim frowned and put the cup down immediately. It was coffee he used to drink with quite a bit of enjoyment before, but after tasting the hand-drip coffee Aaron had personally brewed, all coffee felt the same to him now.

Instead of the bitter coffee, Jerim poured himself some hot water, added a cup in front of him, and muttered with a look of deep relief.

“I was really saved thanks to you, Coach…”

“Hey, I told you to call me CEO. More importantly, weren’t you with other people earlier? The voices I heard weren’t just yours alone. Is it okay for you to just come here with me like this?”

“It’s fine. I was really, desperately waiting for someone to take me far away…”

Juhan burst into a hollow laugh at the dialogue, which sounded like a protagonist in a heavy melodrama.

“Disgusting, Ban Jerim. Where is this flattery coming from? Are you that glad to see me?”

“It’s not flattery, but it’s true I’m glad. What about you, Mr. CEO, didn’t you miss me?”

“You rascal… I missed you too.”

Immediately, the boisterous laughter of the two followed. Jerim did not harbor very good feelings toward the managers or coaches who taught him during his youth in Korea. With the sole exception of Juhan.

Even though Juhan had a history of urging his mother, saying it would be a national loss not to let such a kid play soccer or that he should start English tutoring, he was a person to be thankful for in many ways. He was also a benefactor who created various opportunities for Jerim based on his own experience of studying abroad in Spain.

He arranged Jerim’s admission into the Taborona youth system so that he wouldn’t have to play soccer while being financially strapped, and around the time Jerim became an adult, he took it upon himself to act as an agent and quickly finalized a transfer to a club that promised a first-team professional contract.

Building on that experience and the merit of having discovered two national team players—Ban Jerim and Song Yeobin—Juhan established an agency specializing in soccer players together with Changsik. That agency has been reliably responsible for domestic star players, including Jerim and Yeobin, to this day.

Above all, he was also the only instructor who had never hit Jerim. The attitude Jerim had when dealing with teammates as a captain was also created by referring to the words and actions of Juhan, who was a coach, and Glenn, who was the captain of Newum FC. Relaxing tension with witty remarks, always maintaining a friendly distance, but being strict when necessary.

Since he was a figure who had exerted such a profound influence on him, it was impossible not to be glad to see him. Jerim also comfortably lowered the corners of his eyes and asked.

“When did you get here? Did Changsik hyung come too?”

Is he hiding somewhere like a surprise gift? When Jerim looked around and glared at the cabinet area with a suspicious look, Juhan waved his hand.

“No, Changsik is busy. He’s probably running around until the soles of his feet sweat trying to adjust your November schedule.”

“My November schedule? What is there to adjust? Didn’t I already negotiate with the club not to be called up for the A-match that month?”

Since his absence from the November A-match was a matter decided early on, he asked back with a somewhat anxious heart, wondering if it had fallen through. Although it was sad not to be able to return to Korea, it was because he was inwardly looking forward to the two-week vacation he would finally be able to enjoy. At that, Juhan clapped his hands loudly to gather Jerim’s attention.

“That’s right. So you should film a variety show.”

“…Suddenly?”

“What’s with this reaction? You like appearing on broadcasts.”

“No… I don’t like it anymore… And it’s in the middle of the season…”

The lie detector video he filmed with Aaron had become a massive meme among fans, and at the same time, it had long since become a trauma for Jerim. Since then, perhaps realizing that putting him and Aaron together made money, even the club was planning all sorts of bizarre original content, which was giving him a headache.

Solving a quiz about each other with Aaron. Going on a treasure hunt around the training center with Aaron. Shopping at the Sefton souvenir shop with a set budget with Aaron. Playing a truth game with Aaron. Besides those, with Aaron, with Aaron, with Aaron… There were already more than five projects he had rejected, saying he absolutely couldn’t do them.

He knew that the soccer world originally ran on extreme capitalism, but this was a bit much… Looking at the comments posted as if vomiting blood in all sorts of languages every time he and Aaron were together, or the YouTube view counts that were inflated several times over, even the great Jerim would sometimes get a bit scared. Also, the maniacal smiles of the media team staff who grinned like they were doping while looking at those view counts…