On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 214

Jung Mi-nam nodded.

“Why wouldn’t I be? We managed to get second place, but instead of praise, all we get are articles tearing us down. There aren’t any articles criticizing Seok-hyun, but he probably doesn’t feel great either.”

“It’s not like we’re a team that always gets second place. Shouldn’t they be happy we got second after so long? I don’t get why they’re so desperate to tear us down.”

“It would have been fine if we’d lost normally, but we lost in such an absurd way. Haa. It’ll be okay in a few days anyway, but still, can you really feel completely at ease?”

“Ugh, honestly, we did lose in a pretty ridiculous way. Kim Jung-ryul is still getting roasted.”

Kim Na-young listened silently.

Jung Mi-nam tapped Kim Na-young’s full glass with his finger.

“What’s this? Not drinking beer?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. My stomach hasn’t been feeling good lately.”

“Your stomach? Why?”

Kim Young-seok answered instead.

“Sitting for long periods can mess up your stomach. You can get acid reflux and stuff. I was like that when I was studying hard too.”

“Really? I haven’t done it that much, so I wouldn’t know. Is your stomach okay?”

Kim Na-young nodded weakly.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Ugh, both you and Seok-hyun look terrible. Cheer up. Tell me if you’re having a hard time.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

The gathering ended quickly.

There was no way to keep it going when the main character, Song Seok-hyun, wasn’t in the mood.

Song Seok-hyun went with Kim Na-young to her house.

The two of them didn’t say much as they walked.

Kim Na-young hesitated several times, as if she wanted to say something.

“Are you having a really hard time these days?”

At Kim Na-young’s hesitant question, Song Seok-hyun shook his head, forcing a cheerful expression.

“No. I’m okay. It’s nothing.”

“Popular teams are popular teams. You get criticized even for second place.”

“I’m fine, but it’s frustrating that they keep trying to bring our team down. It was a mistake. It’s just a mistake, but they’re saying it’s our limit and calling us ‘Bonheads’ [a derogatory term for players who make boneheaded plays]. It reminds me of the old days, so I guess I’m getting angry.”

“Umm. I see…….”

Kim Na-young didn’t say anything more.

Before they knew it, the two of them had arrived at Kim Na-young’s house.

“Ah, Na-young. Do you have something to say? You looked like you wanted to say something earlier.”

“No. Just wanted to tell you to work hard. That I’m cheering for you, that’s all.”

“Ah…… Okay. Thanks. Then go in. I’ll contact you later.”

“Yeah, okay. You go in carefully too. Cheer up.”

“Yeah, okay.”

As Song Seok-hyun left, Kim Na-young stared at his back for a long time.

“Haa, when should I tell him?”

* * *

The day before the semi-playoffs.

Song Seok-hyun endured the constant buzzing of his phone since morning, but finally got up.

Kim In-hwan’s name was on the phone.

“Hello.”

-Hey, Seok-hyun. Are you up?

“I was just about to get up. What’s up, hyung [older brother or close male friend]? You’re up early.”

-Yeah. Things happened, you know.

“……Yes. So? What’s going on?”

-Well, it’s like this…… Do you have some time? Can we meet up today?

“Today? We’re seeing each other tomorrow anyway, why? Is something wrong?”

-No, just. Well……

“…….”

-…….

“Okay. Send me the location. I’ll go there.”

-Okay, thanks. See you later.

“We’re having lunch together, right?”

-Of course! Hyung will buy you something delicious for lunch. What do you want to eat? Korean beef? Omakase [a Japanese dining style where the chef selects and serves seasonal specialties]?

“Something too greasy in the morning is not my style. Buy me a bowl of *gukbap* [rice soup] or something. Coffee too. Deal?”

-Deal!

The place where Kim In-hwan and Song Seok-hyun met was a *gukbap* restaurant somewhere in Seoul.

Song Seok-hyun almost spat out his rice while eating.

“Cough, cough. Cough. Hack, cough.”

“Hey. Here, water. Drink water.”

Song Seok-hyun was only able to calm down after drinking three glasses of water.

“Pregnant?”

Kim In-hwan was startled and pulled his hat down deeper.

“Speak quietly, you idiot.”

“……Pregnant?”

Song Seok-hyun doubted his ears.

“Yeah, that’s what happened.”

“No, what do you mean ‘that’s what happened’?”

“I was surprised too……. I didn’t know pregnancy could happen so easily…….”

“Seriously, hyung…….”

“Hey, no, really, ha. Just one day. That day, of all days, we ran out of condoms. We thought it was safe, but, haa. I should have held back, it’s all my fault.”

“So, hyung, what are you going to do?”

“What else can I do? I have to get her into a wedding dress before she starts showing. I’m planning to have the meeting with the parents and the wedding right after the Post Season. My sister-in-law said she’ll prepare everything while I’m doing the Post Season. We decided to move into the house she’s living in. I didn’t know, but she owns her house. It’s a 30-pyeong [approximately 99 square meters] apartment with a view of the Han River.”

“Hmm, is that a boast?”

“No, well, it’s not a boast. Just saying. Anyway, I was wondering who to tell first since I was so flustered, and I thought of you. Kim Jung-ryul is still MIA, so it’s a bit awkward.”

“I guess so.”

“My sister-in-law is going to coordinate with the reporter and then tell the team and the broadcasting station before the press release. It’s hard to release an article during the semi-playoffs, and she said it would be better to release it when we enter the playoffs after the semi-playoffs.”

Song Seok-hyun wiped his mouth with a tissue and applauded softly.

“Congratulations. Both on becoming a dad and getting married. Everything’s happening so fast?”

“Thanks. It feels good to be congratulated. I feel reassured.”

“It’s a relief that your sister-in-law has drive and is straightforward, unlike hyung’s personality.”

“That’s…… well, that’s true. I didn’t know she was so proactive.”

“You don’t even need to prepare a house, and you have a kid, so hyung can just bring himself.”

“I know. My sister-in-law has been saying to just bring myself from the beginning, but I didn’t know it would really happen like this. I didn’t even know her family was so rich. She even said she’d get an apartment next to the military base when I go to the army, so don’t worry…….”

“Should I be envious……? Your sister-in-law’s love is so devoted.”

“That’s what it is? Right?”

At Kim In-hwan’s question, Song Seok-hyun just nodded.

“Of course. It’s a good thing.”

“I guess so……?”

“Yes, anyway, congratulations, hyung. Contact Jung-ryul sunbae [senior colleague or mentor] too. It’s good news.”

“Won’t hyung be in a bad mood? Should I really call him?”

“Hey, you should call him at times like this. We’re seeing each other tomorrow anyway, so it would be good to see his face beforehand.”

“Should I?”

Kim In-hwan confidently called Kim Jung-ryul.

Of course, he didn’t answer.

He wrote a long, detailed text message, and a call came in less than a minute.

“Hey, I got a call from hyung.”

Kim In-hwan smiled and pressed the call button, and Kim Jung-ryul’s voice echoed through the phone.

“Yaaa! How can you get married first!”

* * *

The three of them gathered together for the first time since the end of the regular season.

Kim Jung-ryul sat with his legs crossed, his hand on his forehead.

“Wow, seriously. I’m speechless.”

Kim Jung-ryul emptied his coffee in one gulp.

“Marriage? No, marriage is one thing. A dad? You’re becoming a dad faster than me? Huh?”

“No, hyung. It’s not like you should be getting this angry-”

“Hey, this is a complete betrayal, you idiot. You’re getting married first, you’re becoming a dad first. This is betrayal, betrayal.”

“Hyung, you can have a kid now too…….”

“What, you idiot?”

Kim In-hwan flinched.

“Haa, my head. A silent cat climbs the stove first [an idiom meaning someone unexpected achieves something], I never thought you’d be the one to cause trouble first. Haa. Are you happy? Are you happy? Are you happy to get married first?”

“……It’s not bad.”

“You must be sooo happy, so happy. You’re just so happy, Kim In-hwan. I was rehabilitating at your age, with my shoulder falling apart and going from hospital to hospital, breaking up with my girlfriend and eating tears-soaked bread, but what about youuu? An apartment with a view of the Han Riverrrr? Your sister-in-law is even buying you a carrrr? You’re just living in luxury, dying in luxury.”

Song Seok-hyun, stuck between the two, scratched his head awkwardly.

Kim Jung-ryul huffed and puffed for a long time, then sighed deeply.

“Anyway! Congratulations. You should be congratulated for being a dad. Who’s a dad in this day and age of low birth rates? Congratulations on the marriage too. Congratulations on entering the Han River apartment too. Congratulations on getting a car as a gift too……. Ah, now that I think about it, I’m so jealous. I was working like a dog at your age. Wow, what did you do to walk only on flower paths [an idiom meaning to have an easy and fortunate life]? Not only did your potential explode, but your luck with women exploded too, and your bat is just 4XL. Aaa, seriously. So jealous.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Forget it, you idiot. What are you sorry for? So, when are you announcing it?”

“We’re planning to announce it after the semi-playoffs.”

“The timing is good. What about the baby?”

“There’s no need to announce that first…….”

“Yeah. There’s no need to announce the speeding violation [a metaphor for the unexpected pregnancy]. Haa. Kim In-hwan is a dad. A snot-nosed brat is a dad. Haa, time flies, time flies.”

Kim Jung-ryul sipped his coffee.

“I need to work hard on production activities during the off-season [a euphemism for trying to have a child]. I can’t stand the sight of our kid calling your kid ‘hyung, hyung’.”

“We don’t know if it’s a son or a daughter yet…….”

“That doesn’t matter, you idiot. That’s just what I mean. Are you getting cocky now that you’re going to be a dad?”

Kim In-hwan pouted.

Kim Jung-ryul pinched Kim In-hwan’s cheek.

“I’m just jealous, jealous! Aaa, what were you in your past life to be born with everything? Not only did your potential explode, but your luck with women exploded too, and your bat is just 4XL. Aaa, seriously. So jealous.”

* * *

The next day, the semi-playoffs.

The Goat players finished their simple training and gathered in groups of three or five to watch the semi-playoffs.

The semi-playoffs between the Wolves and the Scorpions.

The game was so one-sided that it was anticlimactic.

“The Scorpions are strong.”

“You can definitely tell that the shortstop and the cleanup hitter are missing. The Wolves are just being dragged around?”

The aftereffects of the game against the Goats were evident in the semi-playoffs.

The core hitter was missing, and the shortstop, the core of the defense, was missing.

The bullpen overload at the end of the regular season also had a big impact.

The semi-playoffs had an overwhelmingly lopsided result.

The Scorpions’ 3-game winning streak.

In the meantime, Jang Dae-hee recorded a postseason ERA [Earned Run Average] of 0, becoming the small and only consolation for Wolves fans.

Ham Sung-hoon, the coach who watched the game, licked his lips.

“It seems like we only did the Scorpions a favor…….”

Post Season Rampage

Tank Game

The day after the 3rd semi-playoffs game.

Jang Dae-hee put on a suit for the first time in a while and headed to Jamsil Stadium.

Jang Dae-hee, standing in front of Jamsil Stadium, put his hand in his pocket.

“Should I write a resignation letter…….”

Jang Dae-hee chuckled to himself.

Resignation letter at a time like this.

He envied office workers.

Office workers can just hand in their resignation letters coolly, but baseball players have to explain the situation in detail to the coaches, managers, and front office staff, so it’s not cool.

“Huuuu.”

His steps to the office were heavy.

He hesitated for a long time even after arriving at the office door, when the phone rang.

A number he’d never seen before.

He would have ignored it normally, but since he had a reason not to go into the office right now, he gladly answered the phone.

“Hello?”

* * *

“…….”

“…….”

Two burly men were sitting face to face in a 2nd-floor cafe since morning.

Because of the time, there was no one in the cafe, and only the sound of jazz music flowed continuously.

“It’s out of the blue. You suddenly asking to see me.”

At Jang Dae-hee’s words, Song Seok-hyun nodded.

“I have something to say.”

“What do you have to say?”

“Um.”

Song Seok-hyun leaned back on the sofa and crossed his legs.

“I’ve been expecting it for a while, but there was something strange. It was all resolved a while ago.”

“……What are you talking about?”

“So I have something I want to say to you, and I have something to give you.”

“Aish. Don’t beat around the bush. I don’t plan on wasting time with you?”

Song Seok-hyun pointed to Jang Dae-hee’s suit.

“You’re all dressed up. Is it a special day today?”

“Mind your own business.”

“Hey, wait a minute. I really have something important to say to you.”

“Say it, then.”

“Wait a minute. Come here for a second.”

Song Seok-hyun gestured for Jang Dae-hee to come closer.