63. Trrr- Thwack! (2)
It was only after achieving the championship that Ji-seop realized the truth.
The Korean Series victory celebration wasn’t a one-time event.
There were events hosted by the parent company, events organized by the baseball team, and events held by various related organizations.
Every year, the managers and players of the Korean Series-winning team would appear on TV, saying, ‘We’ve been so busy,’ shaking their heads. Ji-seop now understood why.
“Ahem! So, as I was saying, this KH Cannons’ Korean Series victory is very important to Yeongsan City…”
Among the scheduled events, the one held at KH Cannons Field that day was a celebratory event organized by Yeongsan City Hall.
Some people might have guessed it from the organizing body, but it wasn’t exactly a welcome event for the players.
Listening to never-ending congratulatory speeches and awkwardly taking pictures with high-ranking officials they barely knew.
Even for the Cannons players, who were known for their sociability, these events just didn’t feel right.
“Ugh, I’m tired.”
“I want to go home and lie down.”
“What? It’s only been three minutes? Seriously, is this the Room of Spirit and Time [a reference to the Dragon Ball series, where time passes differently], or something…”
The players kept fidgeting, yawning, and secretly pulling out their phones to play games.
Throughout the event, they expressed their displeasure with their whole bodies, but not a single player left their spot.
Of course, this was partly because the front office, for whom the relationship with Yeongsan City Hall was crucial, had repeatedly asked the players to stay put.
But the more important reason was that a kind of ‘farewell ceremony’ was scheduled after the event.
“Coach, thank you for your hard work!”
“I guess we’ll be seeing you in the opposing team’s dugout next year?”
“Please go easy on us, Coach! Don’t tell them all my weaknesses!”
Coaching staff members were leaving the Cannons for other teams at the end of this season.
The players approached those coaches, each in their own way expressing their gratitude, sadness at parting, and wishes for their future success.
“Alright, everyone stay healthy and injury-free! Okay? Let’s all keep earning those big salaries and meet again someday!”
“Yes, Coach!”
If it was just about sending off the coaches, they wouldn’t have used the term ‘farewell ceremony’.
Players who were leaving the Cannons for various reasons were also subtly informing their teammates of this fact.
Since player contract renewals hadn’t started yet, the players saying goodbye that day were mainly those who had decided to declare free agency [FA, allowing them to sign with any team].
Everyone expected pitcher Na Jun-ho, who had shown solid performance in the bullpen, or pitcher Kim Jeong-gyu, who had been the closer before Jang Dae-woo, to leave—but there was one player who defied everyone’s expectations and declared FA.
“Why do you guys look like that? Ah, is it because of the salary negotiations? Hey, don’t worry! Just because I’m moving teams doesn’t mean I’ll ignore you guys! Just give me a call anytime…”
This was the man who was making excuses while sweating profusely.
KH Cannons’ veteran infielder, ‘Salary Negotiation Guru’ Ahn Young-chan.
* * *
Ahn Young-chan revealed his intention to declare free agency at the KH Cannons Field indoor training facility.
Trrr- Thwack!
Trrr- Thwack!
It was almost lunchtime, and they were in the middle of a ‘who can hit more home runs’ competition using the pitching machine to decide who would pay for lunch.
Ahn Young-chan, who was waiting his turn with a bat in hand, casually mentioned to his teammates that he had decided to declare FA.
“What did you say?!”
“FA?!”
To clarify before any misunderstandings arise, players rarely genuinely criticize their teammates’ FA declarations.
They often try to dissuade them out of concern, as things could go wrong, and they could end up as ‘FA orphans’ and retire.
Otherwise, everyone congratulates and encourages the FA declaration.
However, the Cannons’ younger players glared at Ahn Young-chan at this moment, probably intending to tease their senior, who was usually stingy and never spent a dime.
“Wow, Senior! This is too much! You always said you’d be buried with the Cannons, didn’t you?”
‘Cannons’ Hyena’ Gyeong Seon-woo showed his teeth first.
“That’s right! I heard it too. There’s no team like the Cannons, it’s rare to find a team that runs so rationally… I remember hearing that too?!”
Lee Soo-bin joined the conversation with a ‘This is my chance!’ expression, and Ahn Young-chan immediately went on the defensive.
“Hey, do you think I’m happy to declare FA? I’m doing it because I have no choice, really no choice!”
Ahn Young-chan said very firmly.
“You guys know my son, Min-joon, right? He told me last month. ‘Dad, I love music so much! I want to spend my whole life playing the piano!'”
Ahn Young-chan showed off his excellent acting skills.
“You may or may not know, but music? It costs a fortune! You have to get him lessons, buy him instruments, send him to study abroad… So what choice do I have? I have to declare FA and earn more money!”
Kids these days.
They don’t understand the hardships of the head of the household.
The Cannons’ hyenas seemed to shrink back slightly at Ahn Young-chan’s confident defense.
“Young-chan, what are you talking about?”
Ahn Young-chan’s defense was shattered by the addition of closer Jang Dae-woo.
“My niece Ye-seo is in the same class as Min-joon, right? Ye-seo told me last time? Min-joon fell asleep during music class and got scolded by the teacher.”
“…Huh?”
Ahn Young-chan’s face stiffened slightly.
“And the day before yesterday, didn’t you tell me you were going to get Min-joon into baseball? You asked me if I knew any good little league teams.”
“Th, that’s, Dae-woo…”
Just as Ahn Young-chan was about to make some excuse, the Cannons’ hyenas’ eyes lit up.
“I’m really disappointed, Senior!”
“Not only are you leaving the Cannons because of money, but now you’re even lying?”
“Wow, I’ve always respected you from the bottom of my heart, even though you never bought us a single meal… My heart hurts so much!”
Boo, traitor! Traitor!
Abandoning your teammates for money!
The players began to boo Ahn Young-chan.
“Hey, aren’t you guys going too far? Declaring FA is a professional player’s right!”
“That’s true… but still, you’re a traitor!”
“Boo, traitor!”
Ahn Young-chan was sweating profusely because of his rowdy juniors.
“…”
In fact, Ji-seop was secretly sighing in relief as he watched the scene.
‘So… Jang-ho was right?’
The story that players are used to meeting and parting.
The story that it’s okay to talk about going to America without any pressure.
He was skeptical when he first heard it, but seeing the players’ reaction to Ahn Young-chan, it seemed to be true.
‘He tends to be too stingy with money, but he was still a popular senior among the players…’
Even though that senior had declared FA, no player looked depressed or upset.
They were just trying to send him off by laughing, enjoying themselves, and joking around as usual.
Seeing those players, Ji-seop felt a little more at ease.
‘Okay, let’s talk today. There won’t be another chance if I miss today.’
Just as Ji-seop had made up his mind, the players were finishing up their criticism of Ahn Young-chan.
“Ah, get out of the way! It’s my turn now!”
Ahn Young-chan tried to approach the pitching machine with his bat.
“Senior, you can only hit five!”
“That’s right, you’re not a Cannons player anymore… You can’t use the Cannons’ training equipment without permission!”
“Wow, you nasty kids!”
Ahn Young-chan scoffed.
“If you limit me to five, you think I’ll come in last place? You still don’t know how scary I am when money is on the line?”
Ptui, ptui [sound of spitting].
Ahn Young-chan spat on his palm and entered the batting cage.
Just as he was about to start hitting the pitching machine, Ji-seop cautiously opened his mouth.
“Um… I have an announcement too.”
“Oh, it’s Special Reporter Kim? What is it?”
Ahn Young-chan said while adjusting his batting stance.
“Ah, is Special Reporter Kim also here because of salary negotiations? If so, you can just ask me!”
“Hey, Senior, just focus on hitting! The team manager will take care of Ji-seop’s salary!”
The players were chattering as usual.
Yeah, these players won’t be shaken no matter what I say.
Thinking that, Ji-seop mentioned something he had been worrying about for a long time—
“Actually… I’m leaving the Cannons at the end of this season.”
The next moment, what Ji-seop saw was the players looking at him in surprise.
“H-huh?!”
“What, what did you say?!”
“Special Reporter… are you talking about Special Reporter Kim?!”
Everyone couldn’t say anything more.
They just stared at Ji-seop with wide eyes and gaping mouths.
They just looked at Ji-seop with an expression of disbelief.
“…”
“…”
At this moment, all that could be heard in the noisy Cannons’ indoor training facility was—Trrr- Thwack!
Trrr- Thwack!
Because no one swung their bat, the ball from the pitching machine crashed directly into the rubber target.
Trrr- Thwack!
* * *
In the end, Ji-seop couldn’t say a proper farewell to the players that day.
He couldn’t tell them where he was going, why he was going, or when he was going.
He had only said one word, ‘I’m leaving the team,’ but the atmosphere of the team had completely plummeted.
“…”
“…”
The lunch bet they had been having so much fun with was also left unfinished at that moment.
Even when they went to eat lunch, everyone barely ate.
Since the atmosphere was so bad, Ji-seop couldn’t say anything more.
‘Damn it, I was short-sighted.’
So on the way home on the bus, Ji-seop was regretting his actions a little.
‘I should have hinted at it and seen the kids’ reactions…’
He also regretted not being able to make eye contact with the players at the right time.
He was also a little embarrassed that the players were relying on him so much.
He was also worried about how he would explain this matter to the players again.
‘…It’s not easy.’
Human relationships.
Meeting and parting.
Thinking that, Ji-seop sighed while looking out the bus window—Brrr—right then, Ji-seop’s phone in his pocket rang.
At first, he thought it was Team Manager Seo Chang-gi, but the constant vibrations indicated it was a group chat message.
‘Hmm?’
And the next moment,
Ji-seop’s expression changed subtly.
[Lee Soo-bin]: I heard Ji-seop is going to America next year. I heard it from Deputy Director Cha Yoon-jin a little while ago.
[Cheon Jin-woo]: America?
[Ahn Young-chan]: Why America?
[Lee Soo-bin]: The group is sending him. I heard he’s going to learn from a Major League team.
[Ahn Young-chan]: Ah, Major League?
[Jang Dae-woo]: Oh! If it’s Major League, I know a lot about that?!
The players seemed to be exchanging messages in the group chat.
There was definitely a chat room only for the players, but strangely, the players often used this chat room that Ji-seop and Go Chang-deok were in.
Whether they knew Ji-seop was watching their conversation or not, the players were having a pretty serious conversation.
[Ahn Young-chan]: So that’s why Ji-seop’s expression wasn’t good today? I knew something was up.
[Cheon Jin-woo]: It must have been hard for Ji-seop to say, considering the time we’ve spent together.
[Lee Soo-bin]: He’s going to the Major League, so I can’t stop him… I feel gloomy, somehow.
Up to this point, Ji-seop was looking at the messages with a somewhat moist look in his eyes.
The players were thinking of him, and they were sad to say goodbye.
It wasn’t a bad feeling to get a glimpse of those feelings.
But, right then.
[Gyeong Seon-woo]: Seniors! How about we prepare a surprise gift or something?
As Gyeong Seon-woo joined the conversation, Ji-seop’s expression began to change subtly.
[Lee Soo-bin]: Oh, that’s a good idea? We’ll prepare a gift among ourselves and surprise him?
[Gyeong Seon-woo]: Yes, we owe Special Reporter Kim a lot… We can’t just let him go like that.
[Cheon Jin-woo]: Hmm, that’s a good idea. It’s hard to just let Ji-seop go, at least.
[Ahn Young-chan]: I can also… donate about 100,000 won [approximately $75 USD] for Ji-seop.
[Lee Soo-bin]: Wow. If Ji-seop knows that Senior donated 100,000 won, he’ll be shocked?!
[Ahn Young-chan]: Shut up.
[Gyeong Seon-woo]: I can donate up to 300,000 won [approximately $225 USD].
[Ma Gang-sik]: Me too.
[Na Jun-ho]: I’m in too!
[Jang Dae-woo]: More important than the amount is security. Everyone knows how quick Special Reporter Kim is to notice things, right? Make sure he doesn’t find out…
A wry smile was already spreading across Ji-seop’s face.
‘Ah, these guys really…’
By now, at least one of them should have checked the list of participants in the chat room.
Ji-seop was wondering if he should leave the chat room or pretend not to know until the end.
[Shin Min-seong]: But Seniors, I think Special Reporter Kim is in this chat room…
[Cheon Jin-woo]: What?!
[Ahn Young-chan]: What did you say?
[Lee Soo-bin]: OMG;;;
And for a while, no messages were posted in the chat room.
Ji-seop was watching with interest, wondering how they would overcome this crisis—
[Cheon Jin-woo]: Cancel.
The team came to their own conclusion about three minutes later.
[Cheon Jin-woo]: Let’s pretend there was no gift-giving ceremony for Ji-seop.
[Ahn Young-chan]: Let’s do that! Now that I think about it, I think the money is a bit of a waste!
[Lee Soo-bin]: Yes, I think a warm word is enough.
The story that they decided not to give Ji-seop a gift.
But the Cannons players’ last operation was broken by this guy.
[Ryu Jang-ho]: I just transferred the money to Seon-woo’s account. Please check.
The Cannons’ genius hitter, who had been silent until now, suddenly popped up.
[Cheon Jin-woo]: Jang-ho…
[Jang Dae-woo]: Haa…
[Lee Soo-bin]: This is the wrong room, Senior…
[Ahn Young-chan]: Hey, how did we win the Korean Series? We’re so out of sync?!!
While looking at the players’ grumbling messages, Ji-seop was quietly smiling inside.
Ji-seop was also curious. How do they fight like that every day, but their teamwork is so perfect on the field?
‘In a way… is that our team’s color?’
Ji-seop nodded and put his phone in his pocket.
As the bus approached the bus stop near his house, this thought suddenly came to his mind.
‘By the way… a gift?’
Then me too,
Should I prepare something?