Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 278

#277. A Terrible Human Being

“Oppa, please try this. I know you avoid fruit because of the sugar, but you still eat strawberries. Just one bite, please.”

A hectic day had passed.

After beating up Tyson Basham, I was dragged to the hospital by my teammates.

There, I had to undergo so many tests that I wondered if it was really necessary.

And the conclusion was:

‘No special findings other than mild concussion symptoms.’

It was a relief, but returning to the game immediately was out of the question.

The manager ordered me to rest for two days, today and tomorrow. He suggested that we decide on the future schedule after another examination.

So, I ended up missing two games.

I didn’t realize it when I was tangled up with those damn Yankees, but as I rested at home, all sorts of thoughts came to mind.

Someone might laugh at me for being stuck in the memories of the past and unable to move forward,

But for the past few years, the last regret and lingering attachment in my heart was to meet her just once.

That had all gone up in smoke.

The person I struggled to find was not her.

Or maybe it was her. Maybe I just didn’t recognize her.

That was the crux of the problem.

I realized how foolish it was to search for a future person based on something that hadn’t even happened yet.

So, I gave up. Giving up on finding her, and on clearing up my past and future lingering feelings.

“Yerin, never mind the strawberries, come sit here.”

“Yes? Oh, okay. Just a moment, Oppa. Let me tidy this up.”

Min Yerin tidied up around me and came to sit next to me.

Our eyes met. I could read worry and concern for me in them.

“Oppa, are you having a hard time?”

“Yeah.”

Min Yerin was asking.

If I was okay.

Not asking about my body. Asking about my heart.

This girl, who always worries about and thinks of me more than herself, is worried about whether my heart has been hurt.

“Yerin.”

“Yes, Oppa.”

“Shall we go out for a walk?”

I left the house and started walking slowly along the promenade.

I didn’t realize it when I was inside, but it was already dusk.

Perhaps because of the rain during the day, the scent of grass was strong everywhere.

I suddenly wondered if today’s game went well, but the thought quickly disappeared from my head.

“Wear this.”

“Yes? Oh, no. It’s okay. I’m not cold.”

“Wear it. It’s a disaster if a singer catches a cold and damages her voice.”

“But…….”

“It’s okay. I have a high metabolism, so my body generates heat even when I’m still… um, never mind, just wear it.”

“Okay…….”

I took off my jacket and put it on Min Yerin, then continued walking forward.

Out of the residential area, forward, and forward again,

We walked and walked until we reached a shallow hill leading to the park.

“Wow…….”

“Nice, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Oppa……. I’ve seen it a few times while passing by, but it’s even nicer in person.”

“Why? You should come out for a walk sometimes, too.”

“Oh, I was going to come with Oppa later… No, it’s nothing. Anyway, I’m here now.”

I stared silently at the Seattle skyline in the distance for a while.

How much time had passed?

Min Yerin, who had been captivated by the Seattle skyline, slowly opened her mouth as if she had made up her mind.

“Su-hyeok Oppa.”

“Yeah, tell me.”

“I don’t really know why you’re looking for that person. I was curious at first, but I decided not to ask. Because I know that’s not important.”

“…….”

“So, I don’t know why you’re having a hard time. But there’s one thing I want to tell you.”

Min Yerin paused.

I turned my gaze to her without realizing it.

“I like you. I like you a lot, Oppa. So, cheer up, Oppa. You can lean on me sometimes.”

“Yerin.”

I reached out to her.

It was the first time in my life that I had extended my hand to a woman, a hand filled with my heart.

Min Yerin took my hand. And said, as if whispering.

“I love you.”

I didn’t know before how brave it was to say ‘I like you’ or ‘I love you’ to someone.

But I know now.

Her words from a long time ago came back to my mind once again.

I hoped that I would learn how to love someone, how to be loved,

I answered her in my heart.

Thank you for everything, I will try to be that kind of person, live well wherever you are.

I will now move forward with this person in front of me.

“Yerin, me too.”

“Yes?”

“It’s cold. Let’s go inside.”

“Oppa! Wait! Please say what you just said one more time! Waaah…….”

* * *

[Mariners vs. Yankees Game 2, played with many key players missing, Seattle wins 2-0 with Ryan Thibeau’s 9-inning shutout]

[Ryan Thibeau, selected as the game’s MVP: “I could have thrown a 100-mile fastball at the Yankees hitter’s head today, but I didn’t. Unlike some people, I’m a baseball player who knows the limits.”]

[Seattle fans furious at Han Su-hyeok’s injury: “If the steroid user’s home run record isn’t broken this season, it’s all because of that son of a bitch, Tyson Basham. We’ll never let him get away with it if he comes to Seattle again.”]

[New York Yankees officially announce Tyson Basham’s test results: “Diagnosed with a fractured rib and fractured jaw, requiring 8 weeks of recovery. Difficult to return before the All-Star Game, regardless of suspension.” Yankees fans silent after losing their ace]

[Seattle Mariners vs. New York Yankees Game 3: Jake Howard, starting in place of Han Su-hyeok, earns his 3rd win of the season with 6 innings and 3 runs allowed. Mariners win 6-4]

[Winning pitcher Jake Howard: “No one can replace Han Su-hyeok’s absence. Fortunately, I heard he’s coming back tomorrow. I’m glad I was able to win the game ahead of his return.”]

[Ty Johnson, Bruce Matthews, and Derek Fleming, who missed the previous game, all hit home runs, leading the team to victory]

[Seattle Mariners on a 3-game winning streak: “We completed another thorough examination tonight. There is nothing wrong with Han Su-hyeok’s body. He will start in tomorrow’s game and play for the team’s victory.”]

“Woo-hoo!”

“Damn Yankees! Kneel before the returning Emperor!”

“Welcome back, Han! Knock those damn Yankees’ balls all the way to the Pacific!”

“Cowardly bastards! If you throw another beanball [a pitch intentionally aimed at the batter’s head], we’ll really shoot you!”

Han Su-hyeok’s comeback game, and the last showdown between the two teams this season.

The anger of the Seattle fans, pouring out from an hour before the game, made the Yankees players shrink back.

“Damn, the atmosphere is no joke. It feels like a real riot is about to break out.”

“It already did. I thought we were all going to die when the safety net collapsed back then.”

“It’s really terrible. It feels worse than those Cubs bastards.”

“Did you all hear? They say there were more than a few guys caught bringing guns into the stadium today?”

“Haa… I want to finish this quickly and go home. Tyson threw the beanball, not us.”

Han Su-hyeok, who has the most wins on the team with 11, a .400 batting average, and 37 home runs.

The anger of the Seattle fans, who almost lost such a Han Su-hyeok, showed no signs of subsiding.

“Play!”

In the top of the 1st inning, Mike Warren’s knuckleball silenced the Yankees hitters.

And in the bottom of the 1st inning, with leadoff hitter Derek Fleming walking, he finally returned.

“Wooooooo-!”

“Haaaaaan! Sooooooo! Hyeooooooook!”

“Kill them! Kill all those Yankees bastards!”

Han Su-hyeok, who stepped into the batter’s box, growled at the Yankees catcher.

“Did that son of a bitch run away to New York first?”

“…….”

“Good, if he didn’t run away to another country, we’ll meet again soon. Tell him. If he meets me again, it won’t end with just a few teeth.”

“…….”

“Hmm, are you deaf? Or are you too scared to answer?”

“…Damn it, look. I’m sorry you got hit by a beanball, but that was Tyson, that guy’s solo act. So don’t take it out on the wrong people and just play baseball…….”

“Take it out? I almost got hit in the head with a ball and became a vegetable, sorry? Sorry? Good, then I should do some regrettable things from now on.”

Han Su-hyeok, who swung his bat greatly in the air, glared at the pitcher.

The Yankees pitcher, who looked like he hated to throw, threw the first pitch at him.

Crack!

With a tremendous cracking sound, the batted ball soared into the sky.

The bat that flew up with the batted ball spun in the air and plunged to the ground.

“Waaaaaaaah!”

“Fucking! Great! That’s it! That’s exactly it!”

“The Yankees’ heads are flying in the sky!”

A huge batted ball soaring at an angle of over 50 degrees.

Han Su-hyeok watched the batted ball with his arms crossed.

The batted ball, which flew so far, directly hit the T-Mobile Park scoreboard.

Wham!

Han Su-hyeok, who confirmed that the batted ball had completely gone over, walked slowly towards first base as if he were jogging.

Bat flip, admiring the batted ball, base running that walks slowly as if mocking the opponent.

The Yankees players, who would have foamed at the mouth and rushed at him as usual, avoided Han Su-hyeok’s gaze and looked elsewhere as if they had made a promise.

Of course, Han Su-hyeok was not going to let it go like that.

“You, I saw you tackling Ty yesterday. Good, you’re next. If a bench clearing [a brawl where players from both teams rush onto the field] happens, I’ll kill you first.”

The second baseman’s face, frightened by Han Su-hyeok’s threat, turned white,

“You made Derek’s elbow scrape. Be prepared. I’m going to go up to the mound and plant 107 miles into your head in your at-bat today.”

The third baseman, who believed that the words were sincere, twitched his lips and tried to make some excuses.

Thud!

Han Su-hyeok, who had made a round of the diamond, slammed the home plate forcefully.

And said to the catcher.

“Be prepared, Yankees. From today, you are my enemies.”

“…….”

The catcher couldn’t answer anything despite Han Su-hyeok’s threat.

Han Su-hyeok, who had single-handedly fought against the Yankees players, went into the dugout.

“Haa…….”

A big sigh escaped from the Yankees catcher’s mouth without him realizing it.

“Damn… what a terrible guy.”

* * *

[Han Su-hyeok, who missed 2 games, shows off his strength by hitting 3 home runs in his first game back]

[Seattle Mariners, boosted by Han Su-hyeok’s 3 home runs, win a landslide victory of 9-3, firmly maintaining their first place in the American League West Division with a season record of 49 wins and 30 losses]

[Han Su-hyeok, who broke the major league record for the most home runs in the first half of the season with 40 home runs, will he be able to add 34 more in the remaining games?]

[New York Yankees manager criticizes Han Su-hyeok, saying, “Han Su-hyeok threatened the Yankees players. He is a thug, not an athlete.”]

[Mariners manager Benjamin Reynolds: “Threat? Does a guy who gets scared by a few words and can’t play his game deserve to step on the big league stage?”]

[Yankees players, who were brutally trampled in Seattle: “I don’t want to say anything. It was a terrible 4-game series.”]

[Yankees, who lost the game and were brutally pushed back in the bench clearing, return to New York in tatters]

[Mariners, excited by their 4-game winning streak against the Yankees, next face the Washington Nationals of the National League East Division]