On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 2

Jung Minam clapped a hand on Song Seokhyun’s shoulder.

“What do you mean, ‘why’? What else would we do on a day like today? We need to lift our spirits.”

“What’s so special about today?”

“You little… What do you mean? Isn’t it the anniversary of us both being officially unemployed?”

Song Seokhyun managed a wry smile.

“You weren’t even planning on going pro anyway, or going to college.”

“Hey, I still had a scout from a local university sniffing around.”

“Really?”

Kim Youngseok chuckled beside him.

“But they wanted money. I guess they knew Minam was loaded.”

“Ah… so there are still places that take bribes for admission. So what?”

Jung Minam shrugged.

“So what? Why would I go there? I told you, I’m going to run a business. You should join me. My dad’s already thinking of handing over the screen baseball field [an indoor baseball simulation game center] we run. He said he’ll give it to me if he sees me putting in the work.”

“Lucky you, Minam. Becoming a boss right after graduating high school?”

“What, you think my dad would just hand it to me? He’ll work me to the bone before he does.”

“He’s not working you to the bone. He’s just making sure you learn the ropes.”

“Yeah, about that.”

Jung Minam leaned in and whispered into Song Seokhyun’s ear.

“How about coming to work for me? As vice president?”

“What, are you crazy? Vice president?”

“Yeah, neither of us has anyone calling for us anyway. And we’re not going to take the college entrance exam. Running a business is the best. Don’t you think?”

“Why suddenly business?”

Kim Nayoung, who had been quiet until now, spoke up.

“Are we going to keep standing here and talking? If we’re going to buy it anyway, let’s go in and get it quickly.”

“Ah, right. If Nayoung didn’t have me and Seokhyun… she’d be in trouble. Youngseok, let’s go in and buy it.”

“Me?”

“Make sure you call me ‘hyung’ [older brother, used by males] when we’re inside.”

Jung Minam grabbed Kim Youngseok and headed into the mart.

Song Seokhyun shoved his hands in his pockets.

“But what are they buying?”

Kim Nayoung answered with her arms crossed.

“Alcohol. Alcohol and snacks.”

“Alcohol? Why alcohol?”

“She said she’s feeling down today, so let’s have a drink.”

“Suddenly alcohol? What about you? Are you going to drink too?”

“I don’t know. Maybe, maybe not.”

“You shouldn’t drink. Your parents will flip out if you do. Their only daughter and the hope of the family coming home drunk… ugh. The top student in the whole school should maintain some dignity.”

Kim Nayoung pouted.

“You’ve become such a *kkondae*, Seokhyun [a condescending older person],”

“I’m not being a *kkondae*, I’m just stating facts. I’m not in the mood to drink either. Let’s just have a drink and cheer them up, then go home.”

“Hey, Song Seokhyun.”

“Yeah?”

Kim Nayoung said without looking at Song Seokhyun.

“Are you going to try studying now, even if it’s late? You’re smart. You used to tutor me when we were in elementary school.”

“Why are you bringing up the past? Elementary school was ages ago. That was a long, long time ago. What’s the point of the college entrance exam now? If it was still a year away, maybe. Forget it, forget it.”

“Then what are you going to do? Are you really not going to college?”

“How can I go to college? I wasn’t planning on going to college in the first place. You know, my goal was to go straight to the pros. Even if I went to college, there’s tuition and living expenses; it’s impossible.”

“Are you really going to work with Minam?”

Song Seokhyun sighed deeply.

“I don’t know. I’m grateful to Minam, but honestly, I feel bad every time. The fact that he gave up the catcher position for me… if it were anyone else, it wouldn’t have happened. But Minam suddenly got sick or something, so I ended up becoming the catcher against my will…”

“Minam really likes you a lot.”

“I’m thankful, but I feel so bad that I don’t know if it’s okay. But there’s still time, so I’m going to think about it. What can I do to make a living… I wonder if they’re hiring for little league coaches. I think I could do that.”

Kim Nayoung lowered her head and scuffed the ground with her foot.

Song Seokhyun said.

“But why didn’t you apply for early admission? Are you more confident in the college entrance exam?”

“Me? Um… I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know? It’s your business.”

“I don’t know, forget it.”

“Why are you suddenly getting annoyed? Is it that time of the month?”

“Hey!”

Song Seokhyun raised both hands.

“Sorry, sorry. You’re so sensitive. Okay, I won’t ask.”

Kim Nayoung turned her head away from Song Seokhyun.

“So you don’t have any plans?”

“Me? Well… yeah, that’s right. I’m just lazing around. I’m even thinking of going to the military early.”

“The military?”

Kim Nayoung looked at Song Seokhyun.

“Yeah, I think it’s better to just get the military service over with instead of wasting time. Or I’m thinking of applying to be a non-commissioned officer. I can earn money if I become a non-commissioned officer. And my physical strength and health are top-notch.”

“No way.”

Kim Nayoung said through gritted teeth.

“No way, you’re not doing that.”

“What do you mean ‘no way,’ suddenly?”

“Why are you suddenly talking about the military? Everyone else is going to college or something, and you’re going straight to the military?”

“Why do you care if I go? Are you saying I should just stay home and do nothing?”

“You could at least work with Minam.”

“Nah. I’d feel too bad for Minam. I think it’s better to go to the military or become a non-commissioned officer and save money.”

Kim Nayoung clenched both fists.

“You really…”

“Why are you looking at me so scary? You’re giving me the creeps.”

“…”

“…Why, why? What. Why are you looking at me like that?”

Just then, Jung Minam and Kim Youngseok came out of the mart with shopping bags full of groceries.

“Hey, hurry up and take some of this. The alcohol is heavy.”

Jung Minam handed a shopping bag to Song Seokhyun.

Song Seokhyun quickly took the shopping bag and avoided Kim Nayoung’s gaze.

“Nayoung, you take this. It’s just snacks, so it’s light. My hands are full.”

Jung Minam held out a bag full of snacks.

Kim Nayoung snatched the bag and walked ahead.

“…Hey, what’s wrong with Nayoung? Why is she so pissed? What did you do?”

At Jung Minam’s question, Song Seokhyun scratched his head.

“I don’t know. She was being cranky, so I asked if it was her period, and I think she got even more pissed.”

Kim Youngseok and Jung Minam looked at Song Seokhyun with disdain.

“Are you crazy?”

“What?”

“You know Nayoung’s personality, why would you say that? Oh my, you must have a death wish.”

“Isn’t that level of teasing somewhat excusable?”

“The college entrance exam is just around the corner. You have to understand that Nayoung is on edge. Aren’t you and I thinking too lightly about it just because we’re not taking the exam?”

“Is that so? Youngseok, do you think so too?”

Kim Youngseok nodded.

“I relieve my stress by playing games and watching porn, but she doesn’t have anything like that. Only studying, studying, studying, so she’s maxed out on stress.”

“Ah… I see. She’s stressed about the college entrance exam. I didn’t think about that. That’s why she’s angry.”

“Make sure you make it up to her later. Don’t mess with Nayoung’s personality.”

“Tch. Okay, okay. Hey, where are we going to drink?”

* * *

Minam Screen Baseball.

The fifth floor of a building with a large sign.

The four of them spread out a mat and settled down.

“This place is good, right? It’s spacious and there’s no one here, perfect, perfect. There’s internal construction until the day after tomorrow, so no one will come here.”

Jung Minam chattered on, taking food out of the bag.

Kim Youngseok asked.

“If it’s under construction, won’t the construction workers come?”

“The construction is already finished for today. They’ll come tomorrow morning. This place is empty. The lights are off, so no one will come. This is the perfect place. The timing is perfect, right?”

Jung Minam took out a can of beer and tossed it to Song Seokhyun.

Song Seokhyun caught the beer and glanced at Kim Nayoung. Kim Nayoung didn’t even look at Song Seokhyun and was busy opening the snack bag.

Song Seokhyun opened the beer can and took a sip.

“Ah, good. It’s refreshing.”

“Right? If we don’t drink on a day like this, when will we? Okay, okay, let’s all open a can of beer. A toast to us becoming unemployed, and to you two for acing the college entrance exam! Nayoung has cola… huh? When did you open that?”

“Cheers.”

Kim Nayoung had already opened a can of beer and was chugging it down.

The three of them exchanged surprised glances.

“Haa, that makes me feel better. Ugh, really.”

Kim Nayoung huffed and glared at Song Seokhyun.

Song Seokhyun avoided Kim Nayoung’s eyes.

“What are you doing? Not drinking? Just watching?”

Kim Nayoung took the lead, and the other three couldn’t refuse.

The alcohol, which started with beer, continued with soju [Korean distilled rice liquor].

Kim Youngseok, who usually couldn’t drink well, passed out after half a bottle of soju. Jung Minam also passed out after a bottle of soju.

The only ones left were Song Seokhyun and Kim Nayoung.

“Hey, Song Seokhyun.”

“What?”

“Haa, are you really going to the military?”

“I have to. If you’re a man, you have to go.”

“Are you going right away?”

“I’m still thinking about it… but if I’m going, I should go right away. It’s better to get it over with quickly, right?”

“…Tch. That’s so unfair. That’s so unfair!”

“What’s unfair?”

“I feel sorry for you, so sorry. It wasn’t your sign mistake. It was the pitcher’s fault. But how come no one is on your side? How could they ostracize you from the team right away? Isn’t that too much? The adults couldn’t even protect their student… ugh!”

Kim Nayoung lifted the soju bottle and drank it straight.

Song Seokhyun took the soju from Kim Nayoung’s hand.

“Don’t overdo it. Why are you getting so upset? I’m the one involved, and I’m fine.”

“Am I, am I… what? Not a friend?”

“You’re not a stranger. You’re a friend. I appreciate you worrying about me, but you’re being a bit… extreme today. Are you stressed too?”

“I am. Very much. My insides are rotting. Ugh, you should have charged at them like Minam. Then you would have felt better. Why did you just obediently leave the team? See? You can’t go anywhere in the end. You haven’t played a single game since that incident, so is there even a team that will scout you? The coach too. He should take responsibility since he brought you in. He just cuts you off because the principal tells him to? No matter how I think about it, that’s too much. It’s petty! It’s really petty!”

Song Seokhyun poured water and drank it without answering.

Kim Nayoung poked Song Seokhyun’s side.

“Say something. Aren’t you frustrated living like that? Aren’t you upset?”

“I’m not free enough to live my life counting every unfair thing. Well… I’ve been working hard at baseball until now. My dad’s dream was to be a baseball player, so I worked hard too, but what can I do if I don’t have the luck? At least I have something to say to my dad later. I can just say I worked hard but it didn’t work out. I’m tired of baseball now. I don’t want to cling to it. I hate it.”

“What about your life? You’ve been playing baseball your whole life. What are you going to do in the future?”

“I don’t know. I’ll figure it out. It’s not like I can’t do anything but baseball. I have plenty of time to think. I’m going to go to the military and think about it.”

“…Tch.”

Kim Nayoung tried to drink again, but Song Seokhyun stopped her.

“Stop. Stop drinking, you crazy. You’ll pass out. I know you can drink well, but how are you going to get home if you drink like this?”

“Whatever. I’m not going. I’m not going home!”

“Are you going through puberty? What’s wrong with you today? What are you going to do if you don’t go home?”

Kim Nayoung glared at Song Seokhyun.

Song Seokhyun flinched without realizing it.

“Why, why?”

“…Phoo. I’m so annoyed, really.”

Kim Nayoung sulked and didn’t talk to Song Seokhyun anymore.

Kim Nayoung, who was muttering to herself with her knees pulled up, also fell asleep.

With all three of them asleep, Song Seokhyun went to the bathroom and washed his face.

The cold water touched his cheeks and sobered him up.

“Haa.”

Song Seokhyun looked in the mirror.

A red, swollen face.

A face he couldn’t find when he was training from dawn to be a catcher.

“Hoo…”

Song Seokhyun washed his face again.

No matter how much cold water he used, his head wouldn’t clear.

Song Seokhyun bared his teeth and smiled in the mirror.

He smiled until the corners of his mouth trembled.

Tears that hadn’t been wiped away yet ran down his cheeks.

* * *

“Hey, hey. I have to take Nayoung home, so I’m going to get up first.”

“Huh? Huh, huh?”

Jung Minam couldn’t come to his senses and was staggering.

Song Seokhyun lightly slapped Jung Minam’s cheek.