Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 118

Triumphant return.

Though not exactly a triumphant return in silk robes, it was a successful return with gold.

Not returning to my hometown in silk clothes, but returning with gold, you know.

Back in Korea, I stood before the reporters, smiling brightly, and gave a thumbs-up as the representative of the Korean national team. After going through several interviews, I returned home and crashed.

The tension completely released, I collapsed onto the bed and immediately passed out.

Perhaps I was mentally exhausted, because I woke up after quite a long time and checked my phone.

It seemed Japan was in an uproar, talking about dismissing their coach and threatening violence against the two players who provoked Korea.

Not my problem.

I’m no longer interested in that. Instead, I read through the articles about Korea’s back-to-back Premier12 championships.

Ugh… that’s me with the number 4, smiling brightly and giving a thumbs-up. Even now, two days later, I can’t hide my amazement.

With this, everything for the 2019 season is truly over. All that’s left is to rest well, get my body in shape, go through spring training, and then jump into the regular season.

“Ugh, I should get up.”

I put down my phone and got out of bed. I must have slept a long time, because it was well past noon.

I escaped from the bed, did some stretching to wake up, pulled on some tubing, and rotated my rotator cuff.

After finishing my basic exercises, I started to feel hungry. It was dinner time, but I figured I should have my first meal of the day, so I was rummaging through the fridge when,

Ding―

The phone on the table announced its presence.

[Are you resting well?]

[Rabbit waving a ‘Fighting’ sign emoticon]

“Hehe.”

I let out a slightly goofy laugh and tapped away at the phone keyboard.

[Of course, I’m resting well]

[How about you, Min-young?]

[Isn’t it almost time for you to leave work?]

Ding―

[Are you not busy today?]

As soon as I put the phone down, another notification popped up.

[Yes! I’m getting ready to leave work!]

[Rabbit waving a ‘Let’s go home!’ sign emoticon]

Let’s go home… those four words have never seemed so sincere.

I sent back a reply, telling her she worked hard today and to get home safely, and each time, the number 1 next to the message disappeared [indicating the message was read].

[How about Han-wool’s meal?]

[Are you taking care of yourself and eating well?]

[Rabbit waving a ‘Let’s eat’ sign emoticon]

I sent a message, phrasing my intention to just grab whatever’s at home as elegantly as possible.

But does our Min-young have eyes that see the truth…

[You shouldn’t do that!]

[Should I come over and make something for you?]

[Rabbit waving a ‘Let’s eat’ sign emoticon]

Out of nowhere, a bomb dropped.

“…….”

Thump— The refrigerator door closed. Following that, a series of chaotic sounds echoed through the house.

Throwing out the trash, taking down the crisply dried laundry, opening the windows for ventilation.

“Hoo….”

Ding―

[Is there anything you want to eat in particular?]

After about 10 minutes of quick tidying up, I got another message.

Something I want to eat…

Honestly, I’d be happy to eat anything Min-young makes, but for the person cooking, that would be the worst possible answer, so,

[Um…]

[Kimchi stew…]

After thinking deeply, I selected the menu.

[Okay!]

[I’m leaving work a bit early today, haha]

[Oh, right]

[What’s Han-wool’s address?]

I finished typing as quickly as possible to buy some time.

[Ah, then I think I’ll arrive around 6!]

[Rabbit waving a ‘Let’s eat’ sign emoticon]

As soon as the meeting time was fixed, I quickly checked the clock.

“…5:30.”

I only had 30 minutes. I had to turn this house upside down in these 30 minutes.

“Hmm….”

The minimalist two-room apartment wasn’t really that messy to begin with.

My room had a bed, desk, drawers, and wardrobe.

The living room had only essential appliances.

The small room had a display cabinet and some simple exercise equipment.

But the news that someone was coming to my house was like magic that made even my clean house look incredibly messy.

Especially if the person visiting was Min-young, of all people.

Ding-dong―

“Han-wool!”

Oh my.

Having lost all memory of the last 30 minutes, I headed to the front door. Controlling my trembling fingers, I grabbed the doorknob.

“Oh, you’re, you’re here…?”

“Hello!”

Ah, she’s radiant.

A pure white blouse.

A khaki pencil skirt.

A pink pouch modestly covering her front.

Even in the dark hallway, she was bright enough to light up a person.

“Ah, let me take that.”

“It’s okay. It’s not that heavy.”

My eyes were drawn to the ingredients packed in a rather large bag.

“First of all… um….”

Min-young, who had placed the bag on the table with a thud, put her finger to her lips and looked around the house.

With each degree her gaze shifted, my heart seemed to flip by one degree as well.

“Are you hungry?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll make it quickly. Please wait a little. Oh, do you have rice?”

“Ah.”

I blamed myself for not even preparing the most basic ingredient, and Min-young smiled prettily, reassuring me.

“It’s okay, you have rice, right?”

“Ah, yes. Here.”

Good.

As if she had bought it on the way, an apron that I had never seen in my house appeared with a poof!

Equipping herself with the gear, the girlfriend who had received a self-buff started taking out the ingredients one by one from the bag.

Pork. More pork. Various seasonings. Potatoes. Vegetables.

I couldn’t guess what she was going to make just by looking at them, and I thought that if I tried to help, it would only be a hindrance, so I just sat still.

Chop chop chop―

First, washing the rice and putting it in the rice cooker.

Soaking the trimmed pork in water.

Trimming the potatoes and vegetables.

“Wow….”

Watching her skillfully handle the ingredients, all I could do was exclaim in admiration.

Min-young, with two heated, red-hot pots behind her, smiled brightly.

“Now we just wait.”

“What’s that…?”

“Ah, this? It’s braised short ribs.”

…Oh my god.

“Ah… do you not like braised short ribs?”

“No. I can’t get enough of it.”

“That’s a relief!”

Clap!

“Alright, then!”

Min-young clapped once to get my attention and then gave a sly smile.

“Yes, yes….”

“Let’s take a look around Han-wool’s house!”

“…….”

It’s finally coming.

“Yes… um….”

First, from the small room.

Opening one of the closed doors revealed a room with a lot of empty space.

“What kind of room is this?”

“It’s a small room. I use it as a storage, exercise, and decoration room.”

“Wow… wow! This!”

Min-young ran to the display case that was visible as soon as you opened the door. She pointed to the trophies with her finger and said,

“I know this! Last year’s and the year before’s trophies!”

“Yes… I was lucky in many ways.”

“It’s not luck. It’s because Han-wool is so good.”

After that, I looked around the small room, but there wasn’t anything particularly special.

A pile of luggage that I hadn’t felt the need to organize, so I just wrapped it up nicely.

Two 1kg dumbbells and a purple yoga mat.

A clothes rack that was more for hanging tubing bands.

“And… this is the room where Han-wool sleeps, right?”

“Th-that’s right.”

Doo-geun doo-geun [onomatopoeia for a heart beating fast].

Min-young was expressing the movements of her heart with her face, and I was feeling my heart on my own.

Oh my…….

I took a deep breath and opened the door to the room where I actually lived.

Contrary to my worries, it looked quite clean, so I didn’t feel like the 30 minutes I spent running around had been in vain.

“Hee….”

Carefully, with cautious steps, Min-young entered my room. I followed Min-young’s footsteps.

“Hmm. It’s cleaner than I thought?”

“Oh, that’s a relief.”

“That ‘relief’ means….”

Min-young’s mouth turned into a ‘W’ shape.

“You cleaned reeeeally hard before I came, didn’t you?”

“…Yes.”

Min-young giggled as if she liked my honest confession. Then she went to the bed, flinched once, and looked at me.

“…Can I sit down for a moment?”

“Yes, yes. You can.”

The girlfriend who had received permission sat down on the boyfriend’s bed with a thump.

“It’s amazing, really.”

“Is it amazing?”

I approached her with a faint smile. I sat down at a distance that was neither too far nor too close for lovers.

“Yes. I knew about baseball from the time I started to understand things because of my parents. I liked it. Then I saw a player named Kim Han-wool….”

A somewhat wistful look caught the edge of my vision.

“You never know what will happen in life. A junior at my company was friends with that baseball player she liked, and then we met again, and then….”

Her palm touched the back of my hand that was placed between us.

“And now I’m even your boyfriend.”

Her quiet voice had the power to turn my head in that direction.

Before I could even worry about whether I looked stupid or ugly in the expression I was making while looking at Min-young,

“Hehe.”

The face that had come close to my eyes gradually moved away.

I don’t know what kind of expression I made, or what I’m thinking right now. But I can be sure of one thing, just one thing.

“Wow! Han-wool’s face is so red!”

“Th-that….”

“Ahahaha, so cute!”

While I was wondering how to get revenge on my older girlfriend who was teasing me,

Chee-eek― [sound of the rice cooker indicating the rice is ready]

The delicious rice is ready!

“Ah, let’s eat!”

The rice was perfectly done.

Damn it. The timing sucks.

I had no choice but to follow Min-young, who had left my room before me. Scratching the back of my head, I prepared the dishes, trying to be mindful of the situation.

Two rice bowls, two soup bowls, and two sets of spoons and chopsticks.

“Eat up!”

Receiving her permission with a warm smile, I picked up my chopsticks first.

“I’ll enjoy the meal.”

“Yes!”

I put a piece of braised short rib, cut into a bite-sized piece, into my mouth. The soft texture and salty seasoning, everything was perfect.

This time, I picked up a spoon and took a large spoonful of kimchi stew. The crunchy kimchi and spicy broth, the stew was also perfect.

“…Wow.”

“How is it?”

“D-delicious.”

“Ah, that’s a relief….”

Seeing her take a small, big breath, she must have been nervous inside.

“You should eat too, Min-young.”

“Ah, yes.”

As I savored each taste, I noticed Min-young eating a little late.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

I’ve eaten with her alone quite a few times, but it was amazing that the place was our house, not somewhere else.

“I’m just amazed too.”

I’ve forgotten how many years I’ve been living alone. How many times have I eaten with someone other than myself at home during that long time?

“You should come often from now on.”

“Well… I’d be very grateful if you did….”

“Then Han-wool’s house will always be kept clean too.”

You say painful things without batting an eye.

One bowl, two bowls, half a bowl.

Only after eating a total of two and a half bowls of rice did the meal end. I was horrified when she tried to do the dishes and stopped her.

I managed to get Min-young to sit down and we talked. As I was laughing without realizing how much time had passed, it became quite late.

“Um, shouldn’t you be heading back soon?”

“Eh? Eh… does Han-wool want me to leave quickly?”

“No, no, it’s not that, it’s just, um….”

“I’m just kidding.”

“Oh… yes… I thought your father might be worried….”

“He’s not particularly worried? He even told me to sleep over if I could….”

Oh my, Father…….

“Well… there will be a time for that someday.”

Min-young, who threw out words that made me feel dizzy, got up from her seat with a sly smile.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes, y-yes….”

What should I say, I was overwhelmed by her spirit.

I quickly pulled myself together, went into my room, and grabbed my car keys, wallet, and phone. Min-young, who was waiting in front of the door with her shoes on, took a step back when I came out.

Taking her hand again, I slowly went down the stairs,

Beep―

I opened the door of the car that was parked. Was it because she felt wronged that we had to separate and get into the car separately?

“Hehehe….”

As soon as Min-young got into the car, she snatched my right hand. Her appearance was somewhat absurd, but also cute, so I couldn’t help but smile.

“Ah… come to think of it, that’s right. Min-young.”

“Yes?”

As I carefully headed towards Min-young’s house, an important event came to mind.

“Gyu-jin hyung [older brother/friend] is getting married on Sunday. So, would you like to… go with me?”

“Sunday?”

“Yes.”

“Ah… just a moment.”

Min-young, who had requested a postponement, quickly took out her phone and checked this and that, and then,

“Yes! I think it’ll be okay.”

She smiled brightly again.

“…I’m just asking in case, but you didn’t break any existing plans because of this, did you….”

“…….”

Min-young is easy to read.

“You’re not pushing yourself, are you?”

“It’s okay. It’s really not a big deal. Rather, if I don’t go, it’ll just be my father and mother, so wouldn’t they be happier?”

“…….”

Oh my god.

Hearing that she had canceled something huge without batting an eye, the pressure was upgraded by one level.

“I think we’ll be able to meet more often this year.”

“Right?”

“Hmm… I’ve saved up my vacation days, should I just use them all up….”

S-scary person.

“P-please don’t do that… you should use them when you really need them.”

“Hmm….”

After persuading and persuading Min-young with difficulty,

You have arrived at your destination.

I arrived in front of Min-young’s house. I put the gear stick in P for a moment and watched Min-young get ready to get out.

“Then… I’ll go now. I’ll see you again on Sunday.”

“I guess so. There aren’t many days left.”

“Hehe, um, please text me the time and everything.”

“Ah, the place where Gyu-jin hyung booked the wedding hall isn’t far from Min-young’s house. Just get ready and I’ll pick you up from here.”

“Okay, okay.”

Saying goodbye to Min-young, I had already lowered the window on the passenger side. Because we’ll exchange a word or two even after she gets out and closes the door.

Click―

So, while Min-young was getting out of the car, I tapped the navigation system and entered my home address.

Even though it was a more time-consuming task than I thought, I didn’t hear the sound of the door closing again, so I wondered what was going on and turned my head to the right.

“Han-wool.”

Sure enough, Min-young was still looking at me with the door open, not getting out.

“Yes?”

“Would you like to see this, just once?”

Min-young said, holding out her left hand. There was nothing in it, so I wondered if she had hurt herself somewhere, and as I was looking down at her white hand,

Kiss―

“Hehe, I’m going now!”

Thump-!

“…….”

After doing something playful, she quickly ran away to her house.

“…Oh my.”