Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 75

The charity baseball game ended enjoyably.

It was a game where winning or losing didn’t matter much; I don’t remember the score. Of course, I also conveniently don’t remember the three strikeouts I suffered.

Since winning or losing wasn’t significant, the players who participated placed more importance on putting on a good show rather than the final results.

Until the third inning, when the batting order had gone around once, everyone played relatively normally. But as we moved into the fourth and fifth innings, it became harder to find players who were playing the game seriously.

Heoncheol, for example, came to bat wearing catcher’s gear instead of batting equipment.

Another actor cosplayed as a character from a certain manga [Japanese comic book].

Then there was a player who entered the batter’s box sporting Sonic the Hedgehog’s blue hair, living up to his nickname.

I… pondered quite a bit.

Nickname?

Come to think of it, I didn’t really have a notable nickname. Maybe a character.

Character.

Right, a character. So, I decided to become a character.

Just as I entered the batter’s box for the third time, the pitcher I was facing was Bae Junho from Gaya Perfectus. Just a junior I have some acquaintance with.

After seeing the first pitch, a 137km [approximately 85 mph] fastball, slam into the catcher’s mitt, I dramatically threw down my bat.

“Hey, I’m a pitcher, but isn’t this too much, you son of a bitch?”

Pushing away the catcher and umpire who were trying to calm me down, I pointed my finger at Junho.

After that, on the second pitch, I saw a somewhat toned-down 130km [approximately 81 mph] fastball go into the mitt and threw down my bat once again.

“Can’t you just take it easy?”

Even with my sudden change in demeanor, Junho giggled and threw a weak ball around 110km [approximately 68 mph], and I struck out on that ball, throwing down my bat once more.

Once the act was over, I sheepishly went over and slyly picked up the bat I had thrown down, as a bonus.

The game itself had an overall friendly and lighthearted atmosphere like that.

A short charity auction was held after the game. There were many impressive items.

Items that any dedicated fan of a certain player, singer, or actor would definitely want to have.

The glove I had submitted was also auctioned off for a fairly high price of 500,000 won [approximately $400 USD].

I was genuinely happy. I was happy that it would be used for a good cause, and I was even happier that my perceived value was higher than I thought.

“Ah, that was fun.”

The game ended, and it was time to go home. After saying goodbye to those I had become closer to with handshakes and hugs, I packed my baseball bag and left the stadium.

“Ah, Hanwool-ssi!”

“Ah.”

Seoyeon-ssi’s sudden appearance.

“Did you enjoy the game?”

“Yes. Hanwool-ssi is definitely a pitcher.”

“Haha…….”

You didn’t have to point that out…….

“There are many things I want to say in many ways, but, you worked hard. This past year.”

“I just did what I had to do.”

“Is your body okay?”

“Yes. I’m perfectly fine. I need to take care of myself and prepare for next year again.”

“The CEO keeps poking me to set up a meeting with Hanwool-ssi.”

“Oh my, am I even worthy of meeting such a great person.”

“Hanwool-ssi is a great person enough.”

Giggle giggle.

The conversation continued in a friendly atmosphere. But it was a conversation without much substance.

Soon, she starts talking with a determined expression.

“Um, if it’s okay… would you like to have dinner together?”

“Ah…….”

I scratched my cheek. I don’t know what she sees in me that makes her like me, but I guess it’s right to decline.

“I’m sorry, um…….”

While looking for a suitable excuse, I saw Jjomulttakyi [Eunseo’s nickname, meaning ‘fidgety’] passing by me.

“Um, I promised to take PD-nim [Production Director] home. Besides, my outfit is a bit… not presentable.”

“Then, there’s no helping it. Haha…….”

“Oh, I’m really sorry. A great person asked me to have dinner, but someone like me is turning them down… Seeing it like this, I’ve become quite successful.”

Seoyeon-ssi giggled at my nonsense. But her eyes were filled with a strange regret.

“Then, is it possible to have dinner together next time?”

“Um……!”

I want to decline, but the reason is ambiguous.

“…Yes.”

“Then I’ll contact you soon!”

“Yes… I understand.”

“Thank you!”

Before I could even reply, she ran to where her members were standing and started chatting.

She doesn’t leave first and keeps glancing this way. I wish she would leave quickly.

“…Eunseo-ssi.”

“Yes?”

I can’t help it.

“What are you eating alone?”

“Takoyaki [Japanese snack of ball-shaped octopus dumplings].”

“…No. Okay. Let’s go.”

“What?”

“I’ll take you home. Let’s go.”

“Eh? No, it’s okay. My house isn’t that far.”

“There’s a reason. Let’s go.”

“No, I’m really okay, you know?”

“I’m not okay, that’s why.”

“I’m okay, so what.”

“There’s a reason. I’ll explain it to you.”

“…….”

She looks at me strangely and then gets in the car. I sit in the driver’s seat and start the engine.

A sigh comes out involuntarily. As I move the car a little, oh my, I happen to pass by where the Essentric members are.

I stop the car in front of them for a moment and lower the window.

I say hello, telling them they worked hard and to go in, and Seoyeon-ssi makes a point of running to the front of the car to accept my greeting. I awkwardly accept her greeting and start the car.

“Woah, she’s aggressive.”

I felt the urge to slap the forehead of Jjomulttakyi, who was chewing on takoyaki instead of popcorn and watching this scene with amusement.

“What’s going on? You’re saying you’ll take someone home who can easily go alone. Well, I guess I’d be worried if I left you alone, you’re so delicate.”

“Not delicate, but like a kid.”

“What?”

“What.”

“Why am I like a kid!”

“How tall are you?”

“…….”

Ugh, damn it.

Eunseo-ssi cursed roughly and chewed on the takoyaki in her mouth.

“What’s going on, so.”

“Well… Seoyeon-ssi asked me to have dinner.”

“Oh!”

I don’t know what kind of imagination she’s having, but Eunseo-ssi started asking questions as if she was about to bring popcorn.

“What is it, what is it, tell me the story. So, what happened.”

“What do you mean what happened. It ended up like it is now.”

“Seoyeon asked you to have dinner, but you turned her down and are taking me home?”

“That’s right.”

“…What is it. Do you like me?”

“Are you crazy?!”

“No, it doesn’t make sense otherwise. It’s Seoyeon asking you to have dinner, not someone else.”

I can’t just start telling her about my love life out of the blue…….

“Just. It just ended up that way.”

“Hmph…….”

I felt a strange look, but I tried to ignore it and stared straight ahead.

It wasn’t easy to bring up unnecessary words in the awkward atmosphere.

“But Hanwool-ssi should definitely make up your mind.”

“About what.”

“What else. About women.”

“Why are you suddenly talking about that.”

“What do you mean suddenly. That’s what we’ve been talking about.”

In that awkward atmosphere, Jjomulttakyi launched a preemptive strike.

“You know that Seoyeon likes Hanwool-ssi, right? Hey, there’s no way you wouldn’t know. Don’t say you didn’t know, if you didn’t know, Hanwool-ssi is really clueless.”

“Are you going to keep using weird words?!”

“It’s not wrong. Isn’t that right, she’s sending telepathy like that. Everyone around us knows, how can you not know.”

Licking her lips, she put the last remaining takoyaki in her mouth and moved her mouth while chewing.

“…So what do you want to say.”

“If you’re going to meet Seoyeon, meet her, if not, don’t. Decide clearly. Otherwise, you’ll see each other in a bad state. It’s also polite.”

“Why are you suddenly giving me love coaching.”

“Why? I can do it.”

“Do you know love that well?”

“Of course. I’m quite the lover!”

“Then do you have a boyfriend now?”

“…….”

Even so, is it okay to glare at someone who is driving like that?

“Don’t act like you’re testing the waters, decide quickly. No, what’s so complicated. You can just date or meet each other. Is the other person too big and overwhelming?”

“No… that doesn’t really matter.”

“Oh, a generous person.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Then why?”

“Um…….”

How should I talk about Minyoung-ssi?

“Hmm. It’s not quite a *sseom* [Korean term for the ambiguous stage before dating], but. Um… there’s someone who feels like right before *sseom*.”

“Hee…….”

“What, what’s with that reaction. Did you think I couldn’t meet a woman?”

“…No. Not really. So? Are you *gomin* [Korean for ‘worrying’] between that person and Seoyeon?”

“No, what kind of guy do you see me as.”

“Hehe.”

“Don’t laugh like that, it’s really scary…….”

“Then what’s the problem.”

“How to do well with that person. That’s a bit of a *gomin*.”

“You want to do well? How to do it? That’s what it is.”

“That’s what it is.”

“Hmm.”

Ah, then this love coach has no choice but to step in, umm!

The same nonsense is heard from the side, and it’s scary now. Fortunately, we arrived near Eunseo-ssi’s house, so I didn’t have to listen anymore.

“Ah, trust this coach, you.”

“Who’s the coach.”

“Me.”

“Why are you the coach.”

“Hanwool-ssi’s love coach.”

“Don’t say creepy things and go quickly, quickly.”

“Ihihi.”

Shoo, shoo, I moved Eunseo-ssi aside and picked up my phone to *jjigeoduda* [Korean for ‘save’ or ‘mark’] the navigation to go home.

But instead of *jjigeoduda* the navigation, my eyes went to the *yeonrak jjikhyeoissneun* [Korean for ‘contact saved’] on the status bar, and my hand automatically followed.

Minyoung-ssi’s *yeonrak* [Korean for ‘contact’].

[Link]

[Pfft… Where did the *yajaljal* [Korean slang for ‘good at baseball’] go… Pfft……!]

[Ah… you saw it…….]

[If I’m good at *t’agyeok* [Korean for ‘batting’], I’ll feel sorry for the other *t’ajadeul* [Korean for ‘batters’].]

“…….”

It was a sound that made me feel self-conscious even though I wrote it, but I couldn’t think of a better line, so I pressed the send button as it was.

As soon as the number 1 next to it disappeared, it became a little ambiguous to press the back button.

“What, is that that person?”

“Eek!”

I screamed in genuine surprise.

“Hey, where’s your manners?”

“Where’s the *seonsu* [Korean for ‘player’] who treats the coach so rudely.”

While saying that, she *huk deureowa* [Korean for ‘suddenly came in’] and slyly stared at my phone. Her expression, smiling like a cat in front of a *saengseon* [Korean for ‘fish’], was unusual.

She *neomgiseon* [Korean for ‘passed’] the hair that was *garineun* [Korean for ‘covering’] my *siya* [Korean for ‘sight’] behind her ear and looked up at me slyly.

“…Okay, look.”

“Ihihi.”

Smiling *eumhyunghage* [Korean for ‘slyly’], she *salpigoeseon* [Korean for ‘examined’] the *yeonrak naeyeok* [Korean for ‘contact history’] I had *nanueotdeon* [Korean for ‘shared’] with Minyoung-ssi and *heu-eum… jamginda* [Korean for ‘hmm… immersed’] in serious thought.

“Ah, *yeonrak wasseoyo* [Korean for ‘a message came’].”

I *eolleun ppaeseo deureotda* [Korean for ‘quickly snatched’] my phone.

[Are you going home now?]

[Yes, I’m leaving now.]

[토끼가 짝짝짝 박수를 치는 이모티콘 (Rabbit clapping emoji)]

[You worked hard today too!]

[Minyoung-ssi also *gosaenghasyeosseoyo* [Korean for ‘worked hard’] :)]

[I’ll leave a *munja* [Korean for ‘text message’] when I get home.]

“It’s very *munanhane-yo* [Korean for ‘plain’ or ‘safe’].”

“Then what did you think it would be.”

“Try to *deuridae* [Korean for ‘be more forward’] a little.”

“What do you mean *deuridae*.”

“What Seoyeon is doing to Hanwool-ssi. Hanwool-ssi should do that too. You have *maeum* [Korean for ‘feelings’] for this person, right?”

“I do.”

“Looking at it… *boja* [Korean for ‘let’s see’]… This person also seems to have *maeum manttang* [Korean for ‘full of feelings’] for Hanwool-ssi. Is this *peusa* [Korean abbreviation for ‘profile picture’] this person *bonin* [Korean for ‘the person themselves’]?”

“Yes.”

“Wow……!”

Looking at Minyoung-ssi’s *selka* [Korean Konglish for ‘selfie’], her eyes changed to *donggyeong-ui nunbit* [Korean for ‘eyes of admiration’].

Jjomulttakyi, who is *woneoge kiga jageun pyeonin deda eolguldo eomcheong eoryeo boineun* [Korean for ‘naturally short and looks very young’], seems to have *donggyeonghaetdeon* [Korean for ‘admired’] this kind of *sang-ui yeoin* [Korean for ‘mature woman’].

“Wow… you’re really *areumdausida* [Korean for ‘beautiful’]… You’re too *neomchineun* [Korean for ‘overwhelming’] for Hanwool-ssi.”

“I know.”

“Why is someone like this with Hanwool-ssi…….”

“You’re saying too much.”

“But it’s *paekteu-ingeol* [Korean Konglish for ‘it’s a fact’].”

“I know too.”

I *ppaeseo deureotda* [Korean for ‘snatched’] my phone again.

“Do well.”

“I have to do well…….”

“Get married quickly too.”

“I have to do it if I can.”

The conversation ended there. I *jibeo deulgo* [Korean for ‘picked up’] the *gabang* [Korean for ‘bag’] that *kamera-ga deureo isseul beophan* [Korean for ‘a camera might be in’] and opened the car door.

“Thank you for *deryeodajwoseo* [Korean for ‘giving me a ride’].”

“I’m thankful that you gave me someone to talk to. Go in, *eolleun* [Korean for ‘quickly’].”

“Yes. Expect the *pyeonjip* [Korean for ‘editing’].”

“…It’s more *museowojineunde* [Korean for ‘becoming scarier’] if you say that.”

I *nunsareul jjipeuryeotjiman* [Korean for ‘frowned’] Eunseo-ssi *ohiryeo niyak* [Korean for ‘rather, grinned’], and laughed.

*Gidaeharagu* [Korean for ‘look forward to it’], *cheok!* [Korean onomatopoeia for ‘bam!’]

*Eueak!* [Korean onomatopoeia for ‘eek!’]

I *naebidugo* [Korean for ‘left behind’] her, who was *naeboineun* [Korean for ‘showing’] her *eomjireul* [Korean for ‘thumb’], and *ollyeotda* [Korean for ‘raised’] the *josuseok jjog changmuneul* [Korean for ‘passenger side window’]. I *ollyeodugo* [Korean for ‘put up’] the *haendeupon* [Korean Konglish for ‘cellphone’] that I had *jjigeodueotdeon* [Korean for ‘saved’] the *juso-reul* [Korean for ‘address’] on the *geochidae-e* [Korean for ‘holder’] and *cheoncheonhi hyanghaetda* [Korean for ‘slowly headed’] home.