Y13 [EN]: Chapter 108

Y13-108 2010-11 Regular Season

“– Long time no see, Yoon. This is Bill Duffy. I heard yesterday was your debut double-double. Congratulations. –”

“Oh, thank you. Yesterday was truly the best day.”

Along with that, Bill Duffy, who had been quiet for a while, also called to congratulate Youngjae on his performance and to discuss various business matters.

“– I know you’ve had a hard time, but are you feeling better now? –”

At Bill Duffy’s worried tone, Youngjae stroked the hair of a woman next to him with his right hand and nodded.

“Well, it was my own fault. I just lost to myself. I’m fine now.”

“– If you need anything, please contact me anytime. I’m also a former player and have consulted with many clients. Um, the thing is, as Yoon’s value has increased these days, we’ve been getting a lot of sponsorship, advertising, and interview offers. I think we need to talk about it again. –”

At the thought of ‘offers,’ Youngjae wrapped his arm around the waist of the woman next to him and gently pulled her closer. The woman made a face as if she couldn’t help it and poked Youngjae in the side, but she came closer to Youngjae as if she couldn’t win.

“I think I asked you to choose only a few interviews, as advertising or filming during the season is a bit burdensome…”

“– Yes. According to Yoon’s instructions, all advertising and program requests are being postponed until after the season, and only a few interviews have been selected. –”

Youngjae still didn’t want to film commercials during the season. He knew that focusing on the season was more important, and he also knew that even if a commercial was a one-day job, it would be difficult to maintain his condition enough to film commercials in American sports where the game schedule is tight. Besides, most of the advertisements coming in now would be from Korean companies. Youngjae didn’t want to film commercials for Korean companies and suffer from gossip.

“I think we can proceed as discussed before. Is there any problem?”

“– There’s no problem. However, you need to give us a rough schedule for Korea. That way, we can adjust our schedule. –”

A schedule in Korea. With only the final game left, Dallas had already confirmed its playoff進出 [playoff advancement/entry]. Moreover, they believed that if they continued this momentum, they would be able to reach the finals.

“I think we have to consider everything from the playoffs to the finals. So, it’s better to take it easy. Please gather the schedules at the end of June. I’m talking about advertisements or interviews that need to be filmed in Korea. Please exclude broadcasts. I don’t think it’s time to do broadcasts yet. I hope there won’t be more than three commercials. I’ll do the schedules related to the U.S. before the season.”

As Youngjae’s call got a little longer, the woman sitting next to him stroked Youngjae’s hand and looked up at him with a cute face. Youngjae smiled slightly and continued the call with his head against the woman’s head.

“– Okay. Then I’ll do that. The next issue is the national team. The club has been telling me for a while, so I think you’ve come to a conclusion to some extent. What are you going to do? Next year, the league may not be held due to the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) negotiations. If you don’t participate in the Korean national team without a proper excuse, your image in Korea will be very bad. First of all, as long as you are a Korean citizen, you have to think about the military service issue. –”

Military service. It was a problem that every man with Korean citizenship had to face. From the beginning of the season, Youngjae’s military service and joining the national team were of great interest to the Korean basketball world, with various speculative articles pouring out. As Youngjae’s performance increased, the interest grew even more.

Youngjae had also thought a lot about this. Exemption from military service was only possible with 3rd place or higher in the Olympics or a gold medal in the Asian Games. Frankly, it was difficult to expect to win a medal at the Olympics. Even if the United States was excluded, Spain, Argentina, and France were full of NBA leaguers [players]. In addition, he didn’t think he could surpass Slovenia, Russia, Brazil, or Canada.

In the end, the only way was the Asian Games. Even though he struggled against the Philippines, Lebanon, and China, he could aim for a gold medal if he joined the Asian level. In fact, in his past life, Korea won in 2014. The Asian Championships were to be seen as a way to gain experience by winning a ticket to the Olympics.

“The club has said that it’s okay as long as it’s not too much. The club also recognizes that it’s definitely necessary to solve the military service issue. However, they are worried that it will be a problem next year if I overdo it in the off-season. For now, the club has tentatively recommended that I don’t participate in regional competitions and go to the Asian Championships.”

“– The Asian Championships are in September. Even if you are called up in advance, it won’t affect the schedule. You’ll be staying in Korea for quite a while. From Yoon’s point of view, it’s good that you don’t lose your sense of the game, but you have to adapt to the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) rules. You haven’t experienced it directly, but the NBA rules and FIBA rules are very different. There are many differences, such as the number of fouls, the time limit for attack, the 3-point distance, and the game time, so you have to adapt well. That’s why it takes time for the aces and masters of the European leagues to adapt to the NBA. The European leagues almost follow the FIBA rules.”

“Yes. I need to study a bit after the season. And I have to adapt to the FIBA rules and then adapt to the NBA rules again next year.”

“– I think we’ve covered everything we need to talk about. Then, I hope you have a good finish to the remaining season without any injuries. I’ll send you the details by email. Please read it and contact me if you have any questions. –”

After the call with Duffy ended, Youngjae threw his smartphone on the sofa and smiled while poking the woman sitting next to him on the cheek.

“It’s been a few weeks since I’ve seen you… Is filming that hard?”

A slightly haggard Emily was sitting next to Youngjae, having a good time.

“I guess so. This is my first time filming a leading role, so it must have been a little difficult.”

Emily grabbed Youngjae’s hand, which was poking her cheek, and intertwined their fingers. Youngjae, who was looking at Emily, who was intertwining her fingers quite boldly, with a sly look, turned his gaze away and watched the TV that was turned on without meaning for a while.

“– The NBA regular league is now heading towards the end. The Western Conference’s Dallas Mavericks, who are currently in first place in the NBA league with 61 wins and 20 losses, are competing with San Antonio, who has 60 wins and 21 losses, for first place in the West until the end. On the other hand, in the East, the Chicago Bulls have confirmed first place with 61 wins and 20 losses, 3 games ahead of the second-place Miami Heat with one game left. –”

“Yoon, are you confident in winning the Western Conference?”

Yoon looked at Emily, who was looking up at him with sparkling eyes, and pressed Emily’s sharp nose with his index finger without saying a word.

“Hey, my nose will get lower!”

“What if it gets a little lower since it’s so sharp? When you look at me so brightly, I want to touch you somewhere.”

The two had met for the first time since Youngjae’s slump, but they sat side by side on the sofa without either of them taking the lead and felt each other’s warmth. Duffy’s call was a call they received after sitting side by side for a couple of hours, touching each other’s faces and hands, listening to the sound of the TV that was turned on without meaning, and just spending time like that.

“Is there anything you want to do?”

At Emily’s worried expression and tone, Youngjae shook his head and put his arm around Emily’s shoulder. Youngjae, who was looking down at Emily, who was small and fit perfectly in his arms, had the ‘skills’ he had honed in his past life come to mind, but he shook his head and patted himself down.

He didn’t want to use dating skills, skinship skills [physical intimacy skills], or brilliant words or actions to succeed in one-night stands with Emily. He just wanted to treat Emily sincerely, charmingly, and in a small but serious way.

“Just being like this has passed 2 hours in a blink. If I try to do something, I think time will be too precious.”

“It’s not that… It’s because of me that you can’t go outside. I’m really okay. Yoon, if it’s hard, you can reveal it…”

Youngjae felt good about Emily’s consideration, but feeling good was good, and public matters were public matters. Both Youngjae and Emily were caught up in various rumors, but if they admitted it here, the frequency of exposure to the media would inevitably increase.

“I’m in my first season now, and Emily is in her first leading role. Let’s reveal it when we settle down a bit. I want to show off so badly that my mouth is itching.”

“Phew- Isn’t it because you ate paper that your mouth is itching? Mr. Goat.”

As if the nickname Goat was now on her lips, Emily teased Youngjae by making a cute ‘Meeeee-‘ sound. Youngjae frowned slightly and glared at Emily as if he was angry.

“If you keep doing that, I’m going to do it for sure?”

“What?”

She was 20 years old, or even looked like a teenager with her youthful appearance, but Emily was a whopping 6 years older than Youngjae. Of course, if you add up all the years she has lived, Youngjae was almost 30 years old. At Emily’s expression, which sparkled as if she didn’t know anything mischievously, Youngjae couldn’t stand it anymore and kissed her forehead in a surprise attack and fell off [backed away].

“…”

Youngjae, who was staring at Emily for a while, lightly kissed Emily’s red cherry-like lips, even though she had no makeup on, and fell off [backed away].

“…Do it.”

Youngjae, who had fallen off [backed away] awkwardly, looked at Emily, who was mumbling while wrapping her arms around his neck, and asked again, ‘What did you say?’ and Emily sat on Youngjae’s lap with her eyes closed and raised her head.

“Weak.”

A pleasant breath. A mint-scented tongue, and soft, moist lips. Youngjae slightly opened his eyes and stared at what expression Emily was making. Pretending to be relaxed, she was closing her eyes pleasantly, but her breathing was getting rougher little by little, and every time he played with his tongue even a little, she flinched. Youngjae felt a pure feeling from Emily’s appearance. So, he felt a strange feeling that he wanted to be even more mischievous for some reason.

As he relentlessly pushed her to the point where she couldn’t breathe, Emily soon struggled to take her mouth off. But Youngjae gently pulled her waist and head and held her tight so she couldn’t escape. After kissing for more than 5 minutes, Youngjae finally took his mouth off with a satisfied expression and looked at Emily’s flushed face.

“Do you like it?”

“…”

Tightly-

“Ugh!”

Emily, who replaced her answer by pinching his side tightly. Youngjae pretended that his side hurt and fell off [moved away] and lay down on the sofa, and Emily, with her flushed face still not gone, climbed on top of Youngjae, who was lying down, and put her forehead against Youngjae’s forehead.

“Emily, isn’t this a bit… a dangerous pose?”

“Haa, haa… Yoon. Tell me honestly.”

Emily, still panting slightly as if the excitement had not subsided, whispered in Youngjae’s ear.

“I’m not your first, am I?”

“Um…”

“You’re too good to be your first.”

Youngjae made a troubled expression, and Emily smiled and pinched Youngjae’s side. As she pinched him with a rather spicy hand, Youngjae couldn’t resist the ticklish and painful feeling and surrendered.

“Emily, there was a woman I had a crush on before.”

“Who is it?”

Emily pretended not to be, but she was looking at Youngjae with an expression that anyone could see was nervous. Youngjae chuckled inwardly and began to tell the story slyly.

“She sang very well. I fell in love with her at once after listening to her song. That song is called The Parting Glass…”

“Ah! You liar!”

Emily, as if her tension had been relieved or as if she was angry at being tricked by Youngjae, gritted her teeth and pinched Youngjae’s side, and Youngjae twisted his body, repeating laughter and pain.

“No, why is this a lie!”

“It’s a lie!”

“Ugh!”

Youngjae couldn’t stand the tickling and pain anymore, so he lifted Emily up and laid her down on the sofa. Then, he climbed on top of Emily and looked down at Emily intently.

“Yoon…”

Emily didn’t refuse skinship [physical touch] or kisses, but she calmed Youngjae with a slightly nervous tone, thinking that this was still too early. However, Youngjae released his serious expression and soon smiled playfully and did a push-up once and kissed Emily’s forehead.

“Kya-! What are you doing!”

“What else, I’m exercising.”

Youngjae, who had been kissing her forehead for a while, helped Emily up and sat side by side on the sofa again.

“Are you upset that I asked you to keep it a secret?”

“Not at all.”

“Why? I can’t say anything about Emily on the radio or on the broadcast other than that she’s a good person.”

“Because I know you’re thinking of me.”

Emily smiled and poked Youngjae’s side.

“Ugh!”

“Don’t think about that and focus on winning the NBA championship. I want to see you win no matter what.”

Youngjae nodded with a smile.

“Of course. I’ll give you an unforgettable scene.”

============================ Author’s Note ============================

★Thank you to those who gave me advance reservations, recommendations, comments, and coupons!!

＠Thank you so much for the opinions of many readers. Then I will continue to lead the story according to the plot I have set up now. I will adjust the game and sports content as the main focus and the daily life is properly mixed.

＠FIBA rules and NBA rules are very different. If I describe the game, I can describe the difference, but I decided to skip the national team game. The schedules that I spend as a national team in the off-season will be focused on explanations or articles.

＠2011 is the season when the lockout occurred due to the conflict between the players’ union and the team owners’ meeting. In the end, 66 games are played in a shortened season. So the off-season is especially long. I’m going to keep the lockout as it is in the novel. Of course, there will be quite a few changes in the team’s roster. Since Youngjae is there, he won’t be recruiting duplicate positions.

＠And with Youngjae’s current memory, he can recruit good players enough. There will be stories about these parts in the future.