Y13 [EN]: Chapter 137

Thump!

“Run faster! If your feet drag, you’ll just give up fast break opportunities to those youngsters!”

At the coaches’ shouts, the players gritted their teeth and dribbled the ball as they sprinted to the opposite side of the court. They had maintained good momentum since the first game, but Dallas’s weaknesses were relentlessly targeted—namely, the difference in speed. Even the Dallas players couldn’t overcome the inevitable weight of time.

This season, Youngjae and Chandler’s addition had somewhat reduced that weakness, but it wasn’t easy against Oklahoma City, which had the league’s most powerful and youthful fast break. Despite dominating in rebounds and turnovers, they unfortunately suffered a narrow 102-105 defeat in the second home game, losing by just three points. The scoring efficiency of players other than Nowitzki and Youngjae remained in the 30% range, leading to a loss against Oklahoma City, which recorded a team field goal percentage of over 55%.

“Two more times!! Don’t fall behind!!”

Undergoing such intense physical training in such a short period could be detrimental for veteran players, but no one complained, gritting their teeth. The repetitive and strenuous training helped them mentally prepare, preventing them from becoming complacent after their continuous success.

“Huff, huff…”

The players, who didn’t slow down until the very end, gasped for breath as soon as they crossed the line, but they started walking around in circles, their bodies seemingly about to collapse. Walking and stretching were essential to prevent muscle stiffness, which could affect their performance.

“Whew. Man, my legs are killing me.”

“But they bring our bodies to peak condition right before the game, so I can’t complain. Seriously, it’s almost cruel.”

Even the young players were exhausted by the intense training, and the veteran players, who had been showing off their old-man strength, were no exception.

“Still, running like crazy and sweating it out feels refreshing.”

Nowitzki, who had suffered a minor knee injury in the middle of the season, seemed unaffected, completing the training and looking refreshed. Of course, he might not have felt that way inside, but he didn’t want to show any signs of fatigue in front of the younger players. The Dallas veterans all comforted the younger players with composed expressions.

Finally, the massages from the team’s exclusive masseuses and the hotel’s spa were the icing on the cake. At the time, Dallas was sometimes misunderstood as a conservative group focused more on reputation than substance in player acquisitions. However, once you belonged to the Dallas Mavericks and started to be recognized as a player, Dallas was arguably the best team to be with. They were among the first to introduce a private jet, and their medical and training facilities were top-notch, providing the best support for their players.

“Ugh-”

The players involuntarily groaned at the pleasant water pressure massaging their bodies, and Youngjae was no different. Each lost in their own thoughts, the players entrusted themselves to the spa, their faces blissful as they released all their tension. Youngjae couldn’t help but get lost in thought.

They had returned from their away game in Oklahoma City and currently had a record of 3 wins and 1 loss. Although they suffered an unexpected blow at home, the subsequent intense physical training helped strengthen their mental fortitude more than their physical condition. Perhaps that’s why Oklahoma City couldn’t capitalize on their home advantage and had to accept the humiliating result of two consecutive losses.

‘This game will probably be the turning point.’

The fifth game was at home, at the American Airlines Center, as familiar as the Dallas Mavericks’ own backyard. A stage where they could play their hearts out, fueled by the passionate support of their fans.

“Huff-”

Youngjae took a deep breath, feeling nervous, and relaxed his body even more. ‘How great would it be to go to a spa and travel with Emily after this season ends?’ The thought made Youngjae want to go home quickly. He wanted to poke her soft nose and pinch her bouncy cheeks, but he shook his head and focused on resting.

“Hey~ This isn’t heaven, is it?”

Corey Brewer, who was next to him, was already half out of it, slurring his words as he enjoyed the spa. Youngjae snapped his fingers, telling him to snap out of it.

“Brewer? Brewer? You’re not old enough to die yet, are you? Wake up!”

“Man, if heaven feels like this every day, wouldn’t it be worth living?”

“Why are you talking about heaven? You’re doing well with your girlfriend. Did you break up or something?”

Brewer widened his eyes as if to say, “What nonsense are you talking about?” Youngjae smiled slyly and shrugged.

“Are you more awake now, Brewer? If you go to heaven, you won’t be able to play in the Finals, and you won’t get a ring even if we win.”

“Ugh, that can’t happen. I want to wear a championship ring too. I need to tell my darling that I’m a champion.”

At Brewer’s jest, Youngjae told him to do just that and enjoyed the spa a little longer. Afterward, the players headed to the dining hall for a meal.

“By the way, Yoon, what’s going on with you and Emily Kinney? Are things not working out?”

Chandler broached the subject while eating, and Youngjae gave him a wry smile, as if dumbfounded.

“What do you mean, ‘working out’? Emily is filming *The Walking Dead*, and I’m playing in the Conference Finals. We can’t even meet to do anything.”

“No, I’m just saying. And if people are really into each other, they’ll find time to meet, no matter how busy they are. Not having time is just an excuse. Right, Brewer?”

“Ah! That’s right. Come to think of it… it just seems like a fling. Yoon, let me offer my condolences in advance. It looks like your first love as a pro is ending like this.”

Youngjae sighed deeply at Brewer and Chandler, who were teasing him with their poet-like, nonchalant remarks. It was true that many athletes got married early. This was no different in Korea, and since the United States had a more open-minded attitude toward celebrity relationships, Youngjae didn’t necessarily need to hide it.

Nevertheless, the reason Youngjae was hiding it was because he still had Korean sentiments and didn’t want Emily to become the subject of gossip. Moreover, since she was practically living with him, he would be heavily criticized in Korea if it came out, and it wouldn’t be good for Emily either.

‘The people on *The Walking Dead* probably know to some extent, but…’

He had managed to get away with supporting the wrap party after the mid-season filming of *The Walking Dead* by using his friendship with Steve as an excuse, but they were people who had been in the entertainment industry for a long time. There was no way they didn’t know about Youngjae and Emily’s relationship. They just weren’t talking about it publicly. In the entertainment industry, almost no one publicizes someone else’s relationship. His teammates probably wouldn’t go around telling everyone either. They had been watching and working with him for months.

Youngjae excused himself to go to the restroom, went outside, and took out his smartphone from his pocket.

[Emily, are you asleep?]

[No, I’m still awake. Why? What’s wrong?]

[Ah… just wondering if I could tell my teammates about us.]

Even though she had heard Youngjae’s words, Emily was silent for a moment. Youngjae was anxious, wondering if he had made a mistake, but he thought it would be unsightly to apologize before hearing Emily’s answer, so he silently waited for her response.

[What about Yoon?]

“Huh?”

Emily suddenly asked for his opinion. Perhaps he hadn’t expected her to ask him back, Youngjae was flustered and hesitated about what to say.

[If Yoon is serious about us, if Yoon isn’t ashamed of being with me… then it’s okay.]

*If you’re not ashamed.*

Why did those words resonate so deeply? Youngjae wanted to tell her that he wasn’t. He wanted to run home right now and scold her for saying such things while poking her nose.

[I’m going to tell them. I can’t take it back now.]

[Okay.]

Youngjae put down his smartphone and finally turned around with a relieved expression. Then, he sat down at the table and made a bombshell announcement to Chandler and Brewer, who were eating and talking.

“Ah! I felt like I was going to die from holding it in. That’s right! She’s at my house right now.”

…

“Eeeek?!!!”

June 25, 2011.

The day of the fifth game of the Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Youngjae woke up startled by something moving next to him. When he woke up, he saw Emily sleeping soundly next to him like an angel, wriggling around.

‘I bought an extra mat, so don’t worry and sleep.’

Worried that Emily kept falling asleep on the couch, Youngjae bought a simple folding mattress instead of a bed and laid it out in the next room. It happened to be a room he was wondering what to use for, and he thought it would be good for storing the mattress and other miscellaneous items. Emily was a little dissatisfied with this, but she felt a little better, thinking it was better than sleeping on the couch without being able to stretch her legs.

‘Okay.’

That’s how Youngjae put Emily to sleep in the bed and fell asleep in the next room. But when he woke up, Emily had abandoned the bed and snuggled up next to Youngjae, sleeping together on the mat!

‘…’

Youngjae wondered if he had made a mistake, but he decided to postpone the relationship part with Emily because it was still an important period. Still, Youngjae couldn’t help but find Emily, who was cutely expressing her dissatisfaction, lovable. He hugged Emily, who was wriggling around, probably feeling a little cold without a blanket. Emily struggled because Youngjae hugged her as soon as she woke up, but she soon buried her face in his chest and wrapped her arms around Youngjae’s waist.

“Spare me the kiss. I don’t want you to smell my morning breath.”

At Youngjae’s playful joke, Emily hurriedly tidied up whatever she could right away, such as the sleep in her eyes and her disheveled hair, so that Youngjae wouldn’t notice. Youngjae also noticed Emily’s intentions and rubbed his face against her, tidying up roughly but enough to look somewhat presentable.

If the Youngjae of his past life saw the current Youngjae, he would have vomited and laughed, but the current Youngjae was controlling himself well.

No, he thought he was controlling himself.

‘?!!’

While hugging, he could feel Emily’s chest, which was slightly lacking but pleasantly touching his stomach, and his hand almost went up to her smoother and whiter thighs than usual. There were always crises, and Youngjae always had to control himself.

Youngjae always thought he had to control himself. He wasn’t going to cross the line until at least the end of this season. He didn’t know what Emily thought, but this was his own resolution.

“Ugh… what time is it?”

Looking down at Emily, who was mumbling in a voice that still wanted to sleep more, Youngjae pressed her sharp nose once. Normally, she would have gotten angry, but perhaps because she was sleepy, she shook her head from side to side as if annoyed and snuggled into Youngjae’s arms.

“It’s… 6:12 AM.”

“You have team training in the morning, right?”

“Yeah. I have team training.”

Emily got out of bed and stretched. Youngjae almost jumped up at the sight, but he barely managed to calm himself down. Emily, wearing only short hot pants and a tank top, stretched her arms up, causing the tank top to rise and reveal her surprisingly firm and attractive abs. Youngjae was so mesmerized by the sight that he couldn’t say anything for a while and could only stare at Emily.