Y13 [EN]: Chapter 44

00044 Pre-Season =========================================================================

“Ahem-”

During the off-season, Young-jae occasionally received calls from Aztecs members, Meli, and David. Young-jae was gradually preparing for the pre-season with a sense of stability. He hired a personal trainer to learn yoga and stretching more professionally, and he visited his doctor regularly for check-ups and did his best to maintain peak condition.

[I wanna hold ’em like they do in Texas Plays~]

“Huh?”

Young-jae put down the hose he was using to wash his car when he heard the ringtone he had saved as ‘Poker Face’ and took out his smartphone.

“Meli!”

– Ah, Young-jae! How are you? –

“I’m good, doing well. I watched Project Runway where you’re appearing! It was amazing!”

It was already early August, the height of summer. Young-jae was eagerly watching Project Runway Season 8, in which Meli was a contestant. In his previous life, he hadn’t studied fashion in depth, but Young-jae preferred neat and dandy fashion, and he wasn’t completely ignorant about it, so he was enjoying the show.

– Actually… –

But today, Meli was hesitating. In the episodes Young-jae had seen, Meli had overcome many challenges and was highly praised for her designs that combined functionality and fashion, as well as for planning sportswear that matched the model’s style.

“Don’t tell me… you got eliminated? It’s okay, Meli. Even making it that far is a huge achievement.”

– Ah, no! I’m still hanging in there! –

Young-jae smiled, saying, “That’s a relief,” and Meli hesitated before cautiously speaking, encouraged by Young-jae’s laughter.

– Actually, the theme for the 10th challenge is… to create your own fabric (fabric; in this case, designing your own fabric and making clothes with it) and make a costume. The design is based on personal experience. –

“Really? That’s amazing.”

– So, I met my mom and dad today. Everyone encouraged me and gave me a lot of advice about the design I had in mind. But… if… if it’s okay… –

“Yes, tell me.”

Meli swallowed hard and finally said,

– I want to show you my design. But, if that happens, you might end up appearing on Project Runway for a short time… –

Young-jae couldn’t say anything for a moment, only uttering a questioning “Huh?”

– Well, I just feel like I have to show it to you. You’re a big part of getting me this far. If you hadn’t helped me when I was studying sportswear, I wouldn’t have made it this far. And this fabric symbolizes basketball. I simplified shoes and balls to create the fabric. If it’s okay, I’d like you to take a look. –

“……”

– Well, I guess it’s a burden? Sorry. I know you’re busy preparing for your debut season… –

“You should have told me about something like that sooner!! That’s amazing, isn’t it?!”

Meli couldn’t help but make an “Eh?” sound at Young-jae’s excited reaction, as if he were cheering.

“You’re my future business partner who will make my signature shoes, of course I have to see it! Of course! That’s the right answer. I’ll talk to my agent, so wait a moment, okay?”

– Really? Th, then! Of course! The owner of the signature shoes has to see it in advance! –

The two were so excited on the phone, and Meli hung up with a much brighter voice, saying, “I’ll be waiting!”

“Hehe. Is she that happy?”

Young-jae hung up the phone and smiled, thinking of Meli, who was as excited as a child, reminding him of a younger sibling. Although she was a year older, Young-jae was now a man in his late twenties, so it was only natural. Meli’s thoughtfulness in worrying about him even while running towards her dream and being busy with her own path seemed as cute as a younger sister worrying about him.

“I should tell Mr. Duffy about the situation.”

[Meli Yeon, she is the only contestant without any formal design experience. However, her excellent sense and her unique designs that capture both functionality and fashion have been enough to surprise viewers.]

[She had a great time with her family while creating the fabric design, but unlike other challengers, she took the time to meet another person. That person was a more surprising figure than expected.]

– Young-Jae Yoon (19): Dallas Mavericks Rookie Basketball Player. –

“Meli!”

“Yoon!”

[The two have been friends for about a year, having met as fellow Koreans.]

“It was really a coincidence. Meli was an employee at a basketball specialty store near San Diego State University, where I attended. I was a college student at the time, and I became a regular customer because of Meli’s skills and thoughtfulness. You see these shoes? Meli fixed these too.”

[He surprised Project Runway officials with his frugal but dandy style.]

“Yoon is really frugal, but he’s not stingy. He just doesn’t like extravagance.”

[In fact, Yoon showed his frugal side by saying, ‘I came to get my shoes repaired,’ and handing Meli a cafe latte before entrusting her with the shoe repair.]

“This pattern symbolizes a basketball, and the circle surrounding the middle of the ball is the rim. And the rim is incorporated into the neck of the shoe, and I tried to shape the shoe below.”

[Yoon listened to Meli’s story as seriously as if it were his own.]

“Since the logo is a bit complicated, wouldn’t it be better to make the logo bigger so that it can be seen well on the fabric, rather than engraving it in a small form?”

“Hmm… then how about this much?”

[Yoon readily accepted Meli’s request even while preparing for his debut season.]

– Bill Duffy (50): Yoon’s Agent –

“Yoon is that kind of person. He is thoroughly strict with himself, but he becomes a good friend who is more reliable than anyone else to those who have a friendship with him.”

[Yoon listened to Meli’s story until the end, gave her opinions, and gave her a lot of help. Project Runway asked them a surprise question.]

– Are you two dating? –

“…… Hey~ we’re partners.”

[The two said they were partners, as if they had planned it.]

“Meli is a perfect partner. She takes care of me and supports me like a *chin-nunna* [close older sister figure]. Not only that, but Meli said she wanted to make my signature shoes. I saw Meli’s ambition and talent and came to believe in her. It’s far from that kind of relationship.”

“I think Yoon will be a superstar. I was able to come this far thanks to Yoon, and I want to grow as much as Yoon expects and make his signature shoes. Yoon listens to my unreasonable requests and supports me like a *chin-dongsaeng* [close younger brother figure]. He’s a really grateful *dongsaeng* [younger sibling], but it’s not that kind of relationship.”

After the recording, Young-jae hugged Meli slightly for the last time and said goodbye.

“Young-jae, when will you be free?”

“Well, this is the most free time I have. I don’t think I’ll be able to focus when the pre-season starts.”

“Oh, I see. Then it’ll be impossible.”

Young-jae asked Meli what was wrong, and Meli smiled and said.

“David really wants to see you. And David’s cousin is also a fan of you and asked if he could meet you.”

“Ah, is that so? But why isn’t this time possible?”

“Ah, hahaha. That cousin is… working right now. I don’t think he’ll have time until winter. He’s a busy person.”

Young-jae said, “Then please contact me when that person’s time is set, just in case. I really want to meet David and that person too.”

Meeting Meli and making a surprise appearance on Project Runway gave Young-jae another pleasure, and Young-jae returned to his daily life. He went out to the American Airlines Center every day as if he were going to work and faithfully carried out the coaches’ special training.

This period was like the only break for a basketball player, so the coaches couldn’t come out every day, so they gave Young-jae a detailed training schedule. Since it was his first season to debut, he needed a lot of training rather than rest. The NBA finishes its finals in June and starts its off-season, setting up camp around September and starting the pre-season.

‘Yoon, after looking at the training you’ve been doing, it doesn’t seem like you need to make a lot of changes. However, I think you need more detailed training, so if you add only those parts and check in once a week, I think you’ll be in good enough shape to play in the NBA by the pre-season.’

Dwayne Casey began to coach Young-jae, volunteering to be his exclusive coach. Even though Boboua was receiving close training under coach Rick Carlisle, rumors began to circulate that Young-jae was also receiving exclusive training from the assistant coach, and the attention of Dallas area reporters and Korean media was focused on Young-jae.

– Where is the end of the Summer League MVP, Y13?

– Can Y13 be the future of the Mavs with Boboua?

– Asking Mavericks coaches Dwayne Casey and Terry Stotts: Y13 is a fantastic player

In addition, Young-jae’s appearance on Project Runway Season 8 led to articles about Young-jae in the United States as well as in Korea. In the United States, it was only a small amount of news in the Dallas area, but in Korea, many stories about Young-jae were pouring out.

[Yoon Young-jae, who joined the Dallas Mavericks, shows a frugal and dandy fashion]

Yoon Young-jae (19), who joined the Dallas Mavericks, is a hot topic every day. He appeared on Project Runway with a tall height of 196cm and a youthful appearance. Yoon Young-jae, who made a surprise appearance as an acquaintance of contestant Meli Yeon (20) in Project Runway Season 8, appeared wearing a light beige shirt with sleeves folded in a half-sleeve shape and neat blue cotton pants. His fashion was active as an athlete, but his neat appearance of putting his shirt in his pants gave the illusion of seeing a celebrity.

In addition, interest in Meli Yeon is also increasing, and Meli Yeon is actually a famous… (omitted)

[Yoon Young-jae. Broadcasting instead of debut season?]

Yoon Young-jae (19), who joined the Dallas Mavericks, is becoming a hot topic every day. The first Korean to join the Dallas Mavericks, the first round draftee, the first Summer League MVP 2-peat (regular league, championship), etc., his moves are truly amazing.

However, he appeared on Project Runway despite his debut season, raising many questions, and there were opinions that he was neglecting preparations for his season debut due to appearing on the show despite being a rookie in his debut season…

Young-jae rarely uses the Internet, so he was indifferent and detached from articles and local reactions. Duffy was worried that this kind of article would come out, but before Duffy could take action, basketball-related netizens had already addressed the situation.

Re: Wow, that reporter is a jerk. If you’ve ever seen an interview with Yoon Young-jae, you wouldn’t be able to say that.

Re: If you’re neglecting your debut season preparations, it means your mentality is crap in the first place. Does Yoon Young-jae think he’s a celebrity trainee going out with a Jupiterian virus to become a celebrity, so he went to the draft to enter the entertainment industry?

Re: Why? Can’t it look insincere? Just broadcasting?

Re: LOL, you don’t take a break even once when you study for a week for an exam? Did you watch the show? It was a very short meeting, and he was on the show for less than 5 minutes. If you’re going to fail because of 5 minutes, you’re not even a first-rounder in the draft.

Re: Really, is this an article based on facts? I want to sue you for defamation.

From Young-jae’s point of view, it was absurd that he was writing articles with such exaggerated thoughts when the broadcast appearance was agreed upon with the club in the first place and notified in advance. Duffy quickly issued a counter-response article as if he was used to it. Of course, the United States also had a considerable number of yellow papers (newspapers focused on sensational reporting).

[Y13. A rookie who is more diligent than anyone else.]

The content of the article was short, but it was edited with short videos of him coming to the American Airlines Center alone every day to train, and fiercely discussing and training with coaches Dwayne Casey and Terry Stotts, and exposed to various media outlets.

The controversy was not completely quelled through the response article, but it quickly changed favorably to Young-jae. In addition, it was quickly resolved because the original image was good.

============================ Author’s Notes ============================

★Thank you to those who gave *seonjak* [pre-emptive follow], *chucheon* [recommendation], *koment* [comments], and coupons!!

※The NBA’s Summer League and pre-season periods vary slightly each year. It also varies depending on the schedule of international competitions and changes slightly depending on various circumstances.

And NBA full-time players have a break from the end of the team’s game schedule to just before the pre-season. The NBA has 4 stages of playoffs (4 wins out of 7 games 4 times. Up to 28 games), so players on teams that advance to the finals have their break shortened by nearly two months. Of course, that doesn’t mean that any players want to go to a team that can’t make the playoffs because the break is short.

＠I’m sorry to those who are waiting for the game, but in the off-season, there will inevitably be everyday stories. Once the league starts, American sports players are too busy playing games. This is the only time to put in everyday parts, so I hope you can wait a little longer for the game.

＠As I was writing, the media appeared again. Some people may be tired of the media appearing. There probably won’t be much for a while. And I will definitely do a *yeoncham* [continuous chapters] one day this week.

우왕ㄷㄷ님/// Congratulations on your first comment~~~

vngkgk248님, 찬란한유산님///Thank you

개구리파워님/// Haha, thank you for your encouragement.

라피르and진트님/// I heard that yesterday’s game was the third-largest comeback in the 4th quarter in playoff history.ㄷㄷ

천상별리님/// This is the only break in the season, so it’s an everyday story again today.

짱구할배님/// The Warriors were really possessed in the 4th quarter….

니앞에꽃미남님, 쿤다라님, -DarkANGEL-님/// Thank you for your comments as always

kkjine님/// Thank you for your good advice. I’ll keep my mentality strong and write!!

우유동자님/// Yes. Not often, but I think I’ll use it occasionally to change pace.

두번째날개님/// ㅎㅎ Last episode was a bit heartwarming

hikar님/// Thank you for pointing that out. I didn’t consider the decimal point properly because it was the Summer League. I have corrected the stats in the previous episode.

천사의사정님/// ㄷㄷ Thank you for your support, but *yeoncham* [continuous chapters] is ㅠ.ㅠ

하늘빛실타래님/// You’ve been *jeongjuhaeng* [binge-watching] at once!!

AdYang님/// Euhahaha Thank you for the coupon. I will produce articles quickly.

오마리온님, 파이넨시아님/// Thank you~

슬림핏님/// As you said, the NBA is full of monstersㅋㅋ

여신유리찬양님/// Thank you