Episode 19: A face genius is good at soccer

Episode 19: Woman Power Magazine Editor Kang Su-yeon (2) 

As Kang Su-yeon was busy secretly taking pictures of Hong Min-jun after finally regaining her senses, meanwhile, in the home team room, the staff room of the Seongsil University soccer team:

Before the game starts, there’s a rule that each team must submit their lineup at least an hour before kickoff. The coach, who had just submitted Seongsil University's lineup, walked in with a sour expression, holding a piece of paper.

If our team has to submit a lineup, that means the opposing team does too.

The association receives the lineups from both teams and makes them official immediately, as long as there are no issues.

If this were a pro league or a match between popular teams, the media would already be buzzing with articles about the starting lineup, tactics, the coach’s intentions, or any injuries or conflicts, but this is completely irrelevant to the college league.

Today, the college league was as peaceful as ever.

“Let me see.”

In college leagues, it’s customary to receive the opposing team’s lineup when you submit your own.

Naturally, the coach who went out to submit our lineup had only brought back the opposing team’s lineup.

As Seongsil University’s head coach, Oh Sang-tae, scanned the paper handed to him, his eyes narrowed.

“Hey, what is this? Is this right?”

“Yes, sir. It’s the freshly received lineup.”

“You sure? There’s no typo, right?”

“I thought it was strange too, so I asked the match official, and they said it’s correct.”

“Something’s off.”

Oh Sang-Tae frowned as he scrutinized the Hojin University lineup.

Korean soccer is a small world.

They say you can know everyone in the soccer community within just a couple of degrees, and as a result, connections are bound to form over time.

This is especially true when it comes to coaches within the same region.

Oh Sang-Tae knew Hojin University’s head coach, Na Geon-Seong, quite well.

“That guy isn’t the type to start a freshman as a regular.”

They were the same age, having gone to elementary, middle, high school, and even college together. They constantly crossed paths, even making their way into the K-League around the same time, following similar career paths, retiring around the same time, taking coaching courses together, and even completing their coach training at the same club before getting their licenses around the same time.

Given all this, you’d think they were fated to be connected. But when Oh Sang-tae finished his coaching career and was appointed as a head coach for the first time, Na Geon-seong also got appointed as a head coach in the same region.

Because they were in the same regional league, they ended up facing each other frequently throughout the season.

It’s been three years of competition like this.

Oh Sang-tae felt confident that he knew Na Geon-seong’s tendencies and tactics better than anyone.

“Do we have any info on this guy? Where’s he from?”

“He’s from Myeongun High. I heard he was quite a talent in middle school, but he faded after moving to high school.”

“Myeongun High? That’s a prestigious school. So, he had some skill… But a kid who didn’t stand out in the high school league suddenly performs in the college league? And he’s just been recruited, yet they’re starting him? What’s Na Geon-seong thinking?”

Na Geon-seong’s style is conservative and defensive, so unless this kid is exceptionally good, he wouldn’t start a freshman. And considering the position listed in the starting lineup…

“This feels off. What’s his play style like?”

“They say he’s a technician. He even racked up an assist in the season opener.”

“Hmm… really? Was it a fluke?”

“Wouldn’t he have some ability?”

“But he’s still a freshman. And they said he didn’t perform in the high school league.”

“Doesn’t starting a just-recruited freshman seem to imply that he’s shown something impressive? Plus, he got an assist in the season opener, so it looks like he has some skill.”

“Hmm… Could that really be the case?”

Seeing Oh Sang-tae’s doubtful expression, the coach spoke up with a determined look.

“Maybe he suddenly reached his potential, or he might just be a perfect fit for his current coach.”

Oh Sang-tae didn’t dismiss the coach’s advice.

He might not have a clear tactical vision or outstanding tactical insight and knowledge, but what allowed him to last as a college soccer team head coach was his reputation as a leader who excelled at managing his team and his willingness to listen to his coaching staff’s advice.

“Then we should give him a taste of college league play. Getting a starting position right after joining the team, and an assist in the opener? He must be on cloud nine right now.”

The sly smile on the coach’s face was met with a similar one from the assistant coach.

“Should I call in the captain?”

“Yes. If Na Geon-seong’s style is anything to go by, either this rookie or the guy on the right wing will lead their attack. But the guy on the right wing? No, if he had that kind of talent, they would’ve used him last year. That means this rookie is their key attacker. Let’s put Hyo-gi on him.”

“Jeong Hyo-gi will definitely handle it… But what about the space left behind?”

“It’s fine. Even if Hyo-gi shadows the rookie, there’s no one on their team who can exploit that space. Not with their tactics, anyway.”

Seongsil University’s captain and key player.

Three years ago, as soon as Oh Sang-tae took charge of the team, he recognized the talent of this then-freshman and immediately brought him into the lineup, nurturing him carefully ever since.

As he thought of Jeong Hyo-gi, a hard worker with excellent defensive skills, spatial awareness, and decent passing ability, Oh Sang-tae felt reassured.

* * *

Before a game, as you stretch and warm up, you start to notice various things.

“What’s with your face? Need to use the bathroom?”

“Oh, come on, hyung. Don’t talk about bathrooms.”

“Your face looks like you need to go. That’s why I said it.”

Yoon Hyuk hyung, who was lightly passing the ball with him, gestured with his chin.

“It’s not that… It’s just his eyes…”

“Hmm? That’s Jeong Hyo-gi. He’s giving you a nasty look, isn’t he?”

“Exactly. What’s his problem?”

The shiver-inducing sight of Jeong Hyo-gi, a burly man with a buzzcut, staring at him with a creepy smile, made him shudder. It was like the look a hunter gives their prey.

"Huh."

"What now?"

While trying to ignore it and practicing trapping, Yoon-hyuk hyung suddenly gasped in shock.

"No way… No, it can't be."

"Oh, what is it?"

"Well… uh… never mind."

"Oh, come on! What is it?"

"Hey, look at you, raising your voice at your senior now?"

"No, but you always stop mid-sentence!"

Yoon Hyuk hyung chuckled playfully, then lowered his voice,

"Do you think… Could he be gay? The way he’s smiling at you kind of gives off a gay vibe."

"Oh, come on! Don’t say that!"

And then he burst out laughing.

What a ridiculous thing to say.

"Seriously though, think about it. I think it’s possible. You’ve got a pretty face, and your slim build is exactly the type that gay guys go for."

…Could that be true?

Now that I think about it, there’s no rule that says my 95 charm stat only works on the opposite sex.

Even now, every time I look in the mirror, I get startled.

I’m just too good-looking.

Yeah… With this face, it’s possible.

"...Why are you getting all serious? I was just joking."

"Hyung, if you think about my face, it’s really possible."

Yoon Hyuk hyung stared at my face for a moment,

"I’m starting to feel creeped out."

"Right?"

"I mean it. The more I look at you, the more I’m getting a bit… tempted."

"Oh, come on, hyung!!"

"Hahaha. Hey, stop being so full of yourself."

As we joked and bantered over that creepy thought, the coach called the players over for the final talk before the game.

"Alright, it’s time for our second match. You’ve all worked hard in training, so I believe this game will be just as easy. Especially you, Jin-ho!"

"Yes, Coach!"

"Control the defensive line well, like a true captain. Yoon Hyuk!"

"Yes, Coach."

"Show the same chemistry with him in this game as you did in the practice match, got it?"

Yoon Hyuk hyung, who made a strong impression during the practice match with his good teamwork with me, nodded with a calm expression. After the coach led a cheer with the starting members in a circle, the players headed to their respective positions.

I, too, stood on the left wing, rotating my ankles, when I locked eyes with a tough-looking guy in the distance.

'Jersey number 5, Jeong Hyo-gi. Seongsil University captain. Defensive midfielder.'

As I mechanically recalled the opponent analysis data the coaching staff handed out, something clicked.

'Could this be…'

'Tweet' 'Tweeeeet'—!

The referee's whistle blew, and the game began with Seongsil University's kickoff.

As I watched the opponent slowly build up from the back, I started creeping up the field, when suddenly, a large figure began to edge closer.

'Knew it.'

Something that was once familiar to me, but which I had forgotten during my slump.

Man-marking.

"Hyung! Yoon Hyuk hyung!"

"What?"

While the opponents were still passing the ball around their defensive line, I called out to Yoon Hyuk hyung, who was playing as a central midfielder. His gaze briefly flicked in my direction as he was frantically adjusting his position between the opposing and our own defense,

"You know, Plan 2!"

I held up two fingers as I shouted.

"What? Are you seriously going with that?"

He looked surprised, but then sighed as if resigned, signaling that he would go along with the plan.

With his confirmation, now all that was left was to see if the opponent would react the way I expected.

Grinning.

Judging by the way Jeong Hyo-gi, with that creepy smile, started approaching me after making eye contact, I didn’t think I had anything to worry about.

'Ah, this annoying feeling of someone constantly shadowing me. It’s been a while, and I kind of miss it. I should give him a good payback.'

As I smiled back at him, Jeong Hyo-gi, with his buzzcut and bulky frame, flinched.

...But why is his face turning red?

||Previous||TOC||Next||