Chapter 271

The training is short and intense, the rest is long.

For Jin Hyuk, even the usual training is a hellish ordeal that others dare not approach. He had already experienced it during middle school when he stayed with friends, and in high school when he taught juniors.

But a national representative is a national representative.

Jin Seon-kyu endured all the training Jin Hyuk put him through. Without complaining, without cutting corners.

Ugh-!

“Ah, I’m gonna die-.”

He did feel a bit nauseous.

Witnessing Jin Seon-kyu’s transformation, Jin Hyuk nodded inwardly.

‘Coach Seo Pil-gu was right.’

Intense training is the source of confidence.

Jin Seon-kyu’s eyes grew sharper each day, like blades.

“Let’s rest this afternoon. My feet are a bit tired.”

“Yes.”

*

After finishing the morning routine, they opened letters one by one under the parasol.

‘Even a friend I’ve never talked to wrote to me. Thank you…’

These were letters of support from school friends and juniors before leaving Korea.

The student council voluntarily participated without the teachers forcing them. It was the first time a school alumnus was participating in the Olympics, so the interest was unimaginably high.

Thinking that the world is a place where one must live alone, yet not neglecting relationships, seemed to have its rewards.

“……Strive for the best, not the greatest……”

Well, there were many clichés, but the sincerity behind the words made him read each letter carefully.

‘Better than reading books.’

For Jin Hyuk, there was nothing better than reading for mind control, but now letters seemed to do the trick.

He even carries around the first letter Yoo Jin wrote to him, printed out.

From the name, it’s a lucky letter, so it feels like a charm.

“Phew-.”

Jin Seon-kyu, fixing his spike shoes on the sunbed in the mansion’s garden, frowned and tilted his head.

“Uncle, what’s wrong-?”

Yoo Jin, who had returned from a long trip two days before the Olympics, asked worriedly while putting a swimming cap on a clown doll to enter the pool.

“Ah, the inside of my big toe hurts.”

“Does it hurt a lot? Why does it hurt?”

“It’s because of my foot size. It’s also the adjustment period for new shoes. Even though I picked the widest shoes, my feet are just too big……”

Jin Seon-kyu’s big toe, taken out of the Japanese spikes, was noticeably swollen.

At the beginning of training, Jin Seon-kyu was the first to drop out, but later he endured until the end. To save face in front of juniors, to mock Jonathan for his poor stamina. Anyway, he showed the guts of a Korean national representative.

He even did special training until this morning.

“If you do this, it won’t hurt, right?”

Yoo Jin held Jin Seon-kyu’s foot with both hands and pressed it firmly.

“Huh? How did you do that?”

Jin Seon-kyu was startled.

The redness was still there, but the pain had completely disappeared.

“Yoo Jin’s hands are healing hands.”

Jin Hyuk quickly covered up, glancing at Yoo Jin.

You should be careful when others are around, kid.

Yoo Jin, who received her brother’s glare, smiled with crescent-shaped eyes.

“Hehe, right. Healing hands.”

“Ahaha, is your family name Healing? Healing Hands?”

It’s fortunate that Jin Seon-kyu treats Yoo Jin like a real niece without suspicion.

Jin Seon-kyu always played along with kids at their level.

“I should tape it and wear it again so it doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“Wait a moment.”

Jin Hyuk put down the letter he was reading and hurried towards the mansion.

‘He wasn’t a complete athlete yet.’

He thought Jin Seon-kyu was already a complete athlete in terms of age and skill.

But there was still more to fill.

*

“Can I really accept this……”

Despite his words, Jin Seon-kyu’s foot quickly slipped into the spikes.

If a foot could possess a shoe, it would look like this.

“Wow, it’s like wearing stockings?”

If you made stockings out of raw rubber, wouldn’t they feel like this?

Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, Jin Seon-kyu’s mouth was uncontrollably smiling.

He looked happier than the clown doll Yoo Jin was holding.

“How’s the fit? It might not fit well since it’s tailored to my feet.”

“No, no.”

After walking a few steps and jumping lightly, Jin Seon-kyu’s expression turned serious as if he hadn’t been smiling.

“This is like that thing, you know.”

Why is this guy suddenly talking like a Chungcheong person?

“You know, Dragon Ball.”

Dragon Ball?

Jin Hyuk and Yoo Jin’s heads tilted simultaneously. They could form a synchronized swimming sibling team.

“I haven’t watched that cartoon.”

There are many comic books in the mole house, but those are for idlers like Min Yong-rak and Choi Mi-kyung. Did this senior train so leisurely that he had time to read comics?

“In that cartoon, there’s an alien race called Saiyans, right? Their battle suits stretch like this.”

Ah, I think I get what he means.

It means the elasticity is that good.

Jin Hyuk is 8cm taller, but Jin Seon-kyu’s feet are about 4mm bigger. Yet, Jin Seon-kyu expressed immense satisfaction rather than discomfort.

“Even my big feet stretch out like this and still hold tight. This is amazing……”

“Is it that good?”

The shoes tailored to Jin Hyuk’s feet.

They hold the feet well, but since they were made to fit his foot size, the elasticity was only noticeable in the upper part that holds the foot when putting them on.

“The design is like wearing thick stockings over bare feet. Isn’t it sleeker than Michael Johnson’s golden shoes?”

Jin Seon-kyu’s fit might even be better than Jin Hyuk’s. Because his feet are big, they hold tight.

‘Next time, I should ask for a size slightly smaller than my feet.’

Even now, the feet don’t move inside the shoes, but after wearing them a few more times, they might stretch and stay fixed. Then, the effect of elasticity would be lost.

“Wait a moment.”

“Huh? Why?”

Jin Seon-kyu, who was about to fix the studs and spikes like screws, was startled. Is he going to take them back?

“Would you like to wear the blue one on your left foot? I’ll wear the red one on my left.”

It was a spontaneous thought, but it seemed quite plausible.

The Taeguk colors on the left and right.

“Wear them once a day until the preliminaries to get used to them. If you wear them too long, your feet might hurt.”

“Yeah, yeah. These shoes are so good. They hold the front tight, so the power just goes in.”

Jin Seon-kyu was genuinely excited.

He seemed to half-listen to the advice about wearing them in, but he’s a veteran, so he’ll figure it out. It’s already grateful that he followed Jin Hyuk’s training plan without complaint.

***

Around the opening, athletes can train at the main stadium at designated times.

Stepping on the track, running a bit, doing a 30m sprint.

During the scheduled time for group preliminaries, athletes in competition attire run on the track.

“Wow-. So many people.”

Jin Seon-kyu, who got new shoes and was in high spirits, looked around the stadium with excitement.

The final adaptation stage before entering the battlefield.

Some days, they met familiar American athletes, and other days, they didn’t see anyone.

So, Jin Hyuk understood Jin Seon-kyu’s regret.

“Ah, damn this guy. Did he eat yet……? I wonder if he got strength from eating American beef.”

100m alone has 75 countries. The 106 fastest athletes on Earth. The track can’t accommodate all the athletes at once, so not meeting friends is a reality to accept.

“Seventy-five countries. Where on Earth are all those countries located?”

Behind Jin Seon-kyu’s admiration, Jin Hyuk took in all the athletes with a broad view.

An athlete with hands on hips, shaking legs, and lips twitching.

An athlete with a cross necklace on his forehead, muttering something.

An athlete with his head down, staring at the track.

An athlete kissing the track and bowing.

All serious moments, then exchanging greetings with competitors who made eye contact.

“You’re Son, right?”

“Yeah, nice to meet you. Vitaly Sabin from the ten, right?”

Jin Hyuk, who memorized most athletes’ names, shook the opponent’s hand warmly.

Since it’s Russian, Sabin is correct.

“Oh-, you know me?”

You know me?

“Of course. You’re from Kazakhstan.”

A language beyond language. Names.

How heartwarming it is to have someone call your name in a distant foreign land.

Vitaly, with a sturdy build, quickly filled with emotion.

Jin Hyuk called out names and wished good luck to both famous and lesser-known athletes.

“Mr. Bailey?”

“Call me Don. Son! You’re famous even in Canada.”

Donovan Bailey looked older than his age due to dark circles and droopy eyes, despite being around 30 like Jonathan. Even though he’s younger than Carl Lewis, it felt awkward to call him by his first name.

“Ban Nam Hai from Vietnam? Is that how you pronounce your name? Same ten as Sabin, right?”

“Yeah, Son. Nice to meet you.”

The courage of a stranger.

Perhaps because the conversation isn’t as free as in their native language, they can approach more casually.

“Mr. Christie.”

“Call me Linford.”

“I saw you practicing starts earlier, and you seemed too hasty.”

Once the conversation flows, they exchange opinions without hesitation.

Another privilege only athletes meeting on the international stage can enjoy. Because they are competitors and friends, a special and unique relationship.

Like the American team proposing joint adaptation training to Jin Hyuk and Jin Seon-kyu.

They also reached out to athletes from other countries besides the Korean team.

“Oh! You’ve been watching closely, young friend.”

What? Mentally, we’re the same age-.

‘Just. It feels like it.’

Jin Hyuk honestly shared what he observed about Linford Christie.

“That’s your British teammate Darren, right? Over there in the corner, when Darren claps, Linford runs. It felt like he was anticipating the signal rather than reacting to it.”

“That’s my weakness.”

Linford immediately agreed, blaming his age.

His agility has declined too much.

“Your observation is accurate, young friend.”

Well, Jin Hyuk saw it as impatience.

Waiting for the start signal, unable to hold back and rushing out.

But there’s no need to say it as it is.

Even if it’s a privilege of athletes on the same stage, speaking as if you know everything is excessive and insulting.

“It’s the Olympic dream stage, so getting disqualified for a false start would be a shame.”

“You’re right.”

You can say that again.

“Let’s meet in the finals, young friend.”

“That’s how it will be.”

Jin Hyuk and Linford’s season records are 1st and 2nd among 106 athletes.

*

Some athletes communicate with gestures because they don’t share a language.

Like Jin Seon-kyu laughing with an Azerbaijani athlete.

“Ahaha! You look old, but you’re already married?”

“Yeah, right, Kyu. I’m a former weightlifter. Hahahaha!”

Arif Akhundov from Azerbaijan raised both arms, and Jin Seon-kyu gave a thumbs up.

“Wow! You already have two kids? Amazing!”

Well……

As long as they’re having fun.

“Make lots of friends.”

Jin Hyuk pushed Jin Seon-kyu to greet more athletes. The intention was to lighten the heavy heart by making eye contact and talking.

Fortunately, Jin Seon-kyu had become more sociable after hanging out with American athletes.

“I’m Kyu-. Korea.”

“Nice to meet you, Kyu. I’m Ahmed Dohou, Ivory Coast.”

“Ahmed? Oh? We’re in the same group? Same heat.”

“Hahaha-. Get lost, spy.”

“Thank you, thank you.”

Not sharing a language has its perks.

*

Even when meeting different athletes the next day, Jin Hyuk and Jin Seon-kyu acted just as sociably. Clearly different from Japanese and Chinese athletes who only focused on breathing.

Jin Hyuk glanced at them and said to Jin Seon-kyu.

“If we make a good impression, our juniors will be welcomed when they come to the world stage. At least they won’t be lonely.”

“Yeah. You’re right, Jin Hyuk.”

Jin Seon-kyu, who was always alone and worried about his juniors’ loneliness, understood.

He expected that Jin Hyuk’s occasional bold remarks to other athletes and long conversations in incomprehensible languages were for the juniors.

He silently endured the training because he understood Jin Hyuk’s thoughts.

“And every time we greet and talk, the tension eases, right?”

“Absolutely. Even those who were glancing at us smile like kids when we talk first. People’s hearts are all the same, huh? Everyone’s nervous.”

Confidence can be filled by oneself but also boosted by external stimuli.

Like Jin Seon-kyu now.

There seemed to be nothing more to help Jin Seon-kyu have a regret-free Olympics.

“Son-.”

“Soon-.”

It was no longer surprising to be recognized by athletes he had never met.

He held the season’s best record and received global media coverage.

‘I’m sad, I’m sad.’

While feeling the popularity, Jin Hyuk focused on controlling his emotions to not get too carried away.

Unlike Jin Seon-kyu, whose concentration improves when excited, Jin Hyuk’s senses sharpen when calm.

***

Atlanta Centennial Olympic Stadium.

Athletes sweating in their spots, coaches observing and teaching, Yoo Se-ra and foundation staff in business meetings, Yoo Jin, Hong Soo-jung, and Yang Gang-wook touring, all gathered in the same place.

Federation staff supporting Jin Hyuk and Jin Seon-kyu also watched the opening ceremony with tickets supported by Yoo Se-ra.

[……Korea-!]

A name that makes your heart swell even if you try not to get excited.

Wearing the national team uniform with the Taegeuk symbol, waving the Taegeuk flag, they entered.

“Ha-, really……”

Jin Seon-kyu’s burst of laughter caught Jin Hyuk’s attention.

“How did I end up here……”

Muttering-.

Hearing Jin Seon-kyu’s murmuring voice, Jin Hyuk chuckled.

He was thinking the same thing.

“But still-.”

“But still-.”

They seemed to share the same thoughts and words.

When Jin Seon-kyu gestured to yield, Jin Hyuk smiled.

With the brightest smile he could muster.

“It’s really good to be here together.”

It was time to send the training and laughter-filled times to a corner of the photo album.

“Without you, I wouldn’t have talked to so many foreign athletes. Thank you.”

“Now, let’s turn those friends into enemies for a while.”

Jin Hyuk smiled as he spoke, and Jin Seon-kyu nodded strongly.

“They’re totally enemies now.”

It’s game time.

Jin Seon-kyu looked like he wanted to run immediately.

When the actual competition is near, only one goal is engraved in the heart. That’s what being a pro is about. Maybe the national flag firmly engraved on the chest is for that purpose.

One name, one goal.

National representative.

***

Under the blazing sun, cheering and cheering again.

Some shed tears of joy, others wail in frustration.

Though bound by the name of the national team, athletes from different events rarely mingle personally unless they have private friendships.

Clack clack-.

The athletes’ footsteps dominated the waiting room. Jin Seon-kyu, calm, was asked.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah! Having someone with you is really good.”

So, having one more person makes you feel this secure.

A staff member with the schedule sheet came in and shouted.

[Heat 3, Heat 4, enter!]

While the second group’s match was ongoing, athletes waiting in the passage behind the starting area were called out.

Hoo-, hoo-.

Without realizing, without being told, they naturally adjusted their breathing. Supplying oxygen to the brain, raising body temperature.

Three hours before the match, they had breakfast with rice and sweetened misugaru.

Bang-!

Wow!

Outside, the preliminary matches of the previous groups were ongoing.

“Hey, they say the whip that hits first is better. The waiting time is long, so I’m a bit nervous, man.”

Jin Hyuk chuckled at Jin Seon-kyu’s chatter and poured cool mixed coffee into a thermos lid.

Sip-.

Every day since arriving in the US, Yoo Se-ra prepared energy drinks, and with gratitude, he took a sip.

Rolling it on his tongue, he slowly swallowed.

Jin Seon-kyu followed suit.

[Heat 5, Heat 6, enter!]

Jin Hyuk swallowed the remaining mixed coffee.

Tap tap-.

Jin Seon-kyu silently patted his junior’s shoulder.

No words are heard, no words are needed at this moment.

Nodding to Jin Seon-kyu, he left the waiting room.

How long did he wait, tapping his thigh with his fist in the passage?

Zing-.

The speaker in the ceiling corner sounded.

Tap tap-.

[Heat five, ready.]

Leaving the shaded passage, he stepped into the stadium.

For a moment, the whole world turned white. Should’ve worn sunglasses.

It wasn’t just the vision that signaled the change of stage.

[Bang-!]

Wow-!

A stage where you face thunderous cheers alone.

Hoo-!

With a long exhale, he shook his heavy shoulders.

It’s Son Jin Hyuk’s time.