Chapter 33

#33 <Unknown Player (2)>

***

“Bong-su, is he running tomorrow too?”

“If he doesn’t run, who will?”

“Doesn’t it get tiring running like that?”

“It does. But kids who exercise recover quickly, you know. You’ve exercised too, why are you acting all surprised now?”

“True. He’s young, so he’ll recover even faster.”

Jeong Bong-soo and Lee Hae-dong got scolded by Kim Young-tae at the public sports field.

They approached him as politely as possible. Maybe the problem was their shabby workout clothes. The baseball coaches even showed up wearing sunglasses, and they seemed to have a long chat with him. Still, no matter how shabby they looked, they didn’t expect him to flat-out refuse to spare a moment.

“Ugh! Maybe I should’ve played baseball instead.”

“Heeheehee! If you had, you’d have been great at stealing bases.”

Jeong Bong-soo, laughing aimlessly, took a sip of soju.

“Hey, that kid is really fast. Not just in the 100 meters, but during the relay, it felt like I was watching my old self.”

“Yeah, right. Like anyone here hasn’t been an anchor before.”

“I’m serious, man!”

“Me too, dude!”

Lee Hae-dong filled Jeong Bong-soo’s glass and raised his own. Jeong Bong-soo clinked his glass against it, and the soju sloshed around.

“Ahhh—so good!”

It is. It’s been a while since friends got together to empty their glasses. So what if they couldn’t recruit a speedy prospect? That kid is just too good to let go.

Lee Hae-dong recalled the relay preliminaries.

The first runner, who swiftly navigated the curve. His posture was solid, as if he’d been in track for a long time. Then the second and third runners, who, despite being caught up on the straight, had smooth baton passes. The young runners exchanged the baton like they had octopus suckers on their palms—quick and precise.

And then, the problem child—the anchor.

“Crazy! Did he just flip the script?”

Up to the second and third runners, they were in fifth place. Compared to the first runner, their speed was lacking, but they managed to stay in fifth thanks to their baton passes. But the moment the baton passed from the third to the fourth runner, the entire stadium jumped to their feet.

Whoaaa—! That roar still echoes in his ears.

Like a motorcycle suddenly opening its throttle and lifting its front wheel, the anchor took over the track. It was as if there was prey at the finish line, and he charged like a tiger.

In the end, Taeyang Elementary took first place.

After finishing his reminiscence, Lee Hae-dong poured the last of the soju into Jeong Bong-soo’s glass. His eyes were misty, as if he had been the one running.

“Are you going to the field tomorrow?”

“Of course. I’ve had drinks, where else would I go?”

Lee Hae-dong’s eyes were fiery, fueled by the alcohol.

It was the kind of look that could lead to misunderstandings.

And words that fanned the flames of misunderstanding followed.

“Let’s sleep together tonight.”

“Don’t get the wrong idea, you lunatic!”

“To save on lodging.”

“You should’ve said that earlier, man!”

The salary of a middle school soccer coach wasn’t much.

He came in a rush without even applying for travel expenses.

***

“Eat up, eat up! The teacher’s treating you all!”

“Wow! Eating samgyeopsal two days in a row is a first in my life!”

Hahaha.

Jo Seol-chan’s charm was something even Jin Hyuk, who had lived nearly half a century combined across two lifetimes, couldn’t replicate. Maybe this kid was also a regressor? Jin Hyuk chuckled to himself. Even without Jo Seol-chan, there were other things to laugh about.

‘A gold medal? I’ve gotten plenty of awards for studying, but this is my first for sports.’

And his dad’s excited voice was a new kind of感动. It was a voice genuinely proud of his son, making him feel like he really did the right thing by joining the competition. After all, he vowed to live happily with his parents and younger sister, so the more joyful moments, the better.

‘I miss my mom and dad. And Yoo Jin and Jang Gun-i too.’

Sitting in the bustling outskirts restaurant, Jin Hyuk could only think of his family.

The clinking of glasses, the chatter, the sizzling of meat. The voices of kids who hadn’t yet hit puberty blended naturally into the mix.

Other regional teams that had made it to the finals also occupied two or three tables each, throwing samgyeopsal parties. The rural butcher shop owner was busy serving with a big smile on his face.

The kind-hearted老板娘 brought a stew and spicy whelk salad to Jin Hyuk’s table with a thud.

“Here’s some service for you too-. Oh my, there are only four of you here, but you’re running again tomorrow, huh?”

“Auntie! This kid won a gold medal today! He’s got three finals tomorrow!”

Jo Seol-chan couldn’t help but point at Jin Hyuk and brag.

It seems human nature to want to show off when someone you’re even slightly connected to does well and has talent. In the past, Jin Hyuk would’ve scolded him for saying unnecessary things, but now he felt grateful that his friends were proud of him.

‘Why is the teacher acting like that?’

But Teacher Kim Young-tae had been acting strange since earlier.

While the kids were busy eating and drinking, wasn’t he subtly checking his wallet? If Jin Hyuk were like any other kid, his attention would’ve been on the sizzling samgyeopsal and the bubbling, savory doenjang stew. But Jin Hyuk wasn’t a kid. No, he had the composure of a sailor who had navigated stormy seas and seen the vast ocean, so he could guess what Teacher Kim Young-tae was worried about.

‘Is he short on money?’

Just because he returned to the past doesn’t mean he knows everything.

Even things he had experienced before, most of the details were fuzzy, and fields he hadn’t experienced before were still unknown even in the past. Besides, the current reality was a completely new future compared to the past. So, he had no knowledge about running a sports team or finances in a rural school.

He could only guess.

‘It’s probably haphazard. They’re probably participating with parent association fees.’

Come to think of it, Jin Hyuk hadn’t been asked to pay any fees. The uniform was also provided by Taeyang Elementary. He felt indebted. But there was nothing he could do about it right now. If a young student pulled out money from their bag to give to the teacher, how much would it hurt the teacher’s pride?

“We’ve eaten a lot, let’s digest and go to bed early. We have to run tomorrow too.”

All Jin Hyuk could do was stop his friends from ordering more.

As if waiting for this, Kim Young-tae awkwardly smiled and went to the counter.

“How much is it?”

Jin Hyuk pricked up his ears.

“The guests over there paid for it-.”

What?

Jin Hyuk pretended not to hear and rolled his eyes to check the men drinking beer at the corner table.

‘Those guys······.’

A sense of debt. Just thinking about it shows how conscientious he is. From the uniform to the fee waiver. Even though they’re representing the military, strictly speaking, they’re from another school, strangers. Jin Hyuk realized he owed Teacher Kim Young-tae and Taeyang Elementary.

That’s why those guys who paid for dinner made him even more uncomfortable.

They were the ones wearing sunglasses and lurking around earlier.

“You guys go ahead. I’ll stay and chat with a friend for a bit.”

Though Kim Young-tae spoke brightly to the kids, Jin Hyuk didn’t miss the subtle anger in his voice. Sure enough, Teacher Kim Young-tae approached them with a stern face, said something, and paid the bill at the counter.

‘So Teacher Kim Young-tae is that kind of person.’

In his previous life, he had been forcibly transferred to Taeyang Elementary, so he often ran into this teacher at school. He was like an uncle, joking and laughing with the kids during PE. But seeing him like this, he seemed like an uncompromising scholar.

Even Jin Hyuk would’ve done the same as Teacher Kim Young-tae.

It’s only natural that a sense of debt restricts one’s actions. If he were to even get a free meal, it might unintentionally influence the student’s future. Teacher Kim Young-tae’s concerns painted a picture in Jin Hyuk’s mind.

‘I owe them in many ways.’

Teacher Kim Young-tae’s figure was like the hull of a ship cutting through the waves, facing the storm head-on. The crew, as if saying, “Just do your job.” That’s what a teacher is. After Teacher Choi Eung-muk, he had another teacher he liked. Of course, respect isn’t tied to a school.

Jin Hyuk’s eyes searched for his friends.

He saw Yeom Byeong-taek calling home from a payphone.

“Yeah, Mom. I can’t come home today. I have to run tomorrow too. Really! Why are you treating your only son like a scammer? If you don’t believe me, come and see for yourself!”

Yeom Byeong-taek’s mom seemed to lack trust.

Park Ji-beom was waiting his turn behind him, and Jo Seol-chan had his hands on his hips, looking around at the darkening sky. Jo Seol-chan often said that doing this made him feel like he could see his parents somewhere.

‘I miss my mom and dad too.’

Jin Hyuk also followed Jo Seol-chan’s gaze to the night sky.

Feeling like a child again.

Then he turned his eyes back to his friends.

‘In the past, I never even spoke to these guys.’

It was the only elementary school in town.

There were 11 classes, with nearly 50 students each, which was quite large for a rural school. But while he had seen banners at the school gate about the ssireum team winning some competition or someone from the ssireum team placing in a tournament, he couldn’t recall ever seeing anything about track and field awards.

‘These guys need to win medals.’

He felt even more sorry.

To Teacher Kim Young-tae, and to his friends.

‘There’s only one way to repay them······.’

He decided to try something called “selection and concentration.”

***

Han Yu-young was more surprised than her husband.

She had thought her son took after his dad and was good at studying, but who knew he’d be good at sports too? She had guessed his legs were strong from watching him play with the chickens and the dog at home. He was always running somewhere in the mornings and evenings, and he never stopped running to and from school.

‘But I thought he was only good in this rural area.’

But a Korean record? They didn’t even have a TV until they got a black-and-white one during the 86 Asian Games season. Now they had a color TV, but with a newborn, they couldn’t properly watch the 88 Olympics. Anyway, does this mean he’s as fast as the athletes on TV?

‘I didn’t know he was that fast during sports day.’

Ah, but it’s the long jump, so speed doesn’t matter, right?

Han Yu-young scratched her still-damp hair, blaming herself for being a sports novice.

“Honey, can we not go there tomorrow?”

It was a sudden suggestion that Son Kwang-yeon hadn’t expected. But as a mother, it felt like a natural reaction. Son Kwang-yeon also wanted to see his son run. Tomorrow’s events were the 100-meter final, the 200-meter final, and the relay final. He was competing in three events.

“Ah, but the other kids······.”

The other kids said their parents weren’t coming either. Only one accompanying teacher was with them, so if only Jin Hyuk’s parents went, the other kids might feel left out.

Son Kwang-yeon had experienced this countless times. If they only attended for their own child, it might hurt the other kids. He thought it was better not to do that.

“Jin Hyuk might feel pressured if his mom and dad are watching.”

“You’re right. It’s better to hold back, like you said.”

Han Yu-young hugged her whining daughter and went into the bedroom.

Left alone in the living room, Son Kwang-yeon fiddled with the latest film camera. It was a camera he never let go of when spending leisure time with his family.

Under the dim light, taking the camera out and putting it back in, a wave of emotion filled his chest.

“Whooo—.”

He deliberately exhaled a long breath, hoping the regret would leave with it.

What a lonely life it had been.

Living in Seoul with just his mother, enduring all kinds of hardships. Then his mother passed away early. So, at various events, award ceremonies, and even graduation, there was no family to attend. He met a woman he loved more than life itself, built a family, and had a handsome, reliable son and an angelic daughter.

He told his wife it was better to hold back, but······.

He kept fiddling with the silent camera.

‘I want to go······. I want to see it in person.’

I want to watch over him.

‘Our son running.’

Son Kwang-yeon finally put the camera away and bit his lip.

Even after going to bed, he tossed and turned for a long time, stroking his still-girlish wife’s cheek.

Unintentional sighs kept escaping, and he even breathed quietly.