Chapter 11. Chaotic Draft (1)
"Boss! Two bulbaek sets and three bottles of soju over here!"
"Hey, can you change the grill plate here?"
"More kimchi over here!"
The small diner was packed with customers.
Lee Nayoung hurried between the tables.
As expected of a restaurant known for serving large portions at low prices, today was another exhausting day for her.
After working at the restaurant, her entire body often ached.
There had been more than one occasion when she wanted to quit.
But her family helped her forget the exhaustion and continue working.
Her blunt but devoted husband, Kim Musin.
Her son Kim Nahan, who played baseball and was just as blunt as his father.
Those two were the reason Nayoung kept going.
I'm glad they seem to have gotten closer recently.
Both men were quiet and rarely spoke about their true feelings.
There had been times when she felt sad watching them slowly drift apart.
But recently, thanks to Nahan's efforts, the two were gradually becoming closer again.
They still seem embarrassed around each other, but both of them are trying.
She had been proud when Nahan invited his father to his recent tournament.
On top of that, he had finished his final tournament with excellent results.
These days, she was happier than she had been in a long time.
[The 2024 KBO Rookie Draft is now only one week away. We've prepared a look at the players drawing the most attention. Let's take a look.]
Coincidentally, the television was discussing the draft her son had entered.
There was the handsome player named Kang Jihoon, who attended the same high school as Nahan.
Then there was Choi Jiwan, who looked like a playful troublemaker.
Several players were being called the biggest prospects in this year's draft.
[There are also several players emerging as dark horses. Who might they be?]
Information about players who were not the most famous, but whose stock had suddenly risen, appeared on the screen.
Surprisingly, Nahan was among them.
[He's one of the stars of the Bonghwangdaegi, Kim Nahan of Seongsin High School. He possesses natural power that comes from an ideal physical frame, and he became a major topic after hitting an incredible eight home runs during the Bonghwangdaegi. Some clubs have reportedly already shown interest, so he will be an interesting player to watch.]
He said he became the home run king, and now he's practically a famous player! He's even on the news.
She had always felt sorry that she had been too busy to give her son enough attention.
She had wondered whether she should have attended games to cheer for him like other parents did.
She had also worried whether she should have sent him to a private training center.
But Nahan had eventually produced great results without receiving much support.
As his mother, she could only feel proud.
While Nayoung was enjoying the feeling of walking on air, an irritating voice entered her ears.
"Puhaha! A high round pick just because he played well in one tournament? Come on. That's obviously a fluke."
It came from two men who had ordered two bulbaek sets and soju.
Both seemed interested in high school baseball, and they were discussing the upcoming draft.
The man wearing a red cap clearly thought Nahan's chances of being selected in an early round were low.
The bald man sitting opposite him defended Nahan.
"Come on, even if it was a fluke, he's worth picking at that level. Look at that form. The swing goes, smack! Just, taaack! It's beautiful."
"There you go again. That's what people who've never played baseball say. Maintaining that form is a completely different issue. His numbers before the Bonghwangdaegi weren't very good. It's more reasonable to think he just got temporarily lucky."
Nayoung did not know much about baseball.
She only understood things like batting averages and home run totals well enough to vaguely think, This player must be good.
Even to her, the man in the red cap was not saying something completely unreasonable.
But separate from that, she still felt offended.
As the saying went, one's arms naturally bent inward.
Nahan was her son, the most precious person in the world to her.
"Seriously, you don't know baseball at all. Just wait and see. This kid is definitely going to break out."
Fortunately, the reason she did not become too upset was because the bald man continued praising Nahan.
He defended Nahan passionately, almost as though they personally knew each other.
They had never even met, yet he was speaking up so strongly for her son.
She felt very grateful.
You already have a fan, son.
Perhaps this man might even be Nahan's first fan.
When someone looked kindly upon your child, it was only natural for a parent to want to give them something extra.
Tap.
"Oh, what's this?"
That was why she placed a bottle of soda beside the bald man.
"It's on the house."
"Oh my, thank you. I'll enjoy it."
"Wait, ma'am. What about me?"
Since only the bald man had received a drink, the man opposite him complained.
It was his own attempt at protesting, but it had absolutely no effect on Lee Nayoung.
Nayoung lifted only one corner of her mouth.
"You don't get one."
"Hey, wait..."
The man finally realized what had happened after he saw a photograph of Nahan's family flash across the television screen.
After that, time passed quickly, and soon it was time for Nayoung to leave work.
After closing the restaurant with the other employees, she stepped outside.
Everyone encouraged one another after another difficult day and prepared to go home.
Just before they separated, Nayoung approached the owner.
"Um, boss."
"Hmm? Nayoung, what's wrong?"
Nahan's words passed through her mind.
The draft is on September 30. If you aren't busy, come with Father. If you're busy, it can't be helped.
He had spoken as though it would be fine if she could not come.
But Nayoung desperately wanted to attend.
She knew how much courage her son must have gathered before saying those words.
She also wanted to be there for her child's new beginning, blessing him and cheering him on.
After hearing the situation, the owner laughed and slapped Nayoung lightly on the arm.
"Come on, why are you worrying about something so pointless? If something like that is happening, of course you should go!"
"But Saturdays are busy, and the others will have a harder time if I'm not here."
"Good grief. If this restaurant collapses just because one employee is missing, we should've gone out of business a long time ago. Don't worry and go."
"She's right, Nayoung. We'll handle things ourselves, so go. Ah, and get your son's autograph while you're there. He might become a star someday, hoho!"
Every employee encouraged Nayoung as though it were their own family matter.
They told her it was a once in a lifetime event for her son, and if she missed it, she might regret it for the rest of her life.
Even the work schedule she had worried about was quickly solved when another employee volunteered to take her shift.
...I'm truly a fortunate person.
Her heart warmed.
It felt as though only good things were happening to her son.
September 30.
The day of the rookie draft arrived.
For high school baseball players, it was the place that marked the end of one chapter.
Some would cheer.
Others would experience despair after crashing into the wall of reality.
