Chapter 85, A Lover or a Fated Connection
Monday morning.
Even though the cheering at Sajik had died down, my ears were still tingling.
My glove was still lying beside my bed.
Normally, my morning training routine would have started around this time.
But today was different.
I had circled Monday on my calendar with a pen and written a short note beside it.
Rest, family, and Park Seong-hyeon.
Baseball was half my life.
But today, I had decided to spend time with the other half.
When I opened the living room window, a breeze from the Busan sea brushed against the curtains.
Beneath the apartment balcony, the blue sky stretched wide open.
The cries of seagulls could be heard in the distance.
Instead of my usual training clothes, I put on a gray shirt and headed to my parents' home.
“You're here, Seong!”
My mother's voice rang out the moment I opened the door.
The kitchen was filled with the mixed smells of cooking oil and rich soybean paste soup.
My father folded his newspaper and stood up happily.
“I watched yesterday's game. But you know, my heart started racing before you even started running.”
I smiled and shrugged.
“Let your heart rest today. If we go outside, people will go crazy.”
My mother laughed.
“That's why I already bought everything we need. Let's cook steaks. Home is better than a restaurant.”
Butter melted in the pan, giving off golden steam and filling the kitchen with a warm glow.
We had originally planned to eat outside, but there was nothing we could do.
The entire country was going crazy because of me.
My parents and I agreed that going out and attracting unnecessary attention would be a bad idea.
Sizzle.
Amid the sound of splattering oil, my father spoke.
“Do you remember middle school? When the catcher fell backward after receiving one of your pitches?”
My mother added,
“Even back then, I thought you had a natural talent for baseball. But I never imagined you'd grow up and make the national team. Life really is something.”
Her voice trembled near the end.
Moisture gathered around the fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.
“Thank you for growing up so well.”
My father spoke in a low voice.
I put down the tongs for a moment and smiled.
“Thank you too. Without you two, I wouldn't be here today.”
The dining table was covered with beautifully browned steaks, roasted garlic, mashed potatoes, and soy sauce mixed with wasabi.
The scent of butter had soaked into my mother's apron.
With every bite of meat, my mother's smile grew softer, and the wrinkles on my father's face seemed to relax.
After the meal, I looked down at the alley outside the window.
Three children were throwing a baseball.
Their baseball traced a white line through the air, and memories of my own childhood seemed to overlap with it.
Then my mother asked,
“Seong, when does your next schedule start?”
“I'm leaving for Suwon tomorrow morning. We have a three-game series against the Rangers.”
“Take care of yourself. Your body is practically a national treasure now.”
My father laughed and added,
“Still, come home often. Don't spend your whole life throwing baseballs and grow old without doing anything else.”
“...Okay.”
As evening approached, I took out a suit.
I had an appointment with Manager Park Seong-hyeon, who had taught me in high school.
He often called me, and I heard things had been going well for him recently.
The biggest change was that many schools had started trying to recruit him.
He had even received an offer to become a hitting coach for a minor league team.
His reputation as a manager who genuinely cared about his players had grown.
I wore a mask and sunglasses, then hid my face under a cap.
I did not want strangers interrupting the little personal time I had.
When I opened the door to the restaurant's private room, the manager immediately stood up.
“Hey, your face is completely tanned. You always look so thin on television.”
“You haven't changed at all, Manager.”
He gestured for me to sit.
“The Saeum High School baseball club has changed a lot lately. After watching you, Jae-jun, and Geon-woo lift that trophy, all the kids started saying they wanted to join the baseball team. We aren't a national powerhouse yet, but we've become a solid team.”
He smiled briefly.
“The Oceans are even treating Saeum High School as one of their main scouting schools now.”
“Really? That's pretty moving. How are the players? Are they all doing well?”
“Of course, of course. Oh, right. Remember the person I've been telling you I wanted to introduce?”
“Of course. I think this would be a good chance to meet her.”
“Really? That's perfect!”
After hearing my answer, Park Seong-hyeon began tapping on his phone.
It looked as though he was contacting someone.
A little later, the door opened again.
“Hello. My name is Lee Su-rin.”
The atmosphere seemed to change for a moment.
A white shirt and navy jacket.
Her hair was neatly tied back.
The moment our eyes met, it was as though a clear ray of light had cut through the silence.
“She's also a Saeum High School graduate.”
Manager Park Seong-hyeon introduced her.
“She's majoring in business administration. You might not know this, Choi Seong, but she's one of the people who have been cheering for Saeum High School at the top of their lungs all this time.”
Lee Su-rin smiled.
I did not remember her from my previous life either.
For now, I stood up and offered my hand.
“After graduating, I want to work at a sports agency. Someday, I plan to start a company under my own name.”
I nodded in surprise.
Manager Park Seong-hyeon continued.
“Seong, she sponsored baseball equipment for the school. Bats, gloves, even a tee-batting set. She didn't ask for anything in return.”
“Manager, you don't have to tell him all that...”
Lee Su-rin waved her hand.
I did not know much about her, but she seemed to come from a fairly influential family in the area.
“I just wanted to do it. Saeum High School holds all my memories.”
“Even so, that's not an easy thing to do.”
I spoke quietly.
“Not many people would do something like that.”
“I've been going to watch the games since I was little.”
Lee Su-rin smiled.
“You were always on the field wearing number thirty. I've been cheering for you ever since.”
“Thank you.”
I could not think of much else to say.
The meal began.
Braised dishes, sashimi, and soybean paste soup were served one after another.
Manager Park talked about the new players, and I shared stories about the national team's routines.
Su-rin quietly wrote something in her notebook.
“By any chance, do you have an agent?”
I shook my head.
“Not yet.”
“Then please contact me when you need one. Even if it isn't me, I'll connect you with someone capable. A player's time is a limited resource, after all.”
For some reason, her words stayed with me.
When we finished eating and I tried to pay, Manager Park Seong-hyeon waved his hand.
“Your senior is treating you. Buy your juniors a meal next time.”
“Manager, how could I let you pay for my meal? I have more money than I know what to do with.”
After saying that, I paid for everything.
It was thanks to Manager Park Seong-hyeon that I had come this far.
In my previous life, he had worked in an agency.
This time, I hoped he could build a new life on the field.
I sincerely wanted him to succeed.
From what he told me, he had received offers from quite a few high school baseball teams.
