WOPE Ch 1

Lifting someone to the heavens, only to plunge them into the depths of the earth. Making blood boil, causing the heart to pound mercilessly. Instilling a sense of belonging and pride, though it’s neither family nor company.

That is sports.

Among them, basketball, where a ball with a circumference of 75cm and a weight of 620g ceaselessly cuts through the rim, was a representative popular sport. For what reason do extraordinarily tall people, rarely seen in everyday life, run around like crazy? For time immemorial, people have laughed and cried over this ball game.

Twenty-four-year-old Lee Hooyoung this year was a basketball player. Moreover, he was a point guard, drafted last year by the Seoul HG Big Whales as their coveted first overall pick. He was the blockbuster rookie the HG Big Whales, who had consistently remained at the bottom of the league for the past three years, let alone reaching the playoffs, had eagerly awaited.

Hooyoung had stood out since his amateur days, even before the draft. Officials often talked about him as a talent who would continue the lineage of genius guards. He went through elementary, middle, and high schools, and university, all renowned for their basketball programs, and he consistently made the national team for his age group.

He was a star among some fans who watched college basketball, and even though he was a college player, not a professional, he had quite a few female fans. His skills were a factor, but his looks also played a part. Among the tall players, usually ranging from 190cm to over 2m, he was relatively small at 180cm, and thanks to his large, bright eyes and flowing hair, there was frequent talk of him being the second coming of a character from a popular 90s basketball manga, who was both a coach and a player.

“Hey, Bbibbi! Coming tonight, right?”

A team official popped out of the office and asked, seeing Hooyoung entering the locker room after the morning training session.

“Yes, I am.”

Hooyoung nodded and answered, and the official went back inside, saying he’d see him soon.

Hooyoung’s nickname was ‘Bbibbi.’ Due to the intense and fast-paced nature of basketball, it was common to use short nicknames on the court and during timeouts, and somehow, Hooyoung became Bbibbi. It was a nickname with a story that became a minor topic of conversation.

It was a known fact among those who knew him that Hooyoung grew up with his grandparents, and his grandmother had attended the draft alone to see her grandson’s proud moment. She was an elderly woman with a hunched back and wrinkled face, but that day, she wore her finest clothes and had an excited expression throughout. It’s customary for the drafted player or their family to be interviewed on the news when selected as the first overall pick, and it was the same for Hooyoung’s grandmother. That night, her interview on the sports news inevitably caught attention.

‘Our Yepi is a really, really good and hardworking child. Our Yepi has been single-mindedly focused on basketball since he was young. He’s very obedient, he doesn’t do anything bad…. So, coach, seniors, please take good care of him.’

The interview, conducted with a slightly excited voice right after the draft, swept through online communities for a while. It was because the grandmother’s love for her grandson was overflowing in her trembling voice, thick with dialect. Comments like, ‘How much she must have cherished him to still call him Yepi (pretty one) even though he’s an adult,’ and ‘My grandmother still calls me puppy,’ were posted by the thousands on the news clip. Of course, there were also many comments saying that he deserved to be called Yepi after seeing Hooyoung.

The HG Big Whales coach started calling him Bbibbi, partly because there was a senior player on the team with a similar name ending in ‘-young,’ and partly because it was difficult to pronounce “Hooyoung” quickly. He also reasoned that Bbibbi was better than Yepi, which sounded a bit creepy. Furthermore, one of Hooyoung’s habits was to pull his hair when he made a mistake or things weren’t going well during a game, so his hair often stuck up on both sides.

Once the coach started calling him Bbibbi, the senior players followed suit, and when it was broadcast, the fans started calling him Bbibbi too. Thus, the nickname Bbibbi became firmly established as everyone called him that.

“Hey, Bbibbi, you seemed a bit sluggish today, didn’t you?”

As Hooyoung came in and went to his locker, the senior player next to him lightly nudged him and said.

“……A little, yeah?”

Hooyoung led his team to victory for three out of his four years in college. Honestly, by his senior year, he didn’t think he would lose to anyone. But being a professional was different. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, but it was much harder than he expected. Moreover, various issues overlapped, causing his condition to hit rock bottom.

As a result, he fell short of the team’s expectations, and he ultimately missed out on the Rookie of the Year award, which you only get once in a lifetime. His stats weren’t bad, but it went to someone else after a close race.

“You’re not doing any separate skills training yet, are you?”

“……No, not yet.”

These days, players tend to receive skills training at their own expense in addition to team training. Top professional players often go to the United States during the off-season.

The outpouring of goodwill surrounding the first overall pick only applied when they played like a first overall pick. The team that had been languishing at the bottom for so long, the coach whose contract was expiring after the upcoming season, and the fans who had been waiting for Hooyoung for years – all of them had high expectations for him. Facing his second season, Hooyoung felt the pressure of these expectations weighing him down every day. Even a small slip-up during training made him self-conscious.

“There are many good places in Korea these days. A former teammate of mine who retired early goes back and forth to the US, designs curriculums, and does training. Let me know if you need anything. I’ll introduce you.”

Hooyoung nodded at the senior’s words, mumbled his thanks, and got up, gathering his clothes. He wanted to wash up quickly and eat.

“Hey, Ibbippi!”

Someone called Hooyoung in a loud voice as he was walking down the hallway to the cafeteria. It was Hojin, who joined the team with Hooyoung. Hooyoung was the first pick in the first round, and Hojin was the ninth pick in the second round. They were also teammates in middle and college, so they had spent a considerable amount of time together, and Hojin was a friend Hooyoung relied on. The funny thing was that Hojin, who always used to call him “Hooyoung,” now frequently called him “Bbibbi,” as if he had caught the bug.

“What, you caught it too?”

“Everyone calls you that, so I felt like I should too. And it suits you. Aw, cute little Hooyoung.”

“Ah, stop it! Let go! Let go, you jerk!”

Hojin, who was over 198cm tall, hugged Hooyoung as if strangling him and pressed down from above. Hooyoung, gasping for air, punched Hojin’s arm, which was twice as thick as his own, and barely managed to break free. 181cm (181.4cm to be exact) wasn’t a short height by any means, but among the average 2m giants, he was a dwarf.

“What did Incheol say earlier?”

Hojin, who hadn’t missed Hooyoung’s stiff expression in the locker room, asked.

“Did he scold you? He even criticizes you during training, not just practice games.”

“No, it wasn’t like that.”

“Then?”

“He just asked if I was doing any skills training yet.”

“Ah……”

Hojin pursed his lips, then pulled them back in, glancing at Hooyoung.

“Seriously, what’s with him…. How expensive is a skills training session?”

Even Hojin, who said that, was attending a skills training center.

“He doesn’t know.”

There’s a standard salary for top draft picks. In the case of the first overall pick, it was usually around 100 million won. Hooyoung also received the highest amount among rookies last season, 100 million won as his first annual salary. Even after taxes, it was a considerable amount of money for a 23-year-old just starting out in society. To senior players, it might seem natural to spend money on self-improvement like skills training. Most of them did, and it was necessary to develop beyond what the team provided to grow further.

But Hooyoung couldn’t. He couldn’t afford skills training, let alone well-fitting sneakers or functional wear that supposedly helped prevent injuries by supporting muscles under the uniform. He was in debt. Not just a little, but a mountain of debt.

“……Is your grandmother still…?”

Hooyoung quietly shook his head at Hojin’s cautious question. His grandmother, who had worked hard all her life and had underlying health issues, collapsed as soon as Hooyoung became a professional player, as if she felt she had done her part. And she had been in the hospital ever since. She drifted in and out of consciousness, but since the new year, she had been unconscious more often than not.

“Hey, hey! It’s alright, man!”

Hojin slapped Hooyoung on the back as they entered the cafeteria. The force of it was so strong that Hooyoung stumbled forward, then turned around with a frown. The cafeteria was empty. Only the kitchen staff were busily setting up the buffet-style tables with food.

“That hurt! And I’m not alright!”

“Hey, you’re Korea University’s genius guard, Lee Hooyoung! Your salary will keep going up, you’ll hit a jackpot in free agency, and that debt will be gone in no time. Your grandmother will get better too! If you do well this season, she’ll open her eyes wide and say, ‘Our Yepi is doing so well~’.”

Hooyoung chuckled at Hojin’s exaggeration. After his grandfather passed away shortly after he entered college, his grandmother, who had been struggling for a while, recovered quickly and watched over his college life. As long as her health allowed, she came to the games in person, and just like Hojin said, she would clap and cheer, “Oh, our Yepi! Oh, my puppy!” every time he played well.

“Stop chattering and let’s eat.”

Hooyoung forced a smile and picked up an empty plate. Seeing the table filled with all sorts of delicious food, he felt his energy returning. As always, all he could rely on was food. Food was the best way to forget and overcome everything. Hojin and Hooyoung were the first to pick from the untouched food, moving quickly. Their somewhat aggressive approach made the kitchen staff chuckle as they watched them.

“Wow! Bbibbi! LA Galbi today!”

“Awesome. This must be Korean beef, right?”

While Hojin piled his plate high with galbi, Hooyoung went around and took a little bit of everything. He even took spinach, chives, and seasoned bellflower root, all of which Hojin had passed by with a wrinkled nose.

“You’re not a goat, why are you taking so many greens?”

“You have to eat a variety of vegetables when you eat meat.”

Hooyoung spoke in a serious voice. It almost sounded solemn. It was a familiar sight during his college years, so Hojin chuckled, shaking his head. What professional athlete wouldn’t care about their food, especially nutritious food, but Hooyoung had a bit of an obsession with it.

Having diligently collected even dessert yogurt and fruit, the two sat facing each other and began to eat. Hojin shook his body excitedly as he ate, occasionally greeting senior players as they came in, but Hooyoung focused entirely on his food, chewing thoroughly.

“Bbibbi, what are you doing after afternoon training? Wanna go to the PC room and then have dinner at my place?”

“No, I have a high school event today.”

“Event?”

Hojin, who had been buried in his plate, lifted his head and frowned.

“That Haegok High fundraising dinner?”

“Yeah.”

“Why does Haegok High do that every year? Do you have to go? Can’t you skip it?”

“How can I skip it? The donors need to be thanked. We can’t just take their donations and not do this. Besides, it’s our parent company’s foundation.”

He spoke calmly, but Hooyoung wasn’t entirely comfortable with it. It was an uncomfortable and awkward event. He attended every year because the donations had been a great help to his difficult life, but it always hurt his pride.

Hojin, feeling like he had brought up a sensitive topic, rolled his eyes and tried to change the subject.

“Where do you think our training camp will be? America was really great, but we’re probably not going back, right? Ah, I want to go back to the US. Last year’s US trip was amazing, wasn’t it?”

At the mention of America, even Hooyoung, who had been silently eating, looked up. His face brightened slightly.

“Yeah, it was good.”

…Really good. Hooyoung added in a very small voice.

Last January, Hooyoung, Hojin, and the rest of the Korea University basketball team went on a training trip to the US. It was a special training camp and a trip for the graduating seniors. After the training camp and the final college basketball league, the draft, where they would become real professional players, would take place in November.

Because there wasn’t much time, the last training camp often doubled as a graduation trip. It was meant to be a time to remember their college season together, along with a motivational boost to do well in their final year, which heavily influenced their rookie evaluations.

It was an official training camp supported by the school, but the individual student contribution wasn’t small. The last ten days of the five-week trip were entirely free time for the students to enjoy. Accommodation was taken care of, but they had to cover their own expenses for leisure activities.

As always, Hooyoung intended not to participate. Short trips to nearby places like the Philippines or Japan were less of a burden, but the US was different. That’s why he hadn’t participated the previous year, or the year before that. However, his teammates complained, saying he absolutely couldn’t miss it this time, and the coach also said it would be a big loss for the team if key members missed the training camp. He also mentioned that the skills training included in the trip was high-level. Somehow, his grandmother knew about his financial situation and took out her savings. It was a little over two million won that she had saved bit by bit.

America was wonderful. It wasn’t his first time abroad, having gone on several training trips as a youth national team representative, but he felt like America was definitely different. The great environment and exotic sights kept him excited. He felt like everything would go well in the future. Maybe that’s why he did something crazy.

“Hey, Ibbippi. Be honest. Where did you go back then?”

“……What do you mean?”

Hooyoung blinked once and lowered his head back to his plate, pretending not to know.

“You kept refusing to go out with us, and then during the free time, you completely disappeared and moved around on your own.”

“When did I ever not go out with you guys? I went out during the day, didn’t I? I just didn’t go out at night.”

The ways energetic young men in their early twenties spend time in a foreign country are predictable. Even after sweating profusely during training from dawn till dusk, they were busy every night, going to clubs or drinking. Hooyoung didn’t want to spend his grandmother’s money like that.

“Okay, let’s say that’s the reason you didn’t go out at night. But what did you do later? Did you go on a solo trip? For ten days? All by yourself?”

Hojin chewed on his meat, questioning him suspiciously.

“Stop asking. I just needed some time to think alone.”

“You say that, and I’m speechless. We all thought you were possessed after you came back from the US. Everyone was saying, ‘Did you get your name engraved on the college league MVP trophy beforehand?’ Or, ‘Did he secretly get some tens of thousands of dollars worth of skills training?’ No, can’t you give us a hint? I keep getting curious about it.”

Hooyoung took a sip of water and scratched the back of his neck. There was no hint to give. Skills training? It was a secret and a memory he would take to his grave.

“Just……”

“Just? Just what?”

“Forget it.”

Hooyoung stopped talking and focused on his meal. He mechanically moved his mouth, thinking about how to define that time.

A transgression, perhaps. Those few weeks in America were clearly a transgression.

🏀

After finishing the afternoon training, Hooyoung put on his one and only suit and headed to the hotel where the event was being held. Most of his teammates got their first suits around the time of last year’s draft, but Hooyoung got his a bit earlier, when he turned twenty. Unlike them, he had to attend events in a suit a couple of times a year.

He had the most difficult family circumstances, but he also received the most awards, which meant he received more donations and scholarships than anyone else. The price for that was consistently performing well and being the face of these occasional “thank you” events.

“……It seems to fit perfectly now.”

Sitting in the corner of the city bus, Hooyoung muttered to himself, looking down at his arms and legs. It was the suit and shoes he and his grandfather had carefully chosen at a large discount store before his grandfather passed away. Now, five years later, it seemed to fit him perfectly. At first, he looked like a child wearing adult clothes. Now that he was a professional, he thought the suit might become too small once he started weight training in earnest. But Hooyoung decided he would never throw this suit away, even if he couldn’t wear it anymore.

Hooyoung patted down the suit he had also worn on draft day and turned to look out the window. Even as he desperately tried to think of other things, his face kept turning blank. This was all Kim Hojin’s fault. Why did he have to bring up America? Hooyoung sighed softly and bumped his head against the windowpane.

Why did he do something so crazy back then, even if it was just a momentary lapse? They say the quiet ones are the scariest when they snap, and he never knew it would apply to him. That transgression was both the driving force behind his present life and the cause of his scattered focus.

🏀

“Why do you keep staring?”

That was the man’s first sentence. He met him when he impulsively ran out one early evening, while his teammates were all out, and he was left alone in the dorm. It was at a fancy bar along the beach.

He couldn’t stand it. He hated himself for not being able to spend the money he had brought comfortably, and he hated not being able to enjoy himself like his other teammates. The pressure of having to finish his final college year with a win, the worry about being drafted at least within the top three, and his grandmother’s declining health all weighed heavily on him. Perhaps that’s why he went a little crazy. He wondered if he could just live like a different person, even if it was just for a while, in this faraway place called America, even if it was only for five short weeks.

“Can’t I look?”

The liberation of being in a strange place where nobody knew him fueled his recklessness more than courage. Hooyoung bought two bottles of beer at the bar and sat where he could see the beach. While sipping his beer and looking around, his gaze landed on a man.

He was at the center of a group of people of various ethnicities. The man, clearly Korean, was tall and handsome. Hooyoung’s eyes were naturally drawn to him.

A model, maybe? His casual attire – a shirt with two buttons undone and jeans, along with his natural, unstyled hair – looked stylish. Hooyoung couldn’t take his eyes off him. He didn’t know if it was because the man possessed everything he had always longed for, or if the inclinations he had carefully hidden throughout his adolescence and into adulthood were finally surfacing. Or maybe it was just aimless rebelliousness, a desire to act recklessly.

Sensing his gaze, the man glanced back briefly, then returned to his friends, seemingly unconcerned. But Hooyoung’s eyes were still fixed on him. Then, the man made eye contact, smiled slightly as if in greeting, and went back to his conversation. Still, Hooyoung didn’t avert his gaze. He had no intention of doing so. Thinking back, he must have lost his mind.

A few minutes later, the man, with a drink in his hand, walked towards him. He was even taller up close. Since Hooyoung was constantly surrounded by tall people and always wished he were a little taller, he was good at gauging other people’s height. While the man wasn’t quite as tall as the 2m giants he saw every day, he was definitely taller than him.

As the man got closer, Hooyoung’s heart pounded. It beat so hard that he could hear the thump-thump-thumping in his ears. What was this feeling? He didn’t enjoy talking to strangers and didn’t like standing out, so he didn’t know what had gotten into him. Was he drunk from two beers?

“Staring that intensely has another meaning, doesn’t it? You’re making me have delusions.”

“……What delusions?”

His crazy mouth babbled on its own. The warm sea breeze of LA brushed past his hair and the man’s hair. The man tilted his head slightly, making a humming sound, and looked at him. He had an amused expression, as if thinking, ‘What’s with this kid?’

Just then, someone in the group the man was with shouted something at him. It was too fast for Hooyoung to understand everything, but he caught one word. It was definitely something about flirting.

“Are you hitting on me right now?”

“You’re hilarious.”

The man laughed out loud, said something to his group, telling them to shut up, and then looked back at him.

“What you’ve been doing until now is hitting on me, and I’m just testing the waters.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think?”

Hooyoung had another bottle of beer, two cocktails, and a glass of whisky while talking with him on the beach. The man’s friends disappeared at some point, and he couldn’t tell if he was drunk or just captivated by the man. His lost mind showed no signs of returning.

“Why did you come to America?”

“I’m a foreign exchange student for the semester.”

Lies flowed smoothly. He forgot all the pressure – the pressure to finish his final year of college with a victory, to be drafted within the top three, and his grandmother’s constant hopes for his success. He spoke as if he were a student from a well-off family, living a comfortable life.

🏀

Pursing his lips and then pulling them back in as he reminisced, Hooyoung heard the announcement that he had reached his destination and quickly got up. It was an event he couldn’t be late for. He smoothed down his suit jacket, checking for wrinkles, and got off the bus.

Hooyoung walked briskly, thinking. He had finished his senior year of college with a championship, he was drafted first overall, and he had completed his first professional season, and now it was the off-season again. During those 18 months, the memories of America surfaced from time to time. Whenever he felt like he couldn’t take it anymore, whenever he wanted to give up.

They say some memories, just by recalling them, give you the strength to live.

“Ugh, I’m such a lunatic.”

Walking towards the hotel, Hooyoung chuckled to himself, amazed by his own thoughts. A twenty-four-year-old man finding strength in the memory of meeting another man. It was a story he couldn’t tell anyone.

“Hooyoung! Lee Hooyoung!”

Someone called out to Hooyoung from behind as he entered the hotel lobby. It was Kim Yoonsoo, his high school senior and the highest-paid player in the professional basketball league. Haegok High was famous for its prominent alumni, so the event was always crowded. Those who received invitations usually attended to network or make an impression on influential figures. So, Yoonsoo was there for a completely different reason than Hooyoung.

“Oh, hello, Sunbae.”

“I told you to call me Hyung.”

As Hooyoung bowed deeply, Yoonsoo patted his back and spoke. Although they were from the same middle school, high school, and university, their interactions were limited to a few encounters during games, making him a very senior figure to Hooyoung.

“Yes. It’s still a bit awkward…”

Hooyoung smiled faintly and walked alongside Yoonsoo. Being with his senior was better than being awkwardly alone.

The hotel’s Grand Ballroom, where the event was being held, was dazzling at a glance. A banner reading “Haegok High Fundraising Night” hung at the top. Hooyoung and Yoonsoo naturally gravitated towards the area where people from the sports, culture, and arts fields were gathered.

There was a violinist who had won first prize in a world-renowned competition, and several young professional golfers who had already earned tens of billions of won in prize money. There was also an actor he often saw in commercials. Almost all of them were there to build social prestige through donations, while Hooyoung was the only one who had achieved success thanks to those donations. It meant that even though they were gathered in the same place, they were fundamentally different. Hooyoung felt somewhat intimidated and licked his lower lip.

“What’s up? Hooyoung, why are you so nervous?”

Yunsoo asked with a good-natured smile, gently stroking the back of Hooyoung’s head. Although they played the same guard position, Yunsoo was at least 10cm taller than Hooyoung and weighed considerably more. He had a naturally large frame. He was one of Hooyoung’s role models, having led his previous team to a championship before signing a top-paying free agent contract.

“I’m not nervous, really.”

Hooyoung shook his head, smiling. It was a familiar event he attended annually. He was more worried about how to spend the boring hours than feeling nervous.

“Your team calls you Beep Beep, right?”

“Ah, yes. The coach started calling me that, so everyone else does too. But I’m slowly getting used to it……”

“I almost called you Beep Beep when I saw you in the lobby earlier. Everyone shouts ‘Beep Beep! Beep Beep!’ during games.”

Thanks to Yunsoo’s efforts, Hooyoung began to feel a bit more comfortable. Yunsoo, known for his extensive network, introduced Hooyoung while greeting people around them.

“Yunsoo, I heard Chairman Haegok is coming today, too?”

A golfer, the epitome of a successful young man, spoke to Yunsoo. Everything he wore looked flashy, and he was tall. Hooyoung, who tended to notice people’s height and physique first, was inwardly envious. He’d heard that all the rich kids these days played golf.

“Really? Your owner is coming?”

Yunsoo turned to Hooyoung and asked.

“I don’t really know. The general manager said he was coming today, so maybe? It’s possible.”

It was outside Hooyoung’s realm of interest, but not for these people. Half of the athletes gathered here belonged to HG Group’s sports teams. A few months ago, HG Group went through a significant upheaval. The chairman, who had led the group to become a global enterprise, had passed away.

HG Group operated the most sports teams in Korea not only because it was one of the top five companies in the country but also because the late chairman had a great interest in sports. A fan of the American NBA, he had consistently supported basketball since the 80s and 90s when it was the most popular sport in Korea. He was also the most active advocate for the creation of the professional league. Thanks to this, the HG Big Whales, from their predecessor amateur team days to the present, where basketball’s popularity had waned, remained one of the most well-funded teams.

There had been some unrest within the HG Big Whales basketball team. The burning question was who would become the new head of the sports division. There had been many benefits because the chairman loved basketball, and now many voiced concerns that funding might decrease.

The general manager and other team executives couldn’t hide their apprehension about the future of the team even while attending the funeral. That was why Hooyoung was important, and why they were so attentive to his presence at today’s event. They needed Hooyoung to perform well and improve the team’s results so that they would feel less pressure in their position of receiving generous support. They also wanted to emphasize that the future face of the team consistently received sponsorship from the parent company.

Hooyoung rubbed his brow, trying to hide his unease. He knew the general manager would drag him around to meet the newly appointed chairman.

“So the new chairman is the eldest son? Mid-40s, practically the youngest CEO of a major corporation?”

“Well, not only him, but all the brothers are going to step up. They’ll divide things up later. Actually, besides the eldest, the chairman, the others have been pretty invisible, so I’m curious.”

People murmured, but Hooyoung wasn’t interested. He was getting hungry and only interested in the food laid out at the event. Noticing Hooyoung’s interest, Yunsoo led him towards the food with a smile.

“Want a glass of champagne?”

“I don’t drink. You have some, senior.”

“No, I drove.”

Hooyoung was curious about many things and wanted to get closer to Yunsoo. He was a league veteran with a vast network and knew everyone. Hooyoung admired him greatly. Following Yunsoo, Hooyoung picked up the same foods as him. Yunsoo, amused, nudged Hooyoung’s shoulder, and Hooyoung pretended not to notice, suppressing a laugh.

“Oh, Beep Beep!”

Just as he was about to eat, the team’s general manager found Hooyoung. The general manager exchanged pleasantries with Yunsoo before leading Hooyoung away. Ah, just as I was about to take a bite. As Hooyoung adjusted his tie and subtly pouted, Yunsoo, stifling a laugh, gestured for him to go.

As soon as Hooyoung left, Yunsoo was bombarded with questions: why they called him Beep Beep, where he was going. Hooyoung was still a rookie with an unmistakable youthful air and striking looks, so he attracted attention wherever he went. He was shy and tended to be quiet unless he knew someone, but people, regardless of gender, treated him like a beloved younger sibling. His relatively small physique for an athlete probably contributed to that.

“Indoor sports players definitely have better skin.”

“Probably because they train indoors, away from the UV rays?”

Yunsoo chatted with the golfer beside him, glancing towards where the general manager and Hooyoung had gone. It was clearly an uncomfortable situation.

The general manager had taken Hooyoung to where the HG Sports board members were gathered. It was unusually crowded today, and it seemed the group’s new chairman was indeed arriving.

“General Manager Lee, let me introduce you. This is our basketball team’s rookie, Lee Hooyoung.”

Standing before the general manager of the HG baseball team, Hooyoung bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle.

“Ah, the rookie who beat our new guy in views last year?”

He was referring to the interview video featuring Hooyoung’s grandmother. As Hooyoung bowed again, the baseball team’s general manager patted his shoulder.

“Our General Manager Choi brags about you endlessly. Do well. Our Big Whales need to experience spring basketball and lift that trophy.”

“Oh, don’t worry. Our Hooyoung will make it happen.”

Hooyoung just smiled awkwardly. The weight of expectation was not just hitting him over the head but pressing down on his chest.

He would rather be the main player or the lone ace carrying a less skilled team. However, the team already had a 2nd pick forward and a 3rd pick center, both promising rookies. The team had become complete with his selection. If he performed well, aiming for the playoffs and even the championship wasn’t out of reach. At least, that was how the objective analysis of their power looked.

That analysis didn’t include scenarios where his growth stagnated or he fell into a slump. The team had waited long enough for this moment.

“I guess the team has enormous expectations for him? Bringing a rookie to an event like this.”

As another executive chimed in, the baseball team’s general manager, acting as if he knew better than the basketball team’s general manager, pointed and spoke first.

“This guy, he’s showing his rookie stripes. Lee Hooyoung is a regular at this event. He’s such a remarkable talent, raised in difficult circumstances. He’s received consistent support from the Haegok Foundation, grown every year, and became the 1st draft pick. How’s his grandmother doing?”

Hooyoung forced another uncomfortable smile and nodded vaguely. There was no need to reveal that his grandmother was fighting for her life in the hospital. It would only garner more sympathy. He needed sympathy when he was younger and needed money, but now it was time to prove himself and solve his own problems.

“Ah, it’s refreshing to see a handsome player after seeing only our team’s bear-like players. He almost doesn’t look like an athlete.”

“Definitely. Basketball and volleyball players are so…fair-skinned. Being a rookie, you can probably see his baby-soft skin.”

Baby-soft? I sweat buckets every day, what baby-soft? Hooyoung grumbled internally, unable to voice his thoughts. He was relieved, however, that they weren’t discussing his family’s financial struggles or the sponsorships he received. Just then, there was a slight commotion as the doors to the event hall opened.

“The chairman is arriving.”

A man entered, leading a group of people. Hooyoung craned his neck to see, amidst the crowd. Hmm, so that’s him. I get to see the chairman of HG Group in person. Hooyoung was simply amazed. He had attended Haegok Middle School and Haegok High School, received a basketball scholarship from the Haegok Foundation, and was now playing for an HG Sports team, earning a salary, but he had only ever seen the deceased chairman in photos or on TV. This was the first time he’d seen the group chairman in person.

“Wow, he’s tall.”

As expected, the first thing he noticed was the man’s height. He was said to be in his mid-40s, but he looked younger. He was tall and well-built. Hooyoung, who had always imagined corporate chairmen as white-haired old men, was pleasantly surprised.

“The former chairman was also taller than his peers.”

The general manager nervously adjusted his clothes as he replied. The chairman would likely visit several other important groups before arriving here, but the general manager was already showing signs of nervousness.

“General Manager, should I return to my seat?”

Hooyoung cautiously spoke, observing the situation. The other general managers and officials standing nearby were all focused on the chairman.

“No, stay. It’s good for you to greet him at a time like this.”

What kind of nonsense is that? Hooyoung made a silent protest and frowned. Even if he did greet him, it would be a miracle if the chairman remembered him by the end of the day. Even though he’d made it to the pros, the adult world was still a mystery to him. Why was this sort of thing so important?

It wouldn’t take long to greet him, but it would be tedious. He was getting hungry. The food he’d left behind beckoned him. His plate, piled high with salmon and seaweed salad, was just a short walk away, and the fact that he couldn’t eat it was starting to feel a little unfair. The general manager nudged Hooyoung’s side. He’s coming, he’s coming. Hooyoung straightened up, regaining his composure.

“These are the general managers and officials of the various teams belonging to the sports division.”

An assistant explained the gathering and the attendees, and the chairman shook hands with each person, greeting them. From people’s mouths, words like “This is so-and-so from the soccer team” and “This is so-and-so from the baseball team” flowed mechanically.

Perhaps chairmen needed to know the performance of every single sports team, but the chairman said things like, “You won the championship this time, right? Great job. Let’s do well next season, too,” and, “How’s training going? It’s about time for training camp, isn’t it?” As his turn approached, the shoulders of the general manager in front of Hooyoung stiffened. He seemed nervous.

“This is the basketball team’s general manager.”

“Ah, our Big Whale team!”

People laughed mechanically, though the joke wasn’t funny. Is this what adult life is like? Hooyoung wondered. As the general manager bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle, Hooyoung followed suit, bowing even lower behind him. The young chairman offered one hand for a vigorous handshake, while the general manager used both.

“My late father really loved basketball. We used to go to basketball games together when I was young. You weren’t here back then, were you, General Manager?”

“Of course I was, haha. I was a low-level employee.”

“I’ve always loved basketball since I was young, so maybe that’s why I have such a strong affection for it, like my father.”

It was true that HG Group, while sponsoring numerous global sports as it grew into a global enterprise, had a particular fondness for basketball. They had been the main sponsor of the NBA league for several years now. I know, I know very well. While the general manager continuously chimed in and conversed with the chairman, Hooyoung stood silently behind him. Who am I? Where am I…?

“I really hope our Big Whales can win a championship soon. Don’t you agree?”

“Of course!”

The general manager seemed elated that the chairman was talking to him longer than others.

“Hooyoung!”

“Yes, yes?!”

Called by his name, Hooyoung hurriedly stepped forward. He’d been bored just moments ago, but now, with all eyes on him, he froze.

“Chairman, this is the rookie we picked 1st overall last year. Lee Hooyoung, a very promising player. He graduated from Haegok Middle School and Haegok High School and received annual funding from the foundation. Perhaps that was a sign, because he joined our team this time. You can look forward to him in the upcoming season.”

“Is that so?”

Perhaps it was his position, but even though he was considered young, the chairman exuded an almost unapproachable aura. Hooyoung felt his heart constrict.

“Hello, nice to meet you.”

Like the general manager, Hooyoung carefully shook the chairman’s extended hand with both of his own.

“I look forward to it, Lee Hooyoung.”

“Yes, sir!”

His immediate response made the chairman and the surrounding people laugh. The greeting quickly passed. Hooyoung returned to his position behind the general manager and watched the chairman greet others. Looking closely, his face seemed strangely familiar. He must have seen him often on TV or in the news. He was the most famous person in this gathering of celebrities after all…

The chairman lingered in the sports division area longer than elsewhere.

“I heard the new chairman is a sports fanatic and will pay more attention to the sports division. Seems true.”

The baseball team’s general manager whispered to the basketball team’s general manager.

“Ah, how much more attention can he give? They are main sponsors of global competitions, the Olympics, and the Asian Games.”

“The new CEO is young. It’s probably marketing geared towards a young company, young sports, young culture. The vacant position of representative director of the sports division will probably be announced soon.”

It seemed the baseball team, being the largest, had fast-traveling rumors. It didn’t sound implausible.

Hmm, can I leave now? Again, Hooyoung was looking for a way out, uninterested in the conversation. If he stayed any longer, the general manager might make him chant, “I will lead the team to victory this season!” three times. While he was pondering how to discreetly escape, Hooyoung didn’t notice the slight commotion around him again.

“Please greet Eun Junwook. You’ll be seeing him often from now on.”

He heard the chairman introduce someone. Hooyoung, reaching his limit of hunger, had spaced out and then suddenly came to his senses. He resolved to tell the general manager he’d return to his seat after this final greeting.

“If it’s Eun Junwook, is that the chairman’s youngest brother, the third son?”

“I heard he was in the US, but I guess he’s back. It’s time for a major reorganization.”

The two general managers in front whispered. Hooyoung’s eyes followed to see the newly arrived person.

Uh… am I dreaming? Hooyoung blinked several times, wondering. The person standing tall next to the chairman seemed familiar. No, it was a familiar face, but it shouldn’t have been here.

This definitely had to be a dream.

“Wow, he’s even taller than the chairman. And handsome, too.”

Dream and reality flickered in Hooyoung’s mind. He couldn’t understand why this man was here. It was that man. The protagonist of his American escapade. The man he’d met every night after training, every weekend, and spent his last ten days of free time with.

“I guess he hasn’t been in the media at all, unlike the chairman or Vice President Eun? I’m seeing him for the first time.”

“Me too.”

Wow, crazy. That was Hooyoung’s first coherent thought.

I’m totally screwed. That was his second.

How could this happen, no matter how small the world had become? Was this really happening to him? After all sorts of thoughts, he came to one conclusion.

Run. Get out of here. Just avoid him.

He was the chairman’s brother, a son of a chaebol family, but if he could just avoid him now, he’d never have to see him again.

“Ge, General Manager! I, I think I’ll…”

But life wasn’t that easy for Hooyoung. Before he could finish, he made eye contact with the man.

“Junwook?”

Junwook suddenly stopped, and the chairman, noticing, called out to his brother. Hooyoung quickly turned his head away, and Junwook, as if nothing had happened, smiled slightly at his older brother. The chairman and Junwook continued their conversation with others in a friendly manner.

Hooyoung, trying to hide his anxiety, forced a smile at the general manager. This was wrong. Very, very wrong.

🏀

On the beach as the sun set, Hooyoung lost track of time talking with the man. The man, who had initially been a bit flirtatious, claiming he was “testing the waters,” seemed different as their conversation progressed, as if his true personality was emerging. He listened attentively to what Hooyoung said and skillfully led the conversation. He was so different from the noisy and immature basketball team guys swarming around.

The man maintained eye contact throughout their conversation, which made it difficult for Hooyoung to act natural. He became acutely aware of himself, wondering if he was blinking excessively or smiling strangely, to the point where he could barely remember what they talked about.

The more he wanted to impress the man and prolong their conversation, the more nervous he became. Because of this, the courage he’d mustered dwindled with time. As his whiskey glass emptied and the man’s phone rang, he realized his time with the man was coming to an end, but he still hadn’t figured out what to do next.

Should I ask for his number? Should I suggest we meet again? No, is that the right way to say it? He stared intently at the man, his anxiety evident, but the man just smiled faintly and said nothing. You said you were testing the waters. Can’t you at least say something when I’m being this obvious?

Then a conclusion formed in his mind. He must not be interested. He’s just trying to end things politely? It was as clear as a judge’s gavel. Oh… His confidence suddenly deflated.

“If you’re an exchange student, do you live in the school dorms? Or a separate residence?”

“The dorms. I’m going to walk a bit and then take a bus or call an Uber.”

The basketball team was using the dorms at a local university. It would be a long walk from the beach, but he wanted to walk. He needed to calm down the boldness he’d rashly exhibited.

“Should I call you a cab? This area isn’t bad, but it can be dangerous at night.”

“No, it’s okay. It’s not like I haven’t walked this way before.”

His words came out stiffly. Why bother being nice if he wasn’t interested in anything more? Hooyoung brushed the sand off his pants and stood up, handing his whiskey glass to the man. It was a gesture indicating that since the man had bought it, he could deal with it. Normally, he would have been the first to clean up, regardless of who he was with, but today, he didn’t have the mental capacity for such courtesies. What was more frustrating was the man’s continued easy smile as he took the glass, as if he knew exactly what Hooyoung was thinking.

This is what they call being completely rejected, huh. He was grateful the sun had almost set. The beautiful pink sunset of LA masked the burning embarrassment on his face.

And that was it. He’d said goodbye, but he couldn’t remember exactly what he’d said. Probably something curt like, “Goodbye then.”

“Take care. It was nice meeting you.”

Nice meeting you, my ass. Playing with people’s feelings just because you’re good-looking. That night, as Hooyoung walked back to the dorms for over two hours, he tried every possible rationalization. He was obviously a player, and I fell for it. The way he handled people so smoothly meant I dodged a bullet. If things had progressed, it would have been a disaster. Coming all the way to America and not focusing on basketball, what was I thinking? If anyone had seen me acting crazy like that, how would I have dealt with the consequences?

Despite his countless rationalizations, he couldn’t easily forget the man. That night, the next day, and the day after that, the man lingered in his mind. The foreign coaches at the skill training center commented on his lack of focus, and his roommate, Hojin, worriedly asked if something was wrong.

He’d never experienced such overwhelming emotions before. Was it because the first encounter had been so intensely captivating, or was it because he enjoyed the conversation they’d had, losing all track of time? Hooyoung couldn’t escape the thoughts of the man. He couldn’t explain why he felt this way. Like a powerful fever, thoughts of the man consumed him all day. He was surprised that he could fall for someone so quickly.

Even if he had fallen for him, it didn’t mean he could meet the man again, knowing neither his name nor where he lived. And since even someone as naive as him had clearly understood the man’s rejection, there was no chance of any progress even if they did meet again. So, he decided to keep himself busy, hoping to forget him quickly. He thought that with time, the memory would eventually fade to something as insignificant as kicking off his blankets before sleep.

A busy week passed, spent suppressing the resurfacing thoughts of the man. Friday afternoon arrived, and Hojin and his friends were busy discussing their weekend plans. They split into two groups: one heading to the outlet malls for basketball shoe shopping and the other planning a short trip out of town. Hooyoung, as usual, didn’t belong to either group. Instead, he played a basketball game with the coaches he’d befriended at the training center. His team won, leading to a spontaneous invitation to a bar. He hesitated, as everyone except him was a foreigner, but the coaches were so insistent that he ended up going along.

“It’s good to get out, right? This is the hottest place in town right now.”

He smiled and nodded at the coach’s words. Though he was a coach, he wasn’t much older than Hooyoung, which made him comfortable.

The newly opened pub was enormous and crowded. It was Friday night, the eve of the weekend, and everyone’s faces were alight with smiles. He sat on a bar stool, nursing a beer, simply observing, and perhaps looking pathetic, because the coaches and their friends came by one after another to chat. Among them, Aaron, whom he’d met for the first time today, stayed by his side for quite a while, keeping him company.

“You said you played basketball and football?”

“Yeah, until high school. I went to college on a football scholarship.”

Aaron, whose large build screamed “athlete,” turned out to be quite humorous in conversation. He understood Hooyoung’s broken English and patiently waited for him to finish speaking, which Hooyoung appreciated.

They were in the midst of a conversation about basketball, discussing funny situations that commonly occurred on the court. Aaron was imitating the gestures of famous players, which made Hooyoung laugh continuously. Just as Aaron handed him a fresh beer, he felt a strangely intense gaze. There’s no one here who would recognize me… He casually turned his head and made eye contact. There was someone he knew.

“…”

He felt like the person had been watching him for a while, a faint smile playing on their lips as if amused by something. Aaron asked, “Do you know him?” but Hooyoung didn’t have time to answer. The man who’d dominated his thoughts for a week was standing right there. Aaron’s voice, the loud music, the beer in his hand – none of it mattered.

“…Oh, hold on a sec.”

Looking back, he couldn’t remember if Aaron waited for him or went somewhere else. He just knew he wanted to talk to the man.

“We meet again. Strangely.”

Strangely. It was truly strange. He’d been thinking about him non-stop, and now he’d appeared. Despite having boldly approached the man, he found it hard to speak. He’d pushed his way through the crowd as if possessed, but now, belatedly, he felt nervous.