NOVEL NEXT Chapter 23
***
Due to passport issues with my guardian Choi Gi-hyun, my departure was delayed, but Gyeouri and my mother-in-law left for Dortmund as planned.
– What? You’re going on an overseas trip and didn’t check your passport expiration?
– Um… Jinho, I hate to say this, but isn’t Choi Gi-hyun a bit… slow?
The incredulous expressions on Gyeouri and my mother-in-law as they boarded the plane were priceless…
Well, it was more than justified. The person designated as my guardian couldn’t even prepare a single passport.
I can only imagine that deep down, they were probably trash-talking the football association, saying these idiots can’t do anything right.
“Jinho, as humans, everyone makes mistakes. So sometimes we need to forgive…”
Choi Gi-hyun, who was caught between being a good person and a fail, shamelessly spoke up on the subway back to Seoul. I looked into Choi Gi-hyun’s eyes, which seemed to flicker with guilt, and asked.
“Whose fault is it that we couldn’t fly to Germany today?”
“…It’s me.”
I nearly burst out laughing at Choi Gi-hyun’s awkward smile.
‘Ugh! Gi-hyun-shi!’
If it weren’t for the reports I had to send to FIFA and the Korea Football Association, I would have left him at the airport and boarded the plane instead.
“You can go back alone, right? I should probably swing by the association to explain the situation.”
Well… at least Choi Gi-hyun had a bit of responsibility; he went to the football association to sort things out.
***
[Title: My Brother Was Supposed to Go to Germany Today, I Hope He Arrived Safely?]
(Ho-woo is our brother .gif)
I already miss you, Ho-woo…
└ Is it already the day he’s going to Germany? Time flies.
└ Ah, F***!
└ Why are you suddenly cursing?
└ Now I can’t watch Ho-woo’s live match.
└ Damn itㅠㅠ
└ ? Did I see it wrong?
└ What do you mean?
└ I just saw our brother?
└ Don’t play around, seriously.
***
[Title: No, Really, It’s Our Brother.]
(Our brother’s photo .gif)
└ Ho-woo—!
└ Wait, why is this actually true?
└ I asked the football association and they said the departure schedule was delayed due to internal issues.
└ Oh haha, that’s fast.
└ What the heck, what kind of internal issue could cause a sudden delay in the departure schedule? Was it a wrong airplane booking?
└ Apparently, the guardian and former coach who was supposed to go with him let his passport expire, so he couldn’t leave.
└ Stop talking nonsense—who travels internationally without checking their passport expiration date?
└ Seriously, at least try to come up with something more inventive for a lie.
└ Wow… it’s actually true and no one believes it. Damn.
***
That evening.
“Son-in-law, should I go carve some steak?”
“Let’s go, Father-in-law. I’ll lead the way.”
I dined out with my father-in-law, who came home after work. As we sliced the meat, I realized that I had spent so little time alone with my father-in-law, both in this life and the previous one.
“Oh, by the way. Do you remember the time when Gyeouri broke your favorite ceramic and I was almost the one who got scolded?”
We shared various stories during our meal, most of which revolved around Gyeouri.
“Of course I remember. That kid pushed it off onto you, but when it came down to getting scolded for real, she hung onto Miyun’s leg, saying not to scold our Jinho.”
A smile spread across my father-in-law’s face, probably reminiscing about the past. When I was younger, I didn’t understand the meaning of that expression, but now I could.
‘Thinking back, I used to soothe my nostalgia by listening to stories about my parents from my mother-in-law and father-in-law.’
I felt a gratitude that was almost sudden, realizing I had been surrounded by such good people.
Gyeouri, my mother-in-law, my father-in-law, and Chairman Hwang Geum-soon along with my teammates.
– …It’s me?
Yeah… our Gi-hyun-shi has a good heart too.
I couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the sudden image of Gi-hyun-shi.
‘Ugh. Gi-hyun-shi.’
Shift that emotional vibe back.
I lightly teased Choi Gi-hyun in my thoughts with a smile on my face.
***
After finishing dinner with my father-in-law, I waited for a message from Gyeouri.
The current time was 9:30 PM.
Since I took the 8 AM flight, it should be almost time for them to arrive in Germany.
– Whoo─!
As my phone vibrated in my ear, excitement surged as I unlocked it to find a message from Gyeouri.
– Gyeouri: Finally arrived!
– Gyeouri: It was tough ㅠㅠ
– Ho-woo: You did well ㅠㅠ I should’ve gone too ㅠㅠ
– Gyeouri: It’s not Jin-ho’s fault! Don’t cry! Stop it!
– Gyeouri: By the way, Jin-ho, it’s a mess in Dortmund without you, lol!
– Gyeouri: People from Dortmund came out to greet, and they looked really serious discussing because you were missing!
– Gyeouri: I think they thought you suddenly changed your mind and went to another club, lol!
While exchanging messages with Gyeouri, I couldn’t help but smile. The messages weren’t particularly funny or amusing, but simply exchanging these little notes brought laughter.
– Ho-woo: Do you finally see your husband’s greatness?
– Gyeouri: Ha… Husband, you say? You haven’t even joined Manchester United yet.
– Gyeouri: Once you join ManU and hold the Big Ear while proposing, then I’ll consider it.
Honestly, shaking my head at Gyeouri’s virtual declaration of never marrying. The conditions were laughable enough to get a hollow chuckle every time. Saying a fool would win the Champions League? Even the author, known for generating countless absurd stories, would shake his head saying, ‘This is not realistic…’.
– Gyeouri: Just because you went to Dortmund, don’t get cocky, and make sure you’re working on joining the Invincible Huangyu!
With Gyeouri’s follow-up message, I sighed quietly and saved the message.
Someday, when Manchester United transforms into a fool, I’ll have to show it to Gyeouri.
I was extremely curious about how Gyeouri would react at that time.
***
A fortnight passed and Choi Gi-hyun’s passport was issued, and the departure schedule was set again.
– Ho-woo: I’m boarding the plane now ㅠㅠ
– Ho-woo: See you!
I left a message for Han Gyeouri before switching my phone to airplane mode as I boarded. I wished I could have received a reply and chatted a bit, but it was dawn in Dortmund, and Gyeouri was probably fast asleep.
“Jinho, aren’t you excited?”
Choi Gi-hyun whispered in a soft voice from the seat next to me. I put my phone in my pocket and replied.
“What about?”
“Your debut in Germany, it’s Germany!”
“Still, it’s just a short six-month study abroad.”
“Six months? If Dortmund requests a youth contract, that period will extend! Why? Are you afraid you won’t get a contract offer?”
I smiled without answering Choi Gi-hyun. Was that enough of a reply? A similar smile formed on Choi Gi-hyun’s face.
“You brat, you split hairs.”
Split hairs? He speaks rather harshly.
While I was looking at Choi Gi-hyun with an incredulous expression, the airplane slowly took off, and we flew from Incheon to Munich, then on to Dortmund.
Well. There were no special issues.
The immigration inspection also went smoothly; our Gi-hyun-shi spoke German quite decently, proving that he could roll with the punches.
Whenever one encounters a foreigner speaking their language, they’ll naturally soften their attitude, so we could wrap up the immigration inspection in a relatively friendly manner.
“Kid! Make sure to smash those Schalke guys later!”
“Danke!”
Hmm… maybe he’s just a Dortmund fan or something.
“Son Jinho─!!”
Anyway, as we came out of the airport gate, I spotted Gyeouri.
Even though it had only been a little over two weeks, it felt like such a long time for me.
I ran straight towards Gyeouri and hugged her.
I noticed foreigners holding signs saying “Welcome Son Jinho to Dortmund,” but I didn’t care.
“Geez─! What are you doing hugging me when there are so many people! Are you crazy?”
Gyeouri let out a cute shriek at the unexpected hug. Yet, seeing her not pushing me away indicated she didn’t actually mind.
“Everything okay?”
I asked, pinching Gyeouri’s chubby cheeks. Despite us chatting daily through video calls, seeing her and talking in person felt like it would ease my heart.
Gyeouri smiled sweetly at my question and replied.
“Yeah. All good. The club provided a translator and took care of everything for me, thanks to you, Jin-ho, I’m living the good life.”
“But what about your mother?”
“She said that two men cooking for themselves can’t possibly eat well, so she’s busy cooking at home right now.”
Hmm. We ate steak every day though.
Well, anyway…
“Jin-ho, welcome to Dortmund.”
“Danke schön.”
I casually greeted the Dortmund staff and then held Gyeouri’s hand as we left the airport.
“Hmm? Why are you suddenly turning your head?”
Gyeouri asked, confused by my sudden action.
“Oh, I feel like I left something behind.”
Something… I had a strong feeling that I left something unnecessary but irreplaceable at the airport.
‘…It’s me?’
Um… where did Gi-hyun-shi go?
***
At the same time.
Choi Gi-hyun stood at the empty airport gate, unable to hide his panic.
“…Someone left behind at the airport while going to the restroom? It’s me.”