Romantic on the Field

2.

[ Koreans save Augsburg again. }

[ Phantasy Star from Korea, record the most assists in the team ]

[ A black-haired attacking midfielder retains Augsburg. ]

When asked to name a European team most closely related to Korea, FC Augsburg is the club that most people say in unison.

Jaecheol Koo, Jeonghu Hong, Dongwon Choi, Seongho Cheon, and even Jamie Lee. This is because there are as many as five Koreans who played here.

However, Jamie Lee, who occupied the last place among them, had an ambiguous feeling in many ways.

First of all, the name doesn’t look Korean. Not to mention Jamie, the ‘Lee’ attached to it was ‘lee’, one of the very common surnames in the English-speaking world, not ‘李’, which is used as a surname in Korea.

His appearance was also different from that of ordinary Koreans. Her hair was black, but her fair skin, bluish irises, and thin but clear features proved that she was not a pure Korean.

Actually, this may not be such a big issue. Because East Asians who do not have Western blood are not necessarily Koreans.

However, he was a dual citizen.

A person with multiple nationalities who has not yet chosen between Korea and the UK.

“Hey, half Korean. Did you shoot the last shot at North Korea?”

In other words, he was treated as a foreigner wherever he was, whether in Korea, England, Asia, or Europe.

“what?”

The day after the first league game of the second season.

While I was doing recovery training, one of Jamie Lee’s substitutes came up with a fight.

“Or did you not see where the goalposts were?”

I was winning big, so I was greedy at the end of the game.

Even though there are many defenses around, he overreacted and fired a mid-range shot.

Due to poor form, his shot flew over the post and nearly into the crowd.

“but. I have small eyes, so I can’t see it.”

The candidate player even tried tearing out his eyes with his fingers.

What should I curse at to turn that guy inside out?

I was worried for a moment, but Jamie just smiled and left the training ground.

“Daniel told me this.”

And immediately went to the captain’s office and reported this fact.

“···lee. Are you okay?”

“Of course it’s not okay.

“Gee, I’m truly sorry.”

The captain seemed very perplexed.

He was the one who brought this half-Korean, who was just a promising player, with great enthusiasm, and he was the one who secretly recommended to the coach to make him the starting pitcher.

Fortunately, Jamie lived up to the captain’s expectations.

In his first year of debut, he recorded 6 points and 12 assists in the league alone.

If you look at the detailed records, it was even more amazing. His critical passing and opportunity creation were near the league’s best. For Augsburg, it was no exaggeration to say that he was a top-class prospect acquired in several decades.

But because of one racist guy, this great prospect was in danger of being lost.

No, there was a high possibility that it would not stop at simply losing a player. If it leaked outside, it could have dealt a big blow to the image of the club. It was not an era in which racial discrimination could be passed over.

“I will report it to the build and kicker first. My other half is British, so you better let the BBC know.”

“lee. I’m so sorry. It must be heartbreaking. I dare not say that I understand. Just a little bit about the club…”

“Please transfer.”

“… Transfer?”

“Yes. Please permit the transfer. Then I’ll end with an apology from Daniel.”

“…”

The captain was in trouble.

Jamie’s contract didn’t have much time left. I had high expectations, but wasn’t he still a promising player anyway? I couldn’t blindly sign a contract for 4 or 5 years, so I signed a 3-year contract.

However, from the first season, he played a huge role, and I was thinking of proposing a new contract with a significantly higher weekly wage.

‘Can I catch you? Or should I get a transfer fee?’

Several clubs, including Dortmund, Valencia and Arsenal, were already showing interest. I thought I could get 10 million euros if I could take my time doing press play.

However, looking at the fact that he insisted on allowing the transfer, it didn’t seem like he was saying that he would pay the full transfer fee and leave. It could have been a story to be released as a free agent at a price much lower than the measured ransom.

“Are you sorry?”

“uh?”

“You can get as little as 10 million, as much as 20 million. 20 million euros. It seems cheap for avoiding the stigma of being a racist club.”

As if having read the leader’s mind, Jamie said with an expressionless face.

“Oh, no. I was just thinking about how to discipline Daniel.”

The captain had no choice but to accept his offer. You couldn’t just burn down the entire forest to save a single tree.

After this, everything went as Jamie wanted.

The reserve player who made the racist comments apologized in front of everyone, and Jamie was put on the transfer list.

[ Hertha Berlin ]

[ Cologne ]

[ Dortmund ]

[ VfL Bochum ]

[ Norwich ]

[ Sunderland ]

[ Stoke City ]

And soon after, official inquiries and suggestions came in from various clubs.

Most of them were Bundesliga clubs, but perhaps because of Jamie’s dual citizenship, offers came from several clubs in England.

‘Stoke City….’

The most unexpected club among them was Stoke City.

The club that accepted Jamie, who had nowhere to go after her mother’s death.

The club his father had been a part of all his life.

The club is grateful for accepting Augsburg’s offer coolly and sending Jamie away.

And the club that his girlfriend Hannah was scouting for was Stoke City.

“Lee, why? It’s fine?”

Should I say it’s polite?

Jamie came back to the point where he had just received the news.

Yes. he is back

to the past 10 years ago.

To the point before Hannah died.

“lee? what’s the matter. It’s fine?”

As Jamie continued to be dazed, Agent John next to him put a hand on his shoulder and asked.

“zone.”

He slowly turned his head towards John.

zone. yes, john. In Korea, the name John occupies the same status as Cheol-su, Min-su, or Young-ho.

An agent who lived and lived together in the early days of his career. He was a very common name because his name was not ordinary, but a man who was not as common as loyalty and responsibility.

Read from noble mtl dot com

Let’s meet him like that It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the middle of a long time Jamie was very happy.

“Surprise. I thought you fainted. ha ha ha. Well, it’s worth it. I received an offer from a prestigious team that is said to be the best in Europe.”

“…Dortmund?”

“yes. Dortmund. Jamie, you like it the best there too, right?”

John took out the document he had put in the file archive and showed it.

“The details still need to be coordinated, but in fact the conditions themselves are all the same.”

As the saying goes, considering all the options, the annual salary was almost flat.

No, among them, Dortmund had the lowest salary.

Instead, if the name of Dortmund was a merit, it was a merit.

“Let’s see… Shall we skip Stoke City for now? This is Part 3.”

Stoke City was in a situation where the EFL League One, in other words, fell to the third division of the English Football League.

After the death of Peter Coates, the owner of the club, who was among the 25 richest players in the British football world, the club crashed endlessly.

Accordingly, long-soo Choi, a Korean businessman who was establishing himself as an overseas soccer betting site, took over Stoke City, but the situation did not improve.

“···Are you fine?”

John asked, peering into Jamie’s eyes.

There is only one reason why he notices.

It was because Choi Hae-na, the only daughter of Stoke City owner Choi Jang-soo, and a scout for Stoke City, was Jamie’s girlfriend.

“…”

Jamie couldn’t answer.

I still haven’t fully grasped the situation. I couldn’t even accept the reality.

But instinctively, he knew that he had been given a second chance.

[This is your last chance. ]

[If you ask me in the past, you won’t get an answer. I just know it’s my last chance and hope for the best. ]

The last words my father said before coming back.

[Uh, there was an article saying that Dortmund is likely.]

[Jay will do well wherever he goes. i trust jay ]

The words of Hannah, who respected her choice 10 years ago while hiding her true feelings, came to mind like a revelation.

“My, Jamie. what’s the matter. It’s fine?”

At that moment, tears fell from his eyes.

It wasn’t at the level of tears forming or a drop or two falling.

Tears flowed down his cheeks and chin to the point that they fell to the floor with a thud.

Whoops.

Woo woo woo.

“Why are you crying all of a sudden… No, I need to answer the phone first.”

John stopped to soothe Jamie and pointed at the cell phone on the table.

Woo-woo, woo-woo.

Meanwhile, the cell phone kept ringing.

“Jamie?”

Jamie slowly reached for the phone. Then, when he saw the name on the screen, he stunned and stopped his hand.

[ Hannah ]

Hannah. Haena Choi.

girlfriend and future wife.

A person who taught me the value of life.

But at the same time, it was a call from the person who destroyed the meaning of life.

**

“Congratulations on your pregnancy.”

After confirming the results of the checkup, Hae-na came out of the obstetrics and gynecology department.

The weather wasn’t very good. It hadn’t been long since I had left the building, and I was already sweating profusely, but the sky was also very overcast.

‘Dog England. Dog British weather.’

Hannah muttered a quick curse and got into the car. Fortunately, the inside of the car wasn’t as hot as I thought, perhaps because the sun wasn’t too hot.

Hannah inserted the key, started the engine, and turned on the air conditioner.

Whoa. Whoa. Then she put her forehead on the steering wheel and took a deep breath.

Okay. I’m okay. There is nothing wrong.

After a few minutes of mind control, Hannah called Jamie.

I hope my voice is not locked.

“Jay. Articles have already been posted.”

For some reason, Jamie didn’t answer right away.

“···Jay? What’s going on?”

[ no. ]

For some reason, Jamie’s voice was slightly locked.

“Your voice seems to be locked. I caught a cold?”

[ no. are you okay. ]

Hannah frowned and focused on the sound.

humid.

yes it was wet

It wasn’t the ‘doggie’ British weather, but Jamie’s voice was damp.

“What’s going on? uh? Is it because of the transfer? Shall I go there?”

Worried, Hanna continued talking as if pouring out.

[ no it’s okay. ]

“It’s fine?”

[ yes. everything will be fine now ]

He’s finally turned around. Let’s buy a plane ticket now.

The moment Hannah made up her mind, Jamie said.

[ I’ll call you back. then talk again ]

“…”

Hannah frowned again.

“yes. Okay. please contact me again got it?”

I was worried, but I just hung up the phone without saying anything.

Originally, I was calling to tell him not to mind himself and to go to Dortmund.

In my mind, I wanted to have a wedding with him in Stoke City and raise a child. But I thought that was blocking Jamie’s path.

It’s Dortmund. That Dortmund who goes beyond advancing to the Champions League every season and aims to win the league. It was the same Dortmund that produced Lewandowski and Gotze, Raschul and Kamara. It was a club on a different level from Stoke City, which was not certain to remain in the 3rd division.

‘Let’s accept reality boldly. let’s endure let’s persevere.’

Hannah made up her mind.

[Hannah, I was a bit distracted yesterday. sorry. ]

And the next evening…

[ what are you doing? ]

“yes? I am just at home.”

[If you don’t have anything else to do, shall we take a look now? ]

I heard something very embarrassing from Jamie.

“Uh, where…?”

[ In front of the house. ]

“In front of the house?”

In fact, there was nothing particularly embarrassing about the location. Jamie used to come to her house often.

The problem was timing.

“now?”

[ yes. now. ]

“…”

It was embarrassing.

In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that no woman would like a man who suddenly came to her house like this.

Same goes for Hannah.

However, it was different now.

Hanna stared blankly at her phone for a moment, then smiled slightly.

I don’t know what happened, but I haven’t seen him in a long time. Leaving aside everything else, that fact alone was enough to make me smile.

“Can you wait a minute? Get ready to go out.”

[ yes. prepare slowly ]

She changed her clothes and put on her makeup. It didn’t take much time because I omitted the eye makeup.

Then, the moment I opened the front door, the smell of summer night hit my face with a ‘hook’.

The smell of rain, or the smell of rain-soaked soil. A fresh yet fishy smell unique to summer nights.

Smell is a memory. Smell does not evoke memories; the two are synonymous. Hannah tended to believe that, and once again confirmed that fact. As soon as I smelled it, I immediately remembered the streets of Stoke-on-Trent I had walked with Jamie in the summer and the restaurants I had gone to with him.

Excitedly, she passed through the front door and opened the gate.

“It’s been a while, Hannah.”

And indeed, I ran into Jamie waiting for her in front of the house.

thump, thump, thump.

Is it because we haven’t seen each other in a long time? My heart beat faster than usual.

It wasn’t just the heart that was different from usual.

Under the light of the street lamp, Jamie’s eyes looked deeper than usual. He seemed a bit grown-up.

Why is that? why does it look different why is my heart beating so fast

“…Yeah, it’s been a while. Jamie.”

Confused, Hanna tried her best to calmly respond.