The Opening Game

After countless autographs, Hyun finally managed to enter the building corridor a long time after getting out of the car. The PD chuckled, filming Hyun, who was sweating profusely.

“Jung Hyun-ssi, your popularity is no joke.”

“Hello.”

Hyun, embarrassed, tried to gloss over it with a greeting, but the quick-wwitted PD didn’t let him.

“Even before seeing you play, many fans had already marked your uniform. Did you see that?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Haha, are you very nervous? Why are you so stiff!”

“More than nervous, I’m very worried.”

‘Because I might be the first player eliminated, making their uniform money a waste.’

He felt that answering like that would ruin the good atmosphere. Hyun stopped, smiled faintly, and replied.

“I just hope I can make the uniform cost worthwhile.”

Even with that moderately sugar-coated answer, the PD offered comfort. She asked why he was worrying about such things already, telling him he could do well. Along with such encouragement, she asked about his determination and feelings for the first game.

At the PD’s fighting spirit, Hyun also mustered up some energy. He was still nervous and anxious, but he didn’t want to show a negative side before the game. He forced a smile, pulling back his stiff lips.

“I was truly surprised that so many people came out even at this hour. As much as you have supported and looked forward to this, I will also do my best in the game. Thank you.”

‘Do his best.’ At least this resolve, he was confident he could keep.

The waiting room he entered after leaving a solemn greeting was splendid. What used to be just benches and lockers was now decorated with each player’s name, photo, and uniform. Hyun walked slowly, his eyes wide at the deep blue navy feast of symbolic colors.

“Looks like you like the uniform?”

Seon Dae-gyu, who had already arrived, laughed, pointing at Hyun. He seemed to be teasing Hyun’s blank expression, but Hyun had no presence of mind to retort.

Cha Seok-young 0
Jung Hyun 99

Hyun stared blankly at Cha Seok-young’s uniform and his own, hung side by side. The design of the top, which started with a deep navy and gradually brightened to blue towards the bottom, looked just like the ocean.

The baseball team uniforms he wore with Cha Seok-young in middle and high school were all unfashionable.

In middle school, it was a dull gray and orange combination, and in high school, a bright red uniform with sky-blue letters. They were comical in appearance, making everyone who saw them laugh once.

But even in such uniforms, Cha Seok-young looked splendid. He never complained even when everyone would comment on how unfashionable the uniforms were. He just quietly wore them and made everyone who jeered shut up.

‘If I wear this uniform, I’ll look even cooler than back then.’ His stomach churned the moment he imagined it. A clearer realization washed over him than when he had signed countless autographs and received gifts early in the morning.

‘I’m really playing baseball with Cha Seok-young again.’

The moment he realized it, his heart began to pound madly.

If he could, he wanted to take a picture of the uniforms hanging side by side. He didn’t know how many more opportunities they would have together, so couldn’t he at least leave that much of a memento? Just as he was subtly taking out the phone from his pocket, Cha Seok-young arrived.

Hyun’s heart instantly sank, and he hastily grabbed his uniform and ran to the changing room.

As soon as he changed and returned to the waiting room, Seon Dae-gyu whistled. Following his lead, a low cheer of “Ohh” flowed out.

“Wow, his face definitely makes the uniform look prettier.”

Embarrassed, Hyun rubbed the back of his neck and sat down. Seon Dae-gyu, who suddenly approached, whispered.

“Hyun-ssi, you haven’t forgotten about the after-party tonight, have you? Mandatory attendance. This time, no excuses, you absolutely can’t miss it. Got it?”

It seemed he was quite upset about Hyun eating without him last time. Hyun chuckled softly, finding it absurd that he was thinking about the after-party before the game results were even out.

“Oh, don’t just laugh.”

“Understood. I’ll definitely go.”

Just as he replied with a smile, cheers erupted again. Cha Seok-young stood at the waiting room door.

He looked exactly like a virtual model created with graphics. The deep navy uniform fit his body perfectly, as if it were a suit made exclusively for Cha Seok-young. Hyun’s gaze was fixed on him as if mesmerized.

Jeers erupted from all directions. Cha Seok-young walked in slowly, an indifferent expression on his face.

“The production team is so unfair. They gave Cha Seok-young and Jung Hyun different clothes.”

“No, come to think of it, what’s up with my spot? What do you mean by seating me next to these two?!”

Cha Seok-young chuckled softly, perhaps finding Seon Dae-gyu’s desperate shouts amusing. At that moment, the jeers in the waiting room grew even louder. At the same time, Hyun blankly parted his lips.

“Why, is it strange?”

Perhaps it was because he had stared too persistently.

Cha Seok-young, who approached, tilted his head and asked. It was clearly a question he asked on purpose, knowing the answer. His cocky attitude should have been annoying, but his smiling eyes just looked pretty.

“No. Just…”

Hyun scratched his itchy cheek and grumbled unnecessarily.

“I was just thinking how that gray uniform really didn’t suit you back then.”

“Was that so?”

‘No. Even that suited you so well it was ridiculous.’

He suppressed the ill-advised reply, and soon the waiting room was full. All the players were now in their new uniforms.

The last player to sit down was Shim Sang-jin. He happened to be in the seat opposite Hyun, and he let out a loud sigh as if for them to hear.

“Ah, since I’m going down to the farm team next week, this is my last time in this spot. Indeed, you have to be popular. If you’re not popular and useless, you go straight to the farm team like this.”

Perhaps because the microphone hadn’t been attached yet, there was a sting in the joke he delivered with a smile. Just before the cheerful lounge atmosphere turned strange, a knock sounded.

A staff member poked their head through the open door.

“We’ll be filming the opening in 10 minutes. Please get ready.”

Audio staff entered to help with microphone attachment. Shim Sang-jin seemed to be grumbling something to the staff helping him, but fortunately, the main PD soon entered.

“Everyone, it’s finally opening day. Starting today, we’ll be playing games without rest. Please be careful of injuries and make sure to re-emerge. Now, Captain will announce the first lineup.”

PD Kim handed the paper with the lineup to Baek Sung-joon. Baek Sung-joon cleared his throat and stood at the very front of the waiting room.

“I will announce the lineup for the first game of Season 2’s opening day. Alright, #1 Left Fielder Choi Han-byul.”

“Yes, sir!”

“#2 Second Baseman Shin Seon-young, #3 Third Baseman Kang Min-soo, #4 DH.”

“It’s the Captain, no doubt.”

“Yes, haha, that’s me. #5 Center Fielder Jang Hyuk-min. #6 First Baseman Marco. #7 Right Fielder Lee Jae-hoon, #8 Shortstop Jeong Hye-seong. #9 Catcher Seon Dae-gyu. Finally, the starting pitcher.”

His voice, which had flowed without interruption, accompanied by the loud replies of the named players, abruptly stopped. Baek Sung-joon raised his head. His eyes, slightly drooping but radiating experienced vitality, looked at Hyun.

“The coach agonized over the starting pitcher until the very end. Given the opposing team’s strength today, a left-handed pitcher starting is more advantageous, but our ace Myung Seong-won is injured. And mentors cannot start due to the rules.”

“Would it be too much pressure to entrust Hyun, who has no experience in big games, with the first day of a live audience game? After much deliberation, he made a difficult decision.”

Hyun swallowed a trembling breath. Even vaguely anticipating the outcome, he couldn’t control his nervousness.

“Veteran starting pitcher, Yoon Jung-ho.”

A cheer erupted at Baek Sung-joon’s loud announcement. Support and applause for the senior-most player continued for a long time. Hyun clapped along with them, feeling a strange mix of relief and disappointment.

“Looks like you were expecting to start.”

Cha Seok-young, who had approached so closely without Hyun noticing, whispered. Hyun, startled by the breath and voice that reached his ear without warning, shuddered.

Everyone gave them strange looks, but their gazes soon scattered as Yoon Jung-ho stood up to give his remarks.

‘Expectation?’ He dared not expect to start. A starting pitcher should ideally cover about five innings, but with the current state of his shoulder, nothing could be guaranteed.

He had only dreamed of it. The moment of striking out batters consecutively as before, creating an overwhelming game, and sharing a touching hug with Cha Seok-young. Even knowing it was unrealistic, he secretly wished for it.

‘Did Cha Seok-young ever imagine such a scene?’

“Alright, let’s do one more cheer and head out.”

His thoughts were broken by the sound of everyone around him standing up. Seon Dae-gyu pushed Hyun’s back, who was belatedly getting up. However, Seon Dae-gyu’s large, pot-lid-like hand quickly fell away as another hand intervened.

“What are you thinking so much about?”

Cha Seok-young lightly rubbed the shoulder where Seon Dae-gyu’s hand had touched and approached. He didn’t want to be caught trembling for a moment, so he just shook his head instead of answering.

The players, gathered closely in a circle, put their hands in the center. As soon as Hyun put his hand there, Cha Seok-young’s hand covered the back of his. Every part his hand touched felt hot, as if on fire.

“Throw again!”

“Run!”

“Re-emergence!”

“Dreamers!”

“Whoaaah!” Excitement filled the faces of all the players shouting loudly.

The fervor that had once surged from his heart daily, the warmth he had been forced to forget for a while. Forgetting all fear, the fighting spirit as they ran out, and the strong bond transmitted from their touching bodies. Everything mingled, flowing hotly through his veins.

‘I want to win, with Cha Seok-young.’

Hyun, unusually, pulled Cha Seok-young first and left the waiting room. Bright sunlight poured in from outside the dugout.