abcnovels
Chapter 47
Chapter 47
Phoenix had effectively secured the last place due to their repeated losing streak, but the fans were celebrating.
[Yes, yes! 10 consecutive losses! Last place confirmed, nice!]
[Taehyun confirmed to join Phoenix, lol]
[If you’re happy about being last, give a thumbs up, lol]
[Next year, postseason baseball; the year after that, championship! If you’re already excited, give a thumbs up, lol]
The gallery was filled with premature celebrations. They were already lost in the fantasy of Lee Seungtae and Cha Taehyun finally fulfilling the 30-year-old dream of winning a championship.
That was, until the next day, when Lee Seungtae announced his intention to enter the Major League.
[Title: No way, is it true? Lee Seungtae is considering going to the Major League?]
What the heck? I just saw the news; Lee Seungtae is thinking about going to the Major League… The draft is just around the corner, and now this bombshell drops…
? Stop joking? It’s real; search it up
? What’s going on?
? Hey, he just expressed interest. It’s not certain, right? Maybe he’s just trying to increase his value?
? Read the article. It seems like he genuinely wants to go to the Major League…
“…What do we do, Taehyun? Phoenix needs to win the championship…”
Teacher Miyeon spent the entire lunch break lamenting about the news of Lee Seungtae potentially joining the Major League.
Well, knowing she’s a die-hard Phoenix fan, I could understand how she felt.
Still…
“I’m here, aren’t I? There’s no need to be so disappointed, right?”
I unintentionally put a bit of emotion into my words. Teacher Miyeon widened her eyes and interlaced her fingers with mine.
“Yes, you’re right. With Taehyun here, I was just saying nonsense.”
“Teacher… We’re still in the classroom.”
“We can let go if someone comes in.”
Teacher Miyeon chuckled and held my hand even tighter.
Hmm… I feel more at peace now.
Right. Though I got a bit heated, the fact is that Lee Seungtae is an essential player.
No, he’s a necessity. Without Lee Seungtae… leading Phoenix to victory would become incredibly difficult.
That’s just how hopeless Phoenix is.
I need to ask him about this. If he’s really going to the Major League, we need to start preparing an alternative plan right now.
But that’s that…
“Taehyun, is it good?”
“Of course.”
For now, let’s just enjoy this moment.
After lunch break, during free training time, Lee Seungtae suddenly came looking for me.
“Let’s talk for a bit.”
I was planning to seek him out anyway, so this was perfect.
After finding a bench to sit on, Lee Seungtae started speaking.
“It’s nothing big, but I’m thinking of trying for the Major League.”
Wait, it’s true…?
Originally, in Nemath, Lee Seungtae receives an offer from the Major League, but he didn’t go… or so I thought.
“Didn’t you say you weren’t considering the Major League? Did you have a change of heart?”
“No, not exactly. I got in touch with Senior Kim Hosan, and he persuaded me that I should aim for the Major League.”
Kim Hosan… that explains it.
How many players wouldn’t be swayed if the most successful pitcher in Korea convinced them that aiming for the Major League is worthwhile?
“And Senior Kim Hosan said you’d also be heading to the Major League.”
“Sorry?”
For a moment, I wondered if I had misheard. Me, going to the Major League?
I quickly searched my memory, but I had never said that.
“Really? I never said that.”
Lee Seungtae frowned slightly and tilted his head.
“Is that so? He seemed so certain when he said it.”
“That’s just his opinion. I’ve never said that.”
“Well… even if you didn’t say it, don’t you think you have what it takes to aim for the Major League?”
I couldn’t argue with that.
“I suppose, but… I made a promise.”
“A promise?”
“Yes. I promised to bring a championship to Phoenix.”
Lee Seungtae chuckled.
“Are you already dating someone without even debuting?”
“No, it’s not dating yet.”
“So, you made that kind of promise even though it’s not dating?”
“…I just want that person to be happy. That’s enough for me.”
Lee Seungtae shook his head.
“That’s romantic if you put it nicely. But if not, it just makes you a pushover.”
“Then please call it romantic.”
“Alright, a romantic pushover.”
Lee Seungtae laughed and was about to leave, but I called out to him.
“Can’t you just go to Phoenix instead of the Major League?”
I knew it was a far-fetched request, but I had to try.
It’s Lee Seungtae—the biggest prospect in high school baseball. He’s a player capable of debuting in the pros right away.
If he doesn’t come to Phoenix, winning the championship would go from difficult to nearly impossible.
“Sure, then I’ll go to Phoenix.”
“What?”
“Why, you don’t want it? Didn’t you ask me to go to Phoenix?”
No, that’s not it, but…
“That easily?”
“Is there a problem?”
“No, not exactly…”
“I never mentioned it before, but I owe you. The reason I can still play baseball right now is thanks to you.”
This unexpected response left me speechless.
Him agreeing to go to Phoenix and then saying he could still play baseball because of me… What does he mean by that?
“It was only for a month, but… I definitely did something to Gwanghyeon that I shouldn’t have done. If it hadn’t been for your ball, I might have ruined Gwanghyeon’s baseball career. And mine too… So think of this as my way of paying you back.”
I didn’t get it.
Even though he explained it with a serious expression, I had no clue what I had done.
For now, I nodded. I didn’t know if he would really give up on the Major League to go to Phoenix, but it was good news for now.
And just the next day, Lee Seungtae officially announced he was giving up on the Major League.
He even mentioned my name.
[Why am I giving up on the Major League? My junior, Cha Taehyun, asked me. He said we should aim for the championship with Phoenix…]
? Taehyun-shin ?????
? I almost fainted thinking Seungtae was leaving ???
? Already thinking about Phoenix’s championship! I love it! Taehyun, you’ll definitely have your number retired
? Did you just say ‘you’ to Taehyun-shin?
? Praise be to Taehyun-shin
? The Guardian Deity of Hwangniks, Cha Taehyun
? Thank goodness, the championship isn’t delayed another year
? Who wouldn’t worship the great Taehyun-shin?
? In gratitude, I just ordered 3,000 Nixon bats, as promoted by Taehyun-shin
? I also bought 5,000 Taehyun-shin gloves just now
“Wow, Cha Taehyun, you’re a public favorite. You could probably win an election at this rate.”
Jin Myunghwan, who was fiddling with his phone instead of training, snickered.
“So what if public opinion is good now? There’s still a long way to go before I join Phoenix.”
“Well, at least this means you won’t be criticized when you debut.”
Jin Myunghwan didn’t seem to know much about the Phoenix team. How could you not get criticized there?
Even if Babe Ruth came back, he’d get criticized there.
“You can strike out five batters in a row, but if you give up just one hit, you’ll get roasted.”
“Isn’t that an exaggeration?”
“They throw chicken at you if you play poorly.”
Jin Myunghwan fell silent instantly.
“You’re right… I’m not going to Phoenix…”
“It’s not just Phoenix. You’ll get criticized no matter where you go.”
As we continued our banter, someone called out.
“Cha Taehyun! Long time no see!”
The high school baseball broadcasting team had come by.
I wondered what they were doing here after the tournament, and it turned out they wanted to shoot a video of me reenacting my daily life from the past.
Honestly, I didn’t see how that would help high school baseball or why I’d need the money, so I declined.
But the director persistently pleaded.
“It would help high school baseball’s popularity, but it could also benefit you, Cha Taehyun!”
“Me?”
“Yes. I don’t know if you watch NewTube lately, but… there are some strange rumors spreading. Like your past stories being fabricated…”
I was somewhat aware of that. Jin Myunghwan had shown me the comments.
– Haha, who would believe this? Does that even make sense? It’s obviously fake.
– LOL, trying to create a forced sob story, telling made-up tales.
They were just comments claiming my past stories from interviews were fake.
It wasn’t strange. Whenever you gain more recognition, trolls are bound to show up.
They were there even when I dominated Major League Baseball.
“So, you’re saying you want to shoot a reenactment video to clear up those false rumors, right?”
“Exactly! But to be honest, we just really want to make a
video about you, Cha Taehyun…”
I already knew that. I appreciated the honesty.
Anyway, the more I listened, the more I felt it might be worth filming.
I didn’t mind taking the heat, but…
– What are Cha Taehyun’s parents even doing? Are they jobless?
– Why was it only Cha Taehyun who worked? Was his sister doing nothing while he worked two part-time jobs?
Seeing comments dragging my nonexistent parents and, most importantly, my sister into this, I was feeling conflicted.
Since I was now also the face of Nixon Baseball, it seemed wise to manage my image.
“Alright, let’s do it.”
“Really? Thank you, Cha Taehyun!”
“Yes. I’ll inform the coach and then head to the barbecue restaurant.”
“Sorry? Barbecue restaurant? Actually, we plan to use actors for the reenactment, so you’d just have to narrate.”
Well, that works too, but…
“Wouldn’t it be more convincing and stop the false rumors if I reenact it myself?”
The director widened his eyes for a moment, then laughed and gave a thumbs-up.
“Taehyun, are you really living your second life? How come you know broadcasting better than I do? Haha! Sounds great, it’s an excellent idea!”
For the reenactment, we decided I’d just step in for a day to do the part-time jobs I used to have, starting with the barbecue restaurant.
Grilling meat, running to take orders whenever someone called.
All I did was work the part-time job I had before, yet the director and staff stared at me with pitiful eyes the whole time.
“Um… Are you okay? If it’s too hard, we can stop here since it’s just a reenactment.”
Some of the staff even worried about me.
It was just pity before, but then…
“Wait… Another part-time job?”
“Yes, before I joined the baseball team, I did two jobs a day. Until 10 PM at the barbecue place, then starting at 10:10 PM, I worked at a convenience store.”
“…When did you sleep, then?”
“Well… at school, I guess. Sorry to my teachers.”
When I mentioned going to the convenience store for another shift, some staff started wiping tears from their eyes.
I finished my convenience store shift, and it was 4 AM by the time we wrapped up filming.
After thanking the staff for their hard work, I was about to leave when the director approached me.
“…Taehyun, I know I probably shouldn’t ask this, but I have to.”
The director took a deep breath before continuing.
“…After watching this, I’m sure everyone will have the same question. Why did you work so hard, all by yourself?”
Basically, why was I the only one working?
I’d thought about it during filming, too, and realized this was a question I couldn’t avoid.
After some consideration, I decided to reveal that I was an orphan.
It was better to make it known quickly and definitively.
“Because I grew up without parents.”
My short response made the director’s eyes widen.
“So, I had no choice but to work. I worked to survive, nothing more. Also, let me make this clear: don’t question why my one and only family member, my sister, didn’t work. I stopped her from working. It was my choice. If I see any more comments about this, I will take legal action.”
As I spoke, I found myself growing emotional. I hadn’t planned on mentioning lawsuits.
“Is that all?”
I asked, snapping the director out of his daze.
“Yes… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up such a heavy topic.”
“No, it’s fine. It was something I needed to address sooner or later. You were right, it’s a question that would have come up.”
The director nodded, smiling bitterly.
“Yes. After this video, anyone who believed those rumors will be silenced.”
“That would be a relief. Please take care of it.”
A few days later, Cha Taehyun’s documentary was released to the public, and his fan, Shin Hayoon, was among those who watched it.
“A documentary, not a highlight? I wonder what it’s about.”
At first, she watched, expecting a casual vlog from Cha Taehyun.
However, as the video progressed, her expression grew darker.
– Because I grew up without parents.
The moment she heard that sentence, Shin Hayoon’s mind went blank.
—