I rejected the school bully's confession because of soccer. - Chapter 3

The director of the soccer school had an excited face from the morning.
Very excited.
Recently, a PD had visited saying they were planning to create a new children’s soccer entertainment program.
The director sensed that an opportunity had come to him.
“Coach Sung-hoon.”
The director called Sung-hoon, who was in charge of the kindergarten class.
“We’ve received an audition offer for a TV program. Are there any kids in our kindergarten class worth recommending?”
Two names immediately came to Kim Sung-hoon’s mind.
Hwang Min-chul and Kang Tan.
However, he hesitated briefly before speaking.
And then he shared his honest thoughts.
“There are, but I’m a bit worried about the entertainment aspect.”
“What? Why?”
“I’m concerned about what if they get hurt during filming due to the nature of entertainment shows.”
The director crossed his arms and thought for a moment.
A very brief moment.
“Sung-hoon, what do you think will happen if the program does well and some kids gain attention from it?”
He continued, waving one hand.
“Interested parents will start by looking for who taught those kids. Your value will increase.”
It wasn’t that Sung-hoon didn’t understand this persuasion.
No, he already knew.
That his students doing well meant he was doing well.
For that reason, he was also thinking of recommending those two to a prestigious youth club.
But an entertainment program?
The children were still at the stage of forming their self-identity, and at an age sensitive to small things.
If not careful, they might become intimidated or lose interest.

Seeing Sung-hoon’s still reluctant response, the director emphasized once more.
“I understand your concern for the children. But, Coach Sung-hoon, you know too, right? In today’s world, it’s hard to stand out with just soccer skills.”
Sung-hoon felt mixed emotions at the director’s words.
“Won’t the children get proper evaluation and more opportunities if more people know about them?”
At those words, Kang Tan flashed through Sung-hoon’s mind.
He could confidently say that Tan had the skills not to be intimidated wherever he went.
Of course, it was a feeling he had about Min-chul before seeing Tan, but Tan was the real deal.
‘No matter how I think about it, it’s right to let him… or at least Tan’s family choose such an opportunity.’
Finally, Sung-hoon made up his mind.

Dad looked at me with a face full of worry.
Joy that I had caught the teacher’s eye and concern about media exposure seemed to cross his face.
‘He wouldn’t have expected an opportunity to come like this.’
Even I, living my life again, felt that way.
From my father’s perspective, while it was interesting, there were also aspects difficult to decide hastily.
If I appear on TV and become known, it’s reality that we don’t know what will follow.
The teacher carefully added his opinion.
“There are many promising soccer players, but for those who show skill and potential from a young age, the path becomes wider.”
He was speaking to Dad but his eyes were on me.
“Even if the program isn’t successful, youth clubs will keep an eye on the broadcast.”
“You mean…”
“Yes. Given Tan’s valuable talent, there’s a high chance good teams will contact him first.”
Dad’s eyes sparkled for a moment.
But his mouth didn’t open easily.
After a long deliberation, Dad asked me.
“Tan, what do you think?”
It wasn’t easy for me to answer either.
‘It’s not a successful program.’
If it had been popular, the existence of a children’s soccer entertainment program would have remained in my memory.
Still, as the teacher said, if the industry pays attention regardless of the program’s success… it’s unconditionally beneficial to do it.
Maybe, no, certainly the future will change.
I’ll walk a different path from when I started soccer in a regular elementary school soccer team.
But on the other hand, the disadvantages couldn’t be easily ignored.
If it’s an entertainment program, the time to seriously focus on soccer might decrease.

And if an attention I can’t handle pours in, it could become a huge burden.
What if people’s gazes follow me even after the program ends, and the expectations become too much to bear?
I looked alternately at my father and the coach.
‘This isn’t just a simple TV appearance.’
It’s an important choice in starting my soccer life.
I took a deep breath and composed myself.
Trying to be cautious, I realized I’m not five years old.
I’m five, but I was confident I wouldn’t be swayed like a five-year-old.
Also, having decided to become a soccer player, if I can’t overcome even this burden, that’s my capability.
If I’m not going to run away when I feel greater responsibility later, I need to overcome it from now.
I opened my mouth with sparkling eyes.
“I want to audition.”
The teacher smiled warmly, and my father stroked my head.

‘Is he here for the audition too?’
Hwang Min-chul was looking at me.
His eyes were more like looking at an enemy than a comrade.
‘I hope he doesn’t get tense because of me.’
But Hwang Min-chul was already overheated.
His nostrils flaring slightly as he breathed out was a sign since childhood, and that habit was still there.
His eyes also had a strangely overflowing spirit.
‘I hope he’s not planning to do something weird.’
Just looking at that expression, I could roughly guess.
Meanwhile, the audition venue was much larger than the facility we trained at in soccer school.
Cameras were placed here and there, and people who looked like judges were seated.
But I didn’t feel nervous at all.
I was just curious.
I wondered why there needed to be cameras from the audition stage, not even the main filming.
A moment later, when we were given time to warm up together before the audition, it happened.
Hwang Min-chul ran to me and bumped into me hard.
“Ouch!”
It was quite a forceful collision, but I didn’t lose my balance.
Instead, he fell backward and landed on his butt.
It was intentional.
‘Was he trying to injure me when my body wasn’t fully warmed up?’
Adults nearby were surprised and helped him up.
“Are you okay? You should watch where you’re going.”
Hwang Min-chul bowed his head and pretended to be sorry.
I quietly looked down at him and smiled.
Hwang Min-chul’s expression stiffened slightly.
I just smiled because there were eyes watching, but did it look meaningful?
‘Min-chul, brother wants to understand you.’
It was an issue that could have been quietly passed over.
But there’s a problem with always letting it slide internally.
The problem that he doesn’t know he’s being let off.
‘Should I just give him a warning?’
Not long after, Min-chul headed to the bathroom.
I followed him.
Then, after checking several times that there were no people around, I quietly opened my mouth.
“Min-chul.”
He was startled by my voice and turned his head.
His brow immediately furrowed deeply.
“What? Min-chul? Don’t you know I’m older than you?”
“I don’t care about that.”
I slowly approached him.
Putting on an air unlike a child.
Step by step.
Hwang Min-chul sent a wary look and faltered.
“That careless mistake earlier… what if you did it on purpose, it’s dangerous. It’s an important day for both you and me.”
“I apologized because it was a mistake, didn’t I?”
“Mistake or not, I have to pay back double for anything done to me to feel satisfied.”
I added, narrowing my eyes.
“I think I might make a mistake with you too. Two of them.”
Hwang Min-chul gulped.
“But I’ll let it slide just this once. Still, know this. This is the first and last time I’m letting it go.”
He started to tremble even in his legs.
“You have to audition, so don’t shake your legs too. But if you show such careless behavior already, haven’t you failed the audition already?”
Hwang Min-chul’s face reddened and his nose twitched.
“Are you going to cry again? Or are you going to hit me?”
I continued, shrugging my shoulders.
“There are many eyes watching, think before you act. Don’t cry either.”
“What?”
“If you cry, you’ll definitely fail the audition, you know? It’s troublesome to use a kid who can’t even control their own emotions.”
Hwang Min-chul stared at me with a blank face for a moment.
He seemed not to understand what I was saying.
I sighed and explained again.
“I’ll tell you in a way you can understand easily. If you cry or throw a tantrum, adults will think you’re annoying and won’t pick you. Got it?”
“Eee… eek…!”
“Huh? Are you going to cry? Crying kids fail, you know? Santa doesn’t give presents either?”
Hwang Min-chul’s nose was still twitching.
“Ah, you probably won’t get presents anyway because you cried last time.”
“Kkuh…!”
His eyes were turning red.
“Are you really going to cry? Then you fail, thanks for your effort in advance.”
Hwang Min-chul gritted his teeth and held back his tears.
“Oh… you held it in? That’s right, we should both pass. You and I should become a team, don’t hate me.”
To be honest, my real inner thoughts were a bit different.
From an entertainment PD’s perspective, kids who can’t control their emotions might actually be attractive characters.
But I absolutely hated the idea of making the situation complicated by making Hwang Min-chul cry again now.
“So, just show your skills like usual. If you do well, that’s enough. Got it?”
Hwang Min-chul nodded slightly.
His face was still red, but now he seemed to have found more composure.
“Good, then I’ll go first.”
I walked away leisurely, leaving Hwang Min-chul behind.
‘Yeah, Min-chul. This is my best consideration.’
Be grateful I didn’t secretly hit you.