Chapter nine (9)
504 Words
Chapter 9
The Ticket
At the Coach’s Office
After being discharged from the hospital, they returned to school.
The moment they arrived at the coach’s office, Ha-rin glanced at Min-seo.
“Min-seo, please leave us for a minute.”
“Okay.”
He nodded and quietly walked out, closing the door behind him.
Silence settled over the office.
Ha-rin’s eyes dropped to Hyun-woo’s injured hand. She stared at it for a moment before shaking her head.
Hyun-woo immediately noticed her expression.
“What is wrong, Coach? You’re scaring me.”
“Nothing much. I just wanted to give you this.”
She reached into her drawer, pulled out a ticket, and held it out to him.
Hyun-woo stared at it in confusion.
“This is…?”
“A ticket.”
Hyun-woo shot her an annoyed look.
“I know it’s a ticket. I’m asking why I have it.”
Ha-rin sighed.
“The doctor said you shouldn’t play for the time being. You need to recover properly, so…”
“I want to play, so I’m not going.”
“I knew you would say that.”
She leaned back in her chair, completely unfazed.
“That’s why I booked the ticket myself.”
“Coach…”
“I’ve already made the decision, so I’m not asking for your opinion.”
Her voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.
“You’ll be leaving this evening.”
Hyun-woo’s eyes widened.
“This evening? That’s too early. And I haven’t even agreed to go yet.”
“I already called your parents. They’re expecting you, so don’t keep them worried.”
“Coach, I really don’t want to go. Please.”
For the first time, desperation crept into his voice.
Ha-rin studied him for a moment before asking,
“You want to return to playing before the competition, right?”
“Of course.”
Hyun-woo didn’t hesitate.
“That game could give me a much higher chance of being accepted into a professional team.”
“Then you should go somewhere you can recover faster.”
“I can recover here.”
“I know you.”
Ha-rin gave him a knowing look.
“You won’t be able to stop yourself from playing if you stay here.”
Hyun-woo opened his mouth to argue.
“I…”
But no words came.
Ha-rin stood and placed the ticket firmly in his hand.
“End of discussion. You’re leaving this evening at five.”
She pointed toward the door.
“So go get ready.”
Hyun-woo stared down at the ticket in his hand.
Leaving.
He had been focused on the competition for so long that he hadn’t considered what it would mean to be away from everyone.
And somehow, the thought of leaving now felt heavier than he expected.
He slowly clenched his fingers around the ticket.
“Five o’clock…” he murmured.
Ha-rin nodded.
“Five.”
Hyun-woo looked up at her one last time, hoping she might change her mind.
She didn’t.
The decision
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