CHAPTER 50: CHAPTER 47: THE CHAMPIONSHIP

Whistle!

The referee’s whistle cut through the air, marking the start of the second half.

The seniors started with the ball.

Boosh!!!!

Song Jae rolled the ball to Lee Min, who didn’t even look up.

He took one step forward and fired.

Boom!

The sound echoed across the field.

The ball rocketed through the air, spinning wildly before smashing into the top corner.

Goal!

It was so fast that even the defenders didn’t have time to react. Even the goalkeeper looked stunned.

3–2.

The crowd exploded, half in cheers, half in shock.

The goalkeeper didn’t even move.

Lee Min didn’t celebrate. He simply turned and jogged back, eyes cold.

“Wake up,” he said to his teammates.

The senior team spread across the field again, ready before the juniors could even react.

Joseph tried to restart quickly, passing to Jin, but Han read it like a book.

He slid in, stole the ball, and sprinted forward.

“Pressure him!” someone shouted, but Han was already gone.

He passed to Song Jae, who immediately sent it back — a perfect one-two.

Han dashed into the box, the defenders late to react.

He took a quick touch, then blasted a low shot with his right foot.

Bang!

The ball slipped right under the goalkeeper’s hand and hit the back of the net.

Goal!

3–3.

Two goals. Less than two minutes.

The crowds erupted.

The senior team didn’t even smile — their expressions were pure focus.

Song Jae shouted, “Press them! Don’t let them breathe!”

The tempo went insane.

The seniors pushed high, closing every passing lane, trapping Jin and Joseph near their own goal.

“Damn it,” Joseph muttered.

“They’re not joking anymore.”

As if you didn’t leave this last ball willingly to give them a chance, Joseph.

Yup, you are right!!!

We don’t have to win by a massive number. We aren’t Germans, bro.

Also, if we push them too hard, it will only bring a bad conscience to us.

And we’ll be a lot more popular.

They talked in low voices between each other, without anyone hearing.

“OK, Jin.

I want to score with that ancient technique.

I’ll give them a front-shot ball now.”

“They better be ready... their net is about to get pregnant.”

The match continued, with Joseph and Jin passing like a choreographed dance.

As time passed, Jin dragged two midfielders with him, their shoulders pressing against his side. Using a body feint, he slipped past them and turned to the other side. Song gave him a strong shoulder push, trying to knock him down, but Jin pressed on, twisting like a human pretzel.

As he was losing his balance and falling to the ground, instead of stopping, he rolled lightly on the grass. He lifted the ball with the tip of his foot into the air, then balanced on his hands as if performing a gymnastics routine, and tapped the ball with a smooth, graceful touch, leaving everyone staring as if they had seen a UFO.

He sent the ball to Joseph, who took control. As he charged toward the net, he passed it to the corner.

Jin was already there.

“Damn, how can this kid run like that? Is he... powered by rockets?”

Jin controlled the ball, performed a chop, and then passed it in a Rabona-style flick so smooth it looked like the ball had its own brain.

Joseph jumped and shot.

“Take this, goalkeeper! My... pregnant ball!”

BOOSH!!!

The stadium exploded with laughter as the ball slammed into the net.

Jihun fired up the moment with his commentary, voice trembling with disbelief.

“Joseph scores the fourth goal in the most humiliating way possible!”

“Call the ambulance, call the ambulance!” he shouted dramatically.

“We’ve got a pregnant net here, and Joseph will be the father!”

“Hey, Jihun,” one of the teachers called out. “See me in my office after the game. We need to talk about that trash talk.”

“Sorry, Mother...” Jihun muttered in his mind. “I should make a sacrifice. I don’t want to die single.”

“Hope you pay well for my sacrifice, Joseph, because if your advice doesn’t work, believe me, I will kill you.”

Han took the ball to the center and passed it to Lee, who instantly pushed it to Song Jae on the left.

Song Jae crossed it back fast — a one-two.

Han sprinted through the gap, defenders too slow to react.

He entered the box, faked with his right, and shot with his left.

BOOM!!!

The ball smashed into the corner of the net.

Goal!

4–4.

The seniors shouted in unison, their bench going wild.

The juniors stood frozen for a second.

Han pointed at the sky, then jogged back, calm as ever.

“Let’s finish this,” he said.

Joseph grinned.

“Finish? Nah... we’ll win.”

“There are only two minutes left, Jin. Let’s finish this.”

Jin placed the ball at the center.

He passed to Joseph, their faces turning serious.

They started breaking through the seniors’ defense like an X, quick and sharp, moving in a smooth zigzag.

Each pass cut through faster than the last.

One touch. Two touches. Back to Jin.

Then to Joseph again.

They were changing positions so quickly, moving at such high speed, that the defenders couldn’t react.

“Now!” Jin shouted.

Joseph sprinted, and Jin lifted the ball over the last defender.

As two players closed in, making Joseph lose his balance, he used one of their backs to lift himself and executed a bicycle kick in the air.

BOOOOOM!!!

The ball rocketed straight into the top corner.

The net shook violently.

Goal!!!

5–4 to the juniors.

Jin and Joseph did it — they won the championship.

Jihun jumped up from his chair, screaming, “We won!”

The crowd went insane from that final match, more dramatic than any K-pop drama.

It was absolute cinema.

Joseph pointed at Han with a grin.

“That’s how we finish.”

Jin dropped to his knees, arms raised.

The referee blew the final whistle.

Full time.

5–4 to the juniors.

Jin and Joseph stood side by side, supporting each other. They shook hands with the seniors as a sign of respect.

“You did well,” Song Jae said with a faint smile.

“You both are so talented.”

“Thanks, Captain Song,” Joseph replied, breathing heavily but smiling back.

“We won by luck,” Jin said.

“Luck, my ass,” Song Jae replied with a chuckle. “You deserved the win. But still, it’s crazy how you two ran across the field for ninety minutes with those useless defenders.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “You and him were running nonstop.”

Then he looked at Jin with a genuine smile.

“You’re the most talented player I’ve ever seen at this age.”

He turned toward the others. “It seems Korea might actually win the next World Cup with talent like yours.”

The principal called them forward to present the medals.

Jin and Joseph stepped up, received theirs, and posed for a full team photo.

Then they took a trio photo with Nonna, placing her proudly in the middle.

After that, they took a duo photo together.

When it was over, Jin and Joseph left the group and walked toward the edge of the field. They sat under a tree, away from the noise and the crowd.

Jihun came over, handing each of them a can of cola.

He was about to speak, but Joseph cut him off.

“Finish the massage first,” Joseph said calmly.

“Once you’re done, I’ll tell you everything you want.”

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Reader’s Archive:

First, in this world, football is played by twelve players.

This is also a song I wrote. Join the Discord to listen!

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Jin & Joseph (friendship song)

(Verse 1)

I’ll be there for you, my friend,

Even when the road won’t end.

When the nights are cold and long,

You’re the reason I stay strong.

Don’t cry, just hold my hand,

I still remember where we stand.

I can’t lie, I can’t pretend,

But I’ll stay with you till the end.

(Chorus)

We live, we fall, we rise again,

But I’ll never let this bond be slain.

You’re my shadow in the rain,

My brother, my only pain.

If you’re the strength, I’ll be the speed,

Together, we’re all we’ll ever need.

Even when the stars all fade,

Our promise will never decay.

(Verse 2)

My loyalty’s quiet but true,

It begins and ends with you.

I’ll grow old but never forget,

The day our hearts first met.

Carry our dreams, don’t let them die,

Even if I’m not by your side.

Our memories will never drown,

Even when the world falls down.

(Bridge)

I’ll be your shield when you can’t fight,

You’ll be my fire in the night.

No matter how far we go,

Our hearts will always know.

(Final Chorus)

We live, we fall, we rise again,

Through the loss, through all the pain.

You’re my brother, my only truth,

My heart still beats for you.

(Outro)

Bold but broken, still I smile,

Thinking of you all the while.

Through the wind, through every sin...

It’s always been...

Jin and Joseph.