Coach Forrester

As the door to the locker room clicked shut behind the last of his teammates, Sung Min sat in silence, still trying to process the game. The sweat on his skin was beginning to dry, but his thoughts were still racing. This wasn't the debut he'd dreamed of. It wasn't a disaster, but it wasn't what he had hoped for either. He had faced failure before, but the harsh reality of European football stung deeper than he'd expected.

A quiet voice interrupted his thoughts.

"How was the game, Sung Min?" It was Coach Forrester, standing in the doorway, arms folded but with a soft, understanding expression on his face.

Sung Min looked up, startled to see him still here. Forrester wasn't the kind of coach to linger in the locker room after a match. He let the players breathe, let them reflect. But here he was, waiting for Sung Min's answer.

"It was more than I expected," Sung Min admitted, the frustration still raw in his voice.