A Father's Words

The practice match ended with a landslide victory for FS High School, where Lucas played. While everyone was celebrating their victory and cheering, Lucas quietly followed the coach to the principal's office with his father.

There was still something important left to be done.

"This way," the director said, guiding Lucas and his father to the principal's office. When they entered, the principal treated Lucas's father like a state guest.

"Please sit over here."

The principal offered them each a cup of tea, sat them down, and then got straight to the point.

"I think you know why we invited Lucas's father to our school."

Lucas's father remained silent at the principal's words.

Even though it had been a year and a half since they came to the United States, his father was not fluent in English.

He was busy making a living and had no time to learn the language, so he could understand only basic words.

"Lucas, could you please help me interpret?"

the principal requested. Lucas nodded.

Even though his father had cheered him on during today's practice game, that didn't mean he would allow Lucas to join the baseball team.

Now it was time to find out. With only the final decision ahead, he couldn't rely entirely on the school.

The principal continued speaking leisurely with a smile.

"Lucas is a talented student at baseball. The school highly values his ability and offered him a spot on the baseball team. As his father saw, he dominated the other school players today. I think that alone is enough reason for him to play baseball."

Lucas closed his eyes tightly and interpreted the principal's words. When his father nodded faintly in understanding, the principal continued speaking.

"It seems like Lucas needs permission from his parents. If you give your permission, I would like to officially scout him for the baseball club. Is that okay?"

There was no immediate answer. Lucas's father looked troubled.

The principal noticed this too but didn't stop trying to persuade him.

"I also learned a bit about Korean culture…"

The principal closed his eyes tightly, then opened them wide.

"Honestly, I don't know what you're thinking right now, but in America, it's the parent's job to help their children do what they want to do."

The principal spoke as diplomatically as possible. Children's lives are their own.

They deserve the care of their parents, but parents have no right to dictate their lives.

America is different from Korea. Although it may sound rude to Koreans, Americans will say what they think is right without fail.

'Shoot,' Lucas thought, feeling the pressure.

Although Lucas was not happy about having to relay those words, he gritted his teeth and did the interpretation.

This was the only way for him to play the baseball he wanted to play. At least the school was on his side.

There still was no answer from Lucas's father. Lucas thought his father was still worried and hesitant.

For a moment, the principal's office was silent. Contrary to what Lucas thought, his father's intentions were different.

He did not want to convey his intentions through his son; he wanted to say it in his own words.

But because his English skills were lacking, it wasn't easy to start talking.

After five minutes of silence, the principal stroked his chin.

'Oh. Is this a rejection?'

He needed to change their thinking. It was a bit harsh, but he decided to tell Lucas about the benefits he'd get if he joined the baseball club.

'I wanted to hear permission directly from the him rather than trying to solve it with the power of money,' the principal thought, sensing the situation wasn't favorable.

But then, Lucas's father began to take something out of his old, worn-out briefcase.

"This, this…"

Lucas's father, who spoke for the first time, took out a few newspapers and placed them on the table.

The principal had to concentrate for a while to figure out what they were, but Lucas immediately knew what the newspapers were.

Tears soon flowed from Lucas's eyes, obscuring his vision.

The principal and director tilted their heads for a moment at Lucas's reaction, then began to unfold the newspapers one by one.

They were all Korean newspapers, so they couldn't even read the titles. But it was not difficult to figure out who the person in the photo in the newspapers was.

"These are all articles about Lucas?" the director asked. Lucas's father nodded.

There wasn't just one newspaper. The principal and director, carefully examining more than ten newspapers, could not control their jaws from dropping.

The student was active enough to be featured in the newspaper. Even though they couldn't read Korean, they knew what this meant. And that was also Lucas's father's answer.

"I am a bad father. I am a really bad father who took away my son's talent," Lucas's father began speaking in broken English, sometimes asking Lucas for words.

"I also wanted to let him play baseball. But his life just didn't get any better. In fact, I immigrated to the U.S. for Lucas. The baseball infrastructure here is better than anywhere else."

But he never considered the reality that it costs much more money to play sports in the United States.

Moreover, life did not get better but rather worse. Although he desperately wanted to create an environment where Lucas could play baseball again, the reality was not easy.

"I… have not had a single day of peace since I came to America."

Already working day and night, he also looked for other side jobs because he wanted his son to play baseball by any means possible.

"But in the end, it was impossible to let my son play baseball again."

Lucas, listening to those words from the side, couldn't say a single word. His throat was so choked up that he couldn't get the words out.

"Please take good care of Lucas. I ask you this."

Lucas's father kept bowing his head to the principal and director and repeating the same words countless times.

The principal and the director also shook the hands of Lucas's father.

"No. We are the ones who need your help in the future," the principal said.

The suffocating air that had been choking Lucas's throat melted away.

Only then was the principal able to comfortably talk about the conditions that Lucas could obtain.

"If Lucas joins the baseball club, his tuition will be waived. And I plan to support him with the best equipment, so you don't have to worry at all."

Lucas also bowed his head and took their hands.

"Thank you for allowing me. I will really try my best."