Chapter 11.1 - Bradenton Open

"It's been a long time."

Yeong-seok and Jin-hee, who met Choi, Hyung-ri, and even the parents of Yeong-seok and Jin-hee, felt the tension was even greater. If you think of the body as a material, it would be a hard stone.

As usual, Han's mother, Han Min-ji, ran to hug and kiss Yeong-seok.

"My son !! How are you? Would you have been a little bigger? "

When Min-seok, who would normally have been in a hurry to push out, stayed quiet for some reason, Han Min-ji is surprised when he strokes Yeong-seok's face.

"Why your face is so cold."

At the end of Han Min-ji, all the adults make fun of their feet and approach Yeong-seok and Jin-hee.

Choi Young-tae and Yuri were also worried about their faces.

"Okay, okay."

Jin-hee was still silent and silent, but Yeong-seok barely opened his mouth and answered, then turned around and guided the party.

"Let's go. The accommodation was provided by the academy. "

***

"Lee Young Suk."

The sullen voice popped out Choi's lips.

Young-seok, who was distracted by chasing a ball, ran in front of the net with a frightened answer.

"Yes, coach."

Choi's complexion is not good.

I've been together for many years, but it's my first time seeing this bad look.

"Come on. Jin-hee also. "

Jin-hee, who was called for nothing but with her, came to the net at a quick pace.

"Training in this way means nothing."

Choi Young-tae hurriedly opened.

"······."

"I and Yuri have never taught you this kind of training. What is this, it's a meaningless move that just eats up stamina. "

Criticism of the day is inserted into the hearts of Yeong-seok and Jin-hee like a dagger.

"Why are you so nervous about your debut? Are you burdened? "

"······."

He still shouts at silent silence, Yeong-seok and Jin-hee. Choi Young-tae took a deep breath and silently quietly instead of getting angry.

"Everyone has to say tension. It's a problem if you don't. The wise man here uses tension as a tool for building capacity. No, a human who can't do this shouldn't be a player. "

"······!"

"Why then do people relax? Lee Young-seok, answer me. "

Youngsuk's mouth opened to Choi Young-tae's request.

"I am afraid."

Like the words, Yeong-seok's voice was full of trembling.

"Jinhee, please answer me too."

Wean was near by.

"I'm worried about what happens if I lose in the middle."

Rather, it was cooler than Yeong-seok.

Choi Young-tae nodded and said.

"Both are right. It is precisely because it gives meaning to actions. Lee Young-suk, how many games did you play in this academy and how many times did you win? "

At the question of Choi Young-tae, Yeong-seok still counted the numbers.

It had to take a long time to go back a few years ago, but everyone waited calmly.

"I've played about 100 times. I lost three times. "

Yeong-seok, who chewed, was quite surprised by herself.

'Except for Roddick, two of them don't even remember their faces. ······.'

"What is Jinhee?"

"I lost five times."

"And you have never lost a match between me and the coach. Think about whether you played all those games with tension and thought differently now. "

"······."

At the end of Choi Young-seok and Jin-hee could not say anything.

"You know, tennis players always live in competitions. Futures to start next week? Now it might be a lifetime event. However, as you go up, you are always competing for a life. You'll be joining Futures over and over again. Next, ATP Challenger, 250, 500, Masters ... Major, you will find countless moments of pressure and burden. Will you be as crazy as you are now ?! "

Eventually, there was a rush of pain.

Yeong-seok and Jin-hee fluttered their eyes closed.

"I'm not saying not to be nervous. I want to tell you that if you are frozen on the battlefield, you die without a Mac. joy? Happiness? That's just a moment. To live as a player means that you have to endure every other moment for the moment's happiness. This is also a quality. "

"Yeah······."

Seeing Yeong-seok and Jin-hee, who responded with no energy, Choi Young-tae, who was soaring again, said, "When I was staring at her.

"Go in. Take a rest today. No, only three sets. Feet have nothing to do with physical condition. "

***

"44 seconds 63."

Yeong-suk still slept slowly, releasing his breath, without listening to the record. Jin-hee, who was followed, listened to 52.2 seconds and threw herself on the track without any inspiration.

"Honey······."

Yuri looked at Choi Young-tae with a stopwatch. My voice trembled finely.

"Isn't the record too fast?"

I felt embarrassed by the reason, but Choi Yeong-tae was grave.

"You're already in high school when you're in middle school. What a surprise. "

"... I'm not fortunate in high school. Isn't it a Korean record? "

"Is the Korean record great?"

"······."

At the door of Choi Young-tae, Lee Lee thought.

But the idea has not changed.

"Whatever you think is great?"

Choi Young-tae scratched his head and opened his mouth. I felt the sadness of 'Now I have to explain kindly to my wife.'

"If we consider Korea's share of the world's land, isn't the Korean record itself low? It's not close to the world record or it's no surprise. "

"still······."

Weary was blurring the end as if not convincing, but Choi Young-tae was firm.

"It's even more surprising that Asians win the ATP500. Far from Korea, I've never achieved Asia. And it's possible that we didn't machine ... Don't be surprised by it. I've been growing up for years and I'm surprised. Compared to them, you or I are just criminals. Let's not think by our standards. "

"······."

Yeong-seok and Jin-hee, who had played all three sets, looked at Choi Young-tae and Yu-ri.

Choi Young-tae who coughed up.

"Finish and relax. Arrange your thoughts. "

In line with the coaches' concerns, my parents weren't alone.

For example, it may be the same sentiment as the parents before the college entrance examination. But I did not pat me in the arms. This is because I constantly listened to the advice that Choi Young-tae and Lee Lee emphasized, 'Tennis is a sport that I do alone.'

***

As time went by, Yeong-seok and Jin-hee kept their concerns and expectations on their back, and the day before the game came.

"Stop it and let's go to sleep."

Reminded of Yeong-suk's face pushing Jinhee's shoulder in her arms.

Moonlight does not shoot a spotlight at Jinhee, but Jinhee alone seems to shine bright.

"cook······."

Jin-hee laughed low, ignoring Yeong-seok's arm, and hugged again.

'Why is this? ······'

Yeong-seok was embarrassed and had no choice but to pat Jin-hee's back.

Jin-hee quietly accepted the hand and whispered in his ear.

"Now relax?"

"···okay."

Young Suk replied. The fast-running heart slows down little by little.

When Jin-seok's heartbeat slows down, Jin-hee finally comes out of Yeong-suk's arms.

"We are not alone. Let's share the burden. "

Jin-hee smiled beautifully, stroked Yeong-seok's face, held her tight, and turned around silently and walked toward the female dorm.

'Jinhee's days are getting more daring.'

The smiling smile looked up at the night sky.

When Jin-hee disappeared, the color of the night changed. Saturation is low.

"Go."

***

ITF Futures tournaments.

The tournament is located at the bottom of the professional competition, where players who do not have the rankings themselves participate in to earn ATP ranking points. The week-long singles and doubles are small, with nearly 1,000 annual competitions worldwide.

"rice is?"

Parents watched Young-suk and Jin-hee's condition on the large bus in the academy with both participants and officials. Youngsuk and Jinhee were very comfortable faces.

"I ate it naturally."

Rather, he smiled brightly and reassured his parents and coaches.

The bus arrived at Bradenton, a city in southwest Florida, USA, before the buzz. It was a short trip of about 30 minutes.

Young-seok and Jin-hee faced the adults when they got off the bus.

Choi Young-tae said to such youngsters and Jinhee.

"You don't know your mental state, but you're in good shape. Did you say what an active rest was? "

"Yeah."

"Hey, coach."

Jinhee, who always listened to Choi's words, opened his mouth.

"Huh?"

"How many places can we win once?"

And asked questions.

Choi Young-tae and Weon-ri briefly worried.

"Well ... wouldn't it be 1,500 ~ 2,000? If you win, you'll be in the 800th to 1,000th place. "

Yeong-seok was not surprised because he knew of course, but Jin-hee listened to Choi Young-tae.

I was happy to have a clear number just by winning once.

"It will be very difficult once. Everybody's professional. And Futures, which takes place in the United States, is different from Futures in Asia. No, not only in Asia but also in the world. The tennis population itself is hundreds of times different, so of course the level of players participating is high. In addition, you will be even more troubled because you have not even participated in Korea's national competition. However!"

"······."

"Your qualities can target the world. This is certain. "

"···Yeah!!"

When Young-seok and Jin-hee responded brightly, Choi Young-tae, who was short, finished the conversation with a short word.

"Good job."

This was followed by the encouragement of parents.

"Son, this mom believes."

Yeong-seok trembled with her mother, who was more nervous than Yoo-seok, who played a match.

"Don't you say three children?"

"I believe that the three will spread their skills to all the world, and will please this mother."

My mother met me in a hurry. The father smiled as if they were adorable and looked at him and stroking Young Suk's head. The picture was natural because he was still taller than Young Suk.

"You can do well."

"Watch me. I will do well. "

Yeong-seok replied with a smile.

Jinhee was also supported by her parents. Jin-hee hugged Jin-hee's mother with tears.

Yeong-seok and Jin-hee, who were so energized, carried a tennis bag on their shoulders.

"I will come back!"