My Girlfriend Wants Victory

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“Ho-woo, that was an amazing goal!”

“Rico, you had a great pass too.”

I high-fived Rico Benatelli, who had passed the ball to me, while looking at the Schalke players.

“Wow! Look at the expressions on the Schalke guys’ faces. They seem really flustered, huh?”

“They shouldn’t get so confused over something like this.”

Before the match started, the Schalke players had underestimated me.

Before scoring, they had looks like, ‘An Asian starter? Dortmund has really hit rock bottom with these washed-up fools.’ Now their expressions were more like, ‘What the heck? That Asian player is better than we thought.’

By the time the first half ended, their expressions would surely shift to something like, ‘Hieeeek! Korea’s football skills are the best in the world! We lost to Korea in the World Cup and got eliminated in the group stage!’ So I wasn’t too worried about it.

‘Ah, I feel like I’m going to hiccup from lying.’

Honestly, I wasn’t a fan of those looks that thought of me as inferior just because I’m Asian, but there wasn’t much I could do about it for now. After all, there aren’t many Asian players playing in Europe.

Narrowing it down to those who are making a name for themselves, there are practically none.

The one who might be best known to Europeans is Park Jisong from Manchester United (not the idiot version).

‘But Park Jisong wasn’t even a key player for his team, right? He’s more famous for being a supporting hero.’

Given the situation, I often felt that unique gaze that subtly looked down on Asian football players.

Isn’t it a famous story that Son Heung-min went to Blackburn and Portsmouth FC and was only allowed to stay at a guest house?

Those clubs probably thought they could market Son Heung-min in Asia.

Well… that’s the average perception that European clubs have towards Asian players at this time.

It’s no wonder that Asian players in Europe tend to stick together.

It’s because the Europeans are being jerks, so Asians gather together.

However, unlike England, Germany had a better perspective on Asian football players thanks to the legendary Cha Bum-kun, who played here in the past.

‘By the way, he was truly amazing. He achieved so much at a time when recognition of Asia wasn’t so great.’

I secretly idolized Cha Bum-kun. Honestly, doesn’t he deserve some secret worship?

Moreover, perhaps due to his influence, my Dortmund teammates were rejoicing as if they had scored a goal themselves…

“Hahaha! You foolish Schalke idiots! Ho-woo isn’t that Chinese player you thought he was!”

“This jerk!”

I could tolerate them saying I was Japanese at worst, but calling me Chinese was completely unacceptable.

“Hmm? What did Ho-woo just say?”

“I don’t know, it was in Chinese!”

“Oooh! I wanted to learn Chinese!”

I imparted a life lesson to my stupid German friends.

“China’s football sucks, you idiots.”

“Aha! So he’s Japanese then?”

“He’s Korean.”

“Oh! Korea! Kim Jong-il!”

“You idiot! That’s the North! Ho-woo is from the South! Don’t you know Samsung? Samsung?”

I sighed at my German friends’ reactions. Football aside, this is the reality of my home country, South Korea. In the future, things like K-pop or K-dramas might make us popular, but right now, we have less recognition than the absolute monarchy up north.

After celebrating, on the way back to my bench, I thought I need to work harder in football.

*

With the referee’s whistle, the game resumed, and Son Jinho showed an incredible work rate, excelling on both offense and defense.

“Oooh! That guy is an amazing hard worker!”

“Wheee! Youngster! Crush those arrogant Schalke punks!”

The Dortmund fans cheered for Son Jinho. No football fan would dislike a player who dedicates himself to the team. Especially as an Ultras (hooligan) who cared enough to watch a youth match just because it was against Schalke.

“Give me the ball!”

Son Jinho sprinted back and requested a pass.

As soon as he grabbed the ball, the Schalke defenders pounced on him. The threat of his sharp long-range shot was a problem, but they also realized Dortmund’s buildup was happening at Son Jinho’s feet.

With the ball on the inside of his foot, Son Jinho looked up to quickly survey his surroundings. He spotted a player making a run into the space behind the Schalke defense, as well as another player coming over to provide support.

‘Let’s break through.’

Between two choices, Son Jinho decided quickly on a third path.

Though it seemed reckless to others, he was confident.

His many experiences from the last life told him it was possible.

He nudged the ball slightly toward the right, shifting the Schalke number 8’s balance. Instantly, Son Jinho reclaimed it with the inside of his foot.

While the Schalke number 8 stumbled from the personal trick often called a flip flap, Son Jinho quickly pushed the ball to the left and ran forward. As the Schalke defensive midfielder rushed to cover him,

He pretended to pass, deceiving them, and slipped the ball between the legs of the number 6.

As Son Jinho successfully evaded two defenders, a significant crack appeared in the Schalke defense.

While the Schalke center backs, who were marking Dortmund’s forwards, debated whether to rush at him or stick with their marks,

Son Jinho unexpectedly let loose a long-range shot from outside the penalty box that shook the goal net.

Shaking the net with a fantastic dribbling break followed by a powerful long-range shot, Son Jinho felt an overwhelming emotion surge from his heart, spinning his right hand habitually as he began his signature celebration.

“Ho-woooooo!”

*

As the net rippled, Han Gyeouri jumped in place.

“You. Number 24. Girlfriend?”

A gruff-looking middle-aged man with a bee tattoo on his shoulder approached her, noticing her reaction.

‘Ugh… Was it because I suddenly jumped like that?’

At the sudden attention, Han Gyeouri’s face turned pale with fear.

“Your boyfriend is fantastic! Fantastic! Look at those rotten expressions on the Schalke guys!”

A smile spread across the gruff man’s face. Han Gyeouri felt relieved, sensing he wasn’t trying to be a nuisance.

“Olé, jetzt kommt Der BVB!”

The gruff-looking man sprang to his feet like Han Gyeouri and began to sing Dortmund’s anthem.

“Olé, jetzt kommt Der BVB!”

Other home fans also stood up to join in the chant.

‘Oh. This melody seems familiar? Korea~ Oooooo~ Korea~ Oooooo~’

As Han Gyeouri relaxed, she unconsciously sang along to the familiar melody.

“Ooooo~”

Seeing this, an older Dortmund fan gave her a thumbs-up, and excited, Han Gyeouri joined the crowd in chanting along.

As Son Jinho soared above the Schalke crowd, she shouted along with the Dortmund fans.

“Ho-wooo!”

Perhaps experiencing a live game was just her natural inclination.

So, Han Gyeouri enjoyed watching the match while singing along with the Dortmund fans. By the time she snapped back to reality, the game was already over.

‘Time really flies!’

*

Three days after the match against Schalke.

“Hey! Son Jinho, hurry up! You’ll be late for school!”

“Yawn… I shouldn’t have even enrolled in the Gymnasium.”

I answered, yawning widely, in response to Gyeouri, who was urging me on.

Germany’s compulsory education goes until the 9th grade, and while the Korean Football Association solved the visa issues, meaning I didn’t have to enroll in school, I decided to attend classes until I debuted professionally, just to ensure Gyeouri could adapt well to school.

‘But now that I’m going to school, it’s a hassle.’

As I stepped outside, a refreshing breeze greeted me.

It was the start of autumn.

“By the way, it’s amazing that the school year starts in September.”

I muttered while looking at the sky, and Gyeouri wiggled her lips.

“Do you want to know why?”

That was an invitation to ask her.

I obediently questioned her as she wanted, and Gyeouri raised her chin proudly as she answered.

“To avoid the busiest times for farms and factories, school starts in September!”

“Really?”

“Yeah! The reason the season starts in September is the same. Europeans see the start of the year in September.”

“I see.”

“Hmm… It seems like you’re not listening properly? Be careful or you’ll get scolded by your sister!”

My sister, huh.

I patted Gyeouri’s tiny head. Perhaps because she was taller than me in January, her head was right at a good height to pat.

“Ah! Don’t mess up my hair!”

While I was bickering with Gyeouri and walking, a school-like building came into view.

Since I chose Dortmund Kant Gymnasium, which is close to the stadium, we arrived at the school quickly.

“Ugh… I’m nervous. What if the kids bully me?”

Just moments ago, she was a fearless little pup, but now Han Gyeouri displayed the awkwardness of a nerd in front of the Gymnasium.

“If they say anything to you, just tell me. I’ll handle it.”

I lightly wrapped my arm around Gyeouri’s shoulder, comforting her as we entered the classroom. The school took into consideration that there were no Asian students, assigning both me and Gyeouri to the same class.

I smiled at Gyeouri, who swallowed nervously, then slowly opened the classroom door.

“We’re here! It’s Ho-woo!”

“Wow! You’re really the new transfer student Ho-woo!”

“Ho-woo!! Ho-woo!! Ho-woo!!”

I was barraged with requests for handshakes.