Getting home, his apartment was cold and dark. He took his bath, turned on the TV and dozed off on the couch barely watching anything.
The next day was Sunday, he did his daily training task early in the morning, bought groceries in the afternoon and remained at home most of the day.
Bored out of his mind, he picked up his phone and called the girl.
Hello," she said.
"What will you be doing this evening?" Be replied.
"Who's this?"
"It's Lee Sung Min."
"Lee Sung Min.... hmm.... ohh!!!! You called! I will be doing nothing!"
"Then let's have that date today, I'm kind of broke, so I won't be taking you to anywhere fancy..."
"I'm broke too so I understand,"
"Then I will see you at the local restaurant by 7pm."
"Okay, see you."
"Goodbye"
Sung Min sat down in a local restaurant in the evening facing the young woman he met the day before.
"I didn't get to ask your name," Sung Min said.
"It's So Ra, Kang So Ra."
"That's a pretty name, I'm"
"Lee Sung Min, I know."
Sung Min takes a sip from the glass of wine in front of him, "It's a good wine,"
"So what do you do?" She asked curiously.
"I'm a professional footballer."
"Really?!" She gasped in surprise, "I love football!"
"Really?.. what do you like about football?"
"The fact that you have to work closely with others to be able to win, and its very unpredictable, makes my heart race sometimes."
"That's a pretty good reason, who's your favourite footballer?"
"Um... you." She said with a smirk.
Sung Min giggled, "You only learned that I was a footballer some seconds ago."
"Yup, and you're now my favourite." She replied, took a sip of the wine in the tumbler, "I'll ask you a better question, Messi or Ronaldo?"
"Messi."
"Ewww, Ronaldo is the goat!"
"Yeah, goat of youtube, the two retired years ago. Since I'm your favourite, who is the best player in Korea right now? Don't say me again."
"Umm.." She rubbed her finger on her jaw to think. "Taking you off the list, and even though Choi Kang Chi won Asia's best player award, to me, the best player is No Sang Sik."
"Him?.. why?"
"He scores lots of goals, scored 66 last season, already scored 30 this season."
"You know football isn't just about scoring goals right?"
"How do you win if you don't score?"
"Well, to score someone has to get the ball to you."
"Okay, I'm not about to argue with a professional footballer. Who though will you call the best footballer in Soutg Korea?"
"Righy now... Han So Lee, he's a player I'll love to play with."
"Why?"
"He sees passes even the gods in heaven won't see. The best playmaker around."
"Well, I think Han So Lee is cooler than him. What team do you play in?"
"Momyung Fc."
"Never heard of it..."
"It's in the second division,"
"I'll love to go to your next game, when is it?."
"Saturday."
"Okay, I'll be there!"
"Let's talk about you So Ra, what I it like being a nurse?"
"It has its good and bad sides."
"What's the bad side?"
"It's a very stressful occupation that leaves you with very little time for yourself."
"What's the good?"
"Seeing the faces of families when we tell them that their loved ones have been cured. That look of relief, mixed with happiness is always a joy to behold."
"I'll love to see something like that too"
"And you'll love it, how about you? What is the best part of being a footballer?"
"Scoring goals uses to be fun."
"Used to? They don't excite you anymore?"
"No,"
"Why?"
"I don't really know.."
"Well.... I think you need someone to play for, I will come to your next match, so, please dedicate your next goal to me."
"Hmm.. okay, I'll do that, give me a celebration for the goal."
Her eyes lit up the moment she said that and she leapt up to her feet, "Do this."
She jogged for a bit, jumped up and did the Siu celebration.
"Hell no," Sung Min said in disgust.
So Ra started to laugh, "It's the coolest!!"
"There's no way I'm doing that."
"Come on, it's the most iconic celebration in history."
"Nope." It's not, the most iconic celebration was when Messi scored against Real Madrid, pulled off his shirt, and held it up to the fans."
"Blah blah blah blah, let me think of something else," She pondered for a few minutes and then said, "after you score, run to the corner flag, the side where your supporters are and do this." She bowed down like a classical artist that just finished performing on stage.
"Why that?" Sung Min asked curiously
"Sometimes footballers get too egotistical that they forget that their primary job is to entertain the fans. Taking a bow is telling the fans that you are happy to be of service to them."
"Ohh... that's actually good."
"Yes, and I'll be there to witness your bow for the first time."
He then looked outside, it's gotten really dark.
"It's gotten dark, how far away is your house, should I get a cab?"
"No, it's close by,"
"Okay then," Sung Min got up to his feet, "I'll walk you home."
"I had a really good time today," She said as they walked side by side on the street.
"Me too... I think we should do this again."
"Yes, please!"
They finally got to the front door of her apartment, So Ra leaned in for a hug but kissed Sung Min on the cheek instead.
"Goodnight, and call me when you get home."
"Goodnight," Sung Min watched as she walked into the building, and then he said once more to himself.
"Goodnight, Kang So Ra."