RE: Keep it in the Family (Secret Class) 5 — The First Goal

Daily life carried on without change. It had settled into a standard routine for me. Rise in the morning, grab breakfast, hit football practice, head home for lunch, more football drills, dinner time, evening football session, then bed. Wash, rinse, repeat. My leftover time went toward studying and flipping through books. Every now and then, I'd hang out with Mia and Su Ah, but the younger one wasn't exactly eager to join in.

Now at seven years old, I'd grown more self-reliant, yet not fully able to call all my own shots. My parents chose a private school for me, and I had no complaints—in fact, I welcomed it. Public schools often brought too many distractions, while private ones provided better order and strictness.

I stood a few inches taller, with my frame developing some. I sported the build of a pint-sized sports star. My features stayed soft and pretty, which annoyed me. I disliked appearing adorable, but I figured puberty would reshape things thanks to my genes.

With any luck, I won't turn into some flower boy type. Picturing myself as a K-pop idol with flawless hair and makeup was beyond me.

True to form, my folks held nothing back on my schooling. The academy I joined ranked among the elite in the region, and it lived up to the hype. Top-notch facilities, expert teachers, kids from wealthy backgrounds—it felt like an exclusive enclave for the elite young.

From Rio's slums to Seoul's elite academies.

It seemed destiny handed me a total flip in status right from the start. Back then, I only hit peak fame on the front pages. For football training, I signed up with a local grassroots team. They were solid, and the coaches knew their stuff.

Still, my sights were set much higher, just like Dad's.

He had connections to big names—and those folks could dial up the perfect contacts when chances popped up.

A shot at the Youth League.

Yeong Gu aimed to get me into one of the nation's premier football academies. Regrettably, open trials waited until summer break. A few months to go.

Meanwhile, I geared up for my debut official match—a school friendly. Nothing thrilling; just parents, sibs, and kin watching. Enough people to give it a real-game vibe.

Suryong Private School pitted against another elite academy. Both squads featured U-10 players. I was the lone seven-year-old on ours. Watching my teammates warm up, I cringed with vicarious shame. Some messed around, others cracked jokes and giggled, a few just lounged chatting with pals.

Friendly or not, I couldn't tolerate that sloppy mindset.

"Hey, guys!" I shouted their way. They looked puzzled, turning to me. "We're up for a match—shouldn't we concentrate on prepping?"

Teammates swapped looks, then the square-jawed crew-cut kid piped up. "We're only facing some noobs, why sweat it? We'll crush them easy."

"Even against a weak side, never underrate the foe." I countered. "Approach every game like it's the title decider."

The team chuckled and sniggered. "Okay, okay, whatever the little kid says." The boy remarked, eye-roll included.

I scowled at his patronizing vibe. "Fine, suit yourselves." I shot back, spinning away.

I got they weren't buying into me, but that suited me fine. If they chose laziness, no point wasting breath on conversions.

Truth be told, dropping knowledge on them was pointless, like training a pup to talk. They were mere children at heart. I avoided playing the smart aleck unless I backed it up on the field.

Versus kids not yet ten?

Oh, the mighty's tumble.

xXx

Eun Ha's POV:

Yeong Gu, Eun Ha, and their two girls mingled with the parents and sibs awaiting kickoff. Yeong Gu sported a black suit and tie; Eun Ha a plain dress. Her stunning looks drew plenty of eyes, broadening Yeong Gu's pleased grin.

Su Ah wore a dull scowl, uninterested in the match. She tagged along for Jae-il's sake, but her focus wandered. Mia showed little care too, absorbed in Dad's phone game.

The whistle pierced the air, match underway as teams lined up.

One side donned blue kits with red side stripes; the other white jerseys and blue shorts.

"Our Jae-il is adorable out there!" Eun Ha gushed, spotting her boy trot to midfield center, number 9 gleaming on his blue back.

Yeong Gu laughed at her excitement. "Can't wait to watch him shine." He noted warmly. "I've caught his practices. Coaches call him a prodigy."

Su Ah eyed Dad, face neutral. "Is he really that skilled?" A hint of playful doubt lingered.

"Absolutely!" Eun Ha boasted. "My precious angel excels at all he touches!"

Mia stayed mum, eyes locked on the screen.

Kickoff from blues: a plump short kid took it, dribbling ahead before two foes swamped him, ball lost. Whites surged on counter, strikers blowing by mids.

Jae-il's mates struggled to track, chaotic and uncoordinated.

The plump kid, back defending, tried aiding.

"Defense! Defense!" He bellowed.

His yells ignored as whites pierced defense, blasting goalward.

"Goal!" A parent jumped, applauding as the shot whizzed past the keeper's dive into net.

Cheers erupted; scorers celebrated.

Blues looked downcast across field—frustrated, bored, or indifferent. Save the seven-year-old, face stoic.

Joo Won, the plump one, shrank red-faced. Team error, but his giveaway stung—parents watching.

"Don't sweat it." Jae-il clapped his shoulder passing leisurely. "Plenty of time to equalize."

Joo Won nodded, repositioning fast as play resumed. Teammates lacked his hope, deflated, on the verge of quitting. What else from casual kids, not club pros?

Blues kicked off anew.

Eun Ha's hype dipped quick—team trailing early. "Oh dear! Our boy's side is behind!" She wailed.

Yeong Gu soothed her hand. "Relax. Time left to flip it." Confidence rang clear.

Eun Ha nodded eagerly. "Fingers crossed." Eyes back on field, she cheered mutely for Jae-il.

Whistle. Ball nudged back to Suryong's lanky mid, panicking under white shirts' rush. He blasted it wild forward.

Jae-il ahead watched the errant pass arc to foes' defense. Amateurs, he mused, sighing inwardly.

No dash—instead, smooth glide, legs blurring controlled, snagging the botched clearance from defender misreading the lofty ball. It dropped neat to Jae-il's feet, drawn by fate.

Two whites pounced, bulk trying to trap him. Square-jaw teammate yelled, "Pass it, Jae-il! Pass!"

Ignored. Not ego—smart play. Passing to them? Too risky.

Shoulder drop feint left toppled one; other dove, but Jae-il vanished, ball stuck to boot in fluid quick shift right-to-left foot, threading the tight squeeze.

Crowd buzzed softly. Yeong Gu leaned in, eyes sharp.

Open field now, Jae-il scanned. Teammates loped, shocked he held it. Foes' line pushed high, cocky.

Striker—square-jaw—jogged lazily, dutiful. Through-ball possible, but control and finish? Doubtful.

Nope. My goal.

Speed surged, tiny build hiding leg power. Ball adhered to studs, dodging mid's wild slide.

Hop over leg, ball flicked up outer boot, resettling seamless. Pure grace from endless drills—a lifetime's worth.

Final defender, tall and awkward, blocked keeper path.

Nerves showed in wide eyes. Jae-il neared, burst speed faking right-foot shot. Defender bit, off-balance. Jae-il sole-dragged back, spun past, faced keeper solo.

Brave keeper charged. Jae-il calm, no thunder. Gentle chip arced over dive, hung slow, tucked net-back soft.

Hush fell.

Eun Ha's ecstatic scream shattered it. "JAE-IL! MY ANGEL!"

Yeong Gu applauded, grin wide and paternal. Su Ah peeked from phone, brow arched. Mia halted game, gaze on bro.

Field: teammates gawked open-mouthed. Square-jaw stunned most. Joo Won grinned ear-to-ear.

Foes dazed—wrecked by one wee seven-year-old pro.

Grown-ups stunned too, soccer buffs most.

“Who’s that kid?”

“Saw that move?”

“Fluke, huh?”

“......”

Jae-il jogged center, face blank, inner grim thrill flickering. No thrill crushing kids in his lifeblood sport, but options?

Sandbag like a fool?

Restart. Whites cautious, double- triple-marked Jae-il. Pointless.

Ball near? He claimed it. Heavy press? Turned it back, burst free. Passes, when given, pinpoint perfect—teammates fumbled them often.

So, goal two.

Deep own half, scooped loose pass. No rush—dribbled head-high, pulling foes in.

Three closed: flawless , ball physics-bending round legs.

Then split two more, chased own rebound off mate's shin (planned?), twenty yards unleashed.

Not thunderous—kid frame. But curled top corner, keeper flailed vain.

2-1.

"See that? That's my boy!" Eun Ha bounced, clutching Yeong Gu's arm.

"He's... decent." Su Ah admitted, genuinely taken aback.

Teammates eyed Jae-il awe-struck, wary. Ball out, square-jaw approached.

"H-hey, Jae-il…" Stuttered, arrogance vanished. "That was... amazing. How?"

Jae-il eyed him. "Work your positioning. Ball on me? Smart run."

No pause—headed for throw-in.

First half rolled same: foes erred frustrated, coach's yells futile vs. Jae-il's wizardry.

Third goal: halfway slalom past four, slotted calm past keeper.

Fourth: lured defense, simple layoff to lumbering Joo Won open. Shocked, he poked it home.

Joo Won near-tears joy, Jae-il's pro pat fired him up.

Halftime whistle: 4-1. Jae-il's trio goals, one assist.

Off pitch, sweat flick wiped, family spotted.

Eun Ha waved wild. Yeong Gu thumbs-up, proud nod. Su Ah smiled real small. Mia waved faint.

Teammates trailed silent, glancing at game-changer kid.

Square-jaw alongside. "Jae-il… you're nuts."

Shrug. They couldn't fathom. Child's play to him—fun even. A mere beginning. Tiny stride to stadium roars, fierce battles, glory reclaimed—and topped.

For now, shredding U-10 schoolies sufficed.