As the car engine started, regrets from my past life resurfaced.
I remembered the night I was angry at my wife.
"I said I am sorry, okay? I know this day is important, but we cannot afford for the team to lose. We are so close to beating them now!"
"We already lost our son, and you are still obsessed with this game? You are stupid!!"
She screamed at me as I threw the dishes, grabbed my bag, and stormed out of the house.
After that, I did not go home for months. Only received the news. My wife had been robbed and killed.
It was my fault.
I was a jerk, Trash, a blind fool.
My obsession led to my son's death, and then my wife's.
But now, I had been given a second chance.
This time, I would put my family first. Above baseball. Above everything.
The car stopped in the driveway. it's MY house.
As I looked through the window, I saw the lights were on. And then I saw her.
My wife, Jessica.
She was smiling warmly as she prepared dinner, just like before everything fell apart. Not like the empty version of her after we lost our son in my previous life.
I rang the doorbell while holding Eun-woo.
She opened the door with a bright smile, greeting us happily. Not silently sitting at the table. Not waiting in sadness.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was warm.
Eun-woo was still asleep on the sofa until my wife gently woke him. Everything felt right.
This was the life I destroyed.
And this time, I would not be blind again.
After dinner and cleaning up, I spoke to both of them about the school transfer.
My son froze.
"What? I am transferring?" he asked in shock. "Then where will I go, Dad?"
"To your mother's old school. It is not that far from here. I will drive you there."
My wife looked surprised and worried.
"Honey, I thought you wanted to enroll our son here so he could further develop his baseball talent."
But
"No," I replied firmly. "Everything is not about baseball or softball. That school is not right for our son."
Eun-woo ran off crying.
My wife looked at me with frustration.
"You know he looks up to you, right? He wants to be like you. And now you just crushed his dream. What got into you?"
I stood up without replying.
I found my son in the training room, practicing his catches with the pitching machine we bought for him.
"Son," I said calmly, "my decision will not change."
Bang.
The ball echoed through the room as he stayed silent.
"I know what is best for you, and that school cannot give it."
Bang.
No response.
"Your mom's school also has a softball team. You can still play there."
Bang.
Still nothing.
"How about this?" I continued. "I will also apply to be the team coach there. I heard they have an opening. That way, we can still play softball together."
Bang.
Eun-woo finally removed his mask and walked toward me.
"If I go there," he asked quietly, "will I become a league champion like you?"
I smiled.
He really did look up to me.
"With me as your coach, we will be unstoppable. I promise."
He smiled slightly and ran away.
"Do not forget to turn off the machine, Dad! And I will not forgive you if you break your promise!"
Watching his back as he smiled was the best thing that had happened to me.
Do not worry, son.
I will keep my promise.
Because I am a
BASEBALL COACH WHO CAN SEE STATS.