Chapter 62 - 60: Unreliable Goal

Chapter 62: Chapter 60: Unreliable Goal

Lately, Suk’s main focus had been eating and training.

Following the previous match against the Sarajevo Railway Workers, Suk had become even more anxious, and his training volume had increased significantly.

Not only did he participate in the team’s group training, but he also did extra sessions on his own.

Of course, he couldn’t touch Power training yet; he had to ensure he could still grow.

Suk had a huge appetite, which meant he had good digestion and absorption.

The problem was, what was the point of eating so much if he wasn’t growing any taller?

After his last growth spurt, a full three weeks had passed, and his height remained stuck at 161 centimeters, showing no signs of changing at all.

The fitness coach, Hartbachi, told Suk to wait patiently. Growth wasn’t something that happened all at once; it came in cycles.

A boy’s growth period is during puberty, also known as the developmental stage.

It centers around the age of 18, with a window of about two years before and after.

Suk was currently 17, so he had at most three more years of growth. Before his bones fused, he still had a chance to get taller.

Moreover, Suk had been malnourished for a long time before, so he was advised not to be too hasty.

Suk knew Hartbachi was just trying to comfort him, but he still felt anxious. He had even considered folk remedies like ’changing his water’.

Suk’s anxiety about his height actually started to affect Modric.

Currently, Modric wasn’t very tall either.

Suk and Modric were pretty much the two shortest players on the team.

Suk was 161 centimeters.

Modric was 167 centimeters.

The crucial part was that Suk had already grown a full 10 centimeters, going from Modric’s neck level to somewhere near his temples.

At least he had already had a growth spurt, right?

But Modric showed no signs of growing at all.

"Does drinking milk make you taller?"

Modric asked, watching Suk down a glass of milk completely.

Suk answered decisively. "Yes! It definitely will!"

Modric nodded and quickly chugged his own glass of milk.

...

As November began, Mostar welcomed an early snow.

Fluffy white snowflakes began to fall in the early morning and didn’t stop until around noon.

In one morning, the entire town was covered in a silver-white blanket. Even the trees on the nearby hills were tinged with a white glow.

The Neretva River still flowed, turbulent and swift, carrying away snowflakes and bringing with it the chill from the mountaintops.

After leaving the city and entering the mountains around Mostar, Basstic, a reporter from *Bosnia and Herzegovina Movement*, put on a padded jacket. But even so, he could still feel the cold wind seeping through the gaps, making him very uncomfortable.

"What a desolate place!"

The once-beautiful town had become sparse with people on the streets now that winter had set in. The occasional sanitation worker and passing vehicle only served to make it feel even more desolate.

Basstic was here to film a feature on the "Mostar Twins." They had become figures of interest after defeating Sarajevo, and after their victory over the Sarajevo Railway Workers, *Bosnia and Herzegovina Football* finally made its move, contacting the club to produce a special interview.

"Let’s go. We need to hurry."

Basstic said to the assistant beside him. He wanted to finish the job as quickly as possible and get back to his own warm, cozy home.

When they arrived at Mistar Zlin Yiski, a staff member led them directly to the training ground.

Mostar Zrinjski’s financial situation was not good, so the entire training ground looked a bit dilapidated. However, the snow on the pitch had been swept completely clean.

And right now, the two teenagers he was about to interview were on the field doing some specialized training.

"Should I call them over?"

the staff member asked.

Basstic waved his hand. "No need. Let’s just start from here."

He believed this kind of footage would be a great, positive contribution to the show’s content.

Basstic took out a small camera, held it with one hand, and moved closer to start filming.

Sunlight, snow, sweat, puffs of hot breath, and rising vapor.

The scene created a very positive and uplifting atmosphere. Basstic couldn’t help but adjust the angle to make the shot look even more radiant.

Suddenly, he saw Suk, who had been juggling the ball, flick it up lightly, then turn sideways and unleash a powerful shot.

The ball shot straight toward him.

"AHH—!"

Basstic yelped in fright and fell right on his bottom.

Luckily, the ball hit the barrier fence and dropped. Otherwise, getting hit by that would have really hurt.

"Hey! What do you think you’re filming?"

Suk’s scolding voice rang out.

He ran over angrily. It was common for teams in the Bosnia and Herzegovina League to spy on each other for information.

But he’d never seen anyone so brazen as to run onto the training ground to film.

’This guy’s got some serious nerve!’

"Speak! Which team’s spy are you?"

Suk demanded.

Although his tone was serious, it had no intimidating effect when paired with his round, baby-fat cheeks.

At that moment, the staff member came over and quickly explained, "They’re reporters from *Bosnia and Herzegovina Movement*, here to interview you guys."

"An interview?" Suk was taken aback for a moment.

Only then did he remember that Head Coach Van Stiake seemed to have mentioned something about an interview.

Just then, Basstic also stood up. He dusted off his pants, checked the camera, and after seeing there was no damage, he said, "Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Basstic, a reporter for *Bosnia and Herzegovina Movement*. I scheduled an interview for this afternoon."

Suk turned his head to look at Modric.

"Did they tell us about an interview?"

Modric shook his head.

Suk looked at the staff member again, who explained, "The interview was originally scheduled for tomorrow. I didn’t expect them to arrive so soon."

With that, the staff member turned to Basstic and asked, "Shall we start now?"

Basstic nodded. "Let’s do it this afternoon."

After some discussion, they all went to the locker room, as they couldn’t find a better place for the interview.

Basstic set up the camera, aiming it at Suk and Modric, who were sitting side by side.

Modric seemed a little nervous in front of the camera, while Suk was full of curiosity, constantly looking around and asking questions.

"Are we going to be on TV?"

"Which channel?"

"Can you let us see it after you’re done recording?"

’Suk is so annoying,’ Basstic thought, ’constantly asking about this and that.’ In contrast, Modric’s quiet demeanor won him over.

"Could you be quiet for a moment? We’re about to start," Basstic told Suk.

Suk just pouted.

Then, in a gentler tone, he said to Modric:

"How about we start with you?"

Modric nodded lightly.

"What should I do?"

"Introduce yourself!"

Modric sat up straight, looked at the camera, and said, "Hello everyone, my name is Luka Modric. I’m from Croatia, and I currently play for Mostar Zrinjski Football Club."

After he finished, Basstic nodded toward Suk.

Suk said, "My name is Suk, like in Davor Suker. I’m a center forward, also from Croatia!"

Basstic took out his question cards and said,

"As the Mostar Twins, your seamless teamwork has brought the team victory after victory. Where did you two first meet?"

The moment he finished speaking, Suk scratched his cheek, looking a little embarrassed.

Modric, however, was smiling.

They both said at the same time, "On the Old Bridge!"

Basstic asked in surprise, "Was it a chance encounter?"

An image of Suk diving into the water surfaced in Modric’s mind, and his smile grew even brighter.

Suk, on the other hand, gave a dry cough and lightly kicked the leg of Modric’s chair.

Basstic captured this moment on camera and chuckled. "It seems like something interesting happened."

"Yes, very interesting!"

Modric gestured animatedly as he described what had happened back then.

Beside him, Suk looked completely mortified.

Basstic looked at Suk in surprise. This ’lively’ little fellow actually had such a tragic past.

"How did you get through those difficult years?"

Basstic asked.

Suk sighed in frustration and waved his hand. "First of all, I don’t think it was that hard. I was playing the football I love and slowly reaching for my goals. Although I did go hungry a few times, compared to the kids who lost their lives in the war, I’m already lucky. I have the right to chase my dreams and create a future."

Basstic said, "You are now a prodigious player in the Bosnia and Herzegovina Super League. Your performance determines the team’s wins and losses. Does this achievement make you feel proud?"

"This is just the beginning..." Suk said clearly. "I don’t feel proud, nor do I feel boastful. I still have many shortcomings, and there are many more things I want and dreams I haven’t accomplished. So I need to train even harder."

Basstic nodded. "Alright, then what is your goal?"

"The Champions League!" Suk said succinctly.

"To participate in the Champions League?"

Suk shook his head. "To win the Champions League!"

Basstic: "..."

He was stunned by Suk’s unrealistic goal.

’This kid is still playing in the Bosnia and Herzegovina Super League, and he’s already thinking about winning the Champions League? It’s the dream stage for so many players, but how many people actually get to win that title? I asked for his goal, not his dream! This isn’t the time for dreaming!’

Basstic turned to look at Modric. "And you?"

Modric was silent for a moment before saying, "To bring the first FIFA World Cup Trophy to Croatia!"

Basstic: "..."

’One is more unrealistic than the other!’