A Hate-Love Relationship || TypeTharn

5: Freshie Contests and a Rumor #2

The day of our football match arrives faster than anticipated. The hours till the D-day draining away like water in an unclogged bathtub.

We smoothly crush most of our competition and reach the finals stage against the Engineering department team within no time. The crowd hollering at the start of the match is huge, hysterical and spurred on by the enthusiastic cheering squad. Although, standing near the area set up for our team, I've got my eyes trained on the raised seats ignoring all the commotion to check for a certain music major.

"Ai'Type, what are you doing?" Techno throws a hand over my shoulder and leaning to my side.

"Nothing." I mutter, turning away. It's stupid and completely irrational to expect Tharn to drop by for the game. He never promised either, so what exactly am I doing waiting for him?

Focusing on the last minute tips and 'Susu na' from our seniors, we break the huddle and enter the pitch at the coach's signal. Opposite from us, our rivals stand dressed in black to our blue code, each of them easily reaching close to my height and build. Fierce scowls kept breaking on all our faces and it is no mystery why. The seniors of both teams are getting angsty, the fate of this match and screaming viewers, the only barriers keeping them from jumping at each other's throats. I divert myself from the tension rolling through my body by glancing at the opposition seniors instead. Something tells me I'll be seeing them often if I choose to accept the pending offer to partake in our official faculty team. Techno has also been handpicked, so I just might say yes.

The whistle pierces the charged air and then I'm darting with everybody else, running after the coveted ball to score a goal. I pay due diligence to my surroundings, score a goal or two, curse more than that and shift a glance towards the packed stadium whenever there is a lull in the game. It takes the third time when the game is interrupted by the referee to yell at a foul that I see him. Nestled in a corner dedicated to our supporters with probably his gang is Tharn, paying rapt attention and immediately perks up when I make eye-contact. I grin, the vague disappointment churning in my gut vanishing at the proof, Tharn did come to watch me play.

I don't run so much as blaze through the obstacles in the aftermath, snatching another point right from under engineering players' noses for my team. It is true what people say, we perform better when there is someone we know around to support us in our endeavors. Tharn cheering for me (and our team) is an added motivation for me to show off my hard-earned skills. Finally, an opportunity to impress my astounding roommate with my stellar performance.

~

We win the match.

Once our teammates and seniors yell themselves hoarse and finish behaving like toddlers, I tune back to search for Tharn. But by then, he's already gone. Not really surprising since half the stadium emptied out, the remaining half in the process of evacuating in smaller groups.

Of course, he didn't stick around. There is no need for him to do that. I'll see him back at the dorm. Still, I would've liked it if Tharn came by to congratulate me in the field. A perfect way to introduce him to my (definitely gawking) team and Techno, who has now taken the approach of insisting there is no way Tharn is genuinely amazing as I make him out to be. I guess, he needed to tell himself that to deal with his issues.

We head out to grab free dinner courtesy of exuberant seniors and I again remind myself, Tharn went out of his way to attend the game. It isn't fair to hold against him for not wadding through the wild horde to greet me. Tharn had expressed how he might not make it for my game due to prior engagements. So, I'm glad he came in the first place.

When I eventually mentioned the other night about my match and exchange with P'Kong, Tharn had been quietly supportive of my decision to not participate in the campus Moon contest. Apparently, he had been selected to represent the Music faculty. Big shocker! I won't be surprised if Tharn wins the title of campus Moon. There is no one more deserving or worthy in my opinion.