From My Love to My Life (MXM) (sequel to From My Enemy to My Love)

Chapter 33

Chet Watakeekul

There had been a lapse between the last regular game of the season and the first round playoff game. My birthday had come and passed. Vincent's birthday was coming up soon. I had still been busy getting ready for the upcoming wedding and playoffs. I was pretty sure we had everything ready for the wedding. We had a venue and officiator. All of the tuxes and dresses for our family and friends had been bought. Wedding & reception invitations had been sent out. We had a caterer, music, photographer and florist. We had found someone who could customize a dog collar and our florist also said they could make something for Goldie to be our flower girl. I was grateful for all the work my mom, Kanni and Arthur put into researching for us. Instead of Vincent and I having to research everything, they did it for us, narrowed down our options so all we had to do was choose.

This afternoon was the first round of the playoffs. I was already at the stadium, in the locker room trying to get my head in the game instead of on my impending wedding. We were playing at our stadium. Both my parents would be there and Vincent. Vince had paid for plane tickets to fly Dean and Antonio out to join them for today's game. They were only staying with us for two days this time. They planned on being here longer for our wedding.

More and more of my fellow teammates came in to get ready. Coach Juarez and the assistant coaches came in to go over strategies and a pep talk. A few of his words stuck with me as we headed out to the field. "Don't get complacent," he had said. "As soon as we get cocky and complacent is when we will lose." We had won all of our games against the team we were playing today, but we still needed to do our best. They needed to win here to move forward, but so did we. It would be embarrassing to lose in the first round of playoffs when the last two years we had at least made it to the western conference finals. We had lost the conference finals in the end both years, but I was determined that this year was going to be different. It was my first year as a designated player and I needed to prove that I was worth it, not only for my team and for the fans, but mostly to myself.

As we warmed up a little on the field, the stadium began to fill with the fans of both teams, but mostly ours. I saw my parents, Vincent's parents and Vincent in their usual seats next to Rusnak's family. They waved to me so I waved back then focused on soccer again.

The game started. We ran back and forth across the field, dribbling the ball, passing. The striker on the opposing team kicked the ball towards the goal. Alvarez managed to intercept and kick the ball towards me. I got it and dribbled it back to the other end of the field. Two defenders were on me. They hadn't realized yet that opening left Bradley open. I passed the ball through the two defenders to Bradley. He received it and kicked it towards the goal while the defenders desperately tried to intercept. The goalie dove for the corner of the goal, but wasn't fast enough as the ball slipped past him and hit the corner of the net.

The crowd erupted in cheers. As we were now in the playoffs, there were more people in the stadium and the cheers and chants were louder. I ran to Bradley and picked him up in celebration. The closest of our teammates surrounded us and joined in the celebrated hug.

We got back into the game and focused on now defending against the opposing team. The first half continued without either of us scoring a goal until the last minute when the opposing team managed to get one past our defenders and goalie tying the game.

During the halftime break, Coach Jaurez berated us, but mostly the defensive side, for losing their focus. We went over a few plays and strategies and then the second half started.

I wasn't going to let us lose this game and if the defensive end was slacking off, even if it was a little, that meant I needed to pick it up on the offensive side. Kamara dribbled the ball. I managed to put just a little bit of space between me and the defenders with the help of Bradley. Kamara passed the ball to me. I received it, quickly saw where the defenders and goalie were and kicked the ball. The goalie dove to intercept it, but was moments too late. The ball went past him and hit the net. We were now ahead 2-1.