Music To My Ears | 2gether Short Stories

Taking The Shot - Chapter 01

A/ N : Thank you for supporting me always and for reading this. I know nothing about soccer so I can't guarantee accuracy. Please consider them the right rules in an alternate universe 😅😅

***

"There's confusion in the Knights' ranks with conflict surfacing between their forwards. The Falcons have seen the gap and they're swooping in. And the Falcons SCORE with less than 5 minutes of play left. Infighting has cost the Knights an unforgivable goal.

I'm surprised the forwards are still on the field and not benched. As a Knights fan, I can't imagine you're a happy man right now, Derek."

"I'm gutted, Pullman. This is not the first or even the tenth time that Number 21 and Number 88 have faced off despite being on the same team. They may have the lead, but chinks are showing in the Knights' armour."

"Let's not miss what's happening on the field right now - 21 is flying across the green - a beautiful back pass from number 14, Mike Chance - a clean receive - 21 is dancing with the ball - can he make that angle - it's nearly impossible - yes he can AND 21 SCORES!

With that spectacular goal, Wynter Opas wins the match and the UFL Cup for the Knights on their home ground. Derek, you can switch your mic back on."

"Am I allowed to curse, because Goddamn! This is one of those goals that will break the replay button.

As a lifelong fan of the Knights, I couldn't be happier, Pullman. It's moments like these that every soccer lover lives for. That was poetry in motion, a perfect execution."

"The Knights have had one of their best runs ever this season, Derek. A stellar defense and an offense that has decimated the opposition in every single match they've played this season. And for the first time ever, the Blue Ribbon for the highest goals scored will be shared between two players."

"Indeed, Pullman. Number 88, Gulf Kanawut and Number 21, Wynter Opas have outplayed the competition by a mile. But there's a lesson or two in sportsmanship that they would do well to learn."

*

In the Knights' dressing room, Gulf stood with his head bowed before their fuming coach.

Coach Aof didn't pull any punches as he tore into one of his best players.

"That was disgraceful. Stealing passes from each other? Forcing the defenders to run plays that had nothing to do with the Falcons and everything to do with which one of you fuckers gets the ball?

I don't count today's match as a victory at all. It was a loss for sportsmanship."

Gulf's ears burned with shame but he didn't entirely regret his actions. He was a stubborn man with an obsessive need to be the best. He had clawed his way through life to get to where he was.

And he wasn't about to let anyone take what was his. Especially not him.

"I apologize for hijacking the defense plays, Coach. But I won't apologize for reclaiming my ball from that thieving son of a bitch" said Gulf, gritting his teeth.

Coach Aof sputtered with rage.

"I've had it with your petty rivalry with Opas. You're lucky the management sees you as an asset. If it were up to me, I'd have kicked you both off my team long ago."

Gulf's heartbeats rose in alarm and a bead of sweat trickled down his temple. "I'm sorry, Coach. I truly am. Please don't bench me. You know me, you know what being a Knight means to me."

Coach Aof took a deep breath to calm himself. He had scouted Gulf as a raw talent many years ago and taken him under his wing.

When the time came, he'd stuck his neck out to bring Gulf to the Knights and Gulf had never failed him.