I Thought I Was A Devil

Season 7 Chapter 15

Victoria: Anne! How can you be so careless! (Her voice was mixed with concern and frustration)

Me: (I looked down making guilty expressions) I am sorry….I didn’t wanted to ruin the match….I was in a hurry in the morning, and the stairs were wet, the next moment I know, I was laying on the floor. (I said biting my lower lip while lying through my teeth as I watched their expressions drop, worry spreading across their faces as they glanced at each other.)

Julie: Its fine Anne. Accidents happen, your recovery is our first priority. (She hugged me warmly)

Me: Thanks, Captain. (I smiled returning her embrace.)

Lotte: (she hugs me tightly while crying) Sis! Please don’t die! I would be a good kid!

Me: (I hugged her back) Please don’t kill me with your words. (I said pulling her cheek)

Lotte: Ouch!....(she pouts)

Choon Hee: But….(She frowned while looking stressed) Who will replace Anne for this match?

Christina: Right….the match is right around the corner. (She bit her nail, feeling anxious)

Jules: What do you mean by ‘who'? Its not like we have lots of options in hand. (She shrugged) Of course we have only one extra player.

Irina: Bella. (She sighs looking back)
Christina: Of course. (She says as her eyes meet Bella's eyes.)

Bella stood there, gaze lowered, shivering with fear as all eyes focused on her, hoping for some sign of confidence.

Victoria: (she rubs her forehead frustrated) You really needed to injure yourself right before the match.

Me: It feels like you are saying that I did this on purpose. ( I said with a hint of sarcasm)

Victoria: (hesitates) I didn’t mean that….but you know….(she sighs rubbing her forehead) What now?

Hope: Don’t worry Victoria, I am sure we will make it. (She tried to sound optimistic.)

Victoria: (She sighs deeply, trying to find some comfort in Hope’s words) I really hope so, Hope. This match is crucial, and I’m just worried about the pressure on Bella.

Bella: (She looks up nervously, her voice barely audible) I…I’ll do my best. I promise.

Choon Hee: Hm….but Bella….would she be able to do it? (She murmured, doubt creeping in.)

Irina: (she scratches her head in disbelief) What if she messes up like last time?

Hope: Irina! (She frowns, disapproving)

Irina: What?! Am I wrong? (She pouted defensively)

Christina: I mean….exchanging an Ace player with a…..weak player. (She hesitates unsure regarding the situation.)

Julie: Enough guys! Stop demotivating Bella! (She says folding her arms and frowning) Bella has been working equally hard, as each one of us, and have improved a lot over the months!

Irina: I mean….We just don’t want to pressurize her….(she sighed feeling conflicted.)

Maria: I am sure she will do well. (She smiles trying to encourage Bella)

Jules: Yup! Bella is our rock star! (She grins)

Bella: (She hesitates, her eyes darting between our expectant faces.) I-I have some work to do... (she stammers, clutching her bag tightly. Without another word, she turns and rushes out of the school premises, never looking back.)

Victoria: (Watching Bella run off, she sighs and turns to the rest of the group) Great, just great. Now she’s more freaked out than ever.

Julie: (Sighs) We really need to be more supportive, guys. Pressuring her like that won’t help.

Hope: (She nodded in agreement.) Julie’s right. We need to have faith in Bella. She’s stronger than she thinks.

Irina: (She rolled her eyes) I’m just being realistic. We can’t afford to lose this match.

Victoria: (Crosses her arms) That’s why we need to stop pushing her over the edge. She’s our only hope right now. Anyways, I am leaving. (She says picking up the bag, ready to leave)

Maria: (she raises her brow) You are leaving as well?

Victoria: (shrugs) Is there anything useful here? We are going to lose anyway. (She said glancing at me for a second) I pray for your speedy recovery.

Christina: Victoria! How can you say that?! (She hissed, shocked.)

Victoria: Did I say anything wrong? (She rolls her eyes) All our handwork went down the drains, and who's fault is it?

Irina: What do you mean?....(she says raising her brow)

Victoria: (shrugs) It was our fault that we became lazy. Now there is no turning back. (With that, she walked off.)

Julie: Guys, are you going to give up even before trying? (She bit her lower lip frowning)

Christina: Cap, Victoria isn’t wrong though, its quarter finals. We can’t take any chances. (She says picking up her bag feeling frustrated)

Choon Hee: (she sighs rubbing her forehead) This is tiring. (She says before walking towards the track field.)

Julie: (Looks at the remaining team members with determination) I know this is hard, but we can’t just give up now. We’ve come too far to let one setback ruin everything.

Me: (Feeling guilty, I lower my head) I’m really sorry, guys… I never wanted this to happen.

Hope: (Places a reassuring hand on my shoulder) Anne, it’s not your fault. Accidents happen. Maybe we just need to some time to clear our minds. (She says shrugging)

Irina: (Sighs) I am out of here. Hope are you coming with me?

Hope: Yeah….(she looks at us) Sorry guys, maybe we should discuss this tomorrow. (She smiles faintly before leaving with Irina)

Ratree: Now that everyone is leaving, I also have some work to do. (She says hesitating) Anyways, even the coach is not around, looks like she has given up already.

Lotte: Sorry sis….(she glances at me while feeling guilty) I need to go home early today. (She says waiting for my approval, as I nodded slowly.)

Julie: (Watches as everyone starts to leave, her determination faltering) This… isn’t how it’s supposed to be. (her eyes were filled with tears) We’re supposed to be a team. Why is this happening?.....

Me: (I stood quietly, watching everyone walk away. When the last of them had gone, I approached Julie with a smirk.) I wish, tears could fix broken vases.

Julie: ( she wiped away the tears quickly, and regained her composure as she looked at me with determined eyes) You are right, tears can’t fix broken vases. (She looks away) Don’t worry, I will do something regarding this situation, I would give you a chance to complain.

Me: (I moistened my dry lips hearing her words.) So, you are finally going to take responsibility? (I scoffed, my words stinging as I saw her resolve harden)

Julie: After all, I have taken this position. If I fail, I will step down. (She said this firmly before walking off.)

Jules: (she whispered in my ear) Uhm Anne, don’t you think that you kind of overdid it? (She sighed)

Me: Did I?....(I murmured to myself while watching her walking out of the school premises) Well whatever. (I said shrugging my shoulder.)

Though I maintained a calm exterior, my conscience gnawed at me, knowing I might have pushed Julie too far. Yet, it was necessary to provoke her. She has far more potential than she realizes, but her self-doubt has eroded her confidence, affecting the entire team. I stood there, hands in my pockets, my expression unreadable, when I noticed Maria approaching.

Maria: (she stands beside me, with a frown over her face.) After everything you went through to achieve your purpose. Why did you let go at the end moment?

Me: (I smiled innocently) I don’t know what you are talking about.

Maria: (she grabs my collar, gritting her teeth) Don’t beat around the bush. I know you better than anyone else. (Her eyes shimmering with tears for a second.) You think that I don’t know that you did this on purpose?! (She said glancing at my injury)

Me: Jeez, I am sorry. (I laughed shamelessly. Somewhere in my plan, I knew Maria would be hurt, but I still ignored her feelings, and I know there was no point in apologizing now.)

Maria: (she hits my chest while holding back tears) Why the fuck did you let them ruin your plan after going through so much?! Why didn’t you say anything when they were crushing Bella's confidence?!

Me: (I sighed holding her close) Calm down. You know me. (I smiled)
Maria: (she wipes her tears) I do….but I don’t understand why…

Me: Why should I? (I rolled my eyes) Its not my responsibility, it is Julie's responsibility.

Maria: (she scoffs) Julie? I am sure she went back home to cry.

Jules: Maria! (She bites her lower lip, uneasy)

Me: Maria. (I said with a serious expression) Julie isn’t as weak as you think of her. She might be soft, but she is not weak. (I turned towards the empty field, as I stared at it with lonely eyes) Anyways, I won’t be here forever to take care of them, right?

Jules: What are you even talking about?....(she was taken aback)

Me: That is life, no one is here forever. (I said glancing at Jules) At the end, you need to learn to walk alone.

To be continued...