The First Goal

Balancing Acts

Amel

I woke up with a better feeling, yet the confusion over my brief encounter with Barış lingered in my mind. Perhaps I was overthinking the whole situation; it was just a simple apology, after all. I needed to focus on what truly mattered—my upcoming interviews with the players.

Determined to shake off the nerves, I rummaged through my closet and chose a cute skirt I had bought just a few days ago. It was a step out of my comfort zone, but I wanted to feel confident and professional as I approached the players. I hoped the outfit would give me a boost of courage.

Arriving at the training facility, I made my way through the bustling atmosphere, feeling a mixture of excitement and anxiety. This time, I was just in time for my interviews since the boys had a team meeting scheduled right after practice. I took a deep breath, reminding myself that I was here to do my job, and I was determined to make the most of it.

As I set up my equipment, I caught sight of the coach, Okan Buruk, who seemed a bit annoyed by my presence. I pushed the unease aside, focusing instead on the task at hand. When practice began, I watched the players closely, eager to catch the energy of the team for my social media posts.

Finally, after speaking to all the boys one by one, it was time to take some pictures. As I was taking photos, Barış spotted me and nodded a quick hello. I smiled back, my heart fluttering unexpectedly.

Then, to my surprise, he made a "take a picture" sign with his hands and motioned for me to wait. I raised my camera just in time to see him take a running start, effortlessly shooting the ball into the goal. The moment was pure magic, and I managed to catch it on camera. The shot made me smile; it felt spontaneous and authentic. He glanced back at me, a friendly wink exchanged between us.

Why was he so cheerful all of a sudden? I shrugged it off, not wanting to read too much into it.

As I was packing up, Kerem came over and asked how everything was going. He seemed genuinely interested, offering me his number in case I needed anything. "You can always call me if you need help with the boys or anything else," he said, flashing me his trademark grin.

Just then, I noticed Coach Okan's scowl directed at me, and my stomach dropped. He approached me, arms crossed, an annoyed look etched on his face.

"Amel, we need to talk," he said firmly.

My heart sank. I had a feeling I knew what this was about.

"I don't like the way you're distracting the players, especially my star player, Barış," he continued, his voice steady but serious. "They're soccer players, not influencers. I think they're getting too caught up in this social media thing."

My smile faded instantly. "I'm sorry; I won't distract them again. Uhm, I'm going now, then," I said, feeling the weight of his disappointment.

"That would be for the best, yes," he replied, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I quickly packed my bags, glancing over at Barış as I left. He looked confused, his expression shifting from cheerful to concerned as I walked away without a smile on my face.

I couldn't help but feel deflated. Had I really crossed a line? I shook my head, pushing away the disappointment. Tomorrow would be a new day, and I had to focus on my goals, not the distractions around me.

But as I stepped outside, a lingering thought nagged at me: what would it take to truly connect with Barış, the man behind the fame?