Project Bata

Chapter Twenty-one: Game for Twos or Three

"Be Ronaldo babs," I kept on mumbling to myself as he run, dribble and pass the ball for hours now.

This is my first time seeing a game in two years since I quit playing soccer. The team was doing good in the first half of the game. I never saw Vann being so serious, there wasn't even a trace of mirth or fun in him when he's playing. Vanness being the captain ball of the team had its downgrade, don't mean to judge my guy but it seems like he's just playing by himself. I could see Kei and Leo being worked upon the situation. Although our team was on the lead, they shouldn't be so lax on the game.

Since I was just one bleacher away from the bench where the team is, I could sense the tension building up within their area. I feel like Vanness is not in his best self-today. I just don't feel right. Or was I just overthinking, again?

Pep squad being noisy and pumping the crowd out. To be honest, they were just a distraction for the players. The crowd itself is as noisy as it can be, added with the high pitched yell from the squad-- that'd be a great distraction and attention seeker at its finest. But hey, to each is whom.

The sun was setting, the game was intense given that this is the championship, crowds were betting and shouting for their biases.

"Go, Vann!" I heard for the nth time, it surprisingly irked me. Why does she have to shout it like a cat looking for a mate? I shook my head, dismissing these unnecessary thoughts and focused on the game, I focused my attention on Vann.

I saw him, looking at someone from my far right side of the bleachers. Must be parents, or the pep squad that's annoyingly shouting. Finally, Vanness caught my gaze, I grinned and waved like a lunatic at him. Pumping my fist, mouthing "Go, bab." He looked good in his maroon and white jersey, sweating but sexy.

He gave me a curt nod. I could feel the coldness in his gesture, it might be the pressure of the game and his graduating teammates getting on him. Yes, that might be it. I knew how it feels to be the captain ball and all that responsibility, that just might be it. I was bitting my bottom lips as my unwanted thoughts kicked in. I close my eyes and counted repeatedly. Calming and chanting to myself

Everything is fine Vanessa.

You're fine.

We're fine.

As open my eyes, I saw the jersey Number 04 kicked the ball, towards the goal, the ball rolled passing the Goalie's clutching hands.

0 - 2

Vanness kicked the second goal! I immediately rose up from where I was seated and jumped. Pumping my fist, "YES!" My schoolmates were chanting our Team name Greyhounds. The mascot showed himself and run across the field as soon as the game was over. I saw the team run towards Vanness, dragging him to the ground. Confetti was blown up out of nowhere, everyone was shouting and laughing.

I, on the other hand, see everything in slow motion. I could feel every emotion, as waves of flashback came crashing in. This was the same exact event where I won, we won, my team won in a championship. Not the month, not the same time really, but the grandstand-- the event, especially. Everything was perfect, it creeped me out that everything was going so smoothly on that day. Then after announcing the winners, everybody was pumped up for a celebration, and after the event-- in the locker room. I was pulled out by my father's colleague and tell me the dreading news. After the news, drastically, my life changed forever, it had always been dull and gray-- until Vanness came along.

"Van!" I was awakened from my little reverie when I saw Macki. Waving at me, "Congratulations! I told you so!" I shouted back at him.

"Locker room!" I scrunched up my nose and shook my head. I could see him rolled his eyes and motioned his head towards the locker room again. Before I could even say anything he dashes off towards the dugout where the locker room is located. As I followed Macki's direction, I saw Vanness and one of the pep squad member-- Ms. Populatsy.