𝙈𝙊𝙍𝙀 𝙏𝙃𝘼𝙉 𝙀𝙉𝙊𝙐𝙂𝙃

Chapter 8

A month later, despite my best efforts to refuse to spin the ball, I couldn't help but take part, along with Fred, who came off ruffled because our father wanted to introduce me to all the coaches and members, but I'm placid somewhat more overwhelmed because of his enthusiasm for me or where I come from. It's as if he gave me exceptional treatment although it was my first day in the league, and I have to keep in mind that my hands are, however, sluggish given the amount of time I haven't been able to play.

Papa offered me a chance so I could show everyone what my real abilities were and whether I even belonged on the team. Unlike the prior ones, where I failed miserably, the rule for these tryouts was different. Because I don't even play soccer, my ability to hit the goal is constrained, and I can make sense of this. As soon as I had it in my hands, I tried to keep a clear mind, breathe smoothly, and focus solely on the shot. It felt like everything was barely moving when I threw the ball. I've simply been thinking to pray that I don't miss because when that happens, it's like I buried myself in humiliation in front of my father.

After that three-point shot, I easily made some friends on the team unexpectedly, but I knew that Fred was however enraged with me for abandoning everybody in the early part of the game. I understood that there was a problem. "Hey, bro? Why did you leave? Coach has still not dismissed us yet. And thereafter, when he confronted me, I was no longer surprised by his rough looks at me, as if he were about to burst out with so much remorse: "Go ahead! "I'm not wanted here anyway—I dismiss myself so you can be the hero."

They will never accept me, but it got me thinking that perhaps they may sooner or later accept the situation that I am in. Hence, I didn't pressure everyone to embrace each other's presence out of compassion for their emotions and our peace, and I am optimistic that a time will come when we'll all be receptive and able to do the latter.

One day I happened to see Nikko and his girlfriend at the shop getting his car fixed. Nikko was wandering around the area, and I couldn't help but keep an eye on him. Perhaps not convinced? He raised this concern openly about the extra help I gave them. His arms crossed as he affirmed, "The shop is nice—the ambiance is warm and inviting, pristine, and yet remarkably technologically advanced—but why are you here and trying to interfere with my car repair? Are you short-staffed?" I knew to myself that, about the shop's service, he had something else he wanted to convey to me that I must not pertain to, not with him. I went on to say anything just to clear the air between us. "Well, there are few staff working with us here at the shop—and since I fully understand how to repair cars, I'm offering to help as well, so I know we can patch up this ride of yours in no time." Nikko suddenly walked right up to me, his nose fuming in frustration, "You think you can fix that? It doesn't look like that's your forte!"

I was able to contain Nikko's rage enough to know that he was about to punch me in front of his girlfriend, but fortunately, she interfered and assisted him out of the shop to wait for his car to be fixed up. Without having to wait for the repairmen to finish, I left straight away without bringing myself back to either of them. However, in a shocking sort of situation, I happened to spot Nikko's girlfriend strolling by herself away from the shop, and I decided to stop by even though she was certainly waiting for a taxi. "Hi? Aren't you Nikko's girlfriend? Where is he? He just had his car fixed at the shop; why did he disappear all of a sudden?" She turned her head away, and I could tell she was reluctant to speak to me about what had taken place, leaving her on the side of the busy road. Perhaps she wasn't quite specific about whether she should say things to me, either. Then, out of nowhere, she hopped into my car and came off struggling to get away from someone as she began looking at both sides of the vehicle. "Could you take me home instead? I don't know where he went; he just left me, and it's taking forever to catch the bus."

It's shocking that Nikko simply abandoned her on the streets for no reason. I agreed to take her home because I wouldn't act in ways that would disrespect or intimidate a woman like my half-brother likes to do. However, because I was momentarily oblivious to the circumstances, I didn't even realize that I honestly didn't know where their residence was. We spent hours driving around the town and the city center before she soon implied that I take her to the nearest shopping mall.

I had no idea when we went together to the mall that we would run into Nikko and yet another woman with him. Probably, his girlfriend has a sneaky suspicion about what will lie ahead, so she proposed we go to the mall for a second; we didn't know where to go. I was perplexed after I saw Nikko, who was with the lady I had been accompanying, and now he was with somebody else.

His girlfriend and I were seated directly across from them as if he couldn't even see us, and the girl seated beside him kept making seductive remarks at him, calling her a rather misogynistic worm, according to the person sitting next to me. Although my half-brother may indeed get incredibly angry with me, I guarantee him that this was not on purpose that I encountered Nikko's so-called infidelities and that he was just as narrowly focused as his girlfriend after he saw us.
 
And I shouldn't have interfered, not until Nikko's girlfriend grabbed my hand and we left together. He was surely angry at me, but my conscience is clear, and it was his choice to cheat and to be caught in the act. If this becomes the cause of our further issues in the family, there is nothing I can do but laugh at the things I've done, whether I have an unmistakable conscience or whether I'm that type of victim of a wrong recourse that they initiated.

I just let Nikko's girlfriend weep throughout the entire journey home. He had been caught in the act and was unsure if she would still be his girlfriend. She asked for my hankie to wipe away the tears she had wasted on the wrong person, so I thought I should introduce myself. I believed I had spent a few hours with her, I tried to get myself out of the situation, but I just couldn't bring myself to. "My name is Mike, and yours is? What's your name?" It was inappropriate to ask a girl her name while she was still crying when she was upset, especially if you knew the person who had wronged her or knew him for some other reason. She then took a deep breath and tried to wipe her eyes with the handkerchief I had given her. She then extended her hand to me and said, "Olivia Sandoval! I'm sorry if I came off as foolish and you felt bad. Nikko is my best friend rather than my boyfriend. I'm sorry, but it's just that I think we are, you know?" I can feel the shame in Olivia's voice when she confesses her naive state with Nikko, and in my opinion, she doesn't think of my half-brother as just a friend, if not worse than that.

Her idea was to spot Nikko's current romantic relationship. The situation made me laugh, and I just couldn't help it. I found myself thinking that if Nikko and I ever fall in love with her at the same time, we will argue over this, however, I don't believe I will consider it. We haven't seen each other or even spoken for a very long time since we first met in the shop, I am unsure of how Olivia gets along with Nikko. I'm curious about the things as a result of the notion of beginning to wonder about them: What makes Olivia like Nikko as a friend? that he doesn't even value her and doesn't give her respect even though they are friends. It's quite bizarre aspect to say or to abandon a girl to be with another girl at the same typical distance and day.

I suddenly started to miss my siblings. We all separated two years ago, and I'm curious how they are doing while being fostered by their grandparents in Italy, and whether Trev has eventually altered his course for the better. Since I now have the spare cash to call them for a lot longer, regardless of where they are in the world.