Letters and Latte | Ryeji

23 - Scary

As ebullient as a peregrine falcon, a pair of meagre yet austere shanks were bustling and trotting all over the over scaled track field, the resolute hotfoot had sustained its pace within the third zone of the voluminous oval and its hasty tempo was cohesive which was utterly incredulous rather than the average performance in previous matches. Blowing a waft through the mouth, her chest upheaved.

Four days crawled by, yet it felt like an eternity. She was still in mixture of awe and delight.

The fresh buds creeping and unveiling the petals of tulips in the spring alongside with the swaying leaves in the gust of undefiled breeze in the afternoon where grasses kissing different miniature creatures danced along too. While the freeborn birds reposing upon a branch of the trunk were fruitfully voicing out their liberty, and singing their favourite melodies of happiness. And, the exuberance brought of fresh fields of spring conquered.

It was still winter, of course, however, the essence of the lighthearted spring, That was she was exactly feeling on that day, and until today. Maybe, for the long days in the middle of cold cold winter. Ryujin felt really warm.

"May I remind you we're athletes on soccer, not on track and field, captain." An approaching member hit a soccer ball towards her, causing to falter her movement.

"Holy—sorry!" Pulling herself into a converse, Ryujin emitted a radiant beam, acknowledging the presence of her teammate. She lowered herself, picking up the ball and did an overthrow pass to her.

The girl in her casual apparels, wearing a common neon green dry fit top and black jersey short and obviously just got out from shower, skillfully caught the ball through her chest, propelling it up by her right foot then gripped it inside both hands. Hyunjin parted her lips, definitely dumbfounded, seeing Ryujin unbothered against her inconsiderate call.

"It felt like I have to work out my limbs." Ryujin spoke, and adjourned the large pathway, tugging out the elastic band from her locks. The sticky sweat precipitated all over her face down to her legs were the proof of how long she had been putting herself into an punctilious undertow.

Several of flunked daily practices, incumbent routines and a single game were such a huge bereavement for the former captain. Though, she was authorised to show up her presence during those times. It was her own conviction that hindered herself from converging with her teammates, she believed it was for the better, getting distant from the entire team.

"How's Chaewon doing? The whole Cougars? Does she give everybody a hard time?"

Hyunjin inched few steps near her, and Ryujin scooted over the bench, jumping on the obstacles on her way. "Nobody beats your hardcore routines, Ryu. Chaewon is, well, not everyone is obliging."

Back in the old days, Ryujin was renowned for her systematised order of drills until today. Hence, despite the tough regimen, their coach perceived not just simply huge, it was rather an exceptional skill that Ryujin inherited which routed their force into the unceasing winning streaks in the long run.

"Coach had to interfere in the training often, unlike when you were the one in charge." A moment of brief silence reigned over the air.

It was an easy choice for the coaching staff to appoint Ryujin as the captain ball. But matter how phenomenal Ryujin was in everything she did on the sport even if she was the ripest and sweetest peach in the world, there was still some who would toss their rocks on the perfect fruit.

"They're just not used to the routine for the meantime. They'll grow with it, trust them." Ryujin assured her friend.

The midfielder joined her over the bench, letting out a frustrated sigh. "We have this new strategy and formation, 2-3-5. Yes, we're the best offensive team but seriously only three midfielders? I'm going to have asthma."