book life [c.h.].

Chapter 12

wrote this all during winter break (read a/n at the end please thank you)

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“Do you like soccer?” asked Calum as we both watched a group of kids kick the ball restlessly toward the goal, but missing miserably by a lot and ending up just striking through the field without any game plan.

We had ended up sitting at the top of a spectator stand since we’ve been walking in the sun for almost over four hours now, taking our time to examine every little part of that vintage city that we’ve already passed now. Just the thought of it made me miss the place and I felt hollow once again. But despite the fact that we’re no longer at that marvelous town, Calum and I have grown a lot closer together. Ever since our hands slipped passed each other’s for a split second, the world seemed to have disappeared and we’re the only ones left. We’ve also been aware of each other’s touches. Though along the way to the soccer field I always pass by to drag myself to my stupid job that I never intended to sign up for, which, when we passed by the library earlier today, I snarled in disgust, our shoulders were contacting each other’s. And we didn’t mind at all. Now here we are, sitting on a spectator stand that had been under a tree with a minor wind blowing our hair in our face once in awhile and our knees, shoulders, and arms had been tapping together; warmth had spread through those parts of my body even though the wind was breezy enough to get me cold.

“I use to play soccer,” I replied, though it had nothing to do with if I actually liked playing soccer or not. I quit after a few months because of a couple of bruises, but at that time, I was seven so I didn’t know that bruises were just something little. But I did enjoy beating other teams, then again, it wasn’t fun losing so I had to debate if I liked soccer of not.

“I guess I did,” I answered his question he supposedly asked me.

“Were you good at it? When did you quit? How long have you played soccer for?” Calum trampled me with inquiries. He seemed to be into soccer if he was prying me open to these questions that I had no idea would come out of his mouth in seconds after I mentioned I used to play soccer. It’s a good thing though; we have another thing in common besides sweets, which in fact, would probably be everyone’s thing. I mean, who hates sweets?

I didn’t know how to respond to the questions though, because I’m 18 and it’s been eleven years since I’ve played soccer. I can barely even remember what our team name was or even if I scored anything.

I opened my mouth to speak, but was soon interrupted by Calum’s booming voice. “Wait no, don’t tell me, we’ll just play soccer together and I’ll see how good you are.”

The idea surprised me, but I gave in after Calum begged to play. He just had to beg one time with that puppy face of his, shake my shoulder with his gentle touch, and I was already falling over benches to get to the ground. He was just too cute to deny anything.

Luckily, the kid’s had went away with their families a while ago and they left their soccer ball in the middle of the field. Calum picked up the ball and gave it to me. I stood there, not knowing what to do, but to lay it on the floor and kick it around. Now I felt like I’m the kid who was just thrusting the ball around without any plan. Though again, this was just for fun right? 

I positioned myself to a random stance that I did not recognize and jolt the ball, kicking as hard as I can without ripping my black tight jeans. Even though I had no idea what I was doing, the ball went straight to the goal. Calum came thrusting his body toward the ball, his hands extending as he jumped to block the soccer ball. I should’ve known Calum would use his muscular strength to prevent the ball from scoring. But that thought soon went away when the second Calum fell to the ground and the ball passed his fingertips, scoring into the goal. I gasped in relief, confusion, and excitement. It took a moment to process what just happened, but the realization soon kicked in and I was jumping in the air, cheering at myself when no one else did.

I just scored, I thought in disbelief. I just scored!

 

Just the notion of hitting a ball into a goal got me running around like a kid and screaming “I JUST SCROED!!” and waling my arms in the air. I heard Calum applaud for me and my mind switched to how I even achieved to beat Calum at something he’s probably better at than me.

“Not bad,” said Calum. He had walked toward me; a smirk on his face and that told me he was just playing kiddy like with me. That got me a bit angry, but still, the fact that I scored had my heart pounding with pride. “But I can do better.”

“You’re just playing ‘kid like’ with me aren’t you Asian boy?” I snapped; a smirk plastered on my face. I just called him “Asian boy” and I know he’s heated up about that because he has on a game face that looked like he can break someone’s neck in seconds, which cannot be doubted. 

“Did you just-“ Calum begun, but was shortly cut off by me.

“Yes I did and what are you going to do about it? Nothing,” I pointed out. Now I had on my game face too and it felt good to have it on.

Calum’s muscles relaxed a bit and he smiled; not a friendly smile but an evil one. “I like this side of Lani.”

I blushed, but it went away quickly because I just wanted to play soccer with him and teach him that girls can beat boys anytime they want. Though, still, the fact that he said he likes this side of me, I fluttered a bit, red-faced whenever I think about it. No, I can’t think of this all the time, but its time to show Calum what I can do.

And then we played, the ball seeming to toss around in the air a lot than I assumed it would. Each score, each scream, and each theory of playing with Calum was worth it. I ended up having a grin plastered on my face without knowing. But my thoughts kept jumping back and forth from the ball and what Calum had said about liking this side of me. In all, just tossing the ball around with Calum was good enough of a day because I’d experienced something with him and it was playing soccer even when I used to hate it. Now I don’t, because Calum’s got me wanting to play different sports on a daily basis now and that was unusual. Sometimes, what Calum can do to me scares me, but it’s all worth it at the end because I discover new things about myself that I didn’t know I could do.

✌ #BookLife

 Hey, hi, haaayyyyy there :-)

I hope you're having a good evening - afternoon or morning :3 - and I'd like to annouce that I'll be posting my original story that I've wrote when I was 11. I'll probably post it a couple hours from now, just to proofread it. So if you do read it, excuse my writing skills, it was not the same as of now. Its not a fanfic, its just another book that I'd like to post a few chapters of and gain some feedback before my writing tutor and teacher finds a way to help me publish it :). Hope you'll read it! Its called The Last Hero. 

Thank you, ily all :) 

-Hana Hood