Chapter Text
I had a great family. I had friends. I had great life. Everything was great.
I had to go out of town for the tournament. And that's when it all started.
Every year I go out of town for tournaments, so this was a normal situation for me.
I've been playing soccer for as long as I can remember and it was one of the few things that made me feel good.
So I was excited, but not too excited because I was already doing it every year.
There was something that made that year different from other years. I could feel it but I couldn't understand why.
Everything was the same, but I felt different, I didn't know why, but that's how I felt.
I didn't want to think about it any more. I said goodbye to my family and my friends. Then I got on the plane.
After I got on the plane, I fell asleep. After I woke up, the plane had landed.
I took my suitcase and got off the plane. I had high hopes for this season.
I was a promising soccer player, but I believed I could be more than that. I would work to be more than that. And one day I would be more than that.
Until that day came, I would work without giving up hope.
After going to the hotel, I left my suitcases in my room and went out of the room.
I wanted to talk to the coach before practice started.
The coach was drinking coffee. When he saw me, he hugged me.
“Team captain, I thought you'd be here before anyone else.”
"Did someone come before me? "
"Three people came before you. "
“I used to always come first.”
" I think you're getting old. "
I laughed.
" Maybe. "
"Take a shower. Get some rest. Training starts in three hours. "
"Okay, coach. See you at practice. "
" See you. "
When I went up to my room, there was someone in the room. It was my teammate who I was going to stay with. I had never seen him before.
"My name is Jace. "
" Sebastian. "
I shook his hand.
"Nice to meet you."
" Me too. "
"Are you new? I've never seen you before."
“I just transferred to the team.”
"If you have any questions, you can ask me. I'm the team captain. "
"Thank you, Jace. "
"You're welcome. "
Sebastian was in the shower. I sat on my bed. I was texting Alec.
Sebastian came out of the shower. I put my phone on my bed, took my towel and got in the shower.
I got out of the shower and Sebastian was sitting on his bed looking at his phone. He saw me get out of the shower.
"I'm hungry. Shall we go out to eat together? "
" Okay. I'm hungry too."
I put my clothes on. I didn't dry my hair.
" Dry your hair. You will get sick. "
" No need. It's very hot outside. "
"You'll get sick if you go out like this. "
He got up from his bed. He picked up the dryer.
"Come here. "
I went to him. He started drying my hair.
“Do you do this to everyone?”
" What? "
“Do you dry other people's hair?”
" No. "
I smiled.
“Then I must be special to you.”
“We met an hour ago. Isn't it too early to tell?”
"No, it's not. People start liking someone the first time they see them. And you can tell at first sight whether you're going to love someone or not. "
" Was it love at first sight? "
" Maybe. "
"Your hair is dry. "
He put the dryer back and left the bathroom. I smiled. I liked that he was embarrassed. He looked so cute when he was embarrassed.
I got out of the bathroom.
" Let's eat something. "
" What do you want to eat? "
He thought for a while.
" I don't know. What do you want to eat? "
"There's an Italian restaurant I know. The food is very good. "
"Then let's go there. "
We talked about soccer along the way. We had a lot in common, but we also had a lot of differences.
It was a lot of fun talking to him. I felt very happy when I was with him.
We went to the restaurant. We ordered food. After our food arrived, we continued talking.
“When I was growing up, I wanted to be like Messi.”
“I still want to be like Messi.”
"It's normal. He's a world star. "
" When I was little, I broke the window of the house playing soccer with my brother. My mother was angry, but she didn't tell my father. "
"When I was little, I broke a vase my mother loved. She was very angry with me. "
“I once broke my arm while I was playing soccer.”
“Did it hurt a lot?”
" No. "
"When I was in high school, in an inter-school match, the captain of the opposing team came to me and said, 'You're going to lose this match.' We won that match three nil. "
"This has happened to me before too. In the match three years ago the captain of the opposing team came and told me the same thing. He was in our team before. I think he couldn't accept that I was better than him. We beat the other team four to one. After the match was over, he said we cheated. You know what was funny? He was the cheater. Even though he cheated, his team could not win. "
Sebastian started laughing.
"You have a beautiful smile. "
"Let's go. We'll be late for practice. "
Sebastian got up from the chair. I grabbed his arm.
"I know it's too soon, but I think I like you. You don't have to answer me. I just wanted to tell you because I don't want to be friends with you. I hope you will give me a chance when the time is right. Can I flirt with you until then?"
“I thought we were flirting.”
“I thought you were uncomfortable.”
“I was embarrassed."
“I know. I just wanted you to confess.”
He started laughing.
"That's a good tactic. Have you ever used this tactic to get someone to date you?"
" No. You are the first. "
"That's good to know. "
I looked at my watch. It was almost time for practice to start.
"Let's go. We'll be late for practice. "
“When you let go of my hand, we can go.”
I didn't realize I was still holding his hand until he said I was holding his hand.
" I'm sorry. "
" It's okay. "
We ran to the field, but by the time we got there, practice had already started.
“Why are you late?”
We looked at each other. We were late for the first practice of the season. This was not a good start to the season.
“We were having lunch.”
"Don't be late again. "
I was afraid he would get angry. Luckily he didn't say anything.
“Okay, coach.”
" Okay. "
" Most of the people here know each other. But there are newcomers. So introduce yourself. "
"My name is Jace. I've been captain of this team for six years. "
"My name is Sebastian. I transferred to the team this year. "
"Now that everyone knows each other, we can start practicing. "
Sebastian and I were talking after practice.
"My mom didn't want me to be a soccer player. "
"But you've become a soccer player. "
“I don't actually talk to her much. I was never close to her. But after I became a footballer we started talking once a year. I think I was always lonely. I never felt the love of a family, even though I lived with my mother and sister.”
"It must have been hard for you. "
" It was very difficult. That's why I don't like to remember the past so much."
"My parents died when I was very young. I never knew them. The only thing I knew about them was their last name. "
" I'm sorry. I didn't know."
" No problem. I wanted to tell you. "
“We've become very close, haven't we?”
"We were already very close. "
" When exactly did this happen? "
“I feel as if our souls have known each other before.”
“Do you think we're soul mates?”
" Yes. I don't think I would have fallen in love with you at first sight if you weren't my soul mate. There's something else that makes me believe that. The first time I saw you, I felt like I knew you. I didn't feel like I met you in some random place years ago. I felt like I'd known you since the creation of the universe. "
“I don't know what to say.”
"I've told you before, you don't need to give me an answer. When you are ready, you can give me an answer if you want. "
He smiled at me.
" Thank you. "
I smiled back to him