Chapter 10 A Game Well Played

DAHLIA

Apprehension slowly crept to my chest, from the pit of my stomach as my eyes viewing the names of the players settled on a familiar one.

W. Redford.

No, it couldn't be. Even as I denied it, there was a part of me who knew I'd be able to point him out in a crowd, despite the muscular development.

No, it couldn't be, I disagreed with myself again. It didn't matter that he had the same sandy blonde curls, possessed those slightly bowed legs that had been naturally sculpted to play soccer.

The side profile never changed, not one bit.

That 'W' could be any name, right?

It might be Wade. Winston. Warren. Wesley. Even Wyatt or...or Walter. Not Williams.

But even as I listed out other possible names that had 'W' as their starting letter, I knew strongly I might be wrong.

I swallowed, trying to still myself. Not to let memories and emotions overwhelm me...until the referee came to blow his whistle, signaling the start of the game.

I gasped amidst excited shouts from fans. It was him. After all these years.

I comported myself, pretending he wasn't there and when I couldn't anymore, I decided to pretend his presence wasn't riling emotions within me.

"Look, mommy!" My daughter waved her tiny flag towards the field.

I used to be a cheerleader back in high school. I didn't just give cheerleading my time and attention, soccer too.

I'd been Will's girlfriend back then, attending training and tryouts with him. Being the captain of our senior high school team, I'd learned all there was to know.

Finding out I was pregnant and going through all I had gone through, not paying attention to any other thing, I didn't think I'd remember anything about soccer anymore.

All those knowledge came crawling back watching them play. And boy, was Zac good!

"Yes, I can see, baby." Haven's enthusiasm watching Zac play had me in a big grin.

More than half of the crowd, including myself, went wild when Zac dribbled the ball past four opponents without breaking sweats, fifteen minutes into the game, the last opponent swerved and hit the ground.

His speed was magical and commentator didn't keep quiet about it. He was nearing the penalty box, his focus was hell-bent on driving the ball into West Ridge's goalpost.

"Vinexx's new signee and the three-time award winning best striker, Zac Leroy, is about to make a majestic impact on his first game in his land of birth..." The commentator seemed to be as eager and excited as Vinexx's supporters, his voice booming over speakers.

My eyes widened on reflex as he kicked the ball with some hard core energy that had it flying into the net as the opposing goalkeeper tried his possible best to stop the ball, to no avail.

"Goalllllll!" The stadium roared with unbridled excitement as they celebrated.

"...and it's a goal from Zac Leroy! What a brilliant shoot from the twenty three year old American superstar!"

"Mummy, it's a goal. Look, Zac scored a goal!" Haven jumped and clapped happily, then she waved her flag, shouting Zac's name but her tiny, excited voice was drowned by the noises around us.

"He can't hear you, darling." I said.

Despite what I'd said to my daughter, my gaze settled on him as he celebrated his goal, his teammates surrounding him. All except William.

He didn't even seem to be happy about the goal. I stared long and hard at him, carried away by the emotions swirling within.

"Mummy look, Zac is waving at us. He sees us."

And she was right. Zac was looking in our direction and waving at us. Haven blew him a kiss. He laughed and blew one right back at her.

Haven seemed so happy and relaxed around him. He winked at me, I couldn't help the carefree chuckle that escaped me. I gave him a thumbs up, signalling a well-done.

The game continued.

"West Ridge, right now, looks like a wounded lion." The speaker echoed the commentator's voice.

West Ridge was playing so brutal now. But in their desperation to equalize, they made a mistake. One which Zac Leroy took advantage of and hit the group running with the ball.

It was as though he was the only one on the field. The one thorn in West Ridge's flesh.

"Is that a second goal we see coming? Leroy is a moving train. No one can see him coming!"

While Zac kept running with the ball, his eyes searched the nearest team player to pass it to. William signalled himself, Zac passed to him. William had barely taken three steps forward, he lost the ball to a West Ridge guy who ran immediately with the ball, heading for Vinexx's goalpost.

"Vinexx's captain, William Redford, loses the ball to West Ridge's attacking midfielder Farrell." The commentator's neutral tone rang through amidst angry shouts from half of the stadium which were the Vinexx's fans cussing Williams while the other half chanted supportively.

"Fuck you, Redford!" One guy yelled angrily beside me.

Haven looked at the guy, and then at me. Leaning in, she whispered. "He said a bad word, mommy. Just like Mrs. Gregory."

I smiled, glancing at the guy who was obviously oblivious to whatever my daughter was saying. He was more invested in the match.

"Ignore him, okay?" Shouts, one stemming from an excited place had me raising my head to know what was happening.

It was Zac. He was with the ball and heading towards West Ridge's goalpost. I had no idea how he'd managed to get it back from his opponent.

Sitting up, paying attention, I watched. Three players tried to tackle the ball from him but he ruined their efforts.

"Yes! Go Leroy!" Someone shouted from behind us. "Don't give that ball to Redford, you hear me!"

William was, again, signalling Zac to give him the ball to score. William paid no mind to him, moved forward with the ball himself.

A West Ridge player who had the name 'Ceyston' written on his jersey, ran forward and rough tackled Zac, the latter lost the ball, falling to the ground.

The referee blew the whistle, temporarily stopping the match. Players rallied round Zac, his team especially but William was some distance away from the scene.

I noticed he threw his face to the other side, my frown deepened. Was that a smirk? Maybe I wasn't seeing it well.

"Oh my goodness, did William Redford just smirk? Is he happy his teammate got injured?" The commentator as was surprised as I was.

The jerk! So I was right. He actually smirked. He'd never changed. Same old stupid William.

The referee gave the Ceyston guy a yellow card and ordered a free kick in favor of Vinexx.

Both team players took their place, lined some few feet away from the goalpost. Zac was to play the ball.

"Score it, Zac! Score it!" Haven shouted from the bleachers but I wasn't sure Zac heard her at all.

He moved back a bit, then sprinted forward with such speed, kicking the ball, it went up mid air and entered the net with a sloping curve.

The stadium almost went mad with happiness. Fans began to sing his praises. Even the commentator wouldn't stop praising Zac Leroy.

By the end of ninety minutes, Zac had given one assist to another goal. Being titled 'Man Of The Match' was a well deserved award.

Scoring a brace and giving an assist, the game ended with a three to nil.

"West Ridge long home unbeaten run has been singlehandedly broken by Zac Leroy, the man of today's match. I'm sure the owner of Vinexx will be over the Moon. Bought expensive and it was a money well spent." The commentator said. "It is right to say Zac Leroy is a beast on the field and the best choice Vinexx has ever made!"