Boys(2)
On the airplane, Josh introduces Dan and Matt to each other. The three teenagers sit together talking. "Oh my god, Matt, that was a big strike. Why would you be late for your first day?" asks Dan.
"I told you. He is impossible, and you never know what he will do next" says Josh.
Matt laughs, "Haha. Ok, for the record, I'm not impossible." He looks at the other two and goes, "I'm amazing. That's what you should say."
"Oh dear lord." Josh grunts and shakes his head while Dan's laughing out loud and impressed by the guy in front of him.
"And come on, guys, it was no big deal. Let's move on." Matt looks at Dan, "What about you, Dan? Tell me about yourself. I wonder what it feels like, being drafted in the first round."
He stops laughing and turns to Matt, "Oh, me? Uh. Well, I got to say, it was awesome." Dan smiles.
"I bet." Matt laughs.
"But come on, you are the second-round pick, it means you are good too." Dan looks at Matt.
"Yeah…I know. I just don't understand…" He shrugs. "Why did they pass me in the first round? It doesn't make sense at all. They should have chosen me instead of you." says Matt.
Hearing what Matt said, "Really? You are confident, aren't you?" Dan laughs.
"He is." Josh laughs too. The three boys chat and have a good time on the plane, like they have known each other forever.
Four hours later, the airplane arrives at Taoyuan International Airport. The group soon takes a high speed rail to Taichung, the place for their training. On the train, Dan keeps chatting with other boys and they learn something they didn't know about Josh;Taichung was where he came from. He was born and grew up in Taichung then moved to Formosa with his family six years ago. Josh didn't start to speak any English until he moved to Formosa. Everyone listens to Josh telling his story. They wonder what it feels like moving to a new place and can't speak their language. Josh takes a breath then tells everyone that the first year in Formosa was rough for him, the only thing he could do was try his best to fit in. Luckily, he met many nice people who were willing to help him, also baseball helped him make new friends. Thenhe finally found some ways to get used to his new life after two years of struggling.
The train arrives at Taichung when Josh finishes his story, then everyone gets off the train, taking a shuttle bus to their hotel. Dan takes a window seat, enjoying the city view of Taichung. When they're approaching the hotel, he notices a man standing in front of the hotel entrance. Alex tells them that he's Roger, and he will be evaluating everyone's performance during the camp and report what he observes to the managers. Soon, the bus stops, Alex gets off first, then Nova, then the players. After a long trip from Formosa to Taiwan, everyone is exhausted. There are nine rooms prepared for the players, everyone gets to have their own room. Alex walks to Roger and speaks to him. It seems like they have known each other for a long time. They shake hands first then begin talking. "Hey, Alex, how have you been? I haven't seen you like forever." Roger says.
"I'm doing well, sir. It is true. It has been so long since the last time we were in Amsterdam. I never got a chance to thank you." Alex says.
"Well, don't mention that. I was happy that I could help you." Roger turns to look at the players, "Oh boy, I would love to catch up with you, but it looks like we have a lot of work to do." Then he smiles.
Alex turns back to check the boys, "Yeah, we do, how about…let's catch up another time. I will go visit your room."
"Sounds perfect!" Roger replies.
In the lobby, Josh talks to Dan and Matt and tells them that he will show them around later, taking them to see his best friend in Taiwan, Jian. A few hours later, during dinner time, Nova requires everyone to stay at the hotel for the first night and be ready for the next day. They must inform her or Alex if they want to go out at night and need to be back before 10 pm. The boys listen to her, and the three, they don't. They sneak out of the hotel on the first night.