Chapter 7

Next day I woke up up early morning around 5am and start getting ready for football practice which is in the school itself, I packed my extra lunch box with four slice of bread jam as well as my my daily lunch and lastly I picked up my bag pack in which I kept an extra set of clothes to wear after my practice, leaved the house.

I reached college around 7am, after 30 minutes practice started. Before that all the girls given a set of uniform including, a yellow high neck T-shirt with my first name and 14 number printed on it, a yellow short with the same number printed on it, a set of soccer cleats, socks and shin guards. After receiving that, it gives me the feeling of proud, possession, and confidence to finally have something of mine and earned by me from my hard work, this whole thing encourage me to keep going and keep fighting for myself to take a stand.

This supposed to be our first day of practice, so basic guidance and training we got. Some warm up exercise, positions we all would be playing at respectively and general introduction session with our teammates. I am at the position of defender, however, around 8:30am practice ended, the team move towards changing room to freshen up and change our clothes. While I was changing my clothes one of my team mate Anji come in and told me that some Erik guy is waiting for your at the gate and asked me to inform you. My reaction to this is initially I am shocked and confuse but before anyone could say anything else or they notice any change in my behavior, to cover up I said okay and resume my changing process.

Though in my mind a battle is going on ("what the hell is he doing here at this time, how come he knows I am here and other than this, I am excited too to meet him but mostly I am curious to know why the hell is he here). After changing, I move towards the gate and avoiding curious eyes of all the team mates. When I reach at the gate, I see his stern emotionless face with black glares on directly looking at me, I wanted to go near him and talk to him but because of whole team members coming outside and looking at our side we just node at each other slightly and leave for our classes.

On our way, I noticed he is walking very close to me though there isn't any crowd near us but still he is too close to me. The closeness between us is so much that, our arms are touching with each other and I got uncomfortable plus I was a bit scared too about what others will say? what if dad see this what he will say to this? and with these thoughts, I put my hands in my jeans pocket and maintained a safe distance while walking. On the other hand, I can feel slight stiffness in his body because of my that step, but ignored it and we reach to our classes.

In class also he seated beside me, I am feeling mixed emotions (nervous, excited, happy and confused). Though I know that we should communicate, now is the time we can know each other better but this silence between us at present is such a peaceful feeling and our closeness giving a comfortable warmth, protected vibe and right now I just wished to live this forever. Whatever professor teaching us, is totally useless for me as I am just trying to feel and absorb this feeling and from the corner of my eye I can see Erik face stern, confident, determined, calm. Wait, what!! clam this is new and he is also stealing glances from me. For once our eyes maintained a contact, we looked in opposite sides and I smiled shyly.

Soon, class get over and before the bell could even ring, I picked my bag and tried to leave the class as soon as possible but to my surprise he joined me at stairs. As we were on the third floor, so he joined me and then he spoke...

Erik: Hey, since we have our next two hour free, can we talk in the canteen.

Siya: (Me being a selectively introvert person) Umm yeah sure, come.

We together walk towards the canteen, I am excited and nervous too. After reaching the canteen we give order hot chocolate for me and cold coffee for him and choose to sit on a corner table near the window. We sit in complete silence neither he speaks nor me, I repeatedly tab my finger on my cup and he his making circles with his thumb on his cup. I guess after 10 minutes he cleared his throat to start the conversation...

Erik: Since we never get a chance to spoke clearly or have basic introduction. I would like to introduce myself, Hey I am Erik.

Siya: Ohhh Okay, Hey I am Siya

Erik: From our first meeting in library, I really like your nature and wanted to know more about you. So, if you don't mind plus If you have no problem can we be friends?

Initially, his this direct approached shocked me, as this is what I wished from the very first day but I never approached to him with this proposal because since my childhood I remain alone within the family itself, so I never learned how to get friendly with anyone or how to initiate a basic conversation with anyone. Later, I decided to give in with a thought that, there is no harm in simple friendship plus my wish will be fulfilled too. So, with a genuine smile on my face I nodded my head in affirmative and said:

Siya: Yes. It would be my pleasure to be your friend. Let the friendship begin.

With this we shake our hands but who knows this friendship can turn lead to stormy night or I would say that beginning of loosing my everything has been started.