Season 6 Chapter 11

Me: Good morning, Ms. Aoi. (I grinned brightly)

Aoi: (she smiles brightly) Good morning, Anne. Please come and have a seat. Do you need anything from me?

Right, after the morning practice sessions, I made my way towards the staffroom to find a solution for our club's crisis. And decided to meet Ms. Aoi, hoping that she would help. I waited till the staff room was almost empty and only Ms. Aoi remained, before I knocked at the door and asked permission to enter.

Me: Uhm….Ms Aoi. Actually…..our football club is facing some serious issues…..so I thought…..(she cuts my sentence)

Aoi: I see…(she raises her brow getting confused) then why did you come here? I am just a drama and English teacher, I cannot help you regarding this matter. You need to either go and speak with your coach or the authority members. (She smiles warmly)

Me: (I took a deep breath then lowered my voice while speaking so that no one can hear us) Ms. Aoi, you don't need to pretend any longer. Because I know your secret.

Aoi: (she frowned at looked at me dead in the eyes for a second before bursting into laughter) Haha, my secret? Yeah, I admit, I used to play football in my school for fun, but that doesn't mean I can help you out. Jeez…..(she wipes her watery eyes) Now leave, I have more works to complete before my class starts.

Me: (I frowned at her attitude, and placed that photograph which I found yesterday, in front of her) Stop lying, you were a professional football player, under my grandma. And a member of Elizabeth football academy, year 2000.

Aoi: (her jaw hardens hearing my words as her warm smile disappears. She looks at me sternly and stands up from her bench) Get out.

Me: (I stood up getting concerned) But….ma'am…

Aoi: Football has given me nothing but pain. (Her eyes were red with anger) So leave, and don't ever mention it's name in front of me.

Me: I am sorry, I know that I am being selfish but you are the only person who can save our club from Emilia's clutches, so please don't show your back so easily. You are older than us, more mature, you should be our role model but if you keep holding on your past, how will you help us, find our future? Isn't a teacher, meant to guide their students? (I said you looking in her eyes.)

Aoi: (her expression softens) First do something regarding Emilia, then come and find me. I will decide based on your sincerity. Anyways, I cannot interfere in someone else's club matters, that would be disrespectful.

Me: I understand ma'am. (I sighed) Don't worry, I will make sure that Emilia is delivered with justice, before I reach out to you, again. (I smiled before turning around to leave)

Aoi: Anne. (She calls, as I turn my head to look at her) You have grown up gracefully. (She smiles)

Me: Thank you ma'am. (I said with a wide smile before exiting from the staffroom)

During the training session, I was mostly distracted but didn't forget to note down the progress in the performance of each of our teammates. After practice session, we were sitting on the football ground, some were tired from practice, others were busy gossiping, as I went through my notebook, to go through each of ours strengths and weaknesses to address them properly.

Hope: Today, Irina and I are going on a double date with Paul and Thomas. (She exclaimed cheerfully)

Irina: (she blushes hard) Hey…..you don't need to announce that, you know. (She pouts)

Hope: (she giggles and pulls Irina's cheeks) Cutie~

Choon Hee: Congratulations, Both of you. (She smirks mischievously)

Bella: Wow, a date….must be magical! Just like novels. (Her eyes sparkles brightly)

Christina: What's so special about dating? (She rolls her eyes) its just boring stuffs.

Lotte: You are just jealous, because you don't have a boyfriend. (She snickers)

Christina: HEY! (She hisses)

Ratree: You will die single. (She says in a low voice, almost inaudible.)

Christina: (a chill runs through her spine, hearing Ratree's voice) Jeez, Stop cursing me. As if you have a boyfriend.

Ratree: I am lesbian…..so of course, I don't have a boyfriend. (Then she blushes) I have a girlfriend.

Maria: Really? (She asks out of curiosity)

Jules: I am jealous...(she sulks) I also want to date someone. (She pouts)

Maria: So, you want to date a girl? (She stares at Jules blankly)

Jules: I…..I mean…..(she stammers while stepping back)

Maria: (she stands up and dusts herself before standing in front of Jules and taking Jules' hand and placing it on her breast) I have big breast and thighs. (She winks)

Jules: (she goes red and looks tensed as she withdrew her hand) T-This….

Maria: (she laughs) Just kidding, I am straight. (She sticks out her tongue teasingly)

Jules: Hey! Not fair! (She protests)

Maria: That, I am straight? (She places her hand on her left cheek and tilts her head slightly on her left side, while staring at Jules with questionable eyes)

Jules: (Feels flustered) No! I mean…..yes…..no! What the fuck! You tricked me! (She says feeling confused and frustrated)

Maria: (laughs) hehe…..I heard that you have a thing for Anne.

Jules: Who said?! (She shouts)

Me: Hey, don't drag me in this nonsense. (I said uninterested)

Choon Hee: Really? That's interesting (she says awestruck)

Jules: Its not true! (She says feeling embarrassed)

Maria: Anne said, you tried to kiss her. (She grins)

Christina: What the…..(she blinks)

Jules: You did?! (She turned towards me in an interrogative manner)

Me: I did. (I sighed)

Jules: (she sobs) Y-You…..traitor…..(she says in a comical manner while pointing her finger towards me)

Victoria: Enough of this nonsense. (She sighed while rubbing her forehead) Congratulations, Hope and Irina, hope you would enjoy your evening.

Hope: Ah, right. Almost forgot something important. Hey captain, can you accompany us, for our date? (She grins)

Julie: (who has been dozing off throughout the conversation was all of a sudden wide awake and panicking) W-W-Why me??? (She stammers)

Irina: Actually…..we are really shy to go on our first dates….and wanted someone to accompany us. (She says blushing) First we offered it to Anne, but she said to take you, Instead. (She grins as Hope nods in agreement)

Julie: (she stares at my direction as if betrayed) But what am I supposed to do?

Hope: Don't worry. Paul said that he will bring his friend along with him. To keep you company. (She smiles)

Julie: (her face turns pale) B-But….

Bella: Wowie….triple date. (Her eyes sparkles with excitement)

Choon Hee: Interesting. (She says while rubbing her chin).

Christina: What is interesting in it? (She rolls her eyes) Guys, focus on upcoming match, instead of all these useless emotions. (She sighs)

Lotte: Anti-romantic. (She pouts)

Christina: You! (She hisses)

Ratree: Enemy of lovers. (She hifis Lotte)

Christina: Fine, I will shut up. (She goes to sulk at a corner)

Victoria: Is it, a good idea, to take Julie, along with you? (She asks worried)

Maria: She might feel uncomfortable. (She insists.)

Jules: Take me instead. (She grins feeling excited)

Julie: Y-Yeah, take Jules instead of me. That would be a better plan. (She says while feeling shy)

Hope: Guys, don't worry. The person whom Paul will bring along with him, is someone whom Julie knows personally. (She winks)

Victoria: Ah...(she smiles knowingly)

Irina: Yeah, it wont be awkward at all. (She grins)

Jules: (she coughs) Nevermind Julie, I can't go in your place. All of a Sudden, I am feeling feverish. (She says touching her forehead and acting sick)

Julie: What? But...(she fidgets her fingers nervously)

Choon Hee: Don't stress, Everything will be fine. (She squeezes Julie's shoulders.) And you can always leave, if you are feeling uncomfortable.

Julie: But….(she hesitates)

Emilia: (she walks behind us and snatches my notebook from my hands like an eagle) Looks like these brats are enjoying their life behind my presence. (She smirks while going through the notebook then glares at me) Next time, you try to pull such stunts, I will chop you up and feed you to the dogs. (She says turning her back)

Me: (I frowned and stood up as everyone except Victoria looked confused and stressed) Ma'am, that notebook belongs to me. (I said while clenching my fist).

Emilia: (she turns around and slaps me hard across my face) Club, this notes belongs to the members of this club and I am the 'incharge'. (She stresses on the word, incharge before leaving with the notebook)

Victoria: Anne, are you all right? (Everyone surrounds me getting concerned)

Me: Yeah….don't worry. (I said sighing) just a minor inconvenience.

Choon Hee: That witch….(she murmured under her breath) What should we do now?

Me: Don't worry…..Everything will work out. (I grinned)

As I strolled down the bustling market street on my way to the Asian supermarket, my attention was drawn to Julie and Bruce enjoying ice cream at a nearby parlour. Their date was originally planned for the café, but it seemed they opted for a change, likely weary of being the fifth and sixth wheels among Irina, Hope, Paul, and Thomas. It was a satisfying confirmation that our subtle orchestrations had indeed succeeded. Before they could spot me, I quickened my pace, eager to proceed with my errand. However, my momentum halted abruptly as something peculiar seized my gaze, prompting me to seek refuge in a secluded corner of the neighbourhood. My heart raced, and beads of sweat formed on my brow as I fervently prayed not to be discovered.

To be continued...