Better

As I made the decision to completely break free from the shadows of my past and focus on the present at our school, I had no idea that everything would take a sharp turn here, at this top-tier private high school. I once thought that by centering my life around the ordinary moments, I could stay away from trouble and danger, but soon I realized that behind an ordinary life, there may lie deeper and more unfathomable secrets.

I remember the moment I first set foot on this campus, knowing from the start that this place was different. The green grass spread across the grounds, the towering school buildings, and every inch of the sports field seemed to whisper that this was a place where dreams were born. The entire campus radiated a unique energy, as if every corner held the power to shape the future. And the very grass and trees around us seemed to remind us that this was not just a place of learning, but a cradle for nurturing elites.

What left the deepest impression on me was the school's football team. It was not just an ordinary school team, but a squad of exceptional talent, with players possessing remarkable skills and abilities. Watching their training, I could almost see the potential and future stardom in them. Every time they ran across the field, I was irresistibly drawn in, and my blood would surge with excitement, as if all the past and the pain had found an outlet on that green turf.

Football became my purest, most genuine passion. I began to pour all my emotions into the sport. The sound of the wind as I ran, the crisp strike of the ball against my boots, and the seamless coordination with my teammates on the field all gave me a long-lost sense of freedom and ease. In those moments, I had decided to leave the past behind and devote myself entirely to the field, handing over all my anxiety and pressure to the running and the game. Every time I played, I felt like I was rediscovering myself. That sense of liberation made me believe that I had finally stepped out of the dark shadows.

On the field, I was no longer the wounded youth or the lost soul. I was simply a player fighting for a goal. At that moment, football became everything to me. It gave me a sense of escape from reality. Every training session, every match made me feel like I had the strength to start anew. I told myself that perhaps football would be the only way for me to step out of the shadows and reclaim my confidence.

However, I didn't realize that behind this ordinary life, there were hidden currents, seemingly calm but in reality turbulent beneath the surface. Just as I was throwing myself wholeheartedly into all of this, everything around me was quietly changing. The secrets hidden beneath the surface, like an undercurrent, began to erode my world little by little.