No Other Choice

Different faces still held expressions of surprise, and soon, others joined in, clapping. Zack Carter, Rochester's star player, had already started applauding, his approval setting off a ripple of agreement throughout the club.

A few teammates remained frozen in shock, especially those who had laughed at Xavier earlier.

Xavier smiled faintly, a quiet sense of pride swelling within him as the coach nodded in his direction—a silent acknowledgment of his effort. His heart soared.

He wasn't a waste after all. For the first time in what felt like ages, his eyes sparkled with a renewed sense of hope.

After that, the session shifted to simpler drills: jumping jacks, leaping, and kicking the ball. The movements were straightforward but exhausting, signaling the end of the day's practice.

Once the players completed the drills, the coach gathered them together, his commanding presence demanding their attention.

"We have a match this Saturday," he began, his voice steady yet firm, carrying an authority that made every player listen closely. "Karnel is at the top of the league table, and we're second. If we lose to them, we'll drop to fifth."

"I don't want that," the coach continued. "So I expect every single one of you to give your best. No excuses, no faltering."

Then, he pointed at Xavier.

"You will be starting the match," he said calmly. "You're not the only one—you'll be joining at the start as the left striker."

Xavier's teammates turned to him.

He nodded, though he was surprised. One thing lingered in his mind—he had never started a match in his old club. He was always a substitute.

Yet, somehow, he was always picked, despite being called the worst player. If they thought so little of him, why did they keep choosing him? It didn't make sense.

What confused him even more now was his position. Xavier had always played as the right striker, so being placed on the left was unexpected….

All eyes were still on him.

"Yes, Coach," he finally spoke.

The speech was exactly what Xavier had expected—direct, focused, and resolute. But as he stood there, he couldn't help but notice Zack. The star player's attention seemed elsewhere, his gaze flickering in a particular direction. His quick, almost furtive glances betrayed a hidden interest.

Following Zack's gaze, Xavier's eyes landed on the red-haired woman standing at the sidelines—the coach's daughter. She was leaning slightly against the fence, her striking features illuminated by the evening sun. There was something magnetic about her presence, the kind of beauty that effortlessly drew people in.

But Zack's glances weren't the casual admiration of a teammate. They were intense, almost possessive. Xavier couldn't quite place it.

'Maybe they're secretly dating,' he thought to himself.

He shouldn't care. The last thing he wanted was to get caught in a scandal, especially knowing how toxic fans could be.

As if sensing his gaze, the red-haired woman turned toward Xavier. Their eyes met for a brief moment before she smiled warmly, a soft, inviting smile. She raised her hand in a gentle wave.

For a moment, he froze, unsure how to react. Tentatively, he raised his hand and waved back, his movements slow, almost too cautious.

That was when he noticed it—Zack's face had darkened. His expression shifted, something hard and cold flashing across his features.

But as quickly as it came, Zack's scowl vanished, replaced by a mask of indifference.

Xavier couldn't shake the strange tension between them. He turned away, shrugging off the odd interaction as best as he could. There was no need to dwell on it. The day was over, and despite the highs and lows, he felt a small but significant sense of accomplishment.

He had proven something to himself, silencing the mocking laughter with his actions.

The moment when he scored the header replayed in his mind like a scene from a movie. He imagined himself watching the highlight on TV, the goal playing in slow motion, the crowd's imaginary roar echoing in his ears. It wasn't the first time he had daydreamed about being a hero on the field, but this time felt different. This time, he'd earned it.

Xavier started gathering his things, a sense of quiet pride settling in his chest. The day hadn't been perfect, but it had been a step forward. And for once, that was enough.

As he zipped his bag and looked around the training grounds, the evening air was cool, the sky streaked with pink and orange from the setting sun.

Near the exit, a figure stood waiting. The man was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a uniform resembling that of a police officer, though it wasn't quite the same.

Xavier's first thought was that he had mistaken the man for someone else. But the figure remained standing there, patient, as if expecting him to approach.

"Are you Xavier Blue?" the man asked, his voice steady and authoritative.

Xavier nodded, confusion clouding his expression. The uniform didn't look entirely like that of the police, but there was an undeniable air of authority about the man. Something about him felt official, like he was here for a purpose Xavier didn't yet understand.

The man continued, his tone unwavering. "We are from R.O.S.E.—Road Safety Emergency."

Xavier's brow furrowed. R.O.S.E.? He had never heard of it. The words felt out of place, their meaning unclear. What could Road Safety Emergency possibly want with him?

He opened his mouth to ask, but the officer didn't wait for a response.

"You are banned from driving a car for two months," the man declared without preamble.

"What?" Xavier blurted, his voice thick with disbelief. The words barely made sense. He was always careful on the road—cautious, aware. What had he done?

Ignoring Xavier's question, the officer pulled out a photograph and held it up for him to see. Xavier's heart sank as he stared at the image. It was a picture of his car, parked haphazardly in the middle of the road, the door wide open. It was the same car he had left behind in his rush to get to training this morning.

The panic from that moment came flooding back. He had been late, far too late, and had abandoned his car without a second thought. The adrenaline, the fear of missing practice—it had all clouded his judgment. But he hadn't realized it would come to this.

The officer's voice cut through his thoughts. "Do you realize how dangerous this was? Do you know how many lives you could have endangered?"

Xavier remained silent, his chest tightening as a heavy feeling of shame settled over him. He couldn't meet the officer's gaze. He felt exposed—like a fool. His pride, which had swelled earlier, now felt hollow and empty.

'How could I have been so reckless?'

'Shit'

Some of his teammates passed by, their curious glances flicking toward him as they noticed the officer. Xavier could feel their eyes on him, judging, wondering what he had done to attract this kind of attention. The humiliation was almost worse than the punishment itself.

The officer handed him a card. "You will retrieve your driving permit in two months. Until then, you are not to operate a vehicle."

Xavier took the card reluctantly, as he accepted it. It felt heavier than it should. The knowledge that his freedom to drive had been stripped away was a stark reminder of his mistake.

The officer wasn't finished. He looked at Xavier one last time, his expression unyielding.

"We are also seizing your car," he added, his tone final, leaving no room for argument.

Xavier's eyes widened in shock. "Wait, you're taking my car?"

"Yes," the officer replied, his expression hard as stone. "This is not just about you. It's about the safety of others on the road. Learn from this."

The officer's words stung more than Xavier had expected. He knew the man was right, but the shame and frustration were sharp. There was nothing he could say to change what had happened.

The officer turned and walked away, leaving Xavier standing there with the confiscation card in his hand. The day, which had begun to end with a glimmer of hope, had ended with a bitter reminder of his flaws.

Xavier stood frozen for a moment before he slowly started walking toward the bus stop. His mind raced. How am I supposed to get to training now? His teammates would undoubtedly find out about this. And more than anything, he couldn't shake the feeling that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to catch a break.

For a brief moment, he glanced back toward the training field. In the distance, the red-haired woman was laughing at something the coach had said. Her laughter floated across the field, clear and melodic.

Xavier felt a pang in his chest. The carefree sound of her joy felt so far away from where he stood now.

He sighed heavily and turned away, clutching the confiscation card tightly in his hand. Whatever came next, he would have to face it head-on. There was no other choice.