The Big Game

The ball bounces off the goalpost and into the goal. They win. They win. The crowd cheers and they all receive the trophy proudly. This is the game to watch. My friends are victorious. My friends are stars. My friends are winners. They run down to the stands and I rapidly embrace them tightly – sweat dripping all over me.

“Congratulations!”

“Thanks,” they both reply.

“Do you want to do something now?”

“What do you have in mind?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you have a victory party? Maybe you don’t?”

“Isla, a victory party for us?”

“Okay, yea. But I feel an obligation to.”

I feel an embrace wrap over me, as sweat slowly drips down my cheeks.

“Eugh…”

“Sorry,” they reply in unison.

We head back to the hall where the victory party is set. I invite all their teammates as they celebrate their win. They are moving to the finals. This is awesome!

“Isla, what is going through your mind?”

“No clue. I just put whatever feels right.”

“Yeah, like put a bunch of posters of our team everywhere and the trophy even has a stand.”

“And a picture frame for our victory photo?”

I giggle as they express their confusion of this party. Of course, it isn’t exactly what I would do if they aren’t moving into the finals. I would try to make them happy and give them a pep-talk into the proper mindset for the next season.

“Look, you go big or you go home.”

“Isla, one day, you’ll find someone who understands and lives up to that quote as much as you do.”

“Diego, Lionel, I’m serious. All I need in my life are my two best friends that are reliable, strong, courageous, and above all, superstars.”

“As sweet as that is, Isla, we won’t always be there for you.”

“I know, but in my heart, you both forever live there.”

We walk inside the room and I make my way around the room congratulating everyone.

“Isla, awesome job planning this party. It’s exactly what we need to get us ready for the finals.”

“It’s a pleasure.”

I feel a tap on my shoulder, and I turn to see Diego pointing towards the door.

“What’s going on?”

“Lionel is there and I’m going too.”

“Okay.”

I watch as he leaves the room and I feel fear creeping up my back. This is a party for their team, and I feel like an outsider, an outlaw, an interference. I am a misplacement at this party. I shouldn’t be here. I leave the room and go home. I say hello to the cleaners on their way to clear any memory of the event. This night is like losing but winning a match. Gloomy. Depressing. Melancholy. Sad.

…

I arrive home and trot up the stairs to my room. A rock pushes me below the surface of the Earth, deeper into the Earth’s mantle and down to the core. Gloomy. Depressing. Melancholy. Sad. The blaring lights shine in my face, blinding my eyes while the deafening sounds of the alarm sound through the room.

“Isla, Isla. Are you ready? We have to get to school. It’s important that you don’t miss today’s classes because you have that test.”

Oh no! The test! I jump out of bed, rushing through my morning routine, and grabbing the flashcards off my desk.

“Isla let’s go. We have training and you are going to have to stay and watch.”

“I know.”

I begin sifting through my cards and checking that I have enough knowledge on the topic.

“Diego?”

“Yeah? What’s up?”

“Do you think I’ll pass?”

“Of course, you will. You pass like every test. This is also easy, and you’ll excel at it.”

“But I don’t know everything. Soccer isn’t my forte. It’s yours and Lionel’s.”

He shakes his head. I know that this isn’t the mood he wants me in. I need to take my mind off the test.

“Um, so, how is the party?”

“Good, but you are a disappearing bubble halfway through the night. Where are you, disappearing bubble?”

“I… Um… The food tables.”

“Really? I could not see you there. I am searching by the table a couple of times and I couldn’t see you. Maybe I need glasses.”

“No, you don’t. Your vision is fine.”

“Are you so sure about that? I could not see you so many times. Lionel couldn’t find you either.”

“Maybe I am at another place when you guys come round?”

“That’s possible.”

Relief washes over me. I am freaking out that he can see through me and that would destroy everything. I need to keep it on the down-low.

“So, when training ends, Lionel and I can help you prepare for the test again because you are overreacting again. You do this every semester.”

“Well, I just want to do better than last semester. Please help me.”

“We will and you will be a shining star. Believe me.”

“I do because it’s your forte.”

He shows a sign of approval and we head to the training field before we are too late.

“Isla, could you please set up the cones?”

“Yes, Coach.”

I am not on the team, but I am close to the members. My childhood is all soccer. For my entire life, I have a general idea of what happens and the rules. My dad is an international soccer star and my mum is a national soccer star. Everyone in my family is a soccer star except me. Unfortunately, I couldn’t kick a ball. No matter how hard; I just couldn’t do it. But maybe that’s because I am different from my cousins. I don’t have the idea that I need to be a soccer star. Maybe it’s because my parents have set me free? But it’ll always be a part of my life. My best friends are soccer players and it is part of my family history for as long as we remember. It’s my life.

“Isla, any studying?”

“A bit. I’m too inattentive to my studying because I’m afraid I’ll fail.”

“Have some faith. The test is easy, and you know that you can pass.”

“Isla, please collect the cones and equipment.”

“Yes, Coach.”

As the team heads towards the change rooms, I collect the cones off the grass, pack away the soccer balls and help Coach unload the mass amount of equipment.

“Isla, you ready?”

“Yeah.”

We walk towards the seats and I feel anxiety rising in my chest. This is going to be a disaster. This is going to be a disaster. This is going to be a disaster.

“Calm down. You’ll be fine. You know all of this anyway.”

I sit down and reluctantly hand over my cards. I need to pass this test. I need to make my family proud. I feel like a failure because I don’t play soccer, but I know that passing this test will help me gain credit from them.

“First question. True or false? Is soccer the most popular game in the world?”

“True.”

“Correct.”

“Next question. How many players are on a soccer team?”

“Eleven.”

“Correct.”

“Can any player apart from the goalkeeper touch the ball with their hands?”

“No.”

“Correct.”

We continue for the remainder of the cards and I listen to the rapid beating of my heart, pounding in my chest.

“You have this in the bag. Every single question is correct. You’ll ace it.”

“Thanks. But I feel unsure of myself.”

“You’re not. Trust us. It’s our forte.”

As I stand, my legs turn to jelly, my eyelids begin twitching and I feel my chest tightening. The bell signals the beginning of class and the test. I trot up the stairs, cautious of every step.

“You’ll be fine,” says Lionel.

“You’ll ace it,” says Diego.

I thank them for their words and go into the room. I sit down at my desk and the papers come around. This is it.

…

I pass the test and feel relief, shock, and happiness wash over me. I will make my family proud. I will make my family proud. Throughout the few weeks, Lionel and Diego are training constantly for their finals match. I will undeniably attend. I need to witness their game because it means so much to them.

“Diego, Lionel. Are you both ready? It’s time to go.”

“We’re coming. Just lacing our shoes.”

I tap my foot repetitiously, waiting for them to come down. We leave the house and I head to the stands. They head into the centre and I don’t see any sign of them until the game commences. This is it. The time has come.

…

The players on both teams are tremendous. The scores are neck and neck with three to three. They are battling it out ferociously, both wanting to desperately win. Diego kicks the ball and it bounces off the goalpost. This is the moment anticipation is building up for. This is it. Only I know what happens next.