Chapter Text
“Ughhhh why do they have an assignment due next week if they only dropped its material this week?” Megan let out a groan, feeling defeated by the task that’s been added to her to-do list, letting her head fall down into her arms against the desk as she reconsiders her life choices throughout the past few years.
“The amazing university experience.” The Ghanaian girl next to her quietly added, with an underlying hint of annoyance in her words. Despite the two girls doing this course for three years, now going onto their fourth and last, the big bad issues of university strike once more. Having the majority of the semester be a breeze, then randomly drop an assignment that would leave one wondering what cyanide tasted like by the time you’re through with it.
Manon let her head rest against her propped up hand, while sipping on her much needed iced coffee-with caffeine being the biggest essential for surviving university, alcohol being a close second. Her eyes scanned over the rubric once, then again, and again, rereading the same words but not a single one registering in her brain, as her iced coffee only had the ice left. She needed a distraction, an escape, something to preoccupy her mind instead of the same technical, overwhelming documents on the laptop before her. She nudged the moody Megan next to her before closing her laptop over and slipping into her handbag and standing up. “Let’s go, I can’t be bothered to start right now.”
“Don’t need to tell me twice!” All of a sudden, the girl with pink highlights sprung back to life, like her batteries were replaced as she was already standing at attention with her backpack flung over her shoulder as the pair left the tiny, dark yet cozy corner they found in the fourth floor of their campus, making it their getaway since the second semester of their first year.
“Oh! It’s club day isn’t it? You know the one where all the Uni’s teams and organisation try get you to sign up and whatnot?” Megan inquired as the two stepped into the elevator headed for the ground floor, shooting Manon a look with a little glint of mischief. “Meaning, we could go see your little secret but not so secret person who you’ve tripped, slipped and fallen for”
Manon’s full attention was redirected from her phone straight towards her teasing counterpart, feeling a small twist in her stomach as her eyes were full and ready to cause trouble and go through her friend. “I’m gonna fucking k-“
Ding
Saved by the bell, Megan thought to herself with a small, shit eating smile, as she stepped out of the elevator onto a very busy floor, with tables wrapped in cloth and pop up stalls surround the foyer, with each one desperate to secure a student’s signup or full attention. Her eyes couldn’t help but roll at the numerous younger, naive students signing up for most clubs and teams where possible, but her thoughts were interrupted by the tug on the arm of her black baggy hoodie by Manon.
“Bar. Now.” The two magic words that is the way to her own heart. Luckily, the university foreseen that students are borderline, if not full blown alcoholics, and installed a bar on campus - it’s one and only redeeming factor. Surprisingly, the place sat empty as majority of the students would be out ‘networking’ and socialising. The bar usually so lively and pumping; whether it be from a pub quiz, karaoke night or a live singer in, now sat empty and calm, with small, static music off a radio from behind the counter played. But to Manon, this was perfect for her. So much so that she even offered and got Megan her a pint of her favourite apple flavoured cider, complimented by a pint of Italian Moretti for herself.
After a small clink of the large pint glasses followed by a lengthy sip, with the pair savouring it as little smiles of satisfaction appeared on their faces as they set their drinks back down, and just as Manon was about to speak. “What’re you two doing here?! It’s 11:15am!” A voice came from the entrance of the bar, as Daniela strolled in, fitted in the cheerleading team’s tracksuit as she swiftly and smoothly slid into the booth the ladies were at. “Assignments obviously?” Megan shot back, speaking with a tone as if it was common knowledge, only for the Latina to roll her eyes, letting a giggle escape her lips. “Bar’s only been open like fifteen minutes what the fuck you two.”
“Matter of fact, why’re you here Dani? Aren’t you meant to be out at the cheerleader’s booth?” Manon quizzed her with a raised eyebrow, letting her fingers tap against the pint glasses, feeling the condensation against each fingertip.
“Oh I’m taking a break, besides the soccer team’s right next to us, so Sophia can just let them know I’ll be back anyways.”
The Swiss-Ghanaian took a very quick and awkward sip of her drink at hearing that name, Sophia. Sophia Laforteza to be exact. The university’s star striker for their soccer team, as well as their captain. The girl who makes it look all too easy to run around a pitch for ninety minutes with the intensity she has, taking on defenders, getting physical on set pieces and corners, communicating across the pitch between her coach and the other ten players on the field as if her life depends on it. The girl who more than likely has a very very very long list of admirers, with Manon being one of those unfortunate souls who happened to fall for someone so out of reach.
And who was the blame for all of this? The girl sat on her right, giving her cider a lengthy gulp, savouring the taste a little too much given the fact it’s not even midday yet. How one may ask? Well, Megan’s own ‘little’ crush, Yoonchae, had just made the team, inviting her to her debut game, meaning Manon had to tag along to the freezing cold conditions the match was being played in, with the two sat behind the dugouts of both teams.
She couldn’t help but think about her regrets and rethink every life choice and why she had to be graced with Megan of all people and be in a freezing cold plastic, cheap seat at a sporting event she has no remote interest or liking for. As the two sets of teams walked out, a shaky cold breath escaped from her lips as the crowd around cheered, clapped and got behind their own team. Her eyes immediately scanned her University’s starting lineup from right to left, spotting Yoonchae close to the middle sporting the number 14 on both her shorts and the back of her jersey along with her name, and snapping a few pics of her using her own phone, before turning it to record Megan’s not so reserved reaction to seeing her crush out on the field. After looking back up from her phone and slipping a glove back over her finger she was using to upload that video to her private story, two pairs of eyes met.
The first being Manon’s of course, with her eyes being that of shock and bemusement. The next, being a breathtakingly stunning girl, with a big, luminous arm band around her left bicep, signifying that she was the team’s captain. The player’s hair was up in a high ponytail, her long sleeve jersey tucked neatly into her shorts, with the sleeves rolled up just past her elbows, socks to just below her knees, and black soccer boots to match along with the University’s black kits. A little, quick smile came from the striker towards the freezing cold spectator, before turning back to the pitch as she kicked the match off. And in contrary to the conditions, Manon couldn’t help but feel her cheeks get a little warm.
After about twenty minutes, Manon couldn’t decide what was worse, this weather, or Megan’s very obnoxious pining for the very oblivious Yoonchae, who was sprinting up and down the touch line they were watching from, doing her defensive duties when needed and taking on defenders and running past them with a a bit of flair in her footwork and grace as the opposition is left in the dust. She didn’t understand much, but one thing was for certain, Yoonchae was both fast and talented with a ball at her feet.
However, the eyes which belonged to that of the Swiss student couldn’t help but go from the Korean to exploring towards the central area of the pitch, where a certain team’s captain was. When her team wasn’t on the ball, she put the work and effort in to ensure they regained possession; pressing the opponent’s defenders with her amazing reading of the game, cutting passing lanes and stealing the ball back. Along with this, followed her ability to shield the ball from anyone who dared test her no matter the shape or size of the unfortunate soul who’d attempt to win the ball back, all without breaking much of a sweat or even having red puffy cheeks on a night this cold. The power she could generate in a moment when striking the ball, pulling her leg back, before taking a shot, letting a really surprising amount of venom behind the strike, causing it’s pace and power to be an issue for anyone wishing to deny her a goal.
And today? Sophia Laforteza would not be denied. After about 87 minutes of an intense deadlock between both sides, Yoonchae showed a flash of brilliance as she dashed like an Olympian past the poor fullback who was more than exhausted after defending against her for almost an hour and a half. Using the outside of her left foot, she managed to curl the ball into the box, with it gliding almost perfectly into the path of the captain. Without even a second thought, Sophia let her right foot wrap itself around the ball, generating enough pace and curl to keep it out the goalkeeper’s reach as the football was rifled into the back of the net. 1-0.
The small crowd erupted, as did those inside it, jumping and shouting for joy as the captain ran towards them along with the winger who provided the assist to join in on the celebrations. Both M&M behind the dugout were smiling and cheering, with Megan being almost starstruck as Yoonchae look up towards her with probably one of the brightest smiles that Manon has ever seen from the quiet winger. But speaking of the Ghanaian girl, her heart got caught in her chest for a moment as the star of the moment was staring up in her direction during the pandemonium.
She’s not looking at me… is she?
Manon thought to herself before remembering that not a single soul was behind the two. Heat crept up her neck and onto her cheeks as the captain was smiling and celebrating, with her eyes locked onto Manon’s, only breaking contact as she was quickly reminded by her teammates she still had a job to do.
“You were amazing Yoonchae and absolutely the game changer.” Megan beamed, as Yoonchae dragged her tired self over to the two cold specators, giving each a quick embarace. The software engieering student was all smiles as she hyped up her Korean counterpart, with the winger smiling and letting a small tint of red compliment her cheeks as she thanked her. And as one kept ranting and raving about the other’s actions on the pitch, Manon was brought out of her little trance as a voice broke through from just behind Yoonchae, one full of energy and warmth.
“It was an amazing pass to find me wasn’t it? That’s Yoonchip for ya!”
Sophia.
Manon caught herself staring at the Filipina striker who let her hair down after the match ended, which just made her look even more stunning.
Stunning? Manon thought to herself, before feeling her chest tighten a little and heart skip a beat all but confirm it.
“Earth to Manon??” Megan called, nudging her, causing the other cold spectator to break out of her trance. “This is Sophia, the teams captain. Sophia, this is Manon. She’s the only reason I’m getting through university right now.” She went on to introduce the two of them, prompting the captain to speak first as her eyes gazed downward towards Manon.
“I noticed you earlier! Thank you so much for coming out tonight to support us!” She began, her voice full of gratefulness, before changing towards a slightly teasing one. “But you must be smart then? Keeping Megan afloat in software engineering is no easy feat.“ That one prompted a couple giggles from Manon and an earful for Sophia from Megan , but for the striker, all she could focus on was the soothing laughter that was like music to her own ears.
“I try my best, but well done today. I don’t know much about soccer but you done pretty well in my eyes.” She responded. Now, Sophia has received dozens upon dozens of praise, but this compliment from someone who doesn’t know the first thing about soccer hit home, prompting a shade of red in her cheeks for the first time tonight.
“Thank you! If you’d ever be interested, I’d uhh.. be happy to teach you about the sport sometime?” Bannerman let a small grin appear on her face as she nodded, and before the four could talk any further, the two stars of the soccer team were called away for media pictures after a win, waving M&M goodbye and Manon secretly wishing upon one of the many stars above them that she’d stay a little longer.
After a moment, Megan probed, nudging with a smirk on her face while Manon stared at Sophia walking away. “So.. Sophia hmmm?” This caused a sudden bit of nervousness about Manon’s usual demeanour, tensing up. “I-I don’t know what you mean..” she shot back in a quiet, sheepish tone, earning a chuckle from Megan as the pair began to leave for home. Just as they were about to leave the pitch’s grounds, Manon yearned for one last look, and when she did, she smiled to herself, making sure to remember the name on the back of the captain’s jersey.
Number 9:
Laforteza