Memories

Honestly, Ria was on a whole other level today.

I’d been one of the few journalists who sat in the media section in the stands of today’s match, but I couldn’t help feeling that those who hadn’t attended were seriously missing out.

I’d known going into today that I would be making an article from this game no matter what. If anything, it was just as much for Ria’s sake as for mine, since I didn’t want her to worry about causing me trouble.

For that reason, I was beyond ecstatic when the story wrote itself in front of me. Her play not only was impressive on an individual level, but her ability to lead the team had clearly grown leaps and bounds from their last game.

You could see it in the way that the team played, positioning around each other and for each other, moving and flowing so well that the other team could rarely even get the ball, let alone compete.

It was a dominant performance that was still enjoyable, even to any neutrals watching, which I could no longer count myself among.

More than once, I’d even overheard members of the away section next to us sounding impressed. Whether that was due to their lack of expectations coming into the game, or their genuine reaction to a near professional level performance, I wasn’t sure.

Making my way over to the interview after the match, I found myself experiencing a level of nervousness that I hadn’t known since I first started here. I knew the type of questioning that Ria liked, and had several prepared that fit my story if needed, so it felt irrational to be on edge.

Yet more and more lately, I’ve found that rational thinking has no bearing on my emotions regarding Ria.

After waiting for what felt like forever, she finally entered the room, trailing behind her coach and introducing a strikingly warm feeling that I hoped wasn’t showing on my face.

When she waved to the few of us gathered, her eyes betrayed her.

They were unmoving, focused solely on me, shining with an anticipation that somehow both calmed and redoubled my nerves.

I almost missed as the person residing over the interview announced its start, and requested that I begin the questioning.

“Could you give us some insight into what changes you made to your approach in leading the team between your previous game and now?”

I knew it was a question she was happy with the second I finished, and her face lit up even as she glanced away, clearly thinking about her response.

“I think it mostly came down to managing the team’s mindset.” She said, before taking the next minute or so to give me a thorough and complete answer.

I wondered if she could see how happy I was with her long explanation just as well as I could see her reaction to the question.

We’d grown a lot closer in the past few weeks, and I couldn’t help but think we’d start to read each other’s minds at this rate.

The interview went just as quickly as you’d expect, given the relatively few attendees. We were even allowed to ask a second question each, not something I was used to given the normally packed room from the big games I often attended.

After every question was answered, and the interview concluded, I met Ria’s eyes one more time before stepping out. She took a quick second to point towards herself, and then the door leading out, signaling that she’d join me soon if I waited.

I smiled and nodded before taking my leave, finding a spot against the wall outside, shielding me from the wind and making the cold a little easier to manage.

Looking around, and seeing the moon above me, lighting up the night sky, I couldn’t help but remember the time from our last post-match interview together.

That night, I’d had no idea that I’d be meeting Ria outside afterwards, and certainly wouldn’t have been looking forward to it if I had.

But I guess that just goes to show how quickly things can change for the better.

A few minutes later, I was interrupted from my thoughts by the now familiar sound of the door squeaking open nearby.

Ria walked out, surprisingly accompanied by her coach.

Based on her expression when she noticed me, I think she seemed just as surprised as I was, giving a quick acknowledgement before excusing herself and leaving Ria’s side, walking at an awkward pace towards the parking lot.

“Hey.” Ria said, walking towards me and smoothly taking my freezing hand, breathing warmth into my fight against the frostbite inducing night.

I could certainly get used to this.