Something new

“And then I kindly greeted her and she turned to look at me with disgust, with a smug face she only answered me with a "hello" and returned her gaze to her cell phone.”

While we ate during recess, I told Leonel about my experience with silly Andrea.

“That's what I get for trying to be nice, I prefer not to talk to anyone anymore.”

“Come on, aren't you exaggerating? A bad experience cannot affect you that much.”

“It's easy for you to say, you arrived and you're already a celebrity.”

Leonel told me that, unlike me, he managed to make many friends in his classroom. Apparently he knew someone there, and that someone introduced him to more people, and he ended up talking to everyone. That's how this fool is, a damn beacon of light that illuminates the world.

“Well, maybe it hasn't gone well for you right now, but if you come with me to the soccer club for a while…”

“Do not try again, you know that option is ruled out.”

“You only have one week to choose a club and you know it.”

Leonel was right, this week is crucial for my student life. At the Golden School you must necessarily choose a sports or science club, and stay there for at least one year. I have to make a good decision if I don't want to waste a year of my life on something I don't like.

“This week the clubs are busy trying to recruit more members, I'll go see some presentations later. will you accompany me?”

“Sorry, but I have to be present at the soccer club because I am part of the school team, I have to help recruit.”

“Screw you.”

Leonel made a sad face and continued eating. The truth is, I already knew that he couldn't accompany me, but I love being dramatic with him.

After break, the first day of school continued with boring classes and with me not being able to talk to anybody.

“Alright guys, that's all for today. It is important that you remember to visit the exhibitions of the school clubs.”

The teacher left the classroom and the school day ended. My plan was to visit the science clubs and list the ones that seemed most interesting to me.

“Hey, which club are we going to visit first?”

“I don't know, the basketball club attracts my attention, but the soccer club is my priority.”

I overheard some classmates mentioning that and I couldn't help but feel a little sad. I couldn't be interested in a science club for today, so I decided to go home and start the search tomorrow.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday… I spent the whole week coming home early and didn't go exploring the clubs. I was in serious trouble.

“So, see you today at the football club?”

“Screw you.”

It was Friday, the last day to sign up for a club. Leonel smiled brightly as we walked to school, it was obvious that I would rather swallow my pride and join the soccer club than spend a whole year doing something I don't like. I unconsciously asked for this, the simple fact of thinking about something other than a ball and two goals bothered me and I've been postponing this issue.

“Maybe I'll go a while...”

I told that to Leonel before he went to his classroom.

“Ok, I'll be waiting for you with open arms~”

He hugged me by surprise and I quickly started trying to get away. When I did, I kicked him in the right leg and he just walked off laughing to his classroom.

During classes I couldn't concentrate, I only thought if it was the best decision to return to soccer. I was aware that it would only be to comply with the rules of the Golden School, it was impossible to be part of the official team, but what if I made it? Or, quite the opposite, what would happen if I get injured again? The doctor mentioned that it could be dangerous, and I don't want to spend my whole life using a cane or something. All these thoughts overwhelmed me until it was time to go with Leonel.

I put my things in my backpack and walked to the soccer field. With each step I took the memories of that fateful day played more clearly in my head. Very close to reaching my destination, a terrible urge to vomit assailed me, so I went to the nearest bathroom.

“It's impossible. I can't play soccer again.”

I said to myself quietly when I finished throwing up. I was clear about it, I would go with Leonel just to tell him that I couldn't, that I preferred a year doing scientific projects on topics I don't know before touching a soccer ball again.

I resumed my journey to the soccer field and finally arrived. A tear fell down my cheek, everything was beautiful. The smell of the grass, the sight of the stands, the sound of the studs... Suddenly a lot of beautiful feelings came, this was my reason for living.

“What are you doing standing there? The inscriptions are at the end of the field.”

Leonel appeared, but I was surprised to see him without his uniform.

“Why aren't you wearing your uniform?”

“Those of us who are from the official team have not trained this week, we were recruiting people. That is why you have to hurry to sign up, so that you can start training immediately.”

As he spoke, he desperately pushed me to the registration module. He was acting really weird, but I didn't understand why.

“Don't worry, I've already decided and I'm going to sign up. When I walked onto the field it was clear to me that this is where I belong, I will fight with all my might to be the best striker in this school.”

Leo looked down, as if he felt guilty for some reason.

“Everything's fine?”

“I… there is something I have to tell you. I swear I didn't know, I found out today.”

“What?”

“ …”

Leo had a hard time looking at me. I was surprised. What was that threatening my enrollment to the club?

“Spit it out Santos!”

I hardly ever call him by his last name, but he was silent for so long that he made me despair.

“Renato Maia is here.”

I understood his concern, he wanted me to be aware that it was practically impossible for me to be part of the team.

“I wanted you to know before you signed up. Any decision you make has my full support.”

For this kind of thing he is my best friend. It would have been very easy for him to play dumb and wait to tell me when I had signed up, but he knew the disappointment that awaited me would be worse if he didn't.

“What are you going to do?”

I had no idea. In less than 15 minutes I had gone from not wanting to sign up to getting excited about being the best again, and then back to collapsing. My brain was saturated, I urgently needed to take a break.

“I'm going to clear my mind for a while. If I don't come back, you know what decision I made.”

“It's okay, anything you need I'll be here brother.”

We hugged and then I left the soccer field. I sat in the shade of a tree in the school garden. There I simply enjoyed the wind that blew intermittently, and which helped me to think better about my situation.

This was all a mistake from the beginning, I should never have come to this school. I always thought that I was ready to give up my dream of being a soccer player, but I never prepared myself for it. They were just words from a sad boy frustrated with life. Today all that neglect took its toll on me and now I have run out of time to think about something else.

I will go for soccer, nothing else motivates me. Next year I won't make the same mistake. Seeing Renato up close fulfill my dream has to be the price to pay for my stupidity.

I walked back to the soccer field, I had gone too far to clear my mind so the return journey was long. I was halfway there when I saw something that really caught my attention.

“She's amazing, isn't she?”

“She is beautiful; I had never met such a pretty girl.”

“She is a genius. The school will win many trophies thanks to her.”

There was a huge crowd gathered near the archery range. The murmurs of the students could be heard meters away; it was a truly impressive panorama in the distance.

Curiosity got the better of me and I decided to go check it out. There had to be something really impressive going on to keep this many people entertained, and right now I needed something to lift my spirits.

I slowly made my way through the crowd. Halfway there I was already sorry, but I was so curious that my feet moved by themselves. When I got to the front I understood the reason for so much hustle and bustle.

“My God…”

Those words came out. I was witnessing something unimaginable, without a doubt the most beautiful thing my eyes have been able to see. A girl elegantly carried a bow and practiced her shots at the target that was a few meters from her. All the arrows hit in the middle. The girl wiped the sweat from her forehead and continued over and over again. The beauty in each of her movements left me speechless.

Just for one moment, I think I fell in love with Andrea.