Chapter 52 - A football match and a promise

Just a few weeks ago, Borneo College and SIGMA Institution agreed to merge the school into a proper school. With its changes and traditions, Borneo-SIGMA Institution has been voted on by students. There's one thing for sure: Most Borneo College traditions are going away.

Until the next batch of students is informed, the merger won't happen until next year. Although there's a slight detour among the Elites as they decide to transfer their child to another school and pull out some of their shares and support. This time, thanks to Melissa's fundraising plan, it shouldn't be a problem where the loyal student is part of it this time.

All the involved Elites get apprehended and those who withdraw from the member board are also involved in the scandals that Mr George investigates. Staff and teachers have been restructured, and the school structure will be SIGMA-based.

With all set and done, Mariam and Melissa will be busy in reorganise all of the members of the student councils. Borneo College student were extremely excited with the changes and some manage to join immediately with the current class group which is the Buccaneers, Catsy, Unicorn and Patriots. Although by next year, changes will be an additional 4 class group which will be decided by the Borneo-SIGMA students.

There is an interest of conflict though because all of the SIGMA student were former common class not the Elites. Yet it ended with the seniors between SIGMA and Borneo.

Now for the next work will be a football match, which it's been a day, Amin manage to create a chemistry for the team and he decide to be involved with the club. Amin will be the central midfielder and sub-captain and Mat will be the Captain. With Borneo sports team will be disband and absorb with all of the sport club in SIGMA. SIGMA United is the football team name and its now a brand. Even the basketball team Daggers is a brand with fans service.

Currently the football club is taking two challenges one the School state region league and the Semi Pro League and the current rankings is shown below.

Bata’ Power championship (the school state region category league)

Rankings

2. KL Highschool FC - 25 points in 10 games 

3.  SIGMA United - 24 points in 10 games 

4. ALL BOYS YMCA - 24 points in 10 games

5. ALL BOYS ANZAC FC - 23 points in 10 games

6. LIKAS SPORT SCHOOL FC- 18 points in 10 games

7. St. Peter FC - 13 Points in 10 games

Borneo Foundation championship (the Semi Pro league)

1. UMS FC - 32 points in 10 games

2. SIGMA United - 30 points in 10 games

3. SMK Putatan United - 27 points in 10 games

4. RMP (Royal Malaysian Police) - 25 points in 10 games

5. LIKAS Sport School - 20 points in 10 games

6. MPG (Majlis Perbandaran Penampang) -15 points in 10 games

7. UITM Sabah FC - 10 points in 10 games

With official rivalries between SMK Putatan and Borneo-SIGMA there is no room for error, with Mat full recovery the game its about to start again with an intense 4 day in a week non-stop.

Mat called everyone including me, although I did not contribute a lot. I don’t really care.

“Looks like our next game will be SMK Putatan, don’t lose it!!”

“Damn man, you know their team is one of the best the school league…”

“Now we have to face UMS FC again its going to be the hard week for us…”

“Shut it, then this is our ticket to the next level..”

“Alex you have improve with your skills as a winger…but we need the finish…” well I’m not that good of a soccer player right?

“Fine…but don’t rely on me, our captain here is our main man and Amin will be our main supplier…”

“Yeah but this is a team effort got it!!” Why the hell they blaming on me again?

When reaching home, Sylvia and mom were encouraging me.

“Go for it!! Just do your best then Darling…” uh huh

“Represent the school is more than enough…” yeah yeah, that is easy for you to say then mom.

I just realise that Sylvia started to distant with me again because the last incident.

2 weeks ago,

I went back to our house, and open the files at least there is privacy. I read through the files in my room.

It explain about the whole operation between Darrel and the FBI although it ended with success but the main informant the Don of De Santo, Jurado De Santo were focus on taking over the place and using 102 as the scapegoat for the whole operation. The FBI and NSA could not handle such scandals the three discuss about it and started to remove the gangs as part of the agreement to cover-up the scandal, Darrel found out and started to hid all the evidence of the scandal, leading to the dispose of gang members.

Based on the report, me and Damien had died. That means I don’t exist there anymore. I lay aside the report and close my eyes. Without realising, someone was reading the files. Sylvia of all people that I wanted to avoid.

“……….is this what you mean…..Alex…..” Her hand was shaken and Sylvia leave the room. And throughout the week she did not said anything.

Fast forward now. She is just pretending with mom, in what really happen last time. She still did not said anything to me, I know that she is really upset or confuse.

The next day we are playing against SMK Putatan, with Arie looking at me.

The game started with SMK Putatan gaining momentum, Mat and Amin were constantly mark by them, while the others were struggling to find space in between. I’m a constant target by the defender, they getting no chance for us to make a score or even near their goal.

Amin pass the ball again and this time I link to me, I don’t care anymore and charges forward. Seems like they still maintain the mark with Amin and Mat. Since we played 4-3-3, with winger setting.

I speed through they taught that I’m going to pass, but I just run towards the goal, dribbling pass them. A move that was famous with players such as Johan Cryuff, Kenny Daglish, and Ronaldinho including George Best. Mat was still mark and could not move forward.

“Kick it!!!!”

People started to cheer, and a kick at the top box which the keeper could not get it and it went in. The crowd went wild. While Amin and Mat hug me.

“Dammit Alex you bastard that is a nice score!!!”

1 : 0 at the end of half time. We went back to the dressing room and the coach congratulate me for the score.

“Nice one, you did it!!”

“Thanks…Amin was the one who supplied me”

“No bro that was not even a proper pass”

“Now they know there 3 who could score….”

“Yeah…”

After the coach brief the next tactics, we change our format to 4-2-1-2-1 with Mat as the false 9, with me as the main winger.

The second half of the game started, they have also change their tactics with a zonal marking instead of man-marking. I could see from a far, Mariam, Sylvia, Priscilla and Siti begin their cheering while the other boys were crying.

“You lucky bastard…”

“Amin is also a lucky bastard…”

In the next game it was even. Neither could score its because every time they pass to me, it took 3 men to block me. Yet with all set and done. In the 90 min we won. That means we already rank no 2 in the league championship. Because the coach tell us that KL Highschool have also lost against St Peter FC which it was an upset.

We went back home to rest, and I could not train an extra work because of the next game is tomorrow. Me and Sylvia went back together while Hana and Tama return back earlier because Mom ask them to help her something back in her office.

We ride together although she did not said anything until when we reach at home. That is everything change. This is the first time since the last 2 weeks she did not said anything to me.

“Alex…tell me the truth….what are you planning there…?” It seems she is ready to talk now.

“What do you want to know…?”

“Good thing Mariam and Amin did not know about it but this part….”

“Let me ask you, if I started to change and there is no going back what are you going to do about it?”

“……I would stop you….”

“Would you?” Sylvia did not respond although she sat next to me and she hold my arm. We sat outside of the podium behind my house.

“I’m just scared, afraid even now I’m reluctant to tell you not to go because you will not listen to me because I would if anything happen to you…” I wasn’t sure how I would react to this because its a selfish thing for me but Nat is in trouble right now and if I don’t do something about it, it will regret me for the rest of my life.

Sylvia then kiss me explaining that she only wanted me to be safe.

“I won’t stop you and I will support you Alex…I’ll look after them for you….but promise me something….”

“Yeah…?”

She hold my arm and begging me

“Don’t stain it again…please…” why does I have the same feeling like Nat when I look at Sylvia. I don’t know how the hell am I going to respond. Which I had no other choice.

“I promise….” She hold my arm tightly and I could not said anything but I know in her face, that beautiful smile of hers, our eyes met together. She stand up and sat on top of my leg. Shit don’t turn on man…although she is light.

“I’m pretty sure Amin and Mariam will find out about it…”

“Yeah….” We could hear mom’s car have return back, and look like Tama carried the sleepy Hana and mom said to us.

“Have you gone for dinner?”

“Yeah we did…” though we lied to mom because neither both of us were hungry because of that incident. Steward is still hang around with Geoffrey’s place but Sylvia love to hand around with Hana and Sam. When they went inside the room, mom suddenly sat next to me.

“So…anything that I need to know?”

“Huh?”

“I could see at Sylvia, she is back smiling and this time its much more fairer than before.”

“Ummmm…you know what mom..”

“Yeah?”

“When I look at Sylvia, I look at Natalie and at the same time I look at Frederica….”

“Are they the same like her?”

“yep…. That is what I feel…”

I went to bed and I saw a letter on my bed and its from Sylvia. She wrote a simple letter

“Dear Alex,

This is my first letter and I really hope you keep it. When I realise this when you started to talk to Mr Tracy, the guy that you mention before. And I know the incident that you went before. Of course I’m afraid and me and Nat will agree to one thing. You should not went back again like before. The truth is I’m scared that when you return back, I worried that you will not love Nat like you did before.

I know its confusing but I really cherish this friendship and this bond. I did some research about that flower you gave me, after I found out I cried because I know what you mean. Good thing won’t last. I was really scared that you planning to kill yourself again. That’s what I’m really worried about.

Love

Sylvia

P/s - I’m not going to lose against her

Shit that is really beautiful picture of her, but when did she took this. Her Lun Bawang dress really. I knew it, if they found out about this it will not the end of it.

I went to sleep realising that my heart beat the same feeling like Nat.

The next morning, Sylvia woke me up and push me out of bed.

“Hurry up or you’ll be late for your football match…” Hana look at her, like a big sister.

“Big sis Sylvia, what’s for breakfast…?” Like a real big sister.. while she woke Steward as well for breakfast.

I head out for the next game realising that I know behind my back someone is supporting me. They all wave goodbye with Sylvia smiles give me a new spirit.