The referee blew his whistle twice, beckoning the players to get ready. The players on both teams hurried to take their position with looks of focus and determination. This was the last match before the mid-term break, they couldn't afford loose. Many students hung around the stand to watch the match some of which were waving banners and cheering their favorite team and players. Meanwhile, other students who were not interested in the match headed off to do their laundry.
Robert pulled his socks and jogged over to his position in the field and got ready for the whistle. He could see Dora and Vanessa amongst the spectators who cheered loudly for the players, their faces were lit up with excitement. Robert grinned happily in response to Dora's thumbs-up as he stood at his wing.
Finally, the shrill sound of the referee's whistle reverberated around the field, and the players sprang into action. Feet pounded on the grass as the players jostled for possession of the ball, their faces set in fierce concentration. The air was thick with anticipation as the game began in earnest. Nicki, a player from the 12th grade team swooped the ball from Jackson's feet and dashed towards the goal post. Jackson, who was considered the best 11th grade player felt very embarrassed. Nicki was careless enough to loose the ball to a defender who crossed the ball to Michael, an 11th grade striker.
Michael raced towards the goal post of the 12th grade team, but was tackled by a large, angry-looking striker from the opposing team.
The whistle was blown furiously, and the act was declared a foul.
The whistle was blown loudly again and the match continued. Nicki was determined to score this time, and he sprinted towards the goal, the ball at his feet. He manoeuvred the ball past Jackson which earned him deafening cheers from the spectators. When he got close enough, he took aim and kicked the ball with all his might, sure that it would sail into the back of the net. But something strange happened. The ball veered off course, as if an invisible force had intervened. It landed harmlessly on the grass, well wide of the goal. A collective gasp went up from the crowd, and the players looked around in confusion. What had just happened?
While the players and spectators exchanged confused glances and struggled to comprehend what just happened, Robert was kneeling at a corner of the field panting heavily, his heart racing in his chest. He clearly remembered the events leading up to the strange incident - the vibrations, the sensation of being lifted off the ground, and suddenly he was at the post and an unknown force caused his hand to hit the ball away. He had also noticed that everyone was still, as if time had frozen.
That second, the grade 12 spectators had elated looks for they were convinced that the keeper had no chance of intercepting the ball. The 11th graders had resigned themselves to defeat. Then, he flashed back to his previous position.
"Hmm," the 12th grade hostel master stood on the sidelines, watching the game intently. He seemed to be the only one who noticed something strange - Robert had seemed to disappear for a moment, only to reappear a few seconds later. It was as if he had been transported to another location and back in the blink of an eye. The hostel master was baffled by what he had seen. He squinted at Robert suspiciously before he turned on his heel and headed for the teacher's lodge.
The game resumed, and Robert played with an energy and skill he had never possessed before. It was as if he had been infused with superpowers, able to run faster and move more gracefully than ever before. He weaved around his opponents, scoring goal after goal. Jackson looked on in awe and envy, unable to fathom how Robert had become such a skilled player. Was it sheer talent, or was there something more at play?
"Damned guy! After stealing my girl, you've come over to steal the spot light too!" Jackson fumed, hatred filling his heart. He was supposed to be the star here, he was supposed to be the receiver of those ecstatic cheers, not Robert!
With anger coursing through his veins, he received the ball that was passed to him and sprinted towards the 12th grade's goal post, determined to score a goal no matter what.
Tom yelled at him to pass the ball but he paid deaf ears and continued towards the goal post. Just when he was about to score a desperate goal, the ball was taken from him and he had to turn and frantically chase after the ball. Robert rushed towards the ball, easily outmanoeuvring it from the grade 12 player. He sprinted towards the goal, weaving through the other team's defenders as they tried to stop him. With a mighty kick, he sent the ball soaring through the air. Almost at the same time, he was tackled by none other than Jackson, but the ball had already left his feet. It went through the goal post and into the net. The 11th grade students and fans in the crowd went wild with cheers and celebrated their victory loudly.
Jackson glared at Robert in anger and jealously while he thanked his stars that no one had noticed his dubious act.
Robert held his leg, trying to stem the flow of blood from the deep scratch left by Jackson's tackle. He winced in pain, but almost immediately, the wound healed completely not even leaving a scar behind. He marveled and slowly got to his feet as the 11th graders and supporting fans gathered around him and raised him up on their shoulders cheerfully. Clearly, they didn't notice his wound and the freakish healing.
"I'm the man of today's match thanks to the strange force that buffed me with those incredible speed and healing powers," he mumbled to himself, smiling.
He raised his hand to wave back at Vanessa who was waving from the stand but almost immediately, the voice which he had completely forgotten about boomed loudly in his head, "It is I, I'm the one who granted you those powers!" Robert screamed with terror and without warning, he fell heavily to the ground although many hands were holding him high in the air.
By the time he regained his cool, he spat out the dust that gathered on his lips before looking up to see everyone staring down at him in exasperation.
"Are you alright, Robert?" asked a 9th grader who was a fan of his.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he replied as he got to his feet. Sheepishly, he turned and raced back to the hostel, the other students watching him with a look of puzzlement on their faces.
Robert sprinted into the boys' dormitory, dashing straight to the bathroom. He was drenched in sweat, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't fathom what was happening to him. What was this mysterious voice, and why were all these strange things happening?
He splashed water on his face and raised his head from the sink, examining his reflection in the large mirror. Then something even more bizarre happened. He watched in terror as his eye changed into a mass of oval sand particles before slowly returning to their normal form. It was a horrific sight and he could only stare in shocked disbelief. Overwhelmed with frustration, he felt the urge to unleash a scream and destroy the bathroom in hopes of relieving his distress.
Just as things couldn't possibly get any worse, Jackson walked into the empty bathroom, still clad in his sportswear. His brow furrowed as he glared at Robert's back, remaining silent for a moment before finally speaking.
"Listen here, pal," he began, his voice cold. "I'm here to have a word about Vanessa."
"I've got nothing to do with her," Robert replied impatiently. He turned to leave the bathroom, but Jackson grabbed him by the arm.
"Don't pretend with me," Jackson hissed. "I know why you happened to play so well in the field today, you wanted to impress her, didn't you? Cus you've figured out a way to make her notice a loser like you." Jackson said, his gaze boring into Robert's.
"Let go of me, Jackson," Robert said, his voice low and dangerous. He felt the grains of sand on his palms become more pronounced, as if they were growing in number.
"Or what?" Jackson sneered, but before he could finish, Robert's hand shot out and seized him by the neck, lifting him off the ground and slamming him against the wall. Suddenly realizing what he was doing, he let go of Jackson, who fell to the ground, his eyes wide with disbelief as he wondered how Robert suddenly acquired such strength. Robert immediately hurried out of the bathroom, his mind reeling from what he had just done.