"Finally his debut. It's been quite long since I've seen him sing live." Nagi realized.
"Yup, this vigor of his makes me thrilled every time." Aigou jumped cheering.
"LONG LIVE PAKISTAN!! PAKISTAN…!" Aaron called.
"ZINDABAD!!" the crowd bellowed.
"PAKISTAN!!" he called once again.
"ZINDABAD!!" the crowd responded.
"Now that the PSL have already begun, let's cheer for ISLAMABAD UNITED and QUETTA GLADIATORS for their first match!" Aaron called. Nodding at the singers beside him he introduced. "COMING UP NEXT! IS THIS YEAR'S PSL ANTHEM! PSL RETURNS!" "YAHOO!! WOOHOO~!!"
Alan smiled closing his eyes as Aaron sang,
"Hey! Here they come, princes to show the world~!"
Just a single sentence and wild went the crowd. The middleschoolers stared amazed, their hearts thumping wildly. "Are you kidding me…?" Cassiel blinked.
Here we come devotees, to lift up the game once again~
Dare not ask how the night will be today~!
And, then there'd come a whistle and the stage would be set~!
Applauds will be heard and then will the game commence~!
"This is senior Aaron…?" Feng rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
"He is truly a star." Xavier remarked.
Poseidon and Helios glancing at Ezekiel who gasped wide eyed, not daring to wink at Aaron's sight stared
. "He really admires him." Kazuna guessed.
"Yup. He always wanted to see him sing live but his concerts are always held overseas. To think he would be witnessing something he only dreamt to see, he must be really amazed." Helios whispered.
Ezekiel's fingers quivering he clenched them into a tight fist. "I want to sing too… just like him." he thought determined, "I want to sing and play too…"
It's a game which leaves an unsettling heart, the moment we look our soul startles~!
Even if you try to stop us we won't stop! We are definitely going to claim this game~!
Win or lose, there should be love in our hearts!
Dance, dance, sway, sway we'll embrace each other!
For there'd come a whistle and the stage would be set~!
Applauds will be heard and then will the game commence~!
Rauf, resting his chin under his hand stared at Aaron remembering.
"Boss~" Aaron called knocking the door.
"Come in." Rauf replied taping his bat. Aaron ready to depart to Islamabad walked in.
"Leaving?" Rauf inquired.
"Yup." Aaron replied.
Rauf nodded, "I'll receive your registration letter too so I have no worries. Be safe and give me a call once you arrive."
Aaron nodded however, still stood before him.
"Is there something else?" Rauf asked over his hesitancy.
Aaron's finger suddenly twitching he looked at the ground, "Rauf… can you not add me in the player's list for this PSL?"
Rauf narrowed his gaze, "Why?"
"I don't think I can play." Aaron replied abruptly.
"That's the stupidest excuse I've heard ever coming from you. Make a good excuse like always do, who knows I'll consider then." Rauf said.
Aaron frowned.
"Aaron… how long are you going to keep this up?" Rauf asked keeping his bat aside. His leg atop of another and back resting on the couch's backrest. He stared with his sharp, penetrating Azure gaze.
"And long are you going to pressure me?" Aaron asked instead.
A weird silence building between them. "I… really can't play. Every time I grab a ball and assert myself to take a serious start my hand starts to tremble and my head spins. I can't do it. That scene replays my mind like…!" Aaron gritted in between.
"Then get over it Aaron." Rauf stated.
Aaron irritated shot up, "As if that's easy…!"
"Then give up." Rauf interrupted blatant, "Give up your strength, change, resolve and everything else you've built up until now." "Aaron, I never once pressured you. You weren't even invited to the base in the first place. It was Haruf who trusted you and brought you here and you yourself who wanted to play. No one else rather then you pressured yourself into believing you can't do it. After all… is there even something you can't do?" he asked him doubtless.
To Aaron's surprise a smile of certainty rested over Rauf's face.
"Don't forget why you are doing all this Aaron. Even if it's just temporary." Rauf advised.
Aaron stared at him wide eyed. Bothered over his words and still gritting, he walked out of the room. "It would've been better if you'd just tell me to get lost since you don't need pushovers on your team exactly the same way you said two years ago! I hate cricket! As well as this expression of yours the most!" he slammed the door behind him.
_____
Rauf narrowing his gaze exhaled. However, a spark of assurance still rested his face.
"For a certain someone to hate cricket to the depths and also sing for it like this? He is a real fool." Rauf smirked closing his eyes.
"AWESOME! THIS SONG IS JUST THE BEST!! PRIDE OF PAKISTAN!" the crowd cheered, clapped and blew whistles. Disco lights of all teams red, blue, orange, green, purple, golden, silver and black rotating around the stadium created a marvelous sight. Helium green and white balloons left to the sky. Aaron sang beside the others,
"Entrusting our lives into protection against evil eyes. With a little, little love. We'll win countless heart~!
In the morning newspapers, streets, markets and amid hundreds and thousands. Come let's become prominent~!
Our names will be on everyone's lips, A scenario of celebration will be seen all around~!
Dare not ask how nights will be today! Everywhere around the four corners will be our clatter~!
And, then there'd come a whistle and the stage would be set~!
Applauds would echo and then will the game commence~!!"
Aaron's invigorate mighty anthem ending. The entire stadium arose in applauds. Alan proudly clapping his hands whispered, "Very well done, our star." The opening ceremony concluding, all participating teams headed to the back stage.
"That was awesome!" Heber and Feng praised.
"All our nervousness just vanished, right Sera, Sera, Ryan?" Adam asked pumped up.
"Only because today isn't your match." Orion rolled his eyes.
"Well we're happy you had fun." Noah ruffled Xavier's hairs.
"To tell you the truth. It was our first time experiencing such a vast crowd. It felt really apprehensive at first." Poseidon told.
The highschoolers smiled. "Don't fret it. We'll make you used to all this in no time." Elias assured.
"Says who…" Kenzo mocked.
Tracing Romeo with his team they went over. "Enjoyed?" Rovan tugged Kazuna and Senri's shoulder. "Hm." they replied.
Sena amused chuckled at Kenzo while Venus waved at Xavier.
"Tch!" Kenzo looked away.
"Best of luck for the match today." Seraph boosted.
"Yeah, give it your all." Feng added.
"Thank you." Sena replied, "Same goes for you too."
Adam curiously poked Venus's arm, "Are you seriously not anxious?"
"Anxious?" Venus repeated, "No way. You know we played in this stadium once with Captain Romeo and Vice-captain Rovan here. So our uneasiness depleted that moment. Now we just want to smack some huge deliveries and wickets!"
"Quite confident." Gabriel stated.
"Very much." the rest replied.
"Yo everyone~!" Alan waved joining them.
"There you are." Isa said.
"Geez, we were waiting when you'll come yet you didn't show up." Aigou said.
Alan smiled sneakily, "I was at the VIP seating area. Watched the entire ceremony in harmony. I am in a good mood now."
"Right…" Nagi exhaled speechless.
"When was he allowed to go to the VIP seating area?" Heber whispered in Kenzo's ear.
"His mouth is bragging miles, idiot." Kenzo uttered blatant.
Soon Quetta Gladiators went past them. "If you have that much time to waste on opening ceremonies. Better do it on something good just like preparing to face us?" Akbar glared at Romeo.
Romeo smiling heartily assured, "No need to worry Quetta Gladiators, we are prepared quiet well. On the contrary, do not disappoint us is my only request."
Harsh words behind a gallant smile. Thunder crackled amid the two teams.
"Wow." Ezekiel gulped.
"Tch! Who do they think they are…?" Rovan uttered disgusted as Romeo patted his arm gesturing him to stop. "Again?" he questioned Romeo who smiled.
"Yeah again. You'll raise another fight." said another one by his side. His light green hairs and yellow eyes were directed towards him.
"Augh~" Rovan exhaled annoyed.
Alan looked at them amused. Later on, Multan and Peshawar too joined them.
"Haruf…?" Haitam called however immediately uttered, "Oh dear world! What is going on here? Don't gobble each other up now." pushing Rovan and Ezra away who glared at each other abhorrent.
"Seriously? Aaron just gave a blasting performance saying to love each other yet here we are fighting and punching faces flat?" he smacked his forehead in disbelief.
"Too much irony." Ryan thought.
"Hmph!" Rovan looked away.
Romeo sighed shaking his head.
"Only you'll be loving your rivals at a time like this. No one else is that stupid." Suleiman ridiculed.
"Hun?" Haitam twitched his brow turning around, "What the hell did you say?" his character changing into an aggravated one.
"What a change…" Xavier and Aigou thought together.
"Or was I wrong, you dance
"You bastard…!" David smacked his fist together ready to fight back.
"Not good!!" Noah, Adam, Feng, Ren shrieked in their heads.
Haruf laughed entertained himself.
A twisted commotion… Alan yawned wordless. And if that wasn't enough now even Lahore was here to join the fun.
"Darn…" he cursed, already exhausted.