(A day before Karachi's 2nd Match)
The sun at its zenith, shone brightly. The boys gathered in the practicing grounds took their specific positions. Highschoolers mostly settled on the audience's stand, observed the middleschoolers on the ground. The Instructors; Nidou, Mir and Yusuf continuously discussed formats with Evan, Isa and Rauf making amendments in the balling, batting, fielding orders and team list.
The field surrounded by Haris, Lou Wang, Ryan and Heber inside the 30 inched circle. Seraph, Helios, Alan, Azazel and Mikael stood close to the boundaries. Feng and Senri on the batting and runners crease, alongside Cassiel on wicket keeping with Xavier on the balling crease.
Feng tapped his bat on the batting crease. His gaze distant and brows furrowed with a pensive look he wondered anxious, "Was it really… that person…?"
Seles taking the square leg umpire position (batting side umpire) with Musa on the bowler's end (Bowler's umpire). Xavier bowling the 4th delivery of the over murmured, "Critical Pace… Slashing Knot."
The Yorker thrown harshly into Feng's stumps, it instantly slowed down. On the pitch's hit, it slashed from eight sides; breaking into pieces before passing aside his bat into the wickets.
Fenghowever unresponsive remained still.
Xavier narrowed his gaze perplexed. "Feng!" Senri abruptly called. Snapping out of a reverie Feng uttered, "C- clad shield defense!" And with that was a close safe! The shattered pieces reflecting the wicket, merged back into one ball heading into Cassiel's hand.
Kenzo standing before the pavilion seats squinted his gaze clueless, "What's going on with him?"
Gabriel wordless, tapped his finger on his arm.
"He is behaving like this since yesterday and his focus is in disarray. Is something wrong?" Poseidon pondered.
Cassiel tossing the ball back to Xavier turned to Feng. "Are you alright? Is something troubling you Feng?" he inquired.
"Ah… nothing, I was just…" Feng replied looking at the ground again.
"He has been absent minded lately, I wonder what's wrong." Noah said.
"Tch, he must be too afraid to stand in the ground tomorrow, haha!" Orion taunted.
Nagi twitched his brow while Aigou sighed.
"He got out after playing only 4 deliveries last night with no runs scored and today, he is still giving the same performance." Isa observed.
Senri heading over to Feng, stood before him. "I- I am sorry. I was distracted for a moment, I won't do it again." Feng apologized.
"The exact same thing occurred last night as well. Kenzo is getting along with Elias, I am getting along with Kenzo too but the moment it's our turn we are all over the place. Our entire batting formation collapses." Senri said, "Tomorrow is our match Feng. Can we risk it? If there is something bothering you why don't you share it? If not with me then with your friends instead?"
Pressure gaining the upper hand over Feng, he whispered, "I…" his voice fading. "What am I doing…? I am worrying too much. So what if he's there in Peshawar's team? I have nothing to do with him, why am I thinking so much…? It was all in the past…" he thought, his hand shivering shaking the entire bat.
Senri furrowing his gaze exhaled.
"Gather around all of you!" Haris called the middleschoolers together.
"Tch, now what is it~?" Heber complained.
"It's the third time already, could they just let Xavier complete his over?" Mikael uttered annoyed.
Azazel rolling his eyes patiently waited for time to pass. Alan tugging his hairs behind his ear joined.
"Senri a right handed and Feng a left handed batsman. Senri aims for shots straight and on the cover while Feng aims for fine leg and backward square leg. He rarely aims for shots since he only wants to create momentum for taking singles or doubles." Haris explained.
"We are already aware of that." Ryan replied uninterested.
"If that's the case what should we do?" Helios asked, "Our fielding positions are continuously being changed as per their arrival on the batting crease. Abilities of ballers are being nullified by Senri while Feng protects his batting crease like a fort."
"That's why through my observation, a catch out or Lbw is expected from Senri while a run out from Feng." Lou Wang informed, "Before their partnership strengthens we must take one of them out."
"But, they have just played 16 balls scoring 10 runs at most moreover, we took Feng out by Lbw yesterday. Do we have to worry that much?" Cassiel asked.
Alan listened silent. "It was an unexpected wicket yesterday. Mostly since they were tired too but Feng is again looking confused today… why?" he thought.
"Brat, partnerships are lethal in T20's they eat you up like crazy if they turn their game on! We can't depend on Lbws at any cost. That's what ballers do, Peshawar in the exact same way will find your flaws and send you back!" Haris warned.
Fielders dispersing once again, Xavier twirled the ball in his hands. Feng tapping his bat on the batting crease looked up. The ball leaving Xavier's grasp he whispered, "Critical Pace: Evolved slashing knot!"
The ball slowly hitting the pitch, dispersed itself into 13 pieces. An evolved slashing knot heading towards Feng's wickets, he gulped uttering, "Clad Shield Defense…" The silver light flickering around the wicket, abruptly vanished as Xavier's expression widened.
Feng dropping his stance left his bat. And within the time the ball aimed inside the pitching line, travelled into the wickets blowing the mid stump and leg stump off! Bails crashing down and players bewildered.
Nidou squinted his gaze wordless. Senri stunned wasn't able to utter another word as the entire practice ground went silent.
"What…?" Alan murmured stunned.
"He's bowled…?" Aigou turned to the highschoolers in disbelief.
Elias unable to accept it shook his head, "Impossible, he could've stopped it with his Clad Shield Defense."
"You're right, it's his skill not a copied one, he could've easily used stopped that since Xavier never used his Realm. Moreover, a direct front foot defense before the ball crumbled would've also done the trick." Kazuna explained.
"Something like this coming from a Pace returning specialist is unbelievable. I bet something is wrong because I definitely don't believe it." Isa narrowed his gaze.
Feng standing straight removed his helmet shaking his head. Sweat dripping his forehead down to his hairs his complexion turned pale as he left the pitch.
"Feng…?" Xavier called as Ryan followed however Feng left, his expression hidden.
Senri stared at his back concerned.
Musa turned to Seles who came over. "Did something happen between you all?" Seles questioned.
Haris turning to the middleschoolers clarified as Azazel shook his head responding a 'No'.
Gabriel standing up from the pavilion headed out.
"Where are you going?" Poseidon questioned.
Gabriel unresponsive, left.
"Come on! Quit dazing now. Next up is Xavier. Pass the balling over to Azazel. Moreover, Nagi, get ready you are next. As for wicket keeping, Elias take charge. Get up! You lazy bugs! We have no time to lose!" Nidou took their attention. The highschoolers on move, Seraph dabbing Xavier's back encouraged.
"I don't know what's going on with him…" Xavier shook his head anxious, "I never took his wicket this effortlessly ever before."
"Don't worry. We're going to find out. Just focus on your turn." Helios patted his arm.
Feng sighing, found a spot to settle by the entrance of their temporary lodging, next to the fountain. Although the gentle, rhythmic splashing of the fountain's water produced a tranquil and sweet tune, it did not provide enough comfort for his anxious heart. Rubbing his hands on his face, Feng looked at the ground exhausted. His eyes sinking low and hairs hiding his tense countenance, "Vice-captain… must be disappointed. But I just can't help it..." he whispered dismayed, remembering…
(Last Night)
"And Nile Dawood…" Rauf ended.
Feng hearing the name looked up wide eyed, his thoughts a mess. "It's him…" he gulped at a loss of words. "I wasn't wrong. It wasn't a mistake either. He was there. It was really him…!" his thoughts rampaging, he clenched his fists tight.
Gabriel on the other hand blinked astonished.
"What's wrong Riel, Riel? Do you know him?" Adam inquired.
Seraph and Helios glanced at each other clueless.
"Yeah, he was my bowling partner back in my 1st and 2nd year. A right handed baller. We accomplished a lot together. But… he suddenly left the academy when I came to 3rd year. Our contact was completely cut off. Though I was aware that he transferred to Peshawar but I didn't thought that he'd join Peshawar's base." Gabriel told.
"Then isn't that good? You'll reunite with your longtime friend." Ren asked.
Gabriel silently nodded.
Feng instantly standing up requested, "Can I… go out for a bit?"
Rauf looking at Nidou glanced at Alan.
"You can, this meeting is also concluded. You are aware of your baling and batting orders now as well as your opponent's participating team members. Let's meet at the practice ground in 20 minutes." Mir dismissed.
Feng stepping outside the room made his way out. Xavier looked at him concerned.
"Nile Dawood, remember this name Feng Mir Ozer! It's going to haunt you for the rest of life!!" Ruthless words repeating all over his head, Feng shuddered. Chills leaving his spine he shook his head.
"No, it's all in the past. Don't remember it Feng. Everything has changed since then, you have changed…" he encouraged himself in a murmur. "But… right when I accepted everything about myself… Why does he have to appear right before me and at this time again…?" he thought crouching low. His head sunken in between his knees.
Senri flicking a coin from the wall behind witnessed his sight. Clasping the coin back in his palm, he stole a glance. Seeing Feng stand back up and hearten himself again and again, he exhaled, "Seems like… I have some really important tasks to complete from my bucket list."
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