A couple of days passed by, and I got another match, another and another. The audience started to know my name. The guy who I owed him a drink started to be my fan. He was there for every match. Some people shouted my name, and some people still shouted for me to leave the place. Honestly, I didn't mind any of them; after the first match, Mr. Laith told me to focus on what was in front of me or what was important that I always lived my life. I used to see Ava, Aven, Mum, and Xin for most of my life. And now I see Mr. Laith, Emris, Coach, Raden, and the rest of the team were added to my picture. It feels like the world is getting a bit smaller than before.
Mr. Laith walked with me to the stage with Coach every match and stayed until the fight was over. He was always there smiling beside Coach. Emris and Raden never came to my fight, or perhaps they watched me from the top tower in the glass-view VIP room. Who would have known? After the match, I got changed and headed to the Playground with Coach and Mr. Laith.
Sometimes, the conversation between Mr. Laith and two team members about Mr. Laith and me, that he wanted me to stay because he also wanted to spend time with me or something around this area popped into my head. I heard them talking behind the wall. At first, I thought it would be absurd, or I would feel uncomfortably weird with him, and I would probably have some distance from him like how I used to react or take action–quit the job and find another new job, complain with Ava. But surprisingly, I handled it well and kept being myself with him and with the rest. I don't mind him grabbing my hands and holding them without permission. Perhaps because of the habits or the acclimation. But Xin, on the other hand, wanted to eat his head all the time; his excuse was that his head was like pudding. It bounced and looked soft.
After the match, I walk to the Playground on my own because Mr. Laith has to do something that he didn't mention to me, but I'll meet him there later. Before I turn myself inside the building, I see him pacing around the room, from the TV games to the ping-pong table.
What is he doing?...he looks stressed.
'He might be doing the exercise.'
What…
'Walking repeatedly like the old folks at the park.'
Then why is he there?
I open the door, and before I ask, Mr. Laith turns to see me with a nervously excited reaction.
"Roelle."
"Are you alright, Mr. Laith?"
"He's sure more than alright."
One of the team members, whom I didn't notice earlier.
"Come, sit. I have something to give you."
"Give me?"
I am curious and sit as he says.
Then he kneels before me. I look at him with curiosity and shock. He takes the box from the medium-sized paper bag and puts it beside him. He opens the box, and I see the beautiful sneakers inside.
"Mr. Laith…"
"I'm sorry that I lost your favorite shoes."
"...I accepted your apology long ago, Mr. Laith…you don't have to buy me a new one."
"I want to. It was custom-made for you."
He tells me while touching my ankle and puts the new pair of shoes on me.
"..."
I admire the most unique sneakers I've ever seen. They're not too out of this world, but they're still beautiful. They're deep blue, almost dark, but when the light hits them, they reflect the light blue in them.
"It's blue…like your hair."
Mr. Laith looks at me.
"And also your eyes…when it shines."
"..."
I am stunned by what he says.
"Do you like it?"
He asks.
"...Yes, thank you Mr. Laith…it's very beautiful…"
I tell him and I can't help myself to smile.
"Hehe. I'm glad."
He smiles and pats me on my head.
Then I notice Emris standing watching us at the entrance. We're locking eyes for a moment then he walks away to the second floor while holding the light purple bag in his hand.
"Awkward."
Another team member speaks up lightly.
I watch him fading away, and Mr. Laith holds my face to look at him.
"I'm glad that you survived 3 matches in a row, Roelle."
"This gift is a reward?"
"Heh, no. I told you because I want to give you…but you can see it as a reward or apology gift from me. I don't mind…But I hope you will wear them."
"You give me a lot, Mr. Laith. I don't have anything to give you back."
"You come into my life. That's enough."
"Wooo..."
The two team members make a teasing sound on Mr. Laith. Then he glares back at them.
"I mean, you chose to join my team, listen to me, train hard, and win the matches…That's quite a lot of giving back to me."
"...That's my job."
"Heh, yes. This is…also likely that way…you're my responsibility, Roelle. So…the things you said earlier that you need the backup…at the city. Because you're not so sure about this life…with me, with us…the team."
Actually, I feel so comfortable that I'm scared about the future. If something really happens accidentally or purposely to me or to us, I would not be able to handle it well because if I totally lean on them, on Mr. Laith…I will not be able to get back up on my own.
"This job might not be stable and dangerous, but…I just want to say…No matter what happens in Doldrums or the city, I am always there for you…"
"Because I am your responsibility?"
"...Because we're a team now…you're important to me."
"..."
"Thank you, Mr. Laith…You're the first…team leader that has said something like that…and you've always been the same since we first met and until now…You're a very genuine and creepy person that is very important to me…"
"!!"
I hug him.
"Thank you."
I tell him.
He hugs me back, and about to hug me tighter, I get up first.
"I'll wear them for the next match."
And look at the shoes and swift them back and forth.
"Hehe...Roelle…I am creepy?"
"...yes."
"Pfttt."
The two team members.
"But you're a good team leader, unlike the others I experienced."
"...What did they do to you?"
"I think…it's inappropriate to say it out loud to other people."
"..."
His eyes are wide open.
"Thank you again, Mr. Laith…I have to clean myself…maybe you do too. You hug me and wipe my sweat out. Hehe."
"Heh…heh."
"See you later."
I take the paper bag and the shoe box with me upstairs.
…
"You're not going to clean, aren't you, team leader?"
Team member no. one.
"Who do you think I am, a pervert?"
"...heh."
Team member no. one.
"Those team leaders probably messed her up…to be that cautious all the time."
Team member no. two.
"Remember when she first came here? She gave a lot of distance between us, especially you, team leader."
Team member no. one.
"Yes."
Laith.
"I thought that she would quit after a few days, but she knows how to handle him…hahaha, she's so straightforward. I really like her personality."
Team member no. two turns to talk with his mate.
"She always makes him feel off guard. Like the words, hypocrites, creepy, psychopath."
"It's straight to his core…I'm still amazed that the team leader is still after her, trying to win her heart even though he has no chance."
"Well, our team leader doesn't feel any shame, though."
"Hey!! I'm fucking still here if you don't know…"
Laith yells at them and glares with a scary stare.
"Sorry! team leader!"
They both flinch.
…
I carry the paper bag and the shoe box to my room, and I notice another light purple bag lying on the floor, blocking my room door.
Hmm.
I look down at it and pick it up. Then, I get inside the room, and Xin shuts the door for me. I lay all the bags on the couch, take off my brand-new shoes, and put them in the shoe box. I look inside the light purple bag.
"!!!"
I take them out. It's my old pair of shoes that Mr. Laith left them there in the underground.
"How!?"
'Woah, how can they come back here?'
How?
'Okay, creepy…'
Then I realize Emris carried this back with him on his way.
Really? Emris? Did he find my shoes? but it was several days ago. How could he find them?
I hurriedly run out of my room with my socks on and carry my favorite black shoes with me, heading to Emris's room.
"Knock, Knock."
"..."
"Knock, Knock."
Then Emris opens the door for me.
"...Hi."
I say to him, and he glances at the shoes in my hands and is about to close the door.
"Wait!"
I shout at him and put my right foot to block the gap.
"You found my shoes?"
"..."
"How?"
"..."
"Thank you."
"..."
He glances at my socks.
"Where are your shoes?"
"Hm?"
"Laith gave you a new one."
"Ah…I took them off."
"..."
"So you are the one who found my shoes?"
"You said it's your favorite…you can throw them in the trash…you have a new one."
"...No, it's still my favorite one. How can I throw them in the trash…And you were the one who brought them to me…Hehehe. I couldn't believe it."
I smile with an excited feeling
"Do you love those shoes that much?...they're all torn up."
"Well, yes. But you are the one who makes me feel happy, not the shoes."
"..."
He's still staring at me.
"Thank you…I want to hug you right now, but I'm in all my sweat."
"..."
"Thank you, Emris."
I tell him and am about to turn away.
"!"
Then he grabs my arm.
"Did you just come back from the match?"
He asks.
"Yes."
"When is your next one?"
"I'm not sure...Why? Are you going to come to see me?"
I tilt my head to him.
"..."
"No? Of course, you'll never come to see me anyway."
I pout my lips a little, teasing him.
"I'll go…see you next time."
"..."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Mmm."
I make a sound, questioning him.
"..."
Then he lets go of my arm.
"Thank you for the shoes, Emris."
I tell him and leave him.