When Alexis and his mom reached home, he didn't say a word. His mom didn't pester him either, she knew and understood her son. If he wanted to talk to her then he would've spoken already. Pestering him would probably just make him angry.
Alexis went straight to his room after he reached home. For a solid two hours, he just stared at the wall, looking around at all the football posters that he had on his wall.
"Fuck me". He muttered under his breath after being silent for a long while.
Being laid off by the academy didn't affect him as much as it would've done a couple of days ago, but still it was a tough blow to take. The fact they even his coach didn't believe in him anymore started to make his confidence waiver.
The coach might've said that he tried to convince them and all, but that was probably just to appease Alexis. If he really put his foot down then the academy would have had no choice but to listen to him.
After thinking some more, Alexis went over to his mom's room and had a talk with her. They talked for short period of time. After beating around the bush a bit, he finally talked about what happened earlier.
"So... I was released today". Alexis said slowly. "From the academy".
His mom chuckled. "I figured".
"I can't say I don't understand why". Alexis continued talking. "I just... I don't know... I guess I thought that they were at least going to give me a chance to prove myself".
Alexis's mom smiled and hugged her son. "Never expect anyone to give you anything for no reason. You have to give them a reason to". She said. "And regarding the academy issue. Just because those wankers don't think you're good enough, that doesn't mean anyone won't think you're good enough".
Alexis smiled. "I don't reckon any academy in London is going to want to give me a chance. My story went viral".
"Who says we're staying in London? I got a job offer two weeks ago in Birmingham. I would've said yes right away but I assumed you were going to continue in Real Stars". She smiled. "All of a sudden, everything seems quite convenient doesn't it?"
Alexis was speechless for a few seconds. He didn't have any words to say, he just tightened his grip around his mom. She had done so much for him, ever since he could remember.
His dad died earlier than he could remember and since then his mom had been the only one there for him. Even though she was busy with work, she always made time to attend his matches, or take him for training, or go with him to shop for new jerseys. She was never too busy for him.
When he was younger, he didn't understand the things that his mom did for him but he was growing older, he started to understand the significance of what she was doing and had done for him.
Even now, when both of them didn't even know whether he would ever play football again, she was extremely close to rejecting a job offer just so he could continue playing football.
At this point he felt that he could not quit. Even if he felt like he was defeated and all hope was lost he couldn't quit, because he wasn't just playing for himself anymore, he was playing for his mom.
"Thank you". Alexis muttered after almost a minute passed in silence.
His mom didn't respond, she just had a faint smile on her face, a single teardrop falling from her eyes.
***
Ten months had already passed since his injury. By this time, he had already recovered completely from the injury.
At the sixth and seventh month after his injury, he had removed his cast and was able to start running and walking. He was told to take things slow as not to hinder his recovery. Now however, he was completely recovered.
He was wearing a black top along with black jersey shorts. He had a pair of trainers on his legs and held his socks, chin pads and soccer boot on in his hand. He was going to a park nearby to train.
Ever since he was told that he was cleared to play football, he had been training alone. He would sometimes just run with the ball at his feet, trying to familiarize himself with the ball.
The doctors were right, the ball felt weird on his legs after a few practice runs. He got used to it over time, but it wasn't as easy as it used to be.
At first, Alexis was banking on the system to help him with this phase of his recovery but the system had gone quiet ever since his first conversation with it. He had to do his best to convince himself that it wasn't a dream.
***
'One more shot' Alexis thought to himself. In front of him was a goal post and his football was just a few centimeters away from his right foot.
He took two giant steps back then raced forward and shot the ball. The ball took a curved parabolic path, dipping downwards to hit the bar of the post.
"Shit". Alexis muttered to himself.
"Nice shot". A familiar voice called out to Alexis.
He looked up and smiled. He saw a familiar face. He didn't know where he had seen him from, but he knew that he recognized his face.
The person that talked smiled back and walked over to him. "Hi, I'm Myles, from school". He stretched out his hand for a handshake.
Alexis smiled and gripped his hand. "Alexis".
"Are you new here? You only started coming in the last couple of weeks". Myles said.
"Yeah, I just moved in a couple of weeks ago". Alexis said.
"Oh, that figures". Myles smiled. "My friends and want to play a little match and we're one player short. Would you want to play?"
Alexis thought for a few moments. On one hand, he hadn't played team football for almost a year and didn't even know if he'd be good enough, and on the other hand, he simply didn't want to.
While he was in a dilemma, he heard a bell chime in his head,a sound that he had spent the last ten months waiting for.
|Ding! Host has been given a surprise mission|
|Mission: play and win a match of street football|
|Reward: Total recovery from ACL injury|
A/N:
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