Elian woke up to a new day, but not without having collected Aria's phone number. He was loving this new feeling of being able to train all through the night while in his sleep, he couldn't wait for the match they had the following day. He deserved this now, he had to prove himself once again to his teammates and his coach. Even though it was not quite clear if he was going to start the match.
Elian looked at his wristwatch, it was almost time for him to meet the director.
"Hey, Meta. Are you there?" Elian asked, as if having a feeling that Meta was suddenly going disappear.
"Hey." Meta replied. "What's the news?"
Elian shrugged. "Nothing, just making sure that you're still there."
Meta laughed. "Ha! Where could I possibly go to? Unfortunately for me, I'm stuck to your brain."
"Yeah. Sounds like you don't like that."
Meta hissed silently. "What's there to love about it? Being all stationary and stuff."
"Well, that's who you are. Not like you could change it or anything." Elian answered, a bit somber.
Meta went silent. He didn't understand himself now, for that few seconds right there, it didn't seem to him like he was the one speaking.
Elian grabbed his sports bag as he walked out of his room. It was almost time for the meeting with the director, he knew the man was always quite strict to time as he took it as a disciplinary matter, so he was always right on time.
"Elian. Are you off already? Won't you eat?" Elian turned around to look at the fair woman with thick dark hair who was his mom."
The woman continued. "I'm cooking something up already, you won't even stay for breakfast? You usually don't train this early."
Elian nodded. "That's right. I've got a meeting with the director today, that's why I'm leaving."
"Yikes!" Elian's mother said, as if jolted by the mentioning of the director. "That man's a time maniac, you better leave now."
Elian laughed. "Bye, Mom. I'll be back soon."
"Byeeee."
Elian stood outside the director's office, for some reason, his heart suddenly started beating faster. He took a few deep calming breaths before he knocked twice and walked into the office.
The director looked up. seeing Elian, he closed the laptop in front of him and now, Elian and his full attention.
"Have a seat." The director said, ushering Elian into his office.
"Let's get back to the conversation about the soccer game." The director said, an uneven calm pulsating through his voice.
"Sir, I'm having a terrible season, I'm not scoring, I'm not assisting... I'm just not contributing to the team like I used to."
"Elian, what's going on? I know you're better than this. What's happening? I watched the highlights of every match you've played this season and it's not even a shadow of your former self, what is this that you're doing?"
"I don't know, I'm just not in the right mindset, I guess. I'm making mistakes, I'm slow on the ball... it's like I've lost my touch!" Elian said, sounding exasperated.
"Okay, let's break it down. What do you think is causing this slump?"
"Honestly... I think it's just pressure. I'm having a feeling that my mind is not in this any longer. Expectations are high, and I'm feeling like I'm letting everyone down."
"I see. Well, Elian, put your mind back in it and you need to remember that football is a team sport. We win together, we lose together. You don't carry the weight of the team on your shoulders alone. Maybe if you don't try to do that, something will be different."
Elian knew himself, this was certainly not the case with him. Why would he try to carry everyone's burden alone? He wasn't that kind neither was he a damned hero.
"I know, but it's just hard to shake off the feeling that I'm not doing enough. The feeling of being a minus to the team." Elian said, finally allowing the bad feelings get to him.
"That's right, Elian. You're not doing enough, But certainly not a minus. But you're still a vital part of this team, and we need you to snap out of this funk! Do I have your word that you're out of this shitty phase? Do I have your word that your confidence isn't dead yet?"
"Yes sir." Elian spoke quietly. But really, he wasn't that sure either. He just hoped Meta and the Awakening System would come to his rescue.
"Okay, Director... thanks for understanding." Elian spoke.
"That aside." The director said. "To the main reason I called you here today. We've received an offer for you from Nottingham Forest…"
The director paused, waiting to see any reaction from Elian. But Elian didn't give any kind of reaction, he just sat there, a blank expression on his face, staring right into the directors eye.
But inwardly, Elian was going crazy. "What??? Nottingham? I don't wanna go there!!!"
"Calm down!" Meta yelled in his head. "Listen to what the director is trying to say, you're doing well enough by keeping a blank face. If your mind is in disarray, then I can't function properly. Stop panicking, it's affecting me too!"
Elian took in a deep breath, slowly but surely steadying his breathing.
The Director continued. We're still considering the offer. But knowing that you're better than this, we have decided to let you stay a bit longer. Their offer is expiring in two weeks, so you still have a chance to perform. Show me, show us what you've got. You won't be leaving on a two year loan if you can get your head back in the game before the end of two weeks."
****
Elian walked out of the directors office with mixed feelings. They had a match against PSG the next day. It was a Tuesday, a champions league quarter finals match. Elian wondered if he was even going to be given a chance to play.
Elian was given no time to ponder on this again because his phone rang. It was Maya calling.
"Don't bother picking." Elian turned around only to see Maya walking up to him, her car parked behind her.
Elian raised a brow. "How do you always seem to know where I am?"
Maya shrugged. "If we could create the Awakening System down at the nexus lab, what can't we do?
Elian sighed at that. She had a pretty valid point.
"So. To what do I owe this visit?" Elian asked, he wasn't sure he was that comfortable with Maya around him.
Maya raised a brow with a decisive smile. "You seem quite busy, don't you?"
Elian rubbed his head awkwardly. "Umm…I'm going through a rough period right now, so…"
Maya shrugged. "It's alright." How's the system working?"
Elian nodded slowly as he peered into Maya's eyes. "It's working quite fine for now."
Maya nodded. "You have my number, if anything ever goes wrong, call me."
Elian chuckled a bit worriedly. "You make it sound like something is supposed to go wrong."
Maya shook her head. "Not really." But this is science, not fantasy. That system was created down there, in our lab. Something could always go wrong."
Elian nodded. "Okay. So could you please tell me what exactly could go wrong? Or at least something bad that could happen? So I'd be on the look out for it and contact you immediately."
Maya paused a little. "I can't tell you much. But I'll tell you this, trust me. Make sure no one ever finds out about this system in your head. And, if you ever feel like you're having an identity crisis, call me immediately. We'll sort this out together."
Elian stared at her, wondering why she was sounding like that. She sounded like a high school girl talking to her cherished boyfriend who was going through a hard time.
"Where was this created?" Elian asked.
He noticed Maya's face immediately become stern. "Don't get too inquisitive, boy."
Elian looked her over. She was older than him quite alright, but she looked like a very young adult, about 20 or 19 years old. Still, he didn't appreciate her calling him boy like that, as if she was speaking to a child. But he didn't dare voice it out.
Now, come to think of it…she looked a lot like Aria…
"Forget that." Maya continued. "Like I said, If you feel like you're having an identity crisis, reach out to me immediately."
Elian sighed. "And what does it feel like to have an identity crisis?"
Maya paused a bit. Mmm…let's see…if you suddenly say things that don't feel like you; or you suddenly act out of character. Your brain might be telling you that there's nothing wrong, but if you can't shrug that feeling off, then know that something's wrong."
Elian was serious now. "And it's if this is in a bad way, right?
Maya took a step closer. "Not just a bad way. In a dark way. You'll understand it once it happens."