"Tanaka fucking Yào, pass the damn ball. This is our lane!! Stop shooting beyond the pass line."
An angry grunt came from a short, sixteen years old kid who's eyes hold wisdom, betraying his own age.
At this moment, Tanaka was conflicted between passing the ball to the short boy or being tackled down by seven angry opponents. It wasn't an easy pass and he'd failed three times already to secure a good opening that ensures victory.
'Damn, I'm losing this bet! That's 200 rads off my pocket.'
Tanaka turned towards the approaching seven, and his gaze fixed at the angry short kid.
No, there were like eleven of them already angry at his terrible playing.
"What the fuck, Tanaka is so horrible."
Tanaka trembled at that comment, getting distracted at the last moment and then losing the ball for the third time.
"Damn, Tanaka!"
Tanaka stared at his teammates. They no longer felt enthusiastic about the game anymore.
The scoreboard showed.
Blackvan: - 3
Seagull: - 0
Tanaka's teammates were the Seagulls and all because of Tanaka, the middle fielder they haven't managed to secure even one goal.
Coach Isuryburg stared at him, very disappointed.
And then, the Blackvans scored their fourth goal. The Blackvans scored against them, their overall score points summing a total of 4 goals in 90 minutes, and the match was over.
Tanaka walked out of the field, coach Isuryburg staring at him with malice. His teammates also cut him with their unwilling gazes.
"Coach, I want him out of the team!" Isaac demanded.
"Man, he plays like hell. Doesn't this guy know that he's so terrible. His playing skills don't even give him an F-ranked capability. They give nothing at all."
Tanaka stared at James, the person who seconded Isaac.
"Tell him to leave, I can't stand him."
That was Nishida.
Tanaka could feel his heart bleed. They broke into tiny fragments, difficult to put together.
And finally, Coach Isuryburg made a decision.
He said.
"Tanaka Yào, you're dismissed from Seagull balling School!"
Tanaka's eyes widened.
"But sir—"
Mr Isuryburg shook his head. "No buts Yào, you know fully well and understand the rules of this company, you flop, you get kicked out and you've flopped countlessly. That makes it difficult to trust you again on the field."
When Isuryburg stopped talking, Tanaka realized it. He needed to leave. So he made his way to the locker room just so that he could pack his stuff.
Sad and depressed, he remembered how he had desperately pressured his parents to bring send him to à football school. His parents had supported him although they did not encourage him in it. They preferred that he learnt a trade or go job hunting after college, but he had bugged them for the money and now after many years — he was being thrown out not accomplishing anything at all.
Tanaka had learnt for six years and was promised that once he gets to eighteen years, which he is supposed to complete the following year, the company would start paying him monthly for playing.
And now, there is a setback.
It would be as if he had spent six years in football school for nothing and he is being chased away.
Is this where it all ends?
His career?
His future?
Still lost in his thoughts, three figures walked into the locker room and they stood in front of him, their faces contorted in a snarl, and twisted grins on them.
"You made a bet!"
Tanaka stared at the young man, Lin Tao.
"I made a bet of 200 rads."
Another guy intercepts suddenly.
"Bloody bastard, you made a bet of 2000 rads and not two hundred. We want all of our money."
Tanaka blinked.
"Wait what? Hey, I never said 2000 rads, I said 200. It shouldn't be so difficult to understand."
Another man, Clark growled like he was getting displeased by what Tanaka is saying.
"Angry Clark doesn't like what you've spurted out. We already know the amount you've placed as your bet so it's in your place to pay back."
Tanaka suddenly stammered.
"B— but I don't have such money."
"Well we do not care at all whether you have the money or not. We're here for you."
Tanaka's eyes widened.
And then, as swift as the wind, Tanaka ducked to the side, lifted up a lone stick and wacked Lin Tao on the back, pushing Angry Clark aside and punching Thomas two steps back.
Strangely, he was ahead of them, running away as if his life depended on it. And of course, these men bolted after him, their veins popping in anger and frustration. That was their only way of making their daily wages, gambling and betting, Tanaka just happened to be one of their unfortunate victim.
***
Having finally escaped his pursuers, Tanaka made his way to the hill which overlooked a massive river.
He had run into this place when trying to shake off the three boys and he actually did.
When he realized that he is finally alone once more, he went frantic with thoughts of his childhood.
His father is a petty carpenter and his mother — a trader.
Their jobs had been enough to gather a few rads that helped hold the family together.
And then, Tanaka's younger brother, Lim, was born on the very same birthday as him except that he was older by seven years. Tanaka had gone to preschool, middle School and high school.
And then he entered the football Seagulls league only to get a full dose of humiliation. With each day that goes by, Tanaka's playing skills only grew worse which made his teammates wonder if he was given a seed of failure to eat.
And of course, Tanaka had always made bets and lost to it, losing so much money in the process.
Tanaka suddenly realized.
Going back home to his parents would only bring about more humiliation. Who in that neighborhood doesn't know that he had been in the football academy for six years, so coming back without an achievement would be a huge disgrace.
Shouldn't I just end it?
Tanaka stared at the river.
He could just launch himself into the river and drown or, he would simply pummel down the forest and die from the impact.
Tanaka steeled his resolve.
His mind ready for his suicide attempt.
His calves bent slightly reàdy to jump— but a rock dropped from above, slamming right at Tanaka, causing the young man to take two steps back, disoriented.
"What the hell is that?"
And then, his vision suddenly blurred as dizziness dosed him mentally and subconsciously.
"What the–"
And he suddenly collapsed on the floor, suddenly falling asleep.