"Holy shit, I think I'm starting to like you." He kept laughing as he got back in position for restart. I couldn't help but to feel bewilderment but I didn't want to lose focus.
Play started again and we're back in a push and pull affair. Cisqo wasn't as aggressive as he had been, he's played short passes trying to get down field methodically looking for a chance to get a shot on goal.
One, two, one, two. They passed the ball amongst each other 3 to 5 yards from each other's making tiny movements forward. They seem to be rocking us to sleep, and we were wasting energy chasing after a ball that didn't stay on someone's feet for more than a few seconds.
I knew it was coming. The best play would be a give and go after we got used to the rhythm.
Sekai didn't let the chance go and from behind she bodied one of the opposition and intercepted the ball. She immediately sent it back to me as she turned back around towards goal. A one touch pass and I lead her towards goal. With that, as I followed the play from behind, we should snatch 3-0 and the game.
Cisqo had different plans.
Like a wolf on the prowl he barely got his head on my killer pass. Killing the momentum and velocity of the ball he brought it back under his control.
The concentration on his face as he only had his eyes on the ball. I couldn't help but get chills on my arm. I could sense that something I didn't anticipate was coming.
I took my eyes off of Cisqo for a second to access my surroundings and when I looked back he was gone and with him the ball as well.
I was brought to a standstill trying to pinpoint where he gone where all the attention was gathered but even when I found him. I couldn't muster up the will to even stop him.
He was already on the right wing moving passed me with the most beautiful footwork I've ever seen. It was like the ball was stuck to his feet.
It never got too far away from his body, he wasn't even looking to pass. He was in another world.
Just him and the ball.
Several of my teammates tried to tackle the ball out of his position but it just ended in a fake out or a nutmeg sending them another direction.
He was unstoppable, until Zalika was upon him right outside of the box.
She had dominated the game up to that point. No one was faster, or stronger than her. If they tried to kick the ball past her, she would recover it before they could touch it again.
When they tried to jockey her for position she would just claim it like they were made of feathers.
This time however, pure athleticism couldn't overcome just beautiful skill.
Cisqo dribbled left and then right so quickly that it made Zalika's head spin.
That moment of disorientation was all Cisqo needed to fire at goal with a beautiful curling shot beating our goalkeeper to the top left corner.
I was stunned; I haven't moved an inch from my spot watching him. There was no doubt in my mind that I was playing with a professional who just happened to play pick up.
"LOOK ALIVE!"
Sekai ran forward and retrieved the ball to bring it back to the halfway line. Quickly she started play again passing it to our teammates on the left wing.
Her yell snapped me out of it and finally moved in support of her. Sekai must have noticed my space out because all of her attention was combining with the left wing as they advanced up field.
Everyone was tired and there was little resistance preventing us from getting the ball up field. I followed from behind, now ready to help in any way I could to secure a win.
Before long a cross came from the left wing trying to find Sekai again in the middle. The goal was beckoning to be had.
However, Cisqo visibly exhausted as he was. Came to turnover the ball one more time.
He gave his all to close Sekai down and prevented her from putting a shot on goal. Other opposing teammates were closing in on her as well, and it looked like her chance was all but gone.
I was still following the play approaching the box, my mindset was when she lost the ball, I would recover it and send it out wide to re-spark the attack.
Things started to slow to a standstill; I saw Sekai glance at me. Why were things moving so slowly? Why am I running so slow?
Sekai brought the ball closer to her body, brought her leg up minimally and used her heel to pass it back to me. Why is my vision starting to tremble?
I squared my body towards goal and waited for the ball to reach me. Cisqo's beauty of a goal flashed in my mind.
I started to hear whispers of a familiar female voice. My foot started to cock back. Isn't this too far out to shoot? My body was moving on its own like it was instinct.
The ball was finally here, and my vision was now shaking violently.
My foot then made contact with the ball, the shaking and whispers stopped, and time went back to normal.
I hit the ball one time cleanly towards the area of the goal, it curled perfectly and went into the top corner.
"YES!!" Sekai was beside herself celebrating in a defeated Cisqo face while he was left dejected, hands on his knees, head down.
"Your family is as nuts as you, mini-HE-MAN was impossible to get through. Where did you get 'Fabregas Jr' over there from." Cisqo complained and Sekai just smiled.
"Better luck next time." Cisqo stood up straight with a full smile on his face and dapped her up.
"There isn't a better man to lose to, run it again?" Sekai laughed.
"You're a glutton for punishment aren't you, maybe next time we have to get home." Cisqo shrugged his shoulders. He looked towards me and approached.
"You're a lot better than I thought, good game." He held out his hand to be shook. I hesitated.
After all that why would I shake hands with someone so disrespectful?
I was about to decide to let his hand stay there as I walked away but I felt my elbow being pushed forward and before I knew it my hand was in his and we shook.
Zalika walked past us smirking evilly as she headed towards Sekai.
"Hopefully this isn't the last time I see you, this was fun."
Smile as big as ever he reassured his pleasure with today's events. There wasn't a bone in me that wanted to reciprocate the positive words, so I just left without saying anything.
I walked towards the exit where Sekai and Zalika were waiting with jeering smiles.
"Why did you do that Zalika, I had no intention of shaking that guys hand." Giggling to herself she responded.
"I thought it would be funnier than you brooding all the way back, besides I felt like I was looking at two of the same kind of people. You should love yourself more."
She gave a big laugh as we started to head back in the direction of the condo.
"Excuse me? When have I ever been that disrespectful and rude? I don't even know him!" Zalika laughter got even louder.
"That smile he had on says otherwise. It looked like he was ready for more, and sounds familiar 'Dekama Boy'?" Zalika seemed like her grudge with me was resolved perfectly. In her eyes I got a taste of my own medicine. Neither of these times were any of my intentions.
"Enough, it really wasn't that serious. I'm surprised you took it so personally, this is sports trash talking, it happens all the time.
I doubt he was serious, believe it or not Cisqo is a better guy than that. Trash talking like that is a part of everyday life, get used to it. You really need to get out more.
I only mentioned it to put some fire in your butt since you were playing like it was Sunday morning stroll." Sekai switched back to her normal voice as we walked down significantly less crowded streets.
I felt increasingly more stupid and dejected. I hanged my head while walking, my attitude was entirely unwarranted.
"By the way your eyes-" I raised my head and returned Sekai's probing gaze. She stared for a moment and then shook her head. "Never mind I think the sun was playing tricks on me."
Our walk back to our building was uneventful, as we walked through the front door only Talib was present in the living room deep into his CPU writing code. Immediately, Sekai started to unwrap herself under her shirt while letting out a huge sigh.
"Christ, it was getting to the point I couldn't breathe its unbearable."
She crumbled up the sweaty tape and threw it at Talib's face. Not even noticing it, it landed on his head, and he started fighting with it like a live spider had engulf his face.
"THE HELL!" Sekai kept walking with a nonchalant attitude.
"If you were actually in the real world, you could have avoided it, get off the computer." Talib threw it back at her and continued his coding.
I looked to Zalika who didn't look tired or uncomfortable at all.
"You going to take off your tape as well? It must be bothering you." She looked up at me and shrugged her shoulders.
"Naw I'm perfectly fine I actually think I need another workout before class tonight."
"Surprise, Surprise, Checkerboard didn't need the tape in the first place." Sekai shot back at her as she disappeared into the girl's bathroom.
Zalika ears turned bright red, and she ran after her looking for blood.