LOGINSKY
I sank into the couch of my apartment, mindlessly shoving popcorn into my mouth as I watched William in the finals. My anger simmered beneath the surface, and I couldn’t stop thinking about my suspension. It wasn't my fault. Watching the replay over and over, it was obvious the mistake had been Levi’s, not mine. I clenched my fists and let it go since he was the one but it was better for me to take the fall than him even though I still find it weird that the coach didn't even claim anything, rather he suspended me. I watched how William played right in the finals, though he wanted to give up the match for me. Well weird to think that I was that important. Watching him on the field, I felt hurt, and also admired him every pass, and how he played with ease made me admire his moves. It was easy to see why he was captain, and all I could do was sit there, popcorn in hand, bitter and helpless, watching him shine. He had been calling and texting me all week, but I ignored him. Oh let's not talk about the threatening part, but weirdly I knew he would never do it. Since he was in another country, I thought I could finally breathe without him hovering over me. I was still halfway through the match replay, a mouthful of popcorn in hand, when the doorbell rang. I wasn’t expecting anyone, especially now that I am suspended. I just need to sit in my apartment doing nothing. The sound startled me a little, echoing through the apartment. Without bothering to check who it was, I walked to the door and swung it open. But regret washed through me when I saw William standing right there. His sunglasses still on along with a mask on his face to disguise himself., He looked every bit the man who had just won a championship. “What the hell… how did you even get here?” I stammered, my words stumbling over shock. He didn’t answer. Instead, he stepped inside, shutting the door with one swift motion. Before I could take another breath, he caught me by the wrist and pushed me back against the door. “Your eyes… Who hurt you?” I stared at him and rolled my eyes. I can't tell him I have been crying or even my state of my predicament. He might laugh at me. “No one..” I replied he stared at me for some seconds and then I noticed how his eyes trailed down to my lip “Let me..” his lips crashed into mine leaving my words hanging as his body pressed against mine, the scent of his cologne surrounding me, his hand sliding up my arm and cupping the side of my neck at the same time lips moved hard, his breath hot against my skin. I tried to push him away, but he only tightened his hold, deepening the kiss until I had to twist to get free. My hand came up to his chest, but before I could shove him again, I bit down on his lower lip. He hissed in pain and drew back slightly, a smear of red marking his mouth. His eyes flicked down to mine, his chest rising and falling with the same rhythm as mine. “Wow! I missed this..” he let out, touching his lip. “Stay back! What is wrong with you? Didn't you just…” I let out so pissed, he is the cause of my suspension anyway. “I didn't travel seven hours back here for you to act this cold with me,” he interrupted me and then pulled me roughly close to him. “Wil…” his hands smacked my butt and I shut my eyes in frustration. “Can you pl…” “I missed you so much,” he murmured, his words brushing against my skin like heat. His face drew nearer until I could feel the rhythm of his breath against my cheek. I turned slightly, keeping my eyes fixed anywhere but on him. “I missed your…” he started, but paused for a moment my brows knit in confusion, but before I could ask, his hand slid behind my neck, fingers curling as he guided my face to the side, forcing me to meet his gaze. “What is this?” he muttered, his thumb grazing the side of my neck where the faint mark sat. “What do you think it is?” I replied, my tone cutting through the space between us, as I recalled how Levi had spent the night here and wouldn't stop trailing kisses on my neck all in the name of trying to comfort me. His expression darkened at once. “I told you never to let him touch you,” he snarled, his hand tightening just enough to make me tense. “I want my woman untouched.” I jerked his hand away and shoved him backward, my pulse hammering. “Who the hell do you think you are? I am not yours! I have a fiancé, and he’s the only one who should be claiming for me.” He exhaled sharply, dragging his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Damn!” He cursed out, leaving confused as to why he was acting that way. Then, without warning, he stepped in again and slammed his palm against the wall beside my head, trapping me in the narrow space between us. “Did you sleep with him?” he asked, his tone laced with disbelief. A faint, daring smile tugged at my lips. “Yeah,” I said, letting the word linger in the air. “Does that bother you?” At once he grabbed my neck instantly, making my eyes widen. “Did you read the contract at all? You sleep with him and then whatever night you spend with me is void.” My body trembled at this, if there is one fear I had is restarting again when I am just a few times to be free. No, I didn't have sex with him. I had only responded that way to piss him off but I didn't like where this was going. “I didn't sleep with him… I was able to control him.” A grin appeared on his face immediately and I rolled my eyes. “Don’t play with me next time,” he warned as he let go of me and then walked into the living room “William… please leave… I don't want to create suspicion.”I pleaded, just wanting him to leave. “I am hungry.” he let out instead plumping on the sofa, “wow… You're watching my replay… guess you are obsessed with me?” He teased me. “Your wish? Now get the heck up and leave.” “Well… I am not leaving until you cook. I am hungry.” I laughed, frustrated, rubbing my temples. “What do you want?” I asked, already dreading his answer. “My favorite.” He leaned back in the chair, that smug look tugging at the corner of his lips. I took a deep breath, forcing myself not to lose it. And for your information, he had forced me to know what his favorite is. “Fine.” I let out a small sigh and pushed myself off the couch, walking toward the kitchen. The cold air from the refrigerator hit my face the moment I opened it. I stared at the shelves for a long moment, hoping maybe I could pretend not to see what I knew he wanted. But there it was neatly wrapped, sitting right in front of me the pack of grilled chicken and steak he had bought himself and left in my fridge two weeks ago. I muttered under my breath, grabbing it anyway. “You are unbelievable.” From the living room, his voice let out lazily. “You are welcome.” I rolled my eyes. “I didn’t thank you.” “You will,” he replied, his tone full of that teasing confidence that always made my nerves twitch. I set the meat on the counter, shaking my head as I pulled out the vegetables broccoli, carrots, and a few peppers. He knew I didn’t like cooking meat, especially not steak. The smell alone made me want to gag. But he had this way of making sure things went his way, slipping into my life like he owned it After an hour I was finally done with it, but I didn't hear him talk, all this while. I walked toward the living room, dropping the food on the dining table. “William?” I called but he didn't respond, “William…” I called again confused until I heard a sound from my room and that was when it dawned on me. I headed toward my room, frustration bubbling inside me, only to freeze the moment I stepped in. William stood there, my bras, and pants close to his face were buried in it as if inhaling a forbidden scent and this made my stomach twist. “William!” I shouted, rushing toward him, trying to snatch it away, but he only lifted his arm higher, teasing me. “I swear to God, if you don’t give that back, I will…” He tilted his head slightly, his voice deep and mocking. “You will what?” I felt my throat tighten. “Why are you doing this to me? You are driving me insane. Please, just stop.” I cried out. His lips curled into a sly smile. “No.” Anger took over as I lunged at him, but we both lost balance, falling onto the floor with him landing on top of me. His laughter brushed against my ear as he placed the panties against my face. I snatched them away, glaring. “You smell good down there,” he said, his tone low and teasing. “You want me, don’t you?” “Not today. I have plans,” I muttered, shoving him off. He chuckled, unbothered. “You will. Because your next night will be in my villa.” I rolled my eyes, too tired to argue with his arrogant nonsense. Then he leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “I missed you, did you miss me?” I scoffed. “Never.” He only smirked in return. “That’s fine by me.” Before I could say anything else, the doorbell rang. “Shit,” I muttered under my breath, scrambling to my feet. “Levi said he told me he will stop by after training,”SKY“Warm up!” I clapped my hands twice, and loudly. The girls groaned but started jogging the perimeter of the pitch anyway. Their legs looked heavy, breaths coming in short, ragged bursts. Sweat soaked through their kits, as their hair stuck to their foreheads and necks. They were exhausted, and I knew it. But if they wanted to keep testing me with attitude, they were going to get the kind of training that made legends or broke egos.After three full laps at pace, I raised my hand. “Take five.”They didn’t even pretend to jog the last few steps before they collapsed onto the grass like their bodies had finally permitted to quit. Some lay flat on their backs, chests heaving. Others curled onto their sides, hands on knees, gulping air. A few crawled toward the water coolers like they were crossing a desert.I watched them for a second, arms crossed, letting the silence settle before I walked over.“Coach… this isn’t fair,” Maya muttered from the ground, voice hoarse.“Shut up,” Ja
SKYMy stomach let out one final, pitiful growl, but I barely registered it anymore. I just kept staring at the single sad packet of instant noodles I had pulled from the almost-empty cabinet, the “thing I just got.” The kitchen light buzzed faintly overhead, casting long shadows across the chipped counter. Weirdly, the hunger didn’t feel as urgent as the loneliness that had settled in my chest like damp concrete. No missed calls or texts lighting up my phone. Just silence, thick and accusing.I sighed, long and ragged, and decided to call my sister. I hoisted myself onto the kitchen counter, legs dangling, the cold edge biting into the backs of my thighs. My mood was already sour and the hunger was only making it worse, turning every thought jagged. I scrolled to her name, thumb hovering, then pressed call.Ashley still hadn’t replied to any of my messages from yesterday to the day before that. We had both screwed up in our own ways, said things we couldn’t take back, and now the
WILLIAMI had been waiting for it, it had come the moment she finally used the black card I gave her. When I had first given it to her I knew she might not want to use it after all she hated me more than anyone.Who would like the rival of their fiancé and also at the same time do what they want after getting manipulated.But seeing her asking for my pin and that she would use it made me so excited.I was still staring at my phone, thumb hovering over our last text thread, a small smile pulling at my mouth, when Victor shoved his screen in my face.“Bro. Your girl’s out here begging to get her old job back.” I blinked, focus shifting to the headline glaring up at me.“She’s Back in the Mask… Is Sky Morgan Pleading for Her Old Club to Take Her Back Ahead of the Big Match? Will They Even Consider It?”Photos loaded beneath the text and shots from outside Levi’s training center. Sky walked out, mask pulled down, chin high, ignoring the phones pointed at her. Anger hit fast and low in m
SKYThe grocery store felt colder than usual, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead like they were judging every move I made. I had gotten so used to William showing up with bags of fresh food protein shakes, pre-cut veggies, and those little energy bars I pretended to be annoyed by but secretly loved that my own fridge had started looking empty and pathetic. Tonight, I needed to prove I could still handle the basics without anyone else stepping in.I parked, grabbed a cart, and pulled my mask up high. Not because people were talking trash about me anymore after all the rumors had mostly died down but because I still caught the occasional double-take from someone who recognized my face from the old headlines. I didn’t need the whispers from them tonight.Eggs, spinach, chicken breasts, Greek yogurt, sweet potatoes. I pushed toward the self-checkout lane, scanning items, wanting to be in and out.I handed her my card waiting to leave already, but the cashier, young with a tiny silv
SKYThe whistle stayed silent in my hand. I let the silence stretch, thick and uncomfortable, while their murmurs buzzed like flies around me.The freckled one Jada, according to the roster crossed her arms tighter, chin jutting out. “You were fired from your last job, weren’t you? Everyone knows. My mom’s on the board, she could get you out tomorrow if she wanted.”A ripple of smirks passed through half the group. The tall striker, Maya, snorted. “Yeah. Why should we listen to someone who couldn’t even keep her own team and get her to lose?”I didn’t flinch nor raise my voice. I just smiled slowly, calmly. I stepped closer, my heels echoed sinking slightly into the damp turf, until I was inside their personal space. Close enough they had to tilt their heads to meet my eyes.“Don’t you want to become great footballers one day?” My voice stayed even, almost soft. “Like, actually great, not just good enough for college highlights, not just ‘she’s fast for a girl.’ I mean elite. Nationa
SKYI stepped through the wide glass doors of the W.H. Academy building like I was walking into battle wearing brand-new armor.Nerves danced low in my stomach. Anticipation burned hotter than the nerves. And underneath everything… a very quiet, very stubborn spark of finally, this is mine.The lobby smelled clean. I smoothed my navy club tracksuit one last time and walked straight to the curved reception desk.The young guy behind the counter gave me a quick, professional once-over.“Sky Morgan,” I said before he could ask. “New academy coach, starting today.”He tapped something into the computer, nodded once.“Welcome aboard. One second…” He picked up the handset. “I will have someone come down for you right away.”Less than ninety seconds later the elevator doors slid open and my stomach did the strangest little flip.It was her.The same woman who had directed me for the interview. Same sleek low bun, perfectly pressed blazer, quietly assessing eyes that made you feel like she’d







