Chapter 11 - Dominik

If there was something Dominik loved, that was feeling sweat running down his forehead and his body. Also, the feeling of his own heart beating frantically.

He ran and ran. He loved running. It was the most special time of the day, he could connect with his own thoughts and that afternoon, that one afternoon, he had something on his mind. He couldn't stop thinking about it, actually, her.

«What the fuck is this?», he asked himself after the fifth failed attempt to stop thinking of Samanta. He could not quite grasp how it was possible for some girl whom he only met twice to keep him so upset. He would close his eyes, and there she was, smiling at him.

“One more lap and we'll call it a day. You can go rest, boys” Ewald said, raising his voice.

Almost two hours went by since practice began and each one of the coaches did their part. It was time to wrap up and run a few laps around the stadium. It was the day before the opening match and the coach didn't want to push his men too hard, just enough to keep their muscles awake and them focused on the face off they have tomorrow.

While one of his mates slowed down to take a water bottle in order to re-hydrate, Dominik decided to ignore coach's orders.

“Dominik, that was it. Go rest” said the former footballer, the man in charge of the German National football team.

“I still have lots of energy, Ewald” Dom said as he rushed past the salt-and-pepper haired and expressive blue eyed man.

“Then you better save some for tomorrow. We're facing America. We shouldn't underestimate them.”

“Easy three points” Dominik yelled cockily.

“Never underestimate your opponents, Dominik” Ewald responded, showing a broad smile.

The team captain kept jogging for ten more minutes. He felt a little antsy with the coming start of the world cup and, it had always been his dream to wear the captain's gauntlet on his arm, the one he'd been wearing for 3 years now.

Suddenly, a certain somebody's face popped in his head, again. He needed to see her, talk to her.