Loving a Player

Mila’s POV 

“Oh shit!” My mind, it had betrayed me again. I needed to be at the university athletics department by 7, oh no! 

“I'm sorry guys. I've got to go…”

“But you're not done with the food yet!” Gary my roomie cried.

I didn't even listen to him, I just grabbed my coat and ran off like a mad dog let loose from the reins of its owner.

My legs flew on the empty roads, my heart pounding like a fucking party band, my head screaming with aches.

“Thank God. Just in time.” 

I took a deep breath, shook my smelly coat and walked in with all amount of composure left in my tired ass.

I really hope I get this job.

Ever since Dad died when I was twelve, I had to work my ass out just to fend for the family. Now Mom's sick, her cancer’s growing worse every day and it's also drowning my pocket.

As it stands, this job, it's God sent. It's the only way out of the three shitty jobs I'm doing that isn't even able to pay my bills. 

Three times my pay… No, I can't miss it.

“Ms. Mila right?” The secretary smiled warmly at me.

I nodded, the sweat drops trickling down my head.

“This way…”

She took me down the large hallway, walking past several offices until she arrived at one.

“You'll talk to Mr. Carlton, he's the team coach.”

“Thank you.”

“Good luck.” She smiled and walked away briskly.

I took a deep breath, my heart drumming inside my locked chest as I trembled by the door, trying to memorize all the planned words again in my head, when the door flipped open.

“Jeez…” 

I fell to the ground immediately, fear enveloped my senses. I almost fainted, for real.

“I'm so sorry.” He chuckled softly. 

It was quite funny, but damn, he startled me.

“Uhm, sir, I'm the new hire for the team’s photography department,” I smiled, struggling to get back to my feet.

“Oh yeah, Mila right?” He helped me up.

“Yes sir.”

He smiled warmly, “enough of the formalities darling. Come to the field tomorrow, 8 am, don't be late.”

That was all and he left, I didn't know what that meant, whether I was hired or not. I wanted to call him back, but my freezing and scared voice wasn't loud enough for his ears.

I don't even know what I'm doing anymore.

Well, I was left with no choice but to come back as said. I greeted the wonderful secretary on my way out and headed back home to the annoying Gary.

I know he must have written down a questionnaire for me about how the interview went? Who my boss is? Blah blah blah…

I ain't got the strength for that. 

When I got home, thankfully, he was fast asleep. Thank God.

I dropped to bed like a log and drifted off to sleep, but I never forgot to set my alarm.

The night moved too fast, because it all felt like seconds ago. The annoying alarm was buzzing in my ears again.

“Damn.”

Oh my God, it's 7 already.

Immediately, my legs shot out of bed like a rocket and dived into the bathroom door. After a quick shower, I picked my best dress and checked the refrigerator, nothing was there. 

Gary!!!!

Well, all those things will only slow me down. I just headed there on an empty stomach, hopefully I'll get something to eat. All set then, my coffee in hand, my camera and films intact.

I was set for Domino's High.

The field was screaming with noise. I hate noisy places, but since it's my job, I guess I'll get used to it with time.

“Ms. Mila. Come over here.” Carlton smiled.

“Good morning sir.”

“Enough with the formalities, it makes me sick. Urgh.” He was quite playful and mimicked stomach upset. 

We giggled together and thereafter, he showed me a place to set up my camera.

“Right there darling, by the entrance, where you'll see the world.” He smiled, mouthing something else I couldn't understand.

He's such a character.

When I was done, the boys weren't out yet. The girls were still dancing and soon, the golden boys of the school walked out.

My heart skipped a beat as they marched out, but I remained composed.

Everybody clamoured and clapped for them as they passed. I didn't know what to do, whether to join them and clap or just hold my camera stand.

In my confusion, one of them stepped on me.

Instead of apologizing, he came with the most silly and annoying statement.

“Watch it bitch…” He cried, looking at me like I smelled.

The fuck!

I rolled my eyes at him when the one behind them all looked at me with his cold eyes that was filled with nothing but hate.

“Be careful or else, you'll get sacked, just like the others.” They all giggled together.

Silly rich kids. They think they own the world. I'm much older than them, they lack respect.

“... Just look at her cheap dress. Fucking bitch!” 

I heard it, all of it, I just squeezed my face and folded my wrist. I wish I could land it on one of their heads, especially that silly captain of theirs.

Calling my best dress cheap?

 Good lord!

“Alright boys. Gather up…” 

They began training, hitting the ball from side to side as the crowd roared in joy.

For the record, I'm not a fan of hockey so I just sat and watched, maybe this job might make me like it and somehow, it was working.

That captain of theirs, he's good. Damn good. The way he moves with the ball, the composure, the control, he's just got my attention.

Just look at what real boys do, unlike my annoying roomie, Gary. All he does is suck around and finish my food. 

I just caught a glimpse of a beautiful moment. That needed my lens.

Immediately, I got to work, the shooter sounds singing in my ears, the lights flashing in the sunlight.

They stopped, I wonder why. I don't even know the rules of this game, how am I expected to know.

While I was still busy with my camera, trying to get the best angle to capture one of them in the dazzling sunlight, I never knew he was passing. I accidentally brushed against the towering captain, Kai Donovan, I heard his name from the chanting audience by the way.

This time, he didn't say anything, he just stood before me, my heart pounding heavily, our eyes locked on each other. Beneath the surface, I felt this electricity crackling in my nerves, it captured my soul, his eyes, glowing before me, I don't know, I wanted to hold him.

However, he stopped my illusion when he leaned in with a few words of admonition.

“Fuck you!”

He's just so bitchy, feels like he owns the world or everyone should bow to him.

I wonder why I was even staring at him more than I was supposed.

Well, it's just attraction to the school's golden boy, nothing more.

However, when our eyes met again while he was sitting on the bench, gulping in water, the cold intensity of his stare made my stomach flip. The butterflies, I felt it. 

No! It can't be.