Chapter 10- Love-all

Twenty years ago, just a few weeks before the King's Hope Junior Tennis Championship, 9-year-old Derrick and 8-year-old Erick were deep into training. Their mother, Liana, coached Derrick on one side of the net, while their father, Robertson, coached Erick on the other. A fierce competition brewed between the two parents as they had placed bets on which of their sons would come out victorious in the final match.

As Erick prepared to serve, Robertson offered some words of encouragement, "Come on, boy, just breathe, pick a point, and strike."

Erick, taking a deep breath, replied, "Okay, okay, I get it."

He launched a fiery serve, and Derrick attempted to neutralize it with a slice, but the sheer power sent the ball sailing outside the court.

Robertson, his eyes filled with pride, spoke to his smiling and focused son, "That's it, my boy! Your big brother doesn't stand a chance."

Meanwhile, Liana looked at her disappointed son and tried to console him. She held his shoulders and smiled, "Darling, do you know why they call it love?" A curious young Derrick was intrigued, and Liana continued, "Because the first person who ever played the game had zero points, but they kept on playing because of the love of the game. So if you're not having fun, don't play. Are you going to play?"

Derrick's spirits lifted, and he replied, "I am having fun, and I will beat him."

The next serve was like a lightning bolt. This time, young Derrick barely had a chance to react. He started beating his racket on the hard court in frustration.

Robertson, shouting angrily from the other side of the net, scolded, "Boy, do you think money grows on trees?"

Liana attempted to comfort her son, smiling as she held his shoulders. She explained, "Darling, don't forget, we play tennis because we love the game."

Derrick's curiosity led him to ask, "But why love?"

Liana continued, "Because even when you have zero points, you can keep playing and enjoying the game. If it stops being fun, then why play?"

Derrick felt a renewed determination, exclaiming, "I'm having fun, and I will beat him."

As the third ball came in, Derrick managed to neutralize it. With a twist of the wrist, Erick sent back a powerful forehand, but Derrick countered with a delicate down slice that turned into a drop shot. Erick couldn't reach it in time.

Derrick jumped in celebration, as if he had already won the match, and Liana hugged him, filled with pride and love.

Derrick, still coping with the betrayal from his brother and girlfriend, cherished these memories as he watched two parents observing their child playing tennis on the old King's Hope club court.

Suddenly, a man touched Derrick from behind, startling him. The man said, "Hey, the president wants to see you."

Derrick replied, "Okay," wondering what this was all about.

As he climbed the stairs and passed a poster for the Wimbledon qualification tournament for the next year, he entered the president's office.

The president warmly greeted him, saying, "Oh, Derrick, welcome, come in." Derrick sat in a somewhat uncomfortable chair, prompting the president to remark, "Sorry for that chair, but it's better than mine; my chair feels like I'm sitting on the Iron Throne."

Derrick chuckled in response.

The president continued, "I wanted to tell you that I received a donation from your brother."

Derrick replied, "Okay."

The president explained, "I wanted to thank him in person, you know, with cameras and everything, but he said he couldn't come. Can you convince him?"

Derrick, with a burning fury hidden inside, answered, "I'll see what I can do."

The president expressed his gratitude, "Great. Okay, you can leave."

As Derrick descended the building, he couldn't help but look at that Wimbledon qualification poster one more time. Consumed by anger, he tore it from the wall in determination.