ThunderWood's Flower

Halfway in it began to rain.

The match was tied at 6-6. The opposing team of ThunderWood was more formidable than predicted but the moment it started to rain, the coach of ThunderWood smirked.

"It's finally over." He muttered.

The tension from the benched teammates and spectating staff also lifted.

Everyone's eyes focused on player number 11, a boy with ginger red hair, Garden Baciu who at the moment stole the ball from the opposing team in the blink of an eye before number 7 of the opposing team even noticed.

"What's this? The ball has been stolen!" The Commentators quickly pointed out this discovery.

"Number 11 has the ball!"

"Stop him!" Number 7 shouted.

Flustered, the midfielders did what they could to block and steal the ball but number 11's pace remained constant he dribbled in between his opponent's feet when he noticed more defenders rushing his right, he threw his foot over the ball, as if to kick but in the end, switched kicked it to the left towards number 9 who instantly kicked it into the goal.

The pass and shoot were both quick and precise.

The opposing team's reaction was too slow as well as the commentators.

But for the fans of the team who were used to this bullet-speed pass they were excited. "There it is! The pin pong exchange!" Fans of ThunderWood erupted into cheers.

"What, what was that? The ball's in the goal?!" The commentators rose out of their seats.

ThunderWood's coach chuckled.

"That kid... He's really something." The new manager spoke up in surprise.

"Ah, that's right, you haven't been here that long. But yeah, that kid's always been like that. Whenever it rains it's like he's eaten a can of spinach." Assistant Coach explained.

The coach nodded.

"There's only been one player who could keep up with his energy, I was worried ever since he was hospitalized last season, but it seems like this season's number 9 finally caught up. But..." The coach's gaze looked slightly disappointed.

"It's a pity..."

"A player of ours was hospitalized last season?"

"Mhmm. After the accident, Number 11 was completely useless. But this season has gone well. No freak accidents, no injuries. I really couldn't have asked for a better season."

The match ended with their team winning with 13 points.

After shaking hand with the opposing team, Team ThunderWood immediately hit the showers.

"It's finally over!"

"Yeah, I had fun."

Despite his teammate's cheer, player eleven seemed neither ecstatic nor particularly gloomy just neutral. As he undressed number 9 whipped him in the back with his towel.

"Ow!"

"Nice pass, Baciu."

Number 11, held his back and acknowledged his comrade with a passive glance over the shoulder. "Oooh, yeah. You were on fire today Alexus, nice goals."

"They were all thanks to you, man, those passes were so quick I nearly had a heart attack at the thought I would miss one of them. I think I'm beginning to understand what the former number nine went through."

Number 11 twitched hearing the word, "former".

"Don't say it like that, the former number nine never had a problem scoring after receiving his passes." Number 10, who was stepping out of the showers overheard him on his way to his locker and quickly corrected him.

Number 11 twitched again.

"Then how'd he get hurt?" Alexus asked.

"A power line." Number 11 muttered.

"Huh?" His teammates turned to meet Number eleven's jade green eyes. A flicker of annoyance with their reflections inside them.

"It was raining that day, and one of the powerlines fell, there were many who died but he was the only survivor."

Alexus's eyes widened, his mouth opened and closed for a couple of seconds as his blood chilled. "F-for real? as in he was electrocuted?"

Number eleven sighed as he took off his clothes. "No, the pole fell on him when he was standing under an awning where it was dry, but everyone standing out in the rain got electrocuted when the cables made contact with the rainwater."

"What the hell? And he survived that out of everybody? Talk about freakish luck!"

"Where were you when this happened?"

"I was inside ordering some pizza. He received a call but it was too noisy indoors to hear so he stepped out for a bit." The scene of red flickered in his mind. The rain nearly deceived him by washing it down the drain.

Garden Baciu closed his eyes and shook his head.

"I'm sorry, I'd rather not remember it."

"O-of course."

"I'm beginning to understand why you're so quiet these days, Baciu."

"That's not why." A taller boy with Chinese features stepped past the group next to Garden where he opened his locker.

"Today was Garden's last game, he's moving."

Everyone's jaws dropped.

"Hold on what sort of nonsense are you spouting Mao?!"

Mao chuckled. He was a muscular chap, though he didn't look it. At the moment his under classmen gawked at his back muscles.

"You guys really don't pay attention to the group chat, do you? He said this at the start of the season. Though it's not just him, I'm also heading back home."

Mao put on his shirt and glanced to see the two staring at him with puppy dog eyes.

"Senior..."

"I'm just an international student, don't tell me you guys forgot?"

The puppies nodded.

Mao sighed. "You guys... It was fun." Mao smiled, his eyes met Garden who nodded. "Don't be too dispirited, I'm not the only goalie here!"

"Seniooooor!" All of his underclassmen crowded around him as Garden headed for the shower.

On his way out of the showers Garden overheard Alexus and others mourning their loss.

"Who else will take us out to eat barbeque behind the coach's back?"

"Ugh..."

"You heading out now, man?"

Dressed, Garden was already at the door.

"Yeah."

Alexus walked over to him, his honey-brown eyes sharpening, he had always sensed animosity from the lad ever since he joined and got compared to him, but he was always friendly. What was it now, was he going to vent his frustrations? Alexus grinned as he held out a fist.

Garden bumped it.

"Thanks for everything man, hopefully, we'll meet again."

Garden smiled and nodded.

The expression startled his teammates.

"So you can smile! You should smile more often, man!"

His smile faded upon getting outside as he pulled out his phone.

It wasn't necessarily that he was moving, more of he had a bad feeling. His Father's sudden insistence on him returning home by forcing him to withdraw was unsettling.

On top of that, the incident happened last season but it's baffling how there were still many ignorant of the incident.

One would think such tragedy would be aired on television for days, as negligence on the city's part for their faulty powerlines but it was only addressed in the newspapers and that was it.

It was quickly swept under the rug by other sports news, politics, and celebrity scandals almost a bit too quickly. Why were none of the victim's families protesting on the streets?

It wasn't the team's fault for not knowing about it, as many of the current players were new, and technically that person was a "former" member... Garden knew they were good guys but still some part of him couldn't help feeling agitated as he waited for his bus to the airport. The sooner he left this unlucky place the more at ease he would feel.

PING!

Here it was, the only positive thing about all this was getting to return home to his best friend, Stella Uneva.

After surviving an unfortunate accident here in Ireland, his Father had him transfer to a hospital near their current residence in South Korea once his condition stabilized, up till then Garden had been keeping him company.

SunnySideSimp: [I saw your game. You were awesome out there as usual, congrats!]

Grahami:[Thanks! I was worried you thought I cheated on you with the new striker.]

SunnySideSimp:[With the number nine?! I will admit I was jealous, at first but I'm over it now.]

Garden covered his mouth before quickly typing.

Graham[(°///{}//°)What the heck?!]

SunnySideSimp:[What?]

Graham:[I was joking! The normal response here would be to lie man!]

SunnySideSimp:[Oh really? Sorry. So are you on your way to the airport?]

Graham:[Yeah.]

The two talked till Garden had arrived at the airport and boarded his plane.