I Fell In Love With My Married Therapist

Liam's POV: My heart was racing fast as we were signaled to enter the pitch. "Hey man, your lace is untied. Fix it quickly, we are moving now," Jake, my new friend, said. It was the Stanford University welcome football match. It was a friendly match hosted three months after a new session, every year . It was a match between newly admitted students and old students. This tradition was meant to foster camaraderie and give the new students a sense of belonging. "He couldn't even wait for me, such a fool," I muttered to myself as I quickly tied my cleat lace and walked briskly to the field. Students and lecturers cheered for the boys who were ready to put on a show. The game started badly. The old students were up 1-0 within the first five minutes. Fifteen minutes later, it was 2-0. Despite our best efforts, they dominated the game with their experience and coordination. At halftime, we were down 4-0. The atmosphere in our locker room was heavy with disappointment. Sweat trickled down my face as I took a gulp of water, trying to catch my breath. Jake slapped my back, attempting to lift the spirits of our team. "Come on, guys! We can't let them walk all over us like this. We need to step up our game," he said, his voice echoing in the small room. I looked around at my teammates, seeing a mix of determination and exhaustion in their eyes. As I wiped my face with a towel, I couldn’t help but feel a bit discouraged. "Let's just give our best this second half and try not to concede any more f*king goals," I said, trying to act like a motivational speaker. We returned to the field for the second half with renewed energy, determined to give it our all. The second half started with a bang. We managed to hold the old students at bay, but our attacks were repeatedly thwarted by their solid defense. Just when it seemed like all hope was lost, a chance came. Near the edge of the field, I noticed a girl cheering enthusiastically for our team. Her energy was infectious, and her presence seemed to give me an unexpected burst of energy. She was talking animatedly with a group of friends, her ponytail bouncing with every gesture. Her smile was bright, and her laughter was like music, cutting through the tension of the game. “What are you looking at, boy? Focus!" one of my teammates shouted as he saw me distracted, looking at the girl. The ball came to me, and I dribbled past two defenders with newfound confidence. I could hear her cheers above the crowd, spurring me on. With a swift kick, I sent the ball sailing towards the goal. It curved perfectly, slipping past the goalkeeper and into the net. The crowd erupted into cheers, and I pumped my fist in the air, feeling a rush of exhilaration. The game restarted, and I rushed the captain who was with the ball. I skillfully stole the ball off his feet, and he responded in anger by stepping on my ankles. I screamed, throwing myself to the ground. The referee blew the whistle for the foul play. “Take it easy,” I shouted at him in pain. The boy was taller, more muscular—he’s probably in his final year. "What are you going to do if I don't take it easy, huh? Not like you could beat me," he said, standing tall, chest out, shoulders back, showing confidence as he hovered around me, still on the ground. “f**k off,” I said, pushing him away as I stood up. He retaliated by giving me a dirty slap which sent me sprawling. "Do I look like your mate, you stupid or what?" he said as I held my face in shock. We were separated by officials and the players on the pitch while the crowds roared in anger. “Red card for you, Jason. That's poor sportsmanship. Get your ass off the pitch," the referee said, showing him a red card. “I have marked your face. I will make this campus unbearable for you, I promise. Mark my words," Jason, the captain of the old students' team, said as he left the pitch while the crowd booed him. The game restarted, and the crowd started cheering again as we moved towards the final 20 minutes of the match. Despite our efforts, we couldn't close the gap completely. The game ended with a final score of 5-2, but the second half had shown our potential and determination. As we walked off the field, the old students clapped us on the back, acknowledging our spirited performance. After the game, I found myself lingering near the field, watching as people started to disperse. I was tired, my muscles aching from the exertion, but there was a sense of satisfaction in knowing we had given our best. "Hey, nice goal out there," a voice said from behind me. I turned around to see the girl who had caught my eye earlier. Up close, she was even more striking, her energy and enthusiasm practically radiating from her. "Thanks," I replied, feeling a bit shy under her gaze. "It wasn't enough to win, but at least we gave our best." She laughed, a sound that sent a warm feeling through me. "You guys did great. It was a tough match, and again, it was just a friendly match. I'm Sandra, by the way." "Liam," I said, shaking her hand. "Nice to meet you." “I'm sorry about the incident that happened on the pitch. That was my reason for approaching you. My boyfriend Jason can be a bully sometimes, but trust me, he is a nice person. Maybe he acted that way because of the heat of the game. You know how football can affect your mood sometimes, right?” she said, smiling. "Jason? Your boyfriend? That guy that slapped me was your boyfriend?" I asked with a scowl on my face. “Yes, he is. We have been dating for two months. I met him the very first day I resumed campus three months ago," she replied. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The guy who had just humiliated me in front of everyone was her boyfriend. I felt a mix of anger and disappointment. "Well, thanks for coming over," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. Sandra looked at me sympathetically. "I know he can be tough, but he's really sweet once you get to know him. Don't let today’s incident bother you too much, okay?" I nodded, not really knowing what else to say. "I'll try." A thought came to me and I asked, “How come you were cheering for the new student's team and not Jason's team?” “Ohh ,I am also a new student , that's why I was cheering for you guys” she replied “Ohhh,okayy" I said She smiled again, and for a moment, I forgot about Jason and the slap. "See you around, Liam, I've gotta catch-up with Jason and others" she said, giving me a small wave before turning to leave. "See you, Sandra," I replied, watching her walk away. As I turned to leave I heard a voice from behind “That girl ‘ve got a fat a** and a nice body" Jake said while giggling like an i***t, he was probably watching me and Sandra from a distance . “Yeah Jake,She ain't bad but she's taken, She's dating the fool that slapped me today”