Looking for you

Chapter 8

Alex

Before knowing it, the scholar year was near to its end. Definitely more chaotic than the last one, with finals and other activities somehow we had to do, I didn't expect it to be that stressing but had no time to think about it either.

Before and after having last year of high school, the national authorities of education demand for every student to make an exam of general knowledge, non-mattering if you’re planning to go to university or not; this is done in order to evaluate the educational level of the country and to update the average of correct results each career would ask for every student when applying for it. Because of this, almost all of my classmates had pay for an extra course, besides the classes at school.

(If I'm confusing you I'll explain this better... BREAK ->This is how education works in Mexico:

The educational system is divided in two institutions: S.E.P and U.N.A.M each with a specific program.

Both of them public, meaning they are free, this also means you may or may not have classes. It's not a guarantee that you'd learn all you 'need'. For example if a professor decides not to go, school decides if it gives you the missing subject or not.

If it is possible for you to pay a private school, you are supposed to receive every subject, however it still divides between S.E.P or U.N.A.M. Every high school or university is affiliate to one.

So, elementary and secondary school always goes by SEP program, UNAM has no program for these. In high school and university, you choose the one you prefer. This is important because when you plan to pick up a high school and you have already in mind whatever career you'll chose in A or B university, it's easier if you study the same program at high school, or at least the last of it. )

END OF BREAK->

So, everyone was nervous for those bloody exams that would took place in several different Saturdays at different places with thousands of students per day. We were at high school sure, but it was rumoured for years now that last years were really bad in an academical way, there for everyone, but two of our mates, where looking forward to make the test. Among those you can spot me.

What was my pick? The only place where they'd give more of what I wanted, chemistry, or astrophysics, perhaps biochemistry. Well I still have to reduce those options.

Every professor was very proud of us, after all, we had almost finished the school year and each one knew we were well prepared.

I still remember that damned day. My turn was the second Saturday of the firs week after they started with the tests. I didn't sleep the night before, even though Evelyn seemed more nervous that I was, and she comforted me all she could, by the time I calmed down my watch said 6:00am, my exam was at 8:00. All my actions before it were as if I was an automat. Everything I felt after was numbness after nervousness left me. There was a restaurant near the exam building, my parents practically forced me to have breakfast.

I remained exhausted the rest of that day and Sunday.

Monday morning all my fellows interrogate me about the exam, how I felt, how difficult it was...stuff like that. All I felt was an extraordinary reassurance for my effort, I was momentarily satisfied with my life. After my last class I headed to the professor's room.

Knocking before opening the door, I peeped my head into the room, seeing Evelyn sitter at the desk.

"May I?" I asked. She smiled, raising her gaze from the pile of papers in front of her.

"Sure! ...You look different" she said fixing her eyes on me. I frowned not knowing what she meant with it.

"You look calmer than last Friday" I chuckle, understanding her point.

"I guess you did pretty well at your test?" I nodded, grabbing a chair in front of her.

"I'm happy about that bloody piece of paper I've beaten" I commented She arched a brow enjoying my reassurance.

"Excellent, I'm very happy for you. When will they give you the results?"

"During summer vacations" I answered. She nodded and gave a brief look at the pile of papers lying in front of her.

"Hey...I know I should be able to read everything after deciphering your handwriting but...this guy's paper makes my eyes suffer. Could you help me? You may catch it better that I"

I chuckled approaching her side to see the paper..

"What's wrong, you happily read my 'Sanskrit' but can't understand a guy's normal pattern?" I teased her using the same tone she did when she seeing my nervous face for my weekend exam. I wasn't sure when we started to be this confident with the jokes…

"Ha-ha. By now I'm used to your letter, but this, this is maddening"

I leaned down to have a better look of it and frowned to the letter. She rested her hand on my shoulder, that kind of contact was normal for both of us by now. Blinking a couple of times to adjust my sight on the handwriting, I felt Evelyn getting closer to me, I didn't protested, we both used some of those excuses lately. We've become very close outside school and while being at it everyone knew we created some kind of science team between us, we tried to keep it 'professional’ all the time.

“Bloody hell, you weren't kidding!" I was surprised.

"Hey! I thought you didn't curse, I prefer when you don't do it though”

“But I only do when it's a right and fair moment for it” I teased.

“Can you pick anything from it?"

"Well... I'm afraid this guy has no idea which type of hormones he has nor what a protein is… Humm, he confuses a cell with a virus. How is that possible?! I mean, their system is no similar at all..."

Evelyn laughed at my indignation while I continued.

"...I'll be very worried for whoever teached this guy, he's a mess, possibly the information he learns is equally disastrous…” I adventured seeing how she acted as if being offended and slapped my shoulder. "...BUT, I know it's you so, my verdict is: He keeps his mind somewhere else and never listens to a word you say.”

She agreed.

"That’s his case. Have you heard? The annual football tournament will be next Friday. Do you guys have the team ready?" She asked.

"Aye, of course. We've even organized our 'uniforms'."

"Perfect. I hope you do better than last year, it was a shame they got you out before reaching semi-finals. Everyone hoped you surprised us as in the previous year. What colour are you using?"

"It was a shame, but everything was against us last time, now we're better. And, since last time we choose blue and lost, now Isaac and the others decided we're wearing withe, just like the better games we used to have. As you can see, we're not superstitious."

"Which shirt will you use?" I scratched my head thinking about it.

"The one with 'Beckham's name at the back, it's the only white I'll use for an occasion like this” I answered as if it was obvious, for me it was.

"Haha! Good thing you're no superstitious at all" she teased getting closer to me. The air left my lungs for a moment.

I frowned wanting for the statements to be false, but it seemed I couldn’t think properly anymore.

"I'm done for today. Let's get out of here" she told me keeping her papers at a drawer and picking up her bag.

"Are you hungry?" I asked.

"Starving..." I carried her jacket, as we were now used to, and we left searching for a nearby place where to eat…

One week latter

Evelyn

It was missing another week before the end of the year to arrive, every class of the day had been cancelled after the second hour, for everyone to see the tournament. Jane had organized a 'cheer team' with all the remaining students who wouldn't play, the emotion could be felt at the yard, they couldn’t wait for the start of it.

My students finished an exercise when the bell rang and everyone made its way to the field. I too headed towards it as soon as I kept my stuff at the professor's room. The sports teacher was already at the place and had the teams before her while giving them some last-time instructions. I sited at the grades by Jane's side and her cheer team, also Kaysha and other students from Alex's class took a seat by my left side. My eyes were immediately fixed on Alex. After seeing her training some months ago during vacations I knew how much she loved it and all I wanted was for her to be happy as she was whenever she played. Perhaps she’s managed to make me enjoy seeing football. All the time we've spend together only made me realize that I’ve developed some kind of need to be with her, any day that for some reason we cannot write to each other, I miss her. I've caught myself admiring her lips or her body, can't avoid to think that I stated to do it more frequently since the days I saw her training.

Every teacher, including our principal, was here only to support the team. For three years I've seen them work hard with their studies, they are good lads and they have earned our affection in a way.

Jane called me asking why there were some older high school guys and their professors witnessing all. I had no idea but assumed if anything was relevant, Alex’s team would tell us. I wasn't wrong.

When the sports professor dismissed everyone to get ready for the matches, I saw Alex's face, immediately I knew she was thinking in something more 'complex' that the game, and all her team reflected the same expression.

Jane made a questioning gesture towards Isaac, wondering what was happening but Isaac shrugged his shoulders leaving us without a clue.

The firs playing teams would be the newer students, taking a set of playoffs leaving only the better playing team until the final.

When the first teams where barely starting, Alex and her team walked towards the grades where we were.

"What happened?" I asked. Isaac answered.

"One of the finalist has been chosen already. It'll be the last year students”

"But isn't that... Can they do that? Why?" Questioned Jane, Kaysha by her side, couldn't believe it either, no one could.

I turned to Alex who had not said a word, but her expression was calmed.

"What will you do?" I asked the team.

"Play the game, do what we have to do" said Isaac for everyone "Guys! Be sure, if you have to digest the news, do it fast. I want everyone ready and focused when we start... We won't make it easy for them, it's our chance" He turned to Alex, who snapped out of her thoughts and held his gaze before both nodded in agreement.

"It will be our game" she answered.

Hours passed by and for the first two games, Isaac's team had done great.

In the blink of an eye they finished the third one, winning once more.

After a 30min break, they were ready to start the final match.

The other team was older and taller, but Alex's team wasn't intimidated by it. They knew how to move and get advantage. When first half arrived, it ended 1-1.

By the second half, it seemed they attacked fiercely, giving their opponent no rest at all. Before they could make their moves, one of our team would block it easily. They were starting to get mad, especially a tall guy from the other team who was losing his temper.

Isaac tried to make an air pass to Alex, she moved fast to receive it, but the tall guy rushed towards with his foot highly raised, not only aiming to the ball but also to Alex's head. In last moment she noticed and moved her head backwards. The guy’s foot almost touched her.

We all held our breath while seeing it, Alex stood there blinking and breathing deeply to assimilate it, then turned to the tall guy who kept moving towards the goal zone.

"Wanna tell me something?"

The guy never answered but kept dribbling, leaving one player after the other dangerously until the goalkeepers was the only one left.

He was in time to shoot. His foot touched the ball but another one blocked the shot, making him fell due to inertia. Everyone cheered up. I raised my gaze to see who had appeared from nowhere and stopped it, Alex did the block. I joined the cheering.

The ball was under her control and she sent it rapidly to her friends before running towards them. They had to pull back a bit but remained by the half of the field. Everyone ws marked, Alex managed to get free and received the ball waiting, not knowing how to go through. Two guys sprinted towards her but she got rid of them, not expecting a third, the same tall guy from before.

He swept at her and immediately there was a whistle marking the foul. The ref warned the guy telling him it was the last time he'd stand an action of such kind. Isaac helped Alex getting up and the ball was left on the mark to get the shot. The players were already at the barrier as Alex stepped near the ball and took two steps backwards.

"C'mon Alex!" Screamed Kaysha.

"Show them 'Beckham'!" Screamed another of her friends.

Her face was expressionless, yet I saw determination in her eyes. She took impulse and shot. The ball bended before reaching the upper corner of the post and stopped when hitting the net. Everyone cheered up. They’ve scored.

"We can win this" I heard Isaac say as he held his fist up high.

There was few time remaining, so they rushed again, ready to attack.

Once more the ball flew towards enemy field. Three of our team where waiting for the ball, Alex among them. She was waiting few meters always from the goal zone.

One of her fellows passed the ball to the nearest player as they rushed forward before sending an air pass to Alex. She got rid of her mark as the ball descended.

"What..." I heard Jane whispered by my side. I thought it too and knew Alex was going for the shot. A bicycle kick...

She kicked the ball in mid-air; my heart skip a beat as she descended. The tall guy got in her way crashing with her.

No...

I couldn’t stand the sight of her the moment she landed.

When falling, her left arm touched the ground before her torso...

Silence filled the field before we could react a moment later. I saw it slower but it was a mess. The team was arguing and launching for the guy, the principal was trying to get through the students whilst I rushed to the field feeling anguished hopping only for Alex to be well. Kaysha followed right behind me.

When I reached the place, Alex was lying unconscious on the floor, her left arm a bit twisted under her body, blood dripping down her brow.