NO FLOURISH WITHOUT FLAWS

MATCH-DAY

A lecture-free day was declared in the college anytime Como F.C. had a home match. Still on the bed scrolling through her phone, a message to that effect popped up. Rosella punched her fist in the air like a footballer who just scored a goal.

"Yes! Thank God, it's a holiday. I was already contemplating whether to attend any classes because of the huge match coming up. I have to make good use of my free time today." She alluded.

With her room already freezing cold, she switched off the A.C. Brought out her notebooks from the drawer. Then began attempting her assignments. Questions that were a hard nut to crack got simplified by surfing the internet on her laptop. Done and dusted with the assignment, the cleaning started. Everywhere within the apartment was mopped thoroughly. Her body was now filled with a pile of sweat, so she resisted resting on the sofa. She took a plastic chair to the balcony. Got seated there till her body eventually got dried.

"I have to cook now. I don't want the events of yesterday to repeat themselves," she voiced.

In her sparkling-looking kitchen, she lit up the gas cooker. Placed two pots on them. One containing only water. The other, some oil and tinned tomatoes. After frying the tomatoes, she put in some water, chicken, and all other ingredients needed to give the stew an exquisite taste. The water in the other pot was already boiling; she broke some spaghetti into it. Then left both pots to continue heating.

In the next 15 mins, my chicken stew and spaghetti should be done. It takes me less than that time to have my bath. So let me head into the shower," she muttered.

Henrique had put on his new pair of sneakers. Laced them from the right to the left. But Lavezzi was still in his underwear gallivanting across the room. Angrily, Henrique stood up and challenged him.

"Our team bus will soon arrive. But you aren't even ready. What the f**k is actually wrong with you?

"I've been looking for my magic shin pads. Do you have an idea why it is?"

"How would I? I have extra shin pads. Go to my closet and take them. You have to get dressed now."

"No. I can't have yours. Without my magic shin pads, I don't feel complete. Hence, I wouldn't be able to play well."

"I'm hugely disappointed. You still believe in superstitions?"

"Yes, I do. If I don't find those shin pads, I'll not go ahead to play this game."

"That's impossible! Our chances of winning this game increase with you on the pitch. You can't miss today's game."

"I don't want to either. But I'd be left with no choice if I didn't find my shin pads."

Henrique dropped his snap bag on the table. Then I began to search for the shin pads. He searched both closets and the entire room. But it wasn't seen. Heading to their mini living room to continue the search, he saw Lavezzi sitting on the couch watching the TV. Henrique lost it immediately.

"I'm out here looking for your shin pads you misplaced. But it's a meaningless soap opera that's gotten your interest. You still haven't gotten dressed. Why are you so lazy and unserious?" he yelled.

"You know, getting dressed doesn't take me much time. I'll do so soon. The soap opera is almost done."

His anger heightened seeing him still glued to the TV. Henrique grabbed the remote beside him. Walked to the TV and switched it off.

"Are you deaf? Didn't I tell you I was still watching?" Lavezzi yelled before going to switch it back on.

Henrique resisted him from switching it on by holding his hands firmly.

"Let go of me now. Else..."

"I wouldn't. Go and get dressed. We have a game today. The team bus will soon be here. Now isn't the time to watch the TV." He replied, with Lavezzi's hand tightly held.

Lavezzi tried to get himself freed several times. But to no avail. With a lot of vim, he hit Henrique hard on his back. In retaliation, he gave Lavezzi a blow to his abdomen. Their ruckus continued until both of them landed on the ground after Lavezzi's failed attempt to lift Henrique. On top of each other, Henrique sighted a shiny-looking material under the couch. He shoved Lavezzi aside. Slipped his fingers under the couch and got them.

"Aren't these your shin pads?" He asked while flashing them in Lavezzi's face.

"Yes! Those are the exact shin pads I have been looking for. How did they get under the couch?"

"I don't know. The most important thing is your shin pads have been found. You have to go dress up now. We don't have much time anymore," he yelled, then handed him his shin pads.

A loud honk was heard as soon as they arrived back into the room. Henrique opened the curtains and saw the team bus.

"Our team bus is already here. Hurry up with your dressing," he shouted.

With his pants already worn, he grabbed a top from his closet. Also a pair of sneakers that didn't need to be laced. After wearing them hurriedly, he put on his base cap to cover his uncombed hair.

"You see. I'm done. Getting dressed doesn't take time for me. Let's go."

"What about your snap bag?"

"Oh! That's true. I almost forgot."

Lavezzi went back to his closet. Put his cleats and shin pads into his snap bag before wearing it on his back.

Both of them left the apartment immediately. Entered into the team bus, which headed straight to Pamplona—the home stadium of Como F.C.

Wrapped in her towel, Rosella exited the bathroom. Went directly into the kitchen. As predicted, the food was ready to be devoured. She put off the cooker. Dished a large portion of the food into a takeaway pack.

"This food in the takeaway pack will serve as my lunch whenever I'm hungry in the stadium." She muttered.

The little food remaining in the pot, she ate up quickly. With the takeaway pack in her hands, she walked into the bedroom. She carefully placed the pack of food in her bag. Then changed into a tracksuit to look sporty. She switched off all the appliances. Carried her bag and left.

Exactly an hour before the game, Rosella arrived at Pamplona. Outside Pamplona, they didn't only witness a stupendous crowd. But almost everyone was clothed in Como F.C.'s regalia. Everywhere was a sea of both yellow and green.

"I'm among the very few odd-looking people. If I had known the signature colors for Como F.C. earlier, I wouldn't have worn this pink tracksuit. Thank goodness, pink isn't the signature color of their opponents. I'll endeavor to buy a Como F.C. jersey before their next game." She mumbled.

The large crowd outside ensured that Rosella could only get accredited into the stadium 30 minutes after her arrival. It took her some time to locate her seat because the Pamplona was almost filled to the brim. When the Venezia players came onto the pitch for their warm-up, loud boos reverberated around Pamplona. The defending champions were unperturbed and continued their warm-up. Loud cheers engulfed Pamplona when Como F.C. players stepped onto the pitch to warm up. A great amount of ecstasy filled Rosella's soul as she saw Lavezzi. She shouted his name a couple of times. But the noisy Pamplona prevented him from hearing it.

12 P.M. on the clock. The referees came out of the tunnel. Followed by the players of both teams. The game was about to begin.