Half Time

Arlo was definitely equal to the task. He didn't slow down at all, he accelerated forward, covering the little distance between he and the penalty box immediately.

Arlo dashed forward, still going. Dean Tyler ran out a bit, covering more space with his movements. Arlo took a glance around him, he was looking for an option.

And one came soon, Oscar was running behind him in an instant, making the defenders chasing down to split.

Elian's heart pounded heavily against his chest. He had assisted twice, creating two goal opportunities alone. But here he was, he had gotten a bit too excited and had just given up possession, now, see what was happening.

Elian ran back at full speed. He consciously pushed game reading to the maximum, trying his best to predict what Arlo was going to do next.

Oscar opened up, he gestured for Arlo to give him the pass. Arlo passed the ball to Oscar and proceeded to run into the empty space behind him, opening up.

Defenders swarmed Oscar immediately, a good number sliding in his way, intending to block Oscar's way.

Oscar chipped the ball upwards, finding Arlo perfectly. Arlo brought the ball down with his chest, turning to face the goalkeeper who was running towards him.

With a single touch, Arlo had dribble past the goalkeeper. But Dean didn't give up, he crouched low and tried to still hit the ball with his hand.

It was futile, Arlo totally proved that.

Arlo dribbled him even more, causing Dean to fall to the floor.

The post was clear now, there was no goal keeper, nothing was there. Arlo smiled to himself as he passed the ball into to the back of the net.

Arlo was about to celebrate his goal when he saw it, someone was dashing towards the ball, sliding like his life depended on it.

*Thud!*

Elian slid and kicked the ball away, then he proceeded to ram into the woodwork and fall onto the net.

Elian felt a sharp pain in his head, but he didn't mind.

Yeah!!!!!

Elian roared happily to the sky, feeling like he was on top of the world.

In a heart beat, his teammates had surrounded him, hugging him ever tightly.

Arlo sank to the floor, his despair very clear. He punched the floor several times, cussing himself for not seeing the finish through and through.

Elian felt a slight pain in his head, but it was nothing, he would get through it.

"Thanks a lot, Meta." Elian thanked the boy joyfully.

The corner was taken shortly after and Colt powered a header towards the top corner, forcing Dean to make a spectacular save.

The stadium erupted into cheers and bouts of applauses as Dean caught the ball, falling to the floor in an epic time wasting attempt.

Mateo clapped his hands where he stood at the sidelines. Elian had really impressed him this first half.

Pii!

Pii!

The referee blew his whistle, signifying for the end of the first half, it's been forty five minutes.

Elian heaved a heavy sigh. Once again, his teammates hugged him, shaking his hands.

"Tsk!" Dawson mused angrily, clicking his tongue in anger.

This didn't go unnoticed by Elian, who found it quite surprising and unsettling.

Elian furrowed his brows as he walked out of the pitch. "Why the hell is Dawson still unhappy?" Elon thought that any feud Dawson had with him would have been cleared by now as he had done more than enough to prove himself again.

"Hey, Meta." Elian called out, seeking his advice. "What should I do? I should probably ignore him like you said previously, right?"

*Silence*

Meta didn't reply, and Elian found this weird. Hey, Meta, why are you silent? This isn't time for jokes, I don't like the lord in Dawson's eye, what do I do?"

Elian suddenly felt a very sharp pain shoot through his head, the pain wa so much as if a knife was making its way through his brain.

Elian clutched his head, groaning silently. He staggered towards the restroom and there, he nursed the unbearable pain.

"What is happening? Meta!"

Elian was now getting desperate, he couldn't spend the fifteen minutes of half time like this. First, he had to make sure no one saw him. Elian staggered over to the door and bolted it, while still clutching his head.

Elian stared at the mirror, his eyes had turned bloodshot red and he was bleeding from his nose. He was about to go crazy when he had the familiar voice.

"Hey…Elian." Meta called out, his voice sounding weak.

"What's happening?" Elian asked, pain clear in his voice. "Why didn't you say anything earlier?"

Meta's voice was cracking, he didn't even sound okay.

I'm sorry…Meta managed to say. I'll explain everything later, but for now, you'll have to bear the pain for a few second longer, while the system reboots.

Just then, Elian received a notification.

*Ding!*

System rebooting…