(Part 9)

Feng fairly away from the stadium, stood before the main road, panting wildly. His tears drying and surroundings blank, he crouched on his knees realizing. "Ah… I broke it…" he thought, rubbing his fingers through his hairs, "I broke the promise before I could even fulfill it. Now, what am I supposed to do? I didn't even listen to Brother Xavier nor can I play..."

Looking at the sky he inhaled deeply soon exhaling. Calming himself down, he thought, "So this is what you did last night, Nile. You do hate me a lot since…" "You took the only thing I thought I was proud of, so far away from me that I can't even look at myself in the eye now." he uttered.

Ryan hearing him from from a distance blinked, "Took away…?"

Realizing his presence, Feng smiled standing up and turning around, "Ryan… you are here already. Haha, as expected you run like horse." he jested.

"Can you go and tell Captain Hugo and Vice-captain Xavier that I won't be playing from now on. I am sorry I broke my promise but if I stay any longer I might be worse than a drag. So tell them… I am sorry." he uttered teary eyed.

Ryan stood stupefied. "H-hold on! This doesn't make any sense! What happened to you, brother Feng? Did he do something? Did he say something?" he asked clueless.

Feng stepping forward ruffled his hairs, "Thank you, Ryan."

"I don't need it!" Ryan slapped his hand away, "I want you to come back to the team."

Feng turning around waved.

"Hey, stop! Did you forget about our promise? Brother Feng! Feng!!" Ryan called, soon taking his tape ball out from his trouser's pocket aiming for his back. "Dodge it! Grab it! Brother Feng!" Ryan thought however, the ball struck Feng's back hard as Ryan stared bewildered.

Tumbling and falling from the impact, Feng still gestured Ryan to stay where he was, masking a comforting smile, "It's alright. I do deserve it after making you so mad." he just uttered, lightly tossing the ball back as it rolled and rolled before hitting Ryan's feet who stood there bewildered and clueless of what to do. "Coward… loser… you good for nothing! You are definitely not a cricketer, Feng. You are a quitter! You… you don't even trust us…" Ryan gritted crestfallen.

Feng smiled bleakly going back home, "Yeah… you are so right. Nile Dawood you've won." 

______ 

Feng turned to Karachi's pavilion form where Ryan, Mikael and the rest cheered. Mile wide smiles resting on their faces. "Hehe… now that I think about it. It was a drama in its own way." he thought amused, "I am glad… I came back."

Back at the pitch. "Nile, it's alright. Don't let it get to you…" Zhangli patted his back as Nile snapped, "Shut up! You don't know a thing! You don't know a darn thing! He caught it… that brat caught it? This match was supposed to be hell for him… how come I am getting dragged into this…?"

Zhangli frowned, standing up disappointed, "Hell for him?" "I knew it… you were a fox. Suleiman is going to regret this decision he made regarding you severely." he uttered.

"Nile, you aimed the shot for Feng, right? This is what you get for it. You can screw up his batting all that you like but… you can't steal his excellent skills of wicket keeping. That's where you lost." Elias told.

"I lost…?" Nile doubted, leaving the ground.

"Nile Dawood departing at 49/ 30. A great display of prowess. He had been the backbone in this entire match for Peshawar. As for the next batsman we have Sultan Omar, right when Peshawar needs him the most…" commentary went.

"Haha! They did it! They did it!" Heber jumped up and down in joy grabbing Poseidon's hands who chuckled. "You must be so proud, Mikael." he asked him.

Mikael at the verge of crying wiped his tears, "So glad. I am so glad for him."

"Hehe." Damian and Christopher patted his back.

"Wow~" Ezekiel clapped beside little Will who jumped up and down on his thigh. "Hehe… you're happy too right?" he adored him, picking him up and giving his ear a light peck.

"Yahoo! Nile Dawood gone after all that hard work, haha! I can't be more delighted. Right, Alan?" Adam embraced him.

Alan nodded with a light smile, "Hm."

Isa, Haris, and Kazuna shared contented glances.

"Haha! Splendid! Feng you good luck child!" Haruf embraced Orion tight who coughed for air.

Evan dabbed Rauf's back encouraging him.

"That was undoubtedly outstanding. Feng Mir Ozer, within this match has broken his shackles and has been reborn into the world of cricket." Seles compared his previous performance charts with his current performance.

"That's reassuring to hear after all that he had to go through." Kazuna said. "Yeah." Aaron agreed.

"However, the game is still not finished yet. Even if they have dismissed Nile. Sultan Omar is next." Evan told.

"I don't have any worries, though." Alan replied poised, "If they have done this, then they can surely win the game as well."

Rauf glanced at him solemn.

"Gabriel!" Feng instantly called rushing towards him. The ball in his hands he grabbed his knees panting. Gabriel looked at him silent. Feng looked up. His eyes curving and cheekbones rising. He showed a tearful yet a joyful smile whispering, "I… did it." "I did it Gabriel. Finally… I really, really… hic, hic…" he raised his arm and hid his face unable to express his feelings any longer.

Gabriel gasped, blinking ever so lightly, he stepped forward and ruffled his hairs. "That's great, isn't it Feng? You are finally acting your usual self now." he uttered relieved instead.

Feng, realizing his mistake nodded again and again apologizing, "I'm sorry… so sorry… I am really, really sorry…"

 "There's no need for that." Gabriel sympathized.

"After the match… I'll tell you everything. I won't hide a single thing." Feng promised as the boys surrounded the two once again.

"Finally, you both made up. Geez, don't fight out of context anymore." Cassiel rubbed Feng's hairs relieved.

"Why did you fight anyways?" Azazel inquired curious.

"Hehe, I'll tell you once the match ends." Feng winked going back to his position.

Gabriel however, unamused headed back to deliver the 2nd last ball of the over.

"Alright, get back to your positions everyone." Senri took their attention resuming the game.

In Peshawar's pavilion Nile tossing his bat aside, sat with his head in his hands. Just by the looks it felt as if he had lost everything. Suleiman glanced, "So, did you get what you wanted?" As soon as he uttered those words Nile stood up furious. Removing his jacket and tossing it on the seat's backrest he picked his gear up.

"Hey, what are these manners-?" Mael asked however was interrupted with Nile's piercing gaze as he left the pavilion.

"Done already?" Suleiman questioned before he left. Crossing his arms, he continued, "Becoming Peshawar Zalmi's player, playing a single match, tossing aside your jersey and leaving when you suffered slight bit of dishonor? Well that's a pity. I hoped you would have shown me some fight."

Nile gritted, "This isn't over. Just you wait. Moreover, I had no obligation to show you anything. You are just a stepping stone I used to fulfil my goal."

Hearing him Abaan stood up cross, "You little rascal…!" he walked towards him trying to grab his collar as Hafiz interrupted grabbing his arm, "My, my, take it a little easy will you, Baan. Don't waste your energy on him." Abaan glanced at him who smiled in turn gesturing him to calm down.

"Get lost..." Abaan uttered looking down and clenching his fists, "Get lost, and don't you dare come back here again. You think you can treat us like stepping stones after all we have done for you? Nile Dawood even if one day I am not alive to witness it, you will definitely regret it."

"Abaan stop it." Naeem interrupted, "I don't want you utter such words." His expression solemn, he turned to Nile, "Kindly leave. Before my students tend to say words, I dare not listen coming from their mouths."

Nile clicked his tongue hitting the door next, immediately leaving, "Feng Mir Ozer, Gabriel Harut and you all. All of you will pay!"

Silence hovering the room once he left, Peshawar's middleschoolers glanced at each other anxious while the highschoolers stood as silent as graves.

"I told you, right… not to take him in the team but you never listened, Suleiman. Is this what you wanted?" Uzair exhaled.

Suleiman remained quiet.

"It was a chance, right?" Naeem guessed, "You wanted him to change didn't you? Or did you really rested Peshawar Zalmi's future on his shoulders?"

Suleiman exhaled, his brows narrowing, he whispered, "Who knows? But one thing's clear… even adults make mistakes."

Tracing Rauf in Karachi's pavilion he continued, "I have gotten my fair share of lesson. Now I wonder when he'll realize that he's doing the same thing as I did."

Hafiz stared at his back solemn.