(Part 9)

(The Next Morning)

"Good morning, early risers! The world awakens with a dew-kissed morning. The shy golden sun veils behind clouds while grass glistens with tiny droplets of crystal precipitation. Step outside and bathe yourself in the gentle zephyrs of today's early morning…"

Serene, comforting and calm morning commentary resounding around the apartment. Balconies ajar, allowed curtains to sway gently to the inviting yet cool breeze. Melodious chirps of birds adding enchantment to the moment, the atmosphere was nothing short of ethereal.

"The ever lively Islamabad even on holidays, is a bracing temperature of 55 degrees with humidity 44%, creating an atmosphere that feels refreshing and rejuvenating…" it continued.

The delicate rustling of leaves and the soft play of light on the horizon completed this picturesque scene, creating a tranquil and otherworldly ambiance that made it a morning worth savoring.

Amid it all, were interruptions of light chuckles, playful whispers, innocent shenanigans, and glistening beams that the middleschoolers emitted.

"So, how do you plan to make the most of this gentle morning…? Take a stroll out, with a quiet cup of coffee or enjoy a blissful picnic with your family…?" the woman continued.

"Whoosh~ sigh…" Helios exhaled a deep breath. Gazing at the streets down the balcony, a light smile escaped his lips. His hairs dripping wet with a towel resting on his shoulders, "Islamabad sure is different from Karachi, its cold even after 7…" he wondered. Turning around he grasped a look at the rest inside.

"Wow~!" Adam gasped. The sophomores and freshmen surrounding the kitchen shelf like bees on flowers, they let out one gasp of amazement after another.

Poseidon washing the cups chuckled amused beside Xavier who adored them up close giggling nonstop.

Kenzo seating on the sofa glanced at them. A light smirk leaving his lips, he dived back into his world of Cricket buzz (Magazine) again.

"So this is how a 'Man of the Match's' trophy looks like…" Heber examined left and right.

"It's sparkling…" Ryan remarked.

"Yeah… and way too unique." Feng added.

An elegant, vertically rectangular trophy made from lustrous silver with a central transparent glass panel engraved with the phrase 'U-18 PSL Player of the Match' it stood tall, radiating prestige and accomplishment with its gleaming finish and striking model.

"I honetly want this!" Azazel pointed at the trophy, simultaneously turning to Kenzo who scoffed tilting his head. "You have to work twice as hard, brat." he replied.

"I am working and I am willing to work harder as well! But I really, really want it." Azazel said poised.

"Yeah! Me too! I will keep it beside my bed side table back at home! Okay Sera?" Adam turned to Seraph.

Settled on the carpet before the tea table, Seraph wore a pair of round glasses, immersed in parchments scattered all around him. Not catching Adam's statement he continued to review them one by one.

"Tch…" Adam puffed his cheeks, "He won't even listen to me now."

"It's alright, he is working. Let's not disturb him." Xavier ruffled his hairs.

"This one Seraph, It has quite the variety of grip styles listed sequentially." Gabriel handed a sheet to Seraph from the couch behind.

Seraph tilting his head sideways smiled, "Thank you." "

Give the ones you are checking to me, I'll take a look at them as well." Gabriel suggested.

"Hm." Seraph agreed passing the parchments over to him.

"Where is Cassiel?" Poseidon looked around handing Kenzo a cup of green tea.

"He went with Ezekiel downstairs, since Nagi called them to hand them some books. They'll join us in a while. Whereas, Chris, Damian and senior Mikael are working over their morning exercises." Ryan told.

"I see…" Poseidon said.

"That's it!" Feng instantly clapped his fist on his hand rising up from the chair.

The middleschoolers turned to him confused. "What?" Gabriel asked uninterested.

"Let us all take player of the match's trophy one by one! Despite having 7 matches in the PSL, we still have the world cup ahead right? We can win as many trophies as we want!" he exclaimed proud.

"You're right, we are at an advantage here but…" Xavier trailed off, his attention diverting with creaking and sliding of the doors from the highschoolers rooms. They soon stepped out one after another languidly. Some yawning, some rubbing their eyes trailing off to god knows where, some hanging limp on others, with some crashing into walls…

"Yikes…!" Adam flinched, cautiously going towards Orion who literally crashed into one.

The middleschoolers stared at them speechless. Their faces a pool of incredulity.

"Water… water…" Senri called, his voice hoarse. He banged his head flat on the shelf out of the blue.

Feng jolting up poured a glass, handing him. "Why is he dying?!" he shrieked in his thoughts.

"Who knows?" Ryan replied reading them.

"Hey, why the hell are you pushing me?! Go find somewhere else to sit!" Kenzo fought Isa who pushed him to the other side rubbing his eyes.

Ren too pushing him finally made their space as Kenzo gritted stuck on the side annoyed, "You Damn…!"

"How dare you bump into me!!?" Orion growled hitting the wall.

Adam unamused rolled his eyes, "Idiot…"

Curses here and there, early in the morning, what a sight! Seraph exhaled.

Poseidon helping Aigou and Noah while Helios made space for Aaron. "Hehe, we are sorry to trouble you. Our little ones are quiet a scene in the mornings." Haruf apologized lighting the mood.

Alongside him, Zachariah, Elias and Kazuna the only ones fully awake shrugged their shoulders cumbersomely.

"To think you'd wake up this early even after a match yesterday is surprising instead." Elias said.

"Excitement conquers even sleep, is what they say. That's our scenario." Helios replied. 

"I see." Kazuna smiled going towards the kitchen.

Zachariah settling on the couch, glanced at Seraph before him who once again started sorting the sheets.

"Come on, get up already." Elias called the highschoolers who moaned shaking their heads in complete rejection. Elias exhaled at a loss of words.

"Tch." Kenzo clicked his tongue annoyed. Xavier on the contrary chuckled while the rest looked at them unamused.

"Ah… look Rauf is here." Kazuna threatened blatantly out of the blue.

As if a devil's name uttered, the highschoolers flicked their eyes open looking around.

"Where? Where?" Noah, Orion and Aigou stuttered half asleep.

Isa too stretching his arms exhaled.

"This isn't something to joke about…" Aaron complained, his leisurely demeanor entirely vanishing.

"Wow… his name worked like a magic spell." Heber blinked surprised.

"Are they that scared of him?" Azazel whispered. However, his whisper audible Isa spontaneously reacted, "Scared? Who's scared? We, absolutely do not wish to show this aspects of ourselves to him." his voice sharp, he made it clear.

"Isa's right…" Aigou picked the bed sheet up.

"Rauf will get distracted instead and he'll start fretting about us which is something we don't want."

The middleschoolers stood stunned for a moment.

"Fret about you…?" Xavier repeated skeptical.

"He isn't that bad." Elias told. Confusing casing the middleschoolers momentarily Alan came out of the room yawning. His long bed hairs disheveled in such a peculiar manner (all spiked up) that it resembled the 'Burj Al Arab'1 right in Islamabad. Rubbing his eyes, he pouted his cheeks adorably. 

The middleschoolers witnessing yet another clumsy side of the highschoolers stood amazed. Adam, Feng, Ryan including all highschoolers however shared an amusing laughter, "Pft!! Haha!"

"Alan, are you still sleepy?" Haruf giggled affectionately.

Alan confused nodded.

"Haha, you look so funny." Adam grasped his hands.

"Oh my~ little star, what did you do with your hairs?" Aaron pushed Alan's hairs back as he winced disapproving his act, soon going to Zach and climbing over the couch behind Seraph.

Seraph helped him puzzled, "Easy…"

"Thank you…" Alan replied, resting his head on Zach's arm who gave out a light fleeting beam. "Did you freshen up?" he asked.

Alan nodding proceeded with a light hum.

Seraph surprised att Zach looked ahead. "So… he can be thoguhtful sometimes." he thought bothered.

Ryan standing behind Alan whispered, "Why are you so lazy today? Don't tell me you pulled an all-nighter?"

Alan shaking his head mumbled, "We slept late…"

"Late? Why?" Ryan asked.

"Sigh~ our lives aren't as relived as yours little freaks. After we dropped you here last night, Rauf called us for a meeting. We banged our heads for two more hours straight and slept at three to be precise. It was hell…" Senri informed.

Helios stunned glanced at Kenzo, Gabriel, and Seraph who remained silent.

"Anyways, I am hungry. Let's go and eat something downstairs, I am starving." Aigou wore his jacket getting ready. "Come on, Alan." he ruffled his hairs. "

Hm…"Alan hummed drowsy.

"You all as well." Kazuna turned to the middleschoolers.

Poseidon smiling assured, "We already had our breakfasts. No need to worry about us."

"GASP!!" Feng instantly slapped his fist on his palm again.

The boys turned to him. "Now what is it?" Kenzo asked unfazed over his usual jolts.

"We all cannot win the Man of the match trophy for one very big reason!" Feng exclaimed.

"And what's that…?"Xavier asked.

The highschoolers looked at each other clueless.

"They…" Feng squinted his brow pointing at the highschoolers one by one, "They are the biggest hassle in our streak!"

Helios and Gabriel realizing what he meant agreed, "Yeah… I didn't even thought about it."

"Tch." Azazel glared at the highschoolers beside Heber.

"If they perform well. They'll receive the trophy instead of us." Adam said.