Annalise gently placed a hand against her cheek. "Mmm, let me think. The hotel isn't far from my place; it's only a short walk away. And I chose to work here because staying at home is boring. As you saw yourself, there's nothing to do."
Winston picked up the second half of his sandwich. "What about your friends? Don't you have any?"
Annalise let out a soft sigh before answering. "Of course I do. They all went on vacation for the semester break. I didn't want to sit around at home and get bored, so I applied for a job here."
Winston took a bite of his sandwich before asking, "Don't you have other relatives you could visit during the semester break?"
Annalise's expression softened, though a hint of sadness crept into her voice. "Remember when you asked me about my day off a few days ago? I went to visit my mother in Hartford City."
Silence fell between them. Winston sensed that something was wrong between Annalise and her mother. Before he could change the subject, Annalise continued. "My mother and I don't get along. When I was young, around ten or eleven, she used to take me to Hartford. Back then, I didn't know why. I would always ask her who we were visiting since most of my siblings lived in Arlesey City."
She paused, staring down at her hands. "I only found out years later, when my father confronted my mother about cheating on him. That's when everything finally clicked. After they divorced, I decided to live with my dad. He's been encouraging me to repair my relationship with my mother ever since."
She gave a faint smile. "So... yeah. That's my story." Winston fell silent, unsure of what to say. After a moment, he stood and offered her his hand. "Come here." Annalise looked up in surprise before taking his hand and standing. Winston pulled her into a gentle embrace. Neither of them spoke. Annalise slowly relaxed against him, and before long, tears began rolling down her cheeks.
After a while, they awkwardly returned to their seats. Neither knew what to say. The only sounds filling the silence were the faint chewing of their food and the occasional gulp of orange juice. The cool breeze swayed the golden marigolds and pale purple lilacs around them. Winston found himself captivated by the peaceful scenery. It had been a long time since he had simply stopped to appreciate the weather.
His sister's teasing had taught him something he hadn't realized before: sometimes, stepping away from football and simply enjoying the world around him could clear his mind. After finishing his sandwich, Winston brushed the crumbs from his hands.
"I'm sorry for crying," Annalise said. She hesitated before asking, "Can I ask you something? How has my father been lately?"
Winston looked at her, slightly confused. "Um... he's doing well. May I ask why you're asking? Are you two not speaking?"
"No, it's not like that." Annalise shook her head. "I mean, when you're both at the training ground, how is he? Does he seem to enjoy it?"
Winston paused. He hadn't paid much attention to Dumi's emotions during training. Their sessions were intense, and Dumi rarely allowed time for casual conversation.
"I think he's enjoying it," Winston finally answered.
Annalise released a relieved sigh, though a trace of doubt remained in her eyes. "I'm glad."
Curious, Winston asked, "Why are you asking? Did he say something about the training?"
Annalise lowered her gaze. "Did my father tell you why he retired earlier than expected? A lot of my relatives still say he acted rashly." She looked directly at Winston. "Some of my relatives don't even speak to me anymore. If my father told you, then you already know... he retired because of me." Winston remained silent.
"I remember being around eleven or twelve when I contracted an illness that left me bedridden for a long time. The doctors said I was going to die." Her voice trembled. "My father was playing some of the most important matches of his career. His team was winning trophies one after another. My relatives tried to hide my condition from him. Even my mother kept it from him."
Annalise wiped away a tear. "I don't know exactly how he found out. I only heard from some of my relatives that he left during halftime. He ran all the way to the nearest train station and took the bullet train straight to the hospital." Her voice cracked. "When he arrived and stood beside my bedside... something changed. Seeing him there made me want to fight. Somehow, by some miracle, my body began to recover."
Annalise covered her face with both hands and began crying uncontrollably. Winston sat quietly beside her, finally understanding why Dumi had walked away from football at the height of his career.
He also understood why Annalise carried so much guilt. Dumi's decision had not merely ended his career. It had changed everything that followed. When news of his retirement broke, the football world was stunned. Within forty-eight hours, his reputation had gone from that of a celebrated superstar to a figure surrounded by controversy and accusations. His team went on to lose the crucial match and, with it, the championship trophy.For several days, the reason behind Dumi's sudden departure remained a mystery.
Then a determined journalist began digging into the story. Eventually, the truth about why Dumi had walked away from football came to light.
After the newspaper published the story, the reaction from around the world was overwhelming. Fans, rival sports organizations, and athletes from different fields expressed their support. Many sent gifts and messages to Dumi and Annalise. Even the people who had publicly insulted him came forward to apologize.
But Dumi was never seen on the football pitch again. He chose to devote himself entirely to his daughter. Then he met Winston. Watching the young striker train reminded Dumi of his own beginnings—the days when football had been nothing more than a passion and a dream. Seeing that same determination in Winston reignited something inside him. That was why Dumi never charged Winston a cent for his training.
"Don't blame yourself," Winston said gently. "I'm sure your father doesn't blame you. Any parent would give up everything to be beside their sick child." He paused before continuing. "And judging by the way Mr. Crowe has been acting, I think he feels at peace with his decision. During training, he always seems content. Besides, it sounds like he's been receiving calls from people interested in hiring him."
"Yeah. I've heard him talking to people on the phone at home." Annalise smiled faintly. "It makes me happy knowing he might return to something he loves."
"Maybe you should tell him how you feel about it. I'm sure he'd understand."
Annalise snorted softly, then gave him a playful smile. "Wow. Look at you being such a good listener. You know, that's one of the most attractive qualities in a man."
Winston immediately felt his cheeks heat up. His eyes darted across the empty outdoor lounge before he suddenly stood.
"I think it's time for me to go. Thanks for the lunch."
Annalise burst out laughing. "You're even cuter when you're blushing."
"Ehm... we should probably head back to the hotel. I'm sure your lunch break is almost over."
Winston stood and stretched. Still chuckling, Annalise rose as well. Together, they cleared the table before walking back toward the hotel. For a while, neither of them spoke. Then Annalise broke the silence.
"I forgot to ask you about the upcoming match. How are you feeling?"
The question immediately brought the match back to Winston's mind. He felt a brief surge of nervousness, but it quickly faded. The match had become far more popular than he had expected. People were talking about it throughout the hotel and even in the neighboring towns. Yet after everything he'd endured during his training with Dumi, Winston felt more confident than ever.
He clenched his fists. "Honestly, I was nervous at first. But now..." He took a breath. "I'm calm. I'm focusing on my training."
He looked at Annalise with a determined smile. "I've been searching for a mentor who could help me improve, and thanks to you and your father, I finally found one. I feel confident that I can win that match."
Annalise stopped walking. "I'm glad. You've been working hard." She glanced ahead before turning back toward him. "Okay... this is my stop."
They had reached a quiet section of the hallway. Annalise tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Then, before Winston could react, she rose onto her toes and gently pressed her lips against his.
Winston froze. For a moment, neither of them moved. Then the kiss deepened, and Winston instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist. Annalise rested her hands on his shoulders as they remained locked in the moment.
Eventually, she pulled away. "I have to go. My lunch break is over."
Winston stared at her, still trying to process what had just happened. "When will I see you again?"
She smiled, "Focus on the match first. Then we'll talk about it." With that, Annalise stepped away from him and disappeared around the corner.
Winston remained frozen in place. Then, in his dazed excitement, he turned and lightly bumped his forehead against one of the steel poles.
Clang!
He rubbed his forehead. Damn... that was amazing. He glanced around the empty hallway before whispering to himself. "Fuck... damn."