The Pen That Changed My Life - Chapter 23 – The Match

11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVs0QGI2WQ

The following Friday, the school was buzzing with excitement.

Instead of regular classes in the afternoon, there would be an inter-class football match.

The boys in our class had been talking about it all week.

"Narin, you're playing, right?"

"Of course!"

"You'd better score this time."

"I always score."

His friends laughed.

"In your dreams!"

The classroom filled with teasing until the teacher walked in.

"Enough talking. Open your books."

Narin glanced at me and whispered,

"They don't believe in me."

I looked up from my notebook.

"Maybe prove them wrong."

He smiled.

"So, you'll watch the match?"

"I don't really watch football."

His smile faded for just a second.

"Oh..."

Then he quickly laughed.

"That's okay."

But something about his expression stayed with me.

That afternoon, the final bell rang.

Students rushed toward the football ground.

Some carried homemade banners.

Others shouted the names of their classmates.

I wasn't planning to go.

Sports had never interested me.

I packed my bag and walked toward the school gate.

Then I stopped.

I looked back at the field.

For some reason...

I remembered the look on Narin's face that morning.

With a quiet sigh, I turned around and walked toward the crowd.

The match had already started.

Students cheered from the sidelines.

Teachers stood nearby, making sure no one crossed onto the field.

I found a quiet place beneath a tree where I could see the game.

Almost immediately, I spotted Narin.

He was running across the field, calling for the ball.

He looked completely different.

Confident.

Focused.

Free.

A few minutes later, he glanced toward the spectators.

His eyes scanned the crowd...

Then stopped.

On me.

Even from that distance, I could see the surprise on his face.

He smiled.

Not the loud, playful smile he gave everyone else.

A genuine one.

Then he turned back to the game.

Near the end of the second half, Narin's team earned a corner kick.

The ball flew into the penalty area.

After a scramble between several players, it bounced toward him.

He kicked it without hesitation.

The ball sailed into the net.

The field erupted with cheers.

His teammates surrounded him, laughing and shouting.

As the celebration died down, Narin looked toward the sidelines again.

This time...

He raised his hand and waved.

I hesitated.

Then, feeling slightly embarrassed, I raised my hand and waved back.

After the match, I was about to leave when someone called my name.

"Phawin!"

Narin jogged over, breathing heavily.

"You're still here."

"I was leaving."

"You came."

"I did."

"I thought you didn't like football."

"I don't."

He laughed.

"Then why?"

I thought about it for a moment.

"I said I'd watch."

His smile slowly widened.

"And you kept your word."

"I try to."

For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then one of his teammates shouted,

"Narin! We're taking a team photo!"

"I'm coming!"

He turned back to me.

"Thanks for coming."

Before I could answer, he ran back toward his friends.

I watched from a distance as they celebrated together.

For some reason...

Seeing him happy made the walk home feel lighter than usual.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jwK6NKDSM

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