Roman hugged his mom on his arms tightly burying his face on her cardigan, she was sniffling on his arms, they were standing in front of their house.
Tears burned at the edge of his eyes but refused to come out.
He couldn’t cry, If he starts now, he wouldn’t be able to stop.
Surrounding him were his sisters, his aunt and an old uncle in a wheelchair.
They were all dressed shabbily looking on with sunken chins and eyes glassy and glistening with tears.
Standing in front of their house was a sharp man in a crisp black spotless tuxedo, with his eyes hidden behind a designer’s sunshade.
He is standing before a sleek black luxury van with a tinted glass.
His polished image stood in contrast with the charcoal stained grey small house and the shabby looking family before him.
Only Roman was looking a little bit different and that is because he is wearing his best Sunday clothes.
The whimpering mother and son duo was testing his patience but he could not rush them or be rude to them because of the statue and untapped value of the boy, if he treats him rashly and the boy talks, he is going to pay for it.
When Roman finally detangled from his mother’s embrace.
He went over to his sisters and his aunt who were trying so hard to cover the tears flowing out of their eyes, he hugged each of them tightly and seemed to whisper an assuring words in each of their ears.
When he got to his uncle he stooped low until he was on the same level with him.
The old man reached out and held his chin and said.
“Son I always know you were made for great things, go out there and make the Milkov family proud, we will be rooting for you here.”
“Thank you uncle, you stay here and take care of mama, auntie and Leila and Keisha.”
“I will,” he said.” Patting his back, “go don’t keep him waiting.”
He rose up and waved his family the final goodbye for the last time, the tears swelling in his eyes threatening to drop.
His family waved back in sorrow.
Roman’s father Paulo left the same way many years ago but he did not return.
That is why Roman’s family was reluctant to let him go.
He picked up his traveling bag that contained the few clothes he had and turned to the man in tuxedo ready to leave.
The man heaved a sigh of relief as the open display of affection by poor people is already getting on his nerves, he can’t wait to leave this rural area and transition to the big city where people of his class and caliber reside.
He opened the door for Roman who entered inside but not without looking back at his family for the last time, the car leather seat smelled of expensive perfume.
As the van pulled away, Roman looked through the tinted glass at the only home he had ever known.
It grew smaller and smaller, until it disappeared completely.
He is finally leaving his family to go and play hockey in the big city.
“Are you alright boy?” the big man in black tuxedo asked.
Roman wiped his face and blew his nose hard, “I will be fine.”
The three hours drive to the city passed by in a blur, the transition from grassland, cottage houses, thick woods to glass covered skyscrapers, steel structures, neon sign billboards, wide asphalt road was prominent.
Roman momentarily forgot about his mother and his sisters as he was taking on the new sight, it was a mesmerizing experience for him, having never left his small town of Ashford since he was born.
The drive to the Academy took another further two hours.
By the time they reached the prestigious vesperridge academy it was almost dawn.
When Roman alighted from the vehicle, the sight before him wowed him and took his breath away.
Vesperridge Academy is giving everything an elite high school is supposed to be giving.
The atmosphere smelled of cold purified air.
A huge terrace building that is curved at the center painted in ivory and deep maroon.
A huge stone water fountain with a figure of a classical goddess in a dramatic position is situated in the center of the Academy.
A marble floor with the crest of Vesperridge academy stamped in the middle like a decree.
Students walked around with confidence and Certainty born from unmistakable Privilege.
One look at everything Roman started doubting whether he truly belongs to this world or not.
He wondered whether he is going to adapt and survive this place at all.
He took a deep breath when he remembered how his father came to this city years ago to work for rich people, he disappeared and has not been found till date.
He hoped that would not be his case.
He looked up to the sky and said in his mind
‘Dad I am going to make you proud and survive.’
“Let’s take you to the principal’s office,” the big burly man said, tapping his back lightly.
Roman recovered slightly from his state of delirium and followed him.
*****
In the polished ice rink of Vesperridge Academy a boy in platinum blonde hair and deep green eyes was doing wonders with his hockey stick, he was dribbling the puck with a formidable technique, he was flanked at his left and right by two opponents who were trying to grasp the puck away from him.
But he dribbled them like a genius, playing mind tricks and deceiving them, then when they least expected it he broke free speeding towards goal post so fast that the other two boy cannot catch up with him unexpectedly.
He was intercepted by a third opponent but he expertly manoeuvred his way past him and raced to the goal post almost uninterrupted.
The goal keeper stood in front of the post, his arms securing his stick, his eyes on the approaching player racing towards him in vengeance.
But the next second he didn’t know what happened he only felt the swish of an object tearing the air behind his ear and the next thing he heard was goaaalll!!!
Luciano’s supporters hailed him from the spectators stand.
Their shout echoing over the pitch, their hands waving frantically in the air.
But Luciano’s the subject of their praise and admiration was walking the rink in large strides, his shoulder hung up in pride, he only acknowledged their praise with a slight nod, as if the spectacular goal was nothing more than what the universe owed him.
The whistle signalled the end of the practice, he had already started removing his gears before he got to the locker room.
His full name is Luciano Anderson the acting captain of the Vesperridge Wolves ever since the former captain resigned after being scouted by a team abroad.
He was deemed the most suited person for the position of the new captain of the team until an unknown variable was raised two weeks ago and it seems this unknown variable is going to arrive today and be known.
When he arrived at the locker room, he was greeted with respectful nods and gestures.
He walked briskly to his locker and unlocked it, taking out his protein shake and downing an irresponsible amount of it.
The whispers started going around.
“We heard the ‘Township bumpkin’ arrived today. He is at the administration building.”
“Did you see him?”
“No I didn’t but Joshua saw him, he was carrying a suitcase like an old school principal.”
The rest of the boys burst into laughter.
“I heard he is going to be the new captain.”
“It can’t be, what about Luciano, Luciano is going to be our captain he is already acting like one.”
“I heard the new boy is equally good, he was a terrific player in his hometown and Coach Ferdinand specially scouted him for the Ice Storm championship cup(ISCC).” a boy called Robert said
“He still can’t compare to Luciano, don’t you see his performance today.”
“I bet he will last here for more than a week.” Another added.
Luciano’s chest swelled with pride, he loved that most of his teammates had trust in his qualifications.
He slammed his locker door noisily such that people close to him were startled.
He then walked past the group of boys talking about him, a silence swept over them as he looked at them with icy glares.
He wants them to know he heard what they said, they shouldn’t be talking about him anyhow as if he is some random gossip topic.