The school nurse massaged on his legs, rubbing in mentholated balms.
“How did your legs get battered this bad?” The plump school nurse with a tight and neat bun asked Roman.
He gave her a half hearted smile.
“It was during an intense training session, I strained myself way too hard.”
“Intense training?”
The school nurse seems not to buy his story.
“You should be careful, training hard is good but if you lose your legs, it’s over for your career.”
“Thank you ma’am.”
The nurse fastened the bandage around his legs.
She walked to the counter and fished out a pack of pain relievers.
“Take this, two in the morning, two at night, the pain would be completely gone by the third day.
Roman received the tablet, his eyes scanning the description briefly.
“Thank you nurse.”
When he stood up to go the nurse spun around rapidly as if she forgot something.
“Don’t engage yourself in any intense activity for four days. So that it will not trigger your muscles. I will write a report to your coach.” As she said it she tore out a sheet of paper close to her and started scribbling something rapidly.
“Until you heal properly, you should stay put.”
Roman sighed inwardly, so much for beating Luciano and taking the team to glory at the ICSE
He cannot be accumulating injuries right now.
“Can I at least do light activities and training?”
“Just don’t do anything that will disrupt your healing process.”
Roman thanked him and left the school clinic still limping.
When he got to his class he noticed a strange commotion.
It was a bit rowdier than before.
No student is sitting on their desk, they were gathered around at a particular place, he looked at Clinton’s seat and he was not sitting there.
He decided to head to his seat and nurse his wound, happy nobody is paying attention to notice he is limping.
He got to his desk and sat with a little difficulty.
He placed his head on his desk and closed his eyes.
He was about to drift off when he heard something that made his eyes flutter open.
“Luciano, do you like our class?”
He raised his head slowly.
The boys seemed to be gathered around a particular table with excited faces.
Their chattering making it difficult to understand anyone.
That was when the effect of the pain reliever hit him.
He decided to rest his head a little bit again.
Then he heard a voice that he could recognize even in his deepest sleep.
“I am so happy to be in this class.”
Luciano Anderson!!
****
When the teacher Ms Alice came in.
That was when the students scattered and went back to their seats.
Roman turned to look at him to be sure he was not seeing things.
There it was Luciano Anderson flesh and blood sitting in the center of the class to Roman’s right.
Curly Blonde hair swaying gently in the wind.
The teacher said, “Good day to you, wonderful class.” There was an extra sauce in her voice which was obviously due to the presence of Luciano.
“I hope you all are preparing for the upcoming examination which is approaching rapidly.”
A ripple of murmur rose through the class.
Her eyes fell on Luciano.
“Such a great honour to have you in our class Anderson.” Her voice dropped to patronizing level.
“What do you think of our class so far?”
Luciano looked around, staring at no one in particular.
“I find it bearable.”
“Absolutely.” She said, clapping her hands together.
“If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to come and find me in my office. My door is open anytime for you.”
Luciano eyebrows shoot together it was obvious he is uncomfortable with the fawning because he detests it.
Ms Alice went back to teaching the topic of the day.
During the teaching Roman tried several times to make eye contact with Luciano.
But it is as if he was deliberately avoiding to look in his direction.
He wants to know why Luciano suddenly left his elite class.
When the final bell rang.
Roman stood up immediately and went and stood in front of Luciano’s desk.
A glint of surprise passed through Luciano’s face, but it dissipated immediately.
Before Roman open his mouth and speak, another boy sitting beside Luciano whispered something to him.
They stood up and left together laughing about something as if Roman did not exist.
‘He is ignoring me now isn’t it, after hurting my legs.’
And the Coach was barking instructions to them.
When the Coach noticed Roman coming, he stopped.
But when he noticed his limping posture, his forehead furrowed and a frown appeared in his face.
“What happened to you Milkov? You were fine yesterday.”
“I was careless while climbing the stairs and I felled.” Roman lied.
Coach Ferdinand came closer to him examining him more carefully.
“How bad is it?”
“It’s not that bad, I have already gone to the school clinic and they gave me some prescriptions, I will be fine.”
“Why didn’t you come to the team physician. They are better equiped to handle athlete’s injury?”
“Sorry Coach I will do better next time.”
Coach Ferdinand looked all over him, it was as if he sensed that he was lying.
But he had evidence and he could not do anything.
“You should be careful and avoid anything that diminishes your form.” He advised.
Roman nodded in agreement.
Soon Luciano jogged in beside the coach, already in his gear.
“Hey Luciano, you look like you are in a good mood today.”
“Yes Coach, ready to train today.”
“Alright boys.” Coach Ferdinand called out.
“We are going to do a lap round the field, to build those resistance and muscle strength.”
Luciano took off without casting as much as a glance to Roman.
Roman put on his gears and joined them.
He did not exempt himself from the exercise even though the coach allowed him to.
He was running at a slow pace behind them all.
He was breathing deeply, his joints aching slightly.
After three laps the Coach stopped them, Roman was almost passing out.
He gathered them together and began to talk.
“I have an important announcement to make. The departure of captain Alberto left a deep rift in our team which we thought we wouldn’t fill.” A solemn murmur erupted through the crowd.
“But today we are going to move on and fill in the position. Luciano here has been acting as the captain. He is a strategic player with an advanced technique.”
A round of applause erupted as they gave Luciano an admiring look.
Even Roman clapped weakly.
“Now we have our new player Roman. A naturally gifted player with raw talent.”
“So I thought to myself why should we have one blessing when we can have two. So today we are naming Luciano Anderson and Roman Milkov the co-captains of Vesperridge wolves.”
A shout erupted from the crowd.