Peter

  It had been a slow few weeks for Peter. He spent most of his time practicing on his Piano. He had only Lucy to listen and judge, but she would rather sleep all day.

  His dad only called twice. Both times to confirm he wired money into his account. At least he cared enough to make sure he was still alive. He got to know his father was on a business trip in Poland. He was adapting to the lonely life.

  He had assumed he would be seeing more of Priscilla. It was totally the opposite. He hadn’t seen her since they went to the animal shelter. He often stared at the framed picture of them taken that day on his dresser.

  He took a walk to the restaurant she works the other night, but he was told she has stopped working temporarily. He drove past her house on a few occasions. It was mostly dark. It would be awkward to go up her porch and knock on her door without any tangible reason, and he didn’t have any. At least none reasonable enough. He contemplated using Lucy as an excuse but decided against it. She would see through the antics.

  Ralph came over a couple of times. They played games on his PlayStation console and often went on late night joyrides when they weren’t gaming. Ralph had been quite busy with football practices these past few days. They were having the biggest of the season with their local rivals, Gangslow FC. They had to work extra hard in training to fill the void of their best player not playing while facing clearly the best team in the league.

  He hadn't been watching his team football matches either. He didn’t want to deal with the prospect of facing his teammates’ questioning eyes. He knew he would have to face them sooner rather than later. It might as well be tonight.

  He got hold of his keys quietly so as not to wake Lucy. She would try to follow him if he did. She was always adamant and had quite a persuasive attitude. But the loud and overcrowded stadium was a wrong place for her to be. He drove to the stadium.

  He was there quite early. There were quite a few people there already. He found a quiet and isolated place to settle in.

  Both teams were warming up on different halves of the pitch. The Gangslow players looked quite physically menacing. He would have concluded physicality didn’t necessarily increase the probability of winning if they weren’t the best team in the league. But they were. He sighed.

  He could see Ralph warming up among the others, kicking the balls around and doing some light fitness drills. It felt nostalgic. Had life gone as he envisioned, he would have been right there at the center of attention, trying to look good for the girls. He sighed.

  He was feeling a bit hungry. He remembered he had barely eaten throughout the day. He was eating less and less these past few days.

  He stood up and headed toward the stands. He heard Ralph call him. He turned around to see him jogging across the field. He didn’t know how Ralph saw him from quite a distance, but he did. He walked towards the field to meet him halfway.

  “You came? I had assumed you wouldn’t.”

  “I couldn’t miss watching my boys,” he admitted with a dry laugh. “I would be on the sidelines cheering you on.”

  They both laugh at the absurdity, staring at the opponents training in a distance.

  “It’s going to be a very tough game,” Peter said.

  “Indeed it will. They are incredibly good. They are on a seven-match winning streak. Their main striker and probably their best player is on red hot form. He scored five goals in their seven to nil haul over OGS High,” Ralph said, pointing to a guy far away juggling the ball stylishly.

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  He knew what Ralph was trying to say. He could stop him or find a way to quiet him down if he was on the back line with them.

  “I’m sorry I won’t be there with you, man.” Peter sighed.

  “Yeah, I understand,” Ralph said, nodding his head. “I have to leave. The match will start soon.”

  “Good luck.

  “Wait for me after the match. I need a ride home. My car is faulty again.”

  “Okay.”

  “Good luck, buddy.”

  “Thanks, man,” Ralph said, turning back and racing back to the pitch.

  Peter turned and headed back to the food stands to get some snacks. He saw Priscilla arguing with someone. He didn’t have to look twice to realize it was the same person from that day she was arguing with in front of the restaurant. And just like that day, he was intimidating her. He felt a rush of rage wash over him. He walked towards them as calmly as he could. Rushing towards them would seem uncanny. Unlike the first time, he heard a bit of their conversation.

  “Don’t act like you know me, bitch.”

  “You never bothered to.”

  “You deceitful whore.”

  He called her a whore. He was livid.

  “You can’t call me that,” she said with her innocent voice.

  “Or what?” he said, taking a step toward her with a clenched fist. What will you do?”

  “Call her a whore again and I might probably show you,” he said as he walked up to her from behind and placed his hand across her shoulder.

  David stared at them both.

  “Is he the reason you left me?” David said. “You left me for him?”

  Peter could see the traces of hurt and rage in David’s eyes. He was never a man for fighting. He hated violence, but he would never back down from a fight. Besides, he also knew there wasn’t going to be a fight here. They both knew David couldn’t take him on. There were a lot of people here. David couldn’t surely deal with the embarrassment of being pummeled in front of a crowd. The wisest choice was to walk away, which he did.

  “I will make you regret this,” David said, looking straight at her before turning away to leave.

  “If she tells me you harassed her again, I will wipe the floor with your face,” Peter said.

  David looked straight at him for a few moments. Peter tried to read his face in that moment but couldn’t, as David turned and walked towards the bleachers.

  Peter took his hand off her shoulder. It had stood there awkwardly long enough. He faced her. He wanted to ask who David was but decided not to probe. She still looked a bit shocked, most likely from the altercation.

  “Thank you,” she mouthed.

  “You are welcome. I didn’t know you watched football,” he said.

  “Phil suggested we come watch today. He said it would be fun.”

  “Yeah, it will.”

  There was a moment of silence.

  “So you came with your friends?” Peter asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Why are you alone then?”

  “I came to get some snacks and soda,” she said, waving a bottled coke.

  “Where are you and your friends seated?”

  “There,” she said, pointing to a distance.

  “Let’s go. I will walk you there.”

  “Thanks,” she said with a smile.

  They headed towards the bleachers where Janet friends were seated.

  “How’s Max?” he asked.

  “He is really fun to be with. He loves to be snuggled and chews at my hand when he isn’t,” she replied.

  “Lucy is quite the opposite. She likes sleeping around and hates being touched when she’s sleeping, especially by strangers. She plays only when she’s in the mood and loves following me out. If I don’t take her and she wakes up in the house alone, she throws a fit when I get back. Either by scratching me or trying to bite my finger, and gives the silent treatment afterwards.”

  Priscilla laughed loudly. He watched her laugh at him, strangely comfortable with the sound of her laughter.

  “She also loves sleeping on me when I’m sleeping or sleeping on my lap when I practice the piano,” he added.

  “You play the piano?” she asked with bewilderment.

  “Yeah.”

  “Hard to believe.”

  “Hard to imagine you interested in musical instrument. I mean most athletes aren’t.”

  “Would you rather see then?” he shrugged .

  “I would really love to see,” she nodded.

  Peter noticed the crowd were getting more animated. He saw the players were lining out. Priscilla hurried them up the stand.

  She saw Phil and his boyfriend had also arrived. They were seating beside Janet.

  “Priscilla, where have you been?” Janet asked.

  “Sorry, I got caught up,” she replied.

  Peter recognized two of Priscilla’s friend. He had seen them a couple of times in school, but they weren’t particularly acquainted. He was their senior, he knows that much.

  Priscilla did the brief introductions. He shook hands with them.

  “It was nice to meet you all,” he said, turning to leave.

  “Hey, Peter. Where are you seated?” Phil asked.

  “There,” he said, pointing to the once secluded, now quite full part of the bleachers.

  “Your seat has probably been occupied,” Phil said.

  “Why don’t you stay here and watch with us? There’s an extra seat here.”

  He looked to the empty seat beside Priscilla. The match was starting already and somebody has probably taken his seat. They didn’t have to ask him twice. He nodded his head and settled down beside Priscilla.