"Here we are," Oswin announced, slowing down. Winston turned to look at the path they'd traveled.
He couldn't help but look over at Oswin who was also a bit out of breath, He couldn't believe they both ran up a hill while talking. "Yo! Frankie, it's been long, didn't know you were back. How's college?"
"Oh hey bro, I've been here for a week. You know, college assignments here and there."
Winston stood there trying to catch his breath, he started opening his stats. Excited by the growth of his physics. He guessed that doing those drills earlier really improved his stats to a point where he is now positive that he will be the first option at least.
The noise of the arcade, kids smashing the machine console, snapped him back to reality. When he raised his head, he saw Oswin still talking to the manager of the Arcadia. Winston looked out the window, and he has not been keeping up with the weather nor the seasons. Until the door opened, letting in a chilling wind. "Winston, this way," Oswin said, handing the store manager his gym bag.
"This is my friend, we are in the same club Winston, this is my friend Frankie, his family runs this joint here."
"Pleasure to meet you."
"Hey, same here."
Winston heading him his gym bag too. And followed Oswin, who stood in the center of the arcade door, breathing in the heavy, still air mixed with different unpleasant scents, and he tilted his head up like a Superman pose. Winston looked at him with one eyebrow furrowed.
He didn't know whether to ask what he was doing, but he remembered ever since he met Oswin. He always does these weird antics so that by now he shouldn't be surprised. The arcade teemed with people of all ages, teens were frantically pressing buttons while yelling on consoles, and others were gathered around similar machines.
Entering the room, the still air made it harder for him to breathe. He looked around, it had been a long time since he last played video games. He stopped when he decided to take football seriously. And he usually spends all his time on the training ground. "Don't worry, we're not staying here—follow me, we're going into the upper floor. There's a pool table there."
The upper floor surprised Winston, relieved that he still knows how to play pool; the upper floor was more open and the air was much cleaner than the lower floor. And the room was more spacious when he looked around. The relaxing atmosphere, the chilling air from the air conditioners made him shiver, forgetting that they ran from the other side of downtown.
However, this did not bother him because it would cool his body. The area was full; there were no free tables for them to play. They were, however, tables where people could sit and wait for the ongoing games to conclude.
"The club we are playing next in a few days won their match today. They now have the same points as us in the league table. So our next match is crucial for our chance to be in second position in the table."
"I heard the commotion on the training ground, the last time I checked, they were even on the score line, I'm surprised both the teams were neck in neck. Some people even stopped training and focused on the match on the training ground."
"Yeah, I watched it, they were controlling the game in the second half. The other team were like amateurs." Oswin stopped for a minute before continuing. "Just received a message from my friends who are to meet us here."
Winston took a sip of his cold water and turned his gaze to the large screen on the wall. A derby match was playing, and it featured the senior team he had played for just a couple of months ago. He saw that the entire team was not suffering injuries like before and this time they were more coordinated. Winston daydreamed about himself playing in the league again. When he looked around, he saw that everyone had stopped playing and their attention was now on the big screen.
"Looks like we came in time, I thought we were gonna miss the match, thank god it was only the first half," said a tall, pale skin skinny youth who is the same age as Winston. A small bandage clung to one cheek. He tapped Oswin back, which made him choke and spill his drink. Winston, still glued to the big screen, spun his head fast. And when he looked at them both, the youths were fist-bumping each other, and he was laughing at Oswin, who was coughing. "C'mon now, bro, you made me spill my drink."
"Don't worry, I'll buy you a new one. Anyway, how's the match? I heard this one is more intense. Westminster needs a point to take second place."
"Yeah, but the Giants hawks are giving them a hard time too. And Cerceda are not backing down either. Yesterday they secured two points and now four points clear."
"Because they suffered injuries, they didn't qualify for the championship."
Winston continued watching the match. He didn't bother turning around, he felt Oswin was staring at him. Winston clenched his fist. He thought about improving his skills more. He glanced at his skills while drinking his water, he flicked his index finger, and the core system opened, and he went straight into his physical stats.
[User stats: Physical]
Physical
Physical: 66 +1
Jumping: 55 +1
Stamina: 67 +1
Strength: 57 +1
Aggression: 44 +1
Reward points: 5
Winston couldn't help but grin, he spent half a day doing drills in order to boost his stats now that his stamina, physical, have reach sixty-seven. Now he can last are bit longer in the field. "Oh yeah, this is the player I was telling you about, he played in the championship qualifiers," the voice snapped Winston back into nearly spilling his drink as well.
"No way, Wassup, bro. I'm Klarsson, that game was hectic. So tell me, how's playing in the Supreme League? How's playing with Tatanka," when Winston glanced at Oswin, both sharing a stare. Oswin shrugged his shoulders. Right there and then Winston realized this youth is a huge fan of Tatanka. "He is good." This was a lie, Winston only had a chance to really interact with the senior striker when he got substituted in the championship game. And Winston couldn't bring himself up to tell him that.
"Right, best striker in the last decade, I want to save his goals."
"You are also a football player."
"Yeah, you know, I get that question a lot, I may not look like one, but I play the goalkeeper position."
"He may not look like one, but trust me, he is the best goalkeeper in our league. Saved his team from being placed fourth in the league."
"Wait, you mean to tell me he plays for Hartford Untied"
"The one and only"
Ohhh!
Half the room sighed from the miss the Giant Hawks F.C. made, When they continued watching the match. It looked like the game was going neck and neck with misses, even the tension in the field was so hostile that the referee had to break up fights a few times. Frustration mounted for both sides because of their inability to capitalize on opportunities. And that when Winston got a message from the system.
Ding!
[User reward points]
[persistent training]
Reward points: 15
Wait, so training repeatedly has its perks, judging by the reward amount it a once-off thing. Boosting my stats by one actually increases my points, so in order to receive more points I have to boost more skills. Interesting.
The room erupted in celebration. Although the match ended as even, the Westminster fans didn't care. They still occupy the second spot, and the outcome disappointed the Giant Hawks fans. Winston stood up and told them he needed to go. He told them he was feeling tired and that he needed to prepare for tomorrow's match. When Winston left the arcade, he jogged straight to the training ground.