Chapter 1: Future Career

  “Hurry, get your things packed up we’re about to leave.” my mother says with a bit of annoyance.

  “Alright, alright, mother.” I say sarcastically as I quickly stuff my favorite soccer ball in my bag.

  “Come on we only have thirty minutes to get to the airport!”

  It was te at night – me and my mother were getting ready to go to America. We were leaving Japan because I got invited to py for the American soccer team in the FIFA World Cup. I’m a 17-year-old who's going to be one of the youngest pyers to py in the World Cup. Well technically my 18th birthday is only in a month and a half. Soccer has been my passion for over half my life. Thirteen years to be exact.

  “Hai-Chi Sakka get down here now. We're going to be te!”

  She sounds upset. I better hurry up or else I won't be able to py soccer. At this point I’m convinced she’ll come up here herself and break my neck.

  “Yes mother, coming!” I blurt in a haste.

  I threw my things in the trunk. As we got to the door of the car, it was very cold out and I started to feel uneasy. But I put it behind me and got in the car. After sitting down, I grabbed my seatbelt and noticed it’s frigid temperature.

  “That’s pretty cold.” I uttered under my breath.

  “What was that, Chi-Chi?” My mother says in a puzzled tone.

  Ugh – for the st time, can you not call me that.

  “Don’t worry about it, I’m just talking to myself.” I responded.

  My mom continues to bring out her favorite CD and stick it in the car’s CD pyer. Though it was an old CD it would still get the job done. Of course, it was one of her favorite songs that turned on.

  Really this song again...

  As for me I hated her music taste, but it helped get that unexpinable feeling out of my mind.

  “Shine through the night, like a diamond in the sky!” She sang with all her heart. Singing was one of my mother’s passions. Just like how I love soccer, she loves singing. If I had to be completely honest, I find it pretty annoying.

  I feel bad for the neighbors, hell, even the entire neighborhood.

  “I must’ve got my music taste from my father.”

  “HEY! WE DO NOT SPEAK ABOUT YOUR FATHER!” My mother yelled. I can understand where she’s coming from. After all that happened during my childhood, I don't bme her. The woman who birthed me continued singing.

  “Woke up with the sun, it's a brand-new day!”

  “Come on, join me.” She says.

  Are you kidding me...

  “ok . . .” I say reluctantly. I started singing with my mother. Since there weren’t many songs on my mother’s CD, I was forced to listen to the same songs over and over again. It got to the point where I was eventually able to memorize all of the lyrics.

  “Got my heart racing, and there's no dey–”

  I am so disappointed with myself for singing – that.

  We got to the airport, parked, got our luggage from the trunk, and walked in. Security was tight and the line was long, but we made it through. We walked to our terminal, terminal G12, and while walking up to our flight I saw an airport receptionist and pointed it out to my mother. As we walked up to her my mother told her that we were boarding this flight and showed her the ticket.

  She looks a bit young to be working at an airport. Her outfit kind of reminds me of like a Y2K style. Looks kinda mean.

  “Sorry but you missed your flight.” The receptionist says smugly.

  Yep I was right . . . What did I say–

  “No – No but our flight leaves in ten minutes.” My mother shows her the time on the ticket again.

  “Yes, but that was for yesterday.” The receptionist said with a valley girl inflection and a sassy attitude.

  “...” My mother has no reply.

  “It’s okay mom we will get another one.”

  “Yes, I know but money is very tight right now, so this is hard.” she says anxiously.

  "If you want, you could refund your ticket or switch your flight time.”

  Why does she have a big attitude and why’s she so rude. What’s her problem? I don’t like this girl. Someone should get her fired.

  “Okay, okay. I would like to switch my ticket for tomorrow’s next avaible flight please.”

  “Okay, cool. Bye.” The flight attendant says while loudly chewing gum.

  “Did you change it?” My mother wanted to confirm because the receptionist hadn’t even moved since the moment we spoke.

  “Yeah, yeah. It’s changed. Now goodbye – I’m about to go on break.”

  “O– Okay. Thank you?” My mother says confusedly.

  “MmHm.” The receptionist mumbled.

  Me and my mom walked over to the waiting area and sat on the airport chairs. I quickly fell asleep because of the sleep depriving hour it was.

  “Get some shut eye–” My mother tells me while I doze off to sleep.

  Huh where am I. Oh yeah – the call.

  “Hello?” I exclude confusedly.

  “Hello Hai-Chi Sakka, under careful consideration you have been selected to py with the American World Cup team this upcoming season. Of course, you’re able to decline this offer but it’s ultimately in your best interest. If you choose to accept our offer just know the FIFA organization will fully pay for all of the expenses. Education and temporary apartment included.”

  At first, I was confused and then it hit me. I was actually going to be able to py at the biggest sports gathering of all time. The FIFA World Cup. Declining the offer was obviously a no go. I wasn’t stupid enough to say no to a life changing decision. I knew the next thing I would say would pave the way for my entire future. I’m the best soccer pyer on my school’s team and everyone knew that. If it wasn’t for me, we wouldn’t have been able to win our st game by twelve points. Being the best doesn’t mean I’m always stroking my ego. Don’t get me wrong, I thought I was good but not at the level of competitive pros like Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, and even Holnd. My mind was already made up before this call. No matter when, or where, I would never decline something as great as this. *I scoffed.

  You really think I would decline. If so, you’re out of your mind.

  “Mother!” I yell.

  “What is it, son.” - My mother pondered. - - Why would your son be calling his mother down so te at night you may be asking? For something monumental obviously!

  “You won’t believe this!” I excimed excitedly as I gave my mother the phone. She gnced at me. As I was handing over my phone she began to sit down on the couch beside me. The words of the man on the other end pierced through the small speaker. He repeated the same words he told me to my mother. My mother’s jaw dropped in pure shock and amazement. A smile began to form on my face. For once in my life, I had something that me and my mother alike could be proud of. After a minute or two she came back to her senses. It must’ve been the shock but . . My mother was starting to tear up. Unsure of what to do, my voice broke. In this moment speaking was out of my capabilities. Out of nowhere my mom gave me a tight and warm embrace. Never once have I wanted my mother to cry but these were tears of joy. Ultimately, I was happy. Me, being the mother loving machine I am, I too shed a tear. No. These weren’t tears of sadness but tears of happiness and hope for my future. My mother’s tears were contagious.

  “So, what do you say kid. You want to be the best, right?” The man blurted out

  Of course, because I will be the very best, nothing, and I mean nothing will get in my way.

  “Yes, I do want to be the best . . . I will join the Amercian soccer team. I won’t let you down, I promise.” I procimed. He ughed loudly for a few seconds. The embarrassment got to me. My face turned red. Before I was able to get another word out, he spoke once more.

  “Okay boy, good luck and welcome to the team. I look forward to meeting you.” He politely said.

  The man hung up before I could say thanks. My head slowly gazed toward my mother. It looked like her soul had left her body but weirdly in a good way. She snapped out of her entrancement before I could say something and walked upstairs before giving me a genuine smile while uttering,

  “I’m so proud, Chi-Chi”

  I hate it when she calls me by that name, but I couldn’t be mad about it. I mean I’m going to be in the World Cup. It would be disheartening if she didn't care.

  Waking up I realized I had a dream about what happened a few weeks ago.

  “Oh, just a dream.” I uttered under my breath.

  Wait, moms asleep. She was supposed to be watching the time. Now that I think about it what time is it?

  I looked down at my watch and it was already one in the afternoon. We slept in all morning. It came to my attention that we missed the second flight. We had already missed the flight st night because mom misread the ticket. While walking over to my mother, I woke her up and told her the news. Once again, the same expression she had yesterday pnted itself back along her face again. I could tell she wasn’t happy. Calming her was the only option there was left. My mother and I spent the rest of the day sleeping at the airport waiting for tomorrow. The loud sound of people boarding their flights woke me up. I’m a light sleeper so even the littlest of sounds cause me to leave the dreamworld. Like yesterday I checked my watch but this time our flight didn’t leave without us. I woke my mother up for the st time. Out of curiosity, I looked to my right and saw people sleeping right next to us. At this time of the year the airports aren’t too busy, so it was easy to fit the pieces of the puzzle together.

  I would assume they are boarding the same flight as us. Both of us are at terminal G12 of the airport and there are only a few flights here. Maybe I should say hello. Actually, never mind.

  As I whispered in my mother’s ear the female flight attendant started calling people up to enter the pne. It was unfortunate that since it was a st-minute booking, we wouldn’t be seated next to one another. A few minutes passed and like everyone else, we started boarding the pne as well.

  “Good thing we didn’t miss the third one.” I quietly muttered to my mom as we were walking through the entrance gate of the pne.

  My mother gave me the death stare and I knew she wasn’t in the mood for anything - especially jokes. My mom’s seat was in the back, and she went on without me to find her seat. I as well soon found my seat. While sitting down, it felt like something was making the pne bounce up and down. This caused the flight attendants to kick off over fifty passengers because the weight limit exceeded.

  Gd that it wasn’t us. Mom would really be mad if she had to stay overnight at the airport for a third time.

  There was only one acceptable reason to why the pne’s weight limit was exceeded. It must’ve just been heavy luggage. Turning my head to look around the pne was subconscious. I was oblivious to the truth and quickly realized it wasn’t the luggage. It was a whole person. This, what looked like a she-male was wearing little kitty ears on his head as well as dog glove things on his hand. On the side of physical appearance, he had an ugly mustache and was practically bald. If I had to guess, he looked around 6’2 height wise. Usually, I don’t like calling people fat, but this was nothing to be looked over. This man was so big that the XXL rainbow pony t-shirt he was wearing was having a hard time fitting over his waistline. The same problem with his shirt was happening with his anime Loli pants. His underwear was exposed, and you could easily see his bare butt crack. And the smell was outright putrid. It was so bad; it reminded me about my visit with the grim reaper eight years ago. Speaking of the horrid smell, ten of the passengers had to be taken off the pne for throwing up all over the seats, floor and somehow ceiling. I was lucky enough to not be escorted off the pne. But my unluck outmatched my luck and I accidentally got a whiff.

  “Please no, please no.” I said under my breath.

  I was scared for my life because he was inching ever so closer to me. I had two free seats next to me. There was no choice – the only sane option would be to take the window seat. He was closing in on me faster and faster, I knew I’d be crushed and would have to say bye bye to my chance of pying in the World Cup the second he sits next to me.

  “Goodbye soccer career.” A tear almost formed in my eye. Beyond helpless, I knew in this very moment that my human dignity would be stripped away from me. He sat next to me, and before I knew it, I was crushed. My face had been smmed into the window of the pne. The sheer weight of his fat rolls pressed upon my head made me get a nosebleed. It was clear this guy doesn’t know the concept of a gym.

  “Hello there, my name is Betram Bertha Arnold Buttercup.” A revolting pig-like snort exits his nose while his meat fps continue to crush me.

  “Well, Betram Bertha, maybe y- you should start to exercise. I can barely breathe here.” I was trying my hardest to gasp for air. On top of that, this guy clearly didn’t hear me.

  “DO YOU LIKE ANIME!? I DO BECAUSE I LOVE WAIFUS! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS! WAIT OF COURSE YOU DON’T YOUR NOT AS SMART AS ME!” This idiot started to chuckle.

  “SO . . ANSWER MY QUESTION!”

  “N- No not really and I think waifus are k- kind of weird.” It took me a while to properly get the words out because I was still fighting for air.

  Uh oh. I didn’t mean to say that – It just came out. Why didn’t I just lie? By the look on his face, I could tell I must’ve angered him – I mean he stopped talking. I looked away and back at him. Is he dead? He looks lifeless. Does he need help? What am I saying of course he needs help-

  He got off me and stood up. Though he had trouble and was having a hard time bancing, he was still able to stand completely straight. To be honest, I found it hard to believe that this obese man even had the muscle strength to traverse around the airport. Even though he got his big ass off me, the feeling of my bones being crushed was still prominent in my nervous system.

  “Y- YOU MONSTER!!!” He shouts.

  “THAT’S IT. ULTIMATE ATTACK: WATER TSUNAMI” He reached from his bag to grab something. Not completely sure of what he was doing, I stayed sat in my seat, concerned for my safety. While wondering what he was grabbing I felt a spsh of liquid on me. All of my clothes were now wet.

  Did he just throw a cup of water at me?

  “HAHA TAKE THAT LOSER!” The man scoffed.

  Does this weirdo think he’s the main character of a light novel or something? Truly this is degenerate behavior. I’m getting annoyed now. At first, I thought he looked funny but not anymore.

  “THAT IS IT” I said in an outburst. I was completely outraged-

  We fought the entire pne ride almost crashing multiple times. For some reason the flight attendants and pilot didn’t mind. It was probably because it was an extremely cheap airline, and the staff were too underpaid to care. But still, I’m surprised they let that guy on the pne. They really should’ve kicked him off. Even the biggest dweeb wouldn’t be able to outmatch this guy in a cringe competition. Thinking about it, I’ve never met someone as braindead as him, but I guess there is always a first time for everything. I think I remember him saying his name was ‘Bretta Birtha Cupcake’ or something. Since we were throwing water at each other the whole flight, I kind of forgot –-

  Once the pne nded the weird guy from earlier bolted out the airport – while leaving the pne myself, I was relieved that he’d leave me alone after those thirteen grueling hours on the pne. As I heard people in the distance yelling for someone to stop running my mother exited the pne. Looking around I saw the American police. They looked much scarier than the officers back in Hokkaido – as I was trying to figure out what was happening, before I knew it the police full on tackled ‘Bretta Birtha Cupcake’. I don’t know what he did but by the way he was acting during the flight he must’ve been a fugitive or something. A wannabe manga hero and 2D waifu loving freak all in one person. I’m not even trying to be funny, but I thought the gods must’ve personally cursed him or something of that sort.

  Moving forward, I decided to forget about ‘Mr. 2D Waifu Freak’. While doing so, my mother and I were so excited. Just thinking about what our new apartment could look like was able to make my heart stop.

  It must be nice and very expensive. The FIFA organization wouldn’t give us a cheap rat-infested apartment with spiders and cockroaches everywhere. And I know that for a fact.