Chapter 196 Group stage
Evelyn, seemingly intrigued by Kan, moved closer to his seat and whispered in his ear, "Hey, handsome!"
Kan was taken aback by her response; he knew he had a particular charm about him, but it normally worked when he noticed the lady first or they exchanged looks or conversation.
Evelyn, on the other hand was different – he hadn't said a word to her, yet she seemed to be falling for him.
Turning to confirm if she was referring to him, Kan saw her staring at him seductively with a smile.
"You're kind of gentle, I love that!" Evelyn added as Kan turned.
Hela laughed and said, [Well, he's not gentle when he's in need of pussy, sweetheart. You might want to rephrase your statement.]
Kan, the only one who heard what Hela said, smiled and bent his head down.
Evelyn, on the other hand, thought Kan was smiling because of what she said, believing he was already into her.
Evelyn, while not as pretty as Emily, had a particular charm about her. Her curves weren't as exceptional as her sister's, but they were also alluring and attractive.
"Oh, just did what I had to; violence is sometimes not the answer," Kan replied, turning his head back to face the officials up front who were planning on calling the draws.
Evelyn tapped her female friend gently and asked, "Ain't this guy the most handsome dude in this whole gathering?"
Her friend looked at Kan from the side view and giggled, "Damn! He's hot!" Her friend replied.
Evelyn, happy with her friend's response, decided not to let go of what was before her.
She leaned in and touched Kan gently on his shoulder, "What's your name, sweetheart?" Evelyn asked.
"What's your problem with his name?" Emily asked, annoyed.
"I wasn't referring to you, cripple!" Evelyn retorted angrily.
"He's mine; take your hands off of him," Emily said, pushing Evelyn away from Kan.
Evelyn wanted to respond when Kan quickly held her and prevented her from making any rash actions.
"No, please, keep it cool!" Kan said, but there was a low mumbling from Evelyn; she wanted to respond back, but Kan's embrace was something she was craving for, and she got it.
Kan gently kept Evelyn back to her seat, preventing any violence, and sat down gently, talking to Evelyn not to fight anymore.
"Remember what your mum told us. If you end up fighting, we might be disqualified!" Kan reminded her.
Emily, not known for her bad temper, displayed a different side that day. Her body visibly vibrated out of anger; she was boiling inside and mad.
Kan hugged her by the side, rubbing her arm with his hands in an attempt to make her cool down.
Evelyn, unhappy to see her sister with the guy she was into, contemplated ways to separate Kan from Emily and make him hers.
She had been the most attractive lady with the guys when they were young because of her loud and chatty nature.
As the draws started being called, Kan and his other teammates listened attentively.
"Group B, Clove FC, Homeland FC, Standard FC....."
As the officials mentioned Standard FC, there was a sudden chatter among Evelyn and her friends behind Kan. "That's our school!" they said happily.
"Group D, Ebony FC...."
"That's us; we're in Group D!" Emily said to Kan happily.
There was an indistinctive chatter among the teammates as they heard they were in Group D.
They all observed their fellow group members as each team made joyful noise immediately they mentioned their names.
There were about 8 groups, and each had 3 teams. After the officials finished calling out the draws, they began explaining the rules, the dos and don'ts of the tournament.
"Due to the low turnout of schools, the group members were reduced. Each group was supposed to contain 5 teams each; only 2 would qualify for the next round.
But considering the low turnout, it is now 3, and only one team will qualify for the next round – the team with the highest points in the group."
The players, upon hearing that, started making a low murmur amongst themselves. The sense of competition among them heightened.
"You're lucky enough to have not been in the same group with us. You could have been on your way home after the group matches!" Evelyn said to Emily before laughing wholeheartedly.
"I believe your group members are also tough based on what I heard! Anyway, you won't make it to the next round," Evelyn added.
"Worry about yourself!" Emily replied plainly.
Emily scoffed, leaned back in her seat, and continued giggling before taking a sip of her drink.
This continued until the end of the event. Kan and his fellow teammates walked back to their hostel immediately.
They were all tired and needed some rest.
Before heading to their hostel, the schedules for the matches were already posted on the billboard outside. The matches were to start tomorrow.
Lucky enough for them, they weren't playing tomorrow; their first match was a day after.
It was Group A and B that were kicking off first. Evelyn and her teammates were also going to be playing tomorrow.
Kan went to his hostel and rested alongside Emily and the rest.
As they slept all night, Mighty FC, that is, Evelyn and her teammates, were busy training for their match tomorrow. They trained almost all night.
Early the next morning, Kan and his fellow teammates rushed to the stadium to watch the first match of the tournament.
To their surprise, the stadium was almost filled up already, creating an electric atmosphere of anticipation.
Kan eagerly entered the bustling stadium, greeted by the roar of excited fans and the ambient buzz of anticipation.
Numerous spectators filled the stands, their colorful jerseys and spirited cheers creating a vibrant mosaic.
As Kan and his teammates found their way to a seat, they marveled at the electrifying atmosphere.
The ongoing match featured two Group A teams, and the anticipation among the spectators heightened as the Group B matches, that is Evelyn's group, were set to follow.
The players were already on the pitch, going through their pre-match routines, their movements sharp and purposeful.
The morning sun painted the field in a golden hue, casting long shadows as the tension in the air grew thicker.
The vibrant energy of the crowd and the players set the stage for an intense and thrilling opening match, creating an unforgettable scene in the crowded stadium.
"That will be us tomorrow," said one of Kan's teammate as they say down eagerly to watch the game.
The players stood in disciplined rows, their eyes fixed on the green battlefield. The referee, clad in black and white, held the ball in the center circle, ready to set the game in motion.
The hushed anticipation in the stadium was palpable as the moment hung in the balance.
With a brief glance at his watch, the referee raised the whistle to his lips.
The crowd fell silent, holding their collective breath. In that suspended moment, the only sound was the distant murmur of fans and the faint rustle of flags fluttering in the breeze.
The referee's piercing whistle shattered the stillness, echoing through the stadium. The players surged forward, and the opening match of the tournament commenced with a burst of energy and determination.
The fans erupted in cheers, adding their voices to the symphony of excitement that filled the air.
Goals flowed in during the match, and by the first half, the opposing team was already trailing by three goals to none.
Interestingly, the losing side doesn't had fervent fans, evident by some supporters changing into the winning team's jerseys.
The crowd's banter intensified with each mistake, creating an atmosphere that further weakened the losing team, leading to more goals against them in the second half.
The final scoreline stood at 8-0, leaving the defeated team visibly discouraged and disheartened as they exited the pitch.
"It seems this team might struggle to advance from their group, given their performance," Wick commented to Kan.
"Yeah, their spirit appears to have taken a hit after this disheartening result," Kan replied.
"Don't be surprised if they bounce back and win their next match," Emily suggested optimistically.
"Win?" Alfred laughed. "These guys are losers. I'm confident I could beat them even if I were their only opponent on the pitch."
As they continued discussing, Standard FC confidently entered the pitch, ready for their upcoming match.
Evelyn, wearing the number Eleven jersey, showcased a distinct energy as she jumped and moved vigorously, eager to make an impact.
"I'm curious to see what Evelyn will pull off on the pitch today. She's not known for her football skills, but here she is, starting the match. Quite interesting!" Emily remarked, her eyes fixed on Evelyn, eager to witness her performance.
The opposing team also made their way to the pitch, prepared for the game.
The referee checked his watch once more and blew the whistle, signaling the start of the match.
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