CHAPTER 62: MOTIVATION THAT MEANS MORE THAN POINTS ON THE SCOREBOARD

Alaric, he raised his hand. Patting each teammate on the shoulder. "Hey. Lift your heads. We lost, yeah. But that doesn’t mean we’re bad. Our opponents were just better today."

"The important thing is, we showed that we can compete at their level. We know it’s not easy. We were just a little short this time. From here on out, we need more briefings, more practice together. So our communication is sharper. Next time, we’ll make sure our campus comes out on top."

Alaric raised his hand, saluting the fans. The mood in the arena slowly lightened. Elliot, feeling guilty for missing the final shot, gave a faint smile. Alaric patted him on the back and said, "You played like crazy. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have even made it this far."

From the stands, even though disappointed, the Northvale supporters began chanting again, cheering their team on. It at least keeps them from giving up too quickly or feeling too sorry for their losses. And that’s a very meaningful form of support. Don’t belittle them when they lose and not just worship when they win and are on top.

"NORTHVALE! NORTHVALE!"

Alaric walked down the stadium stairs, his pace slow, fully aware of the moment that had just passed. His teammates followed behind, chatting quietly and occasionally patting each other on the back. He stopped at a corner of the field, turned to face them, and gave a small, knowing smile.

Despite the game and the final score not being in their favor, there was a strong sense of camaraderie among the five players of Northvale.

The young man reminded them of something they needed to do, even though they hadn’t won. This was a moment worth preserving. "Hey, even though we lost, this is still our story. Don’t let it just slip away. Let’s at least capture it, come on, smile..." he said as he held up his phone in front of them.

Quickly, they stood together on the lower field. A photo was taken with the phone’s timer set. They also asked someone standing on the edge of the stadium to snap a shot for them.

Alaric stood in the middle, arms casually crossed, gazing into the lens. Jordan was to his left, Elliot to his right, with Rael and another substitute player. Let’s call him Thomas, filling out the rest of the lineup. With one click. The first photo was taken.

Then Alaric turned to his teammates, "Now, let’s do something a bit more fun, everyone, big smiles all around. We’re still a solid team."

Click. Another photo captured a warm moment of wide smiles and hands overlapping, showcasing the bond they shared, despite the disappointing result of the match.

Not long after, cheers were heard from the lower stands. Female students from their campus began coming down one by one, smiling and pointing toward the players. "Ric, come here! You were amazing, seriously!" one of them shouted, rushing over.

Some stood next to Jordan, others linked arms with Elliot, while a few gathered around Alaric. Everyone was beaming, as if they wanted to share the energy of the game, even though they had only been spectators. Each player was surrounded by groups of devoted fans who had followed their journey for a long time.

Alaric smiled lightly, soaking in the laughter and cheers from the girls. He knew that this wasn’t just about winning on the field, but about the confidence and unity they showed.

Even a few students from other campuses, who had been sitting across the stands, now joined in on the excitement. They wanted to capture the moment with players they recognized for their skill, even if Northvale had lost by a narrow margin.

The sound of cameras clicking filled the air, each shot adding to a collection of photos filled with laughter and joyful expressions. Alaric, who had initially been a bit stiff, began to relax, joining in on the fun, posing for a few moments. "Alright, enough for now. You guys are going to make it complicated again. But this is good. We need to remember this moment," he said, patting Rael on the back. Everyone nodded, smiling, and laughing. Their connection growing stronger through these simple gestures.

Once the photos wrapped up, the girls slowly began to move back, waving occasionally while whispering to each other. The players watched them, feeling the warmth of the appreciation from their fans.

Even though their team lost, they were still champions in the eyes of their close friends and supporters. Alaric glanced up at the fading evening sky, realizing that moments like this, simple as they were, would hold more value than any score on the board.

As most of the fans finished getting their pictures with the Northvale team, two last girls stood hesitantly at the edge of the field. Alaric glanced over at them for a moment, noticing their shy smiles. One of them seemed eager, while the other appeared a little nervous. The more enthusiastic girl quickly took the lead, tugging on her friend’s arm.

"Clarissa, come on! Let’s go! I’m such a huge fan of them!" Maudy called out, pulling Clarissa closer to the group. Clarissa exhaled quietly, looking a bit uncomfortable, but couldn’t resist being dragged along. Eventually, she followed, her face slightly flushed, taking small, uncertain steps.

Alaric, now feeling the weight of the day, gave them a friendly smile and adjusted himself to join them. As Maudy raised the small camera she was holding for a selfie, Alaric stepped into the frame, offering his warmest smile of the day. Right before the moment was about to end.

Maudy looked pure and sincere, with no intention other than to capture the memory. Clarissa, on the other hand, despite being there, still seemed awkward. Her eyes would occasionally flicker toward Alaric. And her face was slightly red. She kept her lips pressed together, her posture stiff. Alaric, not fully noticing her discomfort, remained unaware of her gaze as he smiled at the camera.

"Alright, smile!" Maudy said, gently patting Clarissa’s shoulder. Clarissa managed a small, hesitant smile, doing her best to go along with it so she wouldn’t seem rude. She adjusted herself into the frame.

Maudy pressed the camera button, and the sound of the shutter clicked. After that, Maudy repeated it a few more times, making sure everyone was positioned just right.

"You guys were amazing, Alaric! It was so much fun to watch! Just unlucky, you know... didn’t win this time," Maudy said, clapping lightly. "But it’s okay, I’m still rooting for you all!" Alaric nodded with a brief smile and gave Maudy some encouraging words in return.

Clarissa, on the other hand, stayed quiet. But there was something different in the way she looked at him. Her eyes would sometimes meet his, showing an unspoken connection.

And even though her behavior was strange, no one caught a hint of jealousy from the girl. Alaric, lost in the moment, didn’t pick up on it, instead focusing on Maudy’s cheerful expressions.

Soon, Jordan, standing nearby, spoke up, "Come on, you’re such a pain. It’s over now, right? Time to go."

"Not yet!" Maudy retorted with enthusiasm. "I want a picture with you too, Jordan!"

Jordan sighed, his expression a mix of annoyance and resignation. "Ah, forget it. Why bother? Let the others do it."

"But no way! It won’t be complete without you. I need to post this on my Insta story!" Maudy insisted, her face full of energy as she pointed to her little camera.

Jordan hesitated for a moment, then gave in. Maudy quickly adjusted herself for the shot, this time just her and Jordan, as she held a wide smile.

Click!

They both laughed lightly. Jordan shot her a mock glare and joked, "Hey, you should’ve warned me first, I wasn’t ready. Now I look less handsome than the others. Should I delete it?"

"Come on, it’s taking too long. Just get it over with. You told me to hurry, so I’m done now. Thanks, everyone!" Maudy said, giving Jordan a playful tap on the shoulder as she pulled Clarissa away, guiding her out of the field. Clarissa, still a little awkward, had her face back to normal as they walked away from the crowd.

Alaric watched them leave. Jordan, from the other side, clicked his tongue and smiled softly. "Tsk tsk," he muttered, amused by Maudy’s innocence and Clarissa’s shy nature. It was as if the world had given the team a little time to absorb the lighter side of the day.

It all made them all, especially Alaric, feel lucky today.

The noise of the stadium started to fade as fans trickled back into the stands, but the warmth of the moment lingered. It was a simple, yet perfect ending to what had been a tough match. The smiles on Alaric and his teammates’ faces showed that even without a win, they had found something far more meaningful.