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Chapter 1: The Pitch
DAMON'S POV
Damon Savage sprinted down the football pitch, the scorching sun beating down on his skin like a relentless drumbeat. The smell of freshly cut grass filled his nostrils as his feet pounded the earth, sending shockwaves up his legs. The sounds of the game swirled around him - the thud of the ball, the shouts of his teammates, and the distant hum of traffic from the nearby road.
He was in the middle of an intense training session with his teammates, and he couldn't afford to let his focus slip. Sweat dripped down his face, stinging his eyes, but he didn't dare wipe it away, not even for a second.
As he ran, he caught sight of a girl standing on the sidelines, looking around uncertainly. She was a distance away, but Damon's eyes were drawn to her bright pink hair, which stood out against the dull green of the pitch like a beacon. The girl looked lost, and Damon saw her approach one of the other players, who was sitting on the bench, sipping water from a bottle.
She asked him something, and the player pointed down the road, giving her directions. Damon watched as the girl nodded and smiled, her eyes lovely and filled with gratitude. She turned and began to walk in the direction the player had pointed, her legs striding confidently across the grass.
For a moment, Damon was distracted, his eyes following the girl as she walked away. The sound of his teammates' shouts and the thud of the ball faded into the background as he watched her disappear into the distance.
But then he snapped back to attention, remembering that he was in the middle of a training session. He refocused on the game, chasing after the ball with renewed intensity. The sun beat down on him, the sweat dripped down his face, and the sounds of the game swirled around him once again.
As he played, Damon couldn't shake the feeling that he had just seen something interesting. But he pushed the thought aside, concentrating on the game at hand.
***
Damon Savage cruised down the road, the warm evening air blowing through his hair as he chatted with his friends in the car. They were all still high on adrenaline from their intense practice session, and the conversation was lively.
"I'm telling you, Damon, you're going to be the star of the team this season," his friend, Tunde, said from the passenger seat.
Damon grinned. "I don't know, man. I've got some tough competition."
His friend, Femi, who was sitting in the backseat, chuckled. "You're just being modest, Damon. You're the best player on the team."
As they approached a bend in the road, Damon's eyes landed on a familiar figure walking alone on the sidewalk. It was the girl with pink hair, whom he had seen earlier at the pitch. She was walking quickly, her eyes fixed on the ground ahead.
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