Page 191 - Demo

CELEBRATING GOD%u2019S GOODNESS 191He was furious and started cursing and mocking me in front of my team. I couldn%u2019t believe it, the person I had looked up to refused to accept my apology and even threatened to kick me out of the programme. Thankfully, my fellow teammates and superiors stepped in to ensure that the situation did not escalate and we boarded the plane and headed to our destination. We ended the competition successfully, lifting the trophy, but I felt the relationship I had always dreamed of having with my hero was tarnished forever %u2014 because of a cup of coffee.On the way back, I tried multiple times to make amends, but Lucas refused to forgive me. I tried everything, from paying his dinner bill to buying him a fancy new white shirt, but my efforts were in vain.Lucas refused to train, sit, or even work with me the entire season. Despite this, I pushed myself and became one of the best in my field. Eventually, I found myself in a close competition for the highest accolade in our field %u2014 against Lucas.In the end, I was awarded the top honour, with Lucas finishing a close second. This incident didn%u2019t help him like me more, but only increased his hatred. The next morning, I learned that after the award ceremony, Lucas had leaked a few personal secrets of mine to the media and our colleagues. I couldn%u2019t believe it. In my anger, I swore to take revenge. I trained harder every day, determined to outperform him in every way.A few years passed. We were both now professionals and among the best in our respective fields. Our love for each other hadn%u2019t grown, but our dislike remained the same. A few days before the new year started, the list of competitors for an upcoming event was released. I realised that I was set to face off against Lucas on the very first day. Our rivalry was no secret and was widely talked about in the tabloids. In fact, it had created a divide between fans, some who supported Lucas and others who supported me.The day of the big game arrived. The atmosphere in and around the building was so tense, you could cut it with a knife. Fans on both sides were at each other%u2019s throats and the situation was at risk of spiralling out of control depending on the outcome of the game. I ran out of the tunnel, my team following and lined up for the start of the match. No sooner had the game started than chaos erupted. Both sides were evenly matched and every point scored was hard-won. As we prepared for the final showdown, Lucas and I exchanged a quick, confused glance. I had made a game-winning move with hardly any seconds on the clock. As I headed over to celebrate, a few of the opposition fans jumped over the barricade and started advancing towards me.