It’s peculiar by how the simple things in life go on while everything else becomes unnecessarily difficult. Well, just a thought.

“So the rumors are true?” Min Rin, the school’s midfielder ran through her hair in frustration. Her fringe was now sticking in all sorts of direction. My throat etched for some kind of reasoning to convince the panic-stricken soccer player. Her eyes were pleading. The obviousness in the answer became quite... unbearable.

“Yeah captain, what are we going to do if they really are cutting us out?”

Another voice stated, uneasy and definitely overwhelmed with disappointment.

Silence engulfed the space where the only thing I could think of was our fate. Four pairs of eyes were focused on me. Every individual in my team has had her own fair of hardship and aspiration.

There’s Ye Rim, the team’s goalkeeper who is the sole breadwinner of her family. Lee Ah, the defender who came from a broken family, making her feel small, like coarse fragments on the ground. Her life pretty much depended on this beautiful game. The game made her complete, metaphorically alike to a perfect heart, when the world as cruel as it sounds, has its back against her.

Ha Na, the team’s striker who felt disregarded by her parents. She has hopes. She aimed high. Unlike the others, she came from a well-to-do background but without a doubt, everyone has problems. It’s just a matter of hiding it or shoving it directly to everyone’s faces. In her case, running away from it was her solution. An enchanting escape.

For the matter, cutting our team from being part of the school’s curriculum will not do us any justice. As captain, it appeared crystal clear to me that I have to fight for our rights.

Min Rin. Ye Rim. Lee Ah. Ha Na and I, Park In-Na.

Together, we formed the miniature-sized female street soccer team in Seoul High. It’s us against the complicated world. Like diminished light, we want to be seen.

I slammed the gym’s locker shut. Their questions rung in my head.

“I’ll reason with them." I stated, confidence inching in my speech. “Before they cut us, I’ll shred the prancing ballerina’s tutus.” I picked up the leather satchel in which I have stuffed my ‘truly cherished soccer boots.’ It’s tattered and battered looking for I wasn’t exactly lucky to be born into the hands of a well-off family.

“Where are you going?” Ye Rim inquired, biting her lips, probably suppressing the urge to trigger anger-pricking questions. Nonetheless, it failed because within seconds, her lips poured senseless remarks.

“You are not actually going to confront the guys team, right? Like right now? I know that they were the ones who broke the glass windows in the science lab during soccer practice. They framed us but you shouldn’t do anything reckless.” Her words came out as a whisper, where she was cut off. 


“Oh no. Just no! Don't you dare give her any ideas!” Ha Na squeaked, covering Ye Rim's mouth.

“They blamed us to be exact,” Lee Ah said, annoyance seeping in her tone. “Bunch of weenies!”

“Don’t you worry, I will take on that another time. I have other important things on hand.” I responded without meeting their eyes.

A part of me wished that these girls would stop interrogating. I flicked a tiny smirk, not uttering a word. Intensifying as time ticked by, tinge of guilt trickled my nerves, as I felt that my misbehav