For Junior Division in Floorball, there are three periods of 15 minutes each

For Senior Divison and by International Standard in Floorball, there are three periods of 20 minutes each

This is to avoid any confusion. And happy reading :)

______________________________________________________________

 

THIRD PERSON POV

“Firstly we welcome, NUMBER 25, KANG SEULGI OF PIONEER HIGH for the first lineup.”

 

“Following her, is NUMBER 81, KIM YERIM OF PIONEER HIGH’

 

“Another member to join their lineup is NUMBER 45,PARK SOOYOUNG OF PIONEER HIGH”

 

“Joining them is NUMBER 23, WENDY SON OF PIONEER HIGH”

 

“Last but not least, the final member of the first lineup, and CAPTAIN OF PIONEER HIGH, IRENE BAE”

 

“GIVE IT UP FOR PIONEER HIGH”

 

The indoor hall shook violently from the screeches coming from supporters of PIONEER HIGH as their drummer banged the drums loudly, adding on to excitement of the match.

 

“Now, we welcome, NUMBER 77, KANG HYEWON OF BLOOM*IZ HIGH”

 

“Following her, is NUMBER 48, LEE CHAEYEON OF BLOOM*IZ HIGH”

 

“Another member to their lineup, NUMBER 14, LEE YENA OF BLOOM*IZ HIGH”

 

“To join them is, NUMBER 90, MINNIE OF BLOOM*IZ HIGH”

 

“And the final member of BLOOM*IZ HIGH IS NUMBER 18, CAPTAIN AHN YUJIN OF BLOOM*IZ HIGH”

 

“GIVE IT UP FOR BLOOM*IZ HIGH”

 

“Now, we have COACH KIM TAEYEON OF PIONEER HIGH AND COACH KWON EUNBI OF BLOOM*IZ HIGH. Joining us are JUNG WHEE IN and MOON BYUL YI as the referees for today’s matches. Give it up for these people!”

 

The commentator ended his commentary and waited for the game to proceed.

 

Thunderous cheers shook the walls of the indoor court and it slowly died down as the person behind the scoreboard signalled for the match to start.

 

The referee, Jung Wheein nodded her head and aligned the ball in the middle of the court, enclosed by the blade’s of Ahn Yujin and Kang Seulgi’s stick.

 

BEEP

 

And with that, Seulgi snatched the white ball a second earlier than Yujin and passed it through her legs to Wendy.

 

However, Wendy was tackled down by Chaeyeon who came down from the boards.

 

Chaeyeon passed the ball back to Yena who caught it swiftly and went behind the goalpost, scanning for any openings. 

 

Minnie whispered, “Fake a pass to Yujin and pass to Hyewon.”

 

Yena nodded her head wordlessly and faked a pass to Yujin to which Yujin got into action quickly and so did Hyewon.

 

It was a tactic that Coach Kwon had drilled into them tirelessly in, which was useful if all of the players were blocked by their opponents, and instead of going for a wild volley shot which was risky since it may land it out of the court, Yena went for the fake pass option.

 

Hyewon caught the ball swiftly and put her leg forward positioned for a powerful slap shot.

 

However, Irene with her quick reflexes was able to extend her padded arms out to catch the fast ball.

 

Within a moment, not even giving the audience to blink their eyes, Irene had passed the ball which hit PIONEER’s side of the court before making its way past the half line which was caught between Wendy’s shoe and the blue synthetic court.

 

Wendy kicked it forward and was promptly tackled by Hyewon who failed to brake right on time and they crashed simultaneously into the white boards.

 

BEEP

 

“Free hit penalty awarded to PIONEER HIGH” Moon Byul Yi stated as she raised a hand to PIONEER’s area.

 

And with that, Wendy got into a free hit position as the rest of her team members lined up along different areas of the court.

 

Meanwhile, BLOOM*IZ HIGH got into a wall in front of Minnie, to prevent the shot from getting in.

 

Raising her navy stick up in the air, Wendy then made a backhand pass to Yerim who went for a slap shot as the ball rolled seamlessly across the court.

 

Unfortunately, BLOOM*IZ barrier was not enough to block Yerim’s shot which went past Minnie’s outstretched gloved hands, coming into contact with the black net.

 

“1-0. The first goal of the match is awarded to PIONEER HIGH from Kim Yerim assisted by the backhand pass from Wendy Son.”

 

PIONEER’s drums banged loudly in the vast indoor hall with BLOOM*IZ HIGH countering the noise with their own.

 

Two school flags of contrasting colours flew in the air as the banter within the hall grew louder by the second.

 

And with that, Yerim ran excitedly with the rest of her lineup following suit to receive the congratulatory clap from their team members as BLOOM*IZ HIGH changed its current lineup to a new one, with PIONEER HIGH following suit.

 

1-0

 

The referee arranged the ball in the middle of the players of the new lineups from both teams.

 

And with that, Yuqi of BLOOM*IZ HIGH caught the ball first which was past swiftly back to Soyeon who had caught it but Eunha of PIONEER HIGH came forward swiftly to take the ball.

 

However, Eunha was too slow for the quick pass made to Shuhua, who was on the opposite side of Soyeon on the court

 

Shuhua came forward swiftly and made a hard board pass to Miyeon who came up behind the defender blocking her and aimed for a wrist shot.

 

Owing to Irene being caught off-guard, the shot made it past PIONEER’s goalkeeper and landed itself neatly for a top right corner on the goalpost.

 

1-1

 

BEEP 

 

“And with that, this marks the end of the first period with the latest goal from Miyeon of BLOOM*IZ HIGH ending it with a tie. Come back in 3 minutes for the next period.”

 

As both teams swapped their side of the court, the various supporters of both teams chanted their school motto or cheered loudly with all their might.

 

“Alright, the first lineup just proceed with the usual game tactics but take note that they might be going a lot harder this time round. So score as many goals as you can to widen the gap and please don’t pull any funny business like roughing them. If you want just give them a light push and go off or otherwise the same situation may arise just like how they scored their first goal. Control your tempers in court. Also, make quicker passes, get into position more quickly. We got 30 more minutes to get that trophy on the bus back home. So let’s make the most of it alright! Come on girls, gather round to cheer and let’s get this game started.” Coach Kwon stated.

 

And with that, Captain Ahn gathered her teammates who were pumped for the next period.

 

In a circle, Yujin encouraged loudly, “Alright, girls, two more periods. 30 minutes to make a difference. So let’s give in our hundred-one percent. And-“

 

“NO WE DON’T RETREAT, NO WE DON’T REGRET”

 

And with that the rest of the team filed out to the benches, with the first lineup remaining behind in the court.

 

Meanwhile, PIONEER HIGH had shouted out their cheer powerfully and got started into their positions in the court.

 

BEEP

 

“And with that, Captain Ahn is off to a wonderful start by starting the ball rolling on her side first.” The commentator’s voice boomed from the speakers.

 

The game went on quickly with the spectator’s head whipping round on their necks to find the white ball travelling on the blue synthetic ball from one player’s blade to another.

 

Ten minutes into the second period with numerous lineups that had been done on both sides, the players were starting to feel their exhausted state of mind and body creep up on them.

 

The coaches on opposite ends were at their wit’s ends as they shouted numerous instructions to their players, who were furiously running around the court, limited by the black boards, trying to find various opportunities to pass the ball around

 

Ranging from ‘pass to her’, ‘mark her, she is open’, ‘go for a shot, now!’

 

But no goals had been conceded by both teams, the goal keepers had committed saves after saves tirelessly as their players tried their best to look for a crack through the fast paced game.

 

Spectators tried to rally the team’s dying spirits by cheering loudly and chanting the same cheer endlessly.

 

With a minute left for the second period, Coach Kim shouted to PIONEER HIGH, “Follow Number 18. Follow the damn Captain. Don’t let her out of your sight”

 

And with that, two players marked themselves on Captain Ahn who constantly had the ball with her as she was able to move to open spaces swiftly when Hyewon or Yena was blocked.

 

It surely was exhausting for her, having to signal out for her team members for open passes as she now had a new responsibility added to her shoulders, having to pull the two players constantly at her neck away from herself.

 

______________________________________________________________

 

AHN YUJIN

 

, why does the Coach of PIONEER HIGH have to put two players on me all the time? This is really a risky move as she leaves two players unblocked. What the hell is she trying to do?

 

Then suddenly, I heard another shout from PIONEER’s Coach.

 

“GO FOR IT NOW”

 

What do you mean by ‘go for it now’? Oh wait, why is number 25 going towards me? 

 

I received the ball from Chaeyeon just as Number 25 banged hard into me.

 

Making me crash into the boards with my opponent's weight pinning down heavily on me.

 

I could hear the unmistakable sound of a stick splitting as I tripped over the boards and glanced down to see my precious black floorball stick from SALMING.

 

Split into two miserable halves.

 

It felt as if the fiery passion for the match stopped right there and then as the referee blew her whistle. My opponent lifted herself off me and offered an outstretched apologetic hand to me while muttering numerous apologies to me. But no matter how many apologies she offered to me, she had broken the very stick that Minjoo had gifted to me before last year’s championships. I still kept it till now as something which would bring me luck alongside her pre match kisses, for it had our initials engraved in gold on the shaft of the stick.

 

Anyone can go ahead and break every single bone in my body but not my floorball stick. 

 

Never my floorball stick.

 

I could feel my heart shatter into two pieces once again, suffering the same fate as my floorball stick. It was like a part of my own soul. I had gone through numerous training sessions and scrapped its blood red blade against so many different courts, only for it to suffer it’s end split into two just like how my heart was in the past.

 

“Hey, Yujin, come on. I’ll lend you my stick. Come on.” Someone told me as another person lifted me off the ground.

 

“Come on, Captain Ahn. Just bear with a new stick for the next period. Look even PIONEER HIGH said they’ll buy you the same stick.” 

 

And with that, I broke out of my demise over the broken floorball stick, accepting the fact that I had a match to play and grieving over the broken stick could wait.

 

I gratefully took Soyeon’s stick and gave an ‘okay’ signal to my coach along with the referee to assure them that I would be able to continue playing.

 

“And with that, a two minute penalty has been awarded to Number 25, Kang Seulgi of PIONEER HIGH”

 

I watched as Number 25 took her place beside the person handling the scoreboard and I went forward to start the last few minutes of the second period.

 

I twirled the foreign stick in my hands, forcing myself to grab a feel for it and to manipulate myself into thinking ‘all floorball sticks are the same and it’s just a matter of whether you are right handed or left handed’

 

I grabbed a clammy right hand tightly round the chaffed grip of the white shaft and positioned the blue blade for a pass to Yena.

 

And with that, Yena caught the ball swiftly and made a quick pass to Chaeyeon who went up and signalled to the rest of us to move up the court.

 

Seamlessly, I pushed myself off my original position reaching an empty space to which Hyewon made a quick pass to me.

 

Since, PIONEER HIGH was short of a player, this meant that they were going more aggressive on their defences, hence increasing the difficulty of aiming for a goal.

 

However, my shot went slightly too far off and hit the wall behind the boards squarely.

 

This allowed WOODGROVE HIGH to come forward to serve the corner shot but before they could even bring the ball past the half line, the bell rang signalling the end of the second period.

 

BEEP

 

______________________________________________________________

 

“Hey Yujin, what would you do first if you win the match tomorrow?” Minjoo asked with her hands slotted perfectly in mine as we took the bus back home.

 

It was late in the afternoon, owing to Coach Kwon who had told us to come down for a short training and to rehearse our last few tactics before the last game of my high school life.

 

“Well, I don’t maybe prepare myself for my teammates lifting me up in the air or something around the cliche . I don’t really know to be honest. Well, I don’t even know if we would win the game. I know I shouldn’t be having this mindset. But what if I missed the shot again? What if the team didnt train hard enough? What if I injured myself before the game? I don’t know there are so many possibilities how this match may turn out?” I rambled on as Minjoo clenched her hands tighter by the passing minute.

 

“Hey, I think it is acceptable for you to think this way. Even I, myself, think this way before every play. You aren’t alone in this match, Yujin. You have Yena, Chaeyeon and Hyewon. I believe you’ll do your best. Don’t look for second place. Look for the first place and beyond that. On how you can further improve yourself. On a less serious note, maybe you can think about me before making a shot.”

 

“Eh, but wouldn’t it make me lose focus?” I scratched my head comically in response.

 

“Well, if you managed to aim for me even with numerous distractions, I don’t see why you can’t make a goal with my face popping up in your mind.” Minjoo countered.

 

“You see, your face is always on my mind twenty four, seven so I guess this will be a little bit more motivation for me then. Will you come by to give me my pre game kisses?” I asked while pouting.

 

“Of course. Heck, I’ll even give them to you now if you want.”

 

I could feel a sudden heat rush flowing to my cheeks.

 

“What do you mean? In this bus? What? Why is it so hot here anyways? I should go and push the air con to full blast” I moved away from Minjoo who was snickering at my flushed state.

 

“Well, it isn’t even hot, Yujin. Why are you being like this? Why do you not perhaps not like my kisses. Should I break up with you?”

 

“What! Wait, look I’ll kiss you as much as you want but not in such a public area” I could feel my ears grow a similar shade of red as my blade.

 

However, we were the only two people in the upper deck of the bus.

 

Then without any warning, Minjoo landed a peck on my cheek, sending my flustered mind into an overdrive over the simple contact.

 

“Hey, it’s our stop already,” Minjoo said innocently as the bus rolled into the bus stop of our neighbourhood.

 

My senses rapped my body into moving itself out of the bus.

 

I apologised to the bus driver on the way out for taking a long time to come down, glowering at Minjoo who was laughing maniacally.

 

“What the hell was that for? Kissing me so suddenly in public. Well, I do admit it was kind of nice. We should do that more” I stated, with the last two sentences faltering into a low whisper.

 

“Oh so you want to do it again. But you said you didn't want to do such a public display of affection. Make up your damn mind, floorballer or I won’t give you your pre-game kisses tomorrow” Minjoo taunted

 

However, I leaned forward and gave her a peck on her lips, and took off into the night with her chasing me all the way down to my apartment building.

 

Well, we did end the night with more than usual goodbye kisses.

 

But it was better than none.

 

Better than not having her right beside my side.

 

______________________________________________________________

 

KIM MINJOO

 

It was the start of the final period.

 

I could see Yujin giving her last few words of encouragement to her teammates, huddled round her at the goalpost.

 

And with nearly the entire BLOOM*IZ HIGH population screaming their lungs out , I could barely hear the team’s final cheer.

 

“NO WE DON’T RETREAT, NO WE DON’T REGRET”

 

Yuri shook me violently and began raining punches on my poor shoulder as she screamed, “BLOOM*IZ HIGH will win! WOODGROVE HIGH can ”

 

“Hey, Yuri we are suppose to encourage our opponents too and not cuss them out.”

 

“Well, I don’t really care and anyways Yujin has started the match off already. Wow, look at your girlfriend!” Yuri screamed loudly as Yena collected the ball from Yujin.

 

“Eh, but we haven’t made it official yet.”

 

“Who cares. I’m pretty sure the entire school thinks y'all are back together. Anyways, shut up and let me watch them in action or I’ll kick you off the bleachers”

 

‘Okay. Okay, no need to get so aggressive, supporter”

 

I watched as Chaeyeon was nudged in the shoulders roughly as her opponent charged forward.

 

As the match progressed, the two digits on the timer ticked down steadily to a single digit.

 

“Wow, it seems like both teams are putting up a rather equally good fight. Will this game end in a tie or will one push past and score a goal for their team? Let’s watch on and give it up for your school. I’m sure they would love to hear your never-ending support now” The commentator’s voice ringed loudly in the hall.

 

I could see the first lineup swap back into the court after the third lineup played their run.

 

There was only a minute left on the scoreboard and I was worried that it may end in a tie, especially with all the players looking terribly exhausted.

 

“Please, Yujin aim for that goal” I prayed silently as my eyes followed her take up the corner shot

 

______________________________________________________________

 

AHN YUJIN

Come on fifty nine seconds more, to get the trophy on the bus back home. The glimmering gold trophy in a new home.

 

I received a pass from Hyewon which was intercepted by my opponent, swiftly

 

I ran backwards, trying to fight back for possession of the ball again.

 

However, it seemed like number 81 was way too fast for me.

 

I watched as Chaeyeon blocked the incoming shot from Number 81 and made a quick pass to Yena.

 

I glanced up at the scoreboard, five more seconds just to make a difference as I received the white ball from Hyewon, then Minjoo's face came into view in my mind which made me recall about the promise of 'thinking about her face before making a shot'.

 

Now, I cannot retreat from the little window of opportunity from me

 

And, no, I certainly will not regret making the goal.

 

5… Pass the ball back to Chaeyeon

 

4… Grip the stick a little bit more tighter

 

3… Run towards the goal post in 3 strides

 

2… Receive the ball from Yena. Drag the ball towards the back of your ankle.

 

1… Take a deep breath in and swing the stick upwards, praying to yourself that you would be able to score that one bloody goal.

 

“AND AHN YUJIN OF BLOOM*IZ HIGH SCORES A TOP CORNER”

 

0... ”WE HAVE FINALLY COME TO THE END OF OUR NATIONAL FLOORBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH NUMBER 18, AHN YUJIN OF BLOOM*IZ HIGH CLINCHING FIRST PLACE WITH HER GOAL FOR A SCORE OF 2 TO 1 OF PIONEER HIGH”

 

BEEP

 

Finally, it’s over. I can taste the fruit of our team’s efforts and hardwork into our coordination by Coach Kwon. Working hard till we moved seamlessly like a body with 5 individual minds being focused on one goal and that is to secure the first place of the national floorball championships. 

 

Soon I felt my own body being crushed by the entire team. Wait, scratch that, I mean the entire BLOOM*IZ HIGH population. It was a blur of maroon and blue colours streaking past me and I felt my own body being hoisted up into the air. I could see the shimmering gold trophy coming towards my way and Minjoo’s face smiling proudly from her position on bleachers.

 

I made a silent promise with her through our eyes. I would have plenty of time to celebrate the win with her later and I knew she would certainly want me to celebrate it with my teammates and Coach Kwon who had made everything possible. Down to the glimmering, gold trophy to be cradled safely in my arms.

 

I then realised, I finally did it.

 

To aim for the goal.

 

THE END

 

______________________________________________________________

And this marks the end of Aim for the goal(her heart) and thank you to everyone who had upvoted or subscribed to this story. It was my pleasure telling a sports story. And I hope this has inspired you to take up floorball or other sport you desire after all this chaos ends. If you want I could write short follow ups on the side couples but it'll be for another day. This will be the last regular update I'll be putting up since I have school starting tmrw but once again thank you to everyone who enjoyed this story and I pray to everyone fighting round the world for whichever cause to be safe. And with that good morning/afternoon/night to fellow readers and this is jdchrt out-

P.S.: Feel free to use #AFTG_JINJOO to tweet ur reactions