It was soccer season, the final game, two opposing teams were neck and neck, and the crowd was cheering in Haymoore Soccer Stadium. Erika Row cheered for her boyfriend by the bleachers.

She was screaming her boyfriend's name, Duke Shay, but everyone called him Shay, the lead striker of his high school soccer team, White Spectre.

Time was running out, and the scores were tied. The pressure wasn't affecting the football player at all since he had the ball, and he became focused. Shay managed to dodge the defenders with lightning speed, then kicked it past through the goalkeeper, "Goal! White Spectre wins!" the announcer said, and the crowd went wild.

The teams were hugging and embracing each other in victory while Erika was jumping for joy with her friends. The two looked at each other as she put her thumbs up at him with glee because Shay saw her like she was the one who gave him the motivation and strength to win the game.

After the game, everyone went home, Erika was outside their school soccer stadium saying goodbye to her friends as they headed to their cars and drove off, so she was waiting alone by the quiet and dark parking lot, someone was preying on her like a lion and she was dear.

"Hey!" A hand was dropped to her shoulder.

Erika yelped and turned around. "Oh, it's you," she sighed in relief,

"Yeah.. me." It was Shay.

"I'm sorry, it's just that I thought... Never mind."

"Anyway, I have good news."

"What?"

"I got an offer to play with the Super Tundra," he said with glee.

"Oh! My God!" Erika shared his excitement, and they embraced each other. "This is what you've been dreaming of."

"Yeah, and it's happening. I can't believe it."

"Should we celebrate?"

"Yeah... Uhm... About that."

"What?" But she instantly realized the reason for his implied declined response. "Oh! Your dad."

"I... told him the news first and..." Shay stammered.

"Don't worry, I understand. We can celebrate it together another time," She told him and gave her boyfriend a gentle smile.

"Thanks, come on. I'll drive you home."

They walked to his car. However, the mysterious stalker watched them from afar, but he was focusing more on Erika.

When they got to Erika's home, Shay noticed that she was being quiet along the way to her place. "You okay? You haven't said anything since we left."

"Yeah, it's just that. I'm just nervous about the talent test tomorrow," the girlfriend answered.

"You'll do great. I know you'll get in."

"I also just can't help thinking that we're going to graduate soon and..." she said as she removed the belt from her seat.

"I know, but no matter what happens, we're gonna be together." He held her hand, and Erika felt the assurance in his words.

"I am si happy for you. Have fun tonight." Erika took off her seatbelt.

"Hold on." He stopped her by gently grabbing her arm as his girlfriend was about to get out of the car and gazed at her brown eyes. He smirked at her like he was signaling her with his facial expression. "Hmm... ten minutes?"

Erika giggled. "Five minutes."

"Plus, one minute?"

"Hmm... fine."

The boyfriend held her face and leaned in to brush his lips to hers. They were locking lips and just enjoyed every second of it. Unfortunately, it didn't even reach two minutes when Shay's suddenly phone rang, which ruined the mood.

Erika pulled away and held her laughter since it was so awkward while Shay was annoyed when he saw it was his dad that he had to answer it. "Hey! dad." He exhailed, trying not to sound frustrated. "Yes, yes, I'm on my home.... I just dropped Erika to her place... Dad, I'll be there." Puts down the phone and then turned to his girlfriend. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it," she said. "I should get in my house now so you can leave."

"Alright, I'll call you later. Love you."

Erika pecked him on the cheek. "Love you too, bye." After that, she got out of the car as her boyfriend drove off.

----

Shay arrived home and celebrated his winning and his offer to play with an international soccer team with his father, Rome. He was very supportive of his son's dreams because he too used to play at Super Tundra as a striker until he got an injury from a car accident that caused to get a bad injury to his leg so since then he couldn't walk properly.

"I'm so proud of you, son," he expressed in the dinner table while waiting for their maid to cook their celebratory dinner. "You are going to be in the team, just like your old man."

"Thanks, Dad," Shay replied with a plastered smile on his face. Don't get him wrong, he was happy, but it was bittersweet because all his dad cared about in his life was soccer.

"I knew you were going to get accepted," Rome babbled until Shay got a text from Erika asking how they were doing, and his dad didn't seem too happy about it. "Ahem... Who's that?"

Their housekeeper, Mame, became alert from the kitchen counter since she knew what was going to happen. "It's just Erika," Shay answered.

"You two are getting serious." Rome's tone changed.

"We are serious."

"You know what, I was going to wait until summer, but I think I have to tell you this now."

"Tell me what?" The young man looked at his father.

"You have to break up with her," Rome responded bluntly.

"What!? Dad!" Shay reacted in disbelief.

"She's a distraction."

"No, she's not. She's been supportive and understanding..."

"Listen to me, son, if you want to go pro, then you have to make sacrifices," the strict soccer dad advised him.

"I'm not gonna do that."

"I'm sorry, but you have to."

"You know what that, fuck this." The teenage boy stood up from his seat and stormed out.

"Duke Shay, come back here?!" Rome yelled.

When the young athlete got to his room, he dropped himself on his bed. Not long after, there was a knock his door. "Duke, it's Mame. I have your favorite desert here."

"Come in." Shay stood up and opened the door to Mame, a sweet petite lady in her fifties, who had been more of a parent to him than his father. She carried a tray of chocolate brownie she made, and orange juice and placed them on his study table.

"Are you alright?" Mame asked in her soft, caring tone.

"Yeah," he exasperated. "Why is he like this?"

"I don't know. I think he wants what's best for you."

"But that was ridiculous. This is why he and Erika haven't met yet and why she never comes here. It's because of him."

"All I can say to you is follow your heart."

Even though that lifted Shay's mood a bit, it was not enough. "It's not that simple."

"Someday, it will." the kind lady said to him. "Now eat,

"You're the best, Mame. Thanks."

"No problem, dear."

----

Meanwhile in Erika's home, she was with her mother and told her what happened earlier. "They won? So why aren't you celebrating his win with him?" Erika's mom, Celine, asked as they had their dinner.

"We will. He is celebrating it with his dad tonight," Erika answered.

"His dad is getting on my nerves."

"Mom, it's fine. Besides, he just had another argument with his dad."

"Oh! Sweetie, Shay is a great guy, but this is.... To be honest, I don't want you to experience this when you find the person you love. This is like what's happening to your dad when we found out that we are his second family, why he was always on his business trip," she explained, Erika suddenly felt sad that her mom mentioned her dad and his dishonesty of having a double life.

"Mom, this is not the same as Dad."

"I'm just saying that in a relationship, it's not always about sacrifice. You have to fight for what's right."

"Mom, it's fine. It's just a small thing to ask for. One day, his dad will come around."

"I hope you're right. I just want you to be happy."

"I am happy, mom. Tomorrow is my audition for Eliard and I am just praying that it will go well."

"You are going to be great. You practiced your routine for months. They'll be a fool not to accept you."

"Thanks, Mom."

"Is Shay going to drive you tomorrow?" Celine asked.

"No, Dad is going to drive me tomorrow," Erika reminded.

"Oh!" he is going to pay for the tuition anyway."

The next morning, Erika wore her dancing leotard with jogger pants and jacket and carried her backpack. She then texted Shay that she was on her way to the audition. "Erika, your dad is here," Celine called.

"I'll be right there," the teenage girl responded.

In the living room, Celine was bitterly staring at her nervous dark-haired and brown eyes ex-husband, Collins, who was in an awkward spot. "So how are you doing?" he nervously asked.

"Great," Celine grumbled at him.

"Good." His voice got high. Not only did he wished that Erika quickly came down to leave quickly, but also that the ground would open up to get him to get out of his ex-wife's sight.

"I'm ready. Hey, dad." Erika finally got down and immediately hugged Collins.

"Hi! honey," Collin said back to her. "Erhm... come on, let's get going so we won't be late."

"Sure, bye, mom." The excited teenager hugged and pecked her mom on the cheek.

"Break a leg, Sweetie," the proud mother told her. "You too, Collins."

They got to the place where the audition was happening, and other dancers had arrived. They were stretching and practicing their piece a little before facing the judges.

Erika was feeling pressure just seeing the other dancers auditioning to get in the school of her dreams. She could feel her heart through her leotard like a drum as she put her bag down and started warming up at the side.

"Erika Row?" a staff member called out a moment later.

"Here," she answered.

"You're up next."

"Okay, thank you."

The aspiring ballerina stood backstage and watched the dancer before her performed a beautiful routine. She was thinking in her head that she was good and became getting nervous again, "Thank you, Bethany Hill. Next, Erika Row," one of the judges said.

"Here goes nothing," she whispered to herself. Erika walked to the stage and faced the judges. They looked intimidating.

Once the music started playing, all her jitters disappeared, and she started dancing her piece. She didn't think about the judges and whether or not she would get accepted. Just her dance and nothing else. Afterward, she finished it with a graceful pose.

The judges were poker faced, so Erika had no idea if they liked it, and anxiety came back again. "Thank you, Erika Row," one of them said. "Next, Howard Branson."

A couple of hours passed, and it was time to know who got in in one of the most prestigious schools in the country. All of the passionate dancers were aligned and standing still. Erika was at the back somewhere in the middle, waiting patiently for the heart-pounding results.

"When I call your name, please come forward," the judge said. They started calling them one-by-one and alphabetically. "Alisa Peterson, Sean Ricks, Noel Rivera, Erika Row," the staff member announced. The young dancer moved forward along with the auditionees that were called until the last person. "To those names who were called, congratulations, you are accepted in the Eliard School of the Arts."