- Get up, sleepyhead, you're late!

The call jolted me awake instantly.

- It's past 8:30 already!

Last night's late sleep made it impossible for me to wake up on time this morning. I threw off the blanket and hurried to the sink to brush my teeth. The exhaustion from lack of sleep was evident on my face in the mirror, along with my tousled hair.

My preparations were swift, thanks to having everything arranged on the table the night before. After changing clothes and slipping on my shoes, I grabbed my backpack and left the room. Normally, I would have breakfast downstairs with my family, but today, the seat seemed unusually empty. With no time to spare, I hurriedly bought a loaf of bread to fill my stomach. My mom watched me as I drove with one hand and held my food in the other, a familiar sight, though she couldn't resist reminding me:

- Eat after you arrive, I've told you so many times!

I replied quickly:

- I'm really late, mom! I always do this, no worries.

With that, I accelerated, one hand still holding the bread, trying to eat while driving. The city streets at this hour were quiet, as if everyone had quietly gathered at some restaurant or café. The serene atmosphere inadvertently helped me shorten my travel time significantly.

However, nearing the stadium, I noticed a crowd of cars pouring towards the gates, blocking my path. The tightly packed cars assured me I couldn't maneuver through in the next 10 minutes. As I struggled to find a way out of the thick traffic, suddenly, out of nowhere, a stranger's hand firmly grasped mine and pulled me out of the car.

- Why are you just arriving now? The whole team is warming up!- The voice startled me. 

- My phone died, couldn't wake myself up.

I made up a plausible excuse for Hoang Dung, another team manager and coincidentally my "little sister". Despite many attempts, my habit of staying up late into the night remained uncorrected. I wondered why she never complained.

- Must've stayed up late again last night, that's why you're late this morning, I know!

- Never mind. Now, let's figure out how to get you through this crowd!

Dung dragged me out of the car, saying:

- You run ahead to the field, I'll park the bike.

With that, Dung jumped into the car as if familiar, urging me to hurry onto the field. The scene naturally brought back memories of the first time we met, and the serendipitous bond that turned us from strangers into friends. No time for further contemplation, I quickly entered the stadium complex.

- Darn it, I forgot to ask which stadium the match is at.

Immediately, I hurried back to the information board area, where details about match times and locations were posted.

- FCTD... FCTD... Where are we? Ah, here it is! Field number 3.

As I searched, a voice suddenly spoke near my ear. Beside me stood a petite girl with flowing hair, standing out amidst the bustling crowd. I thought it was my own inner voice. But no, the girl with the lovely face was the one who had just mentioned the information.

- Who is she, why is this so strange? Or perhaps she knows someone on the team? - These questions flooded my mind.

Before I could initiate a conversation, the girl picked up her bag and left, heading towards the stadium where my team's (FCTD) match against Warrior FC was scheduled. After observing for a while, seeing that the girl had settled into her seat in the stands, I dashed towards field number 3.

- Why are you just arriving now? Gia asked.

- He probably forgot to set her alarm - Huy teased me. 

- Hieu will play instead of Thien in 10 minutes to comply and help him warm up - Vang, our team captain, said sternly. 

- Are you okay with that, Thien? 

- It's fine, Hieu. I deserve the discipline. Plus, I want to see if you and Duc coordinate well in defense.

- Be careful, don't get lazy, no one wants to sit on the bench with Phuc and Hung, Thien - Duc, our goalkeeper, threatened me.

I scratched my head and chuckled lightly at Duc's threat, while Phuc and Hung blushed with embarrassment.

- And you should also watchout or you might end up substituting for Viet.

After that, the referee blew the whistle, summoning both captains to perform pre-match formalities.

As the golden coin was tossed, our team won the ball-handling rights. Subsequently, we had 5 minutes to take commemorative photos before the match and exchange souvenir flags with each other.

- Why are you sitting here instead of playing, Thien?

From behind, Dung approached, followed by a petite figure. It was the girl from earlier at the information board!

- Just got disciplined a bit. But who's that girl? 

- My sister. Or more accurately, a close family friend's child.

Cutting off her words, the referee blew the whistle to start the football match between FC The Dream (FCTD) and Warrior FC (WFC).