Reflections in the Mirror

by Luis A. Santamaría

  Daniel sought out Kiko with his gaze, but he didn’t return the look.

  “I’m not talking about today’s game. I’m not even talking about basketball, goddammit”, Eric was talking more to himself. “It’s about life. You can choose between chasing success or avoiding failure, but I’ll tell you one thing: show me a guy who is scared of failing and I’ll show you a guy that can be beaten time and time again.”

  Kiko’s jaw tightened. Daniel could imagine sparks between his back teeth.

  “I know that you’re all thinking of the people out there in the stands too. They’re not expecting much from you, having seen you lately. I don’t blame them. They’re pessimistic and I would be too if I were in their place. But they don’t know you like I do. They don’t know what you’re capable of.”

  The coach leant forward and spoke in the thinnest of whispers.

  “Listen up: the greatest pleasure in life is achieving what no one thinks you can achieve. And believe me when I tell you that all those people out there are desperate for you to give them a reason to shout and tremble as if it was their wedding night, damn it.”

  A lot of the players couldn’t help but smile. Daniel squeezed his towel tight.

  “Stand up. Come in close.”

  Eric beckoned them with a hand gesture and the players made a circle around him.

  “Guys, believe me. In the other locker room, they think that we are going to come out with our heads bowed and that they’re going to walk all over us. And I say ‘like hell we are’! No one, and I mean no one, will walk all over us if we don’t bow our heads. So, now, I ask you,” he took a deep breath, brought his arms down quickly and said, “Are we going to bow our heads?”

  No one answered. Eric patted Miguel, the White Bear, fondly on the cheek and repeated:

  “Guys, this is no joke. ARE WE GOING TO BOW OUR HEADS?”

  “Noooo, coach!” shouted Kiko.

  “No way!” exclaimed another player.

  “GO TEAM, GO!”

  Eric opened the locker room door and the players charged out like bulls into a bullring.

  The fans stood and applauded when the team came onto court. The arena was full. In the middle of the warm-up, Eric came up to Daniel.

  “You’re going to start today’s game on the bench,” he said. “You’ve played the last few games with your foot off the gas, and you’re worth nothing to me like that. Understood?”

  “Understood.”

  “Be ready.”

  “OK.”

  Shit.

  The game started with an uncomfortable murmur from the stands. It stemmed from the lack of the starting lineup’s star player. When Daniel turned around, he saw Oscar among the crowd.

  His friend was having a few emotionally tough days. Contrary to what usually happened with his habitual night-time conquests, the girl he had met at his brother’s bar had had quite the effect on him. They had drunk, danced and messed around all night, and despite the obvious mutual attraction, they hadn’t slept together (according to Oscar at least, but Daniel wasn’t quite convinced). So exciting had the flirting game seemed that they had decided to lengthen it more than their hormones had wished. The night had ended on her doorstep, with a few drinks too many and a bit less dignity. A little chat next to the door, one or two nervous laughs, an innocent kiss on the cheek and good night.

  It can’t have gone that badly given that Oscar had brought his new friend to the game. Her enormous lips caught Daniel’s attention from the courtside. To tell the truth, everything about her did, it wasn’t very common to go to a sports arena wearing high heels and a mini skirt.

  A few rows further up, Daniel recognised the coach’s wife –the most elegant woman in the arena– and their daughter. Little Marta was a vivacious girl, like her dad, and the players had adopted her as their official team mascot. There wasn’t a game that she didn’t whole-heartedly criticise the referee, and sometimes she rallied the players, just like she saw her dad do from the sideline. Occasionally, she even accompanied her dad to the training sessions.

  Just at that moment, Daniel felt as if his heart were bleeding. Sometimes, he thought, when things insist on going bad, they get even worse. He wanted to feel frustrated with his coach for his relegation to the bench, look for someone to take his anger out on. He wanted to argue with his brother for not giving him Sofia’s number, even though he hadn’t asked for it. Was he prepared to do so?

  The game got off to a bad start. The fans kept looking at the bench, waiting for their best player to come on. Oscar in particular made wild hand gestures to show his distaste with the game. He commented every play to his guest, making his disagreement with the coach’s decision to leave Daniel on the bench clear. She listened to him without showing much interest.

  But no one was suffering as much as Daniel himself. Contemplating this game from the bench was like watching a dream drift further and further away every minute.

  Eric approached Daniel with his hands on his hips.

  “Danny, you’re up,” he said without looking him in the eye.

  Daniel jumped up and threw off his training jersey. The crowd awoke from their lethargy and starting clapping their hands, stamping their feet and cheering when Daniel stepped onto the court. Oscar stood up.

  The excitement lasted for a few plays. Daniel wasn’t in shape, the coach was right, and what was worse, he didn’t believe in himself. That afternoon, his head wasn’t in the game.

  In one of the poor attempts to get the ball to Miguel, it was deflected and came to Daniel’s hands who was completely unmarked and on the three-point line. The shot was poor, and the ball was lost over the back line without touching the hoop. Luckily, there had been a foul. Eric, desperate, called for timeout. The players went over to the bench with their heads down.

  Daniel’s back hurt and he was short of breath. When he got to the bench ready to suffer the inevitable backlash from their coach, his gaze went over to the stands, just to catch his breath.

  But something caught his gaze.

  Something that injected fresh air into his lungs and fuel into his heart.

  Motivation is greatly underrated. It’s one of the fundamental ingredients to success. It could rank higher than innate talent in terms of importance. A little direct dose in the body can make you forget pain, fatigue and sadness; it lets the individual think they are capable of anything. It can be found anywhere; a memory, a concrete object and even a person. Even the most insignificant detail is capable of motivating someone. Sometimes motivation itself comes looking for you, and at that moment, it should be snatched up, as it can disappear just as suddenly as it came by. The same thing happens with its sisters: inspiration, luck and happiness.

  That afternoon, Daniel found his motivation when he needed it the most. It came in the form of a beautiful brown-eyed girl.

  The ball rolled fluidly between his fingers, like an extension of his body, while a drop of sweat trickled down his nose. Suddenly, he was alone, and everything went pleasantly slow motion. There were no opponents, no teammates, no referee. Eric wasn’t there on the inhospitable bench either. The stands were empty too. There was just him, the ball, the basket and.... Sofia. He knew that she was watching him from the corner of the second-to-last row. He knew it.

  He heard a whistle and Daniel took the free throw.

  Straight in.

  The game had changed. Wait no, it was he who had changed. Now his muscles didn’t complain nor his joints ache. He could almost feel the euphoria run through his veins.

  “Come on, guys, defence!” he shouted while running.

  Oscar didn’t sit back down. For every point scored by his friend he punched the air and called ‘you’re a pro! I want what you had for breakfast today!’ Play after play, he turned to his guest to explain the basic concepts of basketball, but she, not being a fan of this type of commotion, had been entertaining herself on her mobile for a while.

  For Daniel, the hoop was now the size of an Olympic
swimming pool. The other team were mere kids in his eyes. Every play, he called for the ball desperately, and every throw he attempted slipped through the iron hoop smoothly. When the legs of the other team surrounded him, he sprinted faster and jumped higher than ever before. She was there, he knew it. It was that certainty that gave him strength.

  It all went by in a flash. They overtook the other team like a Ferrari passing a pick-up truck, and when the referee blew the final whistle, the crowd stood up to cheer for Daniel. His teammates ran over to hug him and they all almost ended up on the floor. Daniel waved to the crowd excitedly while Kiko jumped onto his shoulders like a kid.

  Where was Sofia? He owed it all to her!

  In the changing rooms, Eric winked at Daniel as he passed him

  “Welcome back,” he said in a low voice.

  Daniel turned to him, flattered, but the coach had already gone down the corridor that led to the exit.

  “Did you see the face of that defender when you dodged him?” Kiko said to Daniel as they were leaving the locker rooms, having got changed. His friend was still buzzing.

  Daniel started laughing.

  “As if, mate.”

  “I reckon he was about to trip you up from pure helplessness. Either that or invite you out for dinner!” he guffawed at his own joke.

  “You’re so dramatic! Anyway, changing the topic, where did Oscar get to?”

  “He told us to go ahead, that he’d be there soon.” Kiko lowered his voice and pulled a face: “I don’t think he’ll be alone.”

  They stopped dead when they got outside. Next to the fence that surrounded the arena, a large group of fans was waiting to greet Daniel. He took a step forward with a knot in his stomach while Kiko took one back with a smile on his face.

  One of the fans tapped Daniel on the shoulder.

  “How’s it going?” said a voice. That voice.

  He hardly had time to turn around. She came up to him shyly and kissed him on each cheek.

  “Sof-Sofia, what a surprise!”

  6

  After every home game they played, the three friends always met up at the Irish Clover, a small but cosy Irish pub not far from the arena.

  That afternoon there wasn’t a game being shown on the giant screen, so the pub was relatively quiet. Van Morrison playing in the background was the only company to be had there for those who wanted to enjoy a proper pint. Another difference that afternoon was that instead of just the three friends coming through the door, a lady accompanied Kiko and Daniel, something which the waiter noted.

  Sofia took the initiative. She went straight to the bar and sat on a free stool. She ordered three pints and paid for them herself. Without giving any opportunity for an awkward silence, she started talking about the game. It was as if she had rehearsed it before coming. When she mentioned one of Daniel’s good plays, she would pat him on the shoulder with certain camaraderie, making him blush. Kiko felt like a spare part. Every few minutes he would look over at the door. Where had Oscar got to?

  Luckily for Kiko, Oscar arrived alone and in his usual good mood. After a quick round of protocol greetings, unable to hide his surprise at seeing Sofia there, he ordered a beer. The group split in two, Daniel and Sofia chatting at the bar while Oscar and Kiko settled at a nearby table.

  “Well, Christian Grey, it’s time to spill the beans,” Kiko smiled.

  “What are you on about?”

  “As in, how’s it going with that bird?”

  “Have a bit of class, for God’s sake.”

  “What, you’re going to get all polite on me? Come on, let’s start with something easy. What’s her name?”

  Oscar sighed and shifted in his seat.

  “Carol. She’s called Carol.”

  “Short for Carolina?”

  “No, Carol short for carotid, like the artery.”

  Kiko was lost for words.

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Of course I’m kidding, idiot!”

  Kiko chuckled and took a swig of his beer. A foamy moustache stuck to his top lip.

  “OK, tell me about Carol.”

  “Alright, gossip girl.” Oscar sighed, was that love? Nerves? Fear? “So far, things are going quite well.”

  Kiko noticed something about his tone of voice. He frowned.

  “To tell you the truth, it’s going really well,” clarified Oscar.

  “What’s that face for then?”

  Oscar was about to say something several times. He opened and closed his mouth without emitting a sound.

  Eventually he replied; “there’s something I haven’t mentioned.”

  Kiko clasped his friend’s wrist.

  “Dude, you’re talking to me. You can tell me whatever it is that’s bothering you.”

  Just then, the friends were interrupted by the waiter bringing the two beers they had ordered. Oscar tensed, as if he had been just about to confess the secret to the atomic bomb in front of the barman. As soon as he’d gone, he said:

  “Well, you see, as it turns out, Ca-Carol... um, what it is, is that she...”

  “She, what? Come on, tell me! You’re starting to scare me!”

  “She’s only sixteen!” Oscar shouted so loudly that a girl sitting on the table behind turned around.

  Kiko sat back in his chair with his eyes wide as saucers.

  “I’ve not killed anyone, OK? I’m not a degenerate or a paedo,” Oscar pointed out. “Carol looks older than she is, and when she told me, my tongue was already half way down her throat.”

  “It’s fine, sorry.” Kiko counted to ten. “So, what now? How are you going to leave things with her?”

  “Are you serious? I’m not going to ‘leave things’ with her. I really like her.”

  There was an awkward silence.

  “Dude, this could get really messed up. If you keep it going and fall for her, you’re going to make it harder on yourself. Do it now, before you’ve really got to know her. You know, before it’s too late and she steals your heart.” Kiko suspected it was already too late.

  “What we have is really special, you don’t understand.”

  Kiko threw his hands up.

  “Bullshit.”

  “You what?”

  “Listen to me: get away as fast as you can. Make up an excuse, whatever you like. But get out quick! In a few years, when she’s older and if you’re still in touch, you can do what you want. But in the meantime, keep away from her. If you keep this shit up, you’re going to get a real kick in the teeth. Maybe not just the teeth, but your whole face.”

  “Look,” Oscar started after a few seconds of reflection, “I’ve been with a lot of different girls. Tall ones, fat ones, fit ones, red-heads, vegetarians... even a Japanese girl. And none of them, not one, made me feel what I feel right now. I think she could be the one, you know?”

  With such an outrageous exaggeration, Kiko facepalmed, shook his head and took a long drink of beer. There was nothing he could do for his friend. The butterflies in his stomach, as usual, had taken over.

  Sitting next to the bar, Daniel and Sofia were having a conversation that felt more like a game of chess. While he was talking, Sofia looked at Daniel’s prominent nose. Like his cheeks, it was slightly red from the change in temperature. It was cute.

  After a slightly tense start to the conversation, Sofia decided to break the ice with alcohol.

  “Let’s take a shot!”

  You could almost see their hormones running like lava on their skin.

  “A shot? Now? I don’t know if we should.”

  The music was so loud that Sofia had to put her mouth close to Daniel’s ear so he could understand her.

  “Come on, Jiminy Cricket, we’ve got to celebrate your amazing game!”

  Daniel raised his eyebrows. That nickname, had he found it funny or not?

  “Jiminy!” she repeated. Her smile was a desperate declaration of her intentions.

  “Yeah... sorry. Two shots, it is then,” replied Dan
iel, without much conviction. “But I’m paying this time.”

  “As you like!”

  “You’re a bad influence, do you know that? I shouldn’t be drinking shots during the season.”

  Sofia was only thinking about not getting any ketchup from their chips onto her clothes, making her look clumsy or greedy.

  The shots arrived and they clinked their glasses together. Sofia downed hers in one. Daniel sipped his.

  “I’m glad we agreed to go out,” Sofia said suddenly, having drunk more of her beer, some of the foam had stuck to her top lip. She licked it off.

  She noticed a change in his expression. It wasn’t the change she expected.

  “I really like this bar,” she said to change the topic, “tell me, kid, do you come here often?”

  Now you’re calling him kid? Please, someone tape my mouth shut.

  “Why are you calling me kid?”

  “I dunno, I guess I like it.”

  We shouldn’t be talking. He should be running his tongue along my top lip.

  “Well, I don’t like it.”

  Daniel was pretending, he was obviously pretending. He was also wading through a sea of hormones, she could tell by his face. Sofia swirled her beer around unnecessarily and said:

  “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.”

  “Bu-but I’m called Danny. Not kid.”

  “Jeez, I didn’t know you were so grumpy. I’ll let you off seeing as you paid for the shots.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude.” He stroked her wrist. She leaned in close to him, locked her gaze with his autumn-coloured eyes and took a deep breath. Maybe this was the moment. “My girlfriend always calls me grouchy.”

  She swallowed a ‘What?’ and felt tiny, absolutely miniscule next to Daniel.

  7

  “Come on, Jiminy Cricket, we’ve got to celebrate your amazing game!”