My Goalkeeping System



<Don't interpret this the wrong way, I just wanted to know how you would do in a match without my guidance>

'Huh, so you didn't start ignoring me because I was considering changing positions?' The goalkeeper said subconsciously as he made his way down the hallway.

<Well, I was angry because you even gave it a thought but I already knew the decision you were going to make so no, it's not that but I did use it as a catalyst>

'Oh, I see, speaking of your guidance, I don't seem to recall a lot of matches that it helped me that much in.'

<What are you trying to say?>

'Um…. nothing really, so, how did I do with your guidance, my dear voice assistant?'

<Well everything was working against you guys losing just like you thought, and in the midst of all that you still managed to come out with a draw plus you won the man of the match awards, so, I would say you did pretty well, your teammates could have been better, but that's not your fault>

'Thank you.'

<So, this makes it the eighth man of the match award in your career>

'Yeah, you got that right.'

Just as the goalkeeper got closer to the locker room, he spotted Lucas standing there with both of his hands stuck into his pocket.

"Oh, hey, there coach." The goalkeeper said as soon as he got close enough to him.

"Oh, hey, Dave, good job out there today, things could have ended badly if it weren't for you." The coach said.

"Thank you, but everyone also did their part pretty well, that's why things didn't end badly, at least it wasn't just me." Dave expressed.

"You're way too modest, Dave," Lucas said as a smile slowly appeared on his face. "So, have you decided to consider what I told you yesterday?"

"Um….yeah." He replied with a nod.

"Really? So, which position are you planning to switch to?"

Dave didn't reply immediately and just kept his gaze on him for a while before a sheepish grin suddenly appeared on his face, something that caught Lucas off guard.

"I don't mean to sound rude but did you really watch that match just now, Mr. Lucas?" The goalkeeper asked.

"What are you talking about? Of course, I watched it." Lucas replied.

"Really? Are you sure about that? Because anybody who watched that match and saw how things played out wouldn't be reminding me about something like this." The goalkeeper expressed. "I know I said everybody especially the defense did their best in this match, but if we're being honest here, I am the reason why this match didn't end with a scoreline worse than a draw, I don't like singing my praise but saving two penalty kicks in a match is not something any goalkeeper can pull off."

"So, what are you trying to say?"

"You still don't get it, I'm trying to say that my decision is to remain a goalkeeper, it was the decision I made the moment you made that suggestion to me yesterday, I was just playing along to get reactions from you and some other people." Dave expressed before crossing his arms.

"You were just playing along?"

"Yeah, being a goalkeeper was all I ever wanted and I've struggled to get where I am today, you can't expect to just abandon it now that I've gotten to this stage, that would be the most absurd thing ever."

"You're talking about dreams and passion? I'm talking about more money, a better career, more achievements and rewards, and even a way better public image." Lucas said.

Dave didn't reply to him immediately as he smirked before slowly moving a little closer to him.

"I can't deny that fact, I may get all those things and become way better in that aspect if I decide to change positions but I think you read me wrong."

"Huh?"

"Everyone likes those things, maybe public image is a little debatable but back to my point, I've never really liked to follow the crowd, I've always liked uniqueness and according to many, I am a unique goalkeeper and that is enough for me." Dave expressed before walking past him a little. "Goalkeepers are underrated and overlooked that's for sure, but my career is just starting out and I am going to try everything I can to make sure that changes."

"But Dave…."

"Why are you being so persistent? How much did my father even pay you to try and convince me?"

That one caught Lucas off guard as he slowly opened his mouth in shock.

"How did you….?"

"To be honest I didn't know when you first made the suggestion to me, it only became clear after you began to persuade me, many people have made the suggestion to me, but that was where it stopped, there was no persuasion because they respect my choice. The only person who ever tried to force me not to become a goalkeeper was my father." The goalkeeper expressed.

"Oh."

"I thought he would give this up but I guess he's adopted other methods, go tell him that he should start respecting this choice of mine that he's been fighting for over a decade now, I thought he was proud of me now." He said before letting out a deep sigh. "I guess I'll have to pay him a visit tomorrow." He added before making his way into the locker room.

<Well, that was smooth>

'You think so? It's nice to hear that from you.'

<Yeah, but I'm still angry that you considered it that day even if it was for a few seconds>

'Geez, sorry.'

[Post-match rewards ]

[ Four crucial saves: +70 exp received ]

[ Match rating: 8.5 ]

He quickly read through the message to see the single reward he was able to salvage from the match before he slowly sat down beside Mateo.

"I see you were discussing something with Mr. Lucas outside," Mateo said as soon as he sat down beside him.

"Yeah, it was about what he told me yesterday," Dave replied.

"Oh, and what did you tell him?"

"Why don't you take a guess?" The goalkeeper said.

"Um….I don't know, you're not changing."

"Yeah, that's exactly what I told him."

"Oh, I guess that was going to be your decision at the end of the day." The winger said.

"Yeah, there's no way I'm just going to quit being a goalkeeper after getting this far."

"Yeah, I know I said no matter what choice you made that things would still be alright, but I was going to be surprised if you decided to change, to be honest."

Dave didn't reply to that and just smiled before turning his gaze to the rest of his teammates who were still down as a result of the draw.

Norman later came in to cheer them up and try to correct some things but at the end of the day, they were going to be the ones to cheer themselves up properly.

Dave got home by 10:00 PM after spending some time with his teammates.

After parking his car in its usual parking spot, he made his way to the door and opened it to find Emma in the living room.

She was putting on her pajamas with her gaze on the blank screen of the television, so it was obvious that he was the one she was waiting for.

After hearing the sound of him opening the door, she turned her gaze to the area before slowly turning away.

"Hey, babe, were you waiting for me to get back?" He asked as he made his way to her.

"Yeah, I was waiting for you to get back so that I can throw some questions at you." She said.

Her tone suggested that he wasn't happy so Dave had to kill the smile on his face.

"What's wrong?" He asked as soon as he stopped moving.

"Why would you answer that question?" She asked.

"Question? Oh, are you talking about the post-match interview?"

"Of course, what else would I be talking about?"

"What did you expect me to do? Tell her that I can't answer it? She asked the question, and gave her my honest opinion. What's wrong with that?"

"I told her to avoid that question for now, Amber." She grumbled before biting her lower lip.

"Why are you angry? Isn't this the type of stuff that sells in cyberspace?" Dave asked.

"Yeah, but you don't have to be the face of it, she could have approached it in a better way."

"Oh, so, you're worried because it's me."

"Yeah." She said before turning away from him.

"Isn't that a bit petty and selfish of you?" The goalkeeper said.

"Huh?" She said before quickly turning her gaze to him with a shocked expression on her face.

"What you're saying is that you would have been okay if it was another person.

"No, that isn't exactly what I meant, I would have still presented the question to you if I was the one asking the questions but not that way, she was too direct about it and you were also too direct with your answer, you're not wrong for calling out the refereeing decisions but doing things like that draws too much attention to you from the media and I don't want something like that to happen." She expressed. "The headlines from everywhere tomorrow will be something like, 'Dave Richards calls out the referee for unjust decisions in their draw against Ronino FC, and that's not even the end."

"Huh?"

"Once they all figure out that you aren't afraid to speak out against things like this, they will always like to hear your opinion about things like this to get more media exposure and they may even add things that you didn't say that may harm your personal image, all they care about is profit."

"Oh, that's why you were worried?"

"Yeah, and you called me petty and selfish." She said before crossing her arms.

"I'm sorry, but, I don't think I'll get caught in their trap, I'll still call out bad decisions whenever I'm given the opportunity but I won't do it in any way that will harm my personal image." He expressed.

"You promise?"

"Yeah, I promise." He said before kissing her on her forehead. "Oh, I'm so tired, I'm going to head upstairs now."

"You'll come down and eat something, right?" She asked as she watched him make his way toward the staircase.

"No, I'm not hungry, I'll just go to bed."

"Okay." She muttered.

'Still behind Dynamo FC with Supreme United to face on Sunday, only God knows how that match will turn out.' He said subconsciously as he made his way up the staircase.