My Treasure

It was yet another tiresome day, hiding between the walls of the football club's locker room, pretending to be engrossed in the assigned task. Ever since the coach banned outdoor training, my presence on the actual field had become a distant memory. Despite this constraint, I was still obliged to attend roll call and wait until the designated time to leave. This necessity arose from dual considerations: firstly, due to my conspicuous appearance, the risk of being discovered was immense, and if I dared to be absent, I might face lazy accusations; secondly, I found myself directly in the coach's crosshairs, owing to inadvertently attracting the attention of his lover. Sigh, I was relentlessly pursued by this woman, entangling me in an inescapable web of conspiracy.

“Count me as unlucky”. I supposed. What else could the unfortunate do, except hid away in the confines of the locker room, scrolling through the smartphone, engaging in a bout of mobile gaming?

"Hi, sorry for the inconvenience, I didn't mean to disturb you."

That was it, just as I unearthed the treasure, this polite yet faint voice diverted my attention from seizing the treasure in my mobile game, and it was being snatched away. Already feeling puzzled by lurking in this space, at this very moment, my anger surged even higher, furrowing my brows, I glanced towards the source of that voice.

He stood at the threshold, one foot's toes just crossing into the locker room while the other half remained outside, as if he were hesitant to fully enter. There was a sense that he wanted to step in but also seemed apprehensive about it. This man, standing at around five feet seven inches tall, appeared almost unassuming, clad in casual attire that seemed to blend into the background. His leisurewear, though unremarkable, draped over him with an air of modesty, giving him an unassuming presence in the room. Sporting a pair of black-framed glasses, his gaze betrayed a hint of timidity and shyness, adding to the uncertainty that hung in the air.

I shifted from my prone position to a sitting one, opting not to rise immediately. This hesitation seemed to give him the wrong impression. He hesitated as well, taking a step back slowly, both feet now firmly planted outside the threshold. His demeanor exuded an air of embarrassment, as if he had somehow intruded upon my space. It was a subtle dance of politeness and uncertainty.

I had simply been lying down for too long, needing a moment to stretch and ease the stiffness from my limbs. What was there to fear? Yet, his reaction was almost endearing in its earnestness. With cautious movements, I rose to my feet, mindful not to startle him again. Taking a few steps forward, I stopped, maintaining a safe distance between us. From this vantage point, I could discern his features clearly, each detail illuminated by the soft glow filtering in from the room beyond.

He had a somewhat delicate appearance, not excessively handsome but rather genteel, shy, and reserved. Behind his black-framed glasses, his eyes were deep-set, making them appear larger than they were. However, they seemed underutilized, often hidden behind the glasses or cast downward, suggesting a lack of confidence or perhaps a tendency towards introspection. His nose was petite but not flat, and his lips were small and looked tender. While these features combined harmoniously on his oval-shaped face, they did not necessarily make him stand out in terms of physical attractiveness.

One notably striking feature was his fair complexion. Despite my personal aversion to vampire-like pallor, the fairness of his skin complemented his overall appearance remarkably well. It lent him an air of innocence and purity, enhancing the gentleness of his demeanor.

"I'm sorry, I..."

"You lost my treasure."

"Treasure? I'm sorry."

"Just sorry?"

"How about I help you find it? Is it worth a lot?"

Observing his timid demeanor, I couldn't resist the urge to playfully mention the treasure hunt from a mobile game. To my astonishment, he took it seriously, readily agreeing to assist me and even inquiring about the treasure's potential value. Was he joking? Or perhaps putting on an act? If it's the latter, maybe I should partake in the charade as well, I pondered, contemplating my next move as he earnestly considered the supposed quest.

"Sure, come on in and search. It's a small but valuable item, took me over two months to find. It's gray, cubic, with a dragon emblem on top."

"I'm sorry, I'll take a look around."

I followed up by describing the appearance of the treasure in the mobile game, detailing its features. As for the color, I glanced at the gray floor of the changing room and casually mentioned that hue. He didn't raise any objections, and after another round of apologies, he obediently stepped inside. I casually closed the door behind him. In this confined space, he bent over, his movements deliberate and measured, as he meticulously scanned the gray floor for the small, gray treasure. Each step was taken with utmost care, his gaze lingering on every inch of the surface, searching for any sign of the elusive item. Meanwhile, I stood behind him, silently observing his every movement and expression, intrigued by his thoroughness and dedication to the task at hand.

As I savored the beauty of the scenery and indulged in the pleasure of my surroundings, there always seemed to be someone eager to interrupt. Carefully attuning my ears to the conversation outside, oh shit, it was none other than my coach, both infuriating and irksome in equal measure. If he were to discover me with a non-team member inside the locker room, I'd be in deep trouble. Without hesitation, I swiftly maneuvered to push this cute man into my own storage locker, ensuring his concealment, before slipping inside myself and promptly shutting the door, which could be securely opened and locked from both inside and out, prior to the coach's arrival.