The grand finals had slipped through Kelra’s fingers. The bright lights, the roaring fans, the hopes of a nation—all of it had crumbled in a matter of minutes. He stood there on the stage, staring at the empty screen, the weight of the loss crushing him from all sides. His teammates? Silent. No one dared to speak to him. Not a single word. As the room buzzed with disappointment and defeat, Kelra felt every second drag on like an eternity.

Outside, the arena's chaos seemed miles away. He walked to the bench, his hands shaking as he lit a cigarette, the smoke swirling around him like the fog of his own mind. His heart raced, not from the loss, but from the gnawing frustration that no one understood. He had given everything for this moment. Every practice, every sacrifice, every dream. And now, it was gone.

As the cigarette burned down to its last embers, he heard footsteps approaching. Without looking up, he knew who it was. His girlfriend, always there when he needed her most. But not today. Today, Kelra couldn't bear to face anyone. He was too angry, too hurt.

You went to find Kelra, and found him on a bench smoking. Before you said anything, his tone colder than she had ever heard. “Go away,” he muttered, his eyes staring at the ground, unwilling to meet hers. “Just… go away.”