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6
like any item that could enhance the performance of the athletes, was strictly
forbidden and the possession of any forbidden item would result in expulsion.
It was impossible for Captain Mark not to know about Bobby’s moon-boot
inserts but yet Bobby was still part of the program.
Just as expected, Bobby flawlessly completed the test, posing heroically and
smirking slyly at Will as he went to celebrate with his friends. By this stage
Will felt hopeless, as if the weight of the entire universe was on his shoulders.
He watched nervously as all the contestants in front of him mastered the test,
each passing by with beaming smiles. There were only twenty positions
available for those eligible to pass onto the next stage of the course, and it
seemed that by only a matter of moments, fifteen of those positions were
occupied.
“William you’re up,” the sound of Captain Mark’s voice made Will freeze. This
was not what he expected, he was supposed to be more prepared than this. All
the motivation he brought to the field had abandoned him, there he was
staring at the obstacles ahead, dreading his existence. Of course, Bobby was
only going to add to Will’s discomfort by taunting and discouraging him,
making him retreat further into his shell.
However, by shaking his thoughts and taking a deep breath in, Will’s eyes
narrowed as he stared at his fate. It was now or never. Readying himself for
the task, Will swallowed his fear and watched the obstacles cackle at him,
almost as if they were guaranteeing his failure.
Within a few seconds, Will had taken off, fighting against the forces of gravity
and sprinting on the field, bracing himself for the first obstacle. The purpose
of the obstacle was to jump over it, however, fate had another plan for Will.
He leaped, but instead of jumping over it, he collided into it. The failed leap
only summarized how the rest of the agility test went. He failed. Totally.
Utterly humiliated, Will trudged his way towards the rest of his peers who at
that point were hunched over laughing. This was not what he planned.
“William!” Captain Mark shouted as he signaled Will over. Will was terrified, it
had been bad enough watching Bobby and his friends wheeze with laughter
but now Captain Mark was not pleased either. Craning his head to see his
captain’s face etched with disappointment, Will expected for the worst. “You
my boy need to pick up your game, otherwise, there will be one less astronaut
in this academy,” Captain Mark warned, shaking his head completely
unimpressed. That was the final straw, Will could not bear it anymore. He was
humiliated and frustrated beyond words, and so without a single word, he ran.
Away from everyone. But most importantly, away from his dreams.