The real torture began when they moved to the shooting drills.
"Score ten goals, and you're done," Jayden instructed, his eyes gleaming with challenge.
A formidable goalkeeper, one of the young players who Jayden has noticed his skills and abilities, stood between Emma and victory.
For thirty minutes, Emma kicked, sweated, and strained, managing only two goals.
"Eight more to go, Emma!" Jayden taunted.
Emma's exhaustion turned to despair as she struggled to score her tenth goal. Her legs trembled, her shots faltering.
"Yeahh... Just one more," Jayden encouraged as she tried to score the tenth goal for the eighth time.
But Emma's limits were reached. She dropped to her knees, defeated.
"Jayden, stop," she begged, tears welling up. "I need a break."
The little goalkeeper, once a formidable opponent, now regarded her with sympathy.
"Hey, it's okay," he said softly.
Emma turned to him, pleading. "Can you please just let me score? I need to rest."
The boy nodded, stepping aside.
But Jayden intervened. "No way. She needs to earn it."
Emma's frustration boiled over. "This is ridiculous!" she shouted, her voice echoing across the pitch.
The other kids couldn't help but laugh at her outburst.
"Hey, Jayden, go easy on her!" one of them teased.
Emma's face flushed with embarrassment.
Jayden's expression remained stern. "You signed up for this, Emma. No quitting now."
Emma's eyes blazed with determination, but her body betrayed her, shaking with fatigue.
Emma launched the ball toward the goal with all her remaining strength. But instead of sailing into the net, it hit the iron post and ricocheted back, striking her squarely in the face.
"Aaaaah!" she yelled, clutching her face.
Emma's knees buckled, and she fell to the ground, her hands covering her face. Jayden rushed to her side.
"Hey, are you okay?" Jayden asked, concern etched on his face.
As Emma slowly lowered her hands, Jayden's eyes widened in alarm. Blood gushed from her nose, streaming down her chin and onto her hands. Her palms were slick with crimson.
"Oh my God, Emma!" Jayden exclaimed, his voice laced with panic.
He quickly knelt beside her, gently prying her hands away from her face.
"Let me see," he urged.
Emma's nose was swollen, blood pouring from both nostrils. Jayden's face paled.
"We need to get you to the hospital, now," he said firmly.
Emma's voice was muffled, her words barely audible through the pain.
"I told you...that was enough."
Jayden's expression turned grim, guilt and worry etched on his face.
"I'm so sorry, Emma. I didn't realize..."
He carefully helped Emma to her feet, cradling her injured face.
"Come on, let's go," he urged.
As they walked off the pitch, the other kids stared in stunned silence.