Chapter 62

As soon as Hugo Duro found the back of the net, the referee took a look at the clock and made a decisive call to end the match, knowing that it had long surpassed the added time.

The crowd erupted, celebrating not just the goal but the thrilling, tension-filled moments leading up to it!

The stadium was filled with two contrasting emotions. One side was occupied by the Alaves fans, who were clearly in a bad mood.

In football, sometimes all you need to secure a victory is a moment of individual brilliance, and Valencia excelled in that regard.

The Alaves fans were all thinking the same thing: "If it weren’t for that kid." Izan, the name of the culprit of their defeat, was etched on the minds of the Alaves fans and even the players.

After the match concluded, the Alaves manager acknowledged Baraja’s victory with a friendly remark, saying, "Good game, Baraja, you won."

In response, Baraja, who had been approached by the Alaves coach, smiled and exchanged words, reflecting a positive and sportsmanlike interaction between the two.

"I may have been unfortunate, but luck played a significant role in your win. I won’t pretend otherwise," asserted Pinto, the Alaves Manager, as he observed Izan walking around the pitch.

Coach Baraja followed Pinto’s line of sight and found him looking at Izan. Manager Baraja, finally understanding what Pinto meant by luck, spoke, "Special, isn’t he,".

Pinto looked at Baraja, trying to find the right words to say. Finally seeming to agree on a word, pinto spoke, "More than special". The Alaves Coach walked off after the conversation with Baraja.

After the match, Izan was called by Gaya to interview with the reporter. Izan, who had always been warned by Coach Baraja not to take any interviews, asked, "Did Coach say I could go?".

"Yes, he said you can, but be careful with your words", Gaya quipped. "Then I’d rather not go. It all seems like a hassle" Izan said.

"Well, you can’t hide forever. You are going to face them eventually" Gaya said before adding, "You are the only young player that I know who doesn’t like the spotlight ".

"Well, then, you don’t know many people", Izan shot back. Gaya left Izan to his own after the conversation as he now had to fill in for the youngster.

The reporters who saw Gaya coming instead of Izan were now downcast. "I wanted to trip the kid into saying some juicy content, but I guess I’ll have to make do with him," one of the reporters thought.

Izan, after his conversation with Gaya, made his way toward the locker room, his footsteps echoing softly on the empty corridor.

The buzz of the match still lingered in the air, a reminder of the adrenaline and intensity he had just experienced. He had only participated in the final minutes but Izan felt that the dying moments of the game had drained him.

"Germany would be nice for a break" Izan muttered as he thought of the trip to Germany with Miranda.

Meanwhile, the other players lingered on the pitch, their bodies weary from the relentless demands of the game. They huddled together, catching their breath and exchanging thoughts on the final moments, the camaraderie of the team palpable as they relished the shared exhaustion.

After the players were done, they headed towards the locker room. Some washed down their tiredness while others talked to their wives and children.

Izan, who was among the latter group went to the team bus and found his seat. Putting on his earbuds, Izan proceeded to listen to some music as it would be a while before they arrived in Valencia.

"What do you think about this kid?" a white-haired man mused, his voice echoing softly in the dimly lit room.

Shadows danced along the walls, barely illuminated by a small lamp stand. It seemed like the atmosphere had been intentionally produced to make others feel like their words weighed so they had to think before speaking

On the table before him, Newton’s cradle swung gently back and forth, its metallic spheres colliding with a soft, rhythmic clink that pierced the heavy silence lingering in the air after his words hung like a question waiting for an answer.

"Isn’t it too soon?" A young voice beside the white-haired man said. "Too soon is what you’re saying," the white-haired man said while sighing.

"I do not like quotes as most sound superficial, but have you heard the saying, ’If you’re good enough, you’re old enough’?" the man spoke again.

"Well, I don’t know Luis, but you’re the boss after", the younger man said. "He’s good," the man called Luis said.

"Try to see if you can contact the club. I want someone who can drive into the heart of the opponents without being thwarted, and he seems like a good candidate," Luis said.

"Okay sir," the younger man said. "Summer is coming, and the Euros too is coming", the white man ended.

The younger man left the room after the conversation. The white-haired man turned and looked at his desk.

The white-haired man stopped the cradle while staring at the nameplate, which read "Luis de la Fuente", before looking away.

"This is going to be fun" he muttered after a while.

"Is breakfast ready Mom?" Izan asked. He was feeling refreshed after his sleep. Yesterday’s Victory meant that Valencia had won 4 in 4 games.

Izan couldn’t be in a better mood. "Well, you look happy", Komi said after Izan came into View. "Of course I am. It will be a while until I play again since it’s international break and all, plus the trip to Germany is coming up", Izan spat.

"By the way, are you preparing? Miranda said you guys leave on the second, so be ready," Komi said to her son. "Okay, okay, now my breakfast. The match drained me of my calories, so fill me up," Izan said with a naughty smile.

Komi, who heard him, looked at him and saw his teasing smile. "Where did you learn that" she roared at Izan.

"Come on, Mom, the soundproofing in our house isn’t the best", Izan said. Komi who felt her cheeks turn red, took a pancake and stuffed it into Ian’s mouth.

"Go up and call your sister", she said, trying to steer the conversation away. Izan, who knew what his mother was doing, played along.

Climbing the stairs, Izan went to his sister’s room before smacking the door open. Hori, who was sitting on her bed, looked at Izan with a gaze that would kill if It could.

"Hey Groot, Mom said to come down for breakfast,", Izan said. "Will you stop calling me that? You are so childish ", Hori roared.

"I won’t, so get up and let’s go down", he said. "Okay, I’m coming now. Close the door before you leave. Izan, who was already closing the door, felt irked by his sister’s statement.

"What did you say," Izan asked. "I said close th-" Hori tried to say but Izan didn’t allow her to finish and opened the door wide before walking away.

"That bitch", Hori, who thought Izan had left, swore. "Moom, Hori said I’m a bitch" Izan said whiles leaving.

"Why are you so annoying" Hori stood up and chased Izan downstairs. After they both got down, Komi spoke, "Come on, Hori, don’t call your brother a bitch", Komi said, making Izan smile before continuing, "Calm him and Arse".

Hori, who was angry about her mother taking Izan’s side, smiled and giggled with her. Izan’s smile fell, and they didn’t continue to talk.

The three continued talking before Hori went upstairs again to finish dressing up. Izan and Komi continued talking for a while before something made them stop.

As the mother and son duo talked, Mirànda’s car pulled over. Izan and Komi both stopped and turned their attention to the intruder.

With a speed terrifying to both Izan and Komi, Miranda got out of her car and ran towards their door.

"Well, go open her and let her do things to you,", Izan said to Komi, who had forgotten all about Izan’s teasing a few minutes ago.

"Enough, Izan", Komi said, a bit angry, causing Izan to stop. Right now, he had no intention of meeting the Grim Reaper.

He knew when and when not to push his mother’s buttons. "Good morning babe," Miranda said as she kissed Hori on the lips before rushing towards Izan.

"I’ve got some news for you, big news", she rattled in Spanish. "Please, I can’t speak cursive, so slow down", Izan said, making Miranda’s smile fall.

"My luck is finally turning up. I’m almost receiving good news every day," Izan said after Miranda frowned.

"Izan be serious. They came for you," Miranda said like an Assassin had been sent to kill Izan. "Okay, speak properly; who came for my son," Hori said with a knife in hand.

"Slow down, woman, this is a good thing", Miranda said after she realised her words were misleading the two people in front of her.

"I received a call from your club saying that they had called," Miranda, who couldn’t contain her excitement, said.

At this point, Izan and Hori were both annoyed and shouted at the same time, "Who Called!!".

A/n: Hello guys, thanks for your support. Remember to leave reviews as it helps push this book to other. Love y’all