Rise of a Football God

11th September, 2024…

In a certain 5-star hotel room in Maitama, Abuja, Kayla Banks woke up.

Rustle!

The soft rustle of curtains stirred her awake as sunlight filtered through sheer fabric, painting golden stripes across the crisp white sheets of the bed.

The room smelled faintly of fresh linen and a hint of something floral, perhaps the bouquet on the desk by the window. She stretched lazily, the plush duvet sliding off her as she blinked into the glowing light of morning.

The bed was a cocoon of comfort, its pillows still holding the delicate imprint of her sleep, but she could not help but feel that something was missing.

A distant hum of life outside filtered through the double-paned glass; a blend of city sounds muffled by the sanctuary of the hotel room.

She sat up, her long black hair tumbling in loose waves over her shoulders, catching the golden morning rays as she finally realized what was missing.

Kayla looked around. 'Where is he?'

As soon as she had this thought, the door to the hotel room was pushed open. Kayla looked over.

…

A few minutes earlier…

Thud! Thud!

A young man energetically jogged through the streets of Maitama, a subtle smile gracing his face as he seemed like the happiest man in the world.

Sam indeed felt like the happiest man in the world.

There was a spring in his steps too as he jogged, and with his headset over his head, he could not help but hum to the music currently playing happily.

He was in a good mood.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

That morning, as he jogged, the events of yesterday in Rwanda never seemed to happen at all as they were replaced with just happy memories. Sam felt rejuvenated, he felt energy flooding his body.

Shortly after, Sam got the notification that he was looking for.

~----~

[You have completed System Daily Quest: Mentality Monster!]

[You have been rewarded with a low-grade physical conditioning elixir!]

~----~

Immediately after getting this notification, having calculated it perfectly, he quickly took a byline into the hotel building.

Entering inside, he greeted the security personnel with a big smile on his face before walking to his hotel room, only to meet Kayla already awake.

Sam froze for a moment, but then he smiled. "Hey, you're awake".

Still on the bed, Kayla looked at him. "Where did you go to?"

"To jog".

"Really? Even today of all days, you couldn't just stay with me?"

Sam chuckled before presenting something to her on a plate. "I got corn for you on the way". He quickly kissed her on the cheek and dodged before she could lash out, laughing. "I stink, let me go take a quick bath".

"I'm joining you".

"Huh?"

"I'm joining you!"

"…" Sam was speechless.

Well, this was a situation that he had never found himself in before.

After the events of yesternight, though both of them didn't mention it yet, they didn't forget it. Actually, they could not forget it.

Getting intimate for the first time already built this level of instinctive trust and vulnerability between both of them that Sam's thought about this unfamiliar subject changed. 'Maybe bathing together is not so bad after all'.

In the end, they did just that. They took their bath together.

By the time they were done, the hotel workers finally brought food for them. After enjoying the feast prepared by the hotel chef, they ate the corn as additives.

Sitting close to each other, after eating, Sam finally cleared his throat. "Umm, about yesterday…"

"It's fine".

"Huh?"

Kayla looked at him, flashing him a smile. "It's fine, really".

Sam sighed, taking a deep breath. Considering how exposed and carefree Kayla seemed to be, Sam never expected her to be a virgin like him but yesternight, he got a big surprise.

This was why he even felt the need to revisit the event. For a young adult like Kayla to keep her virginity till now, considering how beautiful she was, Sam knew how hard it must have been and was why he respected it even more.

It took trust and a high enough degree of love to do it.

Yes, the world was bad. Yes, the world was corrupt but even in a corrupt world, there are seeds of good and Sam was lucky enough to get one of the good seeds. 'I guess I'm really lucky'. He thought.

Since Kayla said it was fine, he didn't press more but finally, Sam felt ready to say something that he had been holding back since.

Taking a deep breath again, still sitting on the bed, he interlocked his fingers with hers before looking into her eyes. "Kayla, would you be my girlfriend?"

For a few seconds, Kayla just looked at him then she burst out laughing.

Sam felt awkward. "Was it funny?"

"Sam, you're so funny!" Kayla laughed. "So formal, so official, just like the Sam I know". She leaned on his shoulder, still shaking from laughter.

"I should have expected this from you". She chuckled again.

"So, to you, I was not your girlfriend yet all this while?" She sat up again, looking at him with a cute frown. "I feel hurt, damn".

"I've stayed in your family house, I've met your parents, I've even slept in your room multiple times, but yet you never saw me as your girlfriend yet?"

"Umm, I," Sam scratched his head. "I just thought I had to ask first to make it official, you know".

"You doofus!" She pushed him playfully by the head, laughing cutely.

Sam looked at her. "So?"

"Do you even need to ask?" She looked at him. "I accept". She jumped over him, pushing him down into the bed as she looked at him with her azure blue eyes.

Then, she kissed him passionately.

Stay tuned for updates on empire

Sam truly felt that he was lucky. 'Can a morning ever go better than this?'

…

That same morning, after getting ready, both of them went to the Moses' family house. One glance at them and Mrs. Moses threw a proud smile at her son, winking slightly as Sam shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.

Anyways, Sam was still beaming with joy.

"Big brother, what happened? Why are you so happy?" Even Sophia noticed as she looked at him curiously.

"Me? Nothing happened, I'm just happy". Sam said, smiling.

Sophia looked at him suspiciously.

That morning, after eating a second round of food at his family house, Sam finally bid his family farewell as he returned to England with Kayla.

The international break was over.