Rise of a Football God

Standing on the spotlight again, in the front of countless cameras and reporters, Sam felt melancholic, thinking of how fast situations can change.

'These same people were the ones clamoring for my head just a while ago'.

'To think they're all now supporting me again'.@@novelbin@@

'I guess that's life, you can never predict it'.

Sam took a deep breath before speaking into the microphone.

At first, they organized it like an interview but he took over. To him, this was not an interview at all, rather it was a place for him to have an honest confession after being slandered unjustly for almost a month!

He took a deep breath. "Honestly, I can't explain how I feel". He said in Spanish, flexing his new-found mastery of the language.

"The past few weeks have been difficult for me, definitely the worst period of my football career".

"I never expected an old classmate to slander me in such a manner".

"Besides," he sighed. "I never expected what followed".

He chuckled. "Supporters turning haters, familiars turning into strangers, this is the first time that I experienced something like this and I would be lying if I said it didn't affect me".

"But I guess that's just part of life".

"Yin and yang, light and darkness, ups and downs, it's just the natural circle of life and these past few weeks, I truly understood it".

"My football career has been going so smoothly for years that I became slightly arrogant, thinking that I am the main character of the world, that everything would continue to go the way I wanted until what happened weeks ago".

"What happened…, in a way, it helped me".

"It grounded me in reality".

He chuckled. "I may sound like a masochist but that's how I truly feel".

"Above all, despite the negativity and hate, I learned something important too," he smiled brightly. "That even in the worst storms, there are those that will always stick close to you, supporting you through the worst moments of your life".

"For these people, I want to specially appreciate".

"Mom, dad, Ian, Smith Rowe, the club," he smiled and then he inclined his head to look at Kayla. "The love of my life, Kayla, I'm grateful for everything".

"Without all of your help and mental support, your lawyers, perhaps I wouldn't be here today on this podium talking to the world".

"Perhaps," he sighed again, his eyes becoming unfocused. "Perhaps, I would be rotting in a jail somewhere in Spain already".

"But I'm not bitter, it was a necessary life lesson". He smiled.

"For that, I am grateful".

"I also want to use this avenue to thank those die-hard fans of mine. Even in this storm, I recognize the fact that you guys remained in the thick with me".

With a solemn look on his face, he hit his chest. "I promise you that I will never forget this gesture of goodwill".

"Your faith in me," he grinned. "I will repay it".

"If the pain doesn't kill me, it'll only make me stronger!" His eyes gleamed with a fiery zeal.

"A lot of people thought, what if Sam was found guilty? What will happen to his football career?" He grinned again. "I guess we'd never know".

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"I want to put it out to you all now," he smirked. "Sam is here to stay!"

"In FC Barcelona, I shall play and forge a legacy for myself!"

"I shall become the best player in the world in Barcelona!"

With that, Sam finally stepped down from the podium.

Adjusting his dark shades, with his girlfriend, best friend, and lawyer following behind him, they trudged out of the Supreme Court with a confident swagger in their steps.

Trust the cameramen.

Click! Click!

They diligently engraved this iconic moment in the annals of history.

After such an explosive honest confession from Sam, surely, the media would have too many juicy news to write and give to the public.

…

Having sacrificed a lot academically to stay in Spain and support his best friend, that morning after the end of the court hearing, Ian ate at a restaurant with Sam and Kayla before taking the next flight back to England.

As an aspiring Doctor, he could not afford to neglect his learning, he had a lot of things that he needed to catch up on in this small time.

With his best friend gone, including his personal lawyer, Sam had alone time with his girlfriend for the first time in what felt like forever.

Staring at each other at the restaurant, they felt their bodies heating up.

They could not wait to get home; their hormones were getting the better of them after being without each other for so long and going through such adversity together. They say love blossoms in adversity.

In fantasy novels, lovers or friends become even closer after surviving a life and death encounter together.

This may not qualify as a live and death situation, but it was definitely a situation that pushed both of them to the edge emotionally and mentally.

Now, finally getting out of it, their emotions got the better of them.

Too impatient to wait till they got home, as soon as they left the restaurant, climbing into the back seat of Sam's brand-new Mercedez Benz GLE 53 AMG, the 2 lovers let their passion blossom as they went at it at the back seat of the car.

Staring into each other's eyes, all they saw was a gateway to the starry sky, a love encapsulating the essence of their love.

In no time, the sound of clothes hastily being pulled apart reverberated as their lips intertwined in a passionate lovers' kiss.

That afternoon, Sam felt like his girlfriend was even more beautiful than ever before; her body was gentler and more supple than ever before, he could feel his love for her cascading.

The air conditioner of this Mercedez Benz was high but the both of them could not help but feel hot still as they surrendered to their passion.

In no time, bodies intertwined amid gasps and moans of pleasure as they engaged in the primordial ritual of consolidating love right there in the car.

There was no barrier, nothing of the sort was allowed to exist, all that existed at this moment was their mutually shared love and their blossoming passion.

Over a dozen minutes later…

At the end of it all, filled with sweat, Sam leaned over his girlfriend, staring straight into her eyes with love-filled eyes.

"I'll always love you". He muttered with the most sincere smile that he could muster.

"I love you more". Kayla giggled cutely.