Become A Football Legend

Over in the opposite booth, another girl, quite similar in age to Lexi, was giving Lukas the death stare. Joanna had been celebrating with the gang after the match ended and Lukas was announced as the man of the match. She took videos of everything — the assist, the goals, his prayer-like celebration, the applause from the fans as he walked to the bench. When Lukas walked towards their section of the stands, she was already blushing while recording the crowd cheer him.

But then a scream from a girl she considered very pretty pissed her off. Of course she wasn't mad at Lukas, there really wasn't much he could do about how handsome he was. She wasn't pissed at the girl either, she was just jealous.

"Look at you, charming girls. We'll settle this later," she thought as she stared at Lukas who had now turned to another direction before she broke into a soft smile.

As Lukas stepped into the locker room, a few players congratulated him before Toppmöller and Trapp returned from the post-match press conference.

"Nice work, boys!" Coach Toppmöller said as he clapped loudly prompting the other staff members and the players applaud themselves for work well done.

After a few seconds of clapping, Toppmöller continued speaking. "We executed the plan to perfection today. This is the level we should aspire to maintain for the rest of the season. Although we could have done more to keep possession, it was a very good game against a very good opponent."

He looked around at the players before smiling, "You have a day off tomorrow and a light recovery session on Sunday. We start training for the Europa league match by Monday. Go home, spend time with your family, but don't eat yourself out of shape."

"Yes, Coach," the players replied, all smiles. They had played three games in the space of a week. And although it was just after the Christmas holiday, the congestion was starting to show up mentally and physically in some players.

Lukas was glad he could finally spend some time with his family. "I do have a lot of school work to catch up on, though," he lamented as the thoughts of having a peaceful weekend at home flew out the window immediately he thought of school.

* * *

16-year-old prodigy, Lukas Brandt, already making waves in the Bundesliga with 3 goals and 3 assists in 100+ minutes on the pitch. 2 goals and 1 assist on his first start against Borussia Dortmund. Generational talent, one to watch.

The @liveherewegoInstagram channel, run by Fabrizio Romano's team, posted on their feed a photo of Lukas bowing to the crowd. — calm, as the crowd went berserk.

Lukas liked the post before scrolling, he was starting to get attention from the world of football.

He posted a photo Marco had sent to him after the game — a perfect shot of him blowing a kiss to the camera after his second goal. The shot captured his emerald-colored eyes, sweat trickling down his face as he looked at the camera.

"First start, +3. Next stop: Europe."

He was currently laying on his bed in his ProfiCamp apartment browsing his phone one last time before he went to bed. He would meet the gang the next day at the same hotel as before. He decided not to meet them that night because he was too tired after the match.

He checked his Instagram profile. His profile picture had just been changed to that of him bowing to the crowd that night.

. Lukas Brandt ✓

. 17. 205k. 126

Posts Followers Following

His account had just been verified a few days prior, and his followers had skyrocketed since his debut last week. He watched as the number increased at the moment as he reloaded the page.

He had been tagged on a 433 post about the match and that was directing followers to his page.

"This sure is nice to see," Lukas thought as he closed his phone and plugged it in the charger by the bedside.

[*Instagram followers is what's impressing you now?*] TT asked. Its tone, sarcastic.

"C'mon, at least let me enjoy my rise in followers."

[*I'm kidding man, have fun.*]

"The joker," Lukas responded as he chuckled.

[*Imagine the club had a camera I stalled in this house without your knowledge. And someone's just watching you crazily talking to yourself.*]

"Hahaha. That's funny to think about... Wait a minute... There're no hidden cameras, though, right?"

[*I wouldn't know, but I'm betting it's safer to assume that there are.*]

"Goodnight, then," Lukas responded with his thoughts as he fell back on his bed from his sitting position.

* * *

The room was dim, lit only by a thin slice of morning light cutting in through a gap in the curtains. Lukas stirred slowly. His eyes blinked open to a dry, pale ceiling. No music, no birds, just the low hum of the fridge from the kitchen down the hall.

His mouth felt tacky. The taste of stale electrolyte drink lingered faintly. His lower back ached against the mattress, and both thighs were stiff like rubber bands stretched to their limit. He lay still, trying not to wake the dull throb in his shoulders. The air in the room was warm, still, carrying the neutral scent of clean laundry and skin that had cooled off hours ago.

He exhaled slowly and rolled onto his side. The sheet shifted beneath him, soft against his legs. A used ice pack had slipped to the floor beside the bed — half-melted — the towel around it damp. His phone was face down on the nightstand, buzzing faintly once before going quiet again.

There was a faint pressure in his legs, like they were still in motion. Phantom steps. He stared at the wall for a while, eyes unfocused, muscles unsure whether to relax or brace for the next sprint.

"I don't even have the energy to do the LTC recovery exercises," he thought as he lay on his bed and gently closed his eyes back.

Two minutes later, Lukas opened his eyes again, a lot better than before. He still had some soreness from the match, but four days in the LTC and a recovery session had helped quell the most urgent problems

He reached for his phone, unplugged it, and viewed the messages that had come in.

"Lukey, text me when you're ready to come to the hotel so I can wait for you in the lobby," the text from his father, read.

"I'll be there in half an hour," Lukas replied as he set the phone down and got up, walked to the curtains, and flung them open.

"It's a beautiful day!" Lukas said while yawning and stretching.

As Lukas walked out of the ProfiCamp complex into the street, he could feel more eyes on him. He was becoming extremely popular, especially with fans of the club. He could see a few people taking photos of him, but it was nothing unbearable.

He got to the ride he had hailed, and got in.

* * *

"Nice game yesterday, Luke. I was watching you play and still I couldn't believe that was you. Even players who had proven themselves in the biggest stages, were run ragged when you held the ball. I'm so proud of you, bro," João said as they all sat down to have breakfast at the hotel before leaving for Darmstadt.

"Thanks, man. I didn't really think about it like that, though. I just see the spaces, and I try to go through them. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don't."

"Not everyone can do that, Luke, you should be proud," Anne added.

"Thanks, Anne, I am proud. It really wasn't easy to get to the point where I'm able to do that," Lukas responded as he got goosebumps from thinking about what TT continuously subjected him through every day.

"Still, not everyone can find it in them to put the effort in."

"Also, I don't know what kind of effort it would take to hit that kind of free kick. I doubt there are a lot of goal keepers who could have stopped that," João added.

[*Don't listen to him, there are a lot.*] TT's voice rang in Lukas's head playfully.

"Well, even if he exists. I'll find a way to beat him."

"Hmm! I like your confidence. Maybe that's the kinda confidence that attract girls? You gotta teach me man. You should have seen the way the pretty girl beside our booth was screaming to talk to—OUCH! What was that for, Joanna?!"