Different Lives, Same Life
Lorenzo's retirement may have been the biggest event of the season, but—
Ferraro's departure from Roma was significant in its own right.
He had been tempted when the owner offered substantial support this time around, but after being told things would get difficult starting next season, he wrestled with the decision before ultimately choosing another club. Plenty of clubs wanted Ferraro. He simply had to pick from the offers that came in.
When Ferraro left, the fans felt some unease, but they weren't particularly heartbroken. They had won the title this season, but that was the only trophy he had delivered during his tenure. Injuries had been manageable this year, but they'd been severe before that, and results had been inconsistent. Coldly assessed, given a Roma squad that struggled to execute high-intensity tactics, he simply hadn't been the right fit for the club.
Of course, plenty of people still blamed the owner. The sentiment that a manager of Ferraro's caliber would be hard to replace ran strong, and given the nature of modern football — where winning without spending is nearly impossible — they criticized him for not investing properly.
But this season, when stories related to Lorenzo came out, the fans' criticism of the owner softened somewhat.
The owner was stingy. But he was rich in emotion.
He had acquired the club not long after Roma won the league. In the years since, Roma had lifted only four trophies — all cup competitions. Two Coppa Italia titles and two Supercoppa Italiana. And since the Supercoppa was largely an exhibition, you could say there were really only two meaningful trophies.
The owner's frugality had cost them competitiveness and kept them from title challenges, true — but he had also spent freely for the first seven or eight years after taking over. Even then, they never won Serie A or a European trophy, and after that he stopped spending freely.
Whatever the surrounding circumstances, the biggest reason the owner suddenly opened his wallet was Lorenzo.
In his prime, Lorenzo had been courted for years by Real Madrid — then universally recognized as the greatest club in the world. And still he stayed at Roma. Had he gone to Real, he would have claimed countless trophies and honors. Instead, he looked only toward Roma.
The titles he won while at the club: one Serie A just before the current owner arrived, two Coppa Italia, two Supercoppa… and this season's Coppa victory. That was it. On the international stage his career was glittering, but in the league, his title haul was rather meager for a man once hailed as the finest technician in Italy. And that weighed heavily on the owner.
Especially last season, when Lorenzo's form had declined so sharply — the owner finally accepted that the man who had seemed eternal was about to retire, and he resolved to give him a championship somehow. That was why Roma went on a signing spree at the start of the season and again in winter. It was later revealed they had even used private funds. Not enormous sums, but the owner worked hard to circulate capital without triggering FFP violations.
And still, the result was a single Coppa Italia. A slightly disappointing outcome for both Roma and Lorenzo. Even so, the silver star that could be embroidered on the jersey for a Coppa win was a glorious thing. You could say he had finished with dignity.
When this story emerged from reputable media outlets, the fans sighed — but accepted it, and urged the owner to find a good new manager. They had developed both fondness and frustration for him in equal measure.
And while all of this was unfolding, Yohan boarded a plane with the same heavy heart he'd felt when Lorenzo retired. He wasn't heading to a national team match. He was going to America on vacation.
"Hey. Give me some peanuts."
"Sure."
Haley sat beside him. This would be the last time he could sit side by side with her on a plane — she was leaving for America for good. Caroline was still around, but she had work now and they wouldn't see each other every day…
Lorenzo retired. Haley was leaving…
This year was shaping up to be a turbulent one.
Hang in there. Haley said she'd visit often.
Thinking as positively as he could, Yohan arrived in LA, loaded himself up with Haley's luggage, and headed home.
"Gio!!"
Aiden greeted Yohan the moment they arrived. Watching her brother run straight to Yohan without so much as a glance at his own sister, Haley clicked her tongue.
"That kid's got a big head but he's still a brat. Hey, you're dead now."
"Don't wanna."
"Look at this little shit, picking up Turtle's way of talking. I'm gonna torment you until you get on your knees and beg me to stop."
Caroline laughed hollowly at the siblings bickering the moment they reunited, and warned Haley to watch her language. Then she added:
"There's that temper again. Want to go back to Italy?"
Haley shut her mouth with a sullen face and pulled her suitcase from the car.
"Turtle, help me."
Yohan snickered inwardly at her suddenly meek tone and helped her move the luggage. After showering, he greeted Chloe and the rest of Haley's cousins, who had arrived right on cue.
"Gio!"
"You got here fast."
"I ran over just to see you! Where's Haley?"
"She's showering."
"Yeah? Should we just ditch her and go out?"
"Uh… don't do that. And I kind of want to rest… Let's go out together tomorrow."
"Too bad. Alright then. But can you grab my bag…"
"Yeah, hand it over."
Yohan took Chloe's bag and spent time in the living room with her family. When Haley emerged with a towel wrapped around her head, phone pulled away from her ear, he asked:
"Who were you talking to?"
"Emma. She asked if I arrived okay. Hey, you made it?"
Haley poked Chloe's back with her toes. Chloe, thoroughly irritated, cursed at her, and Haley fired right back as she dragged Yohan into the room.
"What's wrong?"
"Don't hang out with people like that."
"People like that… You shouldn't talk about your own family that way."
"One more word of nagging and you're dead."
"…Fine. But Emma was crying a lot at the departure gate."
"She was doing it on the phone too. Without me around, everything's already a mess. Right?"
"So you should visit often…"
"I already said I would. I'll come until you're sick of me, okay? And this winter I'm going to invite Emma to America."
"Good thinking. So you're starting American high school now?"
"Yeah."
"Which school?"
"About ten kilometers from here? There's one down that way."
"That's pretty far."
"Doesn't matter. I'll drive."
"Drive? Oh… you can get a license at our age here, right?"
"Yeah. When you go back to Italy, you're starting lessons right away. When you come to America this time next year, I'll come pick you up special."
"But you're bad at studying. Can you even pass the written test?"
"You want me to beat you to death or stab you to death?"
"I'll take neither."
"Those aren't options."
Poke.
Haley's finger jabbed into Yohan's lower back. Her nails were long enough that it stung a little — and with it, that strange feeling from before flooded through his body again.
It's been getting worse lately…
At this rate, he might get addicted to the sensation. Worrying about that, Yohan spent his vacation in America.
Yohan had already heard about Ferraro from Simone. Ferraro was the manager who had believed in his ability and given him his debut. He was a mentor, so Yohan borrowed Haley's phone and called him to express his gratitude.
"I heard the news about you while I'm here in America. I wish you every blessing for the road ahead. Thank you so much."
"I'm the one who should thank you. You'll always be my player."
After a long conversation with Ferraro, Yohan hung up and stared at the ceiling.
Everyone's leaving.
Lorenzo, Ferraro… Beyond them, several players already linked with transfers, and those who had left before. Everyone was leaving. To live their own lives.
Bang—!
"Why the hell is that girl always on my case…"
And Haley was no different — bursting through the door, fuming from what seemed like a fight with Chloe.
"What? You done with the phone?"
"Yeah. Just now."
"Then give it back."
Everyone's life was different. There were countless ways to live. Whether you could call it individuality, he wasn't sure — but people were all different. That was Yohan's view.
But with Haley, he felt like they could live completely identical lives.
"What are you doing? You not giving it back?"
Haley stretched out her thin arm. Looking at her, Yohan said:
"Suddenly I don't want to give it back."
"Why? You coveting my phone? Or have you finally lost it?"
"Come and take it."
"So you have gone crazy."
Haley glared and strode toward him. The moment she reached to pinch him like always, Yohan yanked her in and held her.
"Ah…!?"
Then he toppled backward onto the bed, still holding her.
"Hey… what, what are you doing?"
To a stammering, flustered Haley, Yohan replied flatly:
"Stopping you from tormenting me."
"…You're stopping me like this? Unbelievable…"
"I'm gonna close my eyes for a bit. I'm tired."
"Like this…?"
Yohan said nothing and simply shut his eyes. And Haley, even in this somewhat stifling position, made no attempt to escape. She just quietly watched. Yohan's face.
She stayed like that for a long while, until she too couldn't fight the sudden drowsiness and fell asleep.