Housewarming Party (1)
The day after the match, I finally invited my close acquaintances for the housewarming I'd been putting off.
Truth be told, housewarmings aren't really a thing in Spain. People just drop by briefly to check out a new place if you've bought one. So my aunt and uncle, along with Jose Bravo and Camilla Bravo, had already swung by early on.
The guests I invited today were all around my age. Less a housewarming and more like a home party, really.
"Whoa! The view here's insane!"
"This place must cost a fortune..."
Miguel Amaro and Joni Montoya gawked at the scenery the moment they stepped inside, letting out exclamations of awe. They hadn't asked about my wages outright, but their curiosity was obvious.
Just like in Korea, player salaries in European soccer are confidential. You can't spill the exact details—media can only speculate. Public salaries could breed internal resentment or weaken clubs' negotiating power. Even in the four major U.S. pro sports with salary caps, where salaries are disclosed, La Liga—the only European league with a cap—kept them secret too.
Camilla Bravo had said during contract talks that my pay was mid-to-upper tier for a La Liga 2 club. Compared to these two mere prospects, I was raking in way more. No surprise they were the most envious about my rented pad.
"I Googled it, and apparently in Korea, friends gift toilet paper for new homes. That right?"
"Spot on! Thanks, Tiago."
I grinned wide at the roll of toilet paper he'd handed over, and he beamed back, looking pretty pleased with himself. This guy's just got that likeable vibe all around.
"Lemme introduce you. These are my teammates from the B team. This is Miguel, and that's Joni."
I showed them off to Tiago. He was a bit older, but soccer bonded us quick. Miguel and Joni were especially blown away by Tiago's encyclopedic La Liga knowledge.
And the final invitee to this home party...
"Didn't wanna show up empty-handed, so I brought a gift!"
Yuko and...
"If I came alone, you'd have just one girl here. So I dragged Elena along too. Hehe."
...Elena. Didn't see her coming. Not that I minded. I welcomed her warmly.
"Come on in, Elena."
"Yeah. Hi."
Cool and aloof as ever. She wasn't much of a talker anyway, so I brushed it off and checked out Yuko's gift first.
"Can I open it?"
"Go ahead!"
Inside the box was a cat figurine posed with one front paw raised.
"It's a maneki-neko. In Japan, they call it a lucky charm. Left paw up brings customers; right paw brings money."
Yuko's maneki-neko had its right paw raised.
"It's a figurine, so no allergies, right?"
That sparked some mischief. I pressed my tongue to the roof of my mouth and scraped lightly—bam, sneeze city.
"A-Atchoooo!"
I shot Yuko a glance. Her eyes bugged out in panic.
"B-But it's a figurine... no fur, just plastic... Oh god, did I mess up...?"
Right as I was about to tease more...
"Anyone can see you're messing with her, Viki. You're such an idiot."
Elena cut in.
"Oh... you were joking? Right, Tae-oh?"
I nodded sheepishly with an awkward smile, and Yuko finally exhaled in relief.
"Tiago!"
"Hey, Viki."
He'd seen us together at the CD Coslada match, so no suspicions there.
"Ooh! Your girlfriend?"
"You had a girl and didn't say?"
Maybe 'cause Yuko was Asian like me, but Miguel and Joni jumped to girlfriend conclusions.
"Nah, just friends. Different nationalities. This is Yuko—no, Viki. Call her Viki. She's Japanese. Tiago's friend."
Once I clarified, their eyes snapped to Elena beside her. Eighteen and hormones raging—they were hooked on her looks. Especially Miguel... Hey, quit staring south, dude!
"And this is Elena Gomez. Server at Corear. Viki's friend. And mine too."
Sounded off even as I said it. Were Elena and I really friends? We didn't even have each other's numbers, never chatted privately. Maybe friends in the broadest sense?
"Nice to meet you. I'm Miguel Amaro. Play with Theo on the team."
"Jonathan Montoya here. Just call me Joni. Haha!"
They charged right in. Elena's response?
"Yeah. Hi."
Short and shut. Joni backed off quick, sensing she wasn't average...
But Miguel...
"You into soccer?"
"Not really."
"For real? You don't watch at all?"
"Nope."
"No favorite team then?"
"Nope."
"Perfect! I'll teach you soccer. You'll love it in no time!"
"Pass."
"...Okay, other hobbies? Oh! I like basketball too. Not everyone knows Real Madrid has a hoops team! Bet you didn't, huh?"
Hmm. Miguel losing that love triangle to Getafe B's keeper wasn't just looks. This guy's not a total solo player, is he?
The home party's vibe heated up fast, thanks to the wine and champagne from Jose Bravo.
Even Tiago, who didn't drink much, was nicely buzzed. Same for Miguel and Joni.
Joni hit it off quick with Tiago and Yuko, chatting away. But Miguel clung to Elena till her "Shut up" crushed him—he nursed his wounded heart with wine the rest of the night.
Poor guy.
"So I told the director. Said I wanna sweat it out together and win it all."
I spun the post-match chat with Iñigo Chapé like an epic tale. Everyone was hooked—even Elena, who kept checking her phone, tuned in.
"Whoa... that's kinda touching?"
Joni murmured, face flushed red.
"Then what? What'd he say?"
Tiago's cheeks glowed too. But Yuko had the rosiest blush—she'd been downing more than her usual limit. Planning to crash?
"He hesitated. Worried I'd get hurt. But I've never been injured. Not a single fracture since I was a kid."
"Seriously? No bad tackles ever?"
"A couple rough ones stung... but they healed quick."
"Damn, Theo. Your physique is god-tier."
Joni marveled again, and Yuko—overhearing—glanced at my crotch and smirked.
"Anyway. Made a promise with the director. No injuries till season's end."
"That's not something you just promise and done, right?"
Tiago fretted, eyes saying I should heed Iñigo.
I chuckled and shrugged.
"I can do it. Dodge the tackles, easy. Never pushed too hard anyway."
True. Instinct dodged tackles, and since the goblin's skills, I'd never gone all-out. Hustling hard and overexerting? Big difference. Pro stage might demand full throttle someday.
That's when...
"Yessss! Theo's a god! A g-o-d!"
Miguel slammed his glass down mid-sip and belted out a drunken anthem.
He's gone full blackout.
"With Theo, we'll win for sure! Whoooaaaaa! Vamos!"
His yell felt like the party's finale. Glancing around, everyone but me and Elena was pretty sloshed. Yuko spoke fine but her eyes were glazing over.
No sex tonight, looks like.
"Can't leave him like this. Theo, I'll take Miguel. He's wasted."
Joni stood first, dragging Miguel and begging for a taxi. Once his voice cracked loose, Miguel wouldn't shut up.
"Theo's a god! God! God! Got it? Worship him! Bow your heads!"
I didn't love drunks... but that chant? Kinda nice.
"I'll go too. Tough handling him solo."
Tiago downed his last wine and rose.
"Take care of Miguel."
"Got it. No worries."
"See ya tomorrow, Theo."
The guys filed out. Left: Yuko, me, and Elena.
"Hng... all gone..."
Yuko slurred at the door, grabbing her glass.
"Wine left... let's finish... hehe."
No faking that drunk. Elena frowned, approached.
"Get up, Viki."
"Ughhh... hng..."
"Up."
"Nooo... wanna drink more..."
"Shit."
Elena bit her lip, eyed me.
"Theo. Move Viki to the sofa."
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
I scooped her up bridal-style. She grabbed my cheeks.
"Tae-ohhh..."
"Sex..."
"...!"
I clapped a hand over her mouth at "sex," laid her on the sofa, backed off.
Yuko fiddled with the fabric, then passed out.
I glanced at Elena. She seemed oblivious.
"Gonna crash her here."
"Huh?"
"Were you gonna send her home?"
"Uh?"
Thought so.
"She wants sex."
"...!"
"Don't wanna? I can take her."
"N-No... that's not..."
Words failed; Elena smirked, stepped close. Looked up with a sly grin.
"What? Thought I didn't know? You two are fuck buddies?"