Unstoppable Momentum (4)
One thing I've been curious about since I first saw her: Niela's bodyguard... especially that tough-looking bald dude. What's his bench max?
"This is our dressing room."
Right now, I'm giving Niela a tour of the inside of Estadio Municipal de Santo Domingo, AD Alcorcon's home ground. There are other staff around, but she specifically asked me to show her. Couldn't say no.
Thanks to Niela—or maybe our recent unbeaten streak—tickets for today's Round 12 home game sold out completely. She's even doing a free halftime dance performance. Returning the favor like this is only natural, right?
Still, her taking such good care of me felt grateful... but also a bit burdensome.
"Whoa, way better than I thought?"
Niela glanced around the dressing room and grinned wide. I sidled up next to her and whispered super quietly.
"You really think that?"
"...Busted?"
"Big time."
Compared to big clubs' dressing rooms, ours is downright shabby. Sure, we've renovated a few times, but this small stadium only holds about 8,000 max—no grandeur here.
"Still, it's the home ground. Shouldn't they invest a bit more?"
"Our team puts more into the youth system. We even have a D team."
"D team? Fourth squad?"
"Yeah."
As we whispered, I felt a prickling stare and quickly stepped away from Niela. Not from her bodyguards.
From my teammates—specifically, the ones who are Niela fans. Their glares screamed: anything but touch Niela.
Hmm. Borja Navas never gave me looks that intense... Nah, if I weren't his client, he'd probably have murderous eyes by now.
"Soriano, nice to see you. We've met a few times before, right?"
"Ah, yes. Nice to see you too."
Captain Rubén Soriano shook her hand first, drawing envious stares. Some teammates—prime Niela superfans—went wide-eyed at "met a few times."
"Fraile, pleasure. Your shoulders are so broad."
"Haha, thanks. You're even prettier in person."
"Flatterer, ho ho."
After vice-captain David Fraile, Niela greeted the others waiting their turn, adding words of encouragement.
Our starting keeper, Mario Sanchez, blurted "It's an honor" the second she took his hand. 100% sincere.
"I'll cheer hot from the stands for your win today!"
After greetings, she left a blessing. Everyone suddenly burned with more win hunger. Miguel looked ready to kill someone on the pitch today.
Niela sensed it too, whispering as we left the dressing room.
"Your friend looks pissed off today... Everything okay?"
"Nah. He's powered up by your cheers. That's it."
"...Feels like I did something huge wrong."
After the dressing room tour, we parted. Niela headed off for kickoff prep and photos with club staff. I returned to the room.
And the barrage of stares. Envy, anger mixed in.
To cool this down... I'll have to hard carry and lead us to victory today.
Trying to prep calmly, Mario Sanchez lumbered over.
"Hey, Theo."
"Yeah."
"If I become Borja Navas's client... could I get close to Niela too?"
I shrugged after a beat.
"Dunno."
Feeling mischievous, I teased.
"Why? Want an intro?"
He backpedaled in horror.
"No, no. Absolutely not."
"Haha. Not Niela—Borja Navas."
"Th-that too. Would Borja even take me?"
His self-deprecating tone made me awkward. Yeah... my visibility skyrocketed just from being his client. Not easy to join that club.
Felt bad for teasing. Then I remembered good news.
"Oh, right. Niela's doing a Christmas concert. Anyone interested? Mario, you?"
His face lit up. Not just him—teammates swarmed.
"Me!"
"Me too!"
"I wanna go!"
Amid the excitement, I spotted one who didn't belong.
"Nico? You're married."
Nico Salaberria's two years older than me, but a dad of two girls already.
"Huh? What does that matter? It's Niela's concert—go if you can. My wife'd love it."
Hmm. Was I overthinking? I even asked Rubén Soriano.
He politely declined. Only one who turned down Niela's concert tickets: Rubén Soriano.
The atmosphere at Estadio Municipal de Santo Domingo during the Round 12 clash with CD Tenerife was hotter than ever. Niela's visit plus our unbeaten run—first sellout of the season. Scalpers hawked prime seats for 2-3x face value.
AD Alcorcon's unprecedented boom continued.
"Oppa, what's Theo's opponent like?"
In the VIP seats, Niela sat with Borja Navas. Bodyguards flanked them; paparazzi cannons zoomed relentlessly from afar.
"Mid-table team."
"Mid-table? Not great, not trash?"
"Yeah."
"Chance Theo's team loses?"
Borja smirked, shaking his head at the pitch.
"0%."
Niela finally relaxed against her seatback.
"Phew."
"What?"
"Kinda weird. If they lose with me here. Especially undefeated so far."
Dismissing her worry, Borja leaned back too. Then, grinning mischievously.
"Could lose."
"What?"
"One variable."
"Which is?"
He pointed at Cha Tae-oh.
"If Theo suddenly gets hurt and subs out, Alcorcon's loss odds skyrocket."
She smacked his shoulder.
"Don't even say it."
Borja blinked at her reaction, pouting.
"Niela. Wish you'd react like that if I got hurt."
Smack—harder this time.
"Don't say crap like that."
Now smiling, Borja relented.
"Anyway. One question."
"Yeah? What?"
"Why do you like Theo?"
Sharp question out of nowhere, but Niela didn't flinch. Borja clarified.
"Pure curiosity. Skip if you want. You've never been this open about liking someone."
Her eyes fixed on the pitch—on Cha Tae-oh—she spoke slowly.
"His eyes. I like them."
"Eyes?"
"Yeah."
"What about them?"
"Hard to put into words. Just... looking at them calms me down."
"What about mine?"
She glanced at Borja, wrinkling her nose.
"Eh, not great."
"What? That's a deep wound."
"Can't hold your gaze more than a few seconds."
"...Wound's deeper."
"But it's true. Yours are sharp. Makes me feel small."
"...Theo's not?"
"Yeah. Warm."
Borja smacked his lips bitterly at her cheeky grin.
"I get it. My eyes changed when I became an agent."
"...Good thing?"
"Yeah. Sharp, but trustworthy. To allies, not enemies."
'Playing me like a fiddle.' A cryptic smile tugged Borja's lips.
Then—
"Wooooah!"
"Yes!"
"Go, Theo!"
Cha Tae-oh snuffed a counter, dribbled forward—Alcorcon fans erupted. Niela too.
One defender down, two, three. Then one-on-one with the keeper...
Thwack—swish!
His calm, low drive ripped the bottom corner.
ROOOAR—!
"Kyaaaa!"
Amid the thunderous roar, Niela's scream pierced through.
Borja just sat, clapping quietly. For some reason, cheering Theo sincerely felt hard today.
...Why do I feel like he's already stolen from me?
A truly odd sensation.