Light & Gravity

Chapter 1 - FERNANDO

Enchanted by Taylor Swift

The first day of training with the team was unforgettable. My presentation to the fans had taken place a couple of days before.

When I arrived at Majadahonda to train on Monday, I did not know what to expect at all. I was excited of course. This club was my club. It was - and still is - the club of my childhood, of my life. I knew some of the players. I especially heard of this french guy: Antoine Griezmann. He was really doing some great stuff for the club. At that time I was looking forward to meeting them all even though I was kind of stressed.

I parked. I was the first player, clearly. I looked at the clock on the dashboard. 8:24. I understood why no one was here. The training session was supposed to start at 10. I didn't know why I was already there. Probably another consequence of the stress. I checked my phone. A few tweets from Milan players, wishing me luck in my new club. I retweeted them and thanked them. I locked my phone and l laid my head on my seat. It was 8:27 now. Amazing. Time really flies right? I thought about going jogging in the neighborhood but I would have been already sweaty when the training would have finally begun. I looked for a random book in the car. I always kept a copy of The Lords Of The Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, my favourite writer. After searching for ten minutes long I eventually put the hand on the precious book. It was kind of damaged but I didn't really care. I started reading from the very beginning and soon enough I forgot about me back at Atlético, me training for the first time with the team since I left for Liverpool and me being in front of the training ground earlier than anyone.
I had been reading for around an hour when someone knocked on my window. I jumped and threw the book as far away as possible. I would have to look for it again after the training session now. I looked at the man who knocked on my car's window. I rolled down the window and said:
- Yes?
- You're Fernando! El Ñino! I'm Alex, a staff member! It's pretty early, eh?
- Oh, yes, it is. I've been here for a long time already to be honest, I answered quickly.
I was embarrassed at this time. I should have made something up so I would have sounded more credible. As it was too late to take back what I had said I tried to give him the most convincing smile I could possibly do. He nodded and asked me if I wanted to go to the dressing room. I agreed and decided to be brave. I got out of my car and followed Alex. He was walking very slowly and he stopped every single second to say hi to random people. Most of the time he would introduce me to those people and tell them the big footballer I was, making me even more uncomfortable - if that was even possible. It took us fifteen minutes to go from my car to the entrance of the building. I checked my watch. It was 9:47 now and I was surprised there wasn't any player. Alex took me to the dressing room and I suddenly remembered about going in there when I started at Atléti. I sat where my name had been written and looked at the names around me. Juanfran, Koke, Griezmann, Gabi of course, Giménez, Godín and many more. My eyes stopped on the spot reserved for Saúl. He looked pretty young but kind of cute I had to admit. I laughed at myself and decided to start getting ready.
I was just finishing tying my second spike when the whole came in the dressing room. They were obviously laughing at some joke that I didn't hear. Gabi was first. He stopped when he saw me. Actually the whole group stopped. I had now over twenty men staring at me.
- Nando! Juanfran suddenly shouted after a few seconds of - embarrassing - silence. I'm so happy to see you!
- Yes, we all are actually. You're such a legend around here! Diego said this with a wink.
- I'm not sure about that but I'm also really happy to be here. I answered with a smile.
They all welcomed me and I shook hands and hugged almost all of them. When Saúl arrived in front of me, he just looked right into my eyes - he had very beautiful blue eyes - and smiled. He also had a very cute smile. I awkwardly tried to smile in return.
-Welcome home, Nando, he whispered.