God Of football

Chapter 896: Morning Rush.

[The next morning]

The sound of hurried footsteps filled the upstairs hallway as Komi’s voice carried through the house.

”Miranda, hurry up or we’ll be late again!”

Miranda appeared at the top of the stairs, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear while slinging a chain around her neck.

”I’m coming,” she called, her tone calm despite Komi’s rush.

Before Komi could respond, Hori came down from her room, her perfume preceding her.

She was dressed sharply for once, not her usual lazy ensemble of just tossing on whatever bits of her uniform that got her through her school day.

”I’m trying to be more responsible today,” she said, half-smiling as her eyes flicked toward Izan, who was lounging near the stairs in a plain white shirt and loose shorts.

He looked up lazily.

”What’s that supposed to mean?”

”Nothing,” she replied, feigning innocence, ”just saying people think I take after you.”

Izan smirked. ”You wish.”

Before the argument could grow, Olivia appeared on the stairs behind them, her curls bouncing as she walked.

Her flared jeans fit her perfectly, and the soft denim hugged her hips in a way that caught Izan’s attention more than it should have.

Under his breath, he muttered something crude in Spanish.

Hori’s face twisted.

”Ew, gross. You’re disgusting.”

Olivia laughed, the sound light and teasing. ”He’s just being honest.”

Miranda shook her head as she came down, finally ready and then motioned towards the door.

”Let’s go before you three start something.”

She grabbed her purse and gestured toward Komi, who was already waiting by the door.

”Keys?”

Komi tossed them over without missing a beat.

”In my defence, I’ve been ready for ten minutes.”

Miranda just smiled, shaking her head at Komi’s antics.

”The boss can be late sometimes,” she said, causing Komi to roll her eyes as the front door swung open, letting in the soft morning air.

Together, they stepped out, the whole family and Miko, the fluffy white Samoyed, wagging her tail eagerly at the sight of the cars.

Miranda, Komi, and Hori headed for Miranda’s sleek black BMW M5, their heels and shoes tapping lightly against the driveway while Izan walked the other way with Olivia and Miko toward his Koenigsegg Gemera.

The car gleamed under the early light, its surface like a mirror.

”See you later,” Hori called, waving at Miko, who barked once in reply before hopping into the backseat.

Izan smiled faintly and made sure the dog was buckled in with its small harness before climbing in himself.

Olivia slid into the passenger seat, and a moment later, the Gemera’s engine came alive with a deep growl.

He followed Miranda’s car out of the drive as the gates closed smoothly behind them before Miranda slipped onto the next road on her left while Izan continued ahead.

For a while, the drive was quiet, broken only by the hum of the road beneath the tyres.

Olivia unlocked her phone and sighed.

”I’ve got a test today and although I’ve learnt all there is, I am still not feeling confident. I feel like I will fail.”

Izan glanced at her briefly, a crooked grin forming.

”You won’t fail. You’re too smart for that.”

She turned her head toward him, raising an eyebrow.

”You’re only saying that because you have to.”

He chuckled.

”No. I’m saying that because you’re my girlfriend. I am a genius, which automatically makes you a genius.”

Olivia smacked his arm, laughing.

’

”You’re an idiot.”

From the back seat, Miko barked loudly as if to agree with Izan, who grinned.

”See? Even Miko knows I’m right. She’s on my side now.”

Olivia turned around, cooing at the fluffy dog.

”Miko, you better not take his side.”

But the Samoyed barked again, tail wagging furiously.

Izan smirked. ”Traitor.”

After a bit of traffic caused mainly by someone hurting himself while trying to get a picture of Izan’s car, the trio rolled to a stop at the entrance to King’s College.

Students were streaming through the gates, and as usual, a few heads turned when they saw who had dropped her off.

Olivia leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

”Try not to make Miko a bad influence.”

He chuckled. ”No promises.”

She stepped out, tossing a wave before blowing him a small kiss.

He watched her walk toward the gates, the morning sun catching the edge of her hair, before exhaling softly and shifting in his seat.

Turning to the back, he caught Miko staring at him with wide, excited eyes.

”You ready for your first day at Colney?”

The dog barked once, sharp and eager.

Izan smiled, a soft laugh escaping him as he reversed slightly, then pressed the pedal.

The Gemera shot forward, the city fading behind as the car sped toward Hertfordshire, the morning stretching wide and open ahead of them.

....

The gravel crunched softly under the Gemera’s tyres as Izan turned into the familiar stretch of Colney’s entrance.

As he rolled down the window, the security guard at the gate leaned in with a grin.

”Well, look who decided to come home,” the man said. ”Thought you’d stay in the States for good this time.”

Izan smiled, handing over his pass.

”And miss the fine British weather? Not a chance.”

The guard laughed, shaking his head as he waved him through.

”Good to have you back, Izan. Oh, and what’s that fluffball in the back?”

Izan glanced at Miko, who had her head sticking out the window, tongue flopping happily.

”New teammate,” he said before driving off toward the main lot.

He parked neatly in his reserved spot, the engine humming low before cutting out.

For a moment, he sat there, watching the faint movement of players and staff through the glass of the distant buildings.

It felt good to be back.

Stepping out, he rounded to the front of the car and popped the small boot, then grabbed his duffel, slinging it over one shoulder, and then opened the passenger door.

”Come on, Miko.”

The Samoyed hopped down gracefully, her white coat gleaming in the muted sunlight.

She stuck close to him as he walked, tail swishing lazily from side to side.

Once inside, a few staff members passed by, offering friendly nods and smiles.

”Morning, Izan,” someone called.

”Morning,” he replied, politely and warmly.

As he stepped through the main entrance, the receptionist looked up from her desk and lit up.

”Welcome back, Izan.”

He gave a soft smile. ”Thank you.”

Her gaze dropped to Miko, who had settled by his leg, bright-eyed and curious.

”And who’s this?”

”Miko,” he said simply. ”She’s new.”

”Well, she’s beautiful,” the receptionist said, leaning forward a little.

Miko wagged her tail in approval, seemingly enjoying all the attention she was getting.

Izan continued on, moving down the familiar corridor that carried faint echoes of laughter and thudding footsteps.

The locker room door swung open with a gentle squeak, and immediately, a few heads turned his way.

”Yo, Izan’s back!” one of the younger players called out.

He smiled faintly, setting his bag down beside his locker.

Before he could say much, all eyes shifted from him to the ball of fluff padding behind his legs.

Miko tilted her head, looking around at the group before her tail began wagging furiously.

”No way, you brought a dog?” another voice said, amused.

”Her name’s Miko,” Izan replied, crouching slightly to scratch her head before standing again.

The room came alive with soft laughter and friendly chatter as one by one, the players crouched or knelt to greet Miko, their voices playful and teasing.

She soaked it all up, tail wagging faster with every new hand that reached out to her.

”She’s too cute, man,” one of them said. ”How’d you even bring her here?”

”Special treatment, I guess,” Izan said dryly, smiling at their disbelief.

”Saka’s gonna be jealous that you got a dog cuter than his,” Ben White, who had just entered the room, said, causing another wave of laughter and nods of acknowledgement to fly around the room and for a while, the room was filled with the sound of Miko’s nails tapping against the tile as she moved from player to player.

Then, as Izan started toward the door, she paused, looked up, and darted after him, slipping between legs and bags as she followed close behind.

He glanced down at her as he reached the hallway again.

”You really don’t like being left behind, huh?”

Miko barked once, almost like a response as they stepped into the corridor.

As Izan neared the cafeteria, he didn’t even have to open the door to know who was inside.

Bukayo Saka’s laugh carried through the hallway, bright and unmistakable, followed by someone’s mock protest.

Izan stopped for half a second, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

”Still the loudest one in the building,” he muttered under his breath, pushing the door open as Miko trotted happily beside him.