Please vote to show me your support for the story the higher we climb in the rankings the more motivated I will feel. Mass releases will be rewarded for each 10 rankings we manage to climb.
[Sunday, 29/09/2019, 19:45 – Turin, Italy]
"Yes, Mum I'm alright we weren't on that plane, so please stop crying," I reassured Mum once again as she struggled to believe I was ok for the past 20 minutes.
The news anchors or maybe it was the paparazzi who seemed to just run with the most attention-grabbing news. So, whilst they hadn't even confirmed that it was the Leverkusen squad on that plane, they ran with the headline. All they needed was the fact that was the plane they were supposed to be on and that was that.
So, while my parents were out for dinner at the country club with a few of their friends one of them spotted the headline on the massive monitor over the bar. Anyone else would have lingered on it since they were outside and couldn't hear what the anchors were saying but not Joe. The man had watched both me and Emma grow up from the shadows as Dad's head of security.
So, he knew well where I was and the moment, he read the headline he jumped from his chair startling everyone. However, a couple moments later they all stood with disbelieving eyes in front of the bar listening as a reporter named Jason Cole talked about the tragedy that befell the Leverkusen squad and wunderkind Rakim Rex.
Given the fact some consider me the Messi/Ronaldo of the US and the following I've amassed there, any news relating to me causes various news programs to have an orgasm. After all, it is not that they don't want to report soccer news in the US, it's just that there hasn't been a Lebron James for the sport. Even with the mounting popularity of the MLS, it still can't compare with the rest of the world as the league is considered as real as WWE.
"Sigh I was so shocked when I saw the news, I almost fainted on the spot, and when I couldn't reach you, I started to think the worst," Mum explained not minding the fact some of her makeup was smudged from the tears she shed.
"I'm sorry I forgot to turn off the aeroplane mode until we reached the hotel. In fact, we only realized the plane crashed when a reporter asked a question" I quickly explained feeling a little guilty since I had realized I was still in aeroplane mode until I got to the hotel. Usually, I keep my phone on DND during bus rides to games, but I'd still get silent notifications of people trying to reach me.
"It's fine I'm glad your ok baby, I'll hand you over to your Dad he's been fidgeting since we got the news. If not for taking care of me he would have also been crying don't let his serious face fool you," She stated with a forced happy smile before directly handing the phone to Dad who had been standing behind her waiting for her to finish.
"How you doing son?" was the first thing he said to me as he looked at me through the screen. I simply nodded at him to give reassurance that I was ok, not willing to reiterate what I had already said since he likely heard it all.
"Dad if you worry much more you will go grey by the morning. I can't leave this world without letting you meet your granddaughter so don't worry," I replied to him trying to lighten the atmosphere as it's quite draining.
"We're not sleeping with each other, we just started dating in the summer after all plus we decided to wait till marriage. Honestly, it's for the best, and it gives us space to discover ourselves without complicating things. So go play some golf or eat some sweets from your secret stash before Mum notices," I quickly corrected already seeing the gears turn in his mind as he connected the dots.
"Won't notice what?" Mum suddenly asked popping up out of nowhere with her makeup fixed looking like she never cried.
"How much I love you, Mum gotta go May's on the other line," I stated before ending the FaceTime call and accepting May's FaceTime call who had been waiting for a while.
"Calm down May you don't have to fly over just to make sure I'm ok," I told her trying to stop her from packing her bags. From the moment we got on the call she had been frantically trying to pack her bag. She seemed dead set on coming over to make sure I was okay for herself.
"I thought I was supposed to be the one always getting into trouble in this relationship," she asked not heading my words as she continued to pack. To her words, I had no answer and could only silently watch her vent her pent-up emotions.
"Babe look at me we're all okay and that is a fact," I told her forcing her to stop and look at me with her still teary eyes. "The plane was faulty during last-minute checks and the club refused to fly with it even after the company fixed it. Those vultures must have used it to charter a different flight,"
"But really I'm fine don't fly just because of me you won't be able to spend so much time with the girls once their Uni gets into full swing," I reassured getting a deep exhale of relief that sounded like she just came up for air. "We've, just started our life together you're not getting rid of me so quickly."
"Hmm," she nodded not saying a word as she kept her gaze on me, and if she was here in person, she'd probably be clinging to me like a koala bear.
Just looking at her I knew she had been bawling her heart out after seeing the news. It probably only got worse when she couldn't reach me and unlike Mum who had Dad taking care of her, she had a group of girls who were barely adults. I love my sister and know how mature she is, but she was likely also crying. Speak it and it shall be so, the moment I thought about my sister's state she appeared also donning the puffy eyes.
"Emma why you crying I swear it wasn't me who broke your limited-edition shadowless holo Charizard. So, you guys can stop with the emo girl band look" I stated with a light smile as I looked at my better half stepping into the view of the camera. I could tell she tried to wipe away the tears, but it did little good.
"It's in your collection Dad already snitched on you," She replied with a pout not cracking a smile or showing an angry reaction. This was surprising since it was her prized possession which she had been looking for more than a year.
"What of course not how could it be in my collection Rakim is an honourable man after all," I stated with a straight smile knowing full well that said card was in my collection sitting pretty.
"Don't give me that look," I added quickly, trying to deflect from Emma's watery-eyed glare staring back at me through May's phone screen. She sniffled, dabbing at her nose with a tissue, clearly unconvinced by my attempt at humour.
"You think everything is a joke, Rakim," Emma said, her voice trembling but laced with her usual sass. "Do you even realize how close you came to—" She paused, her voice catching.
"I know," I said softly, cutting her off before she could spiral further. "Trust me, I've thought about it more than I probably should have. But you don't have to worry, okay? I'm here. I'm fine You gonna be stuck with this brother of yours for at least 80 more years."
Emma shook her head at my words "You better. If anything happens to you, who's going to stop Mum from turning me into her business-law-clone version of herself?" she complained not realizing that she would most likely take over Dad's business which is more cumbersome than Mom's fitness franchise.
May's voice chimed in, bringing the conversation back into focus. "Babe, I mean it. If you need me, I'll be there in a heartbeat. The girls can handle themselves for a few days. I'm serious."
I could see the worry etched across her features, and for a moment, the thought of having her here was tempting. But I shook my head. "May, you've got enough on your plate as it is. I promise I'm okay. You don't need to fly across Europe plus I'm not sure I can even get you tickets."
"I promise I'm good, I'll see you in a few days coach is calling for us," I told her trying to bring the call to an end, but it took a couple minutes of coaxing to finally get her to agree to end the call. It was almost like she was asking me to send a proof of life but didn't believe it and thus kept asking for a new one.