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#More than 10 Chapter ahead on my : /TrikoRex
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After a nerve-wracking victory that had propelled Germany into the quarterfinals of the Under-20 World Cup, the team found itself in Kraków, gearing up for the next challenge. Amid the rigorous training schedules and tactical briefings, the team was granted a much-needed day off allowing them to recharge and refocus. Most players decided to spend it with their family members who had travelled to support them or spend the day relaxing in the Hilton hotels well ness suit.
The likes of Kevin Schade, Lenn Jastremski, and Wirtz chose to go out and conquer the city, but Rakim could easily tell they were up to no good. He didn't bother with them though as he had something more important to do which was to spend quality time with his girlfriend. She had been in the same city as him, but he had barely seen her due to the team's restrictions.
He couldn't clock out at the end of the day like in Leverkusen and had to live with the rest of the team. That's why when the break was announced he immediately scheduled something with May. Just like their last date in Bydgoszcz, they started the day in a quaint little cafe where they enjoyed some local pastries and coffee.
In Rakim's case, he only had coffee with the occasional borrowing of Mays cheesecake whenever an opportunity presented itself. As an athlete, his diet has been something he has worked hard to maintain but his only vice was cakes. For some reason despite hating the taste of a chocolate bar, he couldn't say no to a slice.
Their relationship hadn't really changed much since they started dating, the only difference was that their feelings were no longer unspoken. They were still each other's best friends talking about everything and anything no matter how little and stupid. Honesty had become the foundation of their relationship as May was the only other person outside his family who could call his BS.
That is why he refrained from bragging just in case she would decide to call him on his BS and prove it. Sometimes it worked out through sheer luck but more often than not he'd only embarrass himself. His ego wouldn't let him back down even when exposed leading to some comical life lessons growing up.
At this very moment, the two could be seen seated in the corner of a cafe deeply intertwined in a conversation. Rakim wore a simple white 2Pac T-shirt paired with faded jeans and clean white Adidas sneakers, his look complete with a small gold pendant and his gold-tipped dreads tied in a messy bun. May wore waist-high navy-blue jeans, a crisp white blouse that hung loosely over her frame, and red Converse sneakers that added a pop of colour to her outfit.
Her peach blond hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, highlighting her dark green eyes and the subtle makeup that accentuated her features. "You know I almost got into a fight with two of your legions of female fans over a street artist fan painting of you," May said in indignation as she took the last bite of her caramel cheesecake.
"That bitch tried to justify stealing the picture I asked the guy to draw for me by saying she'll use it to propose to you. In front of me your girlfriend, can you believe the nerve," She questioned causing Rakim to subconsciously nod only to quickly shake it in the end.
"The nerve," Was the only thing he could muster saying as she continued detailing how she almost got into a fistfight with 3 girls over his kit that had been sullied by a street artist. "Wait a minute when did you stea- ahem borrow one of my kits?"
"That's not important, since I already told you I might as well show you my surprise right now." She exclaimed in annoyance and reluctance as if she wasn't the one who had leaked her surprise without prompt.
Reaching out her phone she pulled out a picture of his white German national team kit. On the back, the black 22 was encased in golden colour as the street artist had drawn highlights of his most famous goals. Looking at it Rakim could easily tell how much effort May herself had put in as some of the goals used were not the most famous but ones that meant the most to him.
The centre one was a drawing of him with his arms spread wide dressed in a red oak Jersey reminding him of his first and only state cup. Smiling widely at the memory, Rakim leaned closer to inspect the detail, his heart warming at the thoughtfulness of her gift. "May, this is amazing. Thank you,"
She grinned, pleased with his reaction. "I wanted you to have something to remember this tournament other than the gold medal. Plus, a reminder of how far you have come won't hurt right."
Seeing her bright smile Rakim reached across the table to squeeze her hand and said, "Thank you, babe. This means a lot to me. More than any trophy." Smiling he placed a short kiss on her cheek before proceeding to check out her present on her phone screen already yearning for the real thing.
Their day continued with a stroll around Kraków, exploring the picturesque streets and enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of the city. They stopped at various street vendors, trying different snacks and laughing at each other's reactions to the unfamiliar tastes. They had both been here for the better half of a month, but their pallet still hadn't adjusted to the Polish cuisine.
Rakim, despite his strict diet, allowed himself the freedom to indulge a little, sharing bites of May's zapiekanka and oscypek much to the latter's annoyance. She would try to get him to buy his own share only for him to refuse to spout some nonsense about his diet only to take a bit out of Her's. They visited the Kraków castle and Kraków Mound as they enjoyed the scenic sights and learned a little about the city's history.
As the afternoon faded into early evening, they decided to cap their day off by catching the England vs Panama match at the Tychy City Stadium. Despite their best intentions, time slipped away as they wandered through the historic streets of Kraków, enjoying each other's company.
Finally, realizing they were running late, Rakim and May hurried to the Tychy City Stadium. England would be the last team to play their round of 16 today and since it happened to be in the city they had decided to finish their date here. As they approached the stadium, the subdued noise puzzled them it was unusual for this competition which had been hyped up and quite a lot of fans had gotten involved in supporting their teams.
They rushed through the gates, their tickets scanned in a blur, and as they emerged into the stands, they were met with an unusual silence hanging over the stadium. The scoreboard told the story before they even found their seats: England 3, Panama 0. The game had clearly been one-sided, and they had missed the flurry of goals that had put England firmly in control.
Settling into their seats, Rakim and May took in the scene. The stadium, though filled with fans, had a subdued atmosphere as the English team expertly controlled the game, their dominance apparent. On the field, the English players moved the ball with ease, their confidence unshaken as they toyed with the Panamanian team's attempts to rally a comeback. The scary thing is that they had barely played 15 minutes into the match and it was already pretty much over.