Chapter 58: System reward
After what felt like forever, when Sam wondered if he would ever get more rewards for achievements from the system, it finally lit up again.
DING!
~----~
[Congratulations! You have completed a G.O.A.T tier hidden mission: Ballon d’Or Award!]
[Congratulations! You have won your first Ballon d’Or Award!]
[You have been rewarded with +2 to all your Attributes!]
[Player Attributes:]
*Pace: 89
*Shot: 93
*Pass: 92
*Dribbling: 91
*Defending: 60
*Physicality: 86
*Stamina: 95
Overall Rating: 92
[Congratulations! Your overall rating has increased to 92]
...
[You have been rewarded with a New Passive Skill: Clutch Player]
>The term "clutch" describes a player who keeps a cool head and performs well under very high pressure, performing consistently well when there’s a lot on the line.
[Effect: When your team is losing or drawing a game, your probability of scoring a goal increases by 50% in the final 10 minutes of games, by 60% in the final 5 minutes, and by 80% after the 90th minute!]
[System Remark: Well done boy, you’re now close to being the Football God. Keep building your legacy.]
~----~
Sam stared in shock for a few minutes, before suddenly pumping a fist in excitement. "Yes!" He shouted for joy, only to quickly cover his mouth when Kayla stirred in the bed due to the sound that he made.
Sam couldn’t sleep again after that system notification.
He just kept staring at the system interface, memories flying through his head as he remembered how he got the system, and how maybe he would have been struggling in medical school by now if the system didn’t come by.
"How time flies," he muttered, smiling. "My life has changed so much since then, everything is better now".
He looked across as his sleeping wife. Staring at her beautiful face, he finally realized just how lucky and successful he was.
’Many dream to have a life like mine’. He thought.
In the end, unable to sleep anymore, he checked the time, confirming that it was 18 minutes past 10 before picking his iPhone and dialing a certain number.
{Outgoing call to Best Buddy...}
A few seconds later.
Click!
The call was answered and then an all-familiar voice filtered through the phone. "Ey, the Ballon d’Or winner can’t sleep?"
"Knock it off man," Sam stood up from the bed, wearing his slippers as he walked out of the room and into the living room. "But you’re right, I can’t sleep".
Of course, the person talking from the other side of the phone was Ian, Sam’s best friend. Suddenly finding himself in such an emotional mood this night after winning the first Ballon d’Or of his career, the first person that Sam thought to call was Ian, his best friend.
Ian kept quiet for a few seconds, then he teased. "I trust that our wifey gave you some special treatment this night, right?"
"Knock it off, fool!" Sam blushed and cursed.
He laughed. "I almost forgot just how foolish my bestfriend is. God, how on earth did we even meet?"
"Well," Ian said in a mischievous tone. "In case you forgot, we met in Primary 2 when you got yourself into a fight with 3 boys that were bigger than you".
"If I didn’t call the teacher, this ungrateful Ballon d’Or winner would have likely got the whooping of his life by those bullies, maybe even injuring your leg. So see? I’ve been protecting you since like forever".
"Plant". Sam said.
"Huh?"
"You’re a plant," he laughed.
"You’re back to that lame insult of yours? Pathetic". Ian mocked him.
And so, walking around his apartment, Sam revisited the good old days with his best friend. The primary school days when he was a weak and spineless but stubborn boy, the secondary school days, his even more reckless era.
Heck, in hindsight, if not for Ian, he would have found himself in so many situations while growing up that would have left him beaten and battered.
In the end, Sam said grudgingly. "Thanks man, you really saved my ass so many times while growing up".
Ian didn’t respond.
After a few seconds, awkward, Sam asked. "What?"
"That sounded so gay".
"Get out!" Sam cursed, suddenly regretting why he called the bastard while he was in such an emotional state.
After some time, Ian said. "Do you remember that time when scouts came to Abraka?"
Hearing that, Sam also became quiet. "La Masia scouts right?"
"Yeah," Ian said quietly. "After you failed that, I really thought your football career was over. To think you’ll make such a crazy comeback by taking the harder route, fighting your way to the top all the way down below from Enyimba FC".
On the other side, Ian scowled. "I really don’t want to say this man, it sounds so gay but I’m proud of you bro".
Sam laughed. "Now you’re sounding really gay bro. If my wife hears this, I don’t even know what she’d say".
Ian laughed.
He asked. "So, how does it feel to be a Ballon d’Or winner?"
"Hehe, it feels great, really, but I also feel like the full gaze of the world is now on me. The pressure, the expectations, all of it is higher than ever before".
"I feel like any bad touch I take on the pitch will be scrutinized".
"Then let them," Ian said. "Let them scrutinize, it doesn’t matter. What matters is I know what you can do with a football, Kayla does too, and we believe in you. That matters more than anything".
"Bro, if you like, don’t score a goal in the next 3 months, it changes nothing. You’re still the Samuel Moses, the Football God, you know what I mean?"
Sam laughed. "Now you’re making my head swell, but thanks man".
Sam sighed, then he added. "I won’t stop though. I promised, but the promise was not just to them, it was also for myself".
"I won’t stop till I become the best. Not just 1 Ballon d’Or, multiples. I won’t stop till I become the best in history, till I become the true Football God!"
"Now, that’s what I’m talking about, that’s the spirit!"
Sam smiled. He talked some more with Ian. In 2 years, Ian will finally graduate from medical school, becoming a certified doctor.
"Congrats in advance man".
With that, they finally ended the call.
After that call, Sam no longer felt under pressure. Rather, he felt free and light on his feet. "Ah, this feels great".
Just as he walked back to his room to sleep though, his iPhone beeped.
DING!
{NEW! Incoming Gmail message from Adidas...}