The Next Big Thing

Walking into the iconic stadium, a place known to millions and beloved by just as many, was a young man who carried an undeniable energy in his steps. There was something almost infectious about the way he moved, a light bounce in his stride, a barely contained excitement radiating from him. Despite the crisp morning air biting at his skin, David hardly seemed to notice. The cold was inconsequential to him today—his focus was elsewhere. His eyes were locked on the grand structure ahead, the colossal arena that had been the setting for so many legendary moments. And now, it was about to become his stage.

Manchester’s infamous cold was no longer a challenge to him. After weeks in the city, his body had acclimatized to the relentless chill. Compared to Southampton, where he had spent most of his youth, this place was far colder, but after months at Derby, he had already adjusted. The transition had been smooth—both Manchester and Derby shared similar weather patterns, though the sheer frequency of rain in Manchester was something else entirely. According to Zoey, things were only going to get worse. October, November, and December were notorious for bringing near-constant downpours, but David wasn’t fazed. He had already played in the rain countless times before, and besides, apart from training and matches, he had little reason to be outside. It wasn’t as though there were many opportunities for that anyway, not with COVID-19 still raging on and restricting movement.

Stepping into the stadium, he was immediately greeted by one of the security guards stationed at the entrance. The man, who had once mistaken him for an overenthusiastic fan and denied him entry on his first visit, had since warmed up to him. Over time, the two had built an unexpected camaraderie, and today, for the first time, David noticed something different—the guard was smiling.

"What’s got you grinning this early?" David asked, raising a curious brow.

The guard, still grinning, shot the question right back at him. "Same as you—why are you smiling?"

David chuckled. "Because the season is about to start! New season, new players, new everything. I can’t wait!" His excitement was palpable as he added, "And also, I came in really early today. Thought I’d impress the coach, you know? Maybe he sees me training this early and thinks, ’Wow, this guy was the first player to show up—he’s serious about his future.’" He laughed at his own plan, proud that his arrangement with Prakesh, his ever-reliable driver, had allowed him to arrive at the stadium by 5 a.m. This had to make him the first player here. There was no way anyone else had arrived earlier.

Or so he thought.

"Oooh, I hate to break it to you, kid," the guard said with a teasing glint in his eyes, "but you’re not the first one here. Someone came in about twenty minutes ago."

David blinked, surprised. 5:30 in the morning? Who on earth had arrived this early? Training wasn’t scheduled to start until 8 a.m. Who was so eager that they’d shown up even before him?

"Who is it?" David asked, curiosity piqued.

The guard merely chuckled, his smile widening. "The reason I’m smiling."