God Of football

Chapter 139: Birthday Boy

The soft hum of the car engine came to a halt, and Izan stepped out, his eyes immediately drawn to the familiar scene of home.

The air smelled fresh, with a hint of orange blossoms carried by the coastal breeze—a welcome change from the sterile atmosphere of the clinic he had been confined to the whole day.

As he pushed the gate open, the house stood eerily quiet. No sound of the television, no chatter or laughter that usually spilled from within.

Izan’s chest tightened. He expected his mother, Komi, to be waiting for him with open arms, and his younger sister, Hori, to be bouncing around with her endless energy. But instead, silence greeted him.

He stepped inside, calling out, ”Mom? Hori? I’m home!” His voice echoed through the stillness. The living room was impeccably tidy, the faint aroma of lavender from the diffusers lingering in the air.

A sense of unease crept in. He dropped his duffel bag by the couch and moved from room to room, his heart sinking with every unanswered call.

Izan sat down, running a hand through his dark hair. The rehab had been mentally and physically draining, and now this?

His mind wandered to worst-case scenarios, but he quickly shook them off. His mother and sister were not the type to leave without a word.

Just as he contemplated calling them, the front door creaked open behind him. Izan whipped around, and before he could utter a word, a loud chorus erupted.

”Surprise!”

He blinked, stunned. There they were—his mom and Hori, standing in the doorway with wide grins on their faces.

Behind them, a wave of familiar faces poured into the house, carrying balloons, decorations, and gifts.

”Happy birthday, Izan!” Komi beamed, pulling him into a tight hug. Her warm embrace melted away the tension in his chest.

Hori jumped up and down, clutching a cake box. ”You really thought we forgot, didn’t you?” she teased, her playful grin lighting up the room.

”I... I wasn’t sure what was happening,” Izan admitted, laughing as he ruffled her hair.

The living room quickly transformed into a festive space. Streamers were hung, the table was laden with food, and a giant ”Happy Birthday” banner was draped across the wall.

Izan’s heart swelled as he noticed a few of his teammates from Valencia’s youth and senior teams mingling, their easy camaraderie making the house feel alive.

”Izan!” Wissam, one of his youth teammates, called out, handing him a soda. ”Happy birthday bro. How are you feeling?”

”Better than ever,” Izan replied, his smile widening as he fist-bumped Wissam

The room buzzed with laughter and chatter, but the celebrations reached a new height when Komi turned on the television and inserted a USB drive. ”We have something special for you,” she said, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

The screen flickered to life, and Izan’s jaw dropped. A prerecorded message played, and the face of Pedri, the Barcelona midfielder, appeared.

”Hey, Izan! Happy birthday, Hernandez. I was looking forward to seeing you at the camp but I guess it’ll have to wait. Keep pushing, and we’ll see you back on the pitch soon!”

Before Izan could fully process it, another clip started this time featuring Dani Olmo. ”Feliz cumpleaños, Izan! Stay strong, and remember, the best is yet to come. We’re all rooting for you!”

His teammates erupted into cheers, patting Izan on the back as he sat there, overwhelmed.

”Wow,” he managed, his voice thick with emotion. ”This is... incredible.”

As the night wore on, the laughter grew louder, and the house was filled with the warmth of friendship and family. Izan thought it couldn’t get any better until the doorbell rang.

”I’ll get it,” he said, rising from his spot.

He opened the door to find Olivia and Miranda standing there. Olivia, her green eyes sparkling, broke into a grin.

”Happy birthday, Izan!” she said, throwing her arms around him in a hug. She held the hug for a while before finally breaking off.

Izan felt his cheeks heat up, and before he could respond, Olivia leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

”Glad to see you’re doing better,” Miranda added with a soft smile while she entered.

The room buzzed with renewed excitement as Olivia and Miranda joined the party. Hori, ever the social butterfly, wasted no time pulling them into the group.

The night carried on with stories, games, and music. Izan found himself surrounded by the people who mattered most—his family, his friends, and even those who had supported him from afar.

The journey back to full fitness was still ahead, but in that moment, with laughter ringing in his ears and the warmth of Olivia’s presence beside him, Izan felt unstoppable.

As the clock struck midnight, Komi brought out the cake, its candles casting a soft glow on Izan’s face.

”Are you sure we can’t hit his handsome face with this cake? The TikTok stars all do it,” Pietro said, eliciting laughs from all around.

Izan shook his head at Pietro’s antics before returning his gaze to the cake. He closed his eyes and made a wish before blowing them out, the room erupting into cheers once more.

Looking around, Izan realized this wasn’t just a birthday celebration. It was a reminder of how far he’d come and how many people believed in him. His heart swelled with gratitude as he raised his glass for a toast.

”To family, friends, and football,” he said, his voice steady and filled with hope.

The room echoed his sentiment, glasses clinking in unison. As the night wore on, Izan knew this was a moment he’d carry with him, both on and off the pitch.

As the last guests filtered out and the house grew quiet once again, Izan collapsed onto the couch, a satisfied smile on his face. Hori sat beside him, scrolling through her phone while Komi tidied up the kitchen.

”You should post the pictures, Izan,” Hori said, nudging him with her elbow. ”The world deserves to see how epic your birthday was.”

Izan chuckled, reaching for his phone. He scrolled through the photos taken throughout the night—shots of his teammates laughing, the cake before it was cut, Olivia kissing his cheek while Miranda grinned beside them, and even a video of everyone singing ”Happy Birthday” in a chaotic mix of Spanish and English.

He selected a few of his favourite shots and added a caption:

”An unforgettable birthday Surrounded by family, friends, and love. Thank you to everyone who made this day special—especially to those who sent messages from afar. Ready for the next chapter! #Grateful #Family #BirthdayGoals”

Within minutes of posting on Instagram and Twitter, the notifications began flooding in. Izan’s followers—a mix of fans, aspiring footballers, and curious onlookers—were quick to react.

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@ValenciaFan94: ”Our future star is back! Can’t wait to see you on the pitch again, Izan!”

@Izan’smommy: I wanna be that girl so bad. I’ve seen her in his pictures a few times but who is she”

@FootyLover22: ”The Pedri and Olmo messages though 👀 Guess they’re friends!”

@Hori Hernandez (Hori’s account): ”You’re welcome for the cake and decorations, big bro #BestSisterAward”

@SpanishNTUpdates: ”Looks like the future of Spanish football had a great day! Happy birthday, Izan! 🇪🇸⚽”

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The reactions weren’t limited to just fans. Some of his fellow players chimed in as well:

Pedri (via Instagram Stories): ”Looking sharp, Izan! Hope you saved me some cake 🎂🔥 #FutureLegend”

Dani Olmo (commenting on the post): ”Glad you liked the video! Next year, we’re celebrating on the pitch 💪⚽”

Mateo Valencia (youth teammate): ”Bro, that was the best party ever. Thanks for having us!”

The post quickly gained traction, garnering thousands of likes and comments within the hour. Even sports media outlets picked up on it, with captions like:

”Izan celebrates his birthday in style as he nears full recovery.”

”The rising star of Spanish football shares a glimpse of his life off the pitch.”

”Fans can’t get enough of Izan and his sweet moments during his birthday bash.”

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Back at home, Izan couldn’t stop grinning as he read the comments. Some were funny, others heartfelt, but all of them reminded him how much support he had.

”You’re trending, you know,” Hori teased, showing him a screenshot of his name on the trending list.

”Great,” Izan said with a laugh. ”No pressure or anything.”

As he leaned back, Komi walked over, a cup of tea in hand. ”It’s good to see you smiling again,” she said softly. ”You’ve worked so hard, Izan. Don’t forget to enjoy moments like these.”

He nodded, her words sinking in. The road ahead was still long, but for the first time in months, Izan felt ready.

Not just for the challenges on the pitch, but for the life he wanted to build beyond it.

As the notifications continued to pour in, he set his phone aside, his heart full. It had been a perfect day, and he couldn’t have wished for more.

”What are you thinking about”a feminine voice said from behind as Izan lay on the couch. Izan smiled a bit before turning to face her.

”Olivia” he said as the both stared at each other.

A/n: Okay guys. Double chapter day. I know the romance hasn’t been that much but it is because I want to write in good conscience. [No Diddy Machinations here] I will let it slowly steep into the story so wait a bit. LOVE YA’LL AND ANOTHER MERRY CHRISTMAS