Chapter 48 : Aftermath

Nico lay in bed, the soft glow of his phone lighting up the dark room. His body was still buzzing from the high of the final, but he couldn't stop replaying the match in his mind. He unlocked his phone and opened Instagram, his notifications already flooded. Among them, a post from ESPN caught his eye — an edited video of his stunning 97th-minute screamer. The clip showed him unleashing the perfect strike, sending the ball into the back of the net, and then the camera followed him as he sprinted towards the Espanyol crowd, his teammates mobbing him in celebration, the weight of the moment finally hitting him.

The caption read:"A hero. Nico Cryuff scores a last-minute screamer to seal Espanyol's place in history. What a finish. What a player. 👏"

As the video played, Nico smiled at the flood of comments below. @BarcaFan had posted:"You may be on loan, but damn… you've got Barca blood in you. What a goal, Nico! 🔥"

Then there was @Espanyol_Official, tagging the club in their comment:"Another legend in the making. This kid is something else! Proud to have you with us, Nico! 👑"

Other posts flooded in, including a message from @Messi:"Incredible, Nico. The whole world is watching. Keep shining."

@SergioRamos had also commented:"You've got that fire. You don't wait for moments to come to you — you make them. Huge goal, respect."

He scrolled a bit more and found @AitanaBonmati, her comment glowing with pride:"You made history today. So proud of you, Nico. Keep going, and let's celebrate soon. 💙"

Nico paused, his heart warming. He'd always been grounded, but moments like these reminded him of how much love and support surrounded him. It was overwhelming but humbling. The weight of the last-minute goal, the drama of it all — he couldn't believe it had already gone viral.

But the one comment that made him stop for a second was from @GerardPique:"I'll be watching. Respect for you, Nico. I hope you can keep up this form. 🔥"

The last one that stood out was from @SergioBusquets:"A hell of a strike. Just keep being yourself."

Nico smiled at the love, but also, the reminder that the road ahead was still long. There was still so much to prove, so many challenges to face, but for now, he allowed himself to bask in the joy of that incredible moment.

A few more posts later, he spotted @AitanaBonmati's newest post — a picture of them together, holding the Copa del Rey trophy. It was followed by a message:"What a night, what a performance. To the future. 💫 #Proud"

He replied with a simple heart emoji. 

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Nico smiled softly as he scrolled through his camera roll, picking out the perfect moments to share with the world. He started with a photo of him and his teammates, laughing, arms draped around each other, a snapshot from their night out. Then, he found the one from the match — the moment after he scored his 97th-minute screamer, his teammates lifting him off the ground in pure joy, all of them celebrating together like a family.

Finally, he chose the picture from the Copa del Rey final — the one where he stood with his teammates, the trophy raised high, their faces glowing with pride and excitement. The perfect end to a perfect season.

He added them all to a single post and took a deep breath before typing the caption:

"Thank you, Espanyol. I'll forever be grateful for the memories, the love, and the support. This half season has been incredible. On to bigger things. With love, Nico."

He paused for a moment before hitting "Post," feeling the weight of his words. As soon as it was up, the likes and comments started flooding in.

@Espanyol_Official commented: "Thank you for everything, Nico. We're all proud of you. See you soon, legend."

@DavidLopez21 commented next: "One of the best. We've been lucky to have you this season. You deserve everything coming your way, Nico. 🔥"

@FelipeCaicedo11 dropped a comment: "To the kid who changed everything for us this season, much respect. Keep shining, brother. ⚡️"

@VictorSanchez_6 wrote: "An absolute pleasure playing with you, Nico. You've earned everything. Stay humble. 👏"

@JaviLópez_9 added: "You're going to be a legend. This club won't forget what you've done. Proud to have shared the field with you. 💪"

As he looked through all the comments, he felt a rush of gratitude. Espanyol had given him a platform to showcase his talent, and in return, they had earned his loyalty. Even though his loan spell was over, he would never forget the bond he shared with the club and his teammates.

He leaned back in his bed, the world outside feeling a little quieter now. The excitement from the final had passed, but the journey was far from over. His future was bright, and no matter what came next, he knew one thing for sure — he'd always remember this chapter.

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Three days after the final, Nico woke up and went through his usual routine. The adrenaline from the match had finally faded, and for the first time in a while, he didn't have anything pressing on his schedule. After breakfast with his grandparents, he found himself with some rare free time, a luxury he hadn't had in ages. 

He picked up his phone, scrolling absentmindedly, before tapping on Aitana's name and calling her. It rang for a few moments before she picked up, her voice light and familiar.

"Hey," Nico said, his voice warm. "I was thinking... we've been running around like crazy lately, haven't we? How about we take a day off? Go to the beach?"

Aitana chuckled softly. "A day off? That sounds amazing. I feel like we haven't had a proper break since... forever."

"I know, right? It's been all football and schedules. Let's just forget about all of it for a while. I think we could both use some downtime," Nico said, settling back against the couch.

"I'm in. The weather's nice, and I've been dying for some fresh air. Let me just finish up a few things, and I'll meet you."

Nico smiled to himself. "Perfect. I'll pick you up in an hour?"

"Sounds good to me," she replied. "I'll see you then."

As Nico ended the call, he felt a sense of relief. It wasn't often they got to spend time away from their demanding careers. He had spent months on the move—between games, media obligations, and the whirlwind of becoming YSL's ambassador—he hadn't had a moment to just relax and enjoy life with Aitana. 

He changed into something more casual, grabbed his keys, and left his apartment. He looked forward to the beach, but more than anything, he looked forward to the simplicity of spending the day with her, away from the cameras, the fans, and the expectations.

When he arrived at Aitana's place, he noticed her standing outside, a relaxed smile on her face. She was dressed casually, and it felt like the perfect start to a much-needed break.

"Hey, beautiful," Nico greeted her, his voice soft.

Aitana raised an eyebrow and playfully smirked. "Took you long enough. Were you waiting for the perfect moment?"

"I was... but it was worth it. You look amazing," he said, looking at her with a soft admiration.

She laughed, shaking her head. "Flattery won't get you everywhere, you know?"

Nico grinned, offering her a hand. "Come on, let's get out of here before I start saying something really cheesy."

She took his hand with a smile. "Too late, you're already doing it."

They drove to the beach in comfortable silence, each of them lost in their thoughts. The air felt different today—relaxed, almost like the world had slowed down just for them.

As they arrived, they made their way toward the water, shoes in hand, with Aitana asking, "So, what's the first thing we do?"

Nico glanced at the horizon, the waves crashing gently against the shore. "Honestly, I think we just enjoy the moment. No plans, no distractions. Just us."

"Sounds perfect," Aitana agreed, squeezing his hand. 

They walked along the beach, the sea breeze tousling their hair, and for the first time in what felt like forever, the weight of the world felt a little lighter.

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As Nico and Aitana walked along the shore, their hands intertwined, the rhythmic sound of the waves crashing against the sand created a soothing backdrop to their conversation. The air was fresh and warm, and the world felt distant, almost unreal. They were completely in the moment, enjoying the simplicity of being together.

As they passed a group of people playing beach volleyball, Nico's eyes lit up. He had always loved sports, and the spontaneous energy of a game was something he couldn't resist. Glancing over at Aitana, he grinned. "What do you think? Want to join in?"

Aitana raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "You mean, you want to show off your skills in something other than football?"

Nico chuckled. "You know I'm competitive, right?"

"Oh, I know," she teased, "But you're on your own if you end up breaking something."

With that, Nico walked over to the group of players, who were in the middle of a fast-paced game. As soon as they saw him approach, there was a collective pause. Nico's signature green eyes and unmistakable features gave him away instantly. The group exchanged surprised glances before one of the players, a young man with a broad smile, called out, "Wait a minute… are you Nico Cryuff?"

Nico smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, that's me. I was wondering if you guys would mind if we joined in for a game?"

The players looked at each other, clearly starstruck, before the same guy nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! We'd love to have you play with us! But are you sure you want to—uh, with your football skills and all?"

Nico smirked, glancing back at Aitana. "I think we can handle it. Right, Aitana?"

She shrugged, playing along with a confident grin. "If you can keep up, sure."

The players were more than happy to have them join in, and Nico quickly exchanged a few friendly words with the group, introducing Aitana to them. They all seemed to be having a great time, laughing and getting ready to play. 

With the game starting, Nico and Aitana found themselves on opposite sides. Nico was a little more competitive than Aitana expected, diving to save every ball that came his way, while Aitana had her own moments of athleticism, gliding across the sand with impressive agility. She had a natural grace about her, and Nico found himself watching her play with a mix of admiration and amusement.

Every time he scored a point, he shot a playful glance at Aitana, who would roll her eyes but secretly cheer him on. 

"You're showing off," she teased as they switched sides after each round.

Nico smirked, his competitive edge never far from the surface. "I'm just getting warmed up, princess. You might want to step up your game."

"You wish," she laughed, quickly getting into position for the next round.

The game continued with laughter and competitive banter. The group was more than happy to have two talented players on their team, and by the end, both Nico and Aitana were covered in sand but grinning ear to ear. The match had become more about fun than winning, and it was the kind of carefree moment they both needed after the intensity of their respective careers.

As they walked back towards their towels, Nico wiped the sweat from his brow. "Not bad, huh?" he asked, looking at Aitana.

She shrugged, acting nonchalant but clearly proud. "You weren't the only one who could pull off some moves."

"Yeah, but I think I was the MVP," Nico teased, winking at her.

Aitana rolled her eyes dramatically. "In your dreams."

He laughed, leaning in to nudge her gently. "You sure you want to challenge me again?"

Aitana just smiled and shook her head, knowing that this was the kind of day they both needed. Simple, fun, and full of moments that made life feel a little more lighthearted.

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