Chapter 5 Change

Thomas stared at the door for a moment after opening it.

Ariana stood awkwardly in the hallway, still wearing her faded hoodie over her work uniform. Her hair looked slightly damp from the rain outside.

“You stopped ordering pizza,” she repeated.

Thomas laughed then looked away briefly before stepping aside.

“…Come in.”

Ariana blinked in surprise.

Then quickly tried to act normal.

“Oh. Okay.”

She stepped inside carefully.

The first thing she noticed was the smell.

Or rather—

the lack of one.

The apartment no longer smelled like stale food and old soda.

The second thing she noticed was the floor.

Clean.

Mostly.

The pizza boxes were gone. The clothes had been folded onto the couch. Even the curtains were open slightly, letting the city lights spill into the room.

Thomas scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

“It’s still messy.”

Ariana looked around again.

Compared to before, it looked like an entirely different place.

Then her eyes drifted toward the old poster on the wall.

THE GREATEST ROOKIE BORN.

Below it, the empty trophy cabinet remained untouched.

But now it looked less depressing.

Less abandoned.

“You cleaned,” Ariana said quietly.

Thomas shrugged. “Got tired of living in a dump.”

Ariana smiled slightly before noticing the open storage box beside the couch.

Old football boots rested inside.

Training gear.

A faded kit.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Thomas noticed immediately.

“…I found my old stuff.”

Ariana looked back at him slowly.

Neither of them spoke for a second.

Then Thomas exhaled quietly and sat down on the couch.

“I’m thinking about meeting someone tomorrow.”

Ariana sat carefully across from him.

“Who?”

“Mandla.”

Her expression changed immediately.

“Your old agent?”

Thomas nodded.

“He runs a management company now.”

Ariana leaned forward slightly. “So you’re serious?”

Thomas stayed silent for a moment before answering.

“…I think I want to try again.”

The words sounded uncertain.

Careful.

Like he still wasn’t fully convinced himself.

“If I can’t play professionally…” he continued quietly, “then I’ll start from scratch. Lower divisions. Trials. Whatever I can get.”

Ariana stared at him.

Then slowly smiled.

Not excited.

Not shocked.

Just genuinely happy.

“You really mean it.”

Thomas looked away awkwardly. “Don’t make it dramatic.”

“It IS dramatic,” Ariana argued immediately. “You disappeared for five years.”

Thomas groaned quietly. “When you say it out loud, it sounds worse.”

“It is worse.”

Despite himself, Thomas laughed softly.

The sound surprised both of them.

Ariana grinned triumphantly. “There it is again.”

“Don’t ruin it.”

She laughed before her attention drifted toward the television.

Football highlights played silently on the screen.

One team in particular flashed across the table standings.

20th — Fenland Falcons.

Ariana pointed immediately.

“Oh, they’re terrible.”

Thomas glanced toward the screen. “…Fenland Falcons?”

“They’re dead last.”

The league table showed it clearly.

13 games played.

0 wins.

4 draws.

9 losses.

Thomas frowned slightly. “That’s impressively bad.”

Ariana snorted.

“They’re actually better than the table says.”

Thomas looked at her curiously.

That tone in her voice was familiar now.

Football analysis mode.

“Their midfield progression is decent,” Ariana explained while leaning forward. “But their manager is stubborn and clueless.”

Thomas raised an eyebrow. “Strong words.”

“I’m right,” she replied confidently. “They sold half their good players because of financial problems, so now the squad has no balance.”

Thomas listened quietly while she continued.

“Their defensive line drops too deep, their press timing is awful, and nobody covers the half-spaces properly.”

Thomas blinked once.

Then slowly leaned back against the couch.

“…You actually watch Fenland Falcons matches?”

Ariana looked offended immediately.

“I watch everybody.”

“Why?”

“How else am I supposed to know football?”

Thomas shook his head in disbelief while Ariana continued ranting.

“They panic every time they lose possession. The players clearly don’t trust the system anymore.”

She folded her arms confidently.

“Honestly, I could probably do a better job than their manager.”

Thomas stared at her for a second before laughing again.

This time louder.

Real.

Uncontrolled.

Ariana paused mid-rant and blinked.

“You laugh a lot more now.”

The words slipped out casually.

But Thomas suddenly became quieter.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then his eyes drifted toward the old boots inside the storage box.

“…Maybe.”

Outside, rain continued tapping softly against the apartment windows while the television quietly displayed Fenland Falcons sitting at the bottom of the league.

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