Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 58: Morning Grind

Chapter 58: Morning Grind

**24-08-2012**

"BRRRRR! BRRRRR!"

"BRRRRR! BRRRRR!"

The relentless ringing of the alarm clock in the morning cut through the stillness of the room. Its shrill sound grating against the quiet like nails on a chalkboard.

"..ugh.."

Benjamin stirred on the comfy bed, and his hand sluggishly reaching out from beneath the warmth of his blanket.

His fingers fumbled for a moment across the nightstand until they landed on the offending device, and he silenced it with a groggy press of a button.

Before he could even sigh in relief, another sound began...

"BEEP-BEEP!... BEEP-BEEP!..."

"BEEP-BEEP!... BEEP-BEEP!..."

A persistent buzzing accompanied by a familiar tune...

His phone.

Benjamin groaned, dragging the pillow over his head in a half-hearted attempt to block it out.

But the phone’s vibrations rattled against the wooden surface of the nightstand, demanding attention like an insistent child.

"Ugh... just stop, already" he mumbled into the mattress, his voice sounding muffled and laced with sleep.

But then, like a bolt of lightning, it hit him...

Morning... Training...

He shot up, nearly knocking his phone to the floor in his haste. His eyes which were still looking tired with sleep and unfocused, landed on the glowing screen.

"Yaaaawnn~"

The sound escaped him involuntarily, his jaw stretching wide as he blinked against the sunlight streaming through his window.

Picking up the phone, he squinted at the caller ID and It was Ashley.

His grogginess evaporated instantly and without a second thought, he swiped to answer. "Hello?" he said, and his voice sounding thick with sleep.

"Sleepyhead!" Ashley’s cheerful voice rang through the line, sounding sharp but playful. "Why haven’t you called me in days? Are you avoiding me or something?"

Benjamin rubbed his face, and the corners of his mouth twitching into a small, sheepish smile. "Sorry, Ash," he said, his tone genuinely apologetic. "It’s been a crazy few days since I joined the club."

"Between training, the match prep, and just yesterday, the late night flight back to Alkmaar, I barely had time to breathe. Didn’t even get much sleep last night."

There was a brief pause before Ashley responded, her voice softening. "Busy schedule, huh? Well, that’s true, I guess I can let it slide... this time. As your agent, the least you can do is to call and check up on me."

Benjamin chuckled lightly, leaning back against the headboard. "Thanks for your understanding, Your Highness," he teased, but his voice carried genuine gratitude.

"Don’t push it," she shot back, her mock-stern tone breaking into a laugh. "Anyway, do you have time to meet up today? There’s something important I want to talk to you about."

Benjamin glanced at the time on his phone. Training was in less than an hour. "I’ve got a training session this morning," he said thoughtfully. "But I should be free by noon. Can you pick me up outside the training grounds?"

"Perfect," Ashley replied brightly. "I’ll see you then. Don’t be late, sleepyhead."

Benjamin smiled as the line went dead, her teasing words still echoing in his ears. Tossing the phone onto the nightstand, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and stretched.

The day ahead promised to be long, but the sight of the MOTM Award on the shelf opposite him brought a smile to hos face. "It’s worth it" he muttered.

Rising to his feet, he padded toward the bathroom while shaking off the last remnants of sleep he felt. The warm stream of water from the shower jolted him further awake, washing away any lingering fatigue from the previous night.

By the time he stepped out, dressed up in his training kit, and ready for the day, his mind was already switching gears. Training first, and then meeting up with Ashley.

"Growwwl..."

Benjamin’s stomach rumbled as he made his way into the kitchen where the scent of freshly made sandwiches filled the air.

Leaning against the doorway, he spotted Adam perched at the small dining table with a half-eaten sandwich in one hand and his phone in the other.

"Morning, mate," Adam greeted, glancing up briefly before taking another bite. Crumbs clung to the corners of his mouth, which he wiped away with the back of his hand.

"Morning," Benjamin replied, walking over to the fridge. He opened it and grabbed a bottle of lemon water, the cool glass sweating in his palm

After unscrewing the cap, he tilted his head back and drank deeply, the tangy liquid jolting his senses awake.

Adam lowered his sandwich, watching Benjamin with mock horror. "Seriously, lemon water? First thing in the morning?" He shook his head in exaggerated disappointment. "How do you even stomach something so bitter and sour? It’s like punishing yourself before the day even starts."

Benjamin smirked, lowering the bottle. "At least it tastes better than whatever sad excuse for sandwiches you’ve whipped up over there." He nodded toward Adam’s plate, where unevenly cut triangles sat, their fillings spilling out messily.

Adam feigned offense, clutching his chest dramatically. "Oi! These are culinary masterpieces, thank you very much."

"Sure they are," Benjamin shot back, walking over to the table. He grabbed one of the sandwiches Adam offered, inspecting it with mock skepticism. "Looks like it was put together by a blindfolded toddler."

Adam laughed, tossing a napkin at him. "Just eat it, you clown."

Benjamin took a bite and chewed thoughtfully. It wasn’t... that terrible, but he wouldn’t be asking Adam for recipes anytime soon. He finished quickly, downing the rest of his lemon water to wash it down.

As Benjamin grabbed his bag from the corner, Adam leaned back in his chair with his phone in hand. "I’ll catch up with you later," Adam said casually. "Got a few things to sort out before I head to training."

Benjamin nodded. "Alright, see you there." He adjusted the strap of his bag and headed for the door.

Stepping outside, the cool morning air hit him, a refreshing change from the warmth of the apartment.

As he walked toward the AFAS Training Complex, the streets of Alkmaar buzzed with a quiet energy as cyclists zipped by, and a few early risers strolled along the sidewalks.

Benjamin inhaled deeply, his breath misting in the cool air and his legs carried him forward. It was another day, another step in his journey to greatness, and he intended to make every moment count.