When Sam promised Kayla a honeymoon worthy of their whirlwind life, he meant it.
With Hansi Flink granting him an extended break after his exhausting World Cup run, and a long season with club, Sam finally had the luxury of time, not just for rest, but for love.
He was ready to spend it wisely.
It was time for romance around the world.
Their first stop was the Maldives, a paradise of crystal-clear waters and overwater villas.
Sam and Kayla spent mornings diving with schools of tropical fish, afternoons on secluded beaches, and nights under starlit skies where the only sound was the ocean whispering against the shore.
Kayla twirled barefoot in the sand one evening, laughing as Sam chased her with a playful grin.
"This," she said breathlessly, "this is what I imagined when we said 'I do'".
Sam kissed her softly, pulling her into a quiet embrace. "And this is just the start. I'll make sure you always cherish the day you said 'I do'".
From there, they swept through Paris, dining atop the Eiffel Tower, Sam serenading her in a candlelit bistro as sweet musicians played soft jazz.
In Venice, they floated through moonlit canals, Sam jokingly rowing their gondola until he almost tipped them into the water.
They ventured into Santorini, exploring whitewashed villages and azure-domed chapels, watching sunsets that painted the sky like brushstrokes from heaven itself.
And finally, they stood before the mighty Victoria Falls in Zambia, where mist drenched their faces and rainbows crowned the roaring cascade.
Every stop was Kayla's dream, her fantasies made reality.
Sam stopped at nothing to indulge her fantasies, making this vacation one of the most memorable if not the most memorable for her.
She swam with dolphins, attended a masquerade ball in Venice, learned flamenco in Seville, and even parasailed high above Bora Bora while Sam filmed her screaming and laughing in equal measure.
This was Kayla's fantasy, but it was also Sam's dream.
Together with the love of his life, going on vacations, riding boats, enjoying the peace, calm, and ambience of romance, it was everything that he dreamed of as a teenager.
'I love love man'. He thought.
At each destination, Sam spoiled her with quiet acts of devotion; handwritten notes slipped under her pillow, surprise moonlit picnics, serenades with street musicians, and slow dances in empty plazas.
"This is what life with you should feel like," Kayla said one night as they watched lanterns drift over a Thai river.
Sam kissed her hand gently. "It will," he promised. "Every offseason, every break, we'll do this".
"You gave up a lot to stand beside me. You deserve the world".
…
Their final night of the honeymoon was spent on a quiet balcony overlooking the Mediterranean.
That night, they had a conversation.
Leaning on his shoulder, Kayla admired the starlit horizon, and then softly asked. "Have you ever thought of making a baby?"
Hearing that question, Sam flinched in surprise.
Looking at his wife once, he chuckled. "Of course, we're married".
Kayla laughed softly. "So?"
"Growing up, I didn't really have a lot of children around, just my sister. But I saw enough of children from my neighbors".
He smiled. "Children are heavenly. They're blessings, but they can be…," he scratched his head. "You know,"
"Know what?" Kayla subtly looked at his face.
"I mean, it's just crazy, argh…," he groaned. "Ok, I have no excuse".
He relaxed on the balcony, focusing on the horizon. "I want to have children, but not now. The truth is I never envisioned myself getting married this early".
"At this stage, I just want to enjoy my career and my wife. I want to feel the romance," he smiled. "I want to drown in it enough before a baby comes".
Kayla silently looked at him.
Sam chuckled. "I know that look on your face. You know, once a baby comes, your love will be divided between the both of us. I want to enjoy all of you for now".
Kayla just stared at him.
In the end, she scoffed and leaned back on his shoulder. A few seconds later, she spoke.
"What of when you resume your career? When the season starts and all your attention returns to football? What will I do?"
"I don't want to be a lonely housewife".
"When you're not there, at least, I want something that'll remind me of you there". Saying that, a smile slowly crept up her face. "Have you ever imagined a mini Sam running around the house?"
Sam looked at her. He laughed. "Now that you mention it…"
"It's cute right?"
He chuckled. "Yeah, it's cute".
That gave her energy. Kayla sat up, looking at Sam with determination on her face. "I'm ready. Let's make a baby!"
"Let's make a handsome little Sam!"
Sam averted her gaze and coughed awkwardly. "Umm, ok, if that's what you want".
Kayla smiled with smug satisfaction before leaning back on his shoulder. They both watched the horizon, taking comfort in each other's warmth.
As Kayla drifted to sleep against his shoulder, Sam gazed at the moonlit waves. That was when he felt it; a familiar pulse, like a heartbeat echoing inside his mind. Then a familiar holographic screen.
The system, silent for months, flared softly back to life.
DING!
~----~
[System Status – Updated]
[Name: Samuel Moses]
[Natural Position: ACM]
[Altered Position: CF]
[Preferred Foot: Right]
[Skill Level: 5 star]
…
[Owned Football Skills:]
[Passive Skill:]
-Stalwart
…
[Active Skills:]
-Basic Mastery: None
-Intermediate Mastery: Rainbow flick; Trivela Shot; Roulette; Penalty technique
-Advanced Mastery: Step overs; Knuckle shot; Overhead kick; Scissor kick; Cruyff turn; Power header; Positioning; Trivela pass
-Perfect Mastery: Freekick technique; Elastico; La croqueta; Power header; Spatial awareness; Short Passing & Vision
…
[Player Attributes:]
*Pace: 87
*Shot: 91
*Pass: 90
*Dribbling: 89
*Defending: 58
*Physicality: 84
*Stamina: 93
Overall Rating: 91
~----~
Sam exhaled softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
The system, the mysterious force that had saved his career from a crippling injury and transformed him into a prodigy was still with him, watching, evolving.
This time, though, he felt no urgency. No desperate struggle to survive.
Instead, it pulsed quietly, like a companion waiting patiently for the next challenge.
He glanced at Kayla sleeping peacefully beside him, brushed a lock of hair from her face, and whispered, "We've only just begun".
As he closed his eyes, somewhere deep within, the system whispered back.
["Forging a Legacy: Phase Two Initiated."]