(La Liga Table:)

1. Real Madrid

2. FC Barcelona

This was how the Spanish La Liga table looked like after Matchday 26. Real Madrid were now 2 points above Barcelona.

While FC Barcelona stumbled in Madrid, Real Madrid didn't make the same mistake. They welcomed their visitors to the Santiago Bernabeu where they thoroughly dissected and humiliated them.

And with that, the age old question this season was finally answered.

Just like pundits predicted, Barcelona stumbled first immediately after they lost Sam's influence on the pitch.

It was a 5-2 trouncing at the Santiago Bernabeu with Kylian Mbappe scoring another hattrick to keep the Pichichi race alive.

Keeping the Pichichi race alive was just to keep the drama going. Every football fan knew that unless Sam suffered a season-ending injury, the chances of another player scooping home the award was basically nonexistent.

That was how dominant he was statistically.

He was miles and shoulders above every other player in La Liga, including Kylian Mbappe when it came to numbers.

Sam's injury caused a crisis in Barcelona, and it became even more apparent after they failed to win their first game without him.

But Barcelona were lucky. Immediately after Matchday 26 is another international break for football players to rest and represent their countries.

European players would represent their countries in the Nations League, while players from other countries would do the same in friendly games.

Due to his injury though, Sam would not be going for the International break.

And so, he had the whole time to spend with his family.

At some point during his grueling football schedule, due to his mom's nagging to keep the baby safe, Kayla already returned to Nigeria.

Sam had nothing holding him in Barcelona, so a day after Barca's draw against Atletico Madrid, he took a flight back home to Nigeria.

…

The late afternoon sun melted over Abuja like warm honey, dipping the city in gold as the sliding doors at Nnamdi Azikiwe International hissed apart.

Sam stepped down into the airport, as instantly he was welcomed by the familiar hum of trolley wheels, the distant chorus of taxi horns, and the music of languages weaving into one another.

With his hoodie up and his cap low to hide his features from fans, including his sunglasses, no one recognized him. Not them though.

"Sam! Over here!"

He heard her before he saw her. His mother's voice was unmistakable, cutting through the noise like a bell as he almost shivered at the intensity of it.

It reminded him a bit of those dark days when that tone was always accompanied by... nah, he would rather not think of it.

And before he knew it she was upon him with her head tie fixed in queenly precision, her wrapper swishing to the airport breeze and her face already glistening with happy tears.

She quickly wrapped him in a hug that made the rest of the world blink away.

Behind her, Sophia bounced up and down in excitement like a kid at halftime, waving a tiny green and white flag she'd clearly bullied someone into buying.

"Big bro! Superstar!" She shouted before muscling her way in for her turn, squeezing his ribs with more enthusiasm than mercy.

Sam squirmed in resistance.

When she finally let go of him, he looked at her with a dubious expression.

Sophia pouted. "What?"

"What do you mean what?" Sam looked at her with suspicion written all over his face. "You think I don't know you? When have you ever been so happy to see me? Something is up, right?"

He looked around only to understand as he saw an unfamiliar lady standing a distance away from them with a camera pointed in their direction. "Is that…?"

Sophia quickly put her hands to his lips. "Ssssh," she said. "I'm making a Vlog, please play along". She pleaded. "Make it look like you're very excited to see me".

Sam rolled his eyes. "No wonder".

He quickly ignored her and whirled around to face the love of his life.

Kayla was in a sunny dress. She had a soft smile on her face as she looked at him. Unlike the others, she didn't rush.

She just looked at him for a heartbeat as if confirming he was real, then folded into him with a quiet relief that said everything words couldn't. He kissed her hair, the noise of the airport dimming to a hush around them.

"You're home," she murmured.

"I'm home". He nodded with a smile.

They moved together like a tiny procession through the terminal. Due to Sam's preparations and the countermeasures that he took, fans didn't know he was coming to Nigeria today, but still, his identity was too big for complete anonymity.

Somehow, a paparazzi or two got wind of the news.

Click! Click!

Cameras flashed.

Mrs. Moses swatted away a pushy paparazzi with practiced glare, Sophia dragging the suitcase behind her as if she were stealing it, while Sam walked hand in hand with Kayla.

With one arm, he supported his pregnant wife, while with the other, he waved an apologetic hello at the occasional starstruck airport worker who recognized him. He didn't have the energy for fan service today.

It wasn't long before they arrived at their park, and soon, two luxurious cars drove off from the airport.

Maitama greeted them with the smell of pepper soup and the sound of Afrobeats vibrating a little too enthusiastically through the house's bones.

The family mansion sat like it always had with tall palms in the courtyard, the fountain whispering to itself, and with windows flung open to let the evening in.

As soon as the door opened, a wave of warmth welcomed Sam, literally as his father came to give him a big hug.

"Welcome home son". Mr. Moses had that ever proud look on his face.

"How are you doing dad?"

"Me? I've never been better," he chuckled. "I watched your game against Juventus, my boy!" He grinned. "What a performance!"

"That second half at the Allianz Stadium was electric!"

"I'm telling you dad! You have to feel it first half to truly know!"

And just like that, the ladies were ignored as the father and son delved into topics of discussion that didn't interest the ladies very much.

Mrs. Moses snorted and trudged off. "Men". She muttered under her breath as she left.

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