Become A Football Legend Chapter 375: Goodbye

The applause followed Lukas all the way to the barriers.

Security opened a small path through the crowd, allowing him to walk over to the supporters instead of hurrying him into the parking garage. He couldn’t bring himself to leave without thanking them properly.

"Thank you!" he shouted, raising both hands above his head.

The response was immediate.

"LUKAS! LUKAS! LUKAS!"

Scarves waved above hundreds of heads while dozens of phones were held high, trying to capture one last moment with the player who had helped bring European silverware back to Frankfurt.

A young boy, no older than 10, squeezed his way to the front, holding out a Frankfurt shirt with trembling hands.

"Lukas... please."

Lukas smiled.

"Of course."

He took the shirt, uncapped the marker somebody beside the boy handed him, and signed neatly beneath the club crest before handing it back.

The boy looked as though Christmas had arrived months early.

"Can... can we take a picture?"

"Absolutely."

Lukas crouched slightly so they were the same height before wrapping an arm around the boy’s shoulders. The father standing beside him quickly snapped the photo, thanked him repeatedly, and Lukas ruffled the kid’s hair before handing the shirt back.

"Take care of Frankfurt for me."

"I will!"

Lukas laughed before giving the crowd one final wave.

"I’ll never forget you!"

The cheers only grew louder as he finally turned toward the parking garage.

...

Hugo Ekitiké had been watching the entire scene unfold from beside his own car.

His Mercedes was parked directly next to Larsson’s.

As Lukas climbed into the passenger seat, Ekitiké leaned against his open window and shook his head dramatically.

"I’m not gonna lie..."

Lukas looked over.

"I’m a little jealous."

"Jealous?"

"Yeah."

Ekitiké gestured toward the supporters, who were still chanting Lukas’ name.

"I’m leaving too."

He looked around theatrically.

"Where’s my farewell party?"

Lukas grinned.

"I don’t know."

He pretended to study Ekitiké for a moment.

"I think it’s because I’m more handsome."

Ekitiké stared at him.

"No."

"Definitely."

"Not even close."

From the back seat, Can Uzun leaned forward.

"You know he’s not lying."

Ekitiké slowly turned his head.

"Whose side are you on?"

"The handsome one’s."

The entire group burst into laughter.

Ekitiké sighed dramatically before climbing into his own car.

"I’ll remember this."

"You won’t."

"I definitely will."

He started the engine, rolled down the window one last time, and pointed toward Lukas.

"See you in the Premier League."

"You’d better be ready."

"We’ll see who’s ready."

Ekitiké laughed, raised a hand in farewell, and drove away.

Larsson watched the taillights disappear before starting his own engine.

"Well..."

He smiled.

"I guess I’m finally the only Hugo at the club."

Lukas laughed.

"So when somebody shouts ’Hugo,’ you’ll actually know they’re talking to you."

"Exactly."

They pulled out onto the road.

For the first few minutes they simply enjoyed the drive, watching the lights of Frankfurt slowly disappear behind them before the motorway opened up toward Darmstadt.

Eventually Larsson broke the silence.

"So..."

"Found somewhere to live in Manchester yet?"

"I’m still looking."

"The club sorted you out, didn’t they?"

"They did."

Lukas nodded.

"They’ve given me a really nice place for now, but I don’t think I’ll stay there permanently."

"No?"

"I’d like to find somewhere that actually feels like home."

He looked out of the window.

"I’m hoping to stay at City for a long time."

Larsson smiled.

"I thought you’d say that."

The conversation drifted naturally from football to life in England, the differences between Manchester and Frankfurt, the Premier League, and everything Lukas still had to get used to. There were also long stretches where neither of them spoke. They had never been the sort of friends who felt the need to fill every silence.

By the time they reached Darmstadt, night had completely settled over the city.

Larsson pulled up outside Javi’s house before switching off the engine.

For a few moments, neither of them moved.

Then both climbed out.

Lukas closed the passenger door and looked back at his friend.

Larsson smiled.

"I’m gonna miss you, man."

Lukas nodded.

"Same here."

They stepped forward and embraced.

It wasn’t a long hug.

It didn’t need to be.

Larsson gave him 2 firm pats on the back before stepping away.

"Go on."

He pointed toward England.

"Go destroy them over there."

Lukas laughed.

"I’ll make sure to keep you entertained."

"I’ll be watching."

"I know."

They shook hands one last time.

This time, neither of them said goodbye.

They didn’t need to.

Larsson climbed back into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and slowly pulled away from the curb.

Lukas remained standing on the driveway, raising a hand as the car disappeared into the darkness.

He watched until the taillights finally vanished around the corner.

Only then did he turn toward the front door.

His closest friend from Frankfurt was gone.

That Chapter of his life had finally come to an end.

Lukas took a quiet breath, picked up his bag, unlocked the front door, and stepped inside.

* * *

That same night, the atmosphere inside the Jimenez household was unusually heavy.

Joanna sat quietly on one end of the living room sofa, her elbows resting on her knees as she stared absentmindedly at the floor. She had barely spoken since getting home. Across from her, João sat with his phone in his hands, pretending to scroll through social media, though the corners of his mouth kept twitching upward as if he were desperately trying not to smile.

On the larger sofa sat Carlos and Sofia.

Carlos leaned back with his arms folded, his expression making it painfully obvious that something was bothering him. Beside him, Sofia quietly poured him a glass of water and handed it over.

"Calma," she said softly in Portuguese. "Vai ficar tudo bem."

Carlos accepted the glass without replying.

Meanwhile, little Ruben was the only person in the room completely oblivious to the tension. He darted around the living room with all the energy expected of a young child before stopping in front of Joanna.

"Can I use your phone?"

Joanna barely looked up.

"Not now, Ruben."

The little boy pouted before giving her knee a playful smack and sprinting away laughing.

Normally she would’ve chased after him.

Tonight, she simply watched him run off before lowering her eyes back to the floor.

The silence returned.

It lasted nearly a minute.

Then the doorbell rang.

João was on his feet instantly.

"I’ll get it."

He practically jogged to the front door and pulled it open.

"There you are."

Lukas stood outside, looking slightly out of breath.

"You said it was urgent."

His eyes searched João’s face.

"Is everything okay?"

João stepped aside.

"Come in."

Then, lowering his voice with a grin he couldn’t quite suppress, he added,

"You’re about to find out."

Lukas walked inside.

The moment he entered the living room, he felt it.

The tension hanging in the air was almost tangible.

He greeted everyone politely.

"Good evening, Mr. Jimenez. Mrs. Jimenez."

"Good evening, Lukas," Sofia replied with her usual warm smile.

Carlos simply nodded.

"Hm."

Lukas returned the nod before taking the empty seat beside Joanna.

He glanced toward her, noticing immediately that she hadn’t been exaggerating over the phone.

She looked genuinely worried.

He leaned slightly toward her.

"What’s wr—"

"AHEM"

Carlos cleared his throat.

..