Izan wakes up on his eighteenth birthday to a quiet morning with Olivia. After a brief, dry exchange with his system, he is surprised by a birthday song and a homemade cake from Olivia, Miranda, Hori, and Komi. Miranda informs him that the coach has given him the day off, leaving Izan to spend his birthday with his dog, Miko.
The lingering trace of the car that had just departed the residence faded outside in the courtyard, and for a brief moment, Izan remained stationary in the kitchen, absorbing the silence.
Subsequently, he reached for his phone, which rested on the counter.
The screen illuminated, displaying a flurry of notifications he had previously ignored. However, before he could access any of them, something brushed against his shin, escalating into a sequence of gentle scratches.
He glanced downward, observing Miko positioned beside his leg, softly nudging him with her paw, exercising enough caution to prevent her claws from snagging his skin.
Izan raised an eyebrow, contemplating the reason behind this action before arriving at a conclusion moments later.
"They should have seen to your feeding before they left," he remarked, a faint smile gracing his lips as Miko responded with a single, soft bark.
He lowered himself down, enfolding his arms around her, and lifted her in a single, fluid movement.
Despite her not being particularly weighty, a dramatic sigh escaped him as he straightened, prompting Miko to bark once more, this time more audibly, as if she felt slighted.
"Alright, alright," Izan chuckled. "My apologies."
He carried her across the living area and into one of the smaller adjacent rooms.
Technically, this space was designated as Miko's domain.
Her bed was situated there, alongside several toys strewn across the rug, yet she had long ago determined that the remainder of the house held far greater allure.
Izan retrieved one of the fluffy toys and tossed it casually onto the floor.
"Hold on there for a moment."
Miko regarded the toy, then looked at him, before inevitably trotting after him.
He emitted an amused shake of his head as he proceeded through the hallway and into the pantry and cold storage area adjacent to the kitchen.
The atmosphere there was noticeably cooler, with shelves meticulously organized, stocked with every necessity the household required.
He retrieved the bag of dog food and returned to the kitchen, specifically to the corner where Miko's food bowl invariably waited.
He proceeded to fill the bowl without immediate scrutiny, but his gaze sharpened.
The bowl appeared... unkempt.
As if it had just been recently licked clean, and by something rather slobbery, like a tongue.
Izan crouched slightly, turning his head towards Miko.
"What’s this all about?" he inquired, as though expecting a verbal response from the canine.
And, much to no one's astonishment, he received one.
Well, sort of.
Miko trotted forward, lowered her head, and proceeded to lick the interior of the bowl with ostentatious zeal, ensuring its utmost cleanliness, all while Izan observed her, a silent chuckle escaping him as he shook his head.
"You’re quite resourceful. Have a bit for your efforts."
He poured a modest amount of food into the bowl nonetheless.
"No more than this," he stated firmly, gesturing towards the bowl afterward.
"You’ll have to run it off if you get too plump."
Miko's tail wagged, completely unfazed, and with that matter settled, Izan finally ambled back into the living room, sinking onto the sofa.
Now, he opened his phone with full attention.
The notifications flooded the display.
Mentions and Tags.
Messages.
DMs.
Instagram.
Twitter.
Across all platforms.
Hundreds of birthday greetings had amassed overnight, and with ample time at his disposal, he scrolled leisurely, absorbing each one individually.
Henry from Saint Laurent had shared a sophisticated black-and-white photograph of himself alongside Izan, accompanied by a caption wishing him a splendid year ahead.
Lamine Yamal had dispatched a message containing three fire emoticons and a laughing face, while Pedri offered a concise yet heartfelt sentiment.
One message that felt incongruous was from Jude Bellingham, who playfully teased him by sending a voice note commencing with, "You're getting on a bit," followed by peals of laughter.
The associated brands also chimed in.
**Adidas, Koenigsegg, Nikon, Seiko; a select few to mention.**
Each entity featured polished posts commemorating his eighteenth birthday.
Further down, Arsenal’s official channels had published their own tribute—a compilation of images from matches, training sessions, and celebrations, each accompanied by captions expressing gratitude for his contributions to the club.
Izan reclined against the sofa, a quiet smile playing on his lips.
Then, he noticed another message, this time from Arteta.
He opened it, revealing a single message with an attached image.
In the photograph, Saka stood beside a cooler brimming with water balloons or a similar liquid concoction in the dressing room, clutching a roll of tape and a marker, his expression caught mid-scheme.
The accompanying caption read:
**"This is precisely why I granted you the day off."**
Izan chuckled, and the subsequent message arrived from Saka himself.
**[Content omitted due to irrelevance to the user's request, as it relates to dialogue not present in original provided text]**
Izan shook his head and typed a reply.
**[Content omitted due to irrelevance to the user's request, as it relates to dialogue not present in original provided text]**
The exchange alone was sufficient to elicit another laugh from him.
From his position on the floor nearby, Miko lifted her head, her ears twitching at the sound. Hours later, the house became lively once more as the women returned from their respective daily pursuits.
Dinner had been Izan's proposal.
Nothing ostentatious; simply a cozy venue where the five of them could convene, converse, and cherish each other's company.
They certainly took their chance, and not having many opportunities left, they utilized the current moment. conversations flowed, reminiscing about their lives.
The evening had now passed into night.
Gravel softly crunched under the tires as Izan guided the car through the gates of the Hampstead property and into the driveway.
He then cut the engine.
Komi leaned forward from the rear seat, speaking inside the car.
"I believe I've had a bit too much to drink," she confessed with an unusual gravity.
Izan smirked slightly, recalling his earlier caution about her overindulgence at the establishment.
She unbuckled her seatbelt and exited the vehicle, proceeding toward the house with a composed dignity before anyone could reply.
Miranda emerged next. Before entering, however, she reached into the back seat and presented Izan with a small, elegant box.
"Happy birthday," she mumbled casually.
Then she too turned and walked towards the house.
Hori was already midway up the steps when her gaze fell upon the box in Izan's grasp.
"Ah, it's that time," she remarked before disappearing inside.
This left Izan and Olivia alone in the cool night air.
They did not hurry to go inside.
Instead, they ambled over to the wooden bench that had been placed on the lawn some weeks prior.
"So," she began after a moment of comfortable silence as they settled onto the bench, "you're officially an adult now."
Izan regarded her with a hint of suspicion, though his expression was playful.
"You say that as if you're plotting something mischievous."
Olivia erupted into laughter. Amidst her mirth, Izan opened the box Miranda had gifted him.
Within, a sleek black case lay nestled against plush velvet.
The name debossed upon it read:
Gold & Wood.
He lifted the lid, and the first item revealed was a small card bearing a single number in elegant italics.
119
His curiosity piqued, Izan carefully removed the second lid, uncovering a pair of glasses.
He gingerly lifted the eyewear, and 'beautiful' was the only word that came to mind.
They appeared minimalist, almost understated at first glance, yet the nose bridge gleamed with tiny diamonds embedded within the frame.
The piece was, to say the least, both visually stunning and demonstrably luxurious.
As he examined them closely, a slow breath escaped his pursed lips.
"Miranda certainly spared no expense."
He retrieved his phone once more and took a photograph.
"What are you doing?" Olivia inquired.
"Just curious."
He swiftly uploaded the image for a quick search.
The results appeared almost instantaneously.
Gold & Wood 119 Diamond Glasses — $30,000
Olivia raised an eyebrow at this revelation, then chuckled at Izan's stunned expression as he merely shook his head, a smile playing on his lips.
"She really didn't have to."
Nevertheless, he slid the glasses on and turned to face Olivia.
"So?"
She playfully rolled her eyes, aware he was seeking praise, and she wasn't inclined to indulge him.
"You'd look good even in a burlap sack."
He laughed heartily. As he did, Olivia reached into her purse and produced a smaller box.
Avoiding his direct gaze, she felt for his arm and then gently placed the box into his hand.
"Happy birthday."
Izan looked at her with a smile, but Olivia couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes.
Finally relenting, Izan opened the box. Inside lay a slender, softly curved metal piece designed to secure hair.
"Palladium," she murmured as Izan turned it over in his hands.
"For your hair," she added as he gave it one last flip and noticed his initials were elegantly engraved into the metal, accompanied by two small words.
To Greatness.
Olivia shifted subtly, a nervous tremor in her demeanor.
"I always..." she started softly, preparing to offer an explanation.
"Whenever I see your hair unbound, it causes a peculiar sensation in my chest. Like a pleasant, lingering scratch."
She let out an awkward chuckle.
"So, I had this custom-made. You can use it instead of those drab rubber bands."
She hesitated for a moment longer.
"It's... beneficial for you, and for my heart."
Izan remained silent for a beat.
He then leaned forward, pressed a kiss to her cheek, and after a brief, amused laugh, looked back at Olivia.
"Thanks, love."
He removed the band from his hair, momentarily letting his dark strands cascade freely before carefully securing the palladium clip.
Even against the thickness of his hair, the metal caught the subtle luminescence of the garden lights, and Olivia found herself staring, transfixed like a deer caught in headlights.
She couldn't help but be captivated.
He looked somewhat absurd in those diamond-studded glasses that so strikingly highlighted his clear blue eyes, and with the new hair accessory, he somehow exuded an aura more befitting a character from a comic book or a novel.
....
[MidA/N: I don’t know about that（⊙ｏ⊙）]
....
She moved closer, resting her head against his shoulder.
"I love you," she whispered, as Izan's hands gently encircled her bare shoulders.
"I'd do you," he murmured, abruptly shattering the tender moment, causing Olivia to snap her head towards him.
"What was that?" she exclaimed in disbelief. Meanwhile, Izan got to his feet, a laugh escaping him before he dashed inside. Not long after, Olivia, despite her heels, expertly pursued him into the residence.
