THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
The Unexpected Neighbor

Kristin laughs. "Your reaction is precious. Why am I not here? Anyway, this is my apartment." He said, pointing to the door behind him. "Instead, I'm the one who's supposed to ask why you're at my door."

Zachary looked at her, wondering if she was serious or joking. "Do you really live here in this building?" He asked after a while, his voice slightly higher than he had intended.

It had been almost two years since the last time she saw her, but she had grown even more beautiful. She's even prettier. Her intelligent amber eyes matched her long blonde hair, which she ponytailed. He has a full woman. The indentation of her hips and the fullness of her chest reminded her of the idea of perfection. Most of the Norwegian women Zachary met were not particularly notched. Kristin is an exception to that. Even the Nike Air running jacket and her baggy pants could not hide her beautiful figure.

"Yes, right," Kristin replied, the corners of her lips curled up to form a gentle smile. "This was my apartment for about five years. But why are you here?"

"I live in an apartment on the sixth floor" Zachary replied. "I moved in early January. However, I've never seen you in this neighborhood even once. Are you sure you're a resident here?"

"Yes, of course," Kristin replied. "But, I've been going for my studies since last August. So, my roommate's been alone in the apartment for the past six months."

"But besides," continued Kristin, tilting her head for a moment and observing her. "I heard from my grandfather that you graduated from the academy last December. That means you must have signed with Rosenborg. Really true?"

Zachary sighed, folding his hands in front of his chest. "Negotiations with the club took longer than expected. I just signed a professional contract yesterday."

"Yes, that's good news" he said, clenching his fists into the air like a footballer celebrating a goal. "Are you joining the senior team or the junior team?"

"The senior team, of course," Zachary replied, beaming. "It was at least in accordance with the terms of the contract."

"Congratulations. Not many could sign professional contracts immediately after graduating from the academy. Academy graduates typically must be under 19 or under 21 before joining the first team. The Coaches must be very impressed with your skills as they allow you to join the team immediately. You have to work hard and appreciate the opportunity." He added, with an older tone.

"Thank you," Zachary replied, not paying the slightest attention to his tone. "I'll try my best in the senior team."

"If I remember correctly, Rosenborg will play BK Odds on the 17th of this month. That's only two weeks from now. There must have been a few more preseason friendlies before then. Don't you?"

"Yes." Yeah." Zachary nodded in agreement. "Before playing Odds BK, we will face the Swedish team, Malmo and rebro first. Both matches will be played in Sweden on Tuesday and Thursday this week."

Kristin furrowed her brows, giving her eyebrows once again from head to toe. "Then why didn't you train with the team today? Don't you intend to get into the first team as soon as possible?" She asked.

"Of course, I would love to train with the team today. However, Coach Johansen and the sporting director advised me to take a weekend off and rest my body. That's why I'm here jogging alone rather than in Lerkendal. "

"Oh!" Kristin smiled, giving him a curvy look. "I can see that you're doing your best to rest your body."

"Jogging is one form of rest" Zachary said. "There are many sports science articles that support this conjecture."

Kristin smiled, raising her hand in a calming manner. "Zach! You don't have to be defensive with me. I'm not your manager. But be careful not to blatantly break the coach's orders when you've just been on the team."

"Will you come and visit me because you have a day off?" Kristin recited, changed the topic. "I have warm coffee—best to warm the body after coming out in cold weather. Besides, I'd like to hear about your adventures in Riga and Valencia." She laughs.

"Not today" Zachary replied, shaking his head. "I'm still sweating from running, so maybe next time I'll have coffee."

"Oh, it's okay" said Kristin. "We might be able to arrange and have dinner at a later time. Where's your friend Kasongo? Is he still in the academy?"

"Yes, he's at the academy. But he must soon join the U-19 team. They'll be testing the youth team next week."

"So, don't you want to brag to me about your performance in the academy," he said, giving her a curvy look. "I heard that you were excited during the international youth tournament."

"There's not much to say about the tournament. We worked as a team to win in Riga and reach the semi-finals in Valencia. Of course, I was the top scorer in two tournaments." He insists he wants to look good in front of Kristin.

"But Coach Johansen is a great coach" Zachary argued. "Why do you sound like you're not satisfied with him?"

"Thank you?" Kristin raised one eyebrow. "Do you think we can trust him to bring the team back to the top?"

He sighed. "I don't want to see the team end badly like last season. Simply put, Coach Johansen has not given me confidence in the club this season."

"That's understandable." Zakaria nodded. “But Coach Johansen is a great coach. I played under him for two years. He knows how to use the abilities of all his players. In addition, he is not rigid and can easily adapt to new situations quickly. You don't have to worry about the club this season."

"I hope so," murmured Kristin, shaking her head. "It would be bad if we continue to perform badly this season."

Zachary could not help but remember Rosenborg's performance in the previous season. The team only managed to finish third in Tippeligaen and were even eliminated by Molde, their arch-rivals, in the fourth round of the Norwegian Football Cup. Worse, they took a hard hit in the Europa League — not advancing further than the group stage. This season has been disappointing for both the fans and the management because it doesn't fit their history.

That's why management is eager to shake things up and change the club's situation. They embarked on a back-to-the-roots project aimed at bringing the club back to the top of the Norwegian Football tournament.

They had appointed Coach Boyd Johansen earlier in December as he had just won two trophies while coaching the academy team that year. But his appointment faces plenty of backlash from most Rosenborg fans as they want the club to sign Coach Per Joar Hansen instead.

"Enough about the coach," Kristin interjected, interrupting Zachary's musings.

"Why don't you work hard and help us win the league this season? My grandfather said that you are the most talented player he has ever met in his scouting career, taking us to the Europa League quarter-finals." He laughed, looking at her with a relaxed and calculating expression.

"You must be kidding Miss Kristin." Zachary smiled wryly. "I haven't even made it into the starting line-up, but here it is, asking me to take the club to the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Do you believe in me so much?" He held his gaze.

"Well," murmured Kristin. "not you. But I believe in my grandfather's vision. He never made a mistake about the value of a player. Because he thinks you're so high—compares you to the likes of JJ Okocha and Yaya Toure, you should at least be able to help.we won the league." He looked at her with puppy eyes, took a step forward and held her hand. "Isn't that true?"

Zachary was speechless.

She never realized that Miss Kristin had such a fun side to her. She always assumed that she was one of the 'queen bee types' who looked down on others. But he seems wrong.

"Will you answer yes to my simple request?" Kristin asked.

"Are you serious?"

Kristin met Zachary's gaze and spoke softly. "Yes, I'm serious. You 'just' have to make this one promise to help us reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League..." He stopped in the middle of the sentence when another voice came through the door of his slightly opened apartment.

"Christin" another soft voice called out. "What are you doing outside? You're gonna miss the start of the show."

"Monica," cried Kristin, turning to face the door. "I'll be there in a minute."

He then returned his attention to Zachary. "You really should join us at least for lunch?" Kristin urged again. "That's my roommate over there, just now. So, you'll get a chance to have lunch with two pretty girls." He gave her a curvy look.

"No, maybe next time," urged Zachary, his tone firm. "I really have to go back to my place and take a shower. Otherwise, I'll catch a cold. It'll affect my practice on Monday morning."

Although she enjoys being with Kristin, she doesn't want to spend her Saturday watching soap operas and reality shows in a girls' apartment. It would be more exhausting than playing an intensive football match.

"Okay, then," Kristin said with a smile. "See you."

"See you" Zachary replied before turning around and climbing the stairs.