Benjamin, somewhat taken aback, blinked as he assessed the youth in front.
'So this is my new roommate?' He thought to himself.
Seeing him here, standing at the doorway and introducing himself like they were close, felt odd. It took a beat before Benjamin finally moved out of the way and let him in.
He tried to appear friendly as he said, "Nice to meet you, Adam. You can call me Benjamin."
As Adam entered the portable two bedroom apartment, his eyes immediately glanced about the layout with a mixture of approval and interest, he shut the door.
"I had just finished cooking. If you're hungry, feel free to join me."
Adam's face changed in an instant, becoming bright as though he hadn't eaten all day. "I wouldn't refuse a home-cooked meal," he grinned as he acknowledged.
He slipped his bag off his shoulder and put it beside the door before he joined Benjamin at the table
As they took their seats, Benjamin observed how quickly Adam tucked into the plate of Nasi Goreng he had cooked.
Contrary to what he had thought, something about Adam's presence made him feel a little more comfortable and less lonely in this new environment, though he wasn't sure why.
The food also tasted a little better after seeing Adam eat with such vigor and excitement.
They ate in silence for a few minutes. Every now and then, Benjamin glanced at his new roommate, observing his demeanor.
Adam appeared youthful, perhaps nineteen or twenty, but his posture gave the impression that he was older. His gaze was intent, his eyes piercing even as he leaned back into his chair.
It was a disciplined face that didn't take life too seriously.
After a brief pause, Benjamin ventured, "So you were promoted to the first team, too?"
Adam nodded after looking up and taking a mouthful. "Yes, I recently received the promotion. I played here previously with the youth team."
Despite his informal tone, Benjamin could hear the pride in his voice. Adam had obviously worked hard and taken his position in the club seriously.
"Same here," Benjamin said, looking him in the eye. "I actually just moved here from Haarlem."
Adam's expression flickered with realization as he raised an eyebrow. "Haarlem? I take it that's where you began? I've heard that their youth program is one of the most popular ones in north holland."
"Yeah," Benjamin replied, his voice tinged with nostalgia.
Memories of his family supporting him from the sidelines, training late into the night on the training fields, and then home, came flooding in.
"If you enjoy the game, it's a good place to grow up." He said but then became aware that he was revealing more than he had planned to, but it seemed normal given Adam's laid-back demeanor.
Lost in their own thoughts, they both fell back into a cozy silence.
Benjamin soon noticed Adam's subtle body language while they were eating, such as his intense attention to every bite and his little frown of concentration.
He probably was someone overly sensitive to his surroundings. Thinking of that, he felt such traits were qualities of a good midfielder.
Slowly, the meal came to an end as they both relaxed.
Benjamin felt a little lighter, as if the discomfort of his previous hunger had subsided a little. And maybe an added factor was simply the presence of someone who seemed to be as passionate about football as he was.
Adam finally pushed his plate aside and patted his stomach, saying, "Man, that was good. It was unexpected to move in and start eating like that right away." He leaned back and chuckled, clearly delighted.
A smirk tugged at Benjamin's lips as he shrugged. He remarked, "I learned from the best," recalling his mother's voice from the kitchen the sound of pots and pans clinking.
He felt a sharp twinge of nostalgia, but he pushed it off. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
Adam volunteered to help as they cleaned up, grabbing the dishes and efficiently splashing water over them. They walked around the tiny kitchen, laughing it off, slowly getting familiar.
Adam seemed to blend in with ease, and Benjamin felt himself easing into the dynamic.
Adam broke the short silence by saying, "So, are you anxious about tomorrow's training? That should be your first training session, right?"
Benjamin stopped and dried a plate. He nodded and said, "I guess... maybe a little."
Moving from playing youth tournaments and neighborhood matches in Haarlem to AZ Alkmaar's official training facilities, with its seasoned players and professional demands, was a significant shift. "All I want to do is show that I belong here."
Adam's face softened as he nodded. "I understand. However, if you were approached and offered a professional contract, it's because they think you have something, right? You simply need to show up and give it your all.
Benjamin could relate to what Adam said. It seemed appropriate, even though it was so basic. He nodded back, grinning. "Yes, you're most likely correct."
After wrapping up, they went to their own rooms to spend the night apart. With his mind racing, Benjamin laid in bed and stared at the ceiling.
The actual beginning would come tomorrow; there would be no more familiar faces or comfort zones. But for some reason, he felt a little better prepared because Adam's words of encouragement were still fresh in his memory.
*****
Benjamin got out of bed early the following morning.
He brushed his teeth and completed his morning routine with the exception of jogging, he wanted to be in excellent condition during his medical tests and the training sessions.
His nerves were tingling as he walked around the room putting on his training gear. He thought about everything that may happen that day, from first impressions to attempting to stay up with the more experienced players.
He had been preparing for the test, but the pressure was tremendous now that it was here. It wouldn't be easy to so casually walk into the starting lineup.
Adam was already up in the kitchen, scooping cereal into a bowl in his typical nonchalant manner. When he noticed Benjamin, he looked up and smiled.
"Early start, huh?"
Benjamin drank his routine glass of lemon water he had stocked up on yesterday. He grabbed a piece of toast and laughed. "Yes, I didn't want to take the chance of being late."
The relaxed energy from last night came back as they ate a hurried breakfast. Adam cracked a few jokes to assist them get over their morning jitters.
Oddly, he felt much more at ease with Adam present, as if some of the pressure of expectations on him had been relieved. At least, he wasn't alone in this challenge.
After they were done, Adam picked up his training bag and gestured to the door. "All set?"
Benjamin nodded while carrying his own bag as they left the house. When they stepped outdoors, the crisp morning air greeted them, and for a brief moment, reality hit in.
This wasn't Haarlem and he was headed to his first practice with one of the nation's largest clubs, AZ Alkmaar.