Christmans

All is calm, all is bright..."

The lyrics drifted through the new house in Alderley Edge, mingling with the scent of mulled wine and his mother's sarma. Luka sat on the kitchen counter, watching his mother orchestrate what could only be described as a culinary art. The marble countertops were covered with an array of dishes – some Croatian, some English, all prepared with the kind of love that only mothers could infuse into food.

"Luka, darling, taste this," his mother said, holding up a spoon of soup. Her accent, thicker when she was concentrating, made him smile. She'd been cooking since dawn, insisting on preparing everything herself despite the house coming with a staff that could have handled it all.

"Perfect, as always, mama," he said, earning himself one of her radiant smiles.

The doorbell chimed, its melodic tone echoing through the house. Emma's excited squeal followed immediately after. "They're here! They're here!"

The 'they' in question was what felt like half of Croatia – or at least, the portion of their family that had managed to make the journey. First through the door was Aunt Mara, his mother's sister, who swept into the house like a hurricane.

"Luka!" she cried, pulling him into a crushing hug that smelled of expensive perfume and cigarettes. "Look at you! A proper footballer now!" She held him at arm's length, examining him as if he might have grown another head since she'd last seen him. "Though still too skinny. Nina! Nina, come see your cousin!"

Nina, his cousin who was studying medicine in Zagreb, appeared behind her mother. At twenty-two, she had always been more like an older sister to Luka, the voice of reason during their childhood summers in Croatia and…. well - in the future. "Leave him be, mama," she said, rolling her eyes before giving Luka a much gentler hug. "The house is incredible, by the way. Very... footballery."

"Footballery isn't a word," Luka pointed out.

"It is now. I'm almost a doctor, I can make up words."

The house filled quickly after that. His father's brother, Uncle Stefan, arrived with his wife Alexandra and their twins, Mateo and Marko, who at thirteen were devoted Arsenal fans and hadn't stopped pestering Luka about transfer rumors since he'd walked through the door. His grandmother, Baka Ana, made her entrance last, supported by his father.

"My Luka," she said softly in Croatian, cupping his face in her weathered hands. Her eyes, still sharp despite her eighty-four years, searched his face. "You look tired, dijete."

"I'm fine, Baka," he assured her, helping her to the plush sofa in the living room. "Just a long season."

"Hmph," she replied, clearly unconvinced. "You work too hard. But then, you always did."

The house tour commenced shortly after, led by an enthusiastic Emma who had appointed her self official guide. "And this is the cinema room," she announced, throwing open yet another door. "We can watch all of Luka's matches here! And look, look at the seats! They recline!"

"A cinema?" Uncle Stefan whistled. "Times have changed since we were kids, eh?" He nudged Luka's father, who merely shrugged, though the pride in his eyes was unmistakable.

The tour continued through the house's various amenities – the gym "Where Luka does his extra training," Emma explained importantly, the indoor pool "Heated!" she added, as if this was the most amazing thing she'd ever encountered, and finally, the crown jewel: the backyard.

"Is that... a football pitch?" Mateo's eyes were wide as saucers.

It wasn't quite regulation size, nor would he say it was overly large, but the artificial turf field, complete with proper goals and floodlights, was impressive nonetheless.

"Can we play?" Marko asked, already bouncing on his toes. "Please, Luka?"

Before Luka could answer, his mother's voice rang out from the house. "Absolutely not! Christmas dinner is ready, and I didn't cook all day for it to get cold while you lot kick a ball around!"

The dining room was a sight to behold. The long table, set with what Luka suspected was very expensive china, groaned under the weight of the food.

"This is... excessive," his father muttered, though he was already eyeing the turkey with interest.

"It's Christmas," his mother replied simply, as if this explained everything. And in a way, it did.

"So," Uncle Stefan said during a lull in conversation, "any truth to those Arsenal rumors, nephew?"

The table fell silent, all eyes turning to Luka. He took a careful sip of water, buying time. "You know I can't talk about that, Uncle Stefan."

"Can't blame a man for trying," his uncle grinned. "The twins would explode with happiness."

"We'd get season tickets," Mateo added hopefully.

"And I'd get some peace and quiet," Alexandra muttered, making everyone laugh.

The conversation moved on, but Luka caught his father watching him thoughtfully. They hadn't really decided what would come next, though Luka knew his father was studying everything he could about the football business world, preparing himself for whatever decision Luka would make.

In Luka's mind he was all for remaining at Dortmund, perhaps not after July but he saw no reason to leave in January, especially when the team needed his help now that they were in the Champions league knockout stages.

After dinner, when the adults had moved to the living room for drinks and the twins had finally convinced everyone to let them try out the football pitch with strict instructions not to get too sweaty, Luka found himself in the kitchen with Nina.

"So," Nina said, handing him a plate to dry, "Olivia Rodrigo, huh?"

Luka nearly dropped the plate. "How did you-"

"Instagram exists, cousin. Plus, Emma hasn't stopped talking about it. She's convinced you're secretly dating."

"We just talked," Luka protested, feeling his ears grow hot. "She was nice."

"Mhm," Nina hummed knowingly. "Just like you 'just talked' to that girl at football camp when we were thirteen?"

"That was different! And nothing happened then either!"

"Only because you were too shy to do anything about it." She flicked some soap suds at him. "Some things never change."

Through the window, they could see the twins playing on the pitch, their shouts of joy carrying through the glass. The floodlights cast long shadows across the pristine turf, and for a moment, Luka was transported back to Croatia, to endless summer evenings playing football in his grandmother's backyard until it was too dark to see the ball.

"You know," Nina said softly, following his gaze, "Baka cries every time she sees you play on TV. Happy tears," she added quickly, seeing his expression. "She's so proud of you. We all are."

Luka nodded, not trusting himself to speak. After a moment, he said, "I just hope I'm doing the right things. Making the right choices."

"Hey," Nina nudged him gently. "You're seventeen, playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world, making more money than our entire family combined, and you still help with the dishes. I'd say you're doing just fine."

From the living room came the sound of laughter – his father telling one of his old stories, no doubt. Through the window, the twins had been joined by Emma, who was showing off the football skills she'd been practicing. The house felt alive, warm, full of love.

But even as Luka smiled, watching his family enjoy their first Christmas in the new house, he couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement in his stomach. Because in a few hours... well, he had something else really exciting to do...

"Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright..."

His phone buzzed – a message from Niko: "Ready bruv? 😤🎄"

-

"WHAT'S GOOD YOUTUBE! IT'S YOUR BOY NIKO OMILANA!"

The camera panned across the Beta Squad's living room, fairy lights twinkling everywhere, tinsel draped across every available surface, and a massive Christmas tree that looked like it had been decorated by a group of colorblind toddlers on a sugar rush.

"And today..." Niko paused, "is going to be a mad one, innit."

"THE MADDEST!" Chunks bellowed from somewhere off-camera, causing, George, the camera operator to jump.

The shot widened to reveal the entire Beta Squad, each dressed in what could only be described as an explosion in a Christmas shop. Chunks wore a sweater with a 3D reindeer nose that actually lit up. AJ had gone for a more subtle approach with a green and red suit that made him look like a fashionable elf. Kenny was dressed as what appeared to be a Christmas tree, complete with baubles that jingled when he moved. Sharky and Niko had coordinated their outfits – matching sweaters with "NAUGHTY" and "NICE" written across them respectively.

"Oi, why do I have to be the naughty one?" Sharky protested, tugging at his sweater.

"Because you're literally a shark, fam," Chunks replied, his reindeer nose blinking in sync with his words. "Man's got 'apex predator' in his name."

"That's speciesist, that is," Sharky muttered, but he was fighting back a grin.

"Anyway!" Niko clapped his hands together. "Today is special, yeah? Today we're doing something proper nice for the kids."

"Proper proper," Filly chimed in, appearing from behind the Christmas tree like a festive ninja. He was wearing what looked like every Christmas decoration B&M had in stock, the jingle of bells announcing his every movement. "We're talking presents, we're talking food, we're talking VIBES!"

"But wait," Kenny interrupted, his tree costume rustling, "didn't you say we had a special guest, boss man?"

Niko's grin widened. "Listen yeah, when man suggested this idea to us, we couldn't believe it. Like, proper couldn't believe it."

"Man's actually gassed," Chunks added, his reindeer nose blinking faster with excitement.

"So without further ado..." Niko began.

"ALLOW IT FAM, JUST BRING HIM OUT!" Filly couldn't contain himself anymore.

"Ladies and gentlemen..." Niko continued, ignoring the interruption, "please welcome... the youngest baller in the Bundesliga... the Croatian sensation... the man who's actually good at football unlike Chunks..."

"Oi!" Chunks protested.

"LUKA ZORIĆ!"

The studio door burst open, and Luka walked in, wearing a custom Christmas sweater with "DORTMUND'S FINEST" knitted across it in yellow and black. The Beta Squad erupted in cheers, all rushing forward at once.

"MY G!" Chunks bellowed, the group all wrapping in hugs. "Look at this guy! Looking like a proper baller in the Christmas drip!"

"The stench is mad!" Kenny declared, joining the group hug with his Christmas tree costume, baubles jingling wildly.

The group finally released Luka, who was laughing, his usual reserved demeanor melting in the face of their infectious energy.

"For real though," Niko said, "when man messaged us about wanting to do something for the kids at Christmas, we couldn't believe it."

"Nah but you know how I knew he was legit?" Chunks interjected. "Man pronounced Niko's name right straight away!"

"What, you mean it's not Nye-ko?" Sharky asked innocently, setting off another round of laughter.

"Niko's actually been my favorite YouTuber for time," Luka admitted. "Used to watch the old videos in the academy." 'And future videos' he did not mention.

"Hear that?" Niko preened. "Man's got taste!"

"Yeah but he also plays for Dortmund, so his judgment's clearly questionable," Filly shot back, ducking as Niko aimed a playful swing at him.

"So what's the plan then?" AJ asked, straightening his elf suit. "Other than making me look short next to all you lanky lot?"

"Alright, alright," Niko called everyone to order, though he was still grinning. "We've got work to do, yeah? Kids are waiting."

-

The tour guide's voice echoed through the corridors of Manchester City's Academy complex. "And now, if you'll follow me this way..." She gestured toward the indoor facility's main doors, fighting back a knowing smile as seventy pairs of feet shuffled behind her, ranging from tiny Nike boots to worn-out trainers to designer shoes.

"Miss," a small voice piped up, belonging to a six-year-old, "I thought we were supposed to see the first team facility?"

"Oh, something better," she replied, winking at one of the parents who'd been let in on the secret. "Much better."

The December air bit at their faces as they emerged onto the training ground, but nobody seemed to notice the cold. Their attention was immediately captured by what could only be described as a Christmas explosion on the pristine training pitch. Puma had transformed the space into something between a winter wonderland and a professional training setup. Performance monitoring equipment stood alongside towering candy canes. Training mannequins wore Santa hats. And in the center of it all, a Christmas tree that would have made Rockefeller Center jealous stretched toward the Manchester sky.

"What's that massive box?" someone asked, pointing to a structure near the tree that looked like it could hide a small car – which, unbeknownst to them, it actually did.

"Proper strange, innit?" a teenager muttered to his friend, trying to maintain the cool demeanor required of a sixteen-year-old while his eyes betrayed his curiosity.

The tour guide led them closer to the tree, where the mysterious box sat wrapped in Puma-branded paper. As they approached, parents pulled out phones, sensing something was about to happen.

Inside the box, chaos reigned in whispers.

"Bro, I'm sweating like mad in here," Chunks hissed, adjusting his reindeer antlers.

"Shhhh," Kenny replied, his Christmas tree costume rustling. "And don't fart, fam. We're in an enclosed space!"

"Why you gotta violate me like that?" Chunks whispered back indignantly.

"Both of you shut up," Niko said jokingly. "Luka, you good?"

Luka, crouched in the corner of the box and still wondering how he'd let them talk him into this, laughed.

Outside, the tour guide had positioned the crowd perfectly. "Now, who here believes in Christmas magic?"

A chorus of "Me!" rang out from the younger kids, while the teenagers tried to look unimpressed but inched closer anyway.

"Well then..." She pressed a hidden button on her tablet.

The front of the box fell forward with a theatrical whoosh, releasing a cloud of artificial snow and revealing the Beta Squad and Luka Zorić in all their Christmas glory. The reaction was immediate and deafening.

"HELLO YOUNG ONES!" Niko's voice boomed across the pitch, barely audible over the screaming kids.

The next hour passed in a blur of joy. Puma staff emerged from various hiding spots, carrying bags of gifts. Puma had gone all out. PS5s, complete football kit setups, tablets, laptops and accessories.

"But wait," Niko said to the camera, "we're not done yet!"

"Nah, fam," Chunks agreed, "we've got something special for the parents too!"

"A little competition," Filly added, rubbing his hands together gleefully.

They set up a series of challenges – penalty kicks, crossbar challenges, and dribbling courses. Parents who normally watched from the sidelines found themselves in the spotlight, their kids cheering them on.

"Go on then, Dave!" one mother shouted at her husband, who was lining up a penalty. "Show them what Sunday league taught you!"

Dave, a middle-aged man with a Manchester City tie loosened at his neck, stepped up to the spot. His shot went wide, causing his teenage son to face-palm dramatically.

"Mate," Chunks said to Luka who had laughed at the miss, loud enough for everyone to hear, "bet you couldn't do better."

A hush fell over the crowd. Luka looked down at his limited edition Jordan 1s – definitely not football boots.

"Eh, eh, watch." Luka said with a mocking smile on his face, stepping up to the penalty spot.

"Nah, don't do it," AJ warned with exaggerated concern. "Them kicks are worth more than Chunks' whole wardrobe!"

Luka just smiled, he rolled up the sleeves of his Christmas jumper and walked to the spot.

"Top bins or it doesn't count," Kenny called out, baubles jingling as he pointed to the absolute top corner of the goal.

Luka placed the ball, took three steps back, and without even a proper run-up, sent the ball screaming into the exact spot Kenny had pointed to. The crowd erupted. Luka turned to Chunks, put his finger to his lips, then pointed at his Jordans. "I'm not like you at soccer aid brother." He jokingly mocked.

"NAH FAM!" Chunks bellowed, falling to his knees in theatrical despair. "The disrespect."

The grand finale came when they revealed the last prize – a Audi Q5, complete with a massive red bow. The winning family, selected through a combination of the challenges and a raffle system that subtly favored those who needed it most, couldn't quite believe it.

"But... but we can't..." the father started, his eyes wide.

"Come on," Niko cut him off gently, "it's Christmas. Let the magic happen, yeah?"

As the sun began to set, someone spotted a drone hovering overhead. Without prompting, the entire group – Beta Squad, Luka, the kids, the parents, the Puma staff, everyone – clustered together.

"Everyone ready?" Niko called out.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" The shout echoed across the training ground, across Manchester, across all the dreams and hopes and joy that football could bring.

Later, as the families began to leave, clutching their gifts and still buzzing with excitement, a small boy tugged on Luka's sleeve.

"When I grow up," he said, his eyes serious beneath his new Puma beanie, "I want to be just like you."

Luka crouched down to the boy's level. "Nah," he said with a gentle smile, "be better than me. That's the whole point."

The boy's face lit up, and he ran off to his waiting parents, who mouthed 'thank you' over their son's head.

"Oi," Chunks said, appearing beside Luka. "that was proper nice."

"Yeah well," Luka shrugged, watching the families leave, "someone once said something similar to me."

"Was it me?" Chunks asked hopefully.

"No, fam," Kenny chimed in, his Christmas tree costume now slightly askew, "pretty sure it wasn't the guy who just got megged by a 10 year old ."

As laughter erupted around him, Luka looked up at the Manchester sky, where stars were just beginning to peek through the clouds. The city that had first shaped his dreams now felt different – not because it had changed, but because he had.

"Oi, Luka!" Niko called out. "Ready for tomorrow's video?"

Luka groaned, but he was grinning. "As long as I don't have to hide in any more boxes."

"Nah bruv," Chunks said with a suspicious smile, "tomorrow we're thinking something much worse... Mafia."

They all looked to the camera.

"Roll the trailer."

But that's another story.