Fever Dream ~ Neymar Jr

Epilogue (2)

There is no excuse for how long this took, I know. I wanted the last ever chapter to be perfect, so I always told myself I need to go back and edit it and make it so, but somehow I started procrastinating, thinking I cannot make it as good as I should. And then the weeks passed and that feeling only got worse. But that's really unfair to everyone who has read so far, so even if it's already too late, here is the second part of the epilogue. Zero edits, it's what I wrote in February and was too chicken to post. Even my note at the end, I wrote in February. So my apologies for this, I hope it's slightly better to have this delayed ending than no ending at all.

~*~

"Neymar scored! He scored!" Everyone jumped out of their seats, celebrating wildly at Neymar finding the net after a penalty was awarded to Brazil. Davi who was next to me jumped up to his seat and was screaming his dad's name. After his teammates let him go, Neymar emerged from the pile they had made, visibly moved. He made his way towards us, blowing us a kiss, which was broadcasted inside the stadium screens and I assumed around the world.

"You know, if they win today, you're going to be the first couple to both be World Champions. That's some Guinness World Record shit!" Toly, who was sitting behind me told me in my ear.

I turned to him and smiled. "That's how we roll."

"Of course, neither one of you has a Champions League title with PSG. Which I happen to have with Liverpool."

"And when did you get so cocky?" I asked. "You must be the biggest diva in the locker room at Anfield." I told him, with the corner of my eye seeing France get ready to restart the game.

Toly chuckled. "No that's Roberto Firmino." He said and we both laughed, knowing fully well that Bobby, who was one of Neymar's teammates with Brazil, was one of the humblest guys around.

A few minutes later, Richarlison put Brazil two nil ahead in the score and the atmosphere in the Brazilian stands was electric. There was no losing today. The game kept you at the edge of your seat, going from box to box, but the scoreline did not change, not until the 80th minute.

"Penalty!" Peter yelled and looking at him reminded me of the countless times I'd see him glued to his laptop in the PSG stands, studying the game on 3P.

"Never a pen!" The people in the stands started chanting, but the referee had made his decision. Kylian lined up to take it, his face focused. He hit it hard towards the middle, but Alisson had already dived right and the ball went in.

"Shit." I heard Marlena say. Valentine next to her cheered for her country discreetly. I was so grateful my friends had made the trip to be here for this, same as Sammy and Demis and the other guys from back home.

Before we had a chance to react, Kylian scored again!

"What the hell!" I yelled. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Brazil was ahead in the score for more than an hour and suddenly within two minutes France managed to draw! Brazil was now spooked and it showed.

"They need to hold on till extra time. Reorganize." Toly said.

"Vamos perder?" David asked me. Will we lose?

I looked at the stand above me, my eyes meeting Neymar Sr who had heard Davi's question. He smiled. "Não, hoje não." I told Davi. Not today.

With one more goal by each team at extra time (Brazil's coming from Neymar again!) the game soon moved to penalties. Neymar was traditionally the last to shoot for Brazil but I was pleasantly surprised to see them change it around. He was Brazil's best penalty taker and it would bring his teammates' spirits up to see him once again step up and shoulder the responsibility. Both Neymar and Kylian successfully converted the first two attempts in the penalty but afterwards France faltered and they lost their next two attempts while Brazil didn't. France scored their 4th attempt, giving Brazil two chances to end the game there. And it was Thiago's turn.