5: Stardom Collides

Chapter 5

The day for the champions world cup opening ceremony finally arrived. Mia was in her trailer at the back of the stadium with her crew members in sight. Everyone was busy and occupied with their task to make sure the ceremony was a success.

Sofia and Susan were also with her. Although Susan was busy shouting orders and making sure everything was done right, she still made time to check on Sofia after Mia told her everything that she'd discovered.

“Suzy, please do not let Sofia out of your sight. I can't let her meet that disgusting idol of hers”.

Suzy was skeptical but she knew she couldn't win against Mia in an argument. “I promise to keep an eye on her. But you know you've already promised her. Who's gonna sign her jersey?”

“I know Suzy. I'll sort it out. Just keep her busy until after my performance”. Mia pleaded.

“You got it, boss!” Susan replied with a mock bow as they continued with the preparations.

Outside her van, the stage was being set in the middle of one of the largest stadiums in the world. The Supreme Champions Stadium is an eighty-one thousand human capacity stadium of the World Cup championship (WOC) committee in Spain.

The set stage was illuminated with various bright lights, crisscrossing each other in a fancy manner. Susan walked out to talk to the dancers when she took a glance outside. She wiped her phone out of her pocket taking a few snapshots of the set stage as she returned to show Mia.

Squealing in delight, she returned to the van. “Mia, look!” She exclaimed excitedly, flashing her phone in Mia's face as she sat in front of her ring light mirror.

Mia collected the phone from Susan, waving the make-up artist off. Flipping through the phone, “Wow..” She exclaimed. “... it's even more beautiful than I thought.”

“Yes, Mia. It is really beautiful. And you…my friend are more beautiful because today is the day you shine brighter than you've ever shone in your life.” Susan squealed, hyping Mia up.

Mia was touched by Susan's gesture as she struggled to blink back the tears that threatened to make their way down her face.

“Oh, Susan. You're going to make me ruin my makeup, girl. You're so sweet. I couldn't have asked for a more deserving friend than you. I love you.” Mia said, sniffling back the tears.

“I love you too, my very beautiful, famous friend,” Susan replied and they both laughed.

Susan excused the makeup artist as she continued to check on Sofia. But as she got to her section of the van, Sofia wasn't there.

“Hey! Has anyone seen Sofia?” Susan asked the crew members around. They answered in the negative. Susan became alarmed, but she kept it to herself and decided to keep it to herself. She couldn't afford Mia panicking and ruining the whole performance if she couldn't find her daughter.

She noticed the magazine on Sofia's bed. As she got closer she saw Andreas picture and got a clue where Sofia might've gone. Excusing herself, she exited the van and went in search of Sofia.

Meanwhile, a while ago, while Mia and Susan had been busy with their jobs, Sofia was given some snacks, drinks, and toys to keep her from distracting her mother. Sofia was bored as she looked around for something to do when her eyes landed on a magazine on the floor.

Curious, she rushed to pick it up. Flipping through the pages she began to see photos of some footballers she knew. She also saw a picture of her mother on one of the pages and she beamed with a smile as she muttered to herself. “That's my beautiful and famous mummy.”

She kept flipping through the pages until a particular picture caught her eye. It was a picture of her favorite football player. Excitement enveloped her as she read through the page which made her aware that he was part of the players for tonight's match.

Sofia put two and two together when she realized he'd probably be around the stadium somewhere. She was about to go ask her mother if she could come with her when she remembered her aunty Susan's warning not to disturb her mother today.

Determined, Sofia carefully snuck past her babysitter and a few of the crew members as she got out of her van in her search for her idol.

Sofia looked around, lost for a while, walking majestically past all the staff towards the player's dressing room.

As soon as she got there, she looked around curiously. But the players hardly noticed her, thinking she was one of the child mascots for the game seeing she was dressed in a jersey and shorts.

Disappointed, Sofia turned to return to their van, but there was a problem. She couldn't find her way back. She suddenly began to be scared. The stadium was already getting filled with people as they dropped into the stadium in their thousands.

Her thoughts alarmed her. What if she never finds her mother again? She thought.

“Mummy…!” Sofia called out, her voice breaking slightly. Realizing she might be lost, she started crying, when she heard a voice behind her.

“Are you a lost, kid?”

Turning around, she came face to face with her idol, Andreas Leonardo.

“Mr. Andreas…” Sofia exclaimed, forgetting that she was crying a while ago.

Andreas chuckled softly at the child's quick change of countenance. “Yes. I'm Andreas. What's your name?” He asked as he crouched in front of her.

“Sofia.” She replied.

“Nice to meet you Sofia. What are you doing out here alone? Where are your parents?” Andreas asked, concerned.

“My mother is in her van. I left to go look for you and now I can't find my way back.”

Andreas was taken aback by the kid's boldness.

“I take it you're a fan then?” He asked, smiling.

“Huge fan,” Sofia answered, gesticulating with her hands. Andreas couldn't help but laugh at how cute she was.

“Alright Sofia. I'll take you back to your mummy now okay. Just tell me which van she's in.” Andreas said.

“I don't know which van mummy's in. They all look the same”. Sofia lamented.

“It's okay, Sofia. You said your mother is in her van right? That means she's… Wait.” Andreas paused as it dawned on him.

“Your mother is the singer, Mia Martinez?...” Andreas added when he heard a feminine voice call out.

“Sofia? Baby, where did you run off to?” It was Mia.

"Sofia, get away from that man!" She adds, her tone hasty.

Andreas stared at her, stunned, as she walked majestically towards them. He gasped softly as he stared at her as if his life depended on it. She was even more beautiful in person, this woman. This woman who had been the object of his teenage infatuation, was standing in front of him.

But something was wrong. She was staring wide-eyed at him, with a horrified look on her face.

She rushed forward, grabbing Sofia by the arm as she faced Andreas squarely.