Later on, after we were done eating, we were heading back to UCLA. Bella needed to go to the class at 3, while Evan, Mirandy, and I agreed to go back to the spot right outside the locker room at 3.30 pm. The three of us told Bella that we all turned off our phones so in case she was done with her class (or office hour, as she said), she would just have to find us in the same spot this afternoon.
When we returned to the spot outside the locker room, we didn't choose the same spot we settled ourselves in this afternoon. The spot we chose earlier that afternoon was located a few feet away from the locker room entrance, while our new spot later in the day was slightly right across the locker room entrance. We found a spot right before the fence, which was synonymous to the front row. Now that we got a much more comfortable and even closer spot to the parked golf carts and the entrance, where the players would be passing shortly. There were surely less people later in the day compared in the afternoon. Sweaty, big dudes were no longer there, replaced with friendlier looking fans who brought families and even their bored-looking children with them. Some of them even brought folded lawn chairs right before the fence next to us. "Are they going to do the second practice though?" I thought. There were rumors that Real Madrid might or might not conduct the second practice. If they didn't, then our wait would be in vain. But the sight of fans who were waiting gave us hope.
Evan, Mirandy, and I stayed in the same spot right before the fence for nearly 2 hours, but the wait wasn't so boring as we killed time talking and telling jokes, and of course, retelling the 'cute illustration' joke/scenario back in Daiso. Topics about soccer are of course inevitable. We mainly talked about many UEFA clubs were coming to US right after the World Cup ended. The timing had never been more perfect than this since the World Cup fever was still in the air. Manchester United created a sensation just two days before after beating LA Galaxy 7-0. Real Madrid was scheduled to play against Intermilan in the next two days in Berkeley. AS Roma was coming for a tour too, and ultimately, Real Madrid would be playing against Manchester United in Ann Arbor. Talking about two greatest football clubs going head-to-head. One of our friends, Chun Chun, was a diehard fan of Chelsea and we were wondering if Chelsea would be coming as well.
"If Chelsea was coming, Chun Chun would be gone to see it before we know it." said Evan.
Evan stated that his ultimate favorite team was Manchester United, and his most favorite player was David de Gea, its goalie. Well, apparently we all favor goalies. He said that the meet-up was Manchester United's instead of Real Madrid's, he would even set up his own 'police line' so that people couldn't get through his spot so he could see De Gea closely.
At one point, Mirandy asked me if I wanted to have a paper for signatures. I wasn't really interested in signatures, before finally, I changed my mind. I asked one sheet of paper from Mirandy's notebook. Also, we mentioned about one of our friends who actually went to Real Madrid practice in UCLA last year (apparently they come annually to UCLA to practice almost. Lucky UCLA peeps), and she successfully managed to take selfies with Xabi Alonso and Iker Casillas! How could she even… she was so lucky!! Anyway...
As for the crowd, it wasn't getting much bigger. It was still the same amount of friendly-looking people. Only a couple more people came with their memorabilia and uniforms clipped into clipboards held in their hands. Some of them even had signatures on them. They definitely wanted extras.
Around 4.30 pm, some golf carts were parked steadily outside the locker entrance. However, without any signals or announcement, or anything, a group of men walked from the direction of the stadium, heading to the locker entrance. They were wearing familiar white uniforms. They walked slowly in line away from the fence, a couple of them seemed to be holding soccer balls. Suddenly…
"Alonso! Fabio! Sergio"
It took me a moment to realize that those guys were indeed the players. Their sudden appearance half an hour before the scheduled practice just took all of our breaths away. The next thing I knew was, Evan, Mirandy, and I frantically put our dead phones out and pressed the power button.
Apple Logo. Still Apple Logo. Xabi Alonso passed, Sergio Ramos passed as he smiled and waved a bit to the crowd. Fabio Coentrao passed by. One by one, they walked towards the entrance before disappearing behind the locker door. Still Apple Logo. Dammit. They were there. I got to see them, and my stupid phone was still loading. The sight of the last guy, though, walking in the very back of the line just brought me to a state of shock and disbelief. He looked utterly familiar even though I could barely see him closely in the first encounter earlier this afternoon.
Still Apple Logo. Holy shit!
The last guy faced the crowd, waved a bit, and smiled before he disappeared in the locker room. My brain was still processing (so was my phone) as I looked at him. I gasped as I held on to Mirandy who was standing next to me. "That was…Casillas. OMG, I got to see him. He was smiling." I was out of this world and I swear I didn't see this coming either. Nobody did. I didn't expect to be hyperventilating over the sight of my most favorite goalie but I couldn't help it. I was happy enough to see him. Mirandy held on to me and we were both laughing, but at the same time, Mirandy, Evan, and I blamed our phone for not turning on at the perfect time. They were loading by the time the players were passing by. It's alright, they would pass by in any minute to head back to the stadium. We noticed that some of the players we saw this afternoon were not there, like Pepe and Gareth Bale. They were probably inside the stadium already, as Evan had assumed.
That was enough. Seeing Iker Casillas as he passed by was enough to make me tremble. I'm never a diehard fan of his, unlike my extreme admiration towards Kpop stars (which has sadly slowly ceased). But just imagine seeing a figure that you have long adored, admired, and looked up to, and suddenly he was just in front of you. The feeling was exhilarating, but we haven't touched the peak just yet.
At this point, Mirandy was holding her paper and mine too for signatures. Her phone was dead, so we made a deal: I'd take pictures and she would ask signatures, for both her and me.
Shortly after, while I was still recovering from my disbelief, a guy with an orange, long-sleeve uniform exited solo from the locker entrance. "Iker! Iker!!" there goes the shouting. From then on, my state of shock and disbelief came back. Oh well, he probably headed straight to the cart and left to the stadium, but no, freaking NO, because he actually headed STRAIGHT TO THE FENCE and to the FANS! The fans' arms started to extend out of the fence with their memorabilia ready, meanwhile my brain was still in the middle of processing that it was indeed Iker Casillas who was literally standing right behind the fence across me. His charisma was seriously radiating. I was out of this world. I held up my phone and frantically took pictures of him at every gesture and every second. I couldn't think anymore. Seriously. He was literally a feet, no, a few inches away right in front of me. He didn't say anything and he just took a pen and started signing, and signing, and signing, and I continued to take more and more and more and MORE AND MORE AND MORE of pictures in anyway that's possible to keep this encounter in my memory. I think my hand just moved on its own as it continued to click 'capture' on my iPhone.
Then it came to the moment when Casillas stepped in front of me briefly to sign the papers on Mirandy's freaking hands. Then he moved away from the fans and entered the golf cart. He was on his own. Even when he was stepping onto the golf cart at the back seat (lucky UCLA student who got to drive him), my hand continue to take more and more and more and more pictures until the cart took off.
As you can see, I took literally every single picture as possible. Those pictures above are just a few out of all pictures that I took.
There goes the world's greatest goalie and captain. He was just right there in front of me. Boy was I shaking so hard. Mirandy noticed as she said "Carissa, you were shaking!" and we both were laughing satisfyingly while I had even a harder time to recover this time. It was beyond unexpected. I was happy enough to see his face even from afar, but to have him stand RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, and to have him signed my paper???? This was too much. It was more than I could ever ask for. I couldn't process anymore. Sorry guys, I got too carried away.
But it wasn't over though, shortly after Casillas left, four groups of guys exited the locker room. "Sergio! Fabio! Luka! Alonso!!" Yep, they were Sergio Ramos, Fabio Coentrao, Luka Modric, and Xabi Alonso. Yet Real Madrid was smart enough to have four of their best players exiting at the same time as if they were to drive the fans even crazier. Oh God, the golf cart was right in front of me. The four players were entering the golf cart right in front of me. Like literally, only a few feet away! (I love you, new spot).
Xabi went straight to the second back seat, facing front. I barely caught a picture of him as he was constantly blocked by the golf cart.
However, Sergio Ramos was just a sweetie!! I never expected him to be so handsome in person and he was so nice too! Actually he was one of a few players that waved and smiled at the fans. Even in one of the pictures I took of him, he was being a total goofball, winking and stuff towards the fan. Okay, I'm an instant fan of his! He sat in the back seat facing backwards. I could feel that not only me but the entire crowd had been super hyperventilating, even though they didn't give any signatures, but still, they were being nice to the fans who had awaited for them for so long.
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| Such a goofball. |
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| Luka Modric |
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| Fabio Coentrao |
Then, the cart rolled off, wrapping up our encounter that very day. Mirandy and I were in the middle of recovering ourselves from the MUCH CLOSER encounter. Suddenly I didn't regret to wait there since 3.30 pm. In fact, I never did regret it. The wait totally paid off. We got a so much better view, much closer, having the players standing a few feet away from us, especially Iker Casillas, who was literally standing right freaking in front of me. However, after I recovered slowly, Evan expressed his disappointment for not being able to get Casillas' signature. He was only one hand away from Mirandy. I felt bad now, even though on the other hand, I couldn't stop thanking Mirandy for getting Casillas' signature for me. Evan, Mirandy, and I were thinking to wait for another 2 hours until they returned to the locker room, but I suddenly got a stomachache. It was a sign that I should wrap up all my spazzing time and head back to reality (homework *cough* homework). So, with all regrets, I told Mirandy and Evan that I had to go, otherwise we could stay there but I might need to sit down some place else. They all understood and we all left the spot we'd been hanging around for the past 2 hours. I apologized to Evan because he ended up getting none of the signatures despite already buying the sketchbook (he ended up getting the standard one, without any illustration at the cover. Bummer). Mirandy and I cheered him up and I told him that I would tag him in all the pictures I took.
So we headed back to the parking lot, but before that, we took a selfie of our satisfied and tired faces.
The traffic back to Pasadena was a bit bad since it was 6 pm and people were going out for the weekends, and plus we had to pass by the downtown. Oh well, at least it's been a very bad-ass day. I totally broke my promise when I said I couldn't stay in UCLA for the whole day. Having seen Manchester United and Real Madrid in person for a week were an experience that couldn't be described by words. Plus, I think part of the reason why I suddenly got super ecstatic about the encounter was because, I saw and cheered for the players not long ago during the World Cup. Even though, I was super bummed Spain became the first team that went home.
In conclusion, I think I need to see soccer even more often. Good luck for both Real Madrid and Manchester United for the next matches!
Oh by the way, I had the signature framed nicely in my room now. Just saying.
Oh by the way, I had the signature framed nicely in my room now. Just saying.
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