Arghana walked out of the NOC*NSF building with slow steps, his mind still filled with thoughts about the test results and the discussion earlier.
The evening breeze in Arnhem felt cool, but his mind was still in turmoil.
He didn't know yet whether this hyperfocus would become a weapon or a burden in the future.
As he walked toward the station, his phone suddenly vibrated.
The name that appeared on the screen surprised him a little—Mas Alen.
"Hello, Mas?" he greeted.
"Argha, are you coming home today?" came the voice on the other side.
"If not, I'm on break from college and was thinking of heading to Amsterdam."
Arghana paused for a moment, then smiled faintly.
Since he had been in the Netherlands, he rarely truly enjoyed his free time.
Most of his time was spent training, playing matches, and saving money so he wouldn't burden his parents financially.
Now, with a steady salary from the club, he had a little more leeway.
"Mas, are you going to Amsterdam?" he asked.
"Of course!"
"You can't come to the Netherlands and not visit Amsterdam. When else would I have the chance?"
Mas Alen replied in a joking tone.
"Since I'm here, let's go explore a bit."
Arghana sighed, then glanced at his bank account balance on his phone app.
This time, he didn't have to worry too much about money.
Maybe it was time for him to enjoy a little of the fruits of his hard work.
"Okay, Mas. I'll go straight to Amsterdam," he finally said.
"Great! I've found some cool spots. See you there!"
===
Arghana took the train to Amsterdam that afternoon, relying on booking apps to find a comfortable and strategic hotel in the city center.
With the salary from his club, he could now afford to spend a little more freely, unlike the previous years when he had to save every penny for living expenses and training.
After choosing a hotel near Leidseplein, close to entertainment hubs, he checked in and waited for Mas Alen to arrive.
Soon, Mas Alen showed up with a backpack and a wide smile.
"Wow, finally! How are you, football star?"
Arghana laughed and patted his cousin's shoulder.
"I'm good, Mas! But I'm not a star yet, still gotta work hard."
They immediately went out to explore Amsterdam.
As a guy who preferred a more relaxed atmosphere, they avoided crowded tourist spots and chose places that were better for a leisurely walk and long chats.
Their first stop was Museumplein, an open area where they could view the Rijksmuseum from the outside while enjoying the late afternoon vibe.
There, they sat on a park bench and talked about Arghana's progress in his football career in the Netherlands.
Mas Alen sipped his coffee and asked, "How's it going at Go Ahead Eagles? Still a starter, right?"
Arghana nodded. "Yeah, but next season the competition is tougher.
The club is definitely going to buy new players after getting promoted to Eredivisie.
I'll have to work hard so I don't just become a benchwarmer."
Mas Alen smiled.
"But still cool, though.
From an amateur player to now being at a professional level in Europe."
"How about you? How's college going?"
"So far so good. I've also been watching the Premier League live. The atmosphere is insane!
The players are like machines, no time to relax," Mas Alen said excitedly.
They continued their journey to De Pijp, a district known for its local cafes and more laid-back urban atmosphere. There, they had dinner at a classic burger restaurant.
When the food arrived, Mas Alen wiped his hands with a napkin and suddenly said, "Oh yeah, I've been thinking about taking a football agent course."
Arghana, who was taking a bite of his burger, immediately laughed.
"Great, Mas! If you become my agent, I'm not afraid of getting scammed!"
Mas Alen laughed too. "But seriously, I see a lot of opportunities in this industry.
Especially in England and Europe, agents who understand players from Asia are still rare."
Arghana nodded in agreement. "That's true, Mas. Especially if you can build strong connections."
As night began to fall, Mas Alen looked at Arghana with a mischievous smile.
"Hey, how about we go to the Red Light District tomorrow?"
Arghana burst out laughing. "I'll tell your dad!"
Mas Alen immediately joined in the laughter. "Just kidding, man! Still straight-laced."
Arghana smiled.
After so long focusing on football without much time to relax, it felt great to enjoy moments like this with family.
They spent the evening having a casual dinner at a canal-side restaurant before heading back to the hotel.
The next afternoon, Mas Alen had to return to England, while Arghana took the train back to Deventer, bringing back some new memories from Amsterdam that he had finally been able to enjoy.