The sharp chirp of a whistle echoed across the training ground, signaling the start of another day. Alvaro wiped the sweat from his brow, his legs already aching as he jogged back into position. Morning drills had begun at their usual grueling pace, with Coach Martinez shouting instructions from the sidelines.
"Faster transitions!" Martinez barked. "Cortez, don't overthink—move the ball quickly!"
Alvaro adjusted his stance, focusing on keeping his touches light and precise. The team was working on one-touch passing, cycling the ball through tight spaces under heavy pressure.
"Good!" Martinez shouted as Alvaro delivered a sharp pass to Diego, who turned and played it forward.
The praise was fleeting, but it sent a small surge of confidence through Alvaro. He had been steadily improving, and even the more skeptical teammates seemed to be warming up to him.
As the session ended, Alvaro jogged off the field with the others, his jersey clinging to his back. The intensity of the training left little room for distractions, but as the academy shuttle pulled up to take them to school, Alvaro felt his nerves begin to shift gears.
---
The classroom buzzed with the usual pre-lesson chatter when Alvaro entered, taking his usual seat near the back. Ms. Morales, their history teacher, soon arrived, quieting the room with a clap of her hands.
"Alright, class," she began. "Today, we'll be starting a group project on historical events. I've already assigned the groups, so no complaints."
Alvaro's stomach sank slightly. He preferred working alone, where he could focus without distractions, but there was no avoiding it.
"Rivera, Cortez, and Lopez," Ms. Morales announced.
Alvaro glanced at the girl to see Rivera raising an eyebrow, her trademark smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth. Beside her, Lopez—a quiet, studious boy—seemed unbothered by the pairing,like an immortal saint.
As the bell rang for their break, Rivera strolled over to Alvaro's desk, her notebook in hand.
"Looks like we're stuck together, football star," she said, her tone light.
Alvaro gave a small nod, unsure how to respond.
"Come on," Rivera said, motioning for him to follow. "Let's grab a table and get this over with."
The three of them settled at a table in the courtyard, the warm sunlight casting dappled shadows over their papers. Lopez quickly took the lead, outlining the project's requirements and assigning tasks.
"You can handle the research on the timeline," Lopez said, pointing to Rivera. "And you," he added, turning to Alvaro, "can work on the presentation slides."
"Slides?" Alvaro asked, his brow furrowing slightly.
Rivera chuckled. "Don't worry, it's just bullet points and pictures. Even a footballer can manage that, right?"
Alvaro gave her a wry smile. "I'll figure it out."
As they worked, Rivera's teasing continued, though it was less sharp than usual.
"So, Cortez," she asked during a lull. "Do you ever do anything besides training and playing football?"
Alvaro shrugged. "Not really. It's… kind of my life right now."
Rivera tilted her head, studying him for a moment. "That's intense. You don't even, like, hang out or relax?"
"Not much time for that," Alvaro replied, his voice even.
Rivera's smirk softened into something closer to curiosity, but she didn't press further. By the time they finished the outline for their project, the bell rang, signaling the end of their break.
"See you tomorrow, football star," Rivera said as she packed up her notebook.
Alvaro watched her walk away and thought 'I thought she was some kind of bully, Now that i think she is nice'. He felt his ears heating up slightly 'what am i thinking '.
---
The atmosphere at evening training was charged with anticipation. After a series of warm-up drills and tactical exercises, Coach Martinez called the team together, his expression unusually serious.
"Listen up," Martinez began. "Next week, we'll be participating in the Regional Youth Knockout Tournament. This is a high-stakes competition, with some of the best academy teams in the region. This is your chance to prove yourselves."
A murmur rippled through the group, a mixture of excitement and nervous energy.
"For the rest of the week, we'll focus on preparing for the tournament. I expect maximum effort from all of you," Martinez continued. "Starters, this is your opportunity to lead. Reserves, push yourselves to earn a spot on the squad."
Alvaro's heart raced. The chance to play in such a prestigious tournament was both thrilling and daunting. He glanced at Diego, who gave him a quick thumbs-up.
"Cortez," Martinez added, his gaze settling on Alvaro. "You've been showing progress. Keep it up, and you'll be starting in the first match."
"Yes, Coach," Alvaro replied, his voice steady despite the flurry of emotions inside him.
The rest of the session was grueling, with Martinez pushing the team through intensive drills designed to simulate match conditions. By the end, Alvaro's legs felt like lead, but the excitement of the tournament kept him moving.
---
Back in his dorm room, Alvaro sat by the window, staring out at the faintly lit training pitches. The weight of the upcoming week pressed against his thoughts. Balancing school and football had been challenging enough, but the added pressure of the tournament made it feel almost overwhelming.
Pulling out his notebook, he began sketching ideas for the presentation slides he was tasked with, his mind flickering between historical dates and tactical formations.
"Can I really handle all of this?" he wondered aloud.
His gaze fell to the medallion Luis had given him, its familiar weight comforting against his palm. Taking a deep breath, he reminded himself of why he was here—his family, his dream, and the countless sacrifices that had brought him this far.
"I'll figure it out,Or i can ask someone" he murmured, his resolve hardening.
---