Whoosh-thwap!
The old tattered soccer ball zoomed into the makeshift goal which was made of old pieces of metal and a net which had been taken from a piece of fishing net. Despite its ramshackle appearance it served it's purpose well.
Every evening after school the kids who lived on the block would gather here in this backstreet and play against each other. For hours they'd pretend they were professional soccer players participating in world class tournaments like the Champions League and World Cup.
To the parents of these aspiring stars it might have well been a pipe dream but to them it was an escape from the unfortunate conditions in which they found themselves.
One such boy who had this dream was Lucas Jin-Hoo Kim. Lucas was born in Korea after his Brazilian semi amateur footballer father met his mother Soo-Jin during a soccer programme. One could say that his affinity for football were in his genes.
Indeed at the age of 13, Lucas was the best youngster in his district. The accuracy of his shots and his tactical eye on the field were enviable to say the least. Not to mention his nimbleness coupled with his skillful Brazilian flair.
Since the age of 6 he had been playing for one of the few local boy's teams in the district, the Seokcheon Striker. Starting out as a midfielder he gradually developed into a dangerous winger who regularly punished the defence of many opponents.
Lucas continued to play in the backstreets when he wasn't on the field. Perfecting and showcasing his skills to his peers.
Now he stood in the alley with a 2011 Messi shirt which he wore more frequently than he should. Hours had passed now and the children had returned to their homes for supper. But not Lucas. He practised his keepie-ups, balancing the ball from one feet to the other.
One.. two... one.. two..
From above a warm voice could be heard.
"Jin-Hoo get inside, it's getting dark.'
Lucas instantly recognised the voice. Jin-Hoo was the name his mother addressed him by. Oddly enough she had never once called him Lucas. Perhaps it was a cultural thing.
Lucas walked in from the small living room, wiping sweat from his brow, his face still flushed from an intense game of soccer with his friends in the alley. His soccer shoes, caked in dirt, were tossed carelessly in the corner. He tucked into a bowl of cooked rice with kimchi and soup.
Soo-Jin sat at the other end of the table with a serious expression tapping the table with her finger. Her gaze remained on the stack of papers in front of her.
"Jin-Hoo, we need to talk," she said softly, her voice low, almost hesitant.
Lucas paused, sensing the tension in her tone. His heart sank. He knew what was coming. "What's wrong, Mom?" Lucas asked, trying to sound casual, though his eyes avoided hers.
She motioned to the report card, the thick stack of homework assignments beside it. "Your grades, Lucas… They're slipping. You're not paying attention to school the way you should."
He looked down at the floor. He'd been so focused on soccer lately, practicing late into the night, that his schoolwork had become an afterthought. But he wasn't sure how to explain that to her. He wasn't sure how to make her understand that soccer was his dream.
"You're always out there, kicking that ball around with your friends." Soo-Jin's voice softened, but the concern in her eyes was unmistakable. "I know you love soccer, but school is important, too. You can't keep ignoring your studies. What happens if your dream doesn't come true? What will you fall back on then?"
Lucas shifted uncomfortably, his fingers playing with the hem of his shirt. "I won't be a failure, Mom. I promise." His voice wavered with a mix of determination and fear. "I'll make it. I just need time. I'm practicing, I'm getting better."
Soo-Jin sighed. She saw so much of the boy's father in him.
"I believe in you, Lucas. But you need balance. You need to focus on both." She paused, her eyes searching his face for any sign of understanding.
"I don't want you to regret it later, when you're older, when it's too late to change things. Seokchon is one of many districts. There are many children like you all over Korea who share the same dream as you. Only a few will ever make it, so please think about your future.."
Lucas nodded quietly, but his mind was already racing ahead to the next match, the next goal, the next moment when he could prove himself. He wanted to make his mother proud. But for now, he didn't know how to reassure her.
She gave him a hopeful smile, squeezing his hand gently. "I'm not asking for perfection, Lucas. Just… effort. Both in school, and on the field."
Lucas nodded, the weight of both her concern and his own dreams pressing heavily on his chest. But, for the first time, he understood the difficult balance he had to strike.