The Next Step

Daniel arrived at Academia Igualada, his heart pounding as students gathered around the notice board. Today was the day—their exam results were out.

He spotted Sofia standing near the board, scanning the list with a relaxed expression. Meanwhile, Miguel and Luis were nervously biting their nails.

"I swear, if I fail, my dad's gonna kill me," Miguel muttered.

Daniel chuckled, but deep down, he felt the same. Football was his dream, but he knew that if his grades slipped, his chances of playing at a higher level could be at risk.

"Daniel, you're here," Sofia said, stepping aside. "Check your score."

Daniel took a deep breath and scanned the list. His name finally appeared, and next to it—

Mathematics: 72

History: 85

Catalan: 68

Spanish: 70

Science: 79

English: 100

Relief flooded through him. He passed everything. His math score wasn't great, but it was good enough.

"Yes!" he fist-bumped the air.

"See? I told you my tutoring would work," Sofia teased.

Miguel groaned. "Man, I barely scraped through math. I need a miracle for next time."

"Let's just enjoy the fact that we survived," Luis added.

With exams out of the way, Daniel could finally focus on football again. And there was a big reason to—Coach Morales had hinted at an important decision coming up.

At CF Igualada's training ground, Daniel arrived early, ready to prove himself. The U19 team promotion was within reach, and every player was pushing harder than ever.

Coach Morales stood in the center of the field. "Listen up! The senior division is watching. Some of you will be moving up soon. But only if you show me you deserve it!"

The session was brutal. Sprints, endurance drills, passing sequences—Daniel felt the burn in his legs, but he refused to slow down. Miguel and Luis were giving it their all too.

During a scrimmage, Daniel intercepted a pass, weaving through defenders before blasting a shot into the top corner.

"¡Golazo!" one of his teammates shouted.

Coach Morales nodded approvingly. "Carter, that's what I want to see."

Daniel grinned. He was one step closer to promotion.

CF Igualada vs. CE Òdena

The next day, CF Igualada had an important match against CE Òdena, a tough rival from a nearby town.

The stadium was buzzing with excitement. Fans waved flags, and the air was thick with energy.

Daniel sat on the bench, waiting for his chance.

The match kicked off. Miguel started as a winger, while Luis played in midfield. CF Igualada controlled possession early, but CE Òdena's defense was compact.

Live Commentary:

🎙️ "CF Igualada looking sharp in the opening minutes. They're pressing high, but Òdena is holding firm."

In the 30th minute, disaster struck—CF Igualada conceded a goal after a defensive mistake.

Coach Morales turned to the bench. "Daniel, warm up!"

Daniel's heart raced. He stepped onto the pitch in the second half, determined to change the game.

🎙️ "Here comes Daniel Carter, the young star who's been making waves in the junior squad."

Daniel immediately made an impact, sprinting down the right flank and delivering a perfect cross.

⚽ Goal! Luis connected with a header—1-1!

Minutes later, Daniel received a through ball, cut past a defender, and curled a shot into the bottom corner.

⚽ Goal! CF Igualada took the lead—2-1!

🎙️ "What a strike from Daniel Carter! This kid is special!"

When the final whistle blew, CF Igualada had won. The players celebrated, and Coach Morales patted Daniel on the back.

"Great performance," the coach said. "You're proving you belong at a higher level."

Was this it? Was the promotion finally coming?

Celebration with Sofia

That evening, Daniel met up with Sofia at a café in the city center.

"To passing exams and winning matches," Sofia said, raising her coffee cup.

Daniel laughed. "You make it sound like I did all the work."

"You did," she said, smiling. "You're improving in everything, Daniel. Football, school... even Spanish."

Daniel groaned. "Don't remind me. I still mix up words."

Sofia giggled. "It's adorable."

Daniel hesitated, then took a deep breath. "Hey, um… I know you're busy with your promotion and all, but… do you want to do this again sometime?"

Sofia tilted her head. "Are you asking me out?"

Daniel felt his face heat up. "Uh… yeah."

Sofia smiled. "I'd like that."

Daniel grinned, feeling like he'd just won another match.

As Daniel walked home that night, a strange feeling crept over him. For weeks, there had been no sign of his pursuers. No strange figures, no warnings, nothing.

But something felt off.

He glanced around, his instincts on high alert. Was someone watching him?

Up ahead, a car was parked by the side of the road. The driver's window was slightly open, and Daniel caught a glimpse of a figure wearing sunglasses.

As soon as he made eye contact, the car's engine started, and it drove off.

Daniel's stomach twisted.

Had they found him again?