I'M ALL THAT.

Later that night, after dinner, Alonso found his mother sitting at the small kitchen table, sorting through a pile of bills. The clock on the wall ticked softly, filling the silence between them.

He hesitated in the doorway, shuffling his worn slippers against the cracked tile floor. "Mama?" he asked quietly.

She looked up, her face softening. "What is it, mijo?"

Alonso pulled out a chair and sat across from her, fidgeting with a loose thread on his sweater. "Do you... Do you think I'm wasting my time? With football?"

His mother sighed, leaning back in her chair. "It's not that simple, Alonso." She glanced down at the bills, her brow furrowing.

"I know how much you love it. I see it every time you come home, the light in your eyes. But love doesn't always put food on the table."

Alonso swallowed hard. "I can make it, Mama. If I work hard enough—if I get noticed—I can help us."

Her expression softened as she reached across the table, resting her hand over his.

"I want to believe that, mijo. I do. But the world isn't always kind to boys with big dreams."

He bit the inside of his cheek, holding back the sting of tears. "Papa had dreams too, right?"

A shadow crossed her face, and she nodded slowly. "Yes. He wanted a better life for us. And now he works himself to the bone to make sure you and Lucia have a future."

Alonso clenched his fists beneath the table. "I don't want that kind of future. I want something more."

His mother studied him for a long moment, then gave a small, sad smile.

"If you want something more, you have to fight for it. But promise me one thing."

"What?" he asked quickly.

"Don't let your dreams make you blind to reality," she said softly. "Your heart is big, Alonso. But you need to be smart too."

Alonso didn't understand what his mom meant, though he nodded, even as a knot formed in his stomach.

He wanted to believe that hard work was enough—that his dreams weren't just a foolish hope. But as the bills on the table seemed to grow heavier, Alonso couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out."

Alonso went to his room and left his mom at the kitchen. At first, she felt very happy when Alonso said he wants a better life for the family, but she looked at the situation of the family and her mood changed. How are they going to support Alonso to achieve his dreams? 

After a few moments, a knock was on the door, and that was her husband Emilio. She welcomed him with a hug and kiss. Emilio quickly changed his working clothes and rushed to the shower to freshen up. She served him with dinner and sat by him soothing his hair whiles he was enjoying the meal she had prepared.

Later after dinner, she engaged him in a conversation as usual. She discussed with him about how Alonso is so much in love with the football game and prepared to become a great player in the future. Emilio knew Alonso was very talented and had a bright future too. Emilio had passion for football and was a very good and talented player at his youthful era. Due to lack of enough support, he wasn't able to make it to the top.

He turned to his wife and said, '' We'll do our best to see our son achieve his dream''. At night, he grabbed his little phone to watch and learn some skills from it. While learning he screamed, ''What the hell''.