At my feet

"Hey, Che… can I ask you something?" Leon jogged up beside him as they left the schoolyard.

"What's up?"

"Why do you play football?"

Che tilted his head. "Why… do I play football?" He repeated the question under his breath.

"Yeah."

"I guess… because it's fun. I like playing, and it makes me smile."

"It's fun?" Leon looked genuinely puzzled.

"Yeah. Every time I'm on the pitch, all my worries just… vanish. It's like stepping into a different universe."

Leon didn't know what to say.

"You know how some people walk into a church and feel like all their problems disappear?" Che continued. "That's how it feels for me when I play. Like I'm having a conversation with God, and He's guiding me through it."

"Wow. That's… kinda crazy."

"Yeah. In other words, I feel freedom."

"Freedom…" Leon nodded slowly. "That sounded cool."

Che grinned. "I know, right? So, what about you? Why do you play?"

"Because I'm good at it. And me and my dad have watched football together ever since I was a kid."

"That's it?"

"Yeah. My dad played semi-pro back in the day."

"So you want to go semi-pro too?"

"Hell no. I wanna play at the very top—Champions League nights, World Cups, all of it."

Che's eyes widened. "That's awesome…"

Leon spread his arms dramatically. "Imagine it. The crowd chanting my name. The money. The fame. The style. I'll be the best of them all."

"It is cool."

"That's my dream."

Che hesitated, then asked, "So… I know this might be touchy, but—why didn't you get picked? You're really good."

Leon's smile dropped for a second. "Lots of reasons. Some clubs just want different things. Sometimes it's profiling. And honestly, I'm kind of a… risk."

"Risk?"

"Yeah, my playstyle. I like to experiment. Be creative. Some coaches don't like that."

"Adventurous…" Che nodded slowly, not fully getting it, but respecting it.

Leon added, "Also, I wasn't released. Just never picked. Yet."

"Are you gonna try again?"

"Yeah… but not now. My time will come. And when it does, I'll take it—no hesitation."

"Me too," Che said quietly. "I want that too."

Leon pointed to the sky. "Let's go get it, Che. By any means."

They split ways and walked home.

At Leon's house, his little sisters bolted into the hallway.

"Leo! Leo! Papa, look—Leo's home!"

"Hey, you two," he laughed, grabbing both their cheeks and giving them a playful squeeze.

From the couch, his dad spoke without looking up. "How was practice?"

"Good. A new kid joined today—he's 13, but he's crazy good."

"You're U19, though, right?"

"Exactly. You should've—"

"You two and your football—come eat!" his mom called out from the dining room.

"Hey, ma."

"Hey, sweetie." She beamed. "How was training?"

"Fun."

"Good. Come eat—you must be starving."

"Definitely."

At Che's house, he walked through the door just as his sister launched a football his way. He dodged instinctively and it smacked the door with a loud thud.

"Are you crazy?!"

"Oops, sorry!" Lana covered her mouth.

"Mom told you not to play indoors. What if you broke her vase?"

"I'd never break the vase." She smirked.

"So? How'd it go?"

"I'M IN!"

"No way! That's wild. Where's Diego?"

"Went home."

"When do you guys leave?"

"Next month, but we'll be there for a few weeks before."

Their mom walked in, saw the ball on the floor—and immediately lost it.

"How many times have I told you two—no ball in the house!"

"Shoot. Sorry, ma."

But when she saw the dirt mark on the door, she snapped.

"You two are really trying me today!"

Che and Lana exchanged a glance—then bolted. Their mom whipped off a slipper and chased Lana down the hallway while Che wheezed out a laugh.

Just another regular day.

That night at dinner, things were quiet.

Their mother finally spoke.

"Ma… sorry about earlier. With the ball."

"It's okay."

"Are you still mad?"

"No… not at you, honey. I'm just stressed. New job, new city. It's a lot. And I don't want to come home to chaos too."

"Sorry, ma." Both kids said it at once.

She smiled. "It's okay, my babies. I know it hasn't been easy, but we'll get through it."

Che raised his hand a little. "Honestly, it hasn't been that bad. I like school. I made friends."

Lana squinted. "You? Friends?"

"Yes. And I even joined a football club. I was so good they moved me up to the older team!"

Their mother lit up. "Really? I'm so proud of you." Then she turned to Lana. "And you? How'd Munich go?"

"I got in. They just want a few more evaluations, but I'm basically in."

"You'll be staying there on your own?"

"Ma, I'm 16. I can take care of myself."

"You're 15. And you'll always be my baby."

"Whatever, ma. Diego will be there too, don't worry."

"Well, if that's the case… I trust Diego."

Che perked up. "Ma, when do I get my own agent? Like Lana."

"You won't. You're too dumb." Lana tugged one of his curls.

"Ma!"

"Solana! Don't be mean to your brother."

"I can't help it if he's dumb!"