Trial Result

There was no euphoria of victory, no real sadness.

Only exhaustion wrapped around every trial player on the FC Porto training field.

Breathing heavily, sweat flowing, and vacant stares fixed on the grass ground that had just witnessed their struggles.

Some players were lying down, wiping their faces with towels or simply sitting with their hands supporting their heads.

After a moment, one of Porto's staff stood in the middle of the field, his voice clear despite the absence of a microphone.

"The trial results will be announced in the afternoon. Please rest."

There was no response. No roar of enthusiasm or disappointed complaints.

Only the sluggish movements of the players as they slowly headed back to the locker room, letting their thoughts wander to all possible outcomes.

Arghana was no exception.

He just went with the flow, without a word, without a clear expression on his face.

===

In a small meeting room near the training center, Porto's scouts were discussing the results of that day's trial.

Names were being mentioned, players who stood out in their eyes.

"From today's match, there are three names that caught our attention:

Rui Rocha, Gonçalo Vieira, and Diogo Moreira."

One of the staff nodded while taking notes.

Rui Rocha, a striker with sharp movements and a goal-scoring instinct that was quite mature for his age.

Gonçalo Vieira, a defensive midfielder with promising game-reading ability.

Diogo Moreira, an aggressive fullback with high stamina.

However, another scout asked, "What about that Asian kid?"

A few people in the room exchanged glances before one of them slowly shook his head.

"He does work very hard.

Even until the last minute, he was still running around, pressing, helping defend.

But at 21 years old, he's still raw technically."

Another staff member interrupted, "But didn't he seem more coordinated in the final minutes?

It's like he was reading the opponent's movements better?"

The main scout sighed before responding, "True.

There was an improvement in his positioning and game coordination.

But, in my opinion, that's not enough.

Compared to his game footage from Go Ahead Eagles, there's progress, but it's not significant.

I was hoping for a miracle in the final minutes, like when he scored the decisive goal in the Eredivisie…

but this time, there wasn't one."

Another staff member chuckled lightly, murmuring, "No wonder Go Ahead Eagles didn't mind letting him go.

The kid is still raw. But, yeah… his work ethic is truly impressive."

===

Arghana sat at the edge of his bed, his back against the trial dormitory wall.

Around him, some of the trial players were busy with their own thoughts.

Some were deep in thought, others playing on their phones, and some had their hands covering their faces as if trying to chase away their anxiety.

He remained silent, waiting. Time felt slow.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated on the small table beside the bed.

The name on the screen made him tense instantly. Dad.

Arghana took a deep breath before sliding the green icon and putting the phone to his ear.

"Hello, Dad…"

The voice on the other end sounded bright. "Ghaa, where are you now? Is everything okay?"

Immediately, there was a desire to lie.

To say that he was still in the Netherlands, that everything was fine. But for some reason, the words that came out were honest and unguarded.

"I'm in Portugal, Dad. I'm doing a trial at FC Porto."

There was a brief silence.

Then, his father's light laugh filled the air. "Really? That's great! Porto is a big club, son. You'll make it!"

Arghana fell silent.

His father's words should have encouraged him, should have made him proud.

But instead, he felt the opposite. A fear began creeping into his chest.

Fear of disappointing his father.

He realized that in today's match… he hadn't contributed much.

No magical moment, no heroic action to be proud of. Just hard work with no tangible result.

His hands clenched on his knees.

If only… if only he could have been better. If only that Hyper Focus Mode moment had come…

But the reality wasn't that simple.

With a voice he tried to keep calm, Arghana replied, "Yes, Dad… just pray for me."

On the other end, his father's voice was full of hope. "Always, son. You can do it."

But in his heart, Arghana wondered... Can I?

===

The time for the trial results announcement finally arrived.

A large room with dim lighting, enough to illuminate the tense faces waiting for their fate.

The trial players stood in silence, some biting their nails, others pressing their hands to their chests as if praying, and some with their heads lowered in nearly unbearable tension.

But all of their eyes were full of hope, including Arghana's.

Even after the disappointing match for him, something inside him still wanted to believe.

Maybe, maybe there was still hope.

A staff member from Porto stood in front of the room, holding a piece of paper, then took a deep breath before speaking.