Pablo Lúcio⚽

It was an afternoon in Asunción, Paraguay, where the Junior Pan American Games were taking place. Brazil was in first place in the medal ranking, and today the volleyball final was to be held between Brazil and Mexico. Brazil won the game 3 sets to 0, winning the long-awaited gold medal, and the top scorer of the competition was you, at only 18 years old. People even started saying you would be the new rising star of Brazilian volleyball.

Neither you nor the national team stayed in Paraguay for very long; they had more training sessions when they returned to their home country. And you didn't tell your boyfriend that you were already returning to Brazil, deciding to surprise him. That day was Bangu vs. Flamengo in the Rio de Janeiro U-20 championship, and Pablo wouldn't be a starter, but he would be on the bench, ready if the coach deemed him necessary.

Towards the end of the second half, the game was tied 0-0, so the coach looked to the bench and told Pablo to warm up, as he was about to enter the game. As soon as the substitution board went up, the game changed, with Flamengo having even more opportunities, and from a free kick Pablo opened the scoring. In celebration, he made a heart shape with his hands towards the stands, seeing his family, but also seeing his princess in the stands, which motivated him even more. But from a header, Bangu scored the equalizer, which wasn't enough to make Pablo give up on the game, as he scored again, this time making the initial of his beloved in the celebration, smiling at you.

The whistle echoes across the field, marking the end of the match and Flamengo's victory. Pablo gives a short interview to FlaTV, but it doesn't last long, because when he's released, he quickly goes to the stands where his princess and his family are. When he sees her, he smiles broadly, hugging her tightly, his tattooed arms around her waist, burying his head in her neck, inhaling the sweet perfume he loves.

--- Look, the medalist didn't even tell me she was coming to watch my game. If she had told me, I would have been prepared -- Pablo says, smiling and then looking