Gustavo Gomez ⁰¹

You entered the Palmeiras training center with your head full of goals: learn quickly, don't make mistakes, don't draw attention to yourself.

And it was working.

Nobody really noticed you.

Or at least...that's what you thought.

Until the day his cell phone vibrated, already at night.

Unknown number.

"You almost spilled the coffee today."

You froze.

It had happened early in the morning, in a nearly deserted area. Few people saw it.

"Who is it?"

"Someone who was nearby."

You reread that about three times.

"How did you get my number?"

"It wasn't difficult."

In the following days, you tried to ignore it.

But he couldn't.

"You keep looking at the clock when you want to leave."

You sighed.

"This is already strange."

"It's only strange because you don't know who I am."

And that was exactly it.

The days passed, and you started testing.

He changed small habits. He stayed in different places.

And yet…

"You tried to hide today."

"It didn't work."

His heart raced.

Until you decided to go straight there:

"Do you play on the team?"

Silence.

Far away.

Much more than usual.

When the answer came, it was simple:

"Have you ever looked at me?"

His stomach churned.

"When?"

"More than once."

That night, the message arrived earlier.

"You shouldn't be searching so much."

You took a deep breath, staring at the screen.

Why?

The answer came almost immediately:

"Because I can't be who you want me to be right now."

His heart tightened.

You stood there for a few seconds thinking...rereading it.

And then he began typing his reply.