The evening air was crisp as Daniel walked through the narrow streets of Igualada, his breath forming small clouds in the cool night. The city lights cast a golden glow on the cobblestone roads, and the distant sound of laughter from a nearby café mixed with the occasional passing car. It had been a long day—training with CF Igualada had pushed him to his limits, and school had been equally demanding. But tonight wasn't about football or studying. Tonight, he had plans, Sofia had agreed to meet him for coffee.
It wasn't exactly a date, but Daniel couldn't shake the nervous excitement buzzing in his chest. He had replayed different conversations in his head all day, thinking of what to say, how to act. Would she see this as something more than just two teammates hanging out? He wasn't sure.
He arrived at the café a little early. The place was small but cosy, with a few people sitting inside, engaged in quiet conversations. He took a seat by the window, his fingers tapping lightly against the wooden table as he glanced at his phone.
A few minutes later, Sofia walked in, her long brown hair pulled into a ponytail, her CF Igualada jacket draped over her shoulders. She spotted him and smiled, making her way to the table.
"Hola, Daniel."
Daniel smiled back. "Hey."
She sat down, adjusting her jacket. "You look nervous."
"Me? No. Just… tired," Daniel lied, scratching the back of his head.
Sofia smirked. "Uh-huh. Sure."
A waitress came over, and they ordered their drinks—Sofia got a cortado, while Daniel stuck with hot chocolate. When the drinks arrived, they sat in silence for a moment, the steam rising between them.
"So," Sofia said, stirring her coffee, "how are you feeling about the under-19 team?"
Daniel shrugged. "It's tough, but I like the challenge. You?"
"It's different," she admitted. "Faster, more physical. But it's good. We're getting closer to real professional football."
Daniel nodded, then hesitated before asking, "Do you ever think about… you know, where all this is going? Football, life, everything?"
Sofia tilted her head, considering the question. "Of course. I want to play at the highest level one day. But I also know that things don't always go the way we plan."
Daniel nodded. He knew that better than anyone. His entire life had been thrown into chaos the moment his powers had started manifesting.
Sofia studied him for a moment. "You're always thinking about something, aren't you?"
Daniel exhaled, then chuckled. "Yeah. Maybe too much."
They talked for a while longer, their conversation shifting between football, school, and random topics. It felt easy. Natural. For the first time in a while, Daniel wasn't thinking about the people hunting him, about the mysteries surrounding his past.
Just as they were finishing their drinks, Sofia's phone buzzed. She checked it and sighed. "I have to go. Early training tomorrow."
Daniel nodded. "Yeah, me too."
They stood up, and for a brief second, Daniel considered saying something more—something that would make it clear that this wasn't just another casual meeting. But before he could, Sofia smiled and patted his shoulder.
"This was nice. We should do it again sometime."
Daniel grinned. "Yeah. We should."
As she walked out of the café, Daniel watched her disappear into the night. He wasn't sure where things would go between them, but for now, it was enough.
For the first time in a long time, he felt… happy.
But happiness never lasted long in his world.
And deep down, he knew it.