The field was still alive with murmurs, the echoes of the match lingering in the air as players slowly retreated to the sidelines. Boots scraped against the ground, jerseys clung to sweat-drenched bodies, and heavy breaths filled the space. Near the benches, Noah, Leo, Mason, and the rest of their academy group slumped down, unlacing their cleats with quiet exhaustion.
Dylan, who hadn't played but had watched every second, strolled toward them with a smirk. His hands were shoved casually into his pockets, his usual air of amusement hanging around him.
"Can't believe you guys had that much money just to lose," he teased, his grin widening as the group collectively sighed.
Leo rolled his eyes. "Here we go."
Mason shook his head. "Dylan, go bother someone else."
Dylan plopped down beside them, grinning. "I mean, you guys were supposed to be the big shots. You barely managed to score one." He chuckled. "Embarrassing."
Noah, still focused on his cleats, spoke in a slightly different tone. "Tbh, though… something about this match felt off."
Dylan raised a brow. "What do you mean?"
Noah glanced at Leo before continuing. "Your brother's team played like they had something to prove. Like they weren't just trying to win—they were fighting for it, like it meant more than just a game."
Leo nodded. "The guys who called us for this match… they didn't have that same energy. It's weird."
Dylan tilted his head. "You're saying they weren't taking it seriously?"
Noah exhaled. "Not exactly. It's like they had a different reason for playing. They told us to just score two goals and stop. At first, it sounded like they were just testing something, but after seeing the way Daniel's team fought… I don't get why they played like that."
Dylan frowned slightly, but then let out a short laugh. "Man, this is the first time I saw my brother play like that. He's too damn good at soccer to just be a bookworm." He smirked. "Not that I mind him keeping up that image—makes it even funnier when he surprises people."
Noah leaned back slightly, processing Dylan's words. He didn't know much about Daniel personally, but from what he saw today… "I don't know what kind of guy your brother is," Noah said, looking at Dylan. "But compared to you, I feel like he's a different breed."
Dylan snorted. "Duh, I got all the good looks, and he got stuck with the brain."
Noah and Leo just rolled their eyes. Mason let out a tired chuckle.
Then, Dylan smirked again. "But did you just say you guys would've won if you actually tried?"
Noah gave a half-shrug. "I don't know. But if we had our full squad, we could take them on every day."
Dylan laughed. "You're indirectly saying you need me to win. Don't forget that."
Noah just smiled, shaking his head. But in the back of his mind, he was still thinking—just what kind of person was Daniel compared to Dylan?