"Off the Pitch"
Theo didn't realize it was Valentine's Day until Paulo walked into school holding a single red rose like he'd just won the Champions League.
"For who?" Theo asked.
Paulo smirked.
"Strategic deployment."
"That means you don't know yet."
Paulo ignored him.
The hallway felt louder than usual.
Girls whispering.
Boys pretending not to care.
Someone had taped paper hearts near the lockers.
Theo hated it.
Not because of love.
Because it made everything obvious.
And Theo preferred things unspoken.
Then he saw her.
Amy.
Same as always.
Hair tied loosely, headphones on, walking like the hallway didn't exist.
Not flashy.
Not dramatic.
Just steady.
Theo felt his heartbeat shift.
Not panic.
Just awareness.
Gabriel's voice echoed in his head:
"So there's NOTHINGGG between you and Amy?"
Theo muttered under his breath.
"Shut up."
Paulo looked at him.
"You talking to yourself?"
"No."
Paulo followed his gaze.
"Oh."
Theo immediately looked away.
"Ohhhhh."
"Stop."
"You're worse before matches."
Theo exhaled.
"Football is simpler."
Paulo grinned.
"Yeah. Girls don't follow formations."
Later — After School
Theo found himself walking slower than usual.
Amy was ahead.
Alone.
He could turn left.
Avoid it.
Simple.
Instead—
He didn't.
"Amy."
She turned.
Small smile.
"Hey."
Why did "hey" feel harder than pressing a high defensive line?
"You, uh… watching the tournament game tomorrow?"
Why did he say that.
Of all things.
She tilted her head.
"Is that your way of asking if I support Santos?"
He froze.
"…yes?"
She smiled wider.
"I've been to two of your matches already."
Theo blinked.
"What?"
"You just never noticed."
That hit harder than a tackle.
"I… I didn't see you."
"You don't look at the stands much."
She wasn't wrong.
Theo scratched the back of his neck.
"Sorry."
"Why?"
Good question.
Silence.
Then she stepped closer.
"Are you nervous about the tournament?"
Theo hesitated.
Usually he deflected.
But today felt different.
"Yeah."
"About losing?"
"No."
She waited.
"About… not being enough."
There.
He said it.
She didn't laugh.
Didn't overreact.
Just nodded like it made sense.
"You know what I think?" she said.
"What?"
"I think you're the only one who doesn't see how good you are."
Theo looked down.
"That's not true."
"It is."
She stepped back slightly.
"And also… you don't play like everyone else."
He raised an eyebrow.
"That good or bad?"
"It's you."
Simple.
No speech.
No drama.
Just that.
Theo felt something shift inside.
Not pressure.
Not expectation.
Just… calm.
She reached into her bag.
Pulled out something small.
Folded paper.
"Don't make it weird," she said quickly. "It's just… for luck."
Theo took it.
Didn't open it yet.
"Thanks."
She started walking backward.
"Don't play safe tomorrow."
He frowned.
"What?"
She smiled.
"You're boring when you play safe."
And then she left.
Theo stood there holding the folded paper like it was fragile.
He opened it slowly.
Inside:
A small drawing.
Stick figure Theo.
Wild hair.
Ball at feet.
Words written under it:
"Play like the street, not the stadium."
He stared at it.
And laughed quietly.
Because somehow—
She understood.
Evening — Home
Gabriel noticed immediately.
"You're smiling like an idiot."
Theo threw a cushion at him.
"Shut up."
"Was it Amy?"
Silence.
Gabriel's grin widened.
"Ahhhh."
Theo didn't deny it.
That was enough.
Later that night.
Theo placed the folded paper inside his boot bag.
Not as superstition.
Not as ritual.
Just… there.
He bounced the ball once.
Twice.
Third time—
He tried a skill he hadn't attempted in weeks.
It worked.
He smiled.
Maybe football wasn't the only thing that could make his heart race.
For the first time in a long time—
Theo wasn't thinking about space on the pitch.
He was thinking about someone in the stands.
❤️ A Small Message for Everyone
Before we close this chapter…
Whether you're reading this alone, with someone, or pretending you don't care about Valentine's Day at all — remember something simple:
Love doesn't always arrive loudly.
Sometimes it's just someone noticing you.
Someone believing in you quietly.
Someone seeing your potential before you do.
Not every heart beats because of romance.
Sometimes it beats because of growth.
Because of courage.
Because of choosing to show up — even when you're unsure.
If you have someone who supports your dream, hold that gently.
And if you don't yet — keep going.
The right people always find those who keep moving forward.