Chapter 5 .

"Accept that place, you know it's the right thing to do"

And that's what he did.

He talked about it at home and his enthusiastic family decided to accompany him to the big city that had long won the boy's heart. He couldn't wait to play for their team and getting into the youth team was not for everyone. Down in the village everyone was proud of him and the day he left was like a big party: Edoardo, his coach from when he was little, wished him the best, Davìd promised to join him soon and all the boys he had grown up with told him not to forget about them.

He was the hero of his people and this made him feel a little more confident and proud of himself.

But the person he had to thank more than the others was Sofia. If it hadn't been for the girl he probably wouldn't have accepted, he would have regretted his choice when he grew up and stayed there playing in his small town team. If only he could have thanked her.

But she wasn't real, maybe a trick of his imagination trying to make him make sensible decisions when he was confused. But...those feelings he felt when he dreamt of her seemed so real: the laughter, the games they played when they were younger.

That almost kiss.

He had felt it, that beat. He had felt his own heart beating like a madman, and surely that doesn't happen for something that isn't real.

But what was the explanation for the fact that they only met in dreams?

He shook his head and threw himself on his new bed, in that sad room of his new football school. By now he was of age and who knows, maybe soon he would be playing in the first team!

Being of age.

It meant being his own master, beginning his own journey into the adult world full of obstacles to face. But he was happy because he would face them all like a true hero.

As he expected, his days in the city were far from easy. Between school, tough training sessions, games and Mum calling every single day, things started to get tough for Mateo. However, when he remembered the sacrifices his family had made, he would pull himself together and carry on with his head held high, just as his father had told him a few years earlier.

Sofia? He had not seen her again. He had convinced himself that she was just a figment of his imagination and this had led him to put aside his thoughts about the girl and her possible existence.

Then, he met Nadia.

She was the cousin of one of his teammates. Tall, beautiful and a first-time model who, of course, was already loved by many.

The fact that she was receiving all that attention already made the young man lose his nerve, but he was spurred on by her cousin, as she had asked for him after seeing him play in a match. Nadia had realised that this boy would soon become a very famous footballer - it was as if she had it written on his forehead - and what better opportunity than that to use him as a springboard? Besides, Mateo was a good-looking guy, he had to admit it: he was tall, with green eyes that would have turned the heads of any girl on the planet, and he certainly had the physique of a Greek god. His hair, however, was reminiscent of Michelangelo's David.So they started going out, with the boy convinced that he had found the girl of his dreams. He was really happy to spend time with her, he felt good, happy. But something was missing.

Although she had told him after six months and after her magnificent debut in the first team that she loved him, the young man could not say it sincerely; he wanted to be with her but why couldn't he try harder, to love her?

He knew it wasn't just about friendship, but it didn't go beyond that... something he felt for her. Yet he saw himself married to her, with children.

"She is perfect, Raf" said to his brother, when he came to see him from France - the country where he now played. "I am crazy, crazy about her"

"And Sofia? "

How many years has it been since he heard that name.

Mateo lost a beat when his brother's voice boomed in his mind and shook his head, sighing."I think it was - you know when we had imaginary friends as children? That's it. I think it was just that"

Rafael didn't seem convinced by his brother's explanation. Even when they were younger his older brother talked about this child and seemed happy, even though it sounded crazy. Over the years he swore that Mateo had fallen in love with her, so it seemed strange to him that he was breathing for that bimbo Nadia. Yes, because Rafael didn't like her. He couldn't stand her attitude as the diva, the snob, the little princess she wasn't; he was convinced she was "riding the wave" of her brother just out of interest.

No, he had to remind him of his love (because that was it, he was convinced of it!) for Sofia and he would do anything to succeed.

"There is a Japanese legend that says every person has an invisible red thread tied to his left little finger from birth that binds him to his soul mate. It is indestructible, very long and can tangle all they want but these two souls will sooner or later meet and stay together for the rest of their lives."

Convinced he was talking about Nadia Mateo nodded, wrinkling his nose and looking at his brother with an ebony face. How he wished, Rafael, to tell him the truth! But he seemed happy, and perhaps it was not his role to tell him -his- truth.

"Dreams come true, hermano." he merely said.