Time on the Run 2

A Morning at Academia Igualada

The next day, Daniel found himself sitting in class, staring at his English textbook but barely reading a word. His mind was elsewhere—on football, on his powers, and most of all, on Sofia.

She sat just a few rows ahead of him, her dark hair tied in a loose ponytail, occasionally twirling her pen between her fingers. Every time she glanced his way, he quickly looked down at his notes, pretending to focus.

The teacher, Mr. Grau, paced at the front of the room. "Alright, class, we've been working on essay writing. Today, I want you all to pair up and review each other's work."

Daniel barely had time to process before Sofia turned around, smiling. "Want to pair up?"

His heart skipped a beat, but he forced himself to play it cool. "Yeah, sure."

They moved their desks together. She handed him her essay, and he passed her his.

As she read, she smirked. "You're actually pretty good at this."

"Thanks," he said, flipping through hers. It was well-written, no surprise. But after a moment, he noticed something else—one of the essay topics was about personal struggles, and she had written about the pressure of proving herself as a female footballer.

He hesitated before saying, "This… feels personal."

Sofia nodded, her expression more serious. "It is. People always assume I got promoted just because I'm a girl, like it wasn't earned. I have to prove myself every single match."

Daniel frowned. He had never doubted her talent, but he understood how others might. "That's unfair."

She shrugged. "It is what it is."

Daniel tapped his pen against the desk. "Then prove them wrong."

Sofia looked at him, a flicker of something in her eyes—surprise, maybe appreciation. "That's the plan."

Lunch Break – A Different Kind of Match

At lunch, Daniel, Miguel, and Luis sat together, but Sofia ended up joining them.

"Did you see the Champions League match last night?" Luis asked, taking a bite of his sandwich. "Madrid vs. Man City. That 6-3 win was insane!"

Miguel groaned. "Yeah, but City should have defended better in the last ten minutes."

Sofia laughed. "Madrid always finds a way. It's in their DNA."

Daniel just listened, enjoying the moment. He wasn't used to this—normal conversations, normal high school life.

At one point, Sofia nudged his arm. "You're quiet."

He smirked. "Just enjoying the debate."

She raised an eyebrow. "And? Who do you support?"

Daniel hesitated before answering. "Haaland's my idol, so… City."

Miguel gasped dramatically. "Traitor!"

Luis shook his head. "I can't believe this."

Sofia just smirked. "Guess we're rivals now."

Daniel leaned back. "Guess so."

Evening – A Step Closer

After school, Daniel waited outside, knowing Uncle Mateo would pick him up soon. But before he left, Sofia caught up with him.

"So, about that coffee…" she said casually.

Daniel blinked. "What about it?"

She shrugged. "I never said no. What if I say yes?"

His stomach flipped. He hadn't expected that. "Then I'd say… when are you free?"

She smiled. "Saturday. After training."

Daniel grinned. "It's a date, then."

As she walked away, he couldn't help but feel like he had just won a different kind of match—one that mattered just as much as anything on the pitch.