The System Makes Me a Player

As he was walking home, Dante, who had been just behind Kelvin, appeared and gave a light tap on his shoulder.

"You're a pretty interesting guy"

Kelvin was slightly startled but quickly composed himself.

"Ah... You too. Your name's Dante, right?"

He nodded.

"Why did you come to this school, Kelvin?", Dante asked, showing a certain curiosity.

"There's not much to say, really. It's just because I had good grades"

Dante let out a sigh.

"At least your reason was more modest", he said with a slight smile.

Kelvin glanced sideways at him.

"And what about you?"

Dante hesitated for a few seconds, as if debating whether or not to answer. Then, looking forward, he spoke in a lower voice:

"I wanted to stand out, Kelvin. Last year, I played all the matches as a midfielder...", he paused

"But I don't want that"

Kelvin listened in silence.

"I decided to come to this school because I knew Sanu wasn't known for having great athletes, so I figured if I joined, I'd have a shot at being a striker, at playing the role of my dreams", he smiled.

"Dream role?", Kelvin replied.

"Yeah. I always watched football games and noticed the strikers always score the most goals. They're the ones who celebrate. I wanted to be a forward, Kelvin. Sure, midfielders can score, but...", he paused

"...But it's not the same"

Dante looked up at the sky, as if trying to find the right words in the clouds.

"The midfield organizes, thinks, builds. But the striker… he finishes. He's the moment. He's the one who decides. The one people remember"

Kelvin remained silent, absorbing every word.

"I know it sounds selfish", Dante continued

"But I wanted that. To be remembered. To feel that moment when the whole stadium holds its breath waiting for your shot. I... I envy you, Kelvin"

Kelvin gave a small smile.

"Envy?", he repeated, surprised.

"But you're amazing, Dante. Seriously. You blocked my shot with the kind of precision even defenders don't have"

Dante chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"But no one will remember that, Kelvin", he looked to the side

"They remember the goal. The dribble. The one who makes the difference. And today... that was you"

Kelvin stopped for a moment, then looked at the ground, thoughtful.

"I don't even know how I pulled that off"

"That's exactly what makes it more incredible", Dante replied almost immediately

"You don't think. You just feel. And that, Kelvin... Only strikers can do that"

A silence hung between them for a few seconds. They kept walking side by side, calm steps, as if the conversation weighed less than the walk.

"It's funny, Kelvin. The year I join, there's you, Kazana — even if it's his last year here, he's still good — and even Felipe. Maybe all this is fate telling me I'll be a midfielder whether I like it or not", he laughed.

"People always told me I was good, but not good enough for the front line... I guess that's it"

Kelvin stopped walking and looked at Dante.

"Look, Dante. Don't take this the wrong way, but you're amazing with your passes. In the match, if I'm not mistaken, you didn't miss a single one. Maybe you really are meant to be a midfielder",

Dante stopped and looked at Kelvin, his eyes shining with a mix of surprise and reflection.

"Seriously?", he gave a short laugh, a bit disbelieving.

"Maybe I'm trying too hard to be something I'm not"

Kelvin smiled, encouragingly.

"Sometimes we want something so badly we forget to value what we're already great at. And in your case, I saw how you control the game, make the team work. That's essential, you know? Without midfield, no striker shines"

Dante nodded, seeming lighter.

"You're right. I think I needed to hear that. Maybe my place really is there, pulling the strings, building the plays. And even then, I still get to feel that thrill of the goal, you know?"

Kelvin gave a small smile.

"That's what matters: feeling the game. No matter where you are"

They resumed walking, now in a comfortable silence.

"But tell me", Dante broke the silence.

"How do you stay so calm on the field? I see you pulling off crazy plays, but you always look so composed"

Kelvin chuckled.

"I think it's part instinct, part confidence. And there's the system, which helps me see beyond",

Dante raised an eyebrow, curious.

"System? What system?"

Kelvin widened his eyes, realizing he had revealed his secret.

"System? I meant meditation"

Dante smiled, a little suspicious, but intrigued.

"Meditation, huh?", he repeated, shaking his head,

"Never thought that could help in football, but maybe I should give it a try"

Kelvin laughed quietly.

"You'd be surprised. Sometimes all you need is to calm your mind so everything can flow"

They kept walking through the quiet neighborhood streets, the long evening shadows following their steps.

"Hey, Kelvin", said Dante after a few seconds of silence.

"Can I ask you a more personal question?"

Kelvin looked sideways, surprised, but nodded.

"Do you really love football?"

The question caught Kelvin off guard. He looked at the ground for a moment, as if trying to find the answer within himself. The sound of their footsteps on the pavement seemed louder.

"I think... I don't know", he answered honestly

"I like it, of course. I like the feeling, the adrenaline. But love… I don't know if I've gotten there yet"

Dante furrowed his brow, intrigued.

"But you play like someone who's in love with the game"

Kelvin let out a brief smile.

"Maybe it's just the fact that, when I'm on the field, everything makes sense. The voices fade, the world slows down. And then... I'm just myself"

Dante nodded slowly, understanding.

"It's funny how the field changes us. It's like a place where nothing matters but the now"

"Exactly", Kelvin replied.

"Out there, there are no grades, no expectations, no pressure to be 'the best' or 'the new thing.' It's just... playing"

A light breeze blew, lifting dust and dry leaves from the street. The city around them seemed to slow down with them.

"I used to think that to be someone, I had to score all the goals, be the star. But now... I'm not sure", Dante commented in a calm tone.

"Maybe helping someone shine is also a way to shine"

Kelvin looked at him for a second, more seriously.

"You already shine, Dante. You just need to recognize your own potential"

Dante smiled, a bit embarrassed.

"Thanks, Kelvin"

They were nearing a fork in the road, where they'd likely go their separate ways. Before parting, Dante turned to him once more.

"Tomorrow... want to kick the ball around with me?"

Kelvin nodded with a smile.

"Deal"

"And if you can... teach me more of that 'meditation' of yours"

Kelvin laughed.

"Sure. But only if you teach me how to pull off those insane passes"

"Deal"

With a wave and genuine smiles, they said goodbye, each taking a different path.