Álex learned very quickly that waking up is way easier than standing.
For the past two weeks, Álex had to remain in the hospital to ensure full recovery from the accident, many people came to visit him in the hospital as he is someone who is famous in their neighborhood for his cheerfulness.
"You are now free to go home," said the nurse as she finished conducting a quick check up on him.
Álex nods at the nurse and looks towards his parents who were waiting for him outside with his little sister, Estrella who is just 8 years old.
Álex smiled at her to which she replied with a bright smile as she rushed toward him.
"Hermano (Brother)" she called him as she hugged him tight with her little hands which brought a chuckle to Álex's face.
"Estrella, leave him alone. Don't you see that he hasn't fully recovered," said their mother who tried to carry her away from Álex.
"Don't worry mother, I am fine," said Álex as he pats Estrella on the head. Estrella snuggle under his pats and stuck out her tongue towards her mother.
Álex looked up towards his father who stands at the door with his hands folded. He smiled at him to which he nods back at him in acknowledgement.
"Let's go home," whispered Álex to Estrella who finally released him from her restrains.
The family walked out of the ward towards the reception to settle the final procedures for his discharge.
....
30 minutes later.
The family arrived at their house in Los Remedios. The house greeted them with quiet that felt earned.
Álex paused at the door and took a deep breath, the familiar smell of home drifting in like a soft apology for the weeks he spent under fluorescent suns. Standing still, he realized it is a small victory.
'Finally, I am home,' thought Álex as he walks to the living room to have his seat.
"Let me go and prepared lunch," said Abisoye as she walks towards the kitchen.
"I want to help you, Mom," said Estrella as she runs after her mother.
"How are you feeling son?" asked his father, Carlos as he sat beside his son.
"I am fine dad," replied Álex with a smile on his face.
"I heard about what happened at the academy," said Carlos which caused the smile on Álex face to disappear.
Álex faced down clenching his fist in frustration as he replied softly "I failed you dad," as tears already formed at the corner of his eyes.
"You didn't fail me hijo," said Carlos which caused Álex to look at him in confusion. "It just isn't your time yet," continued Carlos with a warm expression on his face.
"You just have to keep trying and eventually your time will come," said Carlos as he pats his son on the back. "No matter what situation you find yourself, don't give up and remember to always be yourself," continued Carlos as he stood up from the couch.
"Thank you, dad," said Álex as he wipes away the tears in his eyes.
"Good, that's spirit," said Carlos as he nods to his son "Why don't you try and get your touch back while lunch is been made," continued Carlos as he walks towards the door.
"Sure dad, where are you going?" asked Álex as he stood up from the couch.
"I need to see an old friend of mine, I will be back by dinner," said Carlos as he waves his hands to Álex.
"Okay dad, be careful out there," said Álex.
"Sure, tell your mother that I have gone out," replied Carlos as he walks out of the door.
"Alright bye," said Álex.
Watching his father leaving, Álex looked towards the kitchen and left for his room to get his kits and ball so he can practice in the backyard.
Entering his room, Álex look towards his wardrobe where he keeps and brought out a kit of his idol Joaquin Sanchez which he was able to collect after a match.
He clenched the shirt which is one of his most prized collection. He changed into his kits and picked up his ball went to the backyard.
"System," called Álex silently.
[Yes host] replied the system.
"Show me my status window," said Álex as he place the ball on the grass.
[Sure host] replied the system.
[Status]
Name: Alejandro Adeyemi Castillo
Age: 13
Height: 160cm
Position Inclination: Wide Attacker (Left)
Technical Potential: High
Tactical Awareness: Dormant
Physical Development: Delayed
Mental Resilience: Unforged
Current Standing: Overlooked
[STATS]
OVR:50
Acceleration:52
Sprint speed:51
Agility:55
Balance:50
Jumping:46
Reaction:49
Stamina:48
Strength:42
Positioning:46
Vision:49
Ball control:56
Crossing:53
Dribbling:57
Finishing:47
Short pass:50
Long pass:45
Weak Foot Strength: 2 stars
Skill moves: 3 stars
[Skills Possessed]
Stepover: level 1
Potential OVR: 70(average player)
Álex took a deep breath and began to juggle the ball slowly, trying to calm both leather and heart. The first touch wobbled, the second scraped his ankle, the third finally behaved. Tap. Tap. Tap. Each contact sounded like a small promise whispered to the afternoon.
The grass beneath his boots felt different from the hospital floor. Softer. Forgiving. The ball obeyed gravity and nothing else, and for a moment that felt like mercy.
[Balance improving… minor instability detected.]
Álex frowned but kept going. He lifted the ball higher, letting it drop from knee to foot, foot to thigh. His left leg responded well enough. His right lagged behind, a stubborn echo.
"Tch," he clicked his tongue, stopping the ball dead under his sole.
"Again," he muttered.
He rolled the ball forward and attempted a simple stepover. The movement felt familiar in his head, but his body hesitated halfway through, like a sentence that forgot its ending. He stumbled, caught himself, and laughed under his breath.
"Rusty," he said. "Very rusty."
[Stepover execution: 61 percent. Recommendation: repetition.]
"Yeah, yeah," Álex replied. "I know."
He tried again. Slower this time. Left foot circles the ball. Weight shift. Push off. This time, the motion flowed. Not perfect, but cleaner. He repeated it. And again. Sweat began to bead at his temple, sunlight breaking into tiny prisms as it caught the moisture.
From the kitchen window, Estrella peeked out, her chin resting on her hands. She watched him like he was performing a magic trick she had already decided to believe in.
"¡Hermano!" she called softly. "You're good!"
Álex smiled without looking back. "Not yet," he said. "But I will be."
He nudged the ball into space and started dribbling across the backyard. Short touches. Close control. His left foot led like an old friend who remembered the way. The right followed, clumsy but trying. Each turn tugged at his muscles, reminding him where weakness lived, but also where it could be chased away.
[Stamina decreasing.]
Álex stopped, hands on his knees, breathing hard. His chest burned, but it was a clean burn, honest work instead of helpless waiting. He straightened up and wiped his face with the hem of Joaquín's shirt.
"Worth it," he whispered.
He lined the ball up near the edge of the yard, aiming at a dented bucket by the fence. A childish target. A serious test. He took a few steps back, visualized the path, and struck with his left.
The ball curved gently and clipped the bucket with a hollow clang.
Álex froze. Then he grinned.
[Finishing proficiency slightly increased.]
Finishing: 48
"Did you see that?" he asked no one in particular, then laughed again. The sound felt lighter than it had in weeks.
He practiced until his legs trembled and the sun dipped lower, shadows stretching like long fingers across the grass. When he finally stopped, he sat on the ground with the ball tucked against his side, staring up at the sky.
Overlooked, the system had said.
Álex tightened his grip on the ball.
"Not for long," he murmured.
Somewhere across the city, Carlos walked toward an old friend with a purpose he hadn't shared yet. And in a quiet backyard in Los Remedios, a boy with uneven steps and stubborn hope began to take his first real ones forward.