Chapter 96

POV NOAH

Saturday arrived.

The most anticipated day.

The decisive day.

But when I woke up…

I didn’t feel just anxiety.

I felt something else.

Something strange.

Since the night before, we had already gathered with the team at the hotel. That had always been part of the routine before important games, but this time…

It was different.

The atmosphere was heavy.

Dense.

As if the air was harder to breathe.

The hallways were quiet.

No laughter.

No jokes.

Just footsteps.

Doors opening and closing.

Low voices.

It was the final.

And everyone knew it.

But for me…

It wasn’t just that.

The last training session had been on Friday afternoon.

Closed training.

No press.

No fans.

No one from outside.

Just us.

Players.

Staff.

Management.

The coach wanted absolute focus.

And he got it.

But in the middle of all that concentration…

Something bothered me.

I didn’t see Isabela.

Not even from afar.

Not for a second.

And that…

That affected me more than it should have.

But we talked.

Even with everything.

Even with the chaos.

I exchanged messages with her before we handed in our phones.

She wished me good luck.

She said she would be there.

That she wouldn’t miss it for anything.

And that…

That gave me a strange sense of calm.

Because, somehow…

Knowing she would be in the stadium…

Made me feel invincible.

I woke up before the alarm.

I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling.

My body was tense.

Rigid.

As if it were already ready to step onto the field.

But my mind…

My mind was somewhere else.

My chest tightened.

An uncomfortable feeling.

A premonition.

I couldn’t explain it.

But I felt it.

I got up slowly.

Ran a hand over my face.

Took a deep breath.

“Today is the day…” I murmured to myself.

But it wasn’t just the game.

After the game…

Everything would change.

I was going to fix everything.

With my father.

With Isabela.

With everything unresolved.

All at once.

No more waiting.

I instinctively reached for my phone.

Nothing.

Then I remembered.

Collected.

Team rules.

No contact.

No distractions.

Nothing.

I let out a sigh.

I wanted to talk to her.

Wanted to hear her voice.

Wanted to know if she was already on her way.

If she was okay.

If she was safe.

But I couldn’t.

And that…

That made me restless.

I went down for breakfast.

Some players were already there.

Sitting.

Quiet.

Each one in their own world.

Some with headphones.

Others are pushing food around without really eating.

The coach came in shortly after.

Firm posture.

Serious look.

“Good morning, gentlemen.”

“Good morning,” we replied in unison.

We ate.

In silence.

The sound of cutlery felt too loud in that environment.

Then, the tactical meeting.

Videos.

Plays.

Movements.

Details.

Repetition.

More repetition.

The coach didn’t want any margin for error.

After that…

Free time.

I went back to the room.

Lay down.

Closed my eyes.

But my mind wouldn’t stop.

Images.

Thoughts.

Isabela.

My father.

Luana.

The threat.

Everything mixed together.

My chest tightened.

The hours seemed like they wouldn’t pass.

But they did.

Light lunch.

Final talk.

The coach spoke with intensity.

More than usual.

“Today is your day. Today you show who you are. Today you make history.”

My heart raced.

The locker room fell silent.

Heavy.

Loaded.

Each one focused.

Some praying.

Others with their eyes closed.

Breathing deeply.

I sat down.

Started tying my cleats.

Slowly.

Feeling every movement.

Every breath.

The adrenaline is rising.

Rising.

Rising.

Until it took over everything.

Then…

It was time.

We stood up.

Walked through the tunnel.

And the sound…

The sound of the crowd…

Was deafening.

A roar.

Massive.

Alive.

More than eighty thousand people.

Shouting.

Singing.

Jumping.

The ground vibrated.

My heart pounded.

Blood rushing hot.

Fast.

Adrenaline exploding.

I took a deep breath.

We stepped onto the field.

The stadium erupted.

A sea of people.

Flags.

Colors.

Shouts.

An energy that ran through your body.

But in the middle of all that…

I was only looking for one thing.

Her.

My eyes scanned the sideline.

Cameras.

Reporters.

Crew.

And then…

I saw her.

Isabela.

Standing there.

Wearing the broadcaster’s uniform.

A microphone in her hand.

But that wasn’t what stood out.

It was her.

Her presence.

The way she was looking at me.

My heart raced.

Hard.

Different.

As if everything around me had disappeared.

And for a second…

It really did.

She was looking for me too.

And when our eyes met…

The world fell silent.

There was no crowd.

No game.

No one.

Just us.

She smiled.

Subtle.

But enough to undo me.

And then…

Without sound.

Just moving her lips…

She said:

“Good luck… my love.”

My chest filled.

With something I couldn’t explain.

Strength.

Certainty.

Focus.

And, in that instant…

I knew.

No matter what happened.

No matter who tried to get in the way.

No matter the chaos.

I wasn’t going to lose.

Not on the field.

Not off it.

Because this time…

I had something to fight for.

And I wasn’t going to let anyone take that away from me.