The night felt too quiet.
Not peaceful.
Not calm.
Just… heavy.
Phone in his hand.
Screen glowing in the dark.
A message open.
From Papii.
"Debut today."
A pause.
Then another message.
"Scored."
Lamii didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Didn't breathe properly.
He just stared.
His chest tightened.
Not jealousy.
Not anger.
Something deeper.
Something sharper.
He already did it…
Another message came.
"Told you I'd be first."
A small emoji.
A flame.
Lamii leaned back slowly.
Eyes still on the screen.
So it starts already…
Videos.
Highlights.
Papii in a Monaco shirt.
Running.
Shooting.
Scoring.
The crowd reacting.
Commentators shouting.
"A star in the making!"
"What a debut!"
"Remember the name!"
Lamii locked his phone.
Silence returned.
But inside—
Everything got louder.
He's already there…
A pause.
And I'm still here.
Lamii stood up.
Walked to the mirror.
Looked at himself.
Sweat.
Fatigue.
Focus.
He whispered:
"Then I'm late."
Training felt different.
Again.
But this time—
It wasn't fear.
It wasn't pressure.
It was urgency.
Coach watched from the side.
Arms crossed.
Eyes sharp.
Lamii moved faster today.
No hesitation.
No delay.
Every touch—
Intentional.
Every movement—
Directed.
Every pass—
Sharp.
Adrián noticed.
"Someone woke up."
Lamii didn't respond.
Mid-training—
Coach called them in.
"Listen."
Players gathered.
Breathing heavy.
Focused.
"You're not here just to develop."
A pause.
"You're here to reach the first team."
Silence.
That word—
Hit differently.
Not academy.
Not potential.
Not future.
Now.
Coach continued:
"Some of you think you have time."
He shook his head slightly.
"You don't."
"Football doesn't wait."
A pause.
"Others are already moving."
Lamii's mind flashed instantly.
Papii.
Goal.
Debut.
Coach stepped forward.
"So let me make it clear."
Silence.
"If you want to reach the first team…"
A pause.
"…you need to dominate here."
The System
He pointed to the pitch.
"This isn't just training anymore."
Another pause.
"It's selection."
"From today…"
Coach's voice sharpened.
"We start the program."
Players exchanged looks.
Confused.
Curious.
"Every week…"
He continued.
"You will be ranked."
The tension rose instantly.
"Based on performance."
A pause.
"Top players…"
Another pause.
"…get closer to first team
"Bottom players…"
Silence.
"…fall behind."
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Because now—
It was clear.
This wasn't just about improving.
It was about surviving.
Lamii's Thought
This is it.
Elsewhere—
Enzo stood on another pitch.
Madrid.
Same structure.
Same intensity.
His coach spoke:
"You're close."
A pause.
"But not ready."
Enzo nodded.
Calm.
Focused.
"I'll be"
Meanwhile—
Papii stood in Monaco.
Lights brighter.
Crowd louder.
Coach clapped his shoulder.
"Good start."
Papii smiled.
"That's just the beginning."
Training resumed.
But now—
Everything had meaning.
Every pass—
Rank.
Every mistake—
Risk.
Lamii felt it.
But didn't resist it.
He embraced it.
If I want the first team…
A pause.
I can't just play well.
I need to control everything.
He stepped back slightly.
Watching.
Analyzing.
Not just the ball.
Everything.
Not reacting anymore.
Predicting wasn't enough.
I have to decide the game.
Ball comes.
Lamii moves.
Not reacting.
Initiating.
Pass.
Move.
Command.
Teammates follow.
Not perfectly.
But enough.
Adrián Notices Again
"You're different today."
Lamii finally responded:
"I have to be."
The Future Becomes Clear
Training ended.
But Lamii stayed.
Again.
The Sky
He looked up.
Same sky.
Different feeling.
He whispered:
"First team."
The Bigger Goal
Then added:
"Number one."
Phone buzzed.
Another message.
Papii:
"Catch up."
Lamii smirked slightly.
"Watch me."
Three different places.
Three different players.
Same goal.
Papii—already scoring.
Enzo—already climbing.
Lamii—just beginning his rise.
The race had started.
Not someday.
Not in the future.
Now.
And only one of them…
Would reach the top first