17 One Dreamer to another.

Kai's heart sank as his mother's words cut through him like a sharp knife. He had always known that she disapproved of his passion for football, but the way she spoke now made him feel as if he had let her down irreparably. He wanted to defend himself, to tell her that he had worked hard and that he wasn't going to give up on his dream, but he knew that it would be futile.

"You will never understand, mother," Kai said, his voice filled with frustration. "Football is not just a game, it's my life. It's what makes me happy, and I can't give that up just to satisfy your outdated beliefs."

"Outdated beliefs?" his mother retorted, her eyes blazing with anger. "How dare you speak to me like that, Kai? I'm your mother, and I only want what's best for you. Do you think chasing your dreams will bring you happiness? No! It will only lead to heartache and disappointment."

Kai felt a pang of sadness as he saw the distance growing between him and his mother. They had always been close, but now it seemed like they were living in two different worlds. He wanted to bridge the gap between them, but he didn't know how.

"Mother, I'm not giving up on my dreams," he said, his voice pleading. "I know it's hard for you to understand, but this is who I am. I'm not going to change just to please you."

"You're being selfish, Kai," his mother said, her voice shaking with emotion. "You don't care about anyone else's feelings but your own. You're throwing your life away for a silly game. You could have had a great career in medicine, but instead, you choose to chase a pipe dream."

Kai's eyes widened in shock. He couldn't believe his mother was saying these things to him. He had always thought that she would support him no matter what, but now it seemed like she was trying to tear him down.

"Pipe dream?" he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You think my dream is just a pipe dream? It's not, mother. It's real, and I'm going to make it happen, no matter what you say."

With those words, Kai turned and walked away from his mother, his heart heavy with sorrow. He knew that their relationship would never be the same again, and that thought filled him with a deep sense of regret. He didn't know what the future held, but he knew that he couldn't give up on his dream, no matter what anyone else thought, right?

Kai's friends looked at each other in shock, their eyes filled with concern for their friend. They never knew Kai's mother didn't support his dreams of becoming a footballer, nor did they know their disagreement was so intense. The other players watched as Kai's mother continued to scream at him, her face twisted in anger and disappointment.

Zagadou: "Hey..."

Nkunku: "Bro. Are you––"

They tried to approach him

Kai: "No. Go away."

He pushed them away. His heart was heavy with emotion, and he couldn't believe that his mother had shown up at the trial just to berate him in front of everyone. He felt embarrassed and ashamed, as if he had let everyone down, including himself.

As Kai walked away from the pitch, he tried to keep his emotions in check, but tears streamed down his face. He was hurt and angry, but he also knew that he couldn't give up on his dream of becoming a footballer. Despite everything, he still held onto a glimmer of hope that he could prove his mother wrong.

However, as he walked further away from the pitch, he couldn't shake off the feeling that he and his mother were growing further apart. The argument had been so intense that he wasn't sure if they could ever repair their relationship. He had always felt like he was living in his mother's shadow, and that she had never truly understood him. The argument had only confirmed this, and Kai was left feeling alone and isolated.

Kai knew that he couldn't give up on his dream of becoming a footballer, but he also knew that he couldn't ignore his mother's feelings either. As he walked down the street, his mind was racing with thoughts and emotions, and he wasn't sure what to do next.

Kai was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't even see where he was going.

"Ouch!"

Suddenly, he collided with someone. He looked up to see the youth manager of his local club staring back at him with a cold, hard expression.

Kai's heart sank. He had promised to be there for the tryout, but he had abandoned the opportunity to try out for PSG. Kai knew he had made a mistake and regretted his decision.

"Hey, Mr Marley," Kai said, hoping to get a response. But the fatty just ignored him and walked away, leaving Kai feeling ashamed and embarrassed. He knew he had let the manager down, and he didn't blame him for ignoring him. Kai opened his mouth to say something, but the words stuck in his throat.

Kai knew he had let everyone down, including his mother and his friends. He felt like he had no one left to turn to, and his dreams of becoming a footballer were slipping away from him.

He realized that he had been foolish to think that one tryout at PSG could change everything. He should have listened to his mother and stayed in school, pursuing a white-collar job like she had always wanted.

Kai felt lost and alone, with no idea what to do next. He couldn't go back to his mother, who he knew would only condemn him for his actions, and he couldn't face his friends, who he felt had seen him at his lowest point.

He was left to wander the streets, lost in his own thoughts and regrets.

Kai wandered around the city aimlessly, lost in his thoughts. He was overwhelmed with regret for having missed the tryouts at his local club and disappointed with his performance at PSG's trial. The day passed quickly as Kai roamed around, reminiscing about the moments leading up to his tryout and imagining how his life would have been different if he had made the right choice.

Kai's Nokia phone vibrated. He picked it up as he scanned the notifications.

.

Big Boy Dan: Hey man, just wanted to check in and see how you're doing. I know the trial didn't go as planned, but don't let it get you down. Let's grab lunch sometime this week and talk about your next steps. Keep your head up!

Starboy101: Yo. It's Nkunku. I heard about the trial and I'm really sorry it didn't work out. But listen, don't let this setback define you. Let me know if you need anything, okay?

T-Rex Hernandez: Whoa, I can't believe they didn't see your potential, Kai! You're one of the smartest players I've ever met, and your vision on the field is incredible. Don't let this get you down, man. Oh! If we ever have a rematch, I will train you personally. (evil smile) (evil smile)

The Better Hernandez: Failure is just a temporary setback. It's how you respond to it that really matters.

.

Kai deleted the messages.

As the sun began to set, Kai found himself at a park near his home. The sky was painted in shades of orange and pink, and the sound of children playing filled the air. But Kai couldn't enjoy the moment; his mind was consumed with thoughts of disappointment and regret. The park slowly emptied out as parents called their children to go home, and Kai was left sitting on a bench alone.

Night came, and the park was now deserted. The streetlights flickered on, casting an eerie glow over the area. Kai shivered as a cold wind blew, but he didn't move from his spot. He was lost in thought, replaying the events of the day over and over again in his mind. The night seemed endless as he sat there, pondering his future and his relationship with his mother.

.

As Kai was walking down the street lost in his thoughts, he heard a little voice calling out to him. He looked down to see a young boy, no older than six or seven years old, looking up at him with wide eyes.

"You can be anything you want to be," the child said with a big smile.

Kai was taken aback for a moment, but he couldn't help but smile at the child's innocence and optimism. "Thank you, little guy," Kai replied, feeling a glimmer of hope stirring within him.

The child looked up at Kai with a serious expression on his face. "My mom always says that if you work hard and believe in yourself, you can achieve anything."

Kai felt a pang of sadness in his chest as he thought about his recent struggles and failures. "Sometimes it's not that simple," he said, his voice tinged with bitterness.

The child looked up at him with a look of understanding beyond his years. "But you can't give up," he said, putting a hand on Kai's leg. "You have to keep trying and never give up on your dreams."

Kai looked down at the child, feeling a surge of emotion welling up inside him. "You think?," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

The child beamed up at Kai. He nodded, then turned and ran off down the street. Kai watched him go, feeling a newfound sense of uncertainty stirring within him. Maybe, just maybe, he could still achieve his dream of becoming a great footballer.