The bus ride home is quiet; everyone is exhausted. Some players are scrolling through their phones, others are trying to sleep or having quiet chats with their friends. Che, however, is lost in his own world, gazing out the window. Leon, sitting next to him, notices and taps his shoulder.
'I wonder what you're always thinking about.'
'Right now... I'm thinking about how I could've played a little longer.'
'Is football all you ever think about?'
'Not all the time, but it's what makes me the happiest.'
'You're a weirdo. Try getting a girlfriend.'
'A girlfriend? My sister says I'm too weird to get one.'
'Shiiiid, your sister might actually be right.'
Leon bursts into laughter.
'Guys, any ideas how to get Che a girlfriend?!'
The whole bus erupts in laughter.
'Seriously though, Che, aside from your mom and family, are there any girls you talk to?'
'No, not really.'
'Oh Lord, you know what? If you ever like someone, I'll do the work of helping you out.' Leon slaps Che's shoulder, still laughing.
'Although... there is this one girl.'
'Oh yeah!' Everyone on the bus perks up, even the assistant coach. The head coach, driving, chuckles.
'So... tell us! Who is she?'
'Her name's Amelie. She sits across from me in class, and she's really smart. I've always been interested in her, but I never got the chance to talk to her.'
'Amelie? What's her last name?' Adrian leans in closer.
'Sturmjäger. Why?'
'HELL NO!'
'Oh no, no, no, no!' Adrian throws his hands over his head in disbelief.
'Damn, it had to be the captain's little sister!'
'Captain... she's your sister?'
'No! Find someone else, not my sister!'
'But let's be real, Captain. Che's the only one here you could actually trust with your sweet little sister.'
The bus roars with laughter.
'Nah! Then why doesn't he take your sister?'
'Because she's nine.'
Adrian shakes his head while his teammates laugh even harder.
'Captain, I wasn't planning to date every teammate's sister! Amelie just happens to be the girl in my class I'm interested in. And for the record, I never said I'd date her. I just want to talk to her and see if I actually like her.'
Adrian winces, looking utterly mortified.
'Look, I was never part of this conversation. And I wish you nothing but failure.'
'Captain, even at my worst, I'm the best. You should know that by now.'
The team bursts into more laughter. Adrian warns them not to bring it up again.
The bus finally arrives at its first stop, and a row of players gets off. The second and third stops follow, leaving only three players, including Che. As they near his stop, Che approaches the coach.
'Coach, next game I want to play the full match.'
The coach chuckles, thinking it's a joke, but Che's expression is dead serious. He steps off the bus without another word.
'That kid... he's special, isn't he?'
'You think?'
Che gets home, drops his bag on the floor, kicks off his slides, and begins undressing as he heads to the shower. His sweaty body reeks from the match.
After his shower, as he dries off, his mother walks in and immediately wrinkles her nose in disgust at the mess by the door.
'CHE! What the hell are you trying to do to me? Are you trying to kill me?!'
Che hears her yell and runs out.
'What's wrong?!'
'Boy, have you lost your mind leaving your dirty clothes and socks on my clean floors?!'
'Ma, I was gonna pick them up when I finished.'
'Why did you throw them there in the first place?'
'Because I didn't think—Wait... why are you home this early?'
'That's none of your damn business! I can come home whenever I like, especially to clean my floors.'
Che picks up his clothes and dumps them in the laundry basket. After putting on his pajamas, he joins his mother in the kitchen, where she's already started cooking dinner.
'What's for supper?'
'Your favorite—Maultaschen.'
'Wow, what's the occasion?'
'It depends on how your game went today. If it went badly, it's to cheer you up. If you won, it's to celebrate.'
'We won.'
'Great! I never doubted you.'
They both laugh.
'When was the last time you talked to your sister?'
'It's been a while. Last time we spoke, she said she wouldn't be available because she had a two-week training camp.'
'Wow, that sounds intense.'
'It is.'
'So, did you score today?'
'Yeah, two goals. I also had my first interview today.'
'What! Congratulations! How was it? Did you answer properly? I know how you get around strangers.'
'I think I answered properly.'
'Where will they post it? I want to see it!'
'Fundamental Soccer… I think.'
'Wait a second... oh look, here it is! That's you! And you got Player of the Match? I'm so proud of you!'
She hugs him tightly.
'So happy to see both my babies doing great things.'
'Ma, you're hugging me too tight.'
'Sorry, I'm just so happy for you.'
'Finish cooking, please—I'm starving now.'
'Unfortunately for you, I just started, so you'll have to wait.'
'Okay.'