Chapter 42 – Days Before Departure
The calendar flipped.
Two weeks.
That's how long Jota had before his scheduled departure for Belgium.
Fourteen days—not long, but not short either.
Enough time to prepare.
Enough time to feel everything.
And he felt everything.
---
The academy adjusted nothing for him.
No special treatment.
No lighter drills.
If anything, the opposite.
Coach Nuno pushed harder.
Coach Sofia gave him twice as many video clips to study.
"Want to train like you belong in Belgium?" Coach Nuno said. "Then don't act like you've arrived already."
Jota didn't argue.
He ran every sprint.
Tracked every detail.
Watched every match replay—even the ones where he barely touched the ball.
Especially those.
He studied his off-ball runs, the way defenders reacted when he pressed, the timing of his decisions. He watched without ego. Only curiosity.
---
At lunch, Bruno slid into the seat across from him.
"You're quieter than usual."
"I'm thinking."
