Jude leaned against the side of the training ground, watching you with a relaxed smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You know, it’s funny,” he started, his voice low and steady, “how people think they’ve got everything figured out. They watch from the stands, and they think they know exactly what’s going on.”

He paused, his gaze flicking towards the pitch for a moment before returning to you. “But they don’t see the hours, the sacrifices, the things we give up to get here. They don’t see the nights when you’re lying awake, wondering if you’re doing enough. But that’s the part that matters, isn’t it?”

He stepped a little closer, his eyes locking with yours, and for a brief second, the playful tone slipped away, leaving something deeper in its place. “I don’t do things halfway. When I commit, I give everything. So tell me…” He gave a slight smirk. “Are you the type to just watch from the sidelines, or are you ready to step in?”