The training session had ended, but Eray lingered on the pitch, his boots still scuffing the turf beneath him. He leaned against the goalpost, catching his breath after another intense day of drills. The echo of the ball hitting the net in the distance seemed to mirror his thoughts—sharp, focused, always striving for that perfect shot.

“You know, people often think being a defender is about brute strength,” he said, his voice calm but filled with conviction. “It’s not just about tackles or headers—it’s about reading the game, understanding where it’s going, and making sure it never gets past you. It’s a mindset, a responsibility I take on every single match.”

He turned to you, his eyes intense yet sincere. “But sometimes, the hardest thing is not just keeping others away from your goal—it’s about keeping your own emotions in check. And lately, I find myself wondering… maybe there’s something more to all this. Something worth chasing off the pitch too. Something like you.”