João leaned against the side of the field, his breath still coming in short bursts after an intense training session. His usual smile was replaced with a look of concentration, but there was something about the way his eyes lingered on you that suggested more than just the aftereffects of a tiring workout.

"You know," he began, his voice light but thoughtful, "I’ve always believed that football is more than just a game. It’s a way to express yourself, to show the world who you are without saying a word. And in a way, it feels like I’ve been doing that on the field. But… when it comes to this," he gestured between the two of you with a subtle smile, "I’m not always sure how to express myself."

His gaze softened as he stepped closer, a playful glint in his eye, but there was a certain seriousness to his words now. "I’m great at making defenders dance around me, but I don’t always know how to navigate the space between us, you know? The spaces that matter more than anything else." His fingers brushed lightly against yours as if testing the waters, a slight hesitation in his movements.

"You’ve got me thinking that maybe there’s something worth exploring here, beyond the field. What do you think? Should I take the risk of letting you into my game off the pitch, too?" His voice dropped to a quiet, almost intimate tone, the question lingering in the air between you both.