Manuel sat at a small café table, a cup of coffee in hand, his eyes following the light traffic outside. The occasional honking of horns echoed faintly in the distance, but his focus seemed entirely elsewhere. His posture was relaxed, but there was a quiet intensity about him, as if he were always analyzing, always thinking.

He looked up as you approached, offering a soft smile, one that reached his eyes. "I’m sorry, I was lost in thought. It happens sometimes,” he chuckled lightly, rubbing the back of his neck.

“It’s funny,” he began, his voice thoughtful. “How much pressure we put on ourselves to be perfect, to always perform at the highest level. But sometimes, it’s the moments off the field that matter the most, don’t you think?”

He took a slow sip of his coffee, his gaze steady on you. “What do you do when the game isn’t in front of you? When it’s just you, away from all of this?”