Hotel León.
The sunlight filtering through the curtains was soft but insistent. It was barely 8 a.m., and while the city outside was already alive, the hotel was still hushed.
In Room 207, Santi lay in bed, his body sore but deeply fatigued. His muscles ached from the grueling semifinal but the exhaustion wasn't just physical, it was mental and emotional. He'd played his heart out, and now, as he stared at the ceiling, the stillness around him was both a relief and a weight. The final was just around the corner and today was meant for recovery.
Santi rolled over, glancing at the clock. 8:15.
On the other side of the room, Toro was already up and moving. Despite the late night, he was wide awake and bouncing with energy. He was going through his routine, albeit quietly to avoid disturbing the others. With his bedroom slippers barely making a sound on the carpet, he dropped to the floor and started with push-ups, steady and controlled.
Every movement was deliberate as his arms strained and his body worked through the motions to get the blood flowing. After a set of 20, he rolled onto his back and immediately switched to jumping jacks, his feet lightly slapping the carpeted floor.
Santi could hear the soft thud of Toro's feet but wasn't ready to join in yet. He felt like he could sleep for another few hours.
By the time Toro hit 30 jumping jacks, Solano stirred in his bed and groggily sat up. His hair was tousled and he rubbed his eyes before glancing over at Toro, already on his second round of stretches.
"You're awake already?" Solano mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.
Toro gave him a quick thumbs-up, his voice cheerful despite the early hour. "Can't waste a day, bro. Rest and recovery don't mean doing nothing. You want to go to the final and feel like you did everything you could, right?"
Solano groaned but eventually nodded. "I'm getting there. Let me brush my teeth first."
Santi remained where he was, eyes closed, letting the sounds of his teammates' movements fill the silence of the room. He was exhausted, his body didn't want to get up yet, but he knew they had a long day of recovery ahead. It wasn't like training, drills or high-intensity sprints but recovery was just as important. Tomorrow would come too soon for them to not be ready.
A few minutes later, Santi finally dragged himself out of bed, stretching as he stood. He felt every joint, every muscle protesting, but he wasn't about to let it defeat him. Walking over to the mirror, he splashed water on his face trying to wake himself up fully.
Toro still in workout mode, was doing a few more stretches by the window, bouncing from one stretch to another. He laughed when he saw Santi in the mirror, already starting to feel the effects of last night's game.
"You're looking like you've aged ten years overnight, man," Toro teased, his voice light and jovial.
Santi smiled faintly. "I feel every minute of it."
Soon, Charlie and Lucho knocked and entered the room, both still in their pajamas, laughing about something. Charlie was usually the first to crack a joke and today was no different. He bounced into the room with that ever-present energy.
"Hey, no wonder you two look like you've been through a war. Toro's doing yoga, and Santi's in zombie mode. What's next? Breakfast?"
The banter was effortless as Charlie threw himself onto the empty bed, grabbing his phone and quickly checking the time. "We all getting some grub?"
"Hell yes," Lucho said, nodding in agreement. "I'm starving."
Together, the four of them made their way downstairs to the hotel restaurant. The smell of eggs, freshly baked bread and coffee filled the air as the staff prepared for the breakfast crowd.
Toro was the first to sit down at the table and as usual, he wasted no time. He piled his plate high with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages and a mountain of pancakes.
Charlie raised an eyebrow at the plate. "Bro, that's going to put you in a food coma before the final," Charlie joked, but Toro was unfazed.
"I need to refuel, man," Toro said between bites. "You think Santos is going to let us sleep? Nah. I need all the energy I can get."
Santi grabbed a protein shake and a banana, trying to keep things light. He wasn't feeling quite as hungry as the others, but he knew his body needed the nutrients. Lucho grabbed some fruit and yogurt, sitting down with a satisfied sigh.
"You know, Santos has one of the best academies in the world," Lucho said between bites. "They came all the way from Brazil to make sure they don't lose."
"Yeah, but they're not gonna take us down," Toro replied confidently, raising his fork. "We've got what it takes to beat anyone. The final's ours."
Charlie, finishing his pancakes, nodded in agreement. "But don't underestimate them. They've got talent. That's why we gotta be on top of our game."
After breakfast, the boys went back to their rooms, all agreeing to take it easy. Some of the team hit the gym for light recovery exercises, stretching, foam rolling and a few mobility drills. Others, like Charlie and Toro, took to the gaming lounge to play FIFA.
Santi sat on the couch, watching them play. He wasn't in the mood for competition right now. Instead, he pulled out his phone, scrolling through YouTube videos of famous players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Their training drills, game footage and pre-match routines fascinated him. The passion and the drive, they didn't just play for the love of the game, they played because it was their life.
He sipped on his pineapple juice slowly, taking it all in. This was his dream and he wasn't going to let it slip away.
Felipe knocked softly before entering the room with a small smile on his face.
"Santi, got a minute?" he asked.
"Of course, Uncle!" Santi replied, sitting up on the bed and offering him a seat.
Felipe sat down beside him, looking him over. "You ready for the final?"
Santi nodded slowly as his gaze focused on the floor. "I've been thinking a lot about it. This is everything. But I know I need to stay grounded. Focus. Play my game."
Felipe smiled, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Exactly. You've got everything you need inside you. You just have to trust it. The final will be big but it's just another game. Do what you've done before in the tournament and play with your heart, with your head. The rest will follow."
Santi looked up at Felipe. "Thanks, uncle. I guess I'm ready."
Felipe nodded. "I know you are."
Back in the room, Solano had already curled up on the bed, fast asleep. Santi didn't want to disturb him, so he quietly lay back, watching videos on his phone.
Toro returned to the room a few minutes later, looking triumphant. "I beat Charlie in FIFA again," he said, almost bragging.
Charlie walked in, grinning like he'd just won the lottery. "You got lucky, bro."
"I don't get lucky," Toro said with a wink, flopping onto the bed. "I'm just better."
The three of them spent the next hour chatting about the upcoming match against Santos, joking around, and laughing. It was easy to forget the pressure of the final when surrounded by friends.
But then, Charlie broke the mood by pulling out a deck of cards.
"Alright, you guys wanna play? I've got Uno," he said, shaking the cards in front of them.
Santi smiled faintly. "I'm not great at cards," he admitted.
Toro raised an eyebrow. "You never played Uno?"
Santi shrugged. "Not really my thing."
Charlie grinned. "Don't worry, you'll catch on. This'll be fun."
They played cards for the next couple of hours, teasing each other and laughing at the way some of the boys tried (and failed) to bluff. Santi wasn't the best at the game but it didn't matter. It was just about being together, relaxed, unworried and enjoying the small moments before the storm of the final came.
The morning was a whirlwind of light workouts, recovery, and chats, but as the afternoon rolled in, the boys were starting to feel the hunger pangs once again. Around 12:30, the hotel staff laid out a lavish spread in the buffet area and the team gathered to refuel.
The smell of roasted meats, fresh salads, and warm bread filled the air. The clinking of silverware and the hum of voices created a comforting atmosphere as the players eagerly lined up. Toro and Lucho were first in line, their eyes darting across the buffet like hawks hunting for the juiciest options.
"Today, I'm getting everything," Toro declared loudly as he grabbed a plate and began loading it up with multiple servings of grilled chicken, ribs, and a mountain of rice.
"You're insane," Lucho laughed, grabbing a few salads and pasta. "You won't be able to move after this."
"Well, at least I'll be full," Toro said, shrugging. "Tomorrow's a big day. Might as well enjoy today."
Santi followed behind, taking a more measured approach. He grabbed some grilled fish, a couple of pieces of fruit and a small helping of rice. He didn't want to overdo it but knew the importance of keeping his energy up. Sitting down at the table with his teammates, the chatter around him was light and playful.
Charlie, as usual, was the comedian of the group, cracking jokes about how much food Toro was piling on his plate.
"You should open a restaurant after football," Charlie teased. "Call it 'Toro's All-You-Can-Eat Buffet.'"
Toro raised an eyebrow, half-smiling. "I wouldn't mind that. But I'd have to make sure no one tries to steal my food."
The group burst out laughing. Santi couldn't help but smile at the banter, he hadn't laughed this much in days. It was refreshing.
As they ate, the conversation shifted to their ambitions, particularly the ones they hadn't talked about much before. Lucho was the first to bring it up.
"I think I'd like to play in Europe one day," Lucho said, his voice thoughtful. "Maybe the Premier League or La Liga. That's the dream."
Toro nodded, agreeing. "I'm with you on that, Lucho. But I'm focused on being the best defender, the best center-back there is. If I can do that, the rest will come."
"Don't forget about me," Charlie said, raising his fork like it was a microphone. "I'm going to own a hotel one day. You'll all be staying at my place, taking vacations while I sit on a throne in my lobby."
The table erupted into laughter at the thought but Charlie didn't seem to mind. He leaned back in his chair, wearing his signature grin.
"Jokes aside," Santi said, trying to steer the conversation into a more serious tone, "I think we're all capable of going far. But it's not just about being good on the pitch, it's about staying grounded and staying focused on what we need to do every single day. We'll get there, we just have to keep pushing."
Toro raised his glass of water, clinking it with Santi's. "Here's to the future then. Whatever it brings."
After lunch, the boys decided to enjoy some downtime. It was a perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and let their bodies recover further from the intense match the night before. The hotel had a beautiful pool area and several of the team members made their way outside to soak up the sun and stretch their muscles.
Santi joined them reluctantly, he wasn't much of a pool person but he knew it was a good way to relax both his body and mind. The cool water was refreshing and he felt a bit of the tension in his shoulders ease as he sank into the pool. He swam a few laps, then dove into the deeper end, enjoying the calmness it brought him.
Toro and Lucho, however, were in full-on competitive mode. The two of them had already started an argument about who could dive the best, and it quickly escalated into a full-on, playful competition. Toro launched himself off the edge, doing a cannonball that made a giant splash, sending water everywhere. Lucho wasn't about to let Toro have the last laugh, so he followed up with a backflip off the diving board that made the others cheer.
Santi watched them, shaking his head with a smile. He couldn't help but appreciate the joy they found in the smallest things. It was the kind of camaraderie that made being part of a team feel special.
After a few more laps, Santi settled onto one of the poolside chairs, sipping a cold drink as he listened to the banter around him. Solano, who'd been quiet all morning, eventually joined him, stretching out on another chair.
"Feeling good?" Santi asked, glancing at Solano.
"Yeah, just trying to relax," Solano replied, his eyes closed as he soaked in the sun. "A bit sore, but nothing serious. You?"
"Same," Santi said, taking another sip of his drink. "I needed this. Just to clear my head."
Later in the afternoon, the boys headed back inside and made their way to the lounge area where they could watch some live European football matches. The atmosphere in the lounge was a little more intense than the poolside, but there was a buzz of excitement in the air. The latest English Premier League games were on and some of the boys took sides, discussing their opinions on the teams playing.
Charlie was quick to declare his allegiance to one of the underdog teams, immediately jumping into an animated discussion with Lucho, who was supporting a stronger team. The two of them went back and forth, arguing passionately over which squad was better and why.
Santi settled into one of the comfortable chairs, sipping his juice. It was nice to see the boys in a relaxed state, their focus off the game ahead. For a few hours, they were just fans, watching and enjoying the sport they all loved.
The energy in the room fluctuated as the matches got more exciting. Some players cheered, others groaned at missed opportunities. Toro was pacing around, constantly switching between watching the match and talking about how he would "handle that striker" if he were in the game.
Santi just let the noise wash over him. It was all part of the team's vibe, a collection of personalities, all pulling together in their own way.
By the time the matches were over, the afternoon had slipped away and the team made their way back to their rooms to rest before dinner. The energy from the afternoon lingered, and some players decided to continue the jokes from earlier.
Toro was still bragging about his diving skills, Solano and Lucho were talking about their future aspirations, and Charlie was on the phone with someone, probably trying to make plans for a post-tournament celebration.
Santi, though felt a little more introspective. He sat on the edge of his bed and looked out the window, thinking about what was ahead. The final was just days away, and everything they'd worked for was about to culminate in that one match.
The room was quiet for a moment, the laughter outside still echoing softly through the walls. He glanced over at his medal from the semifinal, now resting on the small nightstand beside him. He had a long way to go but that medal represented something more than just a victory, it was a step closer to his dream.
With the noise of his teammates continuing in the halls and in other rooms, Santi finally allowed himself to lie down, the exhaustion from the previous day returning with full force. His eyes closed, the noise around him slowly fading as he drifted off to sleep, his thoughts already moving toward the future.