Days began to slip into a new rhythm.
Mateo's life had changed.
No longer part of the youth system,no longer just "one of the prospects."
He was now a full member of the Bayern Munich First Team.
And that changed everything.
Mornings were consumed by grueling training sessions.Afternoons were often filled with tactical meetings, gym work, or recovery therapy.And now — to complete his education —Mateo had to take evening classes online.
It wasn't optional.
Bayern demanded excellence not just on the pitch, but off it too.
They had partnered with special academic programs for professional athletes.
So after exhausting days of sprints, drills, and tactical exercises,Mateo would sit at his desk, shoulders aching, eyelids heavy,studying math, literature, and languages under the quiet glow of his laptop.
It wasn't glamorous.It wasn't easy.
But Mateo embraced it all.
This was the price of the dream.
And he would pay it happily.
One evening, after another long day of training and study,Mateo's phone buzzed.
It was a message from Klara.
💬 "Hey Mateo 💖 are you free after training tomorrow? I have something special for you!"
Mateo blinked at the screen, feeling a flutter in his chest.
He quickly typed back.
💬 "Of course! What is it?"
Seconds later, her reply came:
💬 "It's a surprise 😘 But... you'll have to come to my house to get it."
Mateo froze slightly.
Her house.
Meeting her family.
Sure, he and Klara had been dating for almost two years now —but he had never formally met her parents.
Klara had already met his mother and grandparents on several occasions —cheering for him at matches, joining family celebrations.
His mom adored her.
The first time they met, Mateo's mother had practically pulled Klara into a hug,gushing about how "beautiful and kind" she was.
But Mateo?
He still hadn't crossed that bridge with Klara's family.
The thought made his stomach twist nervously.
What if they didn't like him?What if he embarrassed himself?
He sighed, running a hand through his hair.
No amount of training could prepare you for meeting the parents.
💬 "I'll be there," he texted back finally.
💬 "After training tomorrow night. Looking forward to it!"
Klara answered almost immediately:
💬 "Perfect! 🥰 I'll tell my parents to be ready. And don't worry — they're dying to meet you."
The rest of the night, Mateo tried to focus on his studies,but his mind kept drifting.
To Klara's smile.
To her family.
To what surprise she might have prepared.
He couldn't decide if he was more excited or terrified.
Maybe both.
Tomorrow night, after facing the fierce defenders of Bayern Munich at practice,he would face an even bigger challenge:
Meeting Klara's family for the first time.