The Ghost of Portugal

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Chapter 32 – Hugo Arrives

January 16, 2015

João stood at the entrance of the Sporting academy dorms, hoodie pulled up, eyes scanning the street.

The winter air bit at his ears. Lisbon cold wasn't like Viseu cold, but it still snuck under your skin when you weren't moving.

Finally, a green van rolled into the lot.

The back door swung open before the engine even stopped. Hugo Félix leaped out, hair messy, Sporting jacket half-zipped.

"Lisbon's ugly!" Hugo yelled, grinning like he owned the place.

João laughed, shaking his head.

"Good to see you too, idiot."

---

Carlos Sequeira stepped out next, lugging Hugo's bag.

"Take care of your brother," he said, handing João the strap. "And don't let him meg the coaches."

Hugo elbowed João. "I'm saving that for Tiago."

João smirked. "Good luck. His legs are so short, you'll miss."

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Back in the dorm, Hugo bounced around like a pinball, checking out the common room, testing the PlayStation controllers, and peeking into the cafeteria.

"Does the food suck here?" he whispered.

João shrugged. "Depends. If you like rubber chicken, you'll love it."

---

At dinner, Hugo sat next to João at the usual table.

Tiago, Rafa Leão, Miguel Luís, and Bruno Paz all gave Hugo a once-over.

"So this is the new Félix?" Rafa grinned.

"Looks like a smaller, more annoying version," Tiago added.

Hugo didn't flinch. "Yeah, but I'm faster."

The table burst out laughing.

João rolled his eyes but smiled. That's Hugo. Mouthy, but sharp.

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Training the next day, Hugo joined the U13s, but still managed to pop onto João's pitch during water breaks.

"Oi, João!" Hugo called, juggling a ball behind his back.

Coach Martins waved him off. "Get outta here, mini Félix!"

Hugo saluted, laughing, and jogged back to his group.

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After practice, João sat with Miguel Luís and Tiago by the sideline, unwrapping tape from his knee.

"Your brother's got some guts," Miguel said, chuckling.

"Yeah," João said, "he's a pain."

Tiago leaned back, stretching. "Like you weren't the same at his age."

João grinned. "I still am."

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That night, the Félix brothers sat in João's dorm room. Hugo lay on the floor, tossing a tennis ball against the wall.

"Lisbon's weird," Hugo said.

João sat cross-legged on the bed, scrolling through texts. "You've been here one day."

"Yeah, but it's weird."

João shrugged. "You'll get used to it."

"Do you still miss Viseu?"

João hesitated, then nodded. "Sometimes."

---

Hugo looked at him, serious now. "Are you happy here?"

João stared at the ceiling. That question punched a little harder than he expected.

"I don't know yet," he said honestly. "But I'm better at football."

"Is that enough?"

João tossed the tennis ball back at him. "Stop asking coach questions, kid."

---

Before lights out, João texted his dad again.

João:

Hugo settled in. Same room as me tomorrow.

Carlos Sequeira:

Good. Take care of each other.

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As João set the phone down, he thought about how fast everything was changing.

New role. New friends. New pressure.

And now, Hugo was here too.

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He rolled onto his side, smirking in the dark.

"Hey, Hugo."

"Yeah?"

"You're still not faster than me."

Hugo groaned from the floor. "Keep dreaming, old man."

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João laughed quietly into his pillow.

For the first time in a while, the dorm room didn't feel so cold.

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