When it was 9:50, I left home, put on a black jacket, and went to the corner where Rodrigo said he'd pick me up. Minutes later, the headlights of a black hatch lit up the street. The window rolled down, and Rodrigo's head popped out.

"Hop in!"

I got into the car, and right away I saw Ian and Dante in the back seat, laughing at some joke only they seemed to get. The car already had loud music playing, and the mood was way different from what we were used to at practice.

"So, ready?", asked Rodrigo, with that mischievous grin.

"You still haven't said where we're going", I said, adjusting the seatbelt.

"It's better to feel it than to know it", he replied, stepping on the gas.

The car moved through the lit streets, while Ian and Dante kept laughing. Their energy was contagious. For a few minutes, I completely forgot about the match, the marking, the passes, the strategies.

Rodrigo drove safely, but from time to time he glanced at us in the rearview mirror, as if enjoying our curiosity. After about 15 minutes, he turned onto a road I rarely used. The city started to fade behind us, and the lights grew fewer.

"Are you taking us into the woods?", Dante joked, pretending to be worried.

Rodrigo laughed.

"Relax, trust me"

Perfect! I'll continue exactly where the scene left off — the four of us in the car, Rodrigo driving us to some "surprise" place.

Rodrigo stayed firm on the dark road, and I started to suspect he really was taking us somewhere isolated. Houses became fewer and fewer, the streetlights dimmed, until suddenly, in the middle of the darkness, colorful lights appeared in the distance. Red, blue, green, flashing and moving as if they came from another world.

"What the hell is that?", asked Ian, leaning forward.

Rodrigo just smiled, slowing down. A few meters later, the road opened up and revealed a large ranch, with several cars parked outside. The sound of music came muffled, but strong enough to make the car windows shake. People were coming in and out through the gate, laughing, dancing, talking loudly.

My stomach tightened instantly. This wasn't what I had imagined. I thought Rodrigo would take us to a lookout point, a calm place, or at most a different kind of restaurant. But no. It was a party, one of those big ones, with drinks, smoke, and too many people.

"Rodrigo…", I said, unable to hide my surprise, "You didn't say it was a party"

He shrugged, parking the car near the gate.

"I said it was a cool place. And it is. You're gonna like it"

Dante's eyes widened as he looked out the window.

"Dude, this looks like a college party"

Ian laughed, but there was a trace of hesitation in it.

"Yeah, this really wasn't what I was expecting"

I stayed quiet for a few seconds, watching the people going in. Guys with caps turned backward, girls in shiny dresses, bottles being passed from hand to hand, lights flashing in the dark. The heavy beat of the music thumped in my chest even from outside.

"I don't know, Rodrigo…", I said, crossing my arms, "We've got a match tomorrow. Do you really think this is a good idea?"

He turned to me, still smiling, but with a serious look in his eyes.

"Relax, Kelvin. It's not like we're gonna stay out all night. It's just to take our minds off things a bit. If we keep thinking only about the match, we'll end up stepping on the field too wound up"

His words spun in my head. I knew he had a point, but at the same time… this environment felt dangerous to me. Not in the sense of fights or trouble, but as a distraction.

Dante, who had been staring into the ranch, finally spoke:

"It is weird, yeah. But think, Kelvin, we're always too focused. Maybe it's good to let loose a bit, just for tonight"

Ian added:

"Yeah, man. Look, if we don't like it, we'll just leave. Simple as that"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. They seemed convinced. Me? Not so much. But the idea of heading back alone didn't sound appealing either. I took a deep breath and opened the door.

"Alright. But if this goes south, it's Rodrigo's fault"

"Fair enough", Dante said, laughing.

We got out of the car and headed toward the gate. The sound grew even stronger, mixed with people shouting greetings, hurried footsteps, and the unmistakable smell of alcohol in the air. Two big guys were standing at the entrance, checking who went in, but when they saw Rodrigo, they smiled and let us pass without even asking anything.

"You already knew this place?", I asked, suspicious.

Rodrigo just winked at me.

"I've got my contacts"

We went in. The scene inside was even more intense. A grass field had been turned into an improvised parking lot. Further back, the main house of the ranch was lit up with colorful spotlights flashing in sync with the music's beat. A DJ on a small stage controlled everything, and a crowd was dancing in front of him. People jumping, sweating, smiling. Others were scattered in groups, holding plastic cups, some sitting on inflatable sofas, others in makeshift chairs.

I blinked several times, trying to take in the environment. The sound was loud, almost deafening. The smell was a mix of alcohol, cheap perfume, and cigarette smoke. Every second, someone bumped into me, or ran past, or laughed loudly beside me.

"Damn…", Ian muttered, scratching his neck, "This is bigger than I thought"

Dante looked around, suspicious.

"Yeah, this isn't what I imagined either"

"Me neither", I added, "This doesn't feel good for us"

Rodrigo turned to face the three of us.

"Relax, man. Nobody's forcing you to drink or do anything stupid. It's just a party. We hang out for a bit, enjoy the vibe, talk… and then leave"

Ian gave a half-smile.

"I think it could be fun"

Dante agreed, though he still had that strange expression.

"Yeah, let's stay for a bit. No harm in that"

They looked at each other, and I noticed they were more open to trying it than I was. I crossed my arms, taking a deep breath.

"Fine. But if I feel this isn't for us, I'm leaving"

Rodrigo gave me a light pat on the shoulder.

"Fair"

We kept walking toward the central area. With each step, it was like diving into a completely different universe. A group of girls walked by laughing, one of them even waved at us. Two guys clinked cups in the corner, shouting "Cheers!" before downing everything in one go. The ground was wet in some spots, probably from spilled drinks.

Someone offered us plastic cups, but I shook my head. Ian refused too, Dante did the same. Rodrigo only grabbed a soda, which surprised me.

"You think this won't spread if people find out we were here?", I asked, almost shouting over the music.

"No one's gonna know", Rodrigo replied calmly, "Trust me"

He seemed so sure that I was left without arguments.

We stopped in a more distant corner, where it was easier to talk without yelling so much. From there, I could see the dance floor, the crowd moving as one. The lights flashed over everyone, creating an almost hypnotic effect.

But I couldn't relax. Every face that passed, every loud laugh, made me feel out of place. Ian seemed uncomfortable too, though he forced a smile. Dante crossed his arms, analyzing everything.

"Strange, huh?", he commented.

"Very", I replied.

Ian shrugged.

"But also… when are we ever gonna get another chance to see a party like this? I'm not saying we need to throw ourselves into it, but… just watching is interesting enough"

Dante nodded.

"Yeah, man. Think of it as an experience. We don't need to do anything that'll mess with the match. Just chill, talk, laugh a bit"

I took a deep breath. Maybe they were right. It wasn't like we were committing a crime. We were just… seeing a part of life we normally didn't see.

And for the first time since we arrived, I felt that maybe… just maybe… it wouldn't be so bad after all.

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