Madrid

Alana

Dios, how did this happen? When he introduced me to that girl, my world came crashing down. It can not be! Dani has never brought a girlfriend to introduce the family, I think he’s never had a girlfriend, or anything serious with anyone, so that means he has some feelings for her, and it’s not just sex. That worries me.

She squeezes my hand and then hugs me, I smile and don’t show any more reaction, I just keep controlling my emotions so I don’t freak out. They talk and ask me questions, and I just shake my head, and keep smiling, the most awkward smile possible, and expressionless. I feel devastated, I need to run, get away from this place. I distance myself from the couple, I still can’t believe everything I’ve heard, it can’t be possible, he can’t be in love, how did this happen? My real desire is to scream, cry, and make a real freak show in front of everyone, but I know it would be wrong to do so, so the best thing to do is take my team out of the field. I walk backwards, I feel so bad, so perplexed that I don’t even realize I’m bumping into someone, and I hear only a hoarse voice behind me, which takes me out of the damn trance I’m in.

– I see that living this time in Brazil has done you a lot of good! You are more beautiful, cariño! – I don’t look back, but because of the husky voice, the engaging words, and the way he called me, “cariño”. There’s only one person who calls me that, Raúl.

– If you say! – I answer a little annoyed, I turn and face him.

During these two years, I saw images of him and some games on TV , but seeing him in person enchants me a little. He’s always been handsome, but he looks different. I don’t know if it’s the tattoos spread over her arm, her brown hair falling close to her eyes or her vibrant smile, which Edu and Babi used to call “wet panties” and I personally find it ridiculous, but I have to confess that I’ve always liked see you smiling.

– You look upset, what’s wrong? – Didn’t like what I said? He asks me and brings his hand up to my face, and caresses it.

– No, imagine! I love it when you praise me and call me cariño. I just didn’t like the presence of some people I don’t even know, and who are at this party!

– Are you talking about Isabella? – Will this exaggerated jealousy with her brother never end? he asks me in a playful tone, hugs me tight, and then speaks right next to my ear. – I missed you so much, cariño!-

Your hug soothes me. He was always so kind to me. My friends, Babi and Edu, loved to create meaningless stories, and they thought that Raúl was in love with me, and that we agreed. I couldn’t, and I still can’t believe it, he always dated girls who looked like super models , so why would he be interested in me? Also, loving him as a friend, a brother friend, was something I should have felt for Dani, but didn’t. Maybe my life would be easier if I fell in love with Raúl.

– It ‘s not jealousy! – I just don’t like coming home and meeting people I don’t know, and she seems pretty boring! – I answer, and I make a face, he smiles and answers me.

– But you don’t even know her, and I think you’d better get used to it, because he seems in love with her!

– How long have they been together? – When did all this happen? Why did I only find out now? – I bomb Raúl with questions.

– It’s been more than a year since they met and it seems like it was love at first sight, and you can’t complain that you didn’t know, because as soon as you spoke to me, or to Dani , it seems like you wanted to isolate yourself from everything, and everyone! – He looks upset when he answers me.

– It’s not like that, I was just too busy helping my father, studying and at night I was very tired, without the patience to do anything.

I lie blatantly, because I know Raúl is right, in part, I wanted to isolate myself and get away to forget about Dani , but it didn’t help much, I still like him, but what do I do now? He’s in love with that girl, and it seems like I’ll always be his sister.

– I missed you too Raúl! I’m sorry if I didn’t pay much attention to you while I was in Brazil, but I promise I’ll make it up to you!

– Hmm… What kind of reward, cariño? This interests me a lot! – He answers and looks at me in a kind of seductive way, or am I the one imagining things?

– Oh, you’re very curious! – I answer a little embarrassed, because of his look, because I don’t remember seeing him looking at me like that before, what’s happening to him?

– Why are you looking at me like that?

– In what way?

– In a weird way, if I didn’t know you, I’d say you’re flirting with me… – I feel uncomfortable in him, he looks at me a little embarrassed, and then responds almost stuttering.

– I… I… No… No… I’m flirting with you, I was just kidding! – Sorry if you got it wrong, that’s not what I wanted to convey, not that it’s impossible for someone to feel something for you, Alana.

I feel sincerity in what he says, but there is something strange, am I seeing too much? I know she’s different, not just in appearance, and by the way, she’s stronger, her green eyes look darker when answering me, and when she smiles two dimples form in her cheeks, something I’ve always found so cute!

I think the dimples are the only thing that harks back to the past, because he is no longer the boy I knew, and who used to go to the sieves of the Madrid teams with Dani. I’m snapped out of my thoughts, and Raúl is saved from his discomfort, when my stepfather approaches to speak with us.

– Is this abused quarterback already bothering you, princess?

‘He never disturbs!’ He hugs me once more, and smiles at Raúl, who smiles back.

[…]

An hour has passed, and my welcoming celebration seems to have no end, I’m tired of talking to people, I spoke to many acquaintances, my mother’s friends, some of my stepfather’s relatives, but I was missing my friends who didn’t show up here because of Babi, who dragged Edu to a photo shoot. As I walked around and talked to people, I felt Raúl’s gaze on me, he disguised it, but I realized he was looking at me too much. What’s going on with him?

As I go up the stairs, I think about Raúl’s eyes on me, and when I reach the top, I find myself facing an immense hallway, I stop and remember, what was my room? Do I open all the doors, or do I go back into the room and ask?

Definitely not!

In order not to have to go back, the best thing to do is to go with the first option, and before I go, I feel a hand touch my shoulder, when I turn to look, I meet those green eyes once again. His gaze seems a little disconcerted, I look at him, he doesn’t say anything, and I decide to break this silence that seems to last an eternity.

– What’s it? It’s all right?

– It’s all right! And you were standing there…

– I got here and realized I don’t know which room I have!

– What is the problem? I know what your room is, come on!

He holds out his hand, I watch, and then I let myself be led. We walk along the long white corridor with some pictures of my family spread out on the walls, until we reach the end of it, and in front of a door on the right, Raúl opens it and signals for me to enter, and as I do, I see my new room, all white. I haven’t walked all over the house, but I think everything here is white.

There is a little table with the computer next to the door, I look to the right and see two doors, and in front of me is a huge cozy bed. I walk around the room, look at Raúl, who smiles, I return his smile and he asks.

– It’s quite different from your old room, isn’t it?

– There’s no comparison!

– Thank football!

– Not only to football, but to God and to Dani’s talent, after all, he fought hard to get here, just like you! I saw the pictures that came out of your house in that article!

– He liked?

– I loved! Who helped you decorate?

– Dona Mari hired someone to help her with the decoration!

– Oh, how I miss your mother! I also miss those wonderful sweets she used to make. Is she living with you?

– She and my brothers, and you are invited to visit my house and eat Dona Mari ‘s famous sweets ! He says that, then closes the door and approaches me with that look that haunted me throughout the party.

– Lana, I really need to talk to you!

– Speech…

– It’s really important, what I have to tell you… – He says and I notice that his gaze moves between my mouth and my eyes.

This situation makes me uncomfortable, and I instantly remember what my friends were saying, and I feel nervous, but I decide to push him to speak at once.

– Then speak soon!