the Devil and the Sea

36| Dark escape

The next evening, I'm back on the damn football field. It's not like I was forcibly dragged here or anything. I'm only here because of Vincent. I'm used to watching him. Every fucking day since we met on the football field, and when I'm back on it, I've been watching Vincent, watching like a sick drug addict.

Vincent and I play on the same team, he is in the position of goalkeeper, and I sometimes attack, but more in defense, because this way I can chat with him. Ricky sees this and doesn't hide his annoyance about it, but doesn't say anything.

Phil is going to the cinema with Marina after football, which means that we are unlikely to get together today. I must do something.

"You took my number, but you don't call." I say to Vincent, as if casually, after I scored a goal. I'm not counting on anything, I'm just wondering what consequences these words of mine will have.

I want to be alone with him. I want him to want it too.

I bend down and rub my left knee with my palms, I was in such a hurry to the football field that I forgot to bandage it.

"Yeah, I want to, but how can I make sure Ricky doesn't answer instead of you?" Vincent puts his fingers to the bridge of his nose and adjusts his glasses.

I love this gesture in his performance.

"Firstly, I answer my phone calls myself. Secondly, if you call, today around eleven at night - I'll be there for you, deal?" I throw a playful look at him.

"Agreed," he replies with an enigmatic smile.

I immediately turn away as my eyes widen in surprise and joy.

I take the ball from Phil and kick it forward.

"Is he jealous?" Vincent asks, grinning, and I follow his gaze.

Ricky looks at us, his cheeks flushed and his jaw tight. Ricky looked at me like that a thousand times, but it's not fair, I behaved well all these months around him. And now I finally give him the desired occasion.

"Right now, there's nothing to be jealous of." 

"You think so?" Vincent straightens up, but doesn't look at me.

Vincent is not out of breath at all and is not breaking a sweat: he's so lucky to be my goalkeeper. I control everything that happens on the field.

"We are not doing anything." I note.

"Not now. Not yet" Vincent grins.

"Besides, it's all his fault." I speak and run forward, ignoring Vincent's accompanying question.

The sun has set below the horizon, and we go home.

"Wait for the call, devil." Vincent whispers goodbye in my ear.

I purse my lips so I don't smile too blatantly as I walk home with Ricky and my brother. I go into the house and go up to Ricky to offer coffee together, and I notice that he is tense.

"Something is wrong?"

"No, it's all right."

My stomach revolts inside: I hate his indifferent tone. Ricky turns to leave the house, I follow him.

"What happened again?" I roughly grab Ricky's hand to draw his attention to me.

"What, flirted with Vincent and now you decide to pay attention to me?"

Is it really that noticeable?

"I'm tired of quarreling because of your unjustified jealousy, we were just chatting as friends." I have to say it.