In The Name of Love

Chapter 16

"Oh my God, Val. Can you please stop?" Marina says, hitting my leg.

"Ouch! That hurts!"

"Good. Maybe now you will stop shaking it like crazy."

"I'm sorry" I sigh. "But I'm too nervous. What if he breaks up with me because of this?"

"He won't break up with you because of a stupid kiss. He loves you."

"I'm not so sure anymore."

"Val, he does. So stop worrying and enjoy the game."

"I don't want to enjoy a Barça game. I feel dirty enough already by being here wanting one of their players to do good" I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

"You are so dramatic" Marina laughs. "Oh, look, they are coming!"

For today's game Pedri got us seats that are closer to the bench than usual, his excuse being that this way we will see them lift the trophy properly. Though he had been changing them and moving us around the stadium since my incident, not wanting people to easily spot me and talk even more.

"He is looking this way! Say hello, Val!" Marina says, waving towards Pedri. He waves back, and then...

"He ignored me."

"What? No! De Jong called him, he didn't have time to say anything."

"He could have smiled or something. But he didn't. He hates me."

"Val, stop it."

"I'm leaving" I say, getting up from my seat.

"You are not" Marina replies, grabbing me by the arm and making me sit down again. "You are staying and watching the game. What if he scores and you aren't here to watch it and see him dedicate it to you?"

"He won't."

"I seriously hate you when you are like this, Val."

"Then that makes two, you and Pedri. Now if you'll excuse me" I say, getting up again and leaving.

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"Miss, are you ok?" a steward says.

"Yes, yes. Sorry" I reply, trying to wipe away my tears. I've spent the first half kind of hiding in the bathroom, but now that everyone has come there for the halftime, I'm just walking around not knowing where to go.

"Do you need me to accompany you back to your seat?"

"No, I'm fine. Thank you" I smile. Or try to.

"Are you sure you are ok?" he asks with a concerned look.

"Yes, I just..."

"I hope he is ok. When they hit their heads it is so scary..."

"Totally. And he was bleeding so much... Poor Pepi."

"Sorry for bothering you, but what happened to Pedri?" I ask the two girls who are walking past me, both of them wearing his shirt. "I was in the bathroom and missed it."

"He got hit on a corner and they had to replace him" one of them says.

"And he was bleeding?"

"Yes. It was horrible."

"Do you know if they took him to the hospital or something?"

"No, sorry" she shrugs before walking away.

"He's still here, he hasn't left" the steward says. "He got hit on the eyebrow and you know how messy that gets."

"So nothing serious?"