GRAVITY | R. DIAS

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Rúben Dias

Martha
Can we talk please?

I'm sorry Rúben
I need more time

Okay...

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April 1, 2024

In the past few weeks Martha had successfully avoided Rúben, something she's quite proud of. Sure he had texted her to have a talk and there's always that lingering feeling to give into what her heart wants. But she just isn't ready for that yet.

"I still can't believe banana is having a baby," Martha is pulled from her thoughts by Dele's voice.

Today is Easter Monday and Martha decided to invite all her friends for a brunch and since her brother-in-law had a game against City yesterday, her sister and Martin could join in as well, together with their parents. This was the perfect opportunity for the couple to tell everyone about their pregnancy.

Whilst everyone else had to leave early, Dele stayed to help with the cleanup. Martha's very grateful for it, because it's been a long time since she has seen her friend and they have a lot of catching up to do.

"I know she's just a baby herself," Martha remarks with a smile.

"A baby?" Dele chuckles. "She's definitely been doing stuff not appropriate for a baby,"

"Fuck off Dels," Martha throws a towel in his face.

"Ah come on Mar, you know how babies are made innit? No need to get so red," he teases. What is it about Martha and making friends with people who love to wind her up?

The banter continues for a few more hours, until it's time for Dele to leave. The girl walks him to the door, giving him a final hug. "Thanks for coming Dels, I really enjoyed it," she says when she releases him and opens the door.

"No problem Mar, anything for my favourite Olsen sister," he grins before turning to leave. However, his farewell is interrupted when his gaze falls upon a particular brown-haired man standing before him. "Dias," Dele greets tightly.

Martha had confided in Dele about her encounter with the Portuguese footballer. It was hard not to when Alex and Anna had been pestering her about it. By the glare on Dele's face while looking at Rúben, Martha concludes that Dele had taken it upon himself to look out for Martha's well-being and to protect her against the other footballer.

"Well, I'll leave you two to talk. Goodbye, Martha," Dele says as he bypasses Rúben. Or perhaps he hadn't taken it upon himself after all.

Then the blonde girl looks at the Portuguese man, he's tightly holding a bouquet of yellow daffodils. Her all time favourite flower. "Rúben, what part of 'I need time' do you not understand?" she asks. She's kind of mad at him for coming here unannounced, because she made it pretty clear that she didn't want to see him again - yet.

"Martha please. I just want to talk," he pleads, looking at her with those warm brown eyes that almost get her to give in.

She shakes her head. "I'm not ready Rúben,"

"Of course not, but you're more than ready to walk straight into someone else's arms," Rúben retorts, his frustration simmering beneath the surface.

"Dele's my friend Rúben," Martha's eyes shoot daggers into his direction. "If you're just here to paint me as the bad guy in this whole situation, then fuck off Rúben! It takes two to tango you know. You're as much at fault as me, even more so, and you didn't even have the guts to admit it to your own fucking girlfriend!"

Rúben is taken aback by Martha's accusation. "How do you know that?" he asks, shocked.

"I for one did apologize to Emma face to face," Martha reveals. "She said if she hadn't confronted you, you would've said nothing and lived your life like nothing happened,"

"You're a fucking coward Rúben!" Martha's anger surges. "I told you how I once stood in Emma's shoes and how much it hurt me not knowing what was going on behind my back. You still choose to fucking lie about it!"

"Now you're standing here, probably to tell me how you chose me, but you didn't choose a fucking thing. If Emma didn't make the choice for you, you wouldn't be standing here. So just go away Rúben, I don't want to be a convenience," Martha ends her monologue.

"You aren't a convenience to me Martha," Rúben takes a step closer to her. "I've truly fallen in lo-"

The girl holds up her hand to stop the man from talking. "Don't Rúben, don't say those words. You don't know me. You don't know my biggest secrets. So you can't say those words,"

"Then let me get to know them," he begs.

"I can't," she shakes her head. "I'm sorry Rúben, just go home okay?" Martha turns around and closes the front door behind her. Leaving a devastated Rúben standing there, still holding the bouquet of daffodils in his hand.