My neighbour Rúben

Chapter 20

"Ok, so they both need to win to get what they want?" grandma asked as we looked for our seats at the Etihad.

"Exactly, love" grandad said. "We need to win to be in the Champions League next year, and they need it to win the title."

"Have you decided who you are supporting?" grandma asked me once we had sat down.

"No one. Let the best team win" I said.

Lucy and Julia were both wearing City shirts (Lucy Rodri's, and Julia Rúben's). Grandad was also wearing his Arsenal shirt, and grandma had bought herself a scarf with both teams on it. I, was wearing nothing.

"You are so boring" Lucy chuckled.

"Oh, there is Aaron" grandad said when the goalkeepers went out to start their warm-up. "Aaron!" he called.

Somehow he heard him, turning around and waving at us.

"Such a lovely lad" grandad smiled. "Sad that things didn't work out between you two."

"Yeah..." I said, starting to feel my cheeks get warm.

"But she has her hot neighbour now, don't you, sweetie?" grandma said, elbowing me on the ribs. "If they lose today, he'll probably need a hug."

"Grandma!"

"Oh, I love this woman" Lucy laughed.

"You will also have to give a big hug to your boyfriend" she told her.

"Boyfriend? Mami, do you have a boyfriend?" Julia asked.

"I... I..." Lucy muttered. She wasn't ready to tell her anything yet. She wanted to introduce Rodri as just a friend first, let them get to know each other before using the big word.

"Grandma got things wrong, Julia" I intervened.

"Oh, yes, yes" she quickly said, realizing her mistake. "I was talking about her boyfriend" she said, looking at me.

"I don't have a boyfriend."

"Yes, you do!" Julia said. "Rúben is your boyfriend, he said it! I saw you kissing like Anna and Kristoff do."

"Anna and Kristoff?" grandad asked. "Who are those? Friends of yours?"

"You kissed?" grandma said, raising her voice.

"I... I..." Now I was the one freaking out. This whole weekend was going so wrong... "Look, the Arsenal players are coming out" I said, pointing at the pitch.

"Don't change the subject. Is Rúben your boyfriend, yes or no?" grandma said, getting serious.

"Can't we discuss this later?"

"No, we cannot."

"I need to go to the bathroom" I said, getting up from my seat. But the moment I did, the City players decided to come out to start their warm-up, making everyone else around us also get up from their seats to cheer for them. I tried to walk past them, to push them aside, but I wasn't able to. The stadium was packed since the game was basically a final.

"Excuse me" I said, the feeling I had when I was trapped on the lift coming back. "Please, let me through." But no one was moving. They just kept pushing me from one side to the other. "Sir, please, could you move aside?" I said to one big man in front of me.

"What?" he said. He was huge and I was too close to him, so when he turned around to look at who was talking to him, we bumped into each other, making me trip with another man standing next to me. "Careful!" the first man said. But it was too late.