OFFSIDE

56

❝ It's you and me, that's my whole world. ❞
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August 10, 2018

Pablo's POV
It's a bright, clear morning, the kind that makes me feel invincible. The sun is shining, and there's a light breeze in the air. Perfect weather for what I have planned. Today is a special day—our one-year anniversary. Elena probably thinks I've forgotten or that I'm too preoccupied with training. She couldn't be more wrong.

I park my bike a bit further away. So she can't see me from the art room. I glance at the flowers on my luggage carrier: a beautiful bouquet of her favorite blooms—roses, lilies, and a touch of lavender. I hope she loves them. A picnic basket hangs on my handlebars, carefully packed with her favorite foods. Not going to lie, my mom helped me. I can't wait to see Elena's face when she realizes what's happening.

The idea came to me a few weeks ago. I wanted to surprise her, to show her how much she means to me. Training is important, but today, Elena comes first. I have already spoken to the coach and explained my plan. He was surprisingly supportive, probably because he knows how much Elena means to me and how hard I've been working lately.

I take a deep breath, pick up the flowers and the picnic basket, and make my way to the art class. I feel a mixture of excitement and nervousness. What if she's too busy? What if she doesn't want to leave her class? No, I shake off these doubts. This will be perfect. I know it.

As I walk down the familiar corridors of the art building, the scent of paint and creativity fills the air. The walls are lined with vibrant artwork from the students, each piece a testament to their passion and talent. I can already picture Elena, lost in her work, her brow furrowed in concentration as she brings her ideas to life on the canvas.

I reach the door of her classroom and peek inside. There she is, standing in front of her easel, her brush moving gracefully as she paints. Her hair is tied up in a messy bun, and there's a smudge of paint on her cheek. She looks beautiful. My heart swells with love and admiration.

I take a deep breath and push the door open. The room is quiet except for the soft murmur of students working and the gentle sound of brushes against canvas. Elena doesn't notice me at first, too engrossed in her painting. I clear my throat.

"Elena," I say softly.

She turns, her eyes widening in surprise when she sees me standing there with the bouquet of flowers. "Pablo! What are you doing here? Don't you have training?"

I smile and step forward, handing her the flowers. "I wanted to surprise you. Happy anniversary, mi amor."

Her eyes fill with tears, and she throws her arms around me, holding me tight. "I can't believe you did this. I thought you'd forgotten."

"Forget our anniversary? Never," I say, kissing the top of her head. "I have something else planned too. Do you have a little time to get away?"

She pulls back, looking at me with a mixture of excitement and curiosity. "What do you have in mind?"

I hold up the picnic basket. "I thought we could go back to the lake. The place where it all started."

Her face lights up with a smile. "I'd love that. Let me just grab my things."

As she gathers her belongings, I can see the other students watching us, some smiling, others whispering to each other. I don't mind. Today is about us, and I want the whole world to know how much I love her.

We leave the art studio and make our way to my bike. Elena jumps up behind her and holds her bouquet tightly. The drive to the lake is filled with laughter and conversation. Elena tells me about her latest project, her eyes sparkling with passion and creativity. I listen, enthralled by her enthusiasm. It's one of the many things I love about her—how she throws herself completely into everything she does.