・❥・
Marina sat at her desk, staring at the array of baking supplies and half-finished recipes scattered before her. The soft hum of Lisbon outside her window was comforting, but her thoughts were far from peaceful. Being the younger sister of João Félix, the famous soccer player, was a double-edged sword. On one hand, she was proud of her brother's achievements; on the other, she constantly felt the pressure to live up to his success.
It wasn't that she resented him. João was a loving brother, always supportive of her dreams. But living under his shadow wasn't easy. At sixteen, Marina had her own aspirations-dreams of becoming a renowned baker, owning a quaint patisserie in the heart of Lisbon. Yet, every time she achieved something, it was always in the context of being "João Félix's little sister."
Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a text from João.
> *Hey, Marina! Got a big game today. Want you to come and watch. I booked a VIP seat for you. It'll be fun!*
Marina sighed, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. She wasn't particularly interested in soccer, but João's excitement was palpable even through the text. She knew how much it meant to him for her to be there.
> *Alright, I'll be there. See you later.*
After sending the message, she spent the next hour getting ready. She chose a simple outfit, a casual dress with a denim jacket, hoping to blend in despite the VIP seating. The drive to the stadium was uneventful, but her nerves grew as she approached the massive structure.
Entering the VIP area João had booked for her was a surreal experience. She was close enough to see the players warming up on the field, their energy infectious. João waved at her from the sidelines, a wide grin on his face. She waved back, trying to muster the same enthusiasm.
As the game started, Marina found herself surprisingly captivated. She watched João maneuver across the field with such skill and precision that it was hard not to be impressed. When he scored a goal, the stadium erupted in cheers. Marina couldn't help but join in, her heart swelling with pride. He really was talented, and she wished she could be just as remarkable in her own field.
After the game, as the crowd started to disperse, Marina made her way toward the benches to find João. The stadium was a maze of people and equipment, and she weaved through the throngs of fans and staff, trying not to get lost.
Suddenly, she collided with a tall, muscular figure. The impact was jarring, and she stumbled back, nearly losing her balance.
"Watch it," the man snapped, not even bothering to look at her.
Marina rubbed her shoulder, feeling the sting of his words as much as the physical pain. "Excuse me?" she retorted, her voice shaky but defiant.
The man glanced down at her with a look of irritation. "Just stay out of the way," he said dismissively, walking away without another word.
Marina stood there, stunned and fuming. She'd heard stories about athletes being rude, but experiencing it firsthand was something else. She wondered if João's whole team was like that. With a huff, she continued her search for her brother.
She finally found João chatting with some teammates near the locker rooms. "João!" she called out, trying to mask her frustration.
He turned and smiled, walking over to her. "Hey, sis! Did you enjoy the game?"
"It was great, you were amazing," she replied, her anger momentarily forgotten. But as they walked toward the car, it all came rushing back. "I bumped into one of your teammates. He was really rude."
João looked at her with concern. "Who was it?"
"I don't know, some tall guy. Muscular. He didn't even apologize, just told me to stay out of the way."
João sighed, running a hand through his hair. "He was probably just tired after the game. Emotions run high, you know."
"Maybe," Marina conceded, though she still felt upset about it. "It's just...I don't know, it felt like he was deliberately mean."
"Look, don't let it get to you," João said gently, putting an arm around her shoulders. "Most of the guys are decent. He was probably just having a bad day."
"Yeah, maybe," she mumbled, still feeling a pang of hurt. It seemed petty to let one encounter ruin her mood, but the dismissal in the man's eyes had struck a nerve.
The ride home was filled with João's excited chatter about the game, but Marina remained quiet, her thoughts replaying the encounter over and over. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than he let on. Maybe João was right. Maybe he was just tired and stressed from the game.
Night had fallen over Lisbon, casting shadows across Marina's bedroom walls. Despite the late hour, she couldn't shake the encounter with that rude Barcelona player from her mind. Restless, she found herself scrolling through Instagram, searching for any clue that could lead her to him.
She navigated through photos of the Barcelona team, pausing at each player's profile to scrutinize their faces. It was a tedious process, and Marina was on the brink of giving up when she stumbled upon a familiar face. There he was-Hector Fort. His profile boasted over a million followers, a testament to his popularity.
Marina hesitated for a moment before tapping on his profile. His grid was filled with snapshots of his life: on the field, with teammates, traveling to exotic locations. But it was the photos that captured his smirks, his abs glistening in the sun, that drew her attention.
"He's really hot," Marina muttered to herself, then shook her head. "No, no, focus."
Despite her annoyance with his behavior, she couldn't deny that Hector Fort was undeniably attractive. Each photo exuded confidence and charm, traits that only seemed to amplify her frustration. She scrolled through his feed, analyzing his captions, trying to glean some insight into the man behind the cocky facade.
"He really does seem like an asshole," she muttered again, though a part of her couldn't deny the allure of his charismatic presence.
Hours passed as Marina delved deeper into Hector's social media presence. She found herself clicking on tagged photos, reading comments from fans and haters alike. It was a rabbit hole she couldn't resist, a puzzle she was determined to piece together.
Finally, with a yawn, Marina set her phone aside. She had learned enough for one night, yet her mind buzzed with unanswered questions. Who was Hector Fort behind the Instagram facade? Was he as arrogant as he appeared, or was there more to him that she couldn't see?
She lay back on her pillow, staring up at the ceiling. Sleep eluded her, thoughts of Hector swirling in her mind. Tomorrow, she would see him again at João's practice. A small part of her dreaded the encounter, while another part couldn't help but anticipate the challenge.
"He's just another player," Marina whispered to herself, trying to quell the butterflies in her stomach. "Nothing more."
But as she drifted off to sleep, Hector's smirk lingered in her thoughts, a reminder of the undeniable tension that simmered between them.
・❥・
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𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩 || 𝔩𝔬𝔳𝔢 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔦𝔫
FanfictionCross my heart, hope to die To my lover, I'd never lie He said, "Be true", I swear I'll try In the end, it's him and I He's out his head, I'm out my mind We got that love, the crazy kind I am his, and he is mine In the end, it's him and I Hector for...