𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩 || 𝔩𝔬𝔳𝔢 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔦𝔫

CHAPTER 2

・❥・

The next week dawned bright and early, the sunlight filtering through Marina's curtains as she groggily reached for her buzzing phone. João was calling her, and from the urgency in his voice, it was clear he wanted something.

"Marina, wake up! I need you to come to my practice today," João said excitedly.

Marina rubbed her eyes, still half-asleep. "João, it's so early. What do you want now?" she grumbled, not in the mood for his enthusiasm.

"I really need you there, Marina. It's important," João persisted, his tone more serious now.

Marina sighed, sitting up in bed. She wasn't keen on spending her morning at a soccer practice, but João rarely asked for favors. "Fine, I'll come. But you owe me big time," she replied, resigned.

"Yes! Thank you, Marina!" João exclaimed, relief evident in his voice. "And hey, why don't you bake something for the team? They'll love it, and it'll leave a great impression."

Marina's mind immediately flashed back to Hector Fort. She didn't want to see him again after their last encounter, but João's hopeful face was hard to resist. "I'll think about it," she said reluctantly.

An hour later, Marina was in the kitchen, busying herself with preparations. She decided to make protein cookies, something healthy yet delicious. She meticulously measured ingredients, ensuring everything was perfect. Baking was her solace, a way to channel her emotions into something tangible.

By the time she finished, the cookies were golden brown and smelled heavenly. Satisfied with her work, Marina called out to João that she was ready.

At the soccer practice, Marina sat on the sidelines, watching as João and his teammates warmed up. She couldn't help but feel out of place among the dedicated athletes. Nervousness gnawed at her stomach-she had never been this jittery before.

Her gaze wandered to the players, scanning each face until she spotted Hector among them. Her heart skipped a beat, and she cursed inwardly. Why did he make her nervous? They didn't even know each other.

As practice went on for another thirty minutes, Marina observed the team's intensity. They were sweaty and focused, every move calculated. When the practice finally ended, Marina took a deep breath and approached the players with the tray of cookies.

The first player to approach her was a boy who looked surprisingly young, almost her age. "Hi, I'm Marina," she introduced herself, offering him a cookie.

"I'm Yamine. These cookies are amazing!" he exclaimed with a smile, his eyes lighting up with genuine appreciation. Marina felt a wave of relief-maybe not all of João's teammates were like Hector.

One by one, she offered cookies to the players, exchanging pleasantries and receiving compliments on her baking skills. The tension in her shoulders eased slightly with each friendly interaction.

Then, Hector approached. Marina stiffened, holding her breath as he reached for a cookie. Their eyes met, and she saw recognition flash across his face.

"You're João's sister, right?" Hector said casually, his tone laced with amusement.

Marina nodded curtly, handing him a cookie without a word. She couldn't bring herself to say anything civil to him after their last encounter.

Hector took a bite of the cookie, his expression unreadable. "Not bad," he remarked, a smirk playing on his lips. He winked at her before walking away, leaving Marina seething with indignation.

As he walked off, Marina muttered under her breath, "Arrogant jerk."

After the intense soccer practice, Marina found herself drawn into a surprisingly pleasant conversation with Yamine. He approached her again, a warm smile on his face that made her heart skip a beat despite her lingering annoyance with Hector.

"Hey, Marina! Those cookies were seriously amazing," Yamine said as he joined her on the bench. "Thanks for baking them."

Marina smiled, grateful for the compliment. "I'm glad you liked them, Yamine. So, how long have you been with Barcelona?"

They fell into an easy conversation, discussing Yamine's journey to Barcelona, his experiences with the team, and his friendship with João. Marina found herself opening up about her own aspirations and struggles, feeling a surprising sense of camaraderie with Yamine.

As they talked, the sun began its descent, casting a warm glow over the field. Marina couldn't help but notice Hector walking across the field, his intense gaze fixed on them. She tensed instinctively, recalling their earlier encounter.

Noticing Marina's unease, Yamine raised an eyebrow curiously. "Is everything okay, Marina?"

Marina hesitated for a moment, then decided to confide in Yamine. "Actually, I had a weird run-in with Hector earlier. He... wasn't very nice," she admitted reluctantly. "Do you know him well?"

Yamine chuckled softly. "Oh, Hector? Yeah, we're pretty close. He can come off a bit strong sometimes, but deep down, he's a good guy."

Marina raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Possessive, though? That's what I heard."

Yamine nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, he can be protective, especially when it comes to girls. But don't worry, he's just... looking out for his friends."

The mention of possessiveness made Marina's stomach churn. Was Hector possessive over her during their brief interaction? She pushed the thought aside, focusing on Yamine's reassuring words.

"Okay, well, thanks for the heads-up," Marina said with a small smile. "I guess I'll keep my distance."

Yamine grinned. "Smart move. Anyway, it was really nice talking to you, Marina. Here, let's exchange socials."

Marina agreed, exchanging Instagram handles with Yamine before João approached them, a curious expression on his face.

"What's going on here?" João asked with a playful smirk, noticing Yamine's slight blush.

Yamine cleared his throat, suddenly bashful. "Oh, uh, we were just talking. Marina baked these amazing cookies for us."

João laughed, clapping Yamine on the shoulder. "That's my sister for you. Always spreading her baking magic."

Marina blushed at the praise, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. Yamine's reaction to João's teasing was unexpectedly endearing.

"Well, I better get going," Yamine said, standing up. "Thanks again for the cookies, Marina. And, uh, i'll see you at practise tomorrow joão ."

"Likewise, Yamine," João replied warmly, giving Marina a knowing look as Yamine walked away.

As they watched Yamine disappear into the distance, João turned to Marina with a teasing grin. "He's nice. You making new friends now?"

Marina rolled her eyes playfully. "Oh, shush. He was just being friendly."

João chuckled. "Sure, sure. Come on, let's head home. Mom's probably wondering where we disappeared to."

They walked back to the car together, the evening air cool against Marina's skin. Despite her initial reluctance, she couldn't deny that today had been unexpectedly eventful. And perhaps, she mused, not all of João's teammates were as bad as Hector.

・❥・