Ferran knew that sleeping with a woman he didn't know, and didn't plan to get to know, wasn't going to fix his problems. And yet he did it anyway. He felt like he deserved a night of not thinking about anything or anyone else.
However, seeing that a video of them was published on social media and picked up by the media to try and make a story out of it...he didn't like that. And not just because of Anna seeing it. Ferran knew Cecilia had seen it and he knew it would have also hurt him to see her with someone else so soon after their break up. Even if there was nothing wrong with doing this.
But it was just one night and then he was back in Spain. And he didn't see Anna anywhere. They texted briefly and she told Ferran she was skipping the US tour Barça were doing to spend a few weeks in England doing interviews for that English football channel she worked for.
By the time the first match of the season arrived, Anna and Ferran hadn't seen each other in person for two months. And a part of Anna wished the distance would mean some of her feelings had disappeared.
Seeing the video of Ferran and that other woman hurt her so much. But it also made her feel stupid because what right did she have to be hurt by that? Still, she tried to use that pain to put her feelings for Ferran away...
But, as usual, it was easier said than done.
"Nice ring".
Anna took a few seconds to look up. Just hearing Ferran's voice showed her plan of getting rid of her feelings for him had failed. "Thanks! Long time no see".
"Yeah. I've missed hanging out with you".
"Me too".
But then Ferran's eyes went back to the engagement ring Hugo had bought for Anna when they got back to Barcelona.
"Ready for the new season?"
"Always", said Ferran, noticing Pedri was waiting for him...and staring at their interaction. "I gotta go. Pedri is waiting. He's driving me home today".
"Cool. I'll see you around, right?"
"Of course".
Had Ferran really heard the pleading tone in her question or was it his mind playing tricks?
"You look miserable", said Pedri when Ferran got inside his car.
"Have you seen the rock in her hand?"
"Yeah. Someone is trying to show off...or to mark his territory. That guy is pathetic".
"You don't like Hugo?"
"No. Anna deserves better".
Ferran snorted at that. "I can't say I disagree".
September marked a whole year since Anna's interview with Ferran came out and it seemed like she was celebrating that anniversary with a similar experience. One of her interviews in England was with the new Manchester United player Rasmus Hojlund. It had been one of her favourite interviews in a long while because of how nice and fun to talk to Hojlund was...and of course people took that out of context.
"So boring!", she said annoyed by the comments on the interview that talked about how Hojlund was flirting with Anna.
"What's wrong?", asked her Hugo.
"The interview with Hojlund. People are making a big deal out of him being nice to me. I swear one day I'll even get these comments on my interviews with female athletes".
"Ignore it".
"I'm trying. But this one is especially funny. You know? When Hojlund saw my ring, he joked about keeping his distance because it was intimidating".
"Good", laughed Hugo. "I picked a big one to intimidate any men that got close to you".
Anna laughed too but...was it really a joke?
She couldn't complain about how Hugo treated her, she knew that. And her parents were so happy to know she was engaged and in a serious relationship. Her ex from England was more of a free-spirit kind of guy. The word marriage made him shudder. Hugo was the complete opposite.
But Anna also felt like whenever they were with other people, Hugo just showed her off and not for the right reasons. He never talked about Anna working hard or being funny. It was always about how beautiful she was and how many men would kill to be Hugo. And he had to show the engagement ring to everyone.
It all made Anna feel like a trophy wife, not like a person. And she couldn't help but compare that to how Ferran would react to being her boyfriend. He had never talked about Cecilia as if she was a trophy he won and no one else could have. And, despite the jealousy she felt in the past, Anna had to accept Cecilia was incredibly beautiful. But Ferran always talked about her job, her hobbies, the things they liked to do together, ...it felt so different.
"And I'm also a cradle robber", said Anna, making Hugo choke on a laugh.
"You sure? Because I'm a little older than you. Not younger".
"I mean because of Hojlund. I was already one last year after the Ferran interview because he's 3 years older than me. But this one is even younger. People are so stupid...".
"They don't know you", told her Hugo, holding her hand. "They don't know you don't want children but a man who can give you what you need".
Anna nodded, even if she hated hearing him put it like that, and just cuddled to Hugo's side. She didn't want to think about the articles anymore.
And that topic died down quickly anyway. So by the time she celebrated her one year anniversary with Hugo in November, most people only talked about them too. Anna could mention Ferran at work and no one seemed to care.
But that didn't mean their feelings for each other had disappeared.
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hugo_mtz: One year of making every other man jealous because I have the most beautiful girl, who I'll soon get to call my wife, by my side. Love you @anna_duran ❤️
