Lovely rivals | Cressi

Chapter 1

It was a crisp evening in Madrid, the city bustling with life as people filled the streets, their laughter and chatter blending into a harmonious symphony. The Santiago Bernabéu stood tall against the skyline, its floodlights illuminating the night, casting long shadows over the streets below.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese superstar, had just finished a grueling training session with his Real Madrid teammates. The season had been intense, the pressure mounting with each passing game. Despite his incredible form, Ronaldo couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. The usual thrill of scoring goals, the roar of the crowd, even the camaraderie in the locker room—it all felt hollow somehow.

He walked out of the stadium, his mind lost in thought, when he heard a familiar voice.

"Cristiano."

Ronaldo turned around, his heart skipping a beat. Standing a few meters away, almost hidden in the shadows, was Lionel Messi. The Argentine forward, known for his quiet demeanor and unmatched talent, rarely made appearances off the pitch, especially in Madrid.

"Leo," Ronaldo said, surprise evident in his voice. "What are you doing here?"

Messi stepped forward, his eyes searching Ronaldo's face. "I needed to talk to you."

Ronaldo's brow furrowed. They had shared countless battles on the field, fierce rivals since the day they first crossed paths. Yet, this was different. There was something in Messi's voice, a vulnerability that Ronaldo had never heard before.

"Talk? About what?" Ronaldo asked, trying to keep his tone casual, though his curiosity was piqued.

Messi hesitated, glancing around to make sure they were alone. "Can we go somewhere more private?"

Without waiting for a reply, Messi turned and began walking towards a secluded corner of the stadium, a place where fans and reporters rarely ventured. Ronaldo followed, his mind racing with possibilities.

Once they were out of sight, Messi stopped and turned to face Ronaldo, his expression serious. "Cristiano, I don't know how to say this, but... I've been thinking a lot about us."

"Us?" Ronaldo echoed, confusion clear in his voice.

Messi nodded. "Our rivalry, our competition... It's driven both of us to become the best, but it's also kept us apart."

Ronaldo felt a strange mix of emotions rising within him. He had always seen Messi as his greatest rival, the only player who could truly challenge him. But as he looked into Messi's eyes, he realized there was something more—something unspoken between them.

"What are you trying to say, Leo?" Ronaldo asked, his voice softer now.

Messi took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving Ronaldo's. "I'm tired of pretending that all I feel for you is rivalry. There's more to it than that, and I think you know it too."

Ronaldo's breath caught in his throat. He had never expected this, never imagined that Messi, of all people, would be the one to voice the feelings he had buried deep inside himself for so long.

For a moment, they stood there in silence, the weight of Messi's words hanging in the air between them. Then, slowly, almost tentatively, Ronaldo took a step closer.

"What do we do now?" Ronaldo asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Messi smiled, a small, hopeful smile that made something inside Ronaldo stir. "I don't know, Cristiano. But maybe... maybe we can start by not being rivals anymore."

Ronaldo felt a warmth spread through him, a sense of relief and excitement all at once. He had always been drawn to Messi, in ways he couldn't fully understand. And now, standing here with him, he realized that this might be the beginning of something entirely new.

"Alright," Ronaldo said, returning Messi's smile. "Let's see where this takes us."

As they stood there, under the night sky, the noise of the city fading into the background, Ronaldo knew that whatever happened next, things would never be the same.