The Line Between Us - Alejandro Balde Love Story

Chapter 5: Unwelcome Encounters

The next morning, the sun shone through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. I rubbed my eyes, still feeling the weight of the previous night lingering in my chest. Alejandro's words kept playing on a loop in my mind, the sting of his arrogant dismissal still fresh. Why couldn't I just let it go? I wasn't supposed to care about what he thought of me.

A soft chime from my phone snapped me out of my thoughts. A message from Berta.

"Brunch? You need it, Isa. Trust me."

I sighed, thankful for the distraction. Berta had a way of knowing when I needed a break, and right now, brunch with my best friend sounded like exactly what I needed to shake off the lingering frustration.

By the time I arrived at the little café Berta had suggested, she was already seated at a cozy outdoor table, sunglasses perched on her head, sipping what looked like an iced latte.

"There you are," she greeted, waving me over. "I ordered for you. Figured you could use something strong."

"Thanks," I smiled, settling into the chair across from her.

"So..." Berta started, eyes glinting with curiosity. "How was your big debut last night?"

I hesitated, not sure how much I wanted to tell her. She knew me well enough to notice when something was off, and it wasn't like I could completely hide my frustration. "It was... fine. Met some people, made some connections, you know, the usual."

Berta gave me a knowing look. "Mmmhmm. And?"

I sighed, rolling my eyes at how easily she could read me. "And I ran into a guy. One of those overly confident types who think they own the room."

Her eyebrows shot up, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Oh? Do tell."

"Nothing happened," I said quickly, not wanting to give her the wrong idea. "We just talked a little, but he's exactly the kind of guy I want to avoid—full of himself, thinks he knows everything about everyone."

Berta leaned forward; her interest piqued. "Okay, but what's his name?"

I hesitated for a second, but then I realized it didn't matter. It wasn't like I owed Alejandro anything. "Alejandro. He plays for Barça, apparently."

Berta's eyes widened, and she nearly choked on her drink. "Alejandro Balde?"

I nodded, frowning at her reaction. "Yeah, why?"

Berta set her glass down, still laughing softly. "Oh, Isa, you've walked right into a storm, haven't you? Alejandro's... well, let's just say he's known for his charm. You're not the first girl he's tried to impress."

I groaned, leaning back in my chair. "Of course. I should've known."

Berta gave me a sympathetic look. "He can be a bit... much. But he's harmless. I mean, he's nice enough once you get past the footballer bravado. Maybe you should give him a chance."

I shook my head quickly. "No way. After what I overheard him say last night, I'm not wasting any more time on him."

Berta's expression shifted, curiosity mixing with concern. "What did he say?"

I hesitated again, feeling the frustration bubble up inside me as I remembered his words. "He was backstage, talking with his teammates about models... about me. He basically said we're all the same—superficial, playing a role. He called me 'interesting' like I was just some new challenge for him to figure out. It was infuriating."

Berta winced. "Ouch. That's... not great."

"Yeah," I said, my voice tight. "I'm not playing his game, Berta. I've got too much on my plate to be dealing with guys like him."

Before Berta could respond, the sound of footsteps caught my attention. I glanced up, and my heart immediately sank as I spotted Alejandro walking toward us, casually dressed but still effortlessly confident. Of course. Of all the places in Barcelona...

His gaze locked with mine for a split second before shifting to Berta. "Morning, Berta," he greeted, flashing her a quick smile. "Didn't expect to see you here."

Berta, to her credit, handled the sudden awkwardness with ease. "Hey, Alejandro. Just having brunch with my girl Isa here."

Alejandro's eyes flicked back to me, a glint of amusement dancing in them. "Isabella."

I forced a tight smile. "Alejandro."

The tension was palpable, like a thick cloud settling over the table. Berta glanced between us, clearly aware of the awkward energy but unsure how to navigate it.

Alejandro, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed. "Hope you're settling into Barcelona well," he said, the charm in his voice as smooth as ever.

"I am," I replied curtly, keeping my tone as neutral as possible.

Berta cleared her throat, clearly trying to break the tension. "We were just talking about last night's event. Isa's first big one."

Alejandro raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening just a fraction. "Oh? Hope I didn't make too bad of an impression."

I wanted to laugh, but the sound lodged in my throat. Was he being serious right now? I glanced at Berta, who shot me an apologetic look, clearly aware of the thin ice she'd just skated us onto.

"You made your impression," I said, my voice calm but pointed. "Let's leave it at that."

Alejandro chuckled softly, as if my response amused him. "Well, I'll let you two enjoy your brunch. See you around, Isabella."

With that, he gave Berta a quick nod and walked off, disappearing into the crowd.

The second he was out of earshot, I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. "Unbelievable."

Berta gave me a sheepish smile. "Okay, that was a little awkward."

"A little?" I scoffed. "He's impossible, Bertita."

"I mean, he does have that... thing about him," she teased, trying to lighten the mood.

I shot her a look. "Don't even start."

She held up her hands in defense. "Okay, okay. But look, if he's bothering you that much, just ignore him. He'll get the message eventually."

I nodded, though deep down, I wasn't sure it was going to be that easy. Alejandro had a way of getting under my skin, and I had a sinking feeling this wouldn't be the last time he crossed my path.

But I wasn't about to let him derail me. Not now. Not ever.