Invisible string (Robin Le Normand)

Chapter 1

Life in San Sebastián had been really easy for Robin. He was a footballer but he wasn't really that famous and his club's fanbase was very respectful to the players' private lives. He could live a normal life. He made a good living, he lived in a beautiful city, ...but moving to Madrid changed things drastically. Well, the Euros started that negative trend for him.

He went from being invisible to being the target of criticism. Sometimes the weirdest criticism because attacking him for being French was a bit pointless. It wasn't like he could change where he was born and/or raised. But it didn't stop there...he was also criticised for both being too soft and too aggressive. He got too many yellow cards...as if he wanted to miss the semifinals of the Euros due to how many yellow cards he had been collecting during the previous matches.

Another new addition to his life was finding out about articles talking about a love life he didn't even have. Probably what worried him the least but also the most in a way. Because those articles were trying to hurt his reputation. And what if Robin tried to flirt with a girl and she thought he was trying to cheat on his non-existent girlfriend? It could get messy really fast. And also, he worried about who could be reading those articles and being hurt by those fake news.

But still...he won the Euros. He added another trophy to his collection and he also got his move to a Champions League club. Shame that also made people pay even more attention to him. Robin also found out that playing for Atleti meant the Madrid press would attack him. All the time. How fun! Getting a red card against Switzerland turned from annoying to infuriating when he noticed how many journalists took that chance to say he shouldn't play for Spain anymore.

"It can't get worse", he said one day. And soon found out how wrong he was.

While on a night out, Robin made sure he wasn't drinking any alcohol. He was allowed to go out that day and had a day off the next but still. He wasn't risking it. He spotted a cute girl and was chatting with her for a couple of minutes before she offered to get a drink.

"I'm not drinking", he told her and she smiled. She was tired of dealing with drunk assholes at clubs so that was a nice change.

"I won't either. I'll just have an orange Fanta".

The waiter nodded hearing their orders and then gave them their drinks. Robin and the girl moved to an area where they could try to talk above the music and then she excused herself to go to the toilet.

By the time Robin realised his mistake, it was too late. He had drunk the girl's drink and not his. His also was orange flavoured so it was an honest mistake.

"Sorry. I drank yours by mistake. I can get you another one...".

"Don't worry. I'll have yours. It's fine".

It actually wasn't fine...but she didn't know that. What she knew was that Robin was starting to feel a little unwell and he excused himself to go back home. What was wrong with him?

Because he wasn't going to drink, Robin had decided to drive to the club so he went back to his car and started the short drive home. And soon, he was stopped by a couple of police officers who noticed the way he was driving.

"Have you been drinking, sir?"

"No", he said quickly, panicking. "I didn't have any alcohol".

But the police officers didn't believe him. Who could blame them? Robin looked like he wasn't even there. He was sweating and he started to notice how numb he felt. He tried to go back inside the car but fainted before he could do it.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty. You're in trouble".

Robin opened his eyes and noticed he was back at home. His agent Jesús was there with him...in his room?