Lifeline (Marc Guiu)

Chapter 21

Marc wasn't thinking about new relationships because moving on had never felt so hard. Héctor kept telling him it was probably because of being abroad. The feeling of sadness for the failed relationship mixed with homesickness was a deadly recipe.

"You just need to find another girl that will make you forget whoever it is you were dating", said his friend while they facetimed. Marc didn't miss the annoyed tone in Héctor's voice when he mentioned again that he didn't know about Alicia.

"We weren't dating".

"I think you were dating her and she was just using you".

"No".

Marc had told Alicia that he felt used but he knew she didn't use him. Not how Héctor thought she had anyway.

"I mean, you downgraded going to Chelsea but not that much. But she wasn't willing to follow you there. You won't tell me who it is until she starts dating another Barça player and then I'll find out anyway".

"She's not going to date another Barça player", said Marc, annoyed. "And if she had wanted to use me because I was a Barça player, she wouldn't have hidden our relationship like she did".

"I thought you weren't in a relationship", smirked Héctor.

"Shut up! You know what I mean. It was being a Barça player that complicated things more, actually".

"How?"

"Just something about her friend. I can't tell you".

"So damn mysterious", said Héctor rolling his eyes again.

But Marc wasn't going to tell him about Alicia no matter how much he complained because he didn't want Fermín to find out. It was clear Alicia wasn't going to tell Victoria so Fermín not knowing meant the secret would be safe. Those months together will forever be a secret...Marc couldn't believe it. He had felt it would be the start of something so special and it ended up being treated like a dirty secret.

Marc wasn't going to follow Héctor's advice but he could have very easily because Kelsey became a permanent fixture in his life. He didn't know how but she was always around. Whether it was training, matches or team events. And she was always trying to talk to Marc.

"I've never been to Barcelona but I'd love to. What are the best places to visit?"

"The usual tourist spots are nice", said Marc, not interested in being her tour guide.

"And the food is so good in Spain. Is Catalan food good? I want to try all of it".

"Yeah, it's good".

If Kelsey felt disappointed by the way Marc tried to ignore her, she didn't show it while they talked. "Maybe you can show me around when you go back...".

"I'll be with my family and friends when I go. I won't have time to play tour guide. Sorry".

"Of course".

Everytime she left, trying not to look sad about being rejected, Marc expected her to not try again. But she did. He could say a lot of things about Kelsey but he couldn't say she didn't try hard to get his attention.

"Look, Kelsey", said Marc after a match in which he didn't get to play a single minute. "You're a great girl. Honestly. You're gorgeous and seem to be nice but...I'm just not interested. You're wasting your time with me so please stop following me around".

"But...".

Marc felt like an asshole seeing her tears but better to be clear from the beginning and stop this stupid show. "I'm sorry if I hurt you. I don't want to do that and that's why I'm telling you now. I don't want you to think there's a chance. There isn't. I'd be happy to be your friend if we see each other around but that's it".

"Ok. Cool. I'll see you around".

And that time, Marc thought it was finally the one where it all stopped. Kelsey looked like she finally got the message. Because Marc had been thinking about going back to Barcelona to visit his family. And he also knew he was going to talk to Alicia. How? He didn't know. But he was going to. He needed to either fix things or find the closure his heart needed.

However, that didn't erase all the other times they had been talking together and in which Kelsey was clearly flirting with Marc. Times that had been spotted by people and that ended up on TikTok. An app that Alicia loved to check. An app that loved to show Alicia content about Marc because she used to look for it.

"Didn't take him long to forget what we had", she said, exiting the app and putting her phone in her bag. She wasn't going to think much about it. She wasn't... "I need a distraction".

Enter Mario, who had been following Alicia just as often as Kelsey followed Marc. And as much as she didn't love the attention at first, she felt like she could use it now.

"Hi Ali, do you want to go have a drink?"

"Yes. We could talk about the lesson from today too. I feel I didn't understand a word".

Mario smiled brightly, he was one of the best students and loved to mention it. "I'll help you, don't worry".

"Thanks".

Alicia changed her attitude during their time together at the coffee place. She had always been a bit distant to try and not give the wrong impression to Mario. But now she wanted him to know she was interested. Because why shouldn't she be? Mario was cute and nice and smart...and he wasn't hanging out with blondes in London.

"Do you want to do something this weekend?", she asked, surprising Mario.

"Like what?"

"I don't know. We could go watch a movie or something. Maybe grab some dinner after...".

"I'd love to. Should I pick you up at your place or...".

"No, we'll meet at the cinema. My parents are nosey".

"Of course", he laughed. "Mine are the same. Then...it's a date".

A date. Alicia never really had dates with Marc, had she? Not in public, anyway. Not like that. They didn't go to watch a movie. They didn't eat together somewhere nice. And whose fault was it? Alicia's. Only Alicia's.

She wasn't going to make the same mistakes again.