BACK AGAIN​- ᴊᴜᴅᴇ ʙᴇʟʟɪɴɢʜᴀᴍ

53

Matchday always had its own kind of energy—a pulse that started early in the morning and built up until it crescendoed with the roar of the crowd under the floodlights of Parc des Princes. For me, the day was a whirlwind of preparations, both for the players and myself. The team was getting ready for one of the biggest matches of the season, and everything needed to be perfect. As a physiotherapist, my role wasn't glamorous, but it was crucial.

The locker room was a mix of nerves and focus. Jude was his usual confident self, but I could see the underlying tension as he stretched with the other players. I checked in on him quickly before moving through the routine of pre-match prep—massages, injury checks, last-minute adjustments.

But today, there was something else on my mind. Sam.

She had been excited when I offered her the ticket—front row, the best view of the action. She couldn't believe her luck, being able to see the game that close, see me up close in action. I'd been a little nervous about it, though. I wasn't ready for her to find out about me and Jude, and I still wasn't sure how she'd react when she did. But with our relationship already public, I knew I couldn't hide it forever.

As the match neared kick-off, I spotted Sam finding her seat in the front row. She looked excited, her eyes bright as she took in the electric atmosphere of the stadium. I waved to her from the sideline, trying to keep things casual, and she waved back, grinning.

The players were lining up, ready to head out onto the pitch. Jude caught my eye, giving me a small smile, and I smiled back, my heart skipping a beat like it always did when he looked at me like that. This was our little moment before the chaos of the game took over.

The game kicked off, and the tension in the stadium was palpable. The crowd roared, and PSG dominated possession, the team's fluidity mesmerizing. I kept busy on the sidelines, ready for any call to help if a player went down or needed attention, while occasionally glancing over at Sam to see her fully immersed in the game.

By the second half, the score was tight, and the tension had only grown. Jude had been playing brilliantly, his quick footwork and sharp passes putting the opposition on edge. Then, in the 70th minute, PSG scored, and the stadium exploded in cheers. Jude was part of the build-up, and after the goal, the energy in the stadium was electrifying.

In the heat of the moment, as the players celebrated on the pitch, Jude jogged toward the sidelines. The crowd was on their feet, roaring in celebration, and in that surge of adrenaline, he came straight to me, pulling me into a kiss right there in front of everyone.

It wasn't the first time we'd kissed in public, but I hadn't been expecting it here, not with Sam so close. My heart raced as I pulled away, my eyes darting to where Sam was sitting.

Her expression shifted from elation to shock. Her eyes widened as she processed what she'd just seen, and I could practically see the pieces clicking together in her head. She knew.

Jude jogged back onto the field, oblivious, while I tried to compose myself. My heart pounded in my chest as I glanced back toward Sam, her face now a mix of confusion and betrayal.

I swallowed hard, knowing this wasn't going to be easy.

After the game, I made my way out of the stadium as quickly as I could, hoping to catch Sam before she left. I spotted her near the exit, waiting, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable.

"Sam," I called, approaching her, my heart in my throat.

She turned to me, her eyes narrowing. "So, you've been hiding this from me all along?" she said, her voice tight with frustration. "You and Jude Bellingham? And you never thought to mention it?"

I sighed, bracing myself for the conversation I'd been avoiding. "It's not like that, Sam. I wasn't hiding it to hurt you."

"Then why didn't you tell me?" she asked, her voice rising slightly. "You've had so many chances, Vina. You let me come here, sit in the front row, and you didn't think that maybe I'd figure it out?"

"I wasn't ready to tell you yet," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "It's not like I was keeping some dark secret. I just... I wanted to keep it private for as long as I could. You know how things are with the media, with work... It's complicated."

Sam shook her head, clearly not convinced. "Complicated? I'm your best friend. Do you not trust me or something?"

"It's not about trust," I insisted. "It's about managing all of this. I didn't want you to find out like this, in front of everyone. I wanted to tell you in my own time."

"But you didn't, did you?" Sam said, her voice softening but still sharp. "Instead, I had to see it like everyone else."

I could see the hurt behind her anger, and it made my stomach twist. She wasn't just mad because I hadn't told her. She was hurt because she felt left out, like I hadn't trusted her enough to share something this big.

"I'm sorry," I said, my voice quieter now. "I really am. I should've told you sooner. I just didn't know how to handle it all."

Sam sighed, rubbing her forehead like she was trying to figure out how to respond. "I just... I don't get why you didn't think I could handle it. I'm not mad that you're with him, Vina. I'm mad because you lied about it. You made me feel like I didn't matter enough to know."

"I never meant to make you feel like that," I said, stepping closer. "I swear. I was just scared, okay? Scared of how things might change, scared of how people would react. And yeah, I guess I was scared of losing you, too. You're practically my only friend here."

Sam softened a bit, her arms dropping to her sides. "You're not gonna lose me. But next time, just be honest, alright? I don't care if you're dating a football star or a regular guy—I just want to know what's going on in your life."

I nodded, relieved that she was starting to understand. "I promise. No more secrets."

Sam gave me a small smile, still a little guarded, but the anger had faded. "Alright. I'm holding you to that."

We hugged, and I felt the weight of the whole situation lift off my shoulders. She pulled back and glanced toward the players' exit. "So... Jude Bellingham, huh? I guess you're gonna have to fill me in on all the details."

I laughed, feeling lighter. "We'll grab coffee tomorrow, and I'll tell you everything."

Sam nodded and turned to leave, but before she did, she gave me a sly smile. "Also, I'm totally going to milk this for some tickets next time."

I rolled my eyes with a grin. "Yeah, yeah, I'll see what I can do."

Later that evening, after the stadium had cleared out and the city had quieted down, Jude and I finally headed home. The match had been a success, and despite the awkward run-in with Sam, I felt like a weight had been lifted. The truth was out, and while it hadn't been easy, it was done.

As we stepped through the door, Jude wrapped his arms around me from behind, pressing a kiss to my neck. "You okay?" he asked, his voice soft.

I nodded, leaning back into him. "Yeah, I'm okay. Sam knows now."

He raised an eyebrow. "How'd she take it?"

"She was mad at first," I admitted, "but she's coming around. It's going to be fine."

He turned me around to face him, his eyes searching mine. "Good. I don't want you to have to hide anymore."

"I don't either," I said, pulling him closer. "No more hiding."

We spent the rest of the night tangled in each other, the warmth of his body against mine making everything else fade away. It felt like a new chapter, one where we didn't have to keep secrets, where everything was finally out in the open.