Midnight ➳ Rafael Alcantara

➳ Chapter 5 ➳

➳ That afternoon, all the party preparations were done and people started arriving to the beach like normal. Rafinha and the rest of the boys decided that they'd dress casual because it was going to be a night of fun, to celebrate Neymar's birthday. 

"Should I text him now boys?" Messi asks, pulling his phone out. His fingers ready to text. The whole barca squad was there and all of Neymar's friends, family and anyone close to him. 

"Hola guys! Where is he?" A voice appears from behind. The barca squad look around, to see a young looking boy in young twenties standing there smiling at them. 

"Aye, Gabriel!" Rafinha laughs, putting his arm out for a friendly hug. 

"Who's that over there?" Maryse smiles, curious to know the stranger. 

Alessia smiles, "That's Gabriel Jesus! He must've came back from England, here for Neymar's birthday!" 

Maryse shakes her head, looking very confused. She felt curious to know how Alessia knew all about this whole party. Was she and Rafinha actually that close? A slight nerve of jealousy ran through her, so she had the urge to find out how Alessia knew.

"How do you know?" She finally asks, sounding stern with no emotions.

Alessia looks around, laughing before she walks off. "Well who doesn't know who he is? Don't you see the Brazil national games?" 

"Not really" Maryse mutters under her breath, scoffing. 

➳

"Okay, I texted him. Now boys, we gotta behave. Especially you Suarez." Messi says, trying to sound serious. 

"Oh come on?" Suarez moans, rolling his eyes. "Tonight we go all out!"

Pique scoffs, "We're scared you'll get drunk and bite people." 

"Oh damn." Rafinha laughs.

"Ouch." Gabriel adds.

"Okay boys, let's not get carried away! Look, there he comes!" Messi whispers, nudging Suarez and all attention was on Neymar. Bruna walked with Neymar, except very slowly as she tried guiding him since his eyes were blindfolded. 

"Imagine if he tripped up-"

"Shh!" Messi slaps Suarez, making Suarez frown.

Alessia stood near the boys, but not as close since she knew that her job was simply to serve and offer a good service since it was an important night, especially for Rafinha and Neymar. Maryse kept a close eye and couldn't help but stand close to the boys until she got pulled back.

"Hey, stand here. They want to surprise him here." Alessia smiles, simply trying to convey Maryse to move out of the way but Maryse pushes Alessia's arm out of the way and stands firmly near the boys making Alessia confused. 

"Three, two, one. HAPPY BIRTHDAY NEYMAR!" Everyone counts down, until they get to one and shout out happy birthday. Bruna immediately opens Neymar's blindfold and the reaction was just amazing. He laughs to himself, not being able to believe his eyes. 

"I thought you guys were ignoring me b-b-but you guys did this?" He laughs, unable to hold back his emotions. 

Rafinha turns around, looking for Alessia until he notices her at the back of the crowd. He walks in Maryse's direction, making it seem like he was approaching her but he walks past her instead and over to Alessia. "Alessia, can you bring the cake?" He asks her politely.

"Sure!" She replies, rushing off to the kitchen and bringing back a beautifully decorated tray with a large cake that she baked herself and designed ever so elegantly. It was so much pressure walking through everyone in front of Neymar and his friends and family, pushing the tray with the cake along since all eyes were on her.