16 years | l. messi

prologue.

He never looked at me clearly.

All he ever did, was notice me from a far, small but warm brown eyes looking right at me— as if looking right through me, into my soul. I didn't know his name, I didn't know who he was, I didn't know how old was he, I didn't know what was his favourite colour— all I knew was, that him looking at me like that always made me feel anything but angry and fearful.

It made me feel oddly at ease.

Whenever I went to school, I saw him hiding in the streets of our small town, located somewhere in the square of Argentina. He always hid whenever he saw me, I noticed.

One day, when still coming back from school, I decided to take my chances with this boy. Closing my eyes, I turned around, perfectly knowing that he was right behind me. "If you want to be friends, you just have to ask."

He didn't say anything, only continued to stare me like he hadn't ever done that before countless times.

"Can you talk?" I offered. Still, he didn't say anything. "Well, can you?" When he didn't reply me this time too, I turned on my heels and was ready to storm off to my house but a voice prevented me.

"Wait!" His voice was small, almost a croak. I paused and turned back to look at him. I saw him slowly emerge into the daylight from hiding behind a tree.

He wore a worn out baby blue sweater paired with plain shorts. His clothes seemed to be two sizes too big for him, to me. I saw him fidgeting with his fingers knotted in front of him, on his stomach— his eyes moving everywhere but me. I took two steps forward, feeling him take two steps backward.

"I won't hurt you." I tell him with a small smile. I sat myself on the ground and put my backpack in front of me. As I patted the space next to me, the pale looking boy sat across me. "Are you hungry?"

He didn't say anything.

"Do you want my lunch? I didn't eat today because I had a heavy breakfast." I tell him in a loud tone, almost happy with myself. "Here, have some." I passed him my lunch box with sandwiches in it. He picked one straight away and began to take small bites out of the thing. My eyes hovered over him as he ate.

"Do you go to school?" He shook his head a no.

As he continued to eat out of the small box, I continued to look at him. Something about him was very captivating— maybe it was the way how he didn't say much or the way he always seemed so timid and shy.

"Thank you." He croaked again before dashing away from me.

The whole night, I wasn't able to sleep. A certain brown eyed boy kept me awake all night. I could've had a day off from school but that would mean I wouldn't be able to see my new mysterious friend on my way back home— so I forced myself up.

IT BECAME ROUTINE.

I gave him my lunch every day for as long as I can remember. We grew close, he used to come to my house and we would sit on the roof without my parents knowing about it. He would snuggle closer to each other and smile like this was the last day of the world. He would put his hand in mine, not leaving it once. He grew a little less shy and started talking to me more— it was a start.

I found quite a few things about this mysterious boy— his name was Lionel but we went by the name of Leo, he said it seems more genuine and welcoming. His favourite colour was red and he had four siblings, with him being the third one. His family was poor and they couldn't afford much for their children— that was why Leo didn't go to school, they couldn't bear the expense of it.

"Look at that star," I pointed at the starry night sky. "If you ever miss me, just look at the brightest star in the night sky, know that I am watching you and I am always with you." I tell him and grip his hand tighter.

"Spain." He says all of a sudden.

"What?"

"My parents are sending me to Spain, they think it will benefit me." He admits, and I feel my world crashing right in my feet. "We're poor people," He laughs, almost in misery. "It's the only way to divide the burden we already have."

"When were you going to tell me?" Teas fill my eyes and I find him wiping the corners of my eyes in a second. "I am so sorry." We both lay there, shedding tears and consoling each other like any teen would in such a fragile age.

"I need to tell you something." Leo begins, "You have been my best and my only friend in all my thirteen years of life, you've fed me, consoled me, taken care of me and always made me feel like I belonged here. Thank you so much for that, for everything, Lana. thank you so much." By now, I was sobbing.

"I love you." He sats suddenly and I feel my breathing hitch.

"And I'll be back for you, I promise." With that, he kissed me and I found myself crying even more. It was silly, a thirteen year old boy kissing an immature ten year old girl.

I didn't want to let this boy go, not now, not ever.

"I love you too Leo,"

And that was the last time I saw him, still feeling his lips on mine and his warmth against my own skin.

Okay so, how was this. Honest opinion required. And then I'll surely continue this because goddamn Leo Messi is too good.