the sun always rises || dybala

26: life is always worth it

martedì 21:21

Juventus 3-0 Young Boys.

You can't deny that it was a glorious match. Paulo had scored a hat-trick (yes, he was that crazy!), defying all odds those petty new outlets claiming Ronaldo will take his place at the club. He proved them wrong.

This was Paulo's night. He felt he was on top of the entire world. He felt like God himself, but of course, he can't disrespect his goddess of a girlfriend.

He sees her at the end of the tunnel when he emerges from the changing room, the smell of his musky cologne rising into the air from his body as he cheerfully walks over to his girlfriend. He watches Mattia and Marco walk passed and greet her, to which she happily greets them back. Wow, he really does love her.

"Hey," Charlene wraps her arms around his neck, tippy-toes and pressing a soft kiss to his cheek and then to his lips. "You did so good."

"Thank you," he hugs her back tightly. "You good? How was the press conference with Mario and Allegri?"

She laughed. "Well, Mario said pičko in the middle of the conference, and I really did not enjoy finding a synonym for that word. But can we talk about those three goals? Ronaldo-who?"

"Shh!" He pressed a finger to his lips, but he held up a shit eating grin. He knew what she meant, and he agreed wholeheartedly. "He might be near us."

"Oh, shush. We all knew all of that was you," she clung onto his arm and they started to head towards the exit of Allianz Stadium, Paulo swinging his keys to the car around his index finger.

"Aw, the love birds are leaving so soon?"

They turned around to find Mario, literally only dressed in a towel that covered him from the waist down, standing there and waiting for a hug from his favorite couple (don't tell them that, though). But they're only thing keeping this Earth from splitting into two, and he's so glad he told Paulo to find her eight months ago. Look where they are now.

The couple gladly went to give their second favorite Croat a hug, despite the towel. He ruffled Charlene's hair as they pulled away, looking at them with happiness that practically radiated from him.

"You two are literally meant for each other. Period. Don't argue with me. It's meant to be. I want credits when you guys get married, okay?" He pretended to wipe a tear away from his cheek. "What are you guys up to now? You can always join dumb and dumber and I for late dinner."

Paulo shook his head. "Nah, Miss Perfect and I are going home and making some dinner.

"Okay, but I wanna cook, though," she looked up at him, snd he gladly complied. "All of it."

"Yeah, if you want to, go ahead. See you, Mandzo—"

"Have fun, love birds!" The Croat bid them goodbye as Paulo linked his arm with Charlene's, walking down the path that led to the parking lot. Mario really wasn't lying when he said that he absolutely adored them being together. He was basically the glue that mended their relationship and the push Paulo needed back in February when he came to his senses.

So to say that Mario was an important reactant in the equation wasn't an understatement. He was almost the foundation to their relationship.

The real foundation of their relationship is Charlene.

Sure, she's gone through thick and thin, but in the end, she's the entire reason why everything is the way it is. She's still Juventus' beloved English tutor and translator, working behind the curtains during the weekday and occasionally out in the spotlight during Champions League press conferences. Of course, when Paulo doesn't pop in to surprise her. She's not a celebrity or a stereotypical WAG or whatever the hell you call it—she's just Charlene Hrnjkaš.