Practices with Neymar are heavenly... If only Bruna doesn't make surprise visits to the soccer field. To Isabelle's dismay, Neymar's attention is only on the actress. That stupid, evil woman. Who does she think she is? Isabelle's desire to wring Bruna's neck is is strong that the former is clenching her fists. Neymar should know the awkwardness between the two women, right?
Nonetheless, Isabelle enjoys watching him play. It's like seeing a whole different side to him, and it's strangely attractive. One minute he is cheerful and jovial, the next he is serious. His fantastic handling of the ball is enough to drive a hormonal woman nuts, which Isabelle sadly is. Her palms are sweaty and cheeks are red, and it's not from the heat. Luckily, the man is dense, and Isabelle means really dense.
“Nice job, monkey. You've definitely improved since your last game,” Isabelle teases, handing Neymar a towel. “Keep this up, you'll be as good as Messi.”
“Please, I was always this good,” Neymar replies, returning Isabelle's smile.
“My friend was right, you are an arrogant nincompoop.”
“Who said I wasn't?”
“Maybe I should rethink my relationship with you.”
“Hey!”
Isabelle giggles. “And you thought I was serious.”
Neymar rolls his eyes and turns his attention to Bruna. Of course. His beloved princess deserves the most love. It hurts just watching them. “So what were you two talking about?”
“Nothing,” Bruna answers.
Neymar raises his eyebrows. “Really?”
Isabelle looks at Bruna and the two giggle. Oh the fun the two have together. “Honestly, Neymar, we're fine.” But he isn't listening. Instead, the football player is kissing Bruna. “I gotta go.”
The morning practice is not yet over, but she races back to the neighborhood, grabbing her ball to the lot and kicking it against the wall. Her heart aches and tears threaten to fall, but every time the ball bounces off guilt pulls her back. In the end she sits against the wall, her head in her knees, feeling lost.
This is wrong. This is wrong and she knows it. Neymar's not single anymore, he has his own princess now, a Brazilian beauty. A girl Isabelle will never be, someone that has everything Isabelle doesn't. Yet somehow Isabelle can't make herself stop. The love she feels for Neymar is too deep, even though it has been two days.
Why Neymar? Why not some other Brazilian star? Why not some other man? It's certainly not because of his wealth. Money does not affect her because Neymar has been rich all his life. Is it because of his looks? As superficial as it seems, Neymar's handsome physique is a factor; it's also because he is funny and nice. The friendship they share and the times they had are too precious, something that Bruna does not share. But why now? Frankly, she doesn't know.
She really needs someone to talk to. Normally when Isabelle has a problem, Neymar will be the first person she sees. In this situation, it is out of the question. Alex won't do, no one else has to know about her friendship with Neymar. All of her other friends are either out of Sao Paulo or traveling elsewhere for the summer vacation. That leaves only one other option, and Isabelle sure doesn't like it: her mother.
Taking a deep breath, Isabelle starts to make her way back home. Sure enough, her mother is in the living room, staring blankly at the television screen. Isabelle begins to walk over, but fear begins to root her in place. She doesn't know how her mother will take the news, and Isabelle's brain does not want to find out. Standing there awkwardly, it takes about five minutes for Isabelle's mother to notice her daughter.
