Unexpected Love

Chapter 6

Cristiano

Catalina has been gone for four months now.

I miss her so much, her laugh, her smile, her face, her body, the feeling of her lips on mine and everything little thing she does.

We only got to skype each other once a month during her time in Africa and it really isn't enough. I crave her voice everyday and I long to see her face.

In the span of three months she has managed to become my drug that I can't live without.

She did not tell me on what date she was supposed to return to Spain, it could be today or it could be Friday for all I know.

I think Junior is having a worse time than me. He misses her so much, I think he regards her as his mother. Every night he asks me where has Catalina gone?

Today was our Copa del Rey semifinal match against Real Sociedad and the stakes were high. Barcelona already qualified to play the finals and now its our turn to make the final an El Clasico.

I admit I haven't been playing my best so far in this season but I pulled through to score at least one goal in each game. My teammates noticed my behaviour and my constant minor injuries and began pulling me up for it, until Xabi and Karim had to step in and vouch for me.

The tensions cleared but still a hint of dissent flowed through the team.

We started off poorly, our defence and our front three were playing horribly, and it was truly a miracle Sociedad hadn't scored a goal as yet, but I guess we had Iker to thank for that.

Marcelo looked out of it, making wild challenges getting a yellow card and a lot of warnings from the frustrated referee, Pepe and Sergio were trying and Alvaro looked gassed by half hour into the game, he had to be substituted with Dani.

Forty minutes in Iker looked about ready to straight up murder Gareth because he was passing wildly and letting Socie get the ball easily. Karim and I weren't getting chances to break free and I was almost ready to curse someone from the Socie crowd with the amount of jeers we were getting.

Only the midfield was good, with Xabi, Angel and Sami trying as hard as they could, buying time for us until we could've gone for the half time break and recuperate.

The score was thankfully nil all by half time and the locker room was silent.

Coach just told us to go and do our best, but he couldn't hide the look of disappointment on his face and Zizou offered small words of encouragement,afterwards talking to Xabi about something that probably was too important for our ears but Xabi just simply nodded his head and continued to tie his laces.

When we got back onto the field however our game improved significantly.

Maybe we were just hungry?

Marcelo calmed down a bit and began to actually defend properly, Dani blockeda shot from going into the box earning an applause from our small contigent of fans present and Sergio nor Pepe didn't get a red card as yet. Gareth started playing a bit smarter and worked well with Karim and I.

In the 70th minute, I had just received a pass from Gareth, I ran as fast as my legs could carry me with Xabi right behind me, flanking me if I lost the ball somehow.

The defenders blocked my way and I weaved the ball through their legs. The crowd started cheering me on from the edge of their seats before I felt a sharp pain shoot through my leg.

One of the defenders had kicked me hard in the shin.

I couldn't brace myself for it and fell face first unto the ground.