WOSO One-Shots

Win, Lose Situation (Mapi Leon)

Today is our semi final game against the US, the rematch of 2019's round of sixteen game.

I'm sitting in my locker, finishing up my pre-game prayer. I feel a presence in front of me. I finish up and then open my eyes.

"Mapi."

"Ema, sé que estás nervioso." I know your nervous. She says.

"No soy." I'm not.
 
"No me mientas." Don't lie to me. She knows me to well.
 
"Bien, estoy jodidamente aterrorizado." Fine, I'm fucking terrified.

"Ven aca." Come here. She opens up her arms and I fall right into her touch.

"Sé que lo vas a matar absolutamente. Así que solo juega tu juego. Ya sabes cómo juega este equipo, así que explota sus debilidades." I know you are going to absolutely kill it. So just play your game. You know how this team plays, so exploit their weaknesses.

"I love you."

"I love you to, mi vida."

Coach calls for the starters to line up in the tunnel and we all head out. I take my spot in front of Mapi. I start fidgeting my left hand, but she grabs it and I look back at her and smile.

"Your okay." She says reassuringly.

---

"NUMBER 15, EMA SANCHEZ SCORES FROM OUTSIDE THE BOX IN THE FIFTH MINUTE!"

-

"THE US GETS ITS RIGHT BACK, WITH VETERAN MALLORY PUGH-SWANSON TAPPING ONE IN!"

-

"EMA SANCHEZ DOES IT AGAIN, FOR HER SECOND GOAL OF THE NIGHT, RIGHT BEFORE HALF!"

The halftime whistle blows and we head into the locker room, with a one goal lead over the US.

"You did amazing." Mapi says.

"You too."

Coach does his halftime speech, and grills the defense, especially Mapi. She has seemed a little out of it.

As he is talking about Mapi and grilling her, I take her hand and our fingers subconsciously intertwine.

After he finishes his speech, we have a few minutes until we have to be out on the field, so the team comes together and forms a circle in the locker room and starts a small prayer.

-

"NEARLY RIGHT OUT OF KICKOFF, LINDSEY HORAN SCORES A 55 YARD GOAL!"

-

"María León is furiously tackled by Midge Purce."

-

I mad dash towards the bitch who tackled my girlfriend, and get up in her face.

"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT? YOU THINK YOU CAN COME IN AND TACKLE HER LIKE THAT?! IS THIS WHAT PORTLAND TEACHES THEIR PLAYERS?! TO TACKLE FUCKING RECKLESSLY?!" Before I can do anything else, the ref gets in the middle of us.

"YOU LOOK OUT!" I yell over the ref. She shows me a yellow card and the girl a red.

As she's walking off, I get up in her face again.

"YOU DESERVE IT YOU BITCH!" She then shoves me out of the way, which I shove her back and it results in an all out shoving match.

Mapi is up and pulls me back out of the way, as the some of the US players  glare at me, as they scold the girl for getting a red.

"Chill out." Jane says.

"How can I 'chill out' when that bitch nearly broke my girlfriend's ankle?!"

"Babe, you need to calm down. I'm fine and she is off the field." Mapi says.

I hug her and kiss her neck. "I love you and I'm glad your okay."

-

"MINUTES AFTER THE INCIDENT ON THE FIELD, SANCHEZ SCORES HER THIRD GOAL OF THE NIGHT!"

-

"OH MY GOSH, THIS CAN'T BE! PUGH-SWANSON GETS A LAST SECOND EQUALIZER, TO SEND THE MATCH INTO EXTRA TIME!"

-

We are in the last minute of extra time and the US has a corner, which everyone is back to defend.

Horan swings it in and somehow number 11 gets her head on it.

Mapi comes out of nowhere and clears it off the line. SHE JUST SAVED OUR FUCKING ASSES!

"MAPI, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH RIGHT NOW!" I run up and hug her.

-

"Spain's fate is based on this last penelty by the US. This has been an intense match, with tempers flaring and goals being scored. Pugh-Swanson is up to take it. The ref blows the whistle and... THE US WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM IS GOING TO THE FINALS FOR THE THIRD TIME IN THE LAST THREE WORLD CUPS!"

-

I fall to the turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground. We lost, on a fucking penelty. I put my face into the turf, not wanting to watch the US celebrate.

I feel the tears starting to flow. I don't know what I did wrong during this game, I just know I did something wrong.

"Hey babe." Mapi says, laying down, next to me.

"Hey beautiful."

"I think I'll have something that will cheer you up." She opens up a box and inside is a ring.

"The day Jenni introduced us, it was an instant connection. I had already loved everything about you, even though I didn't even know who you are. Now I love everything about you and more. From your contagious laugh to your humor to those beautiful green eyes. Everything about is perfect. So, will you do the honor and marry me?"

"Yes!" We kiss and she slides the ring onto my finger.

"I have a cheesy idea. Maybe we could switch jerseys?"

"That sounds amazing." We switch jerseys and then kiss again.

"Can we have you two turn around for a picture?" A photographer asks.

"Yep." We turn around and she snaps the photo.

"Okay, one more, facing me and show the ring." We turn around and face her. Mapi grabs my hand and shows the ring to the camera. She then grabs my face and kisses me for the thousandth time today.

"This is really a win, lose situation."