enigma | reus

13.

MARCO/ROMESSA | A Dangerous Touch, A Dangerous Interaction
a/n: 1k!! you guys are amazing :) to celebrate we'll have something exciting happen in the next chapter, so stay tuned! also, we're already on chapter 13 of this book. normally my stories are like 20-30 chapters, but this one is definitely gonna be longer because of how intricate the plot is. I wanted to really emphasize the taboo nature of Marco & Romessa's relationship which is why I drew it out over so many chapters, but I promise things will start getting exciting soon!! ☕️

—

Marco had the second half of his Wednesday free, returning to Dortmund from Munich that morning and training with the team at BVB's facilities for a few hours. His next match wouldn't be until Saturday; until then, he was glad that DFB was training in Dortmund, for he was allowed to sleep at his own apartment instead of the team's hotel.

He already knew that he wanted to see Romessa, who he hadn't seen or been able to talk to since Monday night. Yesterday, some fan account had shown up on his explore page, posting paparazzi photos of Romessa, Julian, Kai, and one of Romessa's friends getting lunch together. This had sent Marco into a small jealous frenzy, before he calmed down and convinced himself that Julian wasn't his competition. Still, thoughts of Romessa and what they'd done Monday night lingered in Marco's head from that point on.

The German was at his apartment now. The familiar feeling of loneliness that he always associated with the large and empty apartment began to creep up on him. He was admittedly having a hard time adjusting to being increasingly popular again; to people treating him with reverence, as though he wasn't a social taboo. His friends and teammates were talking to him again, people wanted to take photos with him when he was walking down the street, he was getting invited to make various appearances at events.

Like tonight. There was an annual event being hosted by Vogue Germany; Marco had received an invitation which invited him and a plus one to attend. He'd always gone the previous years with Scarlett, but without Scarlett at his side, he didn't see much reason to go. This got him thinking—would Scarlett finally contact him, now that the public didn't hate him so much? Now that he was becoming someone worthy? Of course not, the German concluded. I still broke her heart. But ever since she'd called him weeks ago and hung up immediately, Marco still thought about what he'd do if she ever called again; what he'd say.

Marco shook his head out of his thoughts as his phone buzzed with a call from his mother. Slowly, he answered, his voice flat. "Hello?"

"Marco! We watched your match. I'm so proud of you! Your father was so happy to see you playing. How have you been?"

"I'm fine," responded Marco. "I'm glad you guys could watch it."

Manuela was quiet for a few moments. For the majority of his life, Marco was a mama's boy; he knew it hurt her to see the ways he'd changed following the incident. He knew it hurt her to hear about the incident at all—to see that your son had virtually public sex with a girl half his age only to be caught by his fiancée must've been heartbreaking. Manuela raised Marco; taught him more about women and how to properly treat one than his father certainly ever did. Thomas had instilled Marco's love for football in him—Marco would forever be grateful for that—but it was Manuela who'd taught Marco how to navigate life and all of its twists and turns. Marco knew that for Manuela to see him navigating it so poorly broke her heart. But she never really showed it, always trying to comfort him and check up on him, always trying to make it clear that she still loved him. Finally, she spoke. "We didn't know you'd be playing..."

"I know," Marco responded, apologetically. He knew he should've told his mother right away, and felt guilty for having her find out just like everyone else; by seeing him on the television screen. "It's all happening so quick."