"Why I fell for you"

"I'm okay..."

CHAPTER 4

When Messi pulled up at his driveway ,thiago was already wide-awake and ready to go. And although his hair was up in all directions,a small trail of drool on the corner of his lip,and slightly swaying in his seat with sleep,he eagerly unbuckled his seat belt and hopped off his car seat once Messi opened the car door. He grabbed his backpack and ran over to the front door,patiently waiting for his dad to hurry up and open it.

"Espera,thiagito! You're mom isn't going anywhere-no need to rush!"

"Pero papííí!!",he whined,"I want to tell Mamí now!.

Messi sighed once more and stepped around him,sticking the house key in and opening the door. He watched in amusement as thiago ran past him towards the house phone.

Messi leaned against the wall with a sigh and watched his son run his small hands over the phone as he dialed Antonella's number like he's done many times before. He strode over to thiago and leaned down over his shoulder to press the speaker button.

"Hola mí amor!!"

"Hola Mamí!!",Thiago chirped back happily.

"How was school sweetie?"

"It was good!! I really like Mr. Alves!! He's really nice!"

Antonella's gleeful laughing  echoed out through the phone,

"That's great! Did you make any new friends?"

Thiago practically bounced up happily at the mention of friends.

"Yes! Ther-there's this boy named Milan and he's also really nice uh-like Mr.Alves! And there's also this boy...he's really loud and noisy,but he's really fun! I think his name was Davi!"

They talked on and on for hours until thiago seemed to get everything out of his system,Messi happily watching with a smile from the couch.

He was already expecting thiago to say his goodbyes and hang up,like he usually does,

But then there was a small pause.

"Mamí..."

"Sí mi amor?.."

"When are you coming back to see me and papí?Papí really misses you...i do too..."

Messi feels his muscles tense up at thiago's question. And he unconsciously finds himself  sitting up straighter and listening in anxiously for Antonella's response.

"I'm not sure...but remember we love you. And don't worry I'll come pick you up for the weekends, okay thiagito?" She replied, the same answer she'd given him last time, and the same before that.

"Sí Mamí..."he mutters,lip quivering as he looked up at Messi.

"Thiagito,plase pass me the phone."

Thiago nodded once more before handing over the device in his hands and heading upstairs,"I'm going to my room papí..".

Leo nodded and kissed his forehead before drawing his attention to the object in his hand.

Messi brought the phone up to his ear,but right when he thought he mustered up enough courage to speak,his mouth went dry and the sheepish hello never made its way to the other side. But luckily for him,Antonella spoke up instead.

"Hi Leo.."

"Hello Antonella...How are you? Everything okay?"

"Yes Leo, everything's fine. No need to worry about me...How are you and thiago doing?"

"It's okay I guess...he seemed to do well on his first day. Although he misses you alot you know.."

The other line went silent for a moment before he heard Antonella let out a long drawn out breath.