Love me now | M.R

“Don’t you think you’re moving too fast” my mother asked while I was having breakfast.

“Mom”

It was noon and I was tired, since I had partied the night away with a few friends the night before and I definetely hadn’t slept enough to have this conversation. A week had past since I had told her about my change of plans and she was all about spontaneous questions about my judgement, which was starting to get on my nerves. On the other hand, my brother hadn’t spoken to me since the day I had come back from Germany, two and a half weeks now, which was also getting on my nerves.

“I don’t want to upset you” she said “I just want to be as convinced about this as you are”

“You also told me you would talk with Xoan and you didn’t do it” I spatted “If you want to help me you better do it quick because I’m leaving in a month”

“Relax” she said “I know you’re stressed but it’s not my fault”

“It’s not” I cut her “But you said you would help and you aren’t”

“Because I’m not sure about it” she started again.

“Mom, I can’t convince you otherwise and you should trust my instincts. Besides that, you don’t have to support me just make him talk to me again, he can disagree but not be a stubborn brat”.

“Adela, whatch your mouth, he’s your brother”

“Well, he’s not talking to me anymore” I retorted.

“I’m going to his house” she said “I’ll try and put some sense into his head”

“Good, thanks” I said “I’ll take a nap while you’re at it”

“I just think we would all be more on board with this if we know him” my mother said one night while we were watching TV.

“Mom, please” I said rolling my eyes “Have you learn German lately? Because I don’t know how are you going to talk with him otherwise”

“All people can comunicate” she retorted.

“Mom, he’s got a busy job. He can’t take a free day and come over here” I explained “Plus, he needs to be recovering from his injury right now”.

“I’m just saying that could be arranged”

“Mom, why don’t you drop the subject or tell me all your worries about it?” I said silencing the television.

“I don’t want to bother you” she said “Just do your thing”

“That’s what I’m trying to do but it’s been impossible for a while. Just lay it all on the table, I can handle it”.

“I’m worried you’ll end up alone in a foreign city” she started “And heartbroken, because right now all your support system relies on him”.

“I know” I said “But I made friends from my own as well, and I already was alone in a foreign city when I move there in the first place”

“I guess you’re right” she said “But it’s a mother’s job to worry”

“I know” I reasured her “But try to worry without annoying me. You raised a pretty mature girl, I’m sure she will be fine even if she ends up heartbroken”.

Sandra, my mother and I were all laying in our towels at the beach while Xiana was swimming around with the other kids. My brother had agreed to come with us – which was a step forward – but he had picked up his kayak and was now sailing down the estuary.

“God, let him leave” Sandra wishpered at an obnoxious mother, who wouldn't let his kid get in the water.

“It’s not in her nature” I said turning around to get an even tan.

“She’s not in her right mind since she gave birth” my mother stated “She was always a strange girl but she’s become even more weird these four years”

A while after that Xiana came into her My Little Pony towel and she was hungry as hell, so I gave her her sandwich and a fruit.

“Does Marco likes apples?” she asked me to which I saw my mother tense up from the corner of my eye.

“He does” I said “Although he prefers the green ones and not the reds”

“The greens ones are tasty too” she said.

“Which ones are your favourite?” her mother asked.

“The red ones” she said giving a bite into her apple. “Grandma, which ones do you like?”

“I like the greens ones honey” she answered.

“Mommy’s too” she said “What about you auntie?”

“I like the green ones as well” I answered.

“So, there’s only green apples in you Germany’s house, for you and Marco?”

“They don’t live together Xi” my mother said quickly.

“Why not?” she asked

“Because he has his house and I have mine” I answered.

“People who love each other live together” she stated.

“I also love you and we’re not live together” I tried to explain.

“But I’m not your boyfriend silly” she laughed. “Can we make a castle once I finish?”

“Of course” I said glad she had dropped the topic.

She left with her friends after we finished the worst sand castle even made and I took a dip in the water after coming back to the towel with Sandra and my mother.

“Why does she talk so much about Marco?” my mother asked.

“She spoke with him through skype the other day” I said.

“They spoke?” she asked.

“Well, she just said hello of course they aren’t going to talk mom” I said.

“But he can’t say hello to me” she retorted.

“OMG mom, don’t start this again!”

“I think she feels more comfortable with Xiana talking with him because it’s just a game for her but him talking to you is a more serious matter and she thinks that encounter wouldn’t be comfortable given that you don’t have any common languages to communicate and she would have to be a translator” Sandra spoke sofly, trying to calm the tension.

“Plus, it wouldn’t be nice for you to meet over skype” I added.

“It’s just that?” my mother asked surprised.

“Yes mom” I said “What do you think I would hide?”

“I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable going to Germany to meet him” she suggested.

“Mom, if you go to Germany I would have to babysit you, no one is going to speak Spanish there”. I protested “It wouldn’t be comfortable to you”.

“Then have him come over here” she tried again.

“To your house? In a country he can’t even communicate in?” I argued “What if you don’t like each other and you are uncomfortable for a week or two? That wouldn’t be a nice situation”

“She’s got a point” Sandra gave me a hand. “I think she just want both of you to be comfortable and she’s trying to find the perfect situation”.

“We’ve convinced your brother to talk with you” my mother said as I opened the door.

Sandra and her were sitting in the living room with some tea and I had just arrived from a meeting with my friends.

“Did you really?” I asked them putting my purse on the table.

“Yes” Sandra said “Xiana is staying at a friends tonight so he’s coming for dinner, and we’re gonna be there for moral support”

Sandra, me and my mother had had a few talks about me and Marco and my mother had finally accepted my decision and supporting me with it. She was no longer tense when I brought him up and she even waved at him if I was speaking with him through skype. Now we were hoping my brother will follow and we could end the summer in peace.

He and Sandra arrived at nine o’clock with the meat to grill, we were having a barbecue that night since it was Xoan’s favourite meal.

He reluctantly said hello to me but Sandra pressured to give me a hug and a kiss. He then went to the grill while Sandra and my mother set the table up. I gained a bit of courage and approached the grill, trying to make peace with my brother.

“I brought you a beer” I said passing him the bottle.

“Thanks” he said.

“I don’t want you to be angry at me” I stated, making him look up to me and sigh.

“I don’t want to be angry at you neither” he said.

“What are we doing then?” I asked him “Summer’s almost over”

“I know” he said “I still don’t trust him” he insisted.

“Do you trust me instead?” I asked him.

“Of course I do”

“Then I promise you everything is going to be okay, I’m not relaying on him”

“I just don’t want you to be involved in that world Adi” he said “We’re just normal people and he might not be very famous here but I know football, I know he’s a star over there”.

“He is” I agreed “But he’s not a jerk”

“That I don’t know” he said.

“But you act like you know exactly the opposite” I said.

“I’d rather be cautious” he laughed.

“Be ‘cautious’ then” I laughed hugging him. “And hurry up with that meat because I’m starving”.

Marco called later that night, when everybody had retired to bed – Sandra and Xoan had decided to sleep here as well. I had told her about the problems with my brother and he was worried, so he always tried to get some information out of our conversations if I didn’t give him any.

“How are things going” he asked.

“Very well actually” I said “I made peace with my brother now”

“Really?” he asked “That’s great, I’m very happy to hear he doesn’t hate me anymore”

“C’mon” I said “He doesn’t hate you”

“A little” he cut in.

“Maybe a little, but it’s difficult for him to trust someone he doesn’t know”

I woke up the next morning to someone jumping on my bed. I was preparing to scold whoever it was when I saw my niece’s fair brown locks jumping around the room. She was barefoot jumping side to side over my torso, her little skirt going up and down as she moved.

“I got you” I said gabbing her from down her shoulders and bringing her into a hug.

“Auntieee” she said leaning into my shoulder.

“Did you come to wake me up?” I asked her.

“Yes” she said “I’m going fishing with dad”

My brother had stored into our garage his fishing equipment because he didn’t have much space left in his house, which meant I always knew when he was going fishing, I used to like spying on him when I was younger.

“Do you want to come with us?” she asked.

“Maybe” I said. “Only if I can get a cool fishing rood”

“Which one you want?” she asked.

“The green one” I said lifting my eyebrows.

“That’s yours silly” she said laughing.

“C’mon, lets get breakfast” I said getting out of the bed and taking her into my hip “Did you had breakfast already”

“Mh-mh” she said shaking her head “I wanted to have it with you”

“Cool” I said “Pick up my phone on the night table, please”

I put my slippers on and we went downstairs, where I prepared two bowls of cereals with milk. We ate with the cartoons on the TV and I stepped away to wash our bowls when Marco called me.

“Who’s that?” I heard Xiana as soon as I picked up the skype call.

“That’s Marco, my boyfriend” I said, to Marco’s curiosity.

“What are you saying?” he asked.

“Was talking to my niece” I said “She came to have breakfast with me”.

“Nice” he said “How was your flight”

“Tiring” I answered “But your fist class tickets were very much helpful”

“I told you” he said smirking. “What are your plans for today?”

“It seems I’m going fishing” I said looking down to see Xiana looking at me.

“Auntie, why are you talking weird” she asked me confused.

“Because Marco doesn’t speak the same language as us” I explained “He speaks German and we speak Galician”

“OK” she said, thinking about it “Can I go with you?”

“Of course” I told her. “My niece is coming over” I said now in German to Marco.

“Hallo” he said as the blue eyed girl appeared in the screen.

“He’s saying hello” I told her when I saw his confussed face.

“Hello” she said smiling. “My name is Xiana” she said.

They talked for a while – with me translating every sentence – and then Xiana got tired and she left to find his father as I went to grab a few comfortable clothes to go fishing. I said goodbye to Marco and I went downstairs again, pulling my hair into a pony tail.

“Hiii” I said to my brother, who was waiting for me on the kitchen.

“Who was Xiana talking to?” he asked.

“I was just talking with Marco and she tagged along” I shrugged “Do you preffer apples or pears to bring along?”

“I don’t want her talking with him” he said harshly.

I left the apples back into the fruit bowl and I narrowed my eyes at him, not believing what he had just said.

“She just said hi. What’s the matter?”

“The matter is that he is a famous footballer who’s going to leave you when he grows tired and I don’t want him around my kid” he stated making me tense up.

“I thought we were past the footballer steriotype” I said harshly “God, you don’t even know him, who are you to judge?”

“She’s MY kid” he shouted. “If I said she can speak to him she can’t, end of the conversation”

“You’re being the most unfair person in the world right now” I shouted back.

“Am I?” he said getting closer to me “Look how you defend him, doesn’t it seem familiar?”

“It has nothing to do with that” I said hurt “Do you think I’m that stupid?”

“Yes” he spatted “You’re being that stupid. Good luck telling mom you’re not going to Amsterdam and you’re staying with him instead”.

He left, slamming the door behind him and taking Xiana with him, I stood next to the kitchen table thinking about he had just said. I didn’t know how he had found out about Amsterdam but I knew he wasn’t right, and that I was doing the better thing here.

I went back into my room, change into another clothes, brushed my hair and called my friends. Meeting them for coffee at a nearby town.

Xoan hadn’t been back home since our argument, Sandra came sometimes – bringing Xiana along with her – but she was busy and she didn’t came in frecuently. It has been a week since our argument, and had tried to contact him several times, but he wouldn’t listen. He was being irrational and he knew it, but he was proud and wouldn’t admit that.

“Heyy” Sandra said on the other end of the line. It was a Wenesday night and I had just gotten out of the beach with my friends and coming back home.

“Hi there” I said.

“Was wondering if it would be OK for us to have dinner together” she asked “I’ll bring Xiana with me, she wants to see you”.

“Of course” I said “I’m going back home right now, I’ll cook something for the three of us, mom is getting late from her shift today”.

“Great” she said “I’ll drop by at ten if that’s OK with you”

“Of course” I answered “See you later”

I made them spaghetti carbonara since it was a quick and easy meal and I took a shower as I got home, They arrived on time, when I was just mixing the sauce and the spaghetti.

“Auntieee” Xiana said “What’s for dinner?”

“Spaghetti” I answered giving her a hug “Do you like it?”

“Yees” she said dancing, her hair still a little wet from the post-beach shower.

“Go wash your hands while we put the food on the table sweety” Sandra told her, graving my sauce pan. “Sorry about Xoan” she said once the little girl entered the bathroom.

“That’s alright” I answered “He’ll come to his senses”

“Are you sure about that?” she asked laughing “I’ve never meet anyone so stubborn in my life”

“You tell me” I laughed.

After dinner, Xiana went to play with my old wii console and Sandra and I sat at the garden table with a cold drink.

“May I ask why?” she asked “Why is he pissed at you”

“Xiana spoke with Marco the other day” I answered.

“That’s it?” she asked. “For real?”

“And I’m staying in Dortmund next year, I’m not going to Amsterdam”

“Oh, I see. His big brother instincts are kicking in”

“I think so”

“But are you happy?” she asked “That’s the important thing, not what he thinks”

“I am” I said. “And I’m not only staying because of him, there’s a lot of other factors too” I explained “I’m already working into getting a workship with a local designer”

“That’s great” she said. “Very happy for you”

“Thanks” I said “I think you’re the only one who thinks that”

“When I got pregnant with Xiana everybody told me I shouldn’t keep the baby” she started “But I felt prepared and didn’t listen to them. My changes night have changed a little but I wouldn’t change it.”

“Thank god you didn’t listen” I said as we saw Xiana running to us.

“I’ve won three times” she screamed, dancing around the garden, playing with the dog now.

“Always follow your heart” she said to me while we followed the little girl with our eyes.

“You know I didn’t exactly liked your mother back in highschool?” I told Xiana, who was now in my lap, petting our little dog.

“Why not” she asked as Sandra rolled her eyes.

“She was picky, your auntie” she said.

“I was” I laughed.

“But you like her now” she stated.

“I do” I said giving her a peck on the head.

“Grandma is comming” Sandra said as she saw my mother’s car coming up to our house.

She was surprised to see us all there and Xiana went straight to her as she came down from the car. Telling her all about her day, my mother listen carefully with adoring eyes.

“Hi girls” she told us. “Did you have fun?”

“We did” Sandra said “But I think it’s time to go now Xi”

“But grandma just came in” she protested.

“We’ll come back tomorrow” Sandra told her in her “mom” voice.

“OK” Xiana said giving my mother and I our kisses and saying goodbye as she hoped on the car.

“Xoan didn’t came” my mother asked when they left.

“He didn’t” I said following her into the house “He’s still angry I suppose”

“What’s the matte1r between you two?” she took her shoes off and sat on one of the kitchen chairs, exhausted.

I hesitated and she noticed it, she was very good at reading people and now she knew there was something I was afraid to tell her, which meant she would push the subject in until she knew what was going on.

“You can tell me” she said “I promise I won’t get mad”

“I’m not going to Amsterdam anymore” I said after a long deep breath “I’m staying in Dortmund instead, that’s what I want”

“I thought you were thrilled about Amsterdam” she said calmly, although I could notice she was not happy about it.

“I know” I said “But I really want to stay in Dortmund, And I know you don’t know him and it’s difficult to trust someone you don’t know but I promise Marco is a good one. I want to give us a chance”

“Are you sure about this?” she asked.

I had a flight early in the morning and I was closing my suitcase. All of my bigger stuff was stored away in a garage I had rented, I was planing on using it again in September. My family didn’t know yet but I was expecting to stay in Dortmund insead of finishing my studies in Amsterdam as I had planned before meeting Marco.

He was coming to get me anytime now, since we were having dinner with his family. I was staying at his house today, and he was going to drive me to the airport the next day. I hadn’t bored to get myself a cute outfit today, I was just wearing a plain dress and a pair of trainers, something comfortable that would also do the trick for the next day.

He gave me a call when he got to my door and then we changed spots since he still hadn’t gotten his driving license and I was driving to his family house.

“You need to get your driving license Marco” I told him while we were on our way.

“I know” he said “I’ll promise you I’ll get it this summer”

“I doubt that” I said sceptically.

He just laughed it off and changed the dial, tilting his head back into the copilot seat.

It was a thirty minute trip to Marco’s parent’s house and we talked about everything but me going away. I was happy to see my family but, on the other hand I didn’t want to leave Marco – or Dortmund for that matter – because I had really grown a safety net and I felt myself at ease at the city. On the other hand, I knew Marco didn’t want me to leave but he understood my reasons and that I needed to see my family, so he was trying to make thins easier for me. That’s what I loved so much about Marco, we really didn’t need to talk about things but instead he just got me no matter what and he knew when to push a subject and when not to do it.

As I parked into Manuela and Thomas’ driveway I saw there was light in the living room. Manuela heard the car and she came to the door to greet us.

“Hi” she said excitedly “Hi sweetheart, how was your holidays?”

“They were great, thanks” I said hugging her.

“Are you ready to go home. I bet you are delighted to go back” she said as she entered to the kitchen, making me follow her.

“I am” I said “I hadn’t seen my niece in ages”

“Oh right, you had a little niece” she said, as she started to cook “Wasn’t she Nico’s age?”

“Yes, she is” I said, starting to tidy the kitchen to help her finish sooner. “She’s my little girl”

Soon after that Yvone entered the door with the little ones and she brought Mia to the kitchen, while Marco, Nico, Thomas and Yvone’s husband stayed in the living-room. I brought her to my lap as soon as the little girl entered the kitchen, and I payed with her while the mother and daughter were catching up.

It wasn’t much later when dinner was ready and everybody gathered in the living-room. Both Manuela and Thomas sat at the heads of the table and the rest of us sat down on the sides. Me, Marco and Nico on one side, and Yvone, Mia and Yvone’s husband on the other side.

Nico had been all afternoon at a friend’s house, and he had a pool in his backyard so his hair was still a little wet and frizzy. He told me how much fun he had had and how exited he was to his holidays in the beach with his family, even though, he was a little sad he wasn’t going to be able to swim with his sister. He also asked me about my beach holidays, to which I told him my house was so close to the beach that I could walk to it, so I wasn’t having beach holidays. Everybody got interested about my house and town so I talked about them gladly, which was a little bit moving, since I was starting to get really homesick at this point.

After dinner, Yvone put Mia to sleep and we stayed on the table, making small chat until really late in the night. We left in between tender hugs and kisses wishing me a good trip and making me promise to visit again as soon as I went back to Dortmund at the end of the summer.

I gave a special hug to my little Nico, whom I was very sad to leave for two months and I gave a lot of kisses to Mia’s little face, who didn’t knew what was going on around her, for the time I will be back she would probably grow into herself a lot and she would be moving around like crazy, maybe even having a few teeth.

The airport was full of people, it always was. Some of them recognized Marco and wanted to take their picture, which I gladly took. Because of that it took us a while more to check in my luggage but we didn’t care. After that we sat down at a coffee shop and we ordered two bottles of water while we waited for me to enter the terminal, avoiding to say our goodbyes as we had been doing for the last days.

However, we could not stop time and I eventually had to make the queue to wait for my flight.

“I’m gonna miss you” Marco breathed into my hair as he was hugging me “I don’t want you to leave”.

“I know” I said with my cheek pressed into his head, my forehead in the crock of his neck. “But I have to. I miss my family, you know?”.

“I know” he said letting me go “I love you, OK” he said before giving me a quick peck.

“I love you to” I said tearing myself away from him.

He stood close as I followed the line and as I was passing through security doors he was there making funny faces. I didn’t know how much he actually stayed in the airport because I had to venture into the terminal in order to find my door, which it ended up to be one of the last ones in the terminal.

I didn’t have to wait much for my flight since I had arrived pretty late and Marco had bought me a fist class ticket, which I had accepted gladly since there was a lot of hours ahead of me.

I ended up sitting next to a blonde woman, she wasn’t very kind and she had a huge laptop in which she typed the whole time. Instead, I sat in my seat and tried to relax once the airplane started to move and the security instrutions were given, because I thought it was rude to not pay attention to the flight attendants giving instructions, who were just doing their jobs. The seat was really comfortable and it was easy for me to relax as soon as we took off.

When I arrived to the airport it was already dark outside. I had been waiting in Barcelona’s airport for quite a long time before taking my last flight – a normal one this time – and I was pretty tired. I had brought two suitcases and a big bag and my arms were sore of dragging them around the floors.

My mother was waiting for me at fist line when I got out of the gates – knowing her she had just probably spent there two hours waiting for me – and as I saw her I could see tears in her eyes.

“Adela!!” she said hugging me. “I missed you terribly”

“I missed you too mom” I said smiling.

“Let me help you with that and lets get you home” she said grabbing one of my suitcases.

I followed her quietly into the parking lot, in where we found mom’s car and we took off to our town, which was two hours away from the airport.

Once I got home I saw my brother making dinner at the kitchen.

“Hey” I said “It smells delicious”

“Thanks sis” he said smiling “It was time for you to come back”

“I missed you too” I said hugging him. “I’m going to unpack quickly and I’ll be downstairs”

“Do you need help?” my mother asked.

“No, thanks” I answered. “It’s just the essentials”.

It was our last day in the resort and we decided to slept. After pouring my heart out the previous night we were both really tired, we had stayed most of the night talking about when we were little kids and how we had been brought up. We weren’t really that different to be honest.

We had breakfast in bed and we spend the rest of the morning naping, listening to the vague sound of the ocean, the waves hitting repeatedly the wooden pier, steadily and calmly. It was a paradise – our little paradise – and I was so sad to be leaving but, on the other hand, it was time to getting back to my normal life. Besides, I was missing home terrible, the homesickness was getting really hard sometimes.

“I can’t believe this is our last day” Marco said.

“I know” I said hugging into his side.

“And partly because you are going to be leaving soon too” he said giving me a peck on the temple.

“You know I miss my family” I pouted.

“I know, I’m not telling you not to go” he answered.

However, I felt like there was something he wasn’t telling me. I didn’t push him tough, I wanted him to tell me when he was ready. Or maybe it was only my imagination.

We spent the whole day resting at the deck and taking our last beams of sun before going back to Europe. Marco had tanned a little bit but I was almost as white as I was when I first came into the island. We had decided to go dinner together today, and spend our last night watching the European Cup final match.

Portugal was playing against France, Marco was rooting for France because it had beaten Germany on the semifinals and  he wanted Germany to had fallen against the Champion. I wasn’t rooting for anyone specially, however Marco’s reason was a sensible one I could relate with, Portugal was a country that I liked, so I was a torn in between the two teams.

I started getting ready early because I wanted to do my make up and my hair early, so we had time to go and watch the match. I had chosen a green short dress to wear tonight but I was worried it would be a little chilly. However I hadn’t brought any fancy long dresses. As I stepped into the bedroom I saw a present laying on top of the bed, it was rectangular, quite big but not very tall.

“What is this?” I asked Marco

“It’s a present” he stated.

He had been swimming in the pool while I was showering and his hair was already starting to dry, the end pointing in every direction they could go. He had his green swimming shorts on and had placed an open t-shirt to cover his upper half, abs still visible through the fabric.

“That’s obvious” I said “Is it for me?”

“Of course” he said matter-of-factly.

“Can I open it?” I ask excitedly.

I loved surprises, and I was intrigued as to what was inside the box. It was so sweet of Marco to think about giving me a present, I knew he was quite wealthy but I really didn’t want him to spend my money on me. I usually didn’t asked him for anything because I didn’t want to get advantage of him in any matter.

“Of course” he said leaning into the door with his arms crossed, a smirk on his face.

At that point I looked like a six year old and I opened the box with caution. First I undid the white ribbon, wrapped around the box and then I opened the pink box carefully. On the inside was a white dress, wrapped in thin pale pink paper. It was perfect. It was a long white dress it was embroidered on the top, which had spaghetti strips end it was sheer on the side. The skirt was made of thin white fabric, that fell loosely to the floor and it had a slit up to the hips.  There was a cute ribbon wrapped around the waist as well.

“Marco” I said touched. “This is beautiful. Thank you so much”

“I wasn’t sure if you were going to like it” he said.

“I love it” I said hugging him “But you really didn’t have to do it.

“I like to spoil you sometimes” he said giving me a peck.

“You don’t have to” I said wrapping my arms around his neck, getting on my tip toes so I could reach his lips once again.

“I want to” he said toying with the band of my bathing robe “You deserve it”.

“Thank you” I said truthfully.

He wrapped me with his arms and I jumped into his waist after he carried me to the bed and we lost the track of time, getting lost into each other.

I ended up applying very little make up and curling my hair slightly, I put my new dress on and I could tell Marco liked it because he got more handy than usually. He towered over me as we were walking over the wooden platforms since I was not wearing high-heels, but a pair of brown sandals instead. Since I was quite short a few inches of my dress was dragging on the ground as I walked and I was afraid Marco would step on it.

The restaurant was really nice., it was on the beach and there was hay walls around the amount of tables and chairs. They were painted white, and it seemed used and old, which made the whole view way more cosy and beautiful. There was also a huge screen on the side, in which they were going to stream the match.

Marco and I got a really nice table, it was next to a glass fence, which separated the deck from the shore and it was quite close to the screen, but not so much for it to make you blind.

Dinner was great and so was the football match. It was really not that interesting but since it was a final it had a special thrill.  Marco got himself immersed into the game and I found myself fixating my eyes to him instead of the match. His look of concentration was so  fascinating, his brows were pulled together and his greenish eyes were fixated into the scree, the light coming from it drawing a beautiful shade onto his eyes. The game ended up in a win for Portugal, 1-0.  

After diner we took a walk down the beach.

“I’m going to miss you this summer?” Marco said as we stop, sitting down on the sand.

“Me too” I said. “But, I’m back at the end of August”

“Too long” he said “Plus, it going to be preseason and I’m going to be at training camp probably”

“Aren’t you injured?” I asked him.

“Not going to be injured forever” He laughed. “I can always go to Spain”

“I doubt that” I said “How will you communicate with anybody?”

“That’s right. It would be difficult”

We stood on the beach a little more and then we went back to the hotel, since we had our flight early in the morning.

I slept the whole trip to the airport the next day, we repeated the same steps as we had previously done to start our holidays but on reverse. We had a second breakfast at the airport and then we board into the plane and we took our seats. We decided to watch a movie together at the first half of the flight. Then we had our lunch and we took a nap, soon after that we arrived to Dortmund.

As we touched down Yvone was waiting for us at the airport with Nico and Mia. The three of them were at the gate, waving to us as we passed through the doors. Nico ran to us and I picked hip up in a hug, giving her a little kis on the head.

“Hi Adi” he said “Hi uncle Marco”

“Hey little one” Marco anwered him, carresing his cheek. “Did you have fun while we were out?”

“Yees” the little kid exclaimed “I don’t have school, now”

“That’s great” I told him “Oh, look at your sister, she’s grown so much”

“Get of the pool already” Marco said.

I had been there for quite a while I must admit, but I was perfect anyway. He was laying in one of the chairs, laid back so he could wath the football game on the TV, instead, I was just listening to it. Germany was playing against Portugal and the fist part was just about to finish. Germany was on top of the game with two goals – Müller had scored a penalty and it hadn’t been so far ago that Hummels had just scored the second for Germany.

“How are they doing?” I asked him “The commentators are driving me insane”

“Two cero” he said not tearing his eyes from the screen.

“I know that, just want  to know if they are playng well”

Marco didn’t listen to me and kept gazing at the TV, resigned I got out of the pool and wrapped a towel around my body before sitting next to him to watch the final minutes of the first half.

“They did good” my boyfriend said as the players entered the tunnel and the stream started to show the commercials.

“I asked you like half an hour ago” I said squinting my eyes.

“I know. I just wanted you to get out of the pool”

“Hey, that’s not fair!”

“Seriously, look at your fingers, you needed to get out”.

I had to gave him one point for that because my fingers were super wrinkly for being too much in the water.

“You’re not replying then” he laughed.

“You might be right”

“Might?”

“OK, you’re right” I said “Should we go have lunch out today?”

Two days ago we had gone into that little tour of ours over the coast and, it had tired us a little. Since we both felt exhausted we had spent the morning before sleeping in and then, we sunbathed in the afternoon and we also went for a swim on the ocean and another few ones in the pool.

“Sounds good” he said. “We yet have to go to the hotel’s restaurant physically”

“Great” I said “We can go once the match ends because I’m starting to feel hungry”

“Go grab something in the fridge”

I arrived back when the match was back ion the TV with a buch of goodies to spent the second half of the match. It was a great second half to be honest, Germany scored another two goals, both of them scored my Müller, who made a hat-trick bringing the ball home.

I was sad Marco had to watch this game instead of playing it but on the other hand I was happy we could be on this little holidays and that I got to spend time with him in this paradise and, most importantly, bonding over what he loved best: football. I was quite a football fan myself too so it didn’t necessarily bother me, in fact, I loved it because he kept telling me stories or peculiarities of the players hat were showed on screen if he knew some and I was also quite nosy as well.

I was also happy Matts was doing alright, because it remided me of Cathy, with whom I spoke frequently. She was now very happy, her Munich home was finished and I was welcome to visit whenever I wanted to, I had helped her with some decisions since I love interior design. She was so radiant and happy lately and I loved talking to her and catch some of her possitivity.

Marco was so happy about Germany winning and was radiant all the way to the restaurant. He even waited on me as I got ready, changing my swimsuit and putting on a pair of white short overalls and braided my hair. We crossed the wooden bridges hand in hand and I imagined we were one of those couples you watch on the street and think how perfect they are for each other.

The path to the restaurant wasn’t actually quite long  and we were given a table as soon aswe asked for one, which was also nice. The place was decorated entirely in white, and had huge windows that overlooked at the cristal blue ocean and the long beach, with tall palm trees standing in line. Our table was placed next to one of those windows so I could say we were pretty lucky to be given it.

“We have to go to the beach after dinner” I told Marco as soon as we sat down “It would be a crime to have it there and not visit it”.

“WE have to” he agreed “They even havejet skis, we should rent one and go back to our room on it”

“You driving?” I said sceptically.

“Of course I’m driving one of those”

“I think that’s actually very hard Marco” I infrmed him “I don’t know if you’d be capable of doing so”

“Of course I am” he said offended “I’ve done it before”

“Have you?”

“Yeah, last summer” he explained “I want to greece for a while and we rented one of the hotel and drove drove it aroind”

“And you didn’t dfall?”

“At first,” he said “A few times. But I’m a pro now.”

In that moment the waiter came over with the menús and our conversation was left to die, I forgot it but Marco did not and he was now roaming the idea of actually getting one to get back to our villa.

We both asked for the Chef’s Menus, too lay to actually pick up one thing, and also curious of what could we expect of it. I was a little worried since I was not the one for experimental cuisine and the names were certainly pointing in that direction – as well as the amount of plates written down.

In fact it was modern cousine, the escessive amount of plates was not really that much because the amount of food that were on each plate wasn’t really that big, but it gave as a chance to taste a lot of different plates of the menú but in smaller portions. It was really tasty and every plate that was brought to our table was delicious and – since they were really tiny – left you wanting more of it.

They had just picked up the last of the main courses and there was only the dessert left. When it came over I couldn't believe that was food, it was so pretty I didn’t want to eat it because I would have to destroy it. It was a black chocolate ball,  with strawberry sauce and three white chocolate sticks with white berries on top of it, all of it inside a sugary case, that you have to break with your teaspoon.

After dessert they brought us thee different types of exotic fruits sorbets which were delicious as well, and they were super refreshing, a thing that I needed given that it was getting so hot.

The whole lunch actually took us a while and there was not so many time for the beach as we initially thought but we stayed there for a while and took some time to actually enjoy our food.

“If you try to splash me I’ll cut your head” I threatened Marco when I saw his intentions.

He stopped in his tracks and look at me with innocent eyes.

“I wasn’t going to” he said “But you’re taking so long”.

He was right, I wasn’t the one to dip quickly into the sea. Instead I dip slowly, specially when the water reached my tummy. I was reaching that point, and I had been still for a while. I was wearing a pale pink and blue bikini, and we had left our clothes and bags at our deck chairs, watched by a young man.

“Adi, seriously, get in already” Marco complained.

“You don’t need to be by my side if you don’t want to” I protested.

“I’m on holidays with you” he answered “And I want to be with you”

“You won’t die if you take a dip before me, did you know that?”

He laughed and he then through me a naughty look. As soon as I saw his green eyes and his wicked smile I started to back away but he was faster than me and wrapped an arm around me, lifting me in the air as I kicked in the air and begged him to put me down.  He didn’t listen to me though and I wasn’t strong enough to get out of his grip and not fall flat into the water so he won anyway and crushed me into the water with him.

It felt so cold at the beginning but I got used to it in the end. I loved the feeling of the water surrounding my body, it felt light as a feather and ethereal. Moving your body effortlessly against the mass of liquid, flowing with it, was the closest thing to flying. I had always loved the beach, when I was little I spent all my Summers at the beach, my mother carriied a big box of goodies and I usually spent the whole evening swimming and playing in the water with the rest of the children.

“Wasn’t that good?”

“Great” I said sarcastically “Except the part when I froze to death”.

“it’s not that cold” he retorted.

He then dip back in the water and I followed him. We spent the rest of the evening splashing each other and we only came out when our fingers started to shrink.

“Marco. I think that’s enough suncream” I said after the tird time he put suncream over his body.

“It’s never enough” he said “It’s not pleasant when you get sunburnt”.

“I know that. But I’m sure it’s enough with a coat of suncream, you had applied three already!”.

“Adela, don’t fight me on this. Germans have thin skin”.

“OK, I’ll let you be” I said reclining back onto the towel “But you’re being ridiculous”.

“Marco, I’m not doing it” I said in disbelief.

“Why not?

“Do you even know how to drive on of theese?”

“It’s not that difficult”

“How do you know the way? Do you know how difficult is orientating in the sea?”

“It’s not that difficult”

“Stop, replying the same thing. I know from close experience it’s quite difficult”.

“OK, I know, but nothing is going to happen. We’re right on the side.”

“If we’ll get lost I’ll feed you to the sharks”

“Is that a yes” he said excitedly, like a five year old.

I couldn’t believe I had just agreed to go back to our suite riding a water motorcycle – both in one of them. Turns out Marco wasn’t that bad of a driver – or sailor – and we got to our room quite easily. Fortunately, both of our phones ended up completely dry and functional.

“That was sick” Marco said as we hoped into our little pier.

“It was alright” I said smiling, seeing him so excited.

“I’m going to have a shower, can you order some dinner?” he asked “I could use a nighti n toninght”

“Me too” I answered “I’ll call them right away”.

It was starting to get dark outside and we were sitting in the deck, watching the sunset. I had ordered food to the room service and we were having dinner cozily tucked up on one couch.

“Did you like my sailing skills?” he asked.

“They’re fine” I said.

“What’s wrong?” he asked

“Nothing” I said “I’m fine”.

“You’re not, you were also weird when I brought up the water motorcycle thing”.

“My father was a sailor” I said leaving the spoon on the plate.

“Was? You’ve never mentioned him” he asked sweetly, putting an arm around me.

“I was little” I begun with a lump in my throat “His boat just disappeared”

“I’m so sorry” he said cuddling me into him, making me want to cry “I didn’t knew that”,

“It’s okay” I said. “I hadn’t told you”.

“It must have been difficult” he said brushing through my hair.

“It was really hard” I cried “I was mad at him when he left because he never was with me”

“Adi” he said grabbing my face gently “I’m sure he knew you loved him so much”

“I know” I said “But I can’t shake this feeling, that the last thing I said to my father was full of hate. I never got to say goodbye to him, you know?”.

“Adi, I’m so sorry”

“We never found his body” I admitted “We just buried an empty casket”.

“It must have been hard for your family too”

“Yes, I was very little and my mother tried to hide it but I could feel he was devastated”.

“She raised you alone? You and your brother?”

Our boat took us to Puerto Real, a town north from Boqueron. It was also beautiful, it was smaller than the previous one but it had the same character. The houses were full of colour and the streets were filled with life and joy, there wasn’t a market in there but there was a few stands over the streets.

“Liebe” Marco suddenly said as we were walking down the streets ”Look at that”

I looked at where he was motioning to and I saw a white-haired man with slightly dark skin and glasses was standing in the street with an easel and huge pieces of paper, drawing and painting tourist who paid them.

“You want him to make a drawing of us?” I asked him.

“Yes” he said “I could hang it up on my walls”

“OK” I said smiling at the fact that he wanted to put a drawing of us up on his house.

We waited until the queue was gone and then I approached the man.

“Hola” I said motioning me and Marco “¿Podria pintarnos, por favor?”

(Hi, Could you do please make a drawing of us?)

“Por supuesto” the man answered me with a deep voice “Colocaros en el círculo blanco que hay en el suelo, por favor”

(Of course, I can. Coud you place yourselves onto the white circle on the floor, please)

We placed ourselves in said circle and posed next to each other, Marco’s arm around my waist as I leaned a bit against him. It wouldn't have been difficult to stay put for a while if it wasn’t for Marco continuously tickling my side and making me giggle and skim away from him. I kept apologizing to the poor man, who was laughing behind his easel, I was sure he would make an awful painting just to get back at us.

“Marco” I said annoyed “Stop it.”

“Why?” he asked “You’re going to be smiling after all”

“Marco, stop being childish please, let the poor man work”

“I’m not being childish” he said “I just like to hear your laugh”

“You’re not getting out of this by being charming” I stated crossing my arms.

“But it’s true” he said pouting and making the worst “sad puppy” face I’ve ever seen in my life.

“Did that ever work on someone?” I asked laughing.

“What do you mean?” he asked surprised.

“You can’t puppy face” I informed him still laughing.

“That’s not what I was trying to do?” he mocked me.

“What was it then?” I retorted crossing my arms.

“Nothing” he said “I was doing nothing”

“Sure” I said smirking “Let’s get back to posing”

Me and Marco placed ourselves again where we previously were and I apologize once more to the white-haired man, this time being my fault as well and not just Marco’s.

“Ya está listo señorita” the guy said after a long while.

(It’s done, young lady)

I told Marco that our drawing was ready and he let go the longest sigh I’ve ever heard as he was starting to get impatient again, not being used to stay put for a long while, always being active. I laugh at him and the man motioned us to go and see.

My jawline went to the floor as I saw the picture, in the little time we had been there he had managed to create a beautiful piece of art, full of colour and emotion. Marco and I were the focus but behind us there was a beautiful world of colour and life, that seemed to be moving on the canvas.

On top of that the people he had drown looked exactly just like us, and he had even draw the way my motions changed the fabric of my jumpsuit and the way my feet were slightly on tip toes so I didn’t look so small next to Marco. He had draw me with a huge smile and looking up at Marco, slightly turned to the side, Marco’s arm around my waist as mine was resting on his chest, right next to his sunglasses. My right leg was bent and lifted a little as I laughed, my hair falling down my back and hiding part of my face, which you could only see half of it.

On the other hand Marco’s body was facing the canvas but his head was slightly aside and looking down at me with adoringly eyes, which I was so fascinated to really comprehend and feel even though it was a painting. The arm that wasn’t on my waist was hanging at his side, with his hand hid into the pocket of his jeans. His hair was puffy and it looked so nice that you wanted to roam your hands over it like it was the real Marco, the different endings were pointing into different directions, hair slightly wavy because of the sea salt.

“Es impresionante” I told the men “Me encanta”

(It’s impressive. I love it)

“Gracias, jovencita” the white-haired painter answered me with king eyes.

(Thank you, young lady)

“Tell him I love it” Marco said from behind me.

“Te dice que a el también le gustó mucho la pintura”

(He’s saying he also loves the painting)

“Son muy amables” the painter said with modesty.

(You’re way to kind)

“Y usted es un artista” I told him sincerely.

(And you truly are an artist)

We said our goodbyes after we had paid him extra for the job because we both have loved the painting so much. We were almost running out of time so, Marco grabbed the canvas and place it under his arm while he grabbed my hand with his other hand and we headed back to the pier as it was getting late and we had to leave soon in order to get in time for dinner.

The ride back to the resort was as peaceful as it had been our departure sooner that day. The water was extremely calm and our presents were placed at our feet. I was throwing my legs on Marco’s as I was letting my right arm touch the water, the waves from the boat crashing against my hand, refreshing my skin and splashing all over my arm. Marco was taking several pictures of our ride, careful not to show our presents so he could send them to his family.

“Hiii” we heard Manuela on the other side. “How’s your trip going?”

Marco and I had just had breakfast and we were laying outside, on the deck’s armchairs, with the iPod on the table while we skyped Marco’s parents. Since it was Sunday Marco’s parents were not alone but Yvonne and Nico were also there, they were all sitting in their living room’s biggest couch, Nico on his grandfather’s lap.

“We’re perfect” Marco said smiling “Do you want to see our room?”

“Yeahhhhh” Nico said clapping into the little screen.

Marco got up and showed them our room, going into every little detail there was while I stayed sat on the armchair for a while since he was being so meticulous.

“She’s there” I heard him say after a while.

I turned my head to my side and I saw him coming back to the terrace with the tablet on his hands, motioning the camera towards me. I waved my hand and smiled even though I didn’t exactly knew who wanted to talk with me, but knowing at the same time that I would be delighted to talk with anyone of them.

“Mum asked for you” Marco said giving me a peck on my temple as he sat down on the chair next to mine.

“Hi Manuela!” I said as I saw her on the screen, the living room empty now “Have they go away? Was Marco that boring?”

“Oh Darling” she laughed “You know he is”

“I’m right here” Marco said pretending to be offended.

“We know” I said kissing his cheek.

“Adi, are you having a good time?” Manuela asked.

“I am” I said “I’m in love with the pool actually, I could spend there all day”

“I have to force her out when she starts to shrinkle” Marco remarked.

“That was one time” I said tearing my eyes from the screen and throwing him a glare.

“Let the poor girl alone, Marco” Manuela scolded his son.

“Thanks” I said blowing her a kiss while Marco rolled his eyes.

“I’ll leave you too” she said “We’re going to eat”.

“OK. Bye Manuela” I said as I bid her goodbye with my hand.

“Bye Mum” Marco said as well.

He closed the screens and put the tablet aside. “What do we do now?” he asked.