Interns at FC Barcelona

Chapter 107: Revelations

I noticed I might have gone to far. This was his session not mine. This was not going to make his performances better, if anything I might have made it worse.

He stayed silent and I could see he had absorbed everything I said. I sighed trying my best to come up with a solution.

“Look I know you both have feelings for each other,” I told him and he seemed slightly shocked but carried on listening, “But that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re made to be together.”

“What do you mean?” he asked quickly but this time he wasn’t defensive. He asked the question as if he never pondered the possibility before.

“Jade will give up everything for the person she cares about, I’m sure you know that by now,” I said and I saw him give a small smile, “But in the same way she deserves someone who is willing to do that for her. It’s not fair for her to be the only one giving while the other person just takes,” and I could instantly see Cesc’s mind going to work, trying to figure out where he fit in.

“Look,” I finally sighed, “All I’m saying is be fair to her.”

He nodded slightly and stayed silent. I could see his mind was all over the place and I had done anything but calm him down for the game. I needed to think of a way to get him determined for the game. After a while I finally got it.

“She really needs you to do well in the game,” I said finally and he looked up at me waiting to see where I was going with this, “If you do well, then people won’t say she was the problem. We can say that-,”

“She helped me,” he said realising just how important his performance was.

“You’re right, all I have to do is play well and then the club will keep her here and she won’t have to go to Madrid,” he said now happiness slowly starting to fill him. Although he might have not been fully correct I did not want to affect his positive state of mind.

“Thank you Nate,” he said appreciatively as he stood up, “It seems I must get back to practise.”

I watched as he went out the door and just hoped I had done more good than bad. Still, I needed to find Jade and ask her about this Madrid job. I was in disbelief that she had not told me first.

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JADE POV

I sat at a table in the cafeteria. I had a plate of food but I hadn’t touched it and my coffee was already lukewarm. Real Madrid. They offered me a job at Real Madrid. Why could it have not been at any of the other teams? Would I even manage there? I would be there alone and to be frank the sound of telling Ronaldo how to possibly improve his shot didn’t really appeal to me. I'm pretty sure he would tell me, his shot is perfect the way it is.

“Jade,” Nate said coming to sit by me and immediately I knew something was wrong. I could see it in his eyes.

“Is Cesc okay?” I asked worriedly knowing he just had a session with him.

“That’s all you ask about,” he said irritatedly and I knew this was not normal Nate behaviour.

“Well-,” I began to explain but he cut me off.

“When were you planning on telling me about the Real Madrid offer?” he asked angry but I could hear he was more disappointed. My eyes went wide and I didn’t know what to say.

“How do-,” I said wondering how he knew.

“Cesc told me,” he said curtly and that made me angry. Cesc had no right to do that. I told him not to tell anyone.

“Nate-,” I said trying to explain.

“I just thought we were closer,” Nate said sadly as he looked towards the ground crestfallen.

“Nate I didn’t tell Cesc, I swear,” I told him and he looked at me for an explanation.

“I was speaking to my mom on the phone and he overheard. I told him not to tell anyone, I only found out a few hours ago,” I told him hoping he’d believe me. I could see he sat up a bit, his depression slowly fading.

“I’m sorry,” he said after a while regretting what he had told me but I wasn't angry. I understood where he was coming from.

“I don’t blame you,” I said and it only hit me now how involved I have been with Cesc. To a point where my best friend could actually believe that I was pushing our friendship aside for a man with a girlfriend.

“So, what are you going to do?” he finally asked honestly and I knew he was back to psychologist Nate.

“To be fair, I’m not sure,” I told him truthfully.

“Look-,” he said but I stopped him.

“I know what you’re going to say and that’s a part of why I didn’t want to tell you. You’re going to say it’s an opportunity of a lifetime and none of you were offered it. That I am good at what I do and deserve to be recognised for it. You’re going to say I should take the job,” I told him and I could see with the look he gave me that I was completely right.

“What job?” Leo asked out of nowhere and I didn’t know what to say. No matter how quiet I wanted to keep it, slowly people kept finding out.

Nate and I stayed silent for a while but Leo looked at the two of us for an answer. Nate was about to speak but I spoke first. I could never really keep my guard up with Leo anyway.

“I got offered a job,” I said and I saw Leo’s eyes light up, “At Real Madrid,” I said just loud enough for him to hear. I saw his eyes sadden slightly as he took a seat next to me.

“Have you thought about it?” he asked after a while and Nate and I looked at him confused.

“It’s Real Madrid,” I said to him as if that already decided the answer.

“So?” he asked not understanding.

“It’s our rival club, your enemy Ronaldo plays there?” I asked him still not believing what he was saying. He gave me a small smile.

“Ronaldo is not my enemy, he’s my rival,” he said simply, “He’s not actually that bad.”

“And Xavi, Iniesta and the other’s have friends in that team,” he said and I still could not fathom what he was saying. Cesc had just said no, he didn’t even let me explain. Leo who was the star of the club was telling me to consider it?

“I think I’ve entered a parallel universe,” Nate said echoing my thoughts. 

“If it wasn’t Real Madrid, would you say yes?” Leo asked me.

“I guess it would be a bit easier to make the choice,” I told him.

“Look Jade, I understand what it means to have a passion for something and I don’t think anyone would blame you for wanting to follow it,” he said and I had no idea what to say.

“Even if it’s Madrid? You would be fine with that?” I asked before I could stop myself.

“I didn’t say I’d like it but I’m sure we would all support your decision,” he said “Or at least I would,” he added. I smiled at him. The guilt I had felt about the decision was not gone but I felt a bit lighter.

“Just make sure you make the decision,” Leo said, “Don’t let other people influence you,” and we all know who he was talking about.

“I just can’t believe you didn’t just tell me to say no,” I told him honestly. He shrugged.

“It’s like when I chose to play for Argentina, it’s where my heart was,” he said simply, “Follow your heart.”

It’s had been a while since I had heard that phrase and for the first time I didn’t know what my heart wanted, or more it didn’t know who I wanted.