9:00PM B R A Z I L V S S O U T H K O R E A
We've been sitting in our seats for like 10 minutes waiting for the game to begin and it finally seems to be starting.
"Eyes on Vini, eyes on vini," I say.
"That's Neymar," Cooper says.
"Vini looks ready for the assist," Hugo says.
He is, what an assist from Neymar. Brazil fans are on their feet celebrating quite the goal from Vinícius JR.
"Sof, you're lucky they weren't on World of Dance with you, they'd wipe the floor with you and Frankie," Cooper jokes as a few of the players dance to celebrate the goal.
3 minutes after Vini's goal, Richarlison is brought down in the box earning a penalty for Brazil. Neymar steps up to take the penalty and we get to celebrate another goal. Brazil is not done, in the 29th minute, 16 minutes after their last goal, it's Richarlison this time, the score is now 3-0 in Brazil's favor.
"Everyone is on it," Mason points out.
"Vintage Brazil," Cris agrees.
Not even a full 10 minutes after their last goal, it's Lucas Paquetá, the score is now 4-0.
"Awww look at him do his little dance," I smile.
"And you guys struggled to beat that ?" Cooper asks João.
"I didn't play that game," he shrugs, "but even if I did, I probably wouldn't have performed well considering I had heard some shitty news and was trying to deliver it to other ears before lies were spewed at them. I was too late anyway," there was a pause, "isn't that right Sofia ?"
"What ?" I ask, "what are you talking about ?"
"Oh wouldn't you like to know," he smiles to himself. "It's halftime, why don't we take a walk and talk about it."
This is it, I finally can talk to him and everything can get cleared up. I think about it for a second and then remember unknown. "Pass," I say, "I don't think I care." Lies, of course I care.
I watch him slump down in his chair and roll his eyes. I think about texting him and apologizing but decide against it because he'll want to know everything and I just can't, not right now. I need answers.
Ding
Unknown
Unknown: Good.
Me: Where the hell are you ?!
Unknown: I can't say.
Not yet, but you're doing good.
He seems pleased.
Me: He ?!
He who ?!
Hayes ?!
The second half begins shortly and I'm left with my head spinning. Why can't they just answer one fucking question ?! I'm so done. I just have to power through a couple more hours, then I'll know the truth.
The second half is kind of a blur to me considering I'm focused on other things. This isn't fair, they're ruining my experience. I remember coming out of my trance when I heard loud boos when Korea scored, and then I went right back. Just now, I was snapped back out by the whistle of the referee.
S C O R E: B R A Z I L S O U T H K O R E A
4 1
"Sofía can you drive me back to the hotel ?" Mount asks. "But can I drive ?"
"No you cannot drive my car," I say, "but I will take you," I smile at him.
"You're no fun," he pouts.
We start heading out of the stadium and head back to the hotel. When we arrive, I head down to the parking lot to grab my car so I can drop off Mason. I told Nessa I'd be back soon, since she was staying with me, Cris was staying with Cooper and Hugo and João was going back with Ruben.
I arrive back at the hotel after dropping off Mount to find Nessa asleep. I take out my phone and scroll for a bit. I want to go meet João at our place, Portugal plays tomorrow, he should be there now. I can't. I decide to text Hugo instead.
Hugo
Me: Are you awake ?
Do you wanna go for a drive ?
Hugo: Yes and yes
Can we talk ?
Or are you ignoring me too ?
Me: Yes please !!
I have so much I need to tell your brother, but I can't now so I'll tell you.
Meet me in the lobby in 10
Before I can even get out of bed, I get a message from João.
João <3
João: Where are you ?
I ignore the message knowing that even if I met with him, I couldn't be honest to him, and we 'are being watched' so there's no point to even going. I get out of bed and put on something more comfortable. I then head down to the lobby to meet Hugo.
"Here," I say handing him my keys.
"I thought you don't let people drive your baby," he says.
"I don't, consider yourself lucky," I smile at him as we exit into the parking lot.
"Where is this beauty anyway ?" He asks and I point at the car. "No way," he says.
"Yes way," I smile proudly.
"Your dad bought this for you ?" He asks.
"Grandad," I say.
"Sofia," he says as he gets into the car.
"Yeah ?" I ask.
"I don't know how to drive stick shift," he says.
"I'll teach you, it's not too hard," I smile.
"What if I fuck up your car ?" He asks.
"Don't," I joke, "don't worry too much, I'll fix her."
"Bill me," he says.
"No, I mean like I'll fix her," I say.
"Oh you've worked on her before ?" He asks.
"I built her," I smile.
"I've kept certain things because they were picked out by my grandad, so yeah," I smile.
"Sofia this is so cool," he smiles.
I show him how to take the car out and into the streets. Luckily it was late and very few cars were on the road. We weren't very far and the car turned off.
"I think I broke your car," he says.
I laugh, "you released the clutch too fast, turn it back on, and try again."
He does as told and we're back on the road. We drive around for another 30 minutes and I put the address my dad gave me into the GPS on my phone.
"What's there ?" He asks.
"I don't know," I shrug, "drive."
We arrive soon to some abandoned road.
"Oh this shall be fun," I say, "drive faster."
"It's an old car Sofia," he says.
"Don't be so scared, she won't give out," I say.
"You try first," he says parking the car and getting out so I can drive.
"Sofia, this isn't formula one," Hugo says as he's hanging on for dear life.
"Don't be so dramatic," I laugh.
"I'm not, that was fun, but scary," he says.
"I'll take you to a race one day, see how you manage with one of the drivers," I laugh.
"Ah I forgot you're friends with some F1 drivers, no wonder you drive like a maniac," he laughs.
"Do you want a go ?" I ask.
"At driving like a maniac ?" He asks. "Maybe some other time, can we go get food, I'm hungry."
"Yeah," I say.
I drive over to a nice little burger joint and park the car in the parking lot so we can eat there.
"Shall I go grab us a table ?" He asks.
"No," I quickly say.
"We're eating in your car ?" He asks.
"I don't have much of a choice," I say remembering there's eyes on me at all times apparently.
"Is everything okay ?" He asks getting some fries.
"No, I have a lot on my mind," I sigh.
"What's going on ?" He asks.
"So much," I sigh, "I'm so fucked, and all I wanna do is be with your brother and I can't even do that."
"You hurt him," he pauses, "you promised you wouldn't."
"You never promised he wouldn't hurt me," I recall. "I don't mean to hurt him, but I'm hurt, and I may not be responding in the best way, but my mind is all scrambled and my heart aches, I don't know what else to do."
"Talk to him, please," he says, "if not for him than for yourself. I see the way you both look at each other, call it like, call it love, but there's feelings there. You can't deny that, it's you that's hurting the both of you."
"I know," I groan, "I was going to," I say, "today, or possibly last night, but I received some texts."
"What texts ?" He asks and I show him my phone. "You have an AirTag in here ?" He asks as the notification pops up on my phone.
"What, no," I say confused.
"Sofia, you're being tracked," he informs me.
I ask for my phone back and he's reluctant to give it back since he's reading the texts, but does eventually.
Unknown
Me: Are you awake ?
You're tracking me ?
Is my car bugged besides the AirTag ?
Please tell me.
I'm freaking out and you said you're trying to help.
Unknown: What ?!
There's an AirTag in your car ?!
What a psycho.
I am trying to help, I swear.
Let me get more information.
I groan sitting back in my seat. "Stay here, I'm gonna go look for it."
"não, Sofia, você não vai sozinha," (no, sofia you're not going out there alone) Hugo says. "Além disso, se você está grampeado, quem está te observando sabe que estamos juntos," (besides, if youre bugged, whoever is watching you knows we're together) he's right.
I sigh as we both get out the car and begin looking for the AirTag. It wasn't too long before I found it by one of the tires.
"Take it off," he says.
"No, not yet," I say, "wait."
Unknown
Me: I found it
Can I take it off ?!
Unknown: YES.
How'd you find it ?
Me: [screenshot of the notification]
Unknown: Ughh wtf
Are you with João ?!
You don't listen do you ?!
Me: Wrong Félix
"Go get the AirTag," I tell Hugo.
"I already took it off," he smiles at me.
I continue showing him the messages.
"Is this why you're staying away from him ?" He asks.
"Only today, yes," I confess, "I was hurt before, but everyone is telling me to talk to him, so I was ready to, and then I started receiving these texts."
"And you're meeting this person ?" He asks.
"Yes, I'll speak to your brother after I hear who ever this is out," I say.
"João is gonna be upset you didn't tell him, or you didn't hear him out first," he tells me.
"I know," I sigh, "but I think I'm making the right call. If we're seen together, I fear this person won't tell me what I need. I can hear João out about what happened on his end, but he can't tell me the rest. My gut tells me Hayes is behind all of this, and I need answers. I promise I'll talk to him after."
"Then I'm going with you," he says.
"They said alone," I groan.
Ding
I groan again thinking it's unknown, but it's just my dad.
Papi <3:
Papi: Breakfast with the team, BE THERE !!
Me: okay :)
"Is that them ?!" Hugo asks.
"No, it's my dad, team breakfast in the morning," I sigh.
"Well I don't care, I'm going," he says changing back to our previous conversation.
"To the team breakfast ?" I ask, "no one said you weren't invited," I laugh knowing that's not what he meant.
"Oh you know what I mean," he huffed, "I'll keep a distance, I promise."
We throw away our trash and and destroy the AirTag. I then drive us back to the hotel. When we arrive, we part ways on his floor since I continue taking the elevator to mine. I arrive on my floor and head out of the elevator and towards my room.
"Where were you tonight ?" João asks me as he sees me coming, he's about to walk into his room. "I waited for you and you never showed."
"Yeah, I uh, I had something to do, sorry," I say. "Do you think we could talk ? Perhaps after the game ?"
"No," he says.
I'm taken a bit aback, and laugh it off thinking he's joking, "what ?"
"I don't want to talk," he shrugs, "would you rather I lie to you and promise to talk to you after the game only to run away from you after ?"
"Ouch" I say, I wasn't expecting that one. "Okay, fair, I deserved that one, I'm sorry, okay."
"You're sorry ?" He asks, "I went to our spot tonight, and you didn't show, I texted you tonight, and you didn't answer, I waited for you tonight, and you never showed, we could've talked tonight, but I don't think you cared enough to."
"João, you're being unfair," I say, "I've been dealing with," I start but he cuts me off with his bitter laugh.
"Am I ?" He asks, "because I'm just treating you the way you've been treating me. You think you're going through a lot ? Because we're going through the same things, and I'm still having to deal with you."
"Well if I'm such a fucking burden, then leave me the fuck alone," I say as a tear rolls down my cheek.
"Sofia," he says as his demeanor softens and he tries reaching for my hand.
"Don't," I spat, "I don't need your pity," I say walking into my room.
I take my phone out to text Hugo.
Hugo
Me: Your brother is an asshole
Goodnight
And thank you for tonight
Too bad your brother had to ruin it :/
After I send the last message, I force myself to go to sleep.