Grumpy
Ingrid had woken up feeling off, the kind of off that settled into her bones and refused to be shaken. The sunlight filtering through the curtains didn’t bring the usual warmth to her morning, and even the coffee she made tasted bitter, though she’d brewed it the same way she always did. She sighed heavily as she sat at the breakfast table, staring at the empty chair across from her. She could hear Mapi in the bathroom, singing softly to herself in Spanish as she brushed her teeth. Normally, it was the kind of sound that made Ingrid’s chest feel full, but this morning, it grated on her nerves.
When Mapi finally emerged, her brown hair still messy from sleep, her eyes bright as she greeted Ingrid with a cheery “Buenos días, Princesa,” Ingrid managed a tight-lipped smile but didn’t respond. Mapi frowned, tilting her head curiously but didn’t press, instead plopping down in the chair across from her and stealing a piece of toast off Ingrid’s plate.
Training wasn’t much better. Ingrid felt sluggish, her movements half a second too slow, her focus scattered. Every misplaced pass, every missed opportunity had her biting back frustration. She could feel the weight of her teammates’ eyes on her, the unspoken question in their gazes, but no one dared say anything. Not even Mapi, who had been unusually quiet for most of the session.
It wasn’t that Mapi didn’t notice Ingrid’s foul mood—she absolutely did—but instead of giving Ingrid space like most of the team had chosen to, Mapi did the opposite. She became a little more tactile, a little more affectionate, brushing her fingers over Ingrid’s arm during water breaks, linking their pinkies together when they stood in line for drills, and leaning against her shoulder whenever they were seated.
Normally, Ingrid would smile at her antics, maybe kiss her cheek or playfully nudge her away. Today, she didn’t. She didn’t move to shake Mapi off, but she didn’t reciprocate either. Mapi’s hand slipped to rest on Ingrid’s knee during a team meeting, and Ingrid simply shifted her leg slightly, not pulling away entirely but enough to create space.
It wasn’t subtle, and Mapi noticed every single time. But she said nothing.
By the time training ended, Ingrid felt like she was fraying at the edges. Her head ached, her muscles felt heavy, and she could feel her patience thinning with every passing second. Mapi, as cheerful as ever, grabbed her hand as they made their way to the car, swinging their hands between them. Ingrid exhaled sharply, not in annoyance at Mapi but at the day itself. She let their hands hang together but didn’t lace her fingers through Mapi’s like she usually would.
When they got home, Ingrid walked straight to the bedroom, grabbing a change of clothes and heading for the en suite. She barely spared Mapi a glance as she muttered, “I’m going to shower.”
Mapi watched her retreating form with a small frown. She stood in the kitchen for a moment, hands resting on the counter as she thought. Ingrid wasn’t acting like herself, that much was clear. Normally, Ingrid would kiss her cheek as soon as they walked through the door or mumble a soft “Te quiero” before disappearing into the bathroom. Today, she hadn’t.
Mapi sighed, shaking her head as she grabbed their kits from the bag and tossed them into the washing machine. She gave Ingrid her space, taking her own shower in the guest bathroom and slipping into one of Ingrid’s oversized shirts and a pair of sweatpants that hung loosely on her hips. By the time she emerged, her hair still damp, Ingrid was already out of the shower and sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor.
“Princesa,” Mapi called softly from the doorway, her voice hesitant.
Ingrid lifted her head, her green eyes meeting Mapi’s for a brief moment before she stood abruptly, brushing past her girlfriend and heading for the living room. Mapi followed silently, watching as Ingrid sank onto the couch with a heavy sigh.
Mapi didn’t say anything as she walked over, settling herself onto the L-shaped couch and stretching out, leaving just enough room for Ingrid to join her. She opened her arms, her gaze soft as she waited. For a moment, Ingrid hesitated, her shoulders tense as if debating whether to accept the invitation.
Finally, with another sigh, she moved closer, collapsing into Mapi’s open arms. Her weight pressed against Mapi, her face burying into the crook of her neck as her hands found their way beneath the waistband of Mapi’s sweatpants, resting against the warm skin of her hips.
Mapi held her tightly, one hand rubbing slow, soothing circles over Ingrid’s back while the other tangled gently in her dark hair. She didn’t say anything, knowing that Ingrid didn’t need words right now. Instead, she kissed the top of Ingrid’s head, her lips lingering for a moment before she leaned back slightly, reaching for the remote.
The television came to life, filling the room with the soft hum of some Spanish drama Mapi had been watching. She adjusted her position slightly, making sure Ingrid was comfortable as she nestled against her chest. Ingrid’s breathing began to even out, her body relaxing as the tension slowly ebbed away.
Mapi kept her arms wrapped around her, her fingers brushing lightly against the fabric of Ingrid’s shirt. She glanced down occasionally, her eyes filled with concern as she watched the way Ingrid’s lashes fluttered against her cheeks.
After a while, Ingrid’s breathing deepened, and Mapi realised she’d fallen asleep. She smiled softly, shifting carefully so as not to disturb her. Her fingers traced absent patterns along Ingrid’s back, her own gaze flicking between the television and the woman in her arms.
When Ingrid finally stirred, blinking sleepily as she lifted her head from Mapi’s shoulder, the Norwegian still looked weary, though some of the tension had eased from her features.
“Hi,” Mapi murmured, her voice soft as she brushed a strand of Ingrid’s hair away from her face.
“Hi,” Ingrid croaked, her voice heavy with sleep.
“¿Te sientes mejor?” Mapi asked gently, her hand still trailing through Ingrid’s hair.
Ingrid nodded slightly, though her lips pressed into a small frown. “A little,” she admitted. “But not… completely.”
Mapi hummed thoughtfully, her thumb brushing over Ingrid’s temple. “¿Quieres hablar de ello?”
Ingrid shook her head, her green eyes meeting Mapi’s briefly before she looked away. “I don’t even know what ‘it’ is,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just feel… off. Like nothing is right, and I don’t know why.”
Mapi nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful as she leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to Ingrid’s forehead. “Está bien, mi amor,” she said softly. “A veces no necesitamos entender. Solo sentir.”
Ingrid closed her eyes, leaning into the touch as she let out a shuddering breath. “You’re too good to me,” she murmured.
Mapi chuckled softly, her fingers grazing Ingrid’s cheek. “I love you, Princesa. No importa cómo te sientas.”
Ingrid’s lips twitched into a small smile, the first genuine one of the day. She tilted her head, pressing her forehead against Mapi’s as she let herself bask in the warmth of her girlfriend’s presence.
“Te quiero,” Ingrid whispered.
“Siempre,” Mapi replied, her voice steady and filled with affection.