You idiot
The flat was unusually quiet when they returned. Mapi stomped ahead, her boots echoing sharply against the hardwood floor as she threw her bag down by the door. Ingrid followed, more composed but equally tense, her jaw set as she carefully closed the door behind her. Neither of them had spoken much since leaving the stadium, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken words.
Mapi dropped onto the couch, wincing slightly as she adjusted her position. Ingrid noticed but said nothing, biting the inside of her cheek as she moved to lean against the doorframe. She crossed her arms over her chest, watching as Mapi refused to meet her gaze.
“María,” Ingrid started, her voice calm but firm, her Norwegian accent curling softly around the syllables of the name. “We need to talk about what happened.”
“No,” Mapi said curtly, switching the television on and raising the volume as if that would drown out the conversation. “We don’t.”
Ingrid exhaled deeply, pushing herself off the doorframe. She walked over to the TV and turned it off with a quick press of the button, earning an irritated glare from Mapi.
“María,” Ingrid repeated, her eyes locking onto Mapi’s own. “You need to listen to me.”
Mapi leaned back, crossing her arms defensively. “I was fine, Ingrid. I could’ve finished the match. You did not need to go behind my back.”
“You were not fine,” Ingrid countered, her voice raising slightly. “I saw the way you were limping. You could barely put weight on your ankle. What was I supposed to do? Just stand there and watch you hurt yourself even more?”
“You don’t trust me,” Mapi shot back, her voice sharp. “You think I don’t know my own body?”
Ingrid’s lips parted as if to respond, but she stopped herself, her hands balling into fists at her sides. She forced herself to take a steadying breath before speaking again, her tone softer but no less serious. “It’s not about trust, María. It’s about caring. You’re stubborn, and sometimes you don’t think about the consequences. I had to do something.”
Mapi scoffed, shaking her head. “You had to? No, you wanted to. You wanted to control the situation.”
“Control the situation?” Ingrid repeated, her voice tinged with disbelief. “Is that what you think this is about? María, I was scared for you! Seeing you go down like that… It wasn’t about control. It was about not wanting you to get hurt even worse!”
“I’m not a child, Ingrid,” Mapi snapped, her frustration boiling over. “I don’t need you making decisions for me.”
Ingrid’s eyes narrowed slightly, the hurt evident on her face. “And I don’t need you pushing me away for trying to protect you.”
Mapi stood abruptly, the sudden movement making her wince again. Ingrid instinctively reached out, but Mapi brushed her off, stepping away. “Maybe you should leave,” Mapi said, her voice quieter now but no less cutting.
The words hit Ingrid like a punch to the stomach. For a moment, she just stood there, staring at Mapi in stunned silence. Then, without another word, she turned on her heel and walked out of the flat, the door clicking shut behind her.
The silence that followed was deafening. Mapi sank back onto the couch, her head falling into her hands. She stayed like that for several minutes, her chest tight with a mix of anger and guilt. She didn’t mean it. Not really. She just hated feeling so helpless, so vulnerable. And Ingrid’s decision had only amplified those feelings.
When the door opened again, Mapi’s head snapped up, her heart leaping despite herself. Ingrid stood in the doorway, her eyes soft but determined as they met Mapi’s.
“Why did you come back?” Mapi asked, her voice hesitant now, lacking the sharp edge it had held before.
“Because I forgot something important,” Ingrid replied simply, stepping further into the room.
Mapi’s brow furrowed. “Oh, what did you forget?”
Ingrid crossed the room in a few quick strides, stopping just in front of Mapi. She crouched down so they were eye-level, her hands gently cupping Mapi’s face as she looked at her with a mixture of exasperation and affection. “You, you idiot.”
Mapi blinked, her lips parting slightly as Ingrid’s words sank in. A faint flush rose to her cheeks, and for once, she was at a loss for words.
“You can tell me to leave all you want,” Ingrid continued, her voice soft but steady. “But I’ll always come back. Because I love you, María. And I know you’re angry at me, but I’d rather you be angry than injured.”
Mapi’s gaze dropped, her hands coming up to rest on Ingrid’s wrists. She swallowed hard, her stubbornness wavering as she felt the sincerity in Ingrid’s words. “Lo siento,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t mean to say that. I don’t want you to leave. Ever.”
Ingrid smiled faintly, leaning forward to press a gentle kiss to corner of Mapi’s lips. “I know,” she whispered as she pulled away. “And I’m sorry for going behind your back. I should’ve talked to you first.”
Mapi shook her head, a small, sheepish smile tugging at her lips. “You were right,” she admitted reluctantly. “I wasn’t fine. But I hate being pulled off. It makes me feel… not good enough.”
“You are good enough, María,” Ingrid said firmly, her hands sliding down to hold Mapi’s. “You’re one of the strongest people I know. But even the strongest need to take care of themselves. And I’ll always be here to remind you of that.”
Mapi nodded slowly, her eyes glistening slightly as she squeezed Ingrid’s hands. “Gracias, Princesa,” she said, her voice soft but genuine. “For coming back.”
Ingrid leaned in, their foreheads touching as she smiled. “Always,” she whispered.