Heartbreak
Ingrid had been away for three days. Three long, excruciating days, according to Mapi.
At first, she’d handled it well -or at least, that’s what she told herself. She’d gone to training, spent time with the team, and even managed to focus on football without constantly checking her phone for a message or a call.
But by the second day, everyone had noticed.
It started with her wandering around the training facility, phone in hand, sighing dramatically every time she walked past someone. When that didn’t get her the attention she wanted, she started draping herself over her teammates, complaining about how lonely she was.
“Aitanaaaa,” she whined, flopping onto the bench next to her teammate. “I think I might die.”
Aitana didn’t even look up from tying her boots. “Oh yeah?”
“Yes.” Mapi placed a hand over her heart. “Of heartbreak.”
“Mm.” Aitana nodded sagely. “That sounds serious.”
Mapi groaned, throwing herself back against the bench. “It is.”
“She’s only been gone two days.”
“Two days too long.”
Aitana finally looked up, barely holding back a smirk. “You’re pathetic.”
“I know.” Mapi sighed dramatically. “But I am in love, Aitana. What can I do?”
Aitana rolled her eyes, but when Mapi wasn’t looking, she pulled out her phone.
She wasn’t the only one.
Over the course of the day, Ingrid’s phone had been buzzing with messages.
Alexia: Please call your girlfriend before she starts writing love letters and leaving them around the training facility.
Pina: Ingrid, I’m begging you, she’s been sighing dramatically all day.
Ona: She sat next to me at lunch and just stared at my food. Didn’t even eat. Just stared.
Aitana: If you don’t FaceTime her soon, I think she might actually perish.
Ingrid had been laughing at her phone when another message came through.
Mariona: I just caught her looking at a picture of you and whispering ‘mi princesa’ to herself.
That did it.
As soon as Ingrid had a free moment, she found a quiet spot and hit the FaceTime button. It didn’t even ring twice before Mapi answered. She was lying on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket despite the warm weather, her hair a mess from training. The second she saw Ingrid, her face melted into a dramatic pout.
“Princesa,” she sighed.
Ingrid grinned. “Hei, kjære.”
Mapi groaned, rolling onto her side. “I miss you too much.”
“I miss you too.” Ingrid adjusted her phone, leaning back against the wall. “You are very dramatic, you know?”
Mapi huffed. “It’s not dramatic. It’s love.”
Ingrid laughed. “Your teammates have been messaging me all day.”
Mapi’s pout deepened. “What?”
“They are very concerned,” Ingrid teased. “Apparently you are close to death?”
Mapi sat up, eyes narrowing. “Who told you that?”
“Aitana.”
Mapi groaned. “Traitor.”
Ingrid smirked. “And Ona says you just stared at her food instead of eating your own?”
“I was thinking.”
“Thinking?”
“Yes.”
“About?”
Mapi hesitated. “…You.”
Ingrid raised an eyebrow. “While looking at her food?”
Mapi flopped back onto the couch. “I was distracted!”
Ingrid laughed. “And Mariona says she caught you whispering to a picture of me?”
Mapi’s face turned red. “I hate them all.”
“They are only trying to help.”
Mapi grumbled, pulling the blanket up over her face.
Ingrid softened. “I’ll be home soon, mi amor.”
Mapi peeked out from under the blanket. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
Mapi sighed, her voice softer now. “I just sleep better when you’re here.”
Ingrid smiled. “Me too.”
They stayed on the call for a while longer, talking about nothing and everything, until Mapi’s eyes started drooping.
“You should sleep,” Ingrid murmured.
Mapi yawned. “Stay on the call?”
“Of course.”
And so, with Ingrid still on the screen, Mapi drifted off, the soft sound of Ingrid’s voice the last thing she heard before sleep took her.