[ twenty four ]

Mariluz staggered off the field clumsily after the final whistle blew. She was with her team mates surrounding her and cheering the win over their biggest rivals. It had been all the more important to them because it was a win at home. On the way into the tunnel, she bumped into someone who was passing by and stumbled backwards, almost hitting the ground if it hadn't been for Ricardo that was standing behind her. He caught her in his arms and tried to help her steady herself, but her body grew limp.

She had no more energy left in her. That was when the Brazilian lifted his team mate in his arms and rushed Bartra to the waiting ambulance.

Mourinho stopped them mid-way, as though he hadn't taken into account the gravity of the situation. "What's wrong with Bartra?" He looked at the unconscious footballer in Kaká's arms. Crimson red blood was already begin to show against the sterile white of the bandaging around her head.

"He fainted." The Brazilian replied. "We need to get him to the hospital quickly."

"But," Mourinho argued. "He has to do the post game press conferrence." Mariluz had been chosen as MVP of the match against Barcelona and the Portuguese team manager was sure the fans would want to hear from her.

Kaká shook his head, outraged that he would care more about the press conferrence over his team mate's health. "Michael can't do it. He's losing blood quickly. He'll probably be needing stitches or something." Looking at the German footballer by his side, he offered a suggestion. "Why don't you take Mesut instead? He scored that olympic goal from the corner kick area. Maybe the media will have enough with his presence there."

Mourinho thought about it. Mesut had been the one to score the first goal against the Catalan team. Had it not been for him, they might have ended up in a draw. And no matter what he said on the matter, Bartra wasn't up for interviews anyway. It seemed that for the time being he wouldn't be able to expose Mariluz. Grabbing onto Mesut's arm, he dragged him away while the German footballer protested. He wanted to be by Mariluz' side. Ricardo reached the ambulance seconds later and the paramedics placed her on a stretcher. Since one person was allowed to accompany the injured person, Ricardo decided he would go with them.

-

When Mariluz woke up next, she felt a throbbing in her head and the bright white lights above were making it worse. She had no idea where she was, or even how much time had gone by, but as her eyes adjusted to the light, she realized she was in a hospital room. Suddenly, all the memories of a clasico game filled her mind but they were foggy, like a dream. She had no idea if it was real or something that had taken place in her imagination. But if it had been all in her head, she concluded, she wouldn't have the painful memories of knocking into her brother Marc during the game. Nearby was Ricardo sitting in a chair, his eyes trained on her. And they were full of hurt, the same feeling she had seen in Mesut.

Her hands shakily went up to feel her head, fearing the worst, that she had been discovered. The short haired wig was no longer in its usual place and she found her long hair fell past her shoulders in the soft waves she had been concealing for weeks. Mariluz could feel her heart drop in that instant. "So...Mariluz Bartra." The Brazilian let out with some difficulty. "How long were you planning to lie to everyone?"

"Ricardo, I can explain." She began, the beeping on her heart monitor increasing in her panic.

"Please do." He gestured to her with his hand.

She took a deep breath to calm herself before she could begin her explanation. "I played football for FC Barcelona Femeníl and they cut our team to use the money for a male basketball team. I was so hurt and upset that I wanted to prove a girl could play football just as well as any boy. It didn't have to be Real Madrid...Marcela just had the connections to get me in, being part of the Bernabeu family and all. And she dared me to do it for a month. I had to." She stopped herself when she thought she was rambling on.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "A dare?"

Mariluz wouldn't meet his gaze. She was embarassed to admit that one of her reasons for lying was because of a dare. "But I mostly just wanted to play football." She said in a small voice, feeling a wave of hot tears emerging from her bright green eyes. "Any woman can play just as well as a man. But no one ever gives us the chance."

His tone as well as expression softened momentarily. He saw she genuinely felt bad about what she did. "There were other ways to do it." He said.

"And what are those, Ricardo?" She honestly wondered. She had tried to join other female football teams, but none of them would take her. They told her that it wasn't that she didn't have the skill, but rather that they didn't want to waste money on more female players. "The only way I was going to prove myself was by playing in a men's league and there was no way I would ever get to play as a girl."

He sighed. "Maybe you're right. But now you have to tell everyone the truth." With that, he stood up and made his way towards the door.

As his hand grabbed the door knob, her voice was the only thing that stopped him. "Ricardo..." She began. She only continued when she saw him look over his shoulder at her. "Will you forgive me?"

Ricardo looked away as he gave his response. "Of course I will. Its what God would want."

"You're lying." She cried, more hurt about his lying than the fact that he wasn't forgiving her. His eyes widened at her words. But her next words surprised him even more. "I know we've only known each other a few weeks, but I caught it fairly quickly when you did it. You never look at people when you lie to them. Maybe because its not like you to lie and you feel guilty when you do it. You're lying to me, Ricardo."

"What?" He asked in disbelief.

"You don't look people in the eyes when you lie to them because it makes you feel guilty." She repeated. "I understand you're hurt. But I would appreciate an honest answer."

He held his head down. His eyes were now trained on the silver doorknob under the flesh of his hand. "You want honesty from me? But I didn't deserve honesty from you? I believe honesty should be earned, Mariluz. As for forgiveness...I just need some time. You made us all think we mattered to you, and that's what truly hurt the most."

Before she could respond, he opened the door to her hospital room and left. She was alone in her hospital room, but she felt even more alone without her friends. She wondered if anyone else was already aware that she had been lying. She concluded that they must have found out because no one else visited her that day.

-

another chapter for hala madrid. omg guys. i just realized i posted hala madrid in june 2014. we are now in april 2015. its almost been a year since i posted this story. its so fucking crazy. in april of last year i was counting down the weeks for brazil 2014. now i count the days for concacaf gold cup, u17 world cup, u20 world cup, panamerican games, women's world cup, beach football world cup and summer olympics. so many things to watch. 

anyway, i hope you all like the update. it means a lot when you all read, vote, and comment. thank you. i love you!

-clary xx