[ drei ] 

That afternoon over dinner, everyone was quiet around the dinner table. Mrs. Becker didn't want to talk, out of fear that she would let anything slip before Frida was ready to tell her father. As disappointed as she was, she wanted her daughter to be the one to tell the news. Frida's younger sister Agnetha was still in too much of a shock to say anything, she had just found out hours prior when they were at the market. Frida pushed around the food on her plate nervously, just trying to pass the time. She wasn't hungry in the slightest; her stomach was churning and it wasn't because of the baby in her womb. It was the nervousness she was feeling at what might be her father's reaction to the news. She was an adult, she was old enough to make her own deicisions, but her parents' opinions were still important to her.

Her older brothers Thomas and Kristian had recently moved out to their own apartment nearby, but often visited the family, since they were all very close knit. Her youngest sister Sabine didn't like talking about grown up stuff, so she ate her food and remained quiet. And her father was too tired from work to start a conversation. 

It was like they all knew some big news was coming, but none of them wanted to ask what it was.

When the family finished dinner, Frida helped her mother clear the table. Her older brothers said goodbye to everyone and returned to their apartment, which they were sharing.

Agnetha went up to her bedroom, she didn't want to be subjected to her father's wrath. And Sabine went to her bedroom to play with her dolls. She was only eight years old and sometimes lived in her own little world. She didn't know what was happening.

Before getting into bed for the night, her parents liked to watch the news on the living room television. Frida had offered to wash the dishes, if only to make time for herself, to calm herself before giving her father the news. Then she walked into the living room and stood next to the arm rest of the couch, on the side where her dad had been sitting. 

"Dad," She began after a deep breath. "I have something I want to tell you."

"What is it, sonnenschein?" He looked over at her, a smile on his face. Even though Mr. Becker had three daughters, Frida was his sunshine. She had always been the one to get the best grades, and the highest achievements at school. Frida was the pride and joy of her parents and they always pushed her to reach better things.

"I'm pregnant." She blurted out. Taking the quick and painless path.

"You're what?" Her dad shot up from his seat in shock. "Frida, your mother and I raised you better. We wanted you to get married before having kids, the right way."

"I'm sorry." Frida looked down in shame. "I know we should have been more careful."

"I'm not taking care of a baby, Frida. You and Jürgen have to take responsibility for this." Her father told her. His entire attitude had changed in that moment. And Frida couldn't blame him. She had wanted to get married before having children as well, but things unfortunately didn't turn out as one wanted sometimes. "I had enough raising you and your siblings." Her parents had five children, which was more than just enough.

Frida nodded her head, "We will take responsibility. I just-" She choked up, "wanted to tell you because...I decided I want to go to Mexico to be with Jürgen." After seeing the way her parents reacted, she knew she would need Jürgen's support more than ever.

"Having a child isn't a game Frida." Her father sighed. "Are you sure you can do this on your own? You're both still children."

"We're adults." Frida reminded him.

"I don't want you to think we're abandoning you." Mr. Becker assured his daughter. "You can always come to us for anything. But I want you to do what's right. You should tell Jürgen to help you move over there. I don't want you heading off to Mexico by yourself."

Frida agreed. If she was going to move to a new country, she didn't want to have to do it all on her own. 

-

Frida had talked to Jürgen about her parents' idea to have him pick her up in Germany. There was a bit of hesitation on his part, mostly because he was unsure of what to expect when her parents saw him. And also, he needed permission from his club, which was now Club Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, more commonly known as Tigres. Because of that, he was also in the process of moving, not only football teams, but also apartments, and schools. 

He was thankful Tigres was linked to the local university and he was making plans to transfer there so that he could continue studying and playing football at the same time.

They were in her bedroom, he was helping her take her luggage down to the rental car which he had gotten at the airport. He was surprised at how many things she wanted to take. But it was a big move. She wasn't just going from one country to another, she was moving with him to another part of the world. That had to be a big sacrifice for Frida, who had lived her whole life in Germany, and he was thankful for that. He hoped he could bring her back to her home country once he could get a good contract offer in Europe.

As they walked down the steps that led to the ground floor, he said to her, "I'm glad there are international friendlies going on or else they'd have never let me take a few days off to come see you." A smile soon formed on his lips.

It was the very same smile that sent Frida's heart beating faster.

"And I'm glad you're here to take me to Mexico with you." She laughed slightly. "I wouldn't be able to make it there on my own, and I'd probably get lost. I don't speak an ounce of Spanish, and I only understand the sweet little things you say to me."

"Its okay." He assured her. "Many people in Mexico speak English. You'd get by easily."

In a matter of thirty minutes, they had everything that could fit in the car, packed inside. They were about to get in the car when her parents stopped her. They were standing at the doorway, Frida's mother with tears in her eyes.

Frida returned to them and her mother pulled her in for a tight hug. "I'm going to miss you, Anni." And her lips pressed to her forehead lovingly.

The dark haired young woman closed her eyes. "I'll miss you too, mama." She said.

She hugged her father next. "And you too, papa."

"Take care Frida." He told her in a sad voice, hugging her slender frame.

Jürgen approached them next, saying to them a bit shyly. "You don't have to worry about a thing, Mr. and Mrs. Becker. I'll take good care of your daughter."

"Thank you, Jürgen." Her father nodded. 

They said goodbye to her siblings next before they got in the car and drove off. As she saw her house fading off in the distance in the rearview mirror that was when it all sunk in for her. She was leaving Germany, she was leaving her family and her home. And tears escaped from her dark eyes, staining her lovely face with clear water.

Jürgen snuck a glance at his girlfriend. "I can take you back if you don't want to do this." But his words weren't harsh at all. He genuinely wanted to make her feel better, even if it meant he had to leave Germany without her.

Frida shook her head in response, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I want to go with you. I'm just going to miss my family, but I'll be okay."

"It always hurts a lot at first." He told her.

"How did you do it when you first moved away from home to play football?" She wondered, turning in her seat to look at him.

He let out a chuckle at a memory that came to his mind. "I was such a child about it at first. When I played for Estudiantes, it wasn't much of a problem because that team was in Guadalajara and my parents lived there as well. But then when I moved to Pachuca," He let out a breath, "I would call my parents every night just to hear their voices. And I was already about twenty years old. Eventually I got used to it, but it doesn't mean I don't miss them. And they always visit me, which makes it easier."

Frida's expression dropped to a frown. "My family will probably not visit me as often, if even at all. Its too much of a hassle to travel from Germany to Mexico probably."

Taking one hand off the steering wheel, he reached for her own hand and locked their fingers together. "You just tell me when you want your parents to visit you and I'll settle everything. There is nothing I wouldn't do for you, flaca."

The smile quickly returned to her face. "Ich liebe dich, Jürgen."

"Te amo, Frida." He replied.

-

wow it has been too long since i updated this story. i had actually written the first half like two weeks ago, but i didn't finish it because i had other things to do. now i finished it and i'm happy because i get to post it.

so i hope you all like it.

thank you so much for reading.

-clary xx