"What are you doing?" Shaheen asked, stepping into the kitchen.

"I did say that I would cook up some ch—" Karim stopped mid-sentence as he caught sight of her.

Shaheen had changed out of her wet clothes and had worn one of his long, huge t-shirt—mementos from a rapper friend of his—that he had laid out for her. Her hair was no longer dripping wet but still hung in damp strands. He had never felt this close to her, as they stood together in his kitchen. Suddenly he was aware of his own flimsy t-shirt that matched hers in colour, of how few layers of clothing separated them from each other.

For once, no screen separated them, they weren't angry or hurting or hiding. They were just themselves and each other's presence felt like an eternal comfort. He stiffened and could feel a hot blush creeping up his face when she closed the gap between them quickly.

"I—" he stuttered.

She ducked behind him, towards the stove, a lilting mischievous laugh covering the air around them and he couldn't help but shake his head, "You take pleasure in making me uncomfortable."

"Of course, Karim Parim. You're adorable when you're flustered and shy, but flirting can wait...are you making chicken kebabs for me?"

He grinned, "I told you I would treat you to chicken kebabs when you came over."

It was her turn to look surprised, "Yeah, but I didn't think..."

"That I would remember? That I was in earnest? That I could actually cook? Babe, there are so many talents of mine, you're not yet aware of."

She blushed deeply, "Er—yea—"

"Who's blushing now?" he smiled triumphantly. He leaned forward, not leaving her eyes for a moment—

The shrill ringtone of Karim's phone interrupted them and he groaned, straightening back, "See this is the reason I hate phones."

She stifled a smile, "You better check it."

He flounced over to it, looking very irritated, "Its Jese."

"Pick it up," Shaheen prompted. "He might be in trouble."

Karim rolled his eyes, "More like, he is trouble. Hey, Jese."

"Karim, thank God, you picked up. For a second I had horrible visions of you getting drunk and trying to commit suicide."

"Uh, no I'm alive," he deadpanned.

"Good, good. But you sound different. You sound a bit high. So, you are drinking?"

Karim mentally groaned but answered patiently, "No. I'm fine. Seriously, you needn't worry."

Shaheen cried out, "Karim, they're burning!"

Jese gaped, "Who is that?"

Karim said, "I gotta go."

"Where are you? Are you at a bar or something?" his teammate enquired.

"No, I'm at home!"

"Is there a woman with you?"

But Karim was already cutting the call.

All Jese heard was—"Don't worry. I'm coming. Can't wait to eat—"

His eyes went round at this new piece of news and convinced of what he had heard, worried for his friend whom he assumed to be totally drunk and too elated for someone going through heartbreak, he did what he had to do. He called up Isco.

***

"HE'S DOING WHAT!?"

No, Isco couldn't believe it. He had been happily eating some chowmein with Chand and her friends and he choked on his food when he heard the news. Karim Benzema who was shy around girls and hardly ever was seen going on dates, who was supposedly going through a huge heartbreak...hooking up with a woman he didn't even know?

"Its true," Jese said on the phone, wailing pitifully. "He's gone rogue. He's become a badboy."

"He wasn't supposed to fall so deep into depression that he became reckless. I mean, c'mon, Shaheen will be back. She loves hiiim. Chand was telling me—"

"Well, I think its time you told Chand to tell Shaheen that she created a monster! Maybe we should call her and tell her to talk some sense into him?"

"You want me to call Shaheen to tell her that Karim is sleeping with another woman? And that's supposed to help Sharim how?"

Jese was silent.

"Okay, okay," Isco tried to calm his breathing. "I'll fix this. You just sit and do nothing. Nothing, okay?" He laughed nervously, "In fact, I'm pretty sure it's a mix-up. In fact, just forget it okay?"

"Um okay," Jese didn't sound convinced.

Isco thought of going back into the restaurant and finishing his chowmein. He had just met a girl, a friend of Chand's, who had been very nice to him. In fact, Gulnaz who had been sitting beside him when Jese had called, had suggested that he should come to her house for some sambhar-dosa.

He sighed and instead of going inside, called Nacho. "Hey, Nacho, what's up, man?"

"Isco, good to hear your voice," Nacho said, in his quiet tone. "Nothing much. Zizou and Benzo had a fight but otherwise its pretty calm here. I'm playing cards with Alvaro, Lucas and Dani here. Asensio lost too many games and is now dozing off from boredom."

"Okay," Isco said.

Nacho frowned, "Is something wrong? You sound like you want to say something...?"

"Do you think Karim is sleeping with someone?"

"You mean the YouTuber girl...er—Shaheen, right?"

"Er-no. Someone else?"

"Isco, how can you suggest such a thing? He's genuinely missing Shaheen and you're spreading rumours. You want too much drama. Don't stir up gossip and enjoy your little self-given vacation."

Out came the whole story. Even though Isco told them he didn't believe a grain of Jese's story, he still told it because he was confused himself.

Dani suggested, "This seems something that only the love-guru can handle."

But the love-guru was currently unavailable.

"Maybe Karim got over Shaheen?" Morata said.

Lucas dissolved into uncontrollable laughter which woke up Asensio.

Isco gasped through the phone, "How can you even think of such a thing? They're Hashtag Sharim. They're meant to be."

"Or wait," Isco continued. "What if Karim is being seduced by that girl? What was her name? Yeshi? The one his mom tried to set him up with?"

Meanwhile, Jese had decided that if not Shaheen, Raphael was the one who would know how to cure Karim. Toni had come to play some chess with him and Jese dragged him along to Raphael's house.

Toni was scandalized, "First sexting and now drunken one-night stands, I told you guys we shouldn't encourage the love thing too much."

Toni told Navas who told Mateo who told Luka who told Gareth.

Dani told Danilo who told Sergio who told Marcelo who told Kiko and James.

Zidane overhead James and Gareth fighting with each other who would tell Cristiano first.

Pepe and Fabio found out with Cristiano.

Everyone agreed it was impossible.

Everyone privately thought it would be a good idea to go and check on Karim because by now the stories had assumed gigantic proportion. Karim was an incurable alcoholic, seconds from mortal danger to himself and others. He was having an orgy at his house where he was seduced by bloodthirsty journalists and gold-diggers.

[REAL MADRID OVER-THINKING SQUAD RIGHT HERE! And lol Jese and his hearing skills XD PLUS KARIM AND HIS CHICKEN KEBABS ARE FINALLY HAPPENING :') CUTIEEEEE.

New characters that have been introduced are Gulnaz and Yeshi. Keep them in mind, you never know what they might do.

Thanks for being so patient <3 Did you guys watch today's match? It was awesome!

Don't forget to VOTE AND COMMENT xx]