[ 4 ] Mexico City

[ 4 ] mexico city

The drive up to Mexico city lacked scenery. Giovani decided we would just drive the rest of the way to the capitol without stopping to ensure we made it there on time. If we had time to spare, then he promised me we would explore the city before driving into the middle of the secluded forest where the Presidential Palace of Los Pinos was located.

By now I was sure the rest of the team was in the city. They had likely arrived hours earlier, having travelled there by plane.

It was three in the afternoon when we arrived at the country's capitol. It was a warm summer day, as expected of a Mexican summer. As we made our way into the city, we passed the slums, where the less fortunate lived. I had always heard of the living conditions of those people, but seeing them in person broke my heart. 

There was a little boy with dirt stains on his face. His clothes was faded and with holes all over. His bare feet walked across the hot gravel road towards Giovani's expensive car when they stopped at a red light. The boy who seemed about five years old walked to the passenger side window where I was sitting. Offering me a small box with all kinds of bubble gum in assorted colors, he said, "Buy a piece of gum? Only ten cents."

I shot him a bright smile. "I'll take one of those pink ones." Turning to Giovani, I asked, "And you, Gio?"

"Green." He grinned. "Like la seleccion."

He stuck his hand into his pocket and pulled out a handful of paper bills. He handed the money to me and I brought out some more from my purse and handed it to the little boy. His eyes brightened happily and he handed us each a piece of candy in return. "My parents are gonna be so happy to see all this money!" When he saw Giovani in the driver's side, he gasped. "You're Giovani dos Santos! I watched you play on the national team one time when dad saved all month to take us out to eat tacos. We don't have a tv in my house."

The light turned green and the little boy went back to stand at the side walk, where he would wait for another red light to offer gum to the other drivers, most likely with no luck. "Gio," I placed a hand on his arm and shook him gently. "We have like five hours before the dinner with the president. So how about we spend some time with the people of the slums?"

Giovani's face contorted, unsure. "I don't know, Kam. You know the capitol is the most dangerous city in the country."

"Are you afraid?" I teased.

"I don't want to die." He clarified.

"You won't." I assured him. "Come on, half-Brazilian, don't be a little girl. A real Mexican isn't afraid of anything. A real Mexican would do this."

He turned the corner and was able to find a parking space on the street right where the slums ended and the middle class area began. He made sure to lock his car and we crossed the street to meet with the little boy who we met minutes earlier.

Crouching down until he was at eye level with the little boy, Giovani asked him with a smile, "So what's your name, son?" 

"Giovani." He said proudly. Adding matter-of-factly, "My dad named me after you when Mexico won the u-17 world cup in Peru in two thousand five. He tells me that I need to make history too, just like you did."

"I'm sure you will." Giovani smiled at the boy and brought a hand up to ruffle his hair.

"And her," The little boy began, "Is she your girlfriend?"

I felt my cheeks quickly go red. "No." I quickly replied.

"Oh her?" Giovani scoffed, gesturing towards me. "She's my friend. Our moms kinda want us to date, but the mutual hatred is too great for us to fall in love. Eh, Kamila?"

"Right." I nodded. 

Bringing his voice down to a whisper, he told the boy, "She tries to hide her love for me by being mean. She's always had the biggest and most embarrassing crush on me."

"What?!" I shouted, outraged. "That's a lie."

"Oh," The little boy nodded, "I understand. That's like one of the girls near my house. Her name is Karola and she always picks on me. My older brother says its because she likes me and wants to be my girlfriend."

"The logic of children." I shook my head in disbelief.

"Anyway," Giovani spoke, getting the little boy's attention again. "We're here because we want to meet your family and friends. Kam and I are trying to be real Mexicans for the day and so we want to spend time with all of you."

"And," I grinned. "Gio and I want to play a football match with you."

.

.

.

.

Little Giovani led us to the entrance of the slums which was a long passageway that cut through the middle of the vast space full of small, hut-like, houses. They eventually split into smaller passages that led further into the slums like a maze. People watches us as if we were aliens as we made our way inside.

All around us were old houses made of flimsy materials, there were clothes lines with wet clothes drying on them. The smell that emanated from all angles was foul, but I pretended it didn't bother me. It was something these people couldn't help. They didn't have the resources to live any other way.

Little kids ran up to the boy who accompanied us and asked questions about us. All were curious to know who we were and what we were doing there.

He explained to them who Giovani was and it was only a matter of minutes before people were following him. We stopped at a shack deep in the slums. A woman was outside, washing clothes by hand and she looked up when she noticed her son was accompanied by two strangers. She gasped, "Whatever Giovani did, I'm very sorry." She quickly apologized. Looking at her son, she said in an authoritative voice, "Go into the house right now."

"No," Giovani shook his head. "He didn't do anything wrong." Offering his hand for her to shake, he told her, "My name is Giovani dos Santos, I'm on the Mexican national football team. My friend Kamila and I just wanted to get to know your family."

She eyed us suspiciously. "Why?"

"Because," I breathed. It was my turn to explain. "Giovani and I want to spend some time with real Mexicans."

"Well we don't have anything to give you." The woman said.

"We don't want to take from you." Giovani assured her. "We only want to play a game of football with the kids and then we want to have lunch with all of you."

"Giovani will pay for everything." I offered on his behalf and he didn't protest.

The woman gave permission for us to spend time with her son and little Giovani went to gather a few of his friends while Gio and I went to buy a football and some snacks for everyone. In an hour, we would all meet at an old abandoned lot to play our game.

When we gathered everything in the car and we were headed for the make-shift park, Giovani turned to me with a genuine smile, "You're actually very kind hearted, you know."

"So are you." I shrugged.

-

just a filler chapter for you guys.

soon we will have the dinner party chapter and then the second half of the story will take part at the actual olympics.

so stay tuned for that.

anyway, thank you all so much for reading and supporting me.

it means so much.

i love you.

y arriva las chivas! ojala que le ganen al tigres hoy. o almenos que no pierdan porque les ha ido bien estas jornadas mas recientes.

-clary xx

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