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after diego left, the stands started to fill up and the game started. i did kinda feel lonely sitting there alone without rosia but it was alright.

portugal played quite well and managed to get 2 goals against uruguay so i was happy. when the game had finished i waited outside for joão to come out, but instead, my brother came out.

"how did i do?" antónio asked, ruffled my hair, and hugged me.

"amazing," i smiled and hugged him back. "well done, you did well."

"-i did better though, didn't i?" joão grinned at me, coming out of the changing rooms.

"it's not a competition, but obviously you were better," i winked and gave joão a quick kiss on the cheek.

"hey! that's unfair." antónio huffed. "it's only cause he's your boyfriend that you think he is better,"

joão and i laughed as we walked away holding hands.

"um, joão," i suddenly said. "i've got to ask you a question."

"hm?" he hummed.

something compelled me into telling him the truth, so i did. "diego lainez asked to meet me at a coffee shop. do you mind if i go?"

he stopped walking and faced me, furrowing his eyebrows. "why?"

"he said he wanted to talk about something important, please?"

"but he called you cute?"

"am i not?" i joked but his expression stayed serious, so i stopped smiling. "joão - it's got something to do with rosia, he said he was going to explain everything to me,"

he pondered for a minute, then smiled softly. "i trust you, el. i trust that you won't break my heart,"

"thank you," i smiled. "i promise nothing will happen." i hugged him and he hugged me back; then we got onto the coach - rosia was nowhere in sight though, talk about being petty.

-

the coach dropped me off at town and then it continued back to the hotel. joão told me to call him if anything happened.

i pushed open the door and walked in, the bell ringing as it opened. i scanned the place hastily and i saw diego sitting on a table by the window. he looked up and smiled warmly as i sat down in the chair opposite to him.

"congratulations for portugal, joão played really well," he said kindly.

"thanks, i'll tell him that." i replied. "what did you want to tell me?"

he leaned in, making sure that nobody would eavesdrop on our conversation. "everything i know," he said quietly. "what do you know about penny?"

"well," i started, holding up another finger every time i made a point. "she's a ruthless bitch, shes psychotic, she's obsessive, did i say she was obsessive? and she's always trying to steal my boyfriend," i scoffed.

he raised his eyebrows and chuckled, "i don't really know her but i'll take your word for it. what about katerina?"

"who- oh kat?" i said, confused on whatever kat had to do with this. "kat's really nice - but what do they have anything to do with this?"

"what if i told you they were siblings?" he said quietly but seriously.

"what?" i blurted out a little too loudly, "no that's not right, you're wrong,"

he shook his head, "and that's not even the worst news. when penny found out that you were going with joão to qatar she texted kevin while me and kevin were hanging out. i'll send you the screenshots later but she was asking if they wanted to make a deal."

my eyes widened, "what deal?"

straight after i asked him that a waiter came and took our orders, i ordered water and diego ordered coffee.

"a deal where she could get with joão and kevin would get with you." he continued. "kevin was a bit uncertain at first but penny persuaded him somehow.."

i clenched my fist in anger as he spoke again.

"kat didn't want to do it either but penny paid her with a lot of money, and she couldn't refuse. you know that time when you, kat and rosia were at that food place and me and kevin walked in?"

"mhm," i nodded.

"kat texted kevin to alert him that you were there." he explained. "and at the gallery she also told him. i wasn't there because i was busy but it was all planned for him to kiss you. after it happened, kat took a picture and ran off to send it to that famous online news website. that's how they found out."

my heart dropped. "so it was all fake? kat wasn't really my friend?"

he nodded. "i'm sorry."

all this time i thought kat was a good person. why the hell would she want to destroy my relationship with joão?

"so i'm assuming that they had something to do with the fake messages i apparently sent about rosia as well?" i asked curiously.

"yep." he replied. "the account was created by kat, and also the photoshopped messages."

i shook my head in disbelief and muttered, "what a bitch.."

"by the way - i don't use instagram so kevin used my account to talk to you cause you blocked him. it wasn't me calling you cute, sorry." he apologised hastily.

"don't worry, it's all good," i smiled.

-

after we drank our drinks we both separated as diego went back to his hotel. i just walked because it wasn't far, and when i got to the hotel, it was 5 pm.

i stopped for a second when i saw milo, i smiled and bent down to stroke him.

after a couple minutes of hanging with him as he purred and sat in my lap i had to go.

"sorry," i whispered as i stood up slowly, making him leap out of my lap. i stroked his head one last time before walking upstairs and unlocking the door to me and joão's room.

joão was in his bed sleeping which was a bit disappointing for me because i wanted to see him but it was okay.

i shut the door quietly and walked over to his bed and got in next to him.

"hey," he whispered softly, opening one eye.

"hi," i smiled. "did i wake you up?"

"no, don't worry." he yawned. "i've slept long enough."

he slid his hands around my waist and pulled me closer to him, "what did diego talk to you about?"

"well.." i started. i told him everything diego had told me.

"penny and kat were siblings? no wonder i didn't like her from the start," he muttered.

"joão have you seen the latest news?" i blurted out anxiously, biting my nail.

"about you and kevin? yes i have but-"

"-i'm really sorry," i started. "it was all my fault - i listened to kat but it turns out she was the villain, she told kevin my every location and he kissed me. and oh my god it was crazy - i feel so much guilt even though i'm not the one who kissed him - he kissed ME like what type of crazy person does that. joão i would never-"

he cut my rant off by kissing me.

"i know." he smiled once he pulled away. "i know you el, you would never cheat on me and even if you did i would always come back to you, because i like you too much."

i smiled but waited anxiously for him to talk again.

"diego already told me what happened and he showed me the screenshots so please don't worry, i know you didn't cheat."

"thank god," i sighed in relief.

"how are you going to confront kat?"

"hm," i thought. "i'll find her tomorrow but right now i just want to nap,"

he muttered an 'mhm' and snuggled up close to me. i felt warmth and protection in his arms - and i was so lucky that diego told him the truth. i closed my eyes as he did too.

-

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