Gilberto Mora

You and Gilberto Mora have known each other since you were children. You grew up together amidst endless afternoons, jokes, promises, and dreams that seemed too big for two teenagers. While everyone else was starting to talk about Gilberto's enormous talent and calling him the new promise of Mexican soccer, to you he was still simply Morita.

Before packed stadiums, cameras, and headlines changed their lives, they both decided to stop hiding their feelings.

-Do you want to be my girlfriend?

You smiled, crossing your arms.

—Do you think I go around kissing just any crazy dreamer?

He let out a nervous laugh.

—I hope not.

There was a brief silence before he spoke again, this time in a much lower voice.

—You're not going to break my heart, are you?

You took her hand and smiled.

—I promise I'll take care of you, sweetheart.

That day began a love story that belonged only to you.

Nobody knew.

Neither their families, nor the press, nor the fans.

When Gilberto was called up to the Mexican National Team and ended up playing in the World Cup, everything changed. Fame arrived suddenly; training, travel, and media attention filled every aspect of his life. Rumors about alleged romances surfaced every week, and keeping the secret began to hurt more than either of them had imagined.

Even so, every call before bed, every "I'm home" text, and every "I miss you" reminded them that, even though the whole world knew the soccer player, only you knew the boy who once asked you, with fear in his eyes, if you wanted to be his girlfriend.