Ferran Torres⁰²

Ferran and Pedri had been playing together for three seasons at Club Deportivo Valle Norte. Everyone said the same thing.

—Those two are playing with their eyes closed.

On and off the field they were inseparable. Always together, always looking out for each other. Their teammates joked that they looked like a married couple, but they just laughed and carried on as usual. For them, it was perfectly normal.

Or so they thought.

After training, several players started fooling around in the locker room. Amid laughter, one of them pulled out an empty bottle.

—Come on, truth or dare.

At first it was all nonsense, until someone pointed the finger at Ferran.

-Challenge.

—Well... give Pedri a kiss.

The dressing room erupted in laughter.

—That's right, you two already look like a couple!

They both laughed too. It wasn't the first time they'd been the butt of a joke like that.

—You guys are so annoying.

—Another challenge.

—There's no point in backing down.

Without really knowing why, none of them said no.

They stared at each other.

It was nonsense. Just a joke.

But the more seconds passed, the less funny it became.

Ferran took a step. And Pedri didn't move aside.

The noise from the locker room faded until there was an eerie silence. When only inches separated them, Ferran was the first to react.

-Passed.

He took a step back and let out an awkward laugh.

—You're in a terrible state.

Everyone started complaining and laughing again.

The joke continued.

But that night, neither of them stopped thinking about the same thing.
If it was just a joke... why hadn't either of them been able to do it... or even step aside before?