Santiago Beltrán ᶻ 𝘇 𐰁

The conference had already ended.

The journalists began to pack up their cameras and microphones as the players gradually left.

You were still writing down a few last things in your notebook when a voice interrupted you.

—Do you always stay until the end?

You looked up.

It was Santiago Beltrán, still wearing his training clothes.

You smiled.

—There's always some story that comes up when everyone leaves.

He nodded, amused.

—Good answer.

You closed the notebook.

—And you? I thought you'd already be in the locker room.

—I escaped for two minutes.

He answered with a smile.

-So that?

Santiago shrugged.

—To find out if the journalist who asked me the difficult questions can also talk about something other than football.

You let out a laugh.

—Oh, really? And what do you want to talk about?

-I don't know…

He looked at you for a few seconds.

—Are you always so serious at work?

—It's part of the job.

-What a pity.

You frowned.

-By?

—Because when you laughed just now… that face looked much better on you.

For a moment you were left without an answer.

—Was that an attempt at smoothing things over?

You asked.

He smiled slightly.

-No.

He paused.

—Well… maybe a little bit.

You shook your head, amused.

—You know, journalists aren't easy to work with.

Santiago took a step towards the exit.

-Perfect.

I like challenges.

Before leaving, he turned around once more.

—See you at the next game.

But the next interview…

Don't start with the difficult questions.

Let me believe for five minutes that I caught them all.

And she left laughing, while you closed your notebook thinking that, for the first time, an interview had ended up being much more fun than expected.