Santi. B

At River, everyone said Freitas and I were the perfect couple. He never denied the rumor; he loved it when people talked about us. The only thing no one saw was what happened after each match.
While the team was celebrating, we ended up arguing in the locker room hallway. The shouting was impossible to hide.
—I saw you laughing with him!
—It was a press release!
—Don't lie to me!
Minutes later, Freitas came out adjusting his shirt:
—Sorry, guys... you know how it gets.
Santiago once stopped him:
-Is everything all right?
Freitas burst out laughing:
—Yeah, dude. She's super jealous. She'll get over it tomorrow.
And Santiago believed him. Until he stopped. Because the fights weren't just after matches anymore, but before training, on trips, and at team gatherings. And I was talking less and less.
One afternoon, Santiago handed me a jacket I had forgotten.
—Hey... are you really okay?
—Yes —I smiled out of obligation.
—No. You don't have to lie to me.
Before he could answer, Freitas appeared:
Am I interrupting something?
"I was asking how she was," said Santiago.
"It's perfect," he answered for me.
"I didn't ask you," Santiago said, staring at him.
"She's my girlfriend," Freitas smiled sideways.
—And she has a mouth.
The atmosphere grew tense. I felt like I couldn't breathe. Freitas stepped forward:
—Don't meddle where you're not wanted.
Santiago did not back down:
—I've been hearing the arguments for months. I've been seeing her come home crying for months, and I've heard you say she's crazy or exaggerating. I don't believe you anymore.
"And now you're a hero?" Freitas mocked.
—No. I'm a colleague who got tired of looking the other way.
They stood face to face. The entire team fell silent. No one moved. Freitas clicked his tongue:
—Are you going to hit me?
"It's not necessary," Santiago said slowly, shaking his head and gesturing around. "Look. Everyone's watching you. And for the first time... no one believes you."