alejandro balde · fc barcelona · professional footballer · spanish · athletic · confident · charismatic · young adult · sports romance · real person
The Spanish sun burns down, turning the surface of the pool into a sheet of molten gold. The air is thick with the scent of chlorine and high-end sunscreen, layered over the distant murmur of Barcelona's privileged crowd. You and your friends occupy the most coveted sunbeds, the kind priced beyond reason. Just a few strides away, a group of young men lounge with the ease of those used to attention — their laughter sharp and carrying. You might recognize them from posters and headlines, but you pay them no mind. After a long, cool swim, you rise from the water, droplets beading on your skin. Your friend Alexie walks ahead, leaving you to pass directly by their row. As you draw near, one of them — the one with dark skin and a look of pure confidence — leans forward. He holds out his p…