Love On The Sidelines - Kenan Yildiz

Chapter 5

Ela

A few days passed and we lost against Portugal. The air was bitter. As if two goals from our opponents wasn't enough, Samet (Samet napiyorsun Samet?) shot one as well.

Montella received a lot of backlash, so did Samet and Alpay, our goalkeeper. I felt bad for them because that goal was an accident. The referee was also really weird, no wonder, he was involved in some shady business a few years back so the puzzle pieces started to connect.

But better days were to come and that it did on Saturday at the game against Czechia.

Although we received many yellow cards the win was ours. I was really scared when Kenan almost got another yellow card, we needed him to play for the next game and generally see him on the field.

The last few days we couldn't really talk, Kenan and I. The only time we could interact without one of us being too busy was when we got on the plane to fly to Hamburg. The only doors that would open were the front doors to the plane and our seats were in the back so we had to walk down the aisle and pass the players. First of course, Mete had to take another video of the guys dancing in the aisle which was funny and typical of them.

I walked to my seat and saw Kenan sitting in seat 17C, his face brightened once he saw me. He wanted to stop me, I could tell, but I had to keep moving because Dogukan was following me to his seat in the back and I didn't want to draw attention to us.

But the next day before the match I sneaked to the lockers, didn't really have to since I have a badge, but I still felt that way. Once Kenan saw me he immediately walked to my side and touched my arm, "hey, what are you doing here?"

I grinned, "give me your arm."

He complied without hesitation but he looked confused. I pulled out a bracelet and tied it around his wrist as he slowly started smiling. "There, this shall bring you good luck."

I had seen the bracelet in a shop in Barsinghausen and immediately thought of him. Hopefully it'll bring him good luck and we'l continue with the tournament.

"Thank you, it's really pretty. I like it." I blushed and tucked my hair behind my hair. "You're welcome, just promise me to never take it off? I got a feeling it has magical powers," I grinned at my exaggeration as did he.

"I will always cherish this gift," he hesitated for a moment before his eyes met mine and I held my breath because I could feel it coming. He had kissed my cheek softly as my lips parted and a little puff of air mixed with a gasp left my mouth. His cheeks started to redden a little.

Was he blushing?

The ringing of my phone interrupted our little moment and I pulled it out of pocket to see Rana's name flashing across the screen. I looked back at Kenan to see his disappointed face and I'm sure mine matched his but showed more guilt for ruining this moment.

"I think I have to go," I grabbed his wrist absentmindedly and play with the bracelet as I looked into his forest green eyes that always seem to keep a watch on me. With a little sigh before that cute smile he nodded, "alright, thanks again."

I nodded as well and left to see what Rana needed.

He had kissed my cheek!

Cupping the cheek he a left a kiss on I entered our media room in the stadium. The stupid grin on my face was wiped off when the three of them looked like I had grown a head.

I wiped it off and got to business and tried to busy myself and avoid their interrogation. But Rana wouldn't be Rana if she didn't know every minuscule detail.

"I don't want to talk about it," I said before the words could leave her mouth, which was now hanging open.

She closed it and gave me the stinky eye. I shrugged and with a smile on my face continued working on my laptop. I could feel Dogukan and Mete communicating silently through their stares.

Rana knew about Kenan but the boys didn't so I wasn't comfortable talking to all of them about him yet.

The evening ended with our team making it to next round.

The next day we could enjoy Hamburg a little after we finished our work. Turns out, the players did as well. How did I know that? Kenan came knocking on my door after I had just refreshed myself.

Thankfully I looked good that day, I was wearing a black dress without sleeves, brown boots that sat below the knees and my hair was somewhat straight to wavy.

"What are you doing here?" I blurted out, confused. A little smile tugged at his lips, "I'm here to kidnap you."

My brows knitted together, "what?" an incredulous laugh escaped my lips. He scratched his chin, "I thought we could spend some time together since the past few days have been really busy."

I bit my lip, "o-okay," I nodded my head, "sure, let me grab my bag and then we'll head out."

Still not able to believe that he was asking me out I grabbed my brown little purse and key before exiting the room. He stood leaning against the door with his arms crossed and the corner of his lip tugged up, his dimples making an appearance and making me swoon.

Why was he so goddamn handsome?

"Alright," I said as I passed him and felt him pull the door closed and follow me as I didn't stop walking, "where are we going?"

His longer strides helped him catch up to me, "I was thinking that we could go out to eat, it's the perfect weather for seafood."

"I like that, lead the way," I stretch out my arm in front of me. He chuckles and I follow suit.

We took a cab to city center and walked about five minutes before Kenan opened the doors to an expensive looking restaurant. He let me pass first like the gentleman he is and told the host that we'd like a table for two. The host led us to the roof with a view of the city that left me breathless. It was really pretty out here.

Kenan pulled a chair out for me, "thank you," I murmured. He then sat down across from me and we fell into a silence.

"Thank you for not declining my invitation," he suddenly said. I looked up and saw the sincerity in his eyes and replied instantly, "no, thank you for inviting me. At least one of us decided to organize for us to actually talk without any disturbances."

He smiled, "I hope this place is okay for you...", I interrupted him, "absolutely, the view is amazing."

With that the conversation took off. I noticed that we're alike in many ways and yet different in other areas of our lives. He's kind, charming and funny. After he told me the story of how he started playing for the national team a waiter showed up with the menus. We took a look at it and before we could discuss what we would like to order the waiter once again showed up.

In a panicked matter Kenan looked up at me from the menu, "I forgot you don't speak any German, I should've helped you with the menu."

Oh. He didn't know I'm German too, he did order the drinks for us after all.

I started giggling as the waiter spoke up "what would you like to order?"

Kenan looked at me confused as I put a hand to my chest and tried to calm myself from my hysteria. I spoke before he could, "I'd like seared scallops."

Kenan looked at me in surprise as I sheepishly smiled at him, my bad. He order the grilled salmon and the waiter left with our orders.

"You're German?" I nodded, "so are you." This time he nodded and we both chuckled, "and here you are making me speak in Turkish when everyone knows that I'm struggling."

I bit my lip, "I'm sorry, first I didn't know but later I thought you should get some practice in, also I'm not that great at it either."

He puffs out a laugh.

We continued talking about our lives, about how he grew up in Regensburg in Bavaria and about how I grew up in North Rhine-Westphalia. What our childhood looked like, our likes and dislikes. I've discovered that I really like him. He was dreamy.

But it all had to come to an end.

And with that he broke my heart.