Soccer imagines

•thomas müller•

By thebluesideofmyworld

Things couldn't have been any better for Mel. Her decision to move to Munich once she finished in law school, her hard-working attitude and the perseverance that she has since high school have led her to where she is right now. Her career is moving to the direction that she has carefully planned ever since she decided she wants to do law. And it's moving as fast as she wants it to.
Things couldn't have been better than this, she quietly thinks to herself, as she walks out of her office, feeling accomplished after getting the promotion letter that she knows she deserves.
Things couldn't have gone better than this, she tells herself once again, as she walks in to her flat. She looks around the flat, decorated in a sophisticated modern-minimalist style, everything symmetrical, like the way she likes. Dominated in black and white, Mel likes her flat so much, as she feels how it is being decorated reflected herself as a lawyer. Straight, sharp, precise.
So yeah. Things couldn't have been any better than this.
But as she takes a sip of the tea in her black-and-white mug and rests her back on the black leather couch, there is still that little sound in her head, telling her that things could indeed, get better, slightly better.
Maybe, just maybe, things could actually be better, if she has someone to share it with.
Mel sighs, trying to shut her mind off that little voice in her head.
No, things could not have been any better.
And nobody can tell her that things can be better if she has someone to share them with.
She learned the hard way, that thing called love is overrated. In movies, it gives you all those silly fluffy romantic things and stuff. In movies.
In real life, you get heartache. You get your heart broken.
So no. For Mel, things could not get any better than this. Even though she has no one to share it with. She's fine with that. Totally fine.
[two]
The thing about Thomas is, he always has that almost-childish optimism, that things could be better, sooner or later. He just needs to keep on trying.
For Thomas, that applies to most, if not all, things that he deals with in life. Including this thing with his neighbor.
At first, Thomas was just happy to know that the flat next door is no longer an empty one. Because Thomas is that kind of person, who is happy of having companion in any kind. And he is even happier when he found out that the new neighbor is a girl that looks pretty behind her glasses.
Okay, maybe at first she's not that friendly. But as he believes, things get better.
His greetings in the morning when they are getting their mails from the mailbox finally returned by her, along with a smile.
And things get better, that she finally agrees to have some coffee with him in his flat every now and then.
Who knows, the next time, she won't say no anymore to Thomas' invitation for dinner.
Thomas always believes that things will get better. And so he believes, that one day, she will say yes.
[three]
"You're early today,"
Actually, Mel doesn't need to turn her head to find out who says it. Thomas is the only person he knows who has a voice that can sound as cheerful as that.
"Well, it's either I get home early or you're late from training." she says, flicking her hair as she turns around from her car that she just parked, right next to his.
Thomas grins. "I just got back from Phillip's place," he explain without being asked. "So tell me, Mel. What's up with the life of a lawyer? Any news about the promotion that you told me about?"
Mel's brows shoot up in surprise. She did tell him about the promotion, she just doesn't expect him to remember that. Come to think about it again, there are a lot of things about Thomas that surprise her. The first time they met, her lawyer instinct made her being cautious to her new neighbor. Of course she knew who Thomas is, and with his reputation, Mel actually expected him to be one of those cocky people who are just so full of themselves. Turned out she was wrong. Turned out that despite of him being one of the most respected footballer in Germany (and in the world, actually, Mel is just a bit hesitant to admit it in front of him), Thomas is actually a nice person. With a cheerful smile. With an unconditional love for horses that Mel could never understand.
"Oh well, I... I actually get it. The promotion, I mean." Mel answers him. A bit hesitant, but can't help herself to feel a bit proud of her accomplishment.
In a split second, his eyes widened. And the next second, she's already being wrapped in Thomas' arms who hugged him tightly.
"That is such an AWESOME news, Mel! I can't believe you haven't told me about it earlier!" he says as he pulls himself away, hands squeezing her shoulders.
Mely feels her cheeks heat up as her stomach does a backflip. It's been a while since somebody hugged him with that kind of sincere excitement, and the feelings that she is having right now is a bit overwhelming, she can't really think of anything to say.
Well, it's...sort of...nice... And Mel can't really decide which one that she likes more, the hug itself, or the person who gave her the hug.
But Thomas already pulls her hand, "Come on! We have to celebrate this!"
And there is nothing that she can do but to follow him. Or maybe, she can do something to get off from him. But this time, she doesn't want to.
[four]
Mel feels like she's not herself, but at the same time, she feels like she just finds another side of herself that she never realized before. She has never been an impulsive person. And now, here she is, sitting side by side with Thomas on the roof of their flat buildings, just because Thomas said, "Who knows, maybe there will be falling stars tonight!"
She is actually surprised to realize that she enjoys it. Really enjoys it.
Mel actually lost track of how long they have been here. Just sitting and laughing and talking about everything and nothing.
She cannot remember when the last time she genuinely felt happy and carefree like this.
"So, now that you get that promotion, I guess you feel complete now, huh?"
His question somehow makes think again. About that little voice at the back of her head. Mel gazes at a line of three stars up there. She can feel Thomas' looking at her.
"I guess so. I feel like...," she stops, and sighs. "Yeah. I think so."
"You don't sound sure about it."
She's not. She's not sure that she really feels complete. Because there is something missing. But she just can't say it. So she leaves his words hanging there, and says nothing more.
From the corner of her eyes, she can see Thomas stares at her, before looks away to the night sky.
For a while, there is only silence between them, save for the sound of the night.
"Do you think stars are lonely?"
Hearing his question, Mel turns her head to look at Thomas, confused. Thomas is still gazing at the sky.
"Stars look bright. But I don't know. I think they feel lonely."
Mel bits her lower lip, as Thomas turns his face to look at her.
"I think you're one of the stars. You shine so bright," he stops for a while, "But you look lonely. Distant."
There is a lump swells in her chest, creeping up into her throat.
She hates it. She hates it that he's right.
Mel ducks her head low. It takes a while for her to calm herself down.
She can feel Thomas' hand covers hers. And somehow, it feels comforting.
Mel lifts her head to gaze at the sky again.
"I... I don't know. With all the things that I have done, I thought I've had everything. But somehow, I... I still... hope, think, that maybe... there is something that can make everything even better..."
Something. Or maybe, someone.
Thomas put his arm on her shoulder, and pulls her closer.
"Hey! Things can get better. If you want them to, if you let them to."
Mel angles her neck, facing him again. His face is close to hers, close enough, that even in the dark night, she can see that glint in his eyes.
And she strangely feels breathless.
"I can show you. That things can get better. So much better."
Mel smiles. She doesn't even know why she smiles. It's just, his presence so close to her like this, his words, his eyes, the way he looks at her, the way he is holding her shoulder like this. Everything just makes her want to smile.
"Really?"
Thomas nods. The glint in her eyes twinkle even brighter.
"Oh, believe me I can. But only if you let me be the best part of making things better in your life."
Mel laughs, and Thomas' lip stretches wider. She flicks his cheek a little with her finger.
"Do you really think you can do it? Making my life better just by being part of it?" she asks.
Thomas leans his face even closer to hers, and kisses her forehead gently. "I don't just think I can. I know I can." he whispers.
Thomas pulls her closer again, and Mel lets herself buries her face on his chest.
It's comforting. It's nice. It just feels...right.
She can hear their heart beat steadily in a harmonious rhythm.
Maybe he's right. Maybe that little voice that she's been trying to ignore is right.
Things can get even better.
With him, together, all things in the world can get better. So much better.