Page 16 of Hate That Blooms

The game begins, and I can’t help but get caught up in the intensity and passion of the players. The cheers from the crowd and the adrenaline rushing through my veins create a thrilling experience. Mireya, too, finds herself captivated by the fast-paced action on the field as she keeps her eyes glued to the players. Occasionally she will squeal with excitement, which gets us some hard stares, but I try to ignore them as best as I can.

As the game progresses, I cheer loudly, feeling a sense of pride in our school’s team. The camaraderie and spirit of the crowd are infectious, and I feel a sense of unity with my fellow students. My phone pings in my pocket a few times, but I ignore it, lost in the game and watching Isaac dominate on the field.

The final whistle blows, signaling the end of the game. I can’t help but feel a sense of fulfillment. We won, 10-4! Tonight has been everything I hoped for and more. I turn to Mireya, who is beaming with excitement, and I know that we have shared a special bonding experience. I scoop my sister up and make my way down to the field to congratulate Isaac.

"Hey, you played amazing!” He looks down at me, sweat dripping from his hair.

“I’m so glad you could come. Did your sister have fun?” He asks, extending a finger to tickle her. Mireya recoils, and he drops his hand to his side, a look of defeat on his face.

“I think she did.” I hug her tight and realize I need to give him back his jersey. “Shoot, here. Let me take this off.” Mireya whines in my ear as I try to set her down.

“Don’t worry about it. Just wear it to school tomorrow.” I catch the smirk on his face.

I know what it means when girls wear guys jerseys around school. Either it’s their boyfriend or the guy is staking his claim on her.

Do I want that? Do I want to be his girlfriend?

“Are you sure?” I swallow.

“Never been more sure, Gabby. If you can’t tell by now, I really like you.”

I blush at his words, feeling the nervousness creep in. The thought of being Isaac’s girlfriend fills me with uncertainty. I’ve never had a boyfriend, simply because my family has always come first. My sister needs me. It would be so nice to do something for myself, but taking that next step—officially becoming a couple—is a big decision.

I put Mireya down, pulled his jersey over my head, and reluctantly handed it back to him. I can’t help but think about what wearing it to school tomorrow would mean. It would symbolize something more than just luck for the game. It would signify that we’re together and that we have chosen each other.

“I’m not really in the headspace for a relationship, Isaac. I have a shit ton of responsibilities, and I wouldn’t want you to feel like I don’t like you or that I’m ignoring you.” The disappointment in his eyes hurt.

“Oh,” his hand grips the jersey, “I just thought maybe I... Is it someone else?”

I snort. “Absolutely not. Look, my family went through some tough times over the summer, and I had to essentially take on the role of a parent for my sister. So my life is school and caring for her—that’s it. When you invited me to the dance, it was the first time I had done something remotely fun in forever.”

Isaac’s teammates shout at him to hurry so they can go celebrate.

“Shit, I gotta go. I still want to talk about this. Call me crazy, but I want to try. So I’m not giving up on this. I think we could be great together.”

I pick Mireya back up, cradle her in my arms, and smile.It will never work out.

I take a moment to gather my thoughts, trying to understand my own emotions. Isaac has been nothing but kind, supportive, and fun to be around. He makes me feel special. But is that enough? I look into his eyes, searching for answers. His warm gaze reassures me as I look into his eyes. Maybe taking this leap of faith won’t be so scary after all. Maybe it’s worth exploring where this connection could lead.

With a smile, I decided to embrace the moment. “Okay, Isaac. I’ll wear your jersey to school tomorrow,” I say, feeling the blush spread across my face as he hands it back to me.

His face lights up, and he pulls us into a tight hug. “For real, Gabby! I can’t wait to see you in my jersey. And, just so you know, it’s not just about staking a claim or some other caveman bullshit. It’s about showing everyone how lucky I am that you're giving me the time of day.”

His words melt my heart, and I know deep down that I made the right choice. He kissed my cheek again. “Text me when you guys get home. So I know you're safe.”

“Okay,” I nod and watch as he runs off toward his team. I cradle Mireya close to my chest and make my way across the parking lot toward our car.

Back in the car, I slide into the driver’s seat after buckling Mireya into her car seat. I pull my phone out and see that I have a ton of missed texts and two missed calls with voicemails. I pull up the texts from mom telling me she is leaving for work and to not forget to switch over the laundry. Then I saw the texts from the stalker.

Reina, you are mine. Don’t get any ideas. If you wear that jersey tomorrow, I swear to God you’ll be sorry.

Am I understood?

Ignoring me isn’t an answer.

I blow out a breath, exit out of my messages, and check the missed calls. One is from my dad, and the other is from the hospital. I click on the voicemail from my dad.

“Gabby, you need to pick up your phone.”

---