Free Web NovelChapter 13: Getting A PA?
Diego turned around fast, squinting his eyes as he yelled, "Who’s there?" He had been busy watching frogs jump into the pond near the church, but the sound of footsteps and leaves crunching snapped him out of it.
He stood there with his hands in his pockets, really hoping it wasn’t one of his sisters who followed him. If it were Paloma or Olly, he would splash them with water, and if it were Yazmin—well, he’d have to run for his life.
But it wasn’t any of them.
Diego’s heart jumped. It was a girl, and he knew exactly who she was. Maltide.
She was wearing a simple grey church dress. Plain, with folded sleeves and a small collar. The fabric moved back and forth as she walked closer, trying to be quiet.
Her face looked soft and pale, and she looked at him like she was really curious about what he was doing there. Diego just froze. He felt surprised, but it also felt weirdly quiet and serious standing there with her.
Suddenly, Diego remembered he wasn’t just some quiet kid anymore. He was one of the big boys at school now, and most of his classmates knew better than to mess with him. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
So, he snapped his fingers at her and said in a sharp voice, "Excuse me! Don’t you know what privacy is?"
Maltide blinked and looked around, looking really confused. "Privacy?" she asked. She looked at the pond and then back at him with a curious face. "Were... were you peeing?"
Diego made a face and his voice snapped as he crossed his arms. "It doesn’t matter what I’m doing! You just followed me in here!"
They stood there in silence for a second. The churchyard was quiet except for the sound of a frog splashing now and then.
Maltide’s face looked a bit nicer. "I saw you walking over here," she said carefully, "so I followed you... to... personally say I’m sorry. I’m really sorry about your father."
Diego sighed and his shoulders dropped because he was just bored with it all. By now, anyone would get tired of hearing people say "sorry" over and over. But Diego knew he had to keep acting right.
"I appreciate it," he said in a flat voice, "now get going."
Maltide nodded sadly and stepped back.
For a minute, the air between them felt weird: a mix of her trying to be respectful and him just being blunt and awkward because of everything that happened.
Diego turned back to the pond, trying to get back into his sad thoughts about his football future and worrying that his mom might stop him from playing. But Maltide’s presence was a thorn in his spine.
He turned around again. "Young lady, what’s the problem?" he asked. He sounded a bit nicer this time because she was his classmate after all, and he knew he should probably give her more of his listening ear.
Maltide’s cheeks turned pink. She tripped over her words and talked in a really quiet voice. "When... when do you start with your new team?"
Diego scrunched up his face, feeling confused for a second. It was like she had read his mind. The local club games and the training for recruits were only five days away, and he was still worried his mom would ruin his football dreams.
"I... in a month," he finally said, keeping his answer short.
Maltide blinked. "A month? I thought they said... it was in a week?"
Diego just grumbled.
She waited a second, then said quietly, "Anyway... I’d like to be your assistant. I want to have something to do besides just school."
"Assistant?"
"Yes. Like a Personal Assistant."
"What’s that even supposed to be?"
"It’s like a PA," Maltide explained, trying to sound professional. "Important people have them to keep their lives in order. But since you’re just starting your career, it would be simpler.
I’d be the one who makes sure you don’t forget your training times or where your gear is. If your coach sends a message, I’d tell you. I could even help you keep track of your stats or hold your water bottle and bag so you can just focus on the game."
She stepped a little closer, looking serious. "Basically, I’d handle all the boring stuff so you can just be the star. It makes you look more professional to the scouts, too."
Diego just looked at her like he wasn’t impressed, because he already knew what an assistant did. What he really wanted to know was why he needed her, and why Maltide was even asking.
Her dad was rich and she lived in a house that was basically a palace. Now here she was, offering to carry his water bottle and write down his progress. It felt weird and totally lopsided.
She would probably go way too far, buying him lunch and acting like his servant, which would make him look like some pampered prince.
Diego shrugged to himself. ’I’m not going to stop her,’ he thought. ’I have nothing to lose anyway.’
So, he held out his hand. "Deal," he said.
Maltide smiled and shook it, and for a second, he noticed how soft her hand felt compared to his.
"It’s a one-year contract," he added, trying to sound like a businessman. "My sisters were actually asking to do this job, too."
"I won’t let you down," Maltide said firmly, letting go of his hand.
"And the schedule—it actually starts in five days, not a month," Diego admitted, feeling a bit annoyed that he had to tell the truth.
"I know," she said with a smirk. She turned around and gave him a cute little wave with just her fingers as she walked away. "Bye!"
Diego stayed there, staring after her as she disappeared.
He looked back at the pond, but the frogs weren’t interesting anymore.
Was this puberty?
Everything felt different now.
His life was getting complicated way too fast, and no one gave him a tutorial.
Also, he still wondered what the old Diego in this body had done to make this girl like him so much.
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A/N: Hope you enjoyed the 13th Chapter! <(￣︶￣)> Please support with powerstones and golden tickets!
