At the final whistle, Jimmy rises as if moved by a spring under tension. He gestures for me to come closer to him. So I don't have time to hang out on the field with the others to celebrate our victory. My lungs are on fire, ants in my legs but I act as if nothing had happened. Even if I have an athletic body, the lack of training is quickly felt in 90 minutes. Doing sprints every fifteen minutes or getting pushed around by men with calves harder than rock is no joke compared to car repair.

Jimmy has always hated football and has never understood the need that a human being may have to run stupidly behind a football to feel alive. As for me, I sweat like a pig and am super happy to have been able to score a goal from the first minute of play. Which is much more luck than having an innate talent for the round ball. Indeed, our adversaries of the day having only discovered that I am a woman at the whistle signaling the start of hostilities, I spun straight towards the goalkeeper, who, flabbergasted by the speed of my cross shot, dived too late. In short, I believe it is time that I use my body wisely.

I approach Jimmy slowly, embarrassed to have to wait for him to finally deign to tell me about his mother's message. What he apparently still refuses to do, a week after receiving it. I've never been good with secrets except when it comes to hers. So I try not to feel offended or frustrated by his silences. It feels weird to have to respect his privacy because I've never had to do that before. And I didn't think that one day he would hide such crucial information from me. We've been unconsciously avoiding each other for a week. If I think about it, ever since he picked up his phone from my living room. And then he shows up at my match when he hates it.

"Hey cheerleader! Calls William, the most teasing guy on the team. Where's your skirt?

The opposing team slumped on the grass puffed up by the lack of maintenance bursts out laughing when they hear the spade. William works at CFAO. He is a handsome kid who is a little too full of himself to notice that he is not always unanimous. He sulked like a child when the others accepted me on the team three months ago. But once he figured out that I'm really a football fanatic and not a woman looking for male attention, he became super nice to me. But for some reason I still don't know, Jimmy gets on her nerves. Perhaps because he never responds to his provocations, contenting himself very often with scrutinizing him insistently before turning his back on him.

"In your goofy mother's closet," Jimmy muttered softly before handing me a bottle of mineral water that I can't swallow the wrong way.

I love his sense of humor even if he refuses to share it with everyone.

"As long as you haven't closed the door on him in front of everyone, he will continue, for our greatest misfortune. William is like that. He is not mean, just a little heavy at times with his stupid jokes. He served me a good swig when I joined the team.

"You've never told me that before," he points out, sitting down on the concrete bench that borders the left wing of the pitch.

"Apparently we don't tell each other everything, I reply in spite of myself in a tone much more sour than I would have liked.

"I didn't know you potty Nunu. If you have something to say, say it.

"I could give you the same advice.

"It's childishness what you're doing there. I've passed the age, he answers me, turning off his laptop. Here, you have my full attention, speak.

I stare at him for a long time, trying to see what has changed on his face. I run my hand over his jaw, now shaded by a growing beard. He has dark circles under his eyes as if he hasn't had a good night's sleep in a while. Since his mother's message?

I'm glad he's here, even if his friendship is watching the game, not watching it all. He always comes back with his computer slung over his shoulder so as not to have the impression of wasting his afternoon. He's a hard worker and I respect that. I'm happy he's here even if I see with horror that something is changing in us.

Not far from us, my teammates burst out laughing while looking at Jimmy following a very gritty joke from William. Jimmy acts as if he didn't hear anything and that the provocation slips on his skin like a drop of rain on a clean glass.

“You really are a funny guy, you know. I know others who would have freaked out since then.

"Why? You know, unlike your friend Mr. Hairy Ears, I haven't missed a step in human evolution. I don't need to put others down to feel worthy.

In amazement, my eyes widen and almost burst out laughing when I see that William actually has hair sticking out of his ears. But the latter catches my mocking gaze and frowns in displeasure. So I bury my face in my gym towel and laugh silently. But when I look up, William is posted in front of us. It smells of trouble. I stand up, ready to tell him to go away. After all, we usually all met at the local bar, to end the evening in style even if the team lost.

"What are you whispering behind my back like a bitch. Speak, I'm listening.

"William leave him alone, he has nothing to say to you.

"Manu, I like you, but it's a man's thing, so shut up," he replies, pumping up his biceps to impress Jimmy.

Normally, I'm sure Jimmy would have continued to ignore her. But because our conversation had already pissed him off, he couldn't resist:

"Honestly, I don't know what your problem is. You and I don't know each other. This unhealthy infatuation, this energetic attachment that you have for my person will end up making me think that you have repressed feelings for me. If so, get straight to the point, express your love because that's exactly what I plan to do with your girlfriend, once everyone understands how in love you are. me and that in reality all your insults are a childish way of declaring your love for me.

He spoke with such calm and seriousness that for brief seconds we all wonder if he is right. When the fire of the group's stares begins to burn his pride, William reacts as all men tend to react when their pride is violated: with anger. It takes three of our teammates to catch him so he doesn't pounce on Jimmy like a rabid beast.

Jimmy gets up, picks up our things while I put on dry clothes without taking care to hide myself from view. Putting on a boxer and bra in front of everyone doesn't bother me that much. While I thought the case closed between Jimmy and William, the first speaks again:

"You know, it seems that out of 10 men, the tenth is gay.

I can smell it from here, the crooked smile he holds back to look serious. And I don't like that at all.

"So what? William asks fiercely as our teammates finally let go since he seems to have calmed down.

Jimmy smiled at her. Of his carnivorous smile which reveals his teeth of happiness. Slowly, with the greatest application, he begins to count the men present and purposely drops the number 10 on William.

“I think you will have to draw the necessary conclusions from this. He adds learnedly.

When William realizes what he is insinuating, he again tries to throw himself at him as the others hold him back. I grab Jimmy's hand and pull him out of the stadium before he gets his ass kicked by an angry fang guy.

"Hey William, shout Jimmy before we disappear from view, tell Caro I loved last night but she better erase my number from her phone. I got this that I wanted you can keep the rest.

William's cry of rage makes me pull harder and we leave.

When I get out of the shower, Jimmy is on my bed. His computer turned on next to him plays good music as he smiles as he fiddles with his phone.

"Fans of the Youtube channel and the Instagram account ask why I don't post new videos anymore.

"And what do you answer?

"That it's madness in my life right now but I'll come back later.

" And that's true ?

"What? That I'll come back later?

"Not that it's crazy in your life right now.

" Yes a bit.

I don't ask him anything else anymore because I know now that when things are clear in his head, he will tell me about it.

“Did you really have to respond so savagely to William? And how come you know Caro? Did you really sleep with her?

"I don't even know her, he admits to me, laughing like a child. Your friend talked about her when he was chatting with the others and believe me it didn't fall into the ear of a deaf.

"You're a bastard, I really thought you slept with her.

He shrugs and continues to reply to her messages. I get dressed and take a seat next to her. He pauses his phone and turns his head towards me. So I close my eyes, ready to take a little snooze.

"It's crazy huh! he breathes

"What? I ask without opening my eyes.

“How it all started with you. And today I have 20,000 subscribers on youtube and 10,000 on Instagram.

“It all started with your talent.

“Nahhh. I didn’t have any basic talent.

“So it all started with your hard work.

To continue the conversation, I turned to him without opening my eyes. He largely deserved his subscribers and all the consideration he earned over time. I know what having a talent means. I learned a lot on the job but I have to admit that I had a good predisposition for mechanics. Jimmy made him believe in management studies and he works for a powerful local businesswoman. He lives under constant stress because he is fully aware that the slightest mistake would amount to hundreds of millions.

And yet he remains faithful to this woman who pays him in monkey money. Why ? Because she gave him his chance, the foreigner while in other companies had refused to hire him because of this.

And it was to be able to disconnect from this stressful daily life that one day I offered to feed me because I was too broke to order my food and have it delivered to me. He offered himself as chef. With my phone, I filmed the fire hours he spent messing up my kitchen. To shame him, I posted the whole thing on a channel that I created for him the same evening. Against all odds, the women liked that he worked hard for the one they took for his wife, that is to say me. We did not see me on the video but we heard our exchanges, our laughter, our two-ball jokes and that was enough to please. As his recipes improved and so did our videos. Jimmy is in the kitchen has started to become a popular trendy african-food chain.

" Hey…

I open my eyes in spite of myself, I'm falling asleep.

" Hey…

"I need to escape...

"Ask your buddies…I can't feel my legs anymore Driss.

He buries his face in my neck and I already know I'm going to crack and say yes to whatever he asks.

"I need to escape with you. I would have offered you a video but I have no new recipes to offer subscribers. Let's go to the club.

"It's been a while since we've been there...

"All the more reason. If you say yes, I'll prepare two days of food for you.

"No, a week.

"Don't overdo it, lazy lady.

"Hey when your boss' car breaks down and I fix it, then you bring it back less huh.

"When you talk badly to your unpleasant customers and I make up for it by flirting with them so that they don't leave without paying you, then you bring her back less too.

“So we say a draw?

“Okay for three days of food then.

What won't I agree to eat Jimmys food?

A few hours later, I drop it in front of the club while I go around the box to find a parking space. Today is kizomba night so the place is full of parked cars. If someone had told me three years ago that I was going to dance such a sensual thing in a club, I would have laughed in everyone's face. But it's Jimmy's second passion after food, so he got me into it and since then, I've been doing quite well.

It's crazy how a guy who believes in you, knows the slightest of your weaknesses, your doubts, can make your every move sensual. Most of the time, kizomba dancers come out of the same mold like Shakira's hips and Kim Kardashian's breasts. But me, I stand out in the lot. And that makes me really happy.

Since I'm allergic to high heels, I wear ultra-flexible city sports shoes that allow me to get on my tiptoes very easily. The low-waisted tight jeans and the white t-shirt tied above the navel, complete my special dance look. I spent a coloring bomb on my hair which sparkles with a thousand lights and gives me the look of a super heroine from outer space. I don't know how to do my makeup well but I still put on a line of white eyeliner to give some pep to my look. It's largely enough. I have time to quickly eat a pizza on the side before spending all my energy spinning my hips on a dance floor. I eat alone and pay the bill.

The hour being already well advanced, when I enter the club, those who are still standing sleep off their wine in peace. This is Jimmy's favorite time. When the restless chiboulots have left the place and the couples of the evening remain who only want one thing, to enjoy the last moments of the night. On the edge of the track drag a few dancers but the middle is empty. Jimmy waves to the DJ who plays one of his favorite kizomba songs. I smile at him and he gestures for me to come closer.

I do the one who is not interested and prefers to dance alone. A few steps to the side and the drunks immediately sober up, realizing that despite my outfit and my straight hips, I can move sensually. Jimmy walks over and takes me in his arms to gently spin us around. My shoulders and torso stay straight but my legs and hips keep pace. His hand is nimble on my lower back but he guides me with control. The music, the steps, I don't need to think when I'm in his arms, we improvise as if we've been doing this all our lives. He passes a leg between mine and leans forward making me dance in place for brief seconds to the cheers of the last club members. He lets go of me, I walk away without his eyes leaving me so I turn and he places right behind me for a few voluptuous swayings before turning me on myself several times.

And we dance like this until daybreak.

When we leave the box, he offers me to have breakfast at Paul, a pastry shop located in the battery IV district. I make him understand that I have to open the garage no later than 9 a.m. and that we won't have to hang around too much. He does not argue, his mind now elsewhere. We find a parking space, then we park and he moves on. Once in front of the glass door, he stops and turns to me.

"I couldn't see her without you.

" What ?

"I know you read my phone and you know.

He takes me so by surprise that I don't know what to say to him. But I feel that as a friend what I have to do is give her my support so I don't pronounce all the bird names that come to mind.

“We have an appointment, her and I. Here, he explains.

" Now ?

" Yes now.

"And are you taking me?

"It's going to change everything between us, don't you think?

"So what. Maybe it's time for everything to change.

"And if I don't want to. If I want everything to stay the same.

A customer stops in front of us. Jimmy lets him in and then blocks the door again.

"What if your happiness was with her? Just because you don't want things to change are you going to miss it?

"Do you remember your life before?

" What ?

“Your life before me? Before knowing me. Me, you see, I have trouble remembering it.

I do not have time to answer him that the door opens but this time from the inside. I see a veiled woman, beautiful as a fucking model, who smiles candidly at Jimmy.

And for the first time I too feel this strange and completely incomprehensible fear that makes me realize that no supposed man can meet such beauty and leave it aside for me.

To be continued....