Chapter Text
"Okay, but I need you not to be mad."
Those are the first words Yesika hears. Gaby is standing next to her in the living room, her hands behind her back. She is not that young anymore; she will probably remember this whole experience very clearly later on. Others won't even remember it. Gastón and Mauricio have just turned 10 years old, and Mayra and Daiana are 7 and 8 respectively. Gaby is the third oldest of the three. Yesika first, then Sergio, then Gaby. In a way, this is an event that probably none of the three will forget.
It does not mean that it is easier to carry. Yesika is the older sister, she is supposed to protect her brother from these things. And even so...
"Oh my God."
"You said you wouldn't be mad!"
"I never said anything like that." Yesika says, Gaby still next to her, her eyes wide as plates. "You're crazy. This is a lie and a bad joke."
"It is not a joke!" He shows the ring once more, and Yesika feels like she's going to throw up. "I'm married."
"Yes, I understand that-"
"With Leo!"
"Yes, I understand that too." Yesika isn't going to look at the table in the living room where Leo is sitting. Because she doesn't want to see his face. Gaby, however, turns to look at him and Leo is sitting in one of the chairs at the main table, moving his leg up and down. He waves at Gaby with one of his hands and Gaby waves back, her face still twisting.
"He is very handsome." Gaby says. Yesika looks at her like she's crazy. And well, Gaby is only 15 years old. Maybe if she's a little crazy.
"And he is now my husband." Sergio says and Yesika wants to smash his face against the wall.
"You are 23 years old!" Yesika says, because it's the only thing on her mind. "You are 23 years old, your career is just beginning-"
"I don't think that's a problem really."
"You don't think that's a problem?"
"No, not really." he says, grinning like a jerk. He looks so young and so stupid.
"You didn't even invite us to the wedding!" Gaby says, pouting. Sergio looks at her sadly.
"I know, princess, but it was a secret. Diego wanted us to keep it a secret."
"Who is Diego?" Yesika asks, already fed up with this conversation.
"Literally the only Diego that matters."
Yesika hears a scream, from the entrance of the house. Sergio is smiling, and Lionel gets up from where he's sitting to stand next to him, his cheeks flushed. Sergio looks at him and smiles widely, making Lionel blush even more. They look like two ken dolls above a wedding cake. Yesika can imagine them, dressed in their blue uniforms, in some cold office in Buenos Aires, thinking they have the slightest idea of what love and commitment mean, swearing to each other eternal love, long and romantic vows in front of strangers.
Before Yesika can say one more thing, she can hear her mother's voice from the doorway.
"What is Diego Maradona doing in our house?"
Oh.
Oh, that Diego.
"You are kidding." Yesika says, softly, while Gaby starts to jump on her feet.
"He said he would wait until we broke the news so he wouldn't scare you guys off." Leo says, probably because of the psycho look that must be on Yesika’s face.
Okay. Her younger brother got married in secret. Diego Maradona is at the entrance of her house. Life has never been weirder than it is now.
Like every Argentine family, Yesika's parents decide to face this situation the way they face anything else: With a barbecue and with fernet.
Mauricio and Gastón are running around the back of the house, trying to follow Leo who plays fútbol with them, just as voracious and precise as he is on the pitch. Daiana and Mayra are supporting Leo as his cheerleaders. And Gaby and his mother are on top of Diego Maradona while dad is in charge of keeping the barbecue in order. Diego speak loudly and Yesika can hear him from where she is standing.
Sergio is standing next to her, smiling like an idiot. Yesika is slowly going crazy.
"You are 23 years old." she says, sighing, causing Sergio to groan next to her.
"You are not done yet?"
"Sergio, I don't think you understand how young you are. How young Leo is. Besides, Leo is in Cataluña, you are in Madrid. How are you two going to make a marriage work? You're crazy. A marriage is more than being in love. "
"But it's a good start-"
"And what are the others going to say? Maybe gay marriage is legal here in Argentina but you two live in Spain. And you're fútbol players! It's the most homophobic sport in the world-"
"Yeah, I think it's pretty gay anyway-"
"Sergio. Sergio. Kuni. You're crazy. This is crazy. You guys are just kids. You won't be able to live together! You won't be able to spend as much time together as you want! You won't be able to have a family! Your careers are just beginning, you guys can't stop now. Are you two even going to be able to play together for the national team? Being married? Is that even possible?"
"Dieguito said there would be no problem!"
"Kuni." She turns to look at him, because maybe that way she can make him come to his senses. When she looks at him, there is so much softness in the face of her little brother. He looks bigger in this light; still disgustingly young, but not the same child that Yesika partially raised with her parents. Her brother who bought them this new house and who helped pay for their studies. Forever her little brother. "Kuni, I just want you to be okay-"
"And I am." he says, cheerfully, smiling. "I'm in love with him." Yesika can see him look over her shoulder, so he can see Leo. His eyes soften. "He makes me laugh, and he's very noble and makes me happy. He's very sweet and smart and he has no idea how special he is yet, but he is." Kun smiles, and moves his shoulders in a way that makes him look like some sort of teenager. "And now he is my husband."
"Well."
"My husband. Mine of me. My husband. Mi marido."
"Yeah, I got it." Yesika laughs, pushing him back with her hand. Then she turns to look at Leo, who is laughing at something that his sisters are telling him. "I think he's alright."
Sergio laughs.
"I can't believe you didn't invite us to the wedding."
"Diego was the one with the idea."
"Diego Maradona?"
"Is there another Diego? He even offered to be the witness to the wedding along with Palermo."
"You are joking."
"No! Seriously! Mascherano was our flower girl. Tevez took photos, I'll tell him to send them to us. There's one where Angelito is crying! I am gonna show you the pictures when I get them."
She smiles when Leo looks at them, shyly, smiling briefly before looking away to keep playing with their siblings.
"Yeah, I would love that."