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The couple was nearing 3 years together. Mapi remembers it like yesterday when the new signings were announced. She had mindlessly been staring into space when she heard the most beautiful voice she had ever heard. The Spaniard had looked up and instantly found the green eyes of their new signing, the Norwegian midfielder Ingrid Engen, and Mapi swears her heart stopped. While the defender had fallen hard, things didn’t start until later. They hung out after practice, instantly forming a bond and creating a friend group with Aitana and Fridolina Rolfö, Ingrid’s best friend who also got signed. It wasn’t until a year after that they confessed their feelings, having taken a vacation together with a few friends, and alone on the beach watching the sunset loving stares had turned into a hesitant kiss, which turned into two and the rest is history. They had become a power couple on and off the pitch, making each other better in every way. Time together was split between the two players’ apartments, though most of the time was spent at Mapi’s place since Bagheera had all her things there.
One morning Mapi woke up in her bed, light streaming in from the small gap left between the curtains, with light snores coming from the person beside her. She tiredly blinked her eyes open and as she laid eyes on the figure next to her, she smiled so big. Next to her was her dear Norwegian, still sleeping peacefully and Mapi had never seen anything more beautiful and wished she could wake up to this everyday but that wasn’t the case. Despite being together for almost three years they hadn’t moved in together, both having their own apartment. The days before an international break Ingrid would go to her own place, mostly to pack her bags but also because she would be getting up so early for her flight so she didn’t want to disturb the Spaniard. For Mapi, waking up early would be a small price to pay to be able to wake up with Ingrid like today, she would even drive her to the airport if it meant no more mornings without her Norwegian.
—
“I can feel you staring at me” Ingrid mumbled, barely awake
Mapi hadn’t realised Ingrid had woken up.
“Sorry, I can’t help it, you are just too beautiful” Mapi confessed, a smile on her face.
“Stop that” the Norwegian said as she cuddled into the pillow.
“Why stop when it’s the truth?” the Spaniard asked.
That made Ingrid turn to face Mapi, a smile on her face.
“You know I love you so much, right?” the midfielder asked.
“I do, and I’m so lucky to have you, love you mi amor” the defender answered, leaning forward to press a small kiss on her partner's lips.
“I’ll go start some breakfast, you keep resting” she finished before getting out of bed to get dressed.
“I think that makes me the lucky one, getting breakfast from the Mapi León?” Ingrid spoke with a teasing voice.
“For you? Anything my princesa” the Spaniard told her lovingly before going to the kitchen.
As breakfast was nearly done, Mapi heard the shuffling of feet as Ingrid came to join her, wrapping her arms around the Spaniard from behind.
“Smells good” the Norwegian told her.
“Good, I made you a coffee” Mapi responded as she nodded over her shoulder, gesturing to the hot cup of coffee that stood on the countertop.
“My hero” Ingrid said as she kissed Mapi’s cheek, going over to grab the cup.
As the two players settled down with their plates of food and cups of coffee, Mapi spoke up.
“I was thinking, after practice, do you want to do something? I saw there was a market downtown or we could just chill at home” the Spaniard asked, realizing her mistake.
Home
She had called her apartment home instead of just her place because it felt like a home with Ingrid there. But they hadn’t really talked about moving in together and the Spaniard didn’t want to scare Ingrid away.
The Norwegian hadn’t noticed Mapi’s moment of panic or choice of words as she went to answer.
“I actually need to stay after training today, I’ll probably take my own car” Ingrid said.
“Oh, I didn’t realise, do you have rehab or something?” the defender asked curiously, not being able to think of another reason Ingrid would need to stay after practice.
“I need to talk about my contract, it runs out this summer” the midfielder said with a small voice.
“Oh, right…I hadn’t thought about that” Mapi responded quietly.
“I’m not sure how long it will take but we can do something tomorrow instead” Ingrid said.
“Sure” the Spaniard responded with a sad look on her face.
—
Training came and went, Mapi and Ingrid going their separate ways as the Norwegian went in to discuss her future with the club and the Spaniard going ho- to her apartment, alone. It didn’t even take 10 minutes of being alone before she was on her way to Alexia’s apartment. Mapi went to her door, knocking carefully. It took a minute before her captain opened the door, seemingly a bit confused to see her best friend at the door.
“Hey, do you have a minute to talk?” Mapi asked.
Alexia just nodded while opening up the door more, gesturing for her friend to come in.
“What brings you here? I thought you would be with Ingrid, you’re like attached at the hip” the captain wondered, letting out a small chuckle.
“She’s at the stadium, discussing her contract that runs out this summer” Mapi said.
“Oh, Mapi I didn’t know” Alexia confessed.
“What if she doesn’t stay?” the defender asked her friend.
“I-” not letting her answer, Mapi continued.
“I called my apartment home today because with her there it feels like a home. I want her to move in and be able to wake up to her everyday and I might lose that before I even get a chance to live it”
“Mapi, does she know you feel this way? Have you told her?” Alexia asked.
Mapi could only shake her head, tears threatening to escape.
“Oh cariño, come here” the captain said as she embraced her friend, trying to console her.
It wasn’t long after that that Mapi decided to go back to her apartment, wondering if maybe Ingrid was done at the stadium when she got back. She got her answer when she opened the door to her apartment and found Ingrid standing in the middle of the living room.
“Hey, I was just about to call you, you weren't here when I came back so I didn’t know if you had gone out or something” Ingrid said with a little worry in her voice.
“I was at Alexia’s, sorry for not texting you” Mapi responded with a slight sniffle.
“Amor? You okay?” the Norwegian asked when she noticed the redness in her eyes.
“I-I just…oh god” the defender tried but failed.
“Hey, what’s wrong? Talk to me” Ingrid tried again.
“Please don’t leave” Mapi whispered.
“What” the midfielder asked, thinking she hadn’t heard her correctly.
“Please don’t leave me” the Spaniard said, louder this time.
“Elskling, why would you even say that, I would never” Ingrid said as she tried to approach Mapi, but she took a step back.
A look of hurt was etched on Ingrid’s face.
“Don’t say something you can’t promise” the Spaniard said.
“Maria, where is this coming from?” the Norwegian tried.
Mapi took a deep breath before speaking.
“I love you so much and I love what we have created together. Waking up to your beautiful face and spending time together is something I want to do forever and having you move in instead of jumping between apartments would be wonderful but none of those things can happen if you leave Barcelona” Mapi said, on the brink of tears when she finished.
Ingrid’s head was hung low, a deep breath before she spoke.
“This is about my contract, about me staying behind today” the midfielder stated.
The defender could only nood.
“Mi amor, come here” Ingrid said as she finally embraced the Spaniard.
They stood there for a moment, evening out their breathing before Ingrid spoke again.
“You’re not losing me” she whispered quietly in Mapi’s ear.
“Don’t give me false hope” she mumbled back.
This made the Norwegian release the defender from the hug and look her in the eyes.
“Maria, you’re not losing me” Ingrid said again.
The look that she was giving her told her something else, could it really be?
“You mean…you’re staying?” Mapi looked at her with hopeful eyes.
“It’s not gonna be official yet, maybe a few days but yes, I’m extending my contract” Ingrid told her with a big smile.
The Spaniard began kissing her all over her face before placing a final one on her lips, a kiss filled with every emotion she has felt today and one she hoped told Ingrid everything she wanted to say.
Thank you for loving me, thank you for staying
Once they parted from the kiss they stayed there embracing each other until Ingrid spoke up.
“So…what was that I heard about wanting me to move in?” she asked with a grin.
—
A few days later, Ingrid and Mapi were at the Norwegian’s apartment packing up the last of her things, the apartment being left cold and bare after removing all the furniture and artwork that belonged to the midfielder. During the emotional afternoon that took place a few days ago it was decided the two players would move in together but not to Mapi’s apartment. The two had found a bigger place that they could call their home, starting a new chapter together.
“I think that’s everything, now we just need to get all the boxes out of here” Ingrid announced.
“I’ve already called for backup” Mapi said proudly.
Alexia had been confused when she got the text to meet Mapi at Ingrid’s apartment. This couldn’t end well, just a few days ago she was an emotional wreck on her couch. As the captain arrived at the apartment and knocked on the door she was met with Ingrid, beyond her stood stacks and stacks of cardboard boxes.
Moving boxes.
“Oh Ingrid, I-” but before she could say anything else, Mapi stepped into her view, a big smile on her face.
“Hola capi!” the defender said cheerfully.
“Mapi? I thought…wait why are you so happy? What’s going on?” Alexia asked, clearly confused.
“What? Why wouldn’t I be happy?” Mapi wondered, even more confused.
“A few days ago you were a wreck on my couch and now…” the captain couldn't even finish her sentence.
“Maria…did you not tell Alexia?” Ingrid wondered.
“Tell me what?” Alexia asked.
“Oh, yeah…everything is good, Ingrid is staying and we’re moving in together” Mapi just said casually.
Alexia’s head was about to explode.
“You let me worry for days about you being okay and you tell me this now??”the captain asked.
“Sorry?” Mapi spoke, shrugging her shoulders.
“Dios mío” Alexia said while pinching the bridge of her nose.
“Alright, now that that is over, Frido, Aitana and Esmee are on their way so let’s get going” Ingrid announced, clapping her hands to get their attention.
Alexia couldn’t be mad for long, not when she saw the way Mapi looked at Ingrid, she was happy her best friend had found someone that made her have the biggest smile on her face, like Ingrid had hung the moon.
—
It was a few days later, the couple settled in at their new apartment with a few boxes still around until they figured out where to put everything. Sitting cuddled up on their couch scrolling social media you could see the information that was made public just a few minutes ago
Norwegian international Ingrid Syrstad Engen renews with Barcelona until 2027