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Haalandd and Jude were going to face themselves as rivals at the worldcup and none of them wanted that.
The days before the match were tense. They were nervous since each one wanted to win for their team but they also didn't want to face off eachother as rivals, but they enjoyed those days, going out to shop, going to the beaches or even just talking.
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They were minutes before the match. Each one in their correspondent dressing rooms with their teams, but Haaland and Jude were acting weird. Instead of being cheerful, excited, engaging with their teams they were acting off. Jude was more serious, not talking too much, bis whole vibe was off. Same for Haaland, instead of his joyful, childish vibe he was stoic, cold, a look on his face that was unusual.
Then, it was time. Both teams got to the field, singing their anthems, greeting eachother. When Haaland and Jude greeted eachother they lingered, seconds that were unecessary for most, was what was keeping them sane. When the match started Haaland was being the fierce brick wall people were used to seeing on field, he was quiet, not moving much, but always standing close to Jude. People knew about their close friendship, what people didn't know was that there was something more taking root. When Norway scored their first goal, Haaland had to smile, had to cheer, to enjoy their victory, but he always casted glances towards Jude, who was beaming with Norway's victory, something passing in his face, something more. The game kept going after they scored though, not soon after England also scored, Jude scored, Haaland was beaming even if the victory was for the rival team, he didn't care, it was Jude who scored, his secret lover, his reason to keep going forward.
Then the match went on, not that much happening, just normal football stuff. Haaland though, Haaland was marking Jude, it was normal for players to mark rival ones, but Haaland wouldn't let go of Jude, even the referees had to urge them apart (which it didn't work).
England scored again. The stadium erupted in cheers but there was something else going on the field. Jude and Haaland weren't exactly happy. For Haaland it was understandable, his team had lost, but Jude being sad? After his team got to go for the semi finals? That was unusual.
When the game ended and people started to leave the stadium and interviews started, Jude and Haaland kept casting glances at eachother.
"So, England won, eh? How does that make you feel? Norway getting to go so far on the tournament and losing to England?" Asked one interviewer to Haaland, yet Haaland seemed distracted. "Uh? Yeah, kinda unfortunate but I feel good, Norway got this far, competing against huge teams like Brazil and going past? Losing to England seemed fair, England has a good, no, great team and, I feel we did our best." Haaland replied, though his voice had something else, his whole vibe was off.
The interviews kept going until they asked one question to Haaland. "Did you feel like you betrayed Jude?"
"Jude? If i betray him I betray my country... I could never, I... one of us had to win, I know he'd be happy if I won, I know he knows I'm happy he won." The interviewers were left speechless. How does one manage to phrase that? People already created theories that Jude and Haaland dated or were having an affair, but this only pushed those theories forward. When Wonderwall started playing for England, Haaland went back on field and hugged Jude, celebrating his win. "Im so proud of you, Jude" he whispered to his ear, leaving a small kiss right on his temple. When he was ready to leave to go meet his team Jude caught his hand. "Don't go yet. Please." He whispered the plea, looking happy but broken at the same time. "I feel like I betrayed you by winning. It's like... if I betray you I betray myself Erling..." he murmured, ignoring everything, the music, the fans, even his team, it was just background noise when Haaland was there by his side. "Erling... can... can we please make this public? I can't keep pretending living like this, having to pretend we're best friends, but i love you."
Haaland was shocked, those words, he'd been waiting since forever to hear those words. He couldn't hold back the excitement and quickly grabbed Jude from the ground, spinning around as they kissing in the middle of the field, not a care in the world.
They say football is the manliest sport but will it still be after this?