The Ball Separating Us (Part II)

It was late in August when they first met, just at the beginning of the premiership season. She had worn her lucky blue blouse hoping to sweep her date of his feet. Jerry was already at the venue waiting for her. She took his breath away. It was love at first sight. It wasn't long before he decided she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. And so, barely one year later, he asked her to move in with him. And when he asked, it wasn't just words, the accompanying engagement ring told her that he was serious. She knew she loved him so she never objected. What she didn't know was that Jerry was a hardcore 'red-devils' obsessed, Old-Trafford dreaming, score-board gambling, Manchester United fan
. He loved, supported, breathed and dreamed manchester united. He could tell you their history from inception till date, list out all their coaches, tell u how many goal opportunities they missed last season, and why Tevez is a better player than Messi. In his fantasy world of soccer fandom, Sir. Alex Ferguson was his imaginery father; Wayne Rooney, Robin Van Persie and Javier Hernandez were his long lost brothers. Jerry had been so proud to announce to his friends that he had met the girl he wanted to marry, but unfortunately, it seemed he spoke too soon. One evening he came home from work to receive the shock of his life. He had barely gotten to his bedroom, and turned on the light when he screamed at what he saw. Right there, in the centre of his bedroom, inside his own house, under his own roof, on his own bed, was a large thick blue blanket with a mighty CHELSEA FC crest emblazoned in the centre. He never forgot that day. He never could. He was harboring an enemy in his house- he realized it at that moment. And so they carried on, 4 years down the road, with no sign of marriage in sight, and irreconcilable differences abounding. She was tired of it all, but he wouldn't give in. And all of the quarrells had let them to this night. The night when it would all be settled. She cast a final glance at him, hoping to catch some expression, but his countenance was cold as ice. The anticipation for tonight's match was much more than just soccer- They both had their pride at stake. It would be emasculating to him if his team lost the match, but more disheartening to her if her's did. The glare from the T.V cast an array of colour on the living room, as the opening formalities of the match were concluded. It was the el-classico between the two great teams who had made it through the league to the finals; Manchester United FC versus Chelsea FC- the final showdown. 200 million viewers around the world were watching this grand historic event in expectation. And in this apartment, two more were watching in uncertainty. The referee blew the whistle to signal the kickoff, and to signal the beginning of the end. Jerry took a look at his watch to check the exact time when the match started. And in the corner of his eye a little spark caught his attention. He turned to her to see her face and perhaps what caught his eye. She sat still and unflinching, seeming to be fully absorbed in the football match. But looking closer he could see a tear running down her cheek. Her mind was made up; whichever team won, there would be no difference. And in that moment he realized that they were both watching the end of their relationship.