Gilardino sat on his bed thinking about Fiorentina’s Match. Oliveira was downstairs in the restaurant area, eating dinner with Kaka and Cafu. He invited Gila to come eat with them, but he felt uncomfortable with a group of Brazilians, so he said no.

 

He felt really upset that they didn’t win yet another match, but he was glad that he prevented a close loss for Milan. He was kind of a hero that night, but he would have been a real hero if he scored the winning goal. He did miss a lot of chances, but the only thing that he wants to remember of the game is Ricky’s encouraging voice after his first goal in the match.

They had been really close friends lately, and seeing how Kaka supported him all the time, he feels protected. He smiled, remembering the joyful feeling that filled him after both goals, hoping that he’ll have the same feeling in the next match.

 

Kaka sat on the table, eating his dinner and listening to Cafu telling an adventurous experience he had when he was a little kid. After they finished eating dinner, dessert came, but Kaka didn’t feel like eating anything sweet, so he excused himself to go to his room.

He arrived in the hall and headed for his room, but he stopped, noticing the light that was coming from under Gila’s door. He thought for a second, and then decided to visit him.

 

*knock – knock*

There was no answer. Kaka knocked again … but no answer.

He felt a little worried, so he called through the door. “Alberto?” kaka knocked again.

The door to Kaka’s room opened, then nesta peered out. “Is everything alright?” he asked, frowning.

“Yeah, I was just entering” Kaka replied, and he opened the door of Gila’s room and closed it behind him. He looked around and noticed that the two beds were empty. Then he heard the sound of water splashing. He sighed; Gila was just taking a shower, that’s why he didn’t hear the door.

Kaka was just leaving, when the door of the bathroom opened, and Gila peered out.

“Ricky? I didn’t know you were here”

“Oh hi” kaka waved, “I was just leaving_” “no it’s ok, stay, I’m just going to dress up and I’ll be out”

Kaka nodded and sat on Oliveira’s bed. After a minute, Gila got out of the bathroom, he was wearing a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt. He sat opposite Kaka on his bed.

“Did you need anything?” he asked.

“No, I just thought of visiting” kaka smiled.

“Thanks … hey I almost forgot, your letter is still with me”

“What letter?” kaka frowned.

“Andriy’s letter and the photos … you forgot them on my bed last time”

“Oh, thanks” kaka took them from Gila’s hand. He was relieved in a way to have forgotten about them, but now he remembered them again clearly, moving in his head and reminding him of the painful present. He wanted to do anything just to forget them again; he didn’t want to keep thinking about them.

“Hey, I was heading downstairs for some desserts … wanna join me?” Gila asked, wearing his coat.

“Yes” kaka said, not hesitating. He put the envelope deep inside his jacket pocket and followed Alberto out of the room.

Kaka didn’t want Oliveira and the others to see him here, he just told them that he didn’t want any desserts, and now he’s eating them with Gila. But thank God no one was there, they probably left early.

“We have training tomorrow, right?” Gila asked, frowning.

“Yeah, ten in the morning” kaka replied, nodding.

They ate silently, looking out from the window next to them. there was cold wind in the weather, and it looks like it’s going to rain any time soon.

“Check this out” Gilardino suddenly said, pulling out a small, black digital camera. He opened it.

“This is a video I took of Nesta when I first came here” Gila explained.

Kaka’s eyes widened, “really!? What’s it about?”

Gila smirked, “I remember that they were taking a picture of the club that morning, for Milan’s magazine …and I remember that he was doing his hair and was singing too!” they both laughed.

Kaka moved the chair closer so that he could see the camera’s screen more clearly. Gila pressed play and they kept on laughing at nesta whistling happily, singing some Italian song that kaka didn’t know, and was busy drying his hair and didn’t notice that Gila was hiding just outside the door and filming him. The video might be silly and not that funny, but they knew Nesta very well, and they knew how shy he is, so they wouldn’t have seen do these things, so it was a big entertainment for them.

“Where was i at the time?” kaka asked suddenly, trying to remember, while watching as Nesta was searching for something in the drawer.

“Just keep watching” Gila said. then, after a minute, there was footsteps and the camera view was lowered to the floor. then kaka heard his own voice saying ‘good morning Alberto’ then he saw his own feet walking down the hall and heading downstairs.

“You’re a silent devil Alberto” kaka laughed, “I couldn’t spot the camera … where did that idea came to you?”

“Pippo told me about Nesta’s morning activities, and I thought that it’s a really precious thing that I should keep in mind … or in a camera” he snickered, “anyway, it was Gattuso’s idea to film him”

“What?!” Kaka said, surprised.

“Oh yeah” Gila said, nodding.

The camera was back on Nesta, who got up and headed for the bathroom.

“Poor Nesta … if he knew!” kaka and Gila exchanged frightened looks.

“You’re not going to tell him about it, are you?” Gila asked.

“No way!” kaka laughed, and they both turned to continue watching the video. The camera moved, and the hall appeared once again. it was empty, and Gila moved towards the stairs.

“This is so funny! You’re walking in the camp and no one is spotting the camera” kaka laughed slightly, “who else knows about this?” he asked.

“You know, I haven’t watched this video for a whole year, I can’t really remember_” but Gila stopped suddenly.

Kaka’s question was answered. The camera’s view stopped on the garden outside the camp, and they heard a very familiar voice.

“Hey! Alberto. What are you doing?”

“Oh, nothing” Gila’s nervous voice said from behind the camera.

“Wait a minute, is that recording?”

The view turned to the side, and the speaker appeared …. It was Sheva.

“Why are you recording?” he asked, frowning above the screen.

“Err ...” Gila stuttered. At that, kaka and Gilardino laughed slightly.

“Don’t tell me it’s about that thing Pippo told me last night?!”

“He told you! Yeah it’s that thing” Gila’s laugh came from behind the camera.

Sheva laughed and waved at the camera with his eyes a bit closed, because the sun was in his eyes. Then he spoke again to Gila.

“Come on, we better hurry. The magazine crew just came for the picture”

“Yeah ok”

Sheva walked till he was out of the screen, and the video stopped.

“That’s it?” kaka asked. he and Gilardino were both silent as they watched their friend in the video. They wanted to see more of him, but the video ended … just like their partnership.

“Yes” Gila replied, as he closed the camera. “but I have more old videos I filmed”

“You do?” kaka said, not wanting to see more of his old friend, yet wanting it so badly.

“But not tonight” Gila said. kaka frowned at the answer. Gila looked up.

“The batteries are dead” he laughed slightly.

“Oh … ok” kaka smiled, getting up.

“We better go to sleep,” kaka said, “we have a hard training tomorrow morning, and we don’t want to miss it” Gila nodded.

They both headed for their rooms, feeling tired and sleepy.

“Where have you been?” Nesta said to kaka, appearing in the hallway, “coach just called, he wants to tell you something about tomorrow’s training”

Then he entered the room again, leaving the door open for him. Kaka headed for the door, and then he glanced at Gila who was looking at him. They both laughed slightly, remembering Nesta, and then they both entered their rooms, closing the door behind them with a soft ‘goodnight’ to one another.