Ronaldo's Call
Chapter 3: Ronaldo's Call
There were no press conferences or grand unveiling ceremonies. Quaresma simply posed with his new Porto No. 7 jersey alongside Porto Chairman da Costa, both wearing smiles that spoke volumes.
Comparatively modest, unlike the fanfare surrounding other stars who were greeted by thousands or even tens of thousands at their unveilings, reminiscent of Ronaldo's high-profile transfers to Madrid and Turin, where the crowds seemed endless.
"Ah, people always have to throw shade," Quaresma sighed. "But it seems I'm not without hope. With my understanding of the global football scene, I'm confident I can carve out a different, wonderful path."
Having failed to crossover into Ronaldo's realm, Quaresma aimed to become an even greater star than Cristiano Ronaldo.
Coincidentally, just as he pondered Ronaldo, Quaresma received a call from none other than Ronaldo himself. Of course, in his world, Ronaldo was still affectionately referred to as Ronaldinho.
"Hey, bro, I heard from Jorge that you're back in Portugal! How's it feeling?" Ronaldo's voice over the phone carried a hint of playful cynicism.
"If you've come to laugh at me, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed," Quaresma responded with a smile.
Ronaldo, knowing Quaresma couldn't see him, couldn't help but shrug. "That's a shame. I was hoping to catch you at a weak moment. Just kidding—I wanted to check in on you!"
Quaresma smiled warmly, hearing genuine concern in Ronaldo's tone.
In their previous lives, Quaresma and Ronaldo had a close relationship akin to brothers. Both had debuted for Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese Super League, showcasing unrivaled talent and a shared rebellious streak. It wasn't surprising they bonded.
Quaresma, two years older than Ronaldo, naturally took on the role of the elder brother, passing down his tricks and skills on the training ground where laughter always rang out.
It was unfortunate that after leaving Sporting Lisbon around the same time, their paths diverged drastically. One ascended to footballing superstardom, while the other struggled to fulfill his potential, often criticized as a wayward talent gone astray.
But despite their differing paths, their bond remained strong. Whenever they met, they embraced like long-lost brothers, reminiscing about the glory days.
"No, I really could use your comforting. I need someone to come to my bedside on a lonely night, maybe hold your smooth body close. That would make me feel better!" Quaresma teased, unable to hold back a laugh.
"Come on!" Ronaldo probably had a perplexed expression on his face by now.
"Alright, serious talk now. It's actually good to be back in the Portuguese Super League. I always felt a team like Barcelona wasn't right for either of us. Now that you're back at Porto, it's a chance to start afresh. I believe in your abilities. You'll shine again at the top clubs in the five major leagues! You've got this!" Cristiano Ronaldo's tone was almost impatient. When he encouraged Quaresma, it seemed like he had background music playing. He must've thought himself quite the gifted speaker!
But Quaresma, on the other end of the line, rolled his eyes. This wasn't the Ronaldo he knew. Something was off. "Is this guy for real with his cheesy pep talks? It'd be better if he cracked a joke to make me smile," Quaresma sighed, half-jokingly.
Cristiano Ronaldo concluded from Quaresma's tone that he wasn't taking things too seriously.
"Are you always going to nag like my old man? Speaking of girlfriends, I've been having a run of bad luck lately!"
Quaresma chuckled, recalling Ronaldo as a notorious playboy, especially in his younger days. It seemed he changed girlfriends as often as he changed socks!
"I'd advise you to settle down. Why not find one stable girlfriend instead of chasing after every girl in England?" Quaresma advised, though he knew it was futile trying to tame the young Cristiano Ronaldo.
As Ronaldo's older brother, he felt obligated to give him a piece of his mind. For something like this, he felt like saying, "Please take me along next time!"
"Can you believe this guy's whining like an old man? But speaking of girlfriends, I've really been having a rough go of it lately!"
Quaresma grinned, though he wasn't sure what was going on with Ronaldo, he was curious nonetheless.
"What's so rough? Tell me, maybe it'll cheer me up!"
Cristiano Ronaldo swore he wanted to smack Quaresma over the phone. His brother's tone was unbearable.
But considering the distance between England and Portugal, he sighed and gave up on the idea of sharing his troubles with Quaresma. "I was trying to surprise a model I've been seeing with a necklace, but I didn't know her neck size. So, I thought I'd measure it while she was asleep!"
"And?"
"She woke up!"
...
Upon hearing this, Quaresma nearly spat out his orange juice, doubled over with laughter at Ronaldo's expense.
"So, you're calling me from jail now?" Quaresma could only imagine.
In truth, he was curious if Ronaldo managed to win the model over with his sense of humor or if he ended up in jail...
"I had to buy her five necklaces to make things right, or I might've wound up in jail!"
Ronaldo's voice carried a tone of lingering exasperation and melodrama. Experiencing such a scenario, Quaresma reckoned anyone would've felt down.
But Ronaldo still retained his sense of humor, even after all he'd been through. He had so many misadventures, yet he still tried to lift Quaresma's spirits. Truth be told, he could've used a pick-me-up himself...
"Since you bought her five necklaces, you probably wouldn't mind getting me one to help me forget my troubles!"
Cristiano Ronaldo...
After teasing Ronaldo for a bit, Quaresma finally hung up the phone, feeling a warmth in his heart.
Sometimes, brothers didn't need to say much. A single gesture or a knowing glance said it all—how much they cared about each other...
Well, brotherly love could be a synonym for losing a friend, too. That was alright.
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