The afternoon lesson became a football match which Sergio doesn't mind at all. It's only a few days left before they start the heist and the team needs to ease the tension and the pressure. It was a blast seeing how focused and determined everyone is. There had been a few laughs along the way thanks to Denver who was constantly making fun of Martin.
The match would've gone smoothly for him if it wasn't for one tiny thing that happened during the game. Bogota and Raquel went toe to toe with each other and despite the former being twice the size of her, Raquel didn't back down. In the end, Raquel got elbowed and pinned down the ground by Bogota while they were fighting each other for the ball. The others didn't seem to mind. It was a game after all but for Sergio it's more than that. His mind didn't fail to see that Bogota's body lingered far longer on hers than needed. He could've got back on his feet after they fell but he didn't. Sergio stood there, frozen, unable to think what he will do next. Raquel tapped Bogota's shoulder and that's the only time he got off of her.
After the match, Sergio noticed the bruises all over Raquel's body, one in particular is the big black bruise near her chest. It was the spot that got elbowed by Bogota. Raquel is a sporty so it's nothing to her but Sergio couldn't help himself but fumed in anger. She got hurt. He doesn't like her getting hurt.
"What's the matter?" she asked when she noticed him being incredibly silent.
"Does it hurt? Your bruises?" he asked her back.
Raquel frowned for a moment before gazing down on her body.
"…a little but I can handle it. I am sort of an expert when it comes to bruises. No need to worry", she answered with a smile.
That made him even more worried. He knows she's well-versed when it comes to bruises. Alberto made sure of that and it's something in her past Sergio wished he can erase but he can't. The best thing he can do is to make her present and future happy and filled with love. The fact that his plan is causing her to gain bruises once more, it's making him feel somewhat of a failure.
"I don't want you getting hurt. Maybe we need to reconsider you coming back with us to Spain", he suddenly said.
"What did you say?" she asked hoping she heard him wrong.
"This is an extremely dangerous heist, Raquel, even more dangerous than the first one",
"I know", she muttered.
"…the risk of failing is too high and I cannot risk letting them catch you. If they caught you, they will torture you for information. They will hurt you and I cannot bear it", he continued.
"Sergio, my love, we've been through this lots of times. We will be together outside the bank. We will be both in command center in a moving vehicle", she explained in her best calmed voice.
Sergio shook his head.
"There is a great chance we will be caught. The government knows now how we operate. They know I will be working outside the bank and they will definitely try to catch me first. Do you remember Plan Paris? It's why I created it. It's a contingency if ever we get caught but thinking about it now, I don't think I can take it if it's you they will catch. Perhaps, you should stay here or go back to Philippines with Paula and Marivi", he insisted.
She cannot believe what she's hearing. All these realizations are coming from bruises she got from a football match. Suddenly, she felt defensive. She knows they need her. She knows there's so much she can contribute to the heist, to the team and yet, Sergio is kicking her out before it even start.
"I am not made of glass, Sergio. I don't break that easy", she muttered.
He wants to contradict that, to remind her of the state she's in when he found her but he decides against. However, she already saw it in his eyes. They always have that bond, that connection. They already know what each other feels or thinks before even saying it.
"Do you think I will tell the police about the plan if they caught me? Do you think they will break me and I will betray all of you?" she asked in disbelief.
She thinks she has done enough to prove herself to the gang. She had worked her ass off since they arrived at the monastery for the plan but she cannot help but feel she's still not doing enough.
"I don't think that. You're missing the point, Raquel. I am asking you this because I don't want you to get hurt. It's not that I don't trust you or doubt your loyalty. I trust you completely and I know you will not turn us in. That is why I am scared because the more you will resist, the more they will hurt you and I cannot…I don't know what I will do when that happens, Raquel. I swear I don't know. I will burn the whole country if they lay a finger on you", he answered.
His voice is now trembling in fear and in frustration. He is desperate to make her understand. Seeing her got hurt by one of them already made him feel awful. What more if worse comes to worse? He's a pacifist at heart but the world will be damned if anyone hurt Raquel. He will not be afraid to start a war for her.
Raquel cupped his face and made him look at her.
"I understand. Trust me, I do. You don't think I don't feel the same way you do? I am scared to death to the possibility they might catch you. You're the most wanted person in Spain and I cannot begin to imagine what they have in store for you but we made a commitment to Tokyo, to Rio and the others. I joined in not only to make sure you will be safe but because I also believe in our cause. I believe we're fighting the unjust system and that doing this will show how much of a corrupt government we have. We cannot let fear dictate what we do next, my love, because if we let it, then we might as well stop the heist now. Fear is what the system inflicts along with pain. It's time we stopped letting the system win, don't you think?" she asked.
Sergio breathes in deep and nodded. No more fear.
"Yes, I think it's time to fight back", he answered.