A BRIDGE AMONG TWO NATIONS (63/?)
Title: A Bridge Among Two Nations
Pairing: Schnidal (Bernd Schneider/Arturo Vidal)
Rating: NC-17
Character crew: Bernd Schneider, Arturo Vidal, Bruno Labbadia, Gonzalo Castro, Tranquillo Barnetta,Joachim Löw feat.
Deutsche Nationalmannschaft. In this chapter feat. Marcelo Bielsa.
Disclaimer: Tout faux, F.I.C.T.I.O.N, Fake... every synonym related to 'false'
Warning: Some slang and swearing.Unbetaed.
Summary: Sometimes love is a bridge for communication among two totally different nations.
In this part - Marcelo Bielsa travels to Germany to give the entire support to Arturo and he assures that he'll get a place into the final nominee for the World Cup.
Previously on Bridge
No sex, but lot of smooching and cuddling after the cameras were gone.
It was about a week ago since the revelation of the romantic
relationship between the 35-year old German Bernd Schneider and his partner, 14 years younger, the 23-year old Chilean Arturo Vidal.
But indeed, the spotlight doesn't want to touch Arturo's heart. He's afraid of his situation into the final nominee for the World Cup in Southafrica.
While in Chile, they were still trying to cope with the replicas made in March 11th, 2010 and a new government was rising; Marcelo Bielsa in Rosario, Argentina, gets updated about Arturo Vidal's homosexuality through his partner's lips, with translation or dubbing.
So, ticket to Cologne.
No one can get updated nor spoiled about Arturo's final situation... Chilean people must wait before raise their own conclussions. No time for prejudice.
So, Marcelo took the trip to Cologne. No interpreter, no press.
He knows that now, Arturo is training in the beginning of the season.
He entered. The enviroment was normal.
Practicing, stretching. Just next to him, there was Arturo and Bernd next to him... but Jupp faced the Argentinian.
"Hey...no espionaje aquí, fuera, fuera..." Jupp said.
"Estoy buscando a Arturo Vidal"
"Ocupado ahora...ocupado. Venga más tarde." Jupp answers in Spanish. But then, Jupp identified who he was.
"Marcelo Bielsa. Selección chilena... ah?"
"Sí, sí, soy yo."
"Pase, pase...pase" Heynckes repeated.
Bielsa grinned for Heynckes' accent and syntax, very messed up and in backwards, but at least he spoke and Marcelo understood.
He sat down watching the training.
But then, Arturo when he saw his trainer, changed of side. But Jupp makes Arturo stay by his side.
After finishing the exercise, a little bit of resting before the match Team A. vs Team B.
"Yeah?"
"Arturo Vidal"
"I'm here." Arturo said.
"Don't worry, Vidal. So, he's your..."
"Say it, Herr Bielsa (sic) he's my couple..."
"Yes...your couple, I know. It's difficult to say it. Lo hecho, hecho está."
"Sí... disculpe que me meta yo" Bernd said "Pero... eh... a Arturo Vidal yo lo amo... si usted..."
"¿Sabes español, eh?"
"Es medio patas pa'rriba pero sabe" Arturo says.
Laughter from the other two.
(Note: Only some quotes in Spanish by Bernd and some phrases by Vidal in Chilean Spanish. The conversation between Bielsa, Schneider and Vidal is entire in Spanish, but will be written in English for condensing.)
"Since when you are together?" Marcelo asked "'Cause you have your private life so, so hidden..."
"Well... since 2007, profe, I met him when I just got transfered. But I couldn't spoke German in that time."
"Who taught you?"
"I was going to German courses" Arturo replies, even it costed a frowning from Schnix "but I couldn't have time. I began only speaking Spanish... but then... Bernd after he came back from his injury taught me some words, and then building words, phrases... self-learning most part... sometimes he corrects me, 'no, it's not <>, it's <>'" he concludes.
"It's very brave from to say your situation with Arturo, by the way, Bernd... where are you from?"
"De Jena, Alemania, herr Bielsa..." Bernd answered. "El mundial del 2002 y 2006 lo jugué yo."
"Lo sé. El Brasileño Blanco" Marcelo recognized Bernd through his nickname.
"Weißer Brasilianer"
"Ich weiß, Arturo" he said cuddling Arturo.
"Would you come with me? Both..." Marcelo said.
"Wait a moment, profe. Please."
Arturo asked for permission to Jupp for coming back later.
He granted it.
After that he lead them to an office.
"So... why you didn't... released your relationship before? Why you didn't told me before, Vidal? From your own lips?"
"Espere, calme, calme, Herr Bielsa... no se ponga mal" Bernd said.
"Well... I'm not here to 'cause any harm to you, or nobody. I want to tell you that I was afraid for my people, for the fans, for my family. But I told to my family. I waited from his lips to tell the truth, profe. I was afraid of the word 'maricón', homophobic chants and something like that. I waited to arrive to a tolerant land to release myself at last, profe. Please, understand me for a moment."
"Well, while you have stamina on the pitch, your sexuality is not a factor to get involved..."
"...I was afraid, profe. Sorry. I was afraid because I wanna go to Southafrica. For real, profe. I don't want to kill my career in the Regional Liga (German phonetics used) ... well, if I play in Carl Zeiss Jena is because for love only...no underrate...seriously."
Bernd chuckled.
"Por eso tenía tanto miedo. Además esto" Bernd said showing the scar.
"Nein, Bernd...don't do that!!!" Arturo denies.
"Esto me lo hicieron a mi porque soy así. Padre de Arturo lo hizo. Y a su propio hijo quiera matar"
"Quería" Arturo corrected.
"A su propio hijo quería matar." Bernd said.
"I understand you, Arturo."
"It's not easy to deal with suggestions or gestures related to homosexual sex...specially when you are one for real" Arturo said to Marcelo.
"I understand you, Arturo. And now I'll say to you this... I know that Bernd will be not in Southafrica for his health, you'll be separated... but I can assure you one thing... you'll have a place in Southafrica and I promise not to rise your sexuality in any moment.
And if you want to be with him, well... he can take a private flight, have some night in Southafrica... I'll keep your sexuality most private as possible, even the media already known your situation."
"That means you support my relationship, profe?"
"I'm very tolerant to these kind of behaviors..."
"Please, speak in clear terms, herr Bielsa. I don't want to lose my place. I did the best I could against Colombia and Ecuador...."
"Relax...son" Marcelo said while petting his hairstyle "Your homosexuality is not a thing to drop you out of the World Cup... it makes you a better man, capable to say things by their name... you improved so much since you entered into the main squad" Bielsa said. "Probably Schneider can be some sort of Hansi Flick after retirement"
Both laughed loud.
"Why you don't kiss him on lips? Poquita cosa..."
Arturo looked for the German's visual contact. When he finally did it, he kissed Bernd on his lips...
"Very nice! Homosexuality and soccer are totally compatible. You were right Schnix" Marcelo quotes "There's no problem for you to get into the squad. Man's word. " he concluded.
"Men's word" Arturo said.
"And also, Bernd. You are very welcome in the land I work, and in my fatherland, always... be yourself. And spread the message to others." Marcelo said.
"Other thing, profe..." Vidal said.
"What?"
"In case if I get 'married' with him, 'cause it's only civil union here in Germany" Arturo says very well informed " would you let me play Copa América with Bernd's last name on my jersey?"
"As Arturo Schneider? Well... I'll do the best I can for authorize your legal name changing, so commentators around the world can say 'Arturo Schneider has his last name because in Germany get married with Bernd Schneider'" he giggled.
"Awww..."
"Well... it's a proud and I'm thankful to talk with you and with Bernd. I met your couple and he's a great person and a great footballer.
Be a man. But be a happy one."
Thumbs up.
Hugs from coach to player. He shakes hands with Bernd.
The Argentinian gets retired and then they came back to the training.
All is normal.
But Arturo is happy.
Not only Marcelo blessed him in a particular way, he said a very important thing: "Be a man, but be a happy one".
Arturo looks up in heaven while he thanks to certain soul with goalie gloves.
tbc. 08/15/2010