ANGELO | Pablo Gavi English version

Chapter 8

August 16

19:46 p.m.

Sira and Gabi have brought me to Castelldefels, where I have spent years of summer with my family. We spent the day at the beach, walking along the promenade and having a few drinks before going to dinner.

We return to the parking lot where we leave the car in the morning and head to Barcelona center, where the restaurant that my father has booked is located.

Brividi, from Mahmood i BLANCO, two of my favorite singers, sounds loud when we arrive at the place. The place looks quite modern. Namely, how much it will have cost my father to joke about having dinner for my birthday in a place like that. I like simple things, and this is not.

When she arrives at the place, Gabi opens the door. We give my father's name to confirm the reservation and they take us upstairs. The room is in the dark until it is turned on. It is decorated with balloons, garlands and huge helium balloons of one and eight golden. They are all there, standing and smiling. My father, my younger brother Enzo, my grandmother, Uncle Andrea, Ferran, Pedri, Nico and Pablo. But there is someone near the table who surprises me that he is there.

Nicole.

My older sister.

Without thinking twice, I run towards her as if life were in it. When I arrive, I get petrified. But it only lasts a few seconds, because I hug her with all my strength. She reciprocates. A few tears begin to slide down my cheeks.

"Hello," I say, without believing that I'm hugging her.

Nicole went to Milan more than five years ago. Although he is now working there, since he finished college last year. I hadn't seen her in more than a year, and that this one was something unthinkable for me tonight. But it goes as I remembered it. His blond hair, now much longer, my father's light eyes and his skin full of freckles.

Following the moment Angelo sisters, I greet everyone who congratulates me, leaving Pablo the last one.

"I thought you weren't going to greet me, Giorgia," he says, sketching a smile that I adore.

I approach him and hug him. It seems that he has taken him by surprise, because it takes a few seconds to reciprocate.

PABLO

Giorgia hugs me and petrified me.

I expected many greetings except that one. I reciprocate instantly and, when we separated, a kiss on his cheek appeared. She blushes and looks the other way.

"Congratulations, brunette," I whisper in her ear.

Dinner is about to start and people are already sitting down. Giorgia's grandmother, Stella, insists that I sit next to her granddaughter. I end up listening to her, she is a very persuasive woman.

Dinner starts and they serve us some canapés as a starter.

"How's it going on the beach?" I asked Giorgia while I eat one of the canapés on a tray.

Good. It has been very melancholic to return to that beach. But it was good. Then we went for a walk and I bought a bracelet - he says, and he extends his wrist to me. In it, there is a bracelet with blue, white and gray threads.

"Beautiful," I murmur.

Dinner is over and I get up to go to the bathroom.

Just as I'm washing my hands, someone opens the door.

"Hello," says Pedri. How are you doing with Gigi? - he asks.

Good. I'm nervous about the gift. He's going to kill us.

"He's going to kill you," Pedri clarifies. That you paid for it - he says, laughing.

Minutes later, we both left the bathroom.

"Finally," says Ferran, approaching us. The gifts - he says that last, staring at me.

I sit down and go to the center of the room, where everyone is. Giorgia has been sitting in the middle of a chair. It reminds me of children's birthdays. I go to where she is to see the gifts better. Apart from seeing his face of illusion.

His father is the first to give him an envelope. And a small box. When he opens the box, he puts a hand to his mouth. He denies and looks at his father.

"I can't accept this, dad," she says, with watery eyes.

"She would like you to have it," says her father.

When I get a little closer, I see a silver necklace on the box. He has a small star hanging. It's beautiful. His father helps him put it on and she looks at him. They hug each other and now his brothers give him another gift.

GIORGIA

My father gave me my mother's necklace. She always wore it. I thank you many times for giving it to me, since, since, since his death, my father has not touched anything that belonged to him. And I know that it will have been hard for him to reopen the wound, even if it was a little.

PABLO

Everyone has already given him something. Everyone but me. I don't know what's wrong with everyone today who leaves me the last one.

I go to Giorgia and extend the wrapped briefcase.

"I hope you like it," I say, nervously.

She opens it and is surprised. When you open the briefcase, you see all the brushes, paintings and things to paint in general.

"But how," he says and looks at me. Leave the briefcase on the chair and hug me.

But how do you know that I paint?

I have my contacts, brunette.

"Thank you," he whispers in my ear.

The party continues and I look at Pedri and Nicole. They've been talking all night. Tomorrow on the trip to Bilbao, since we play there, I will ask you a couple of questions.

I see Giorgia dancing from the table. It's with Sira and Gabi giving their all on the small makeshift dance floor.

I'll be direct. Do you like my sister? - asks Enzo, Giorgia's younger brother.

"Em," I say, undecided. Everyone has asked me that question in the last few days. And it's something I don't know how to answer, I know little about Giorgia, but I know it attracts me.

What's wrong?

"You could say yes," I say nervously. But I don't know her well yet and I want to know how she is, first of all.

Well, brother-in-law, I'll help you conquer her. Although you are on the right track - says Enzo, putting his hand on my shoulder.

Thank you.