Forced Than Loved ★ Pablo Gavi

₂.₄

★☆★☆★

Hospital

★☆★☆★

I turned around to see Pedri standing there, his facial expression saying it all, I messed up worse this time and now for sure I have lost her, and you could say in the most stupid way possible, I was too persistent, too pushy, and I hate myself for saying what I said, considering it wasn't true at all. I knew a few days after the contract had been made I had feelings for her, never have I had feelings for anyone like that before, she is truly someone amazing and I lost her just like that.

"Gavi Gavi, tienes que darle tiempo" (Gavi you need to give her some time) He said now coming up closer to me and placing his hand around my shoulder, guiding me back inside. I nodded in response, walking with him to the lockers so I could grab everything I needed before heading home. Pedri was I should have just let her be, let her come talk to me when she was ready, that wouldn't have made the situation any worse that was for sure.

I reached the lockers eventually with Pedri still next to me, we entered and I got myself into the shower to get ready to just go home, well her house really, I refuse to leave it abandon or sell it, well I guess in case she comes back, I know how much that place really meant to her. I grabbed my clothes and headed for the showers. You could say I took my time as I spent almost a full hour in the shower just in my thoughts. Once I did come out, of course, fully changed, it looked like Pedri and Ansu were the only people left in the locker rooms, everyone seemed to have left, understandably so, why wait around especially when they have loved ones waiting for them at home.

Once I reached them both, Pedri offered to go out for an early dinner, I mean I didn't have anything more to do so I agreed watching the smile on his face mirror on Ansus. We made our way to the parking lot, the cool evening air settling over Barcelona as the sun dipped lower in the sky. The streets were still busy, filled with people wrapping up their day, the sounds of honking cars and distant laughter blending into the background. I unlocked my car, and we slid in, the familiar scent of leather and her signature perfume still filling the space.

I realized that I hadn't asked where we were actually going. I called Pedri, sure I could follow him but knowing the traffic in the city at this time of the day, we might get separated. "¿A dónde vamos?" (Where are we going? I asked, my voice sounding more steadier than I felt.

"Ese lugar de tapas en la playa," (That tapas place by the beach) Pedri replied through the phone, as I heard him start the engine of his car. "Comerás, hablarás, dejarás de pensar por un momento." (You'll eat, you'll talk, you'll stop thinking for a bit.) I huffed out a quiet laugh, shaking my head as I stared out the window. It was easier to just go along with it knowing that he was really trying his best to cheer me up. I saw Ansu get into his car and speed off, I assumed Pedri had already told him the place, and then I watched as Pedri followed behind him, before I copied them, wanting to stay close behind Pedri at all costs

The drive to the restaurant was calm, filled with a light sound of music playing, no coincidence that it was her playlist playing, I loved her music taste, she really did introduce me to a lot of new songs that I now liked a lot. Once we did reach the restaurant it wasn't crowded yet. I mean we easily all found parking spots and when we entered inside there were just a few scattered groups enjoying their meals as we settled at a table outside, in a more isolated area of course, enjoying the sea breeze rolling in, reminding me of her

We ordered, ate, and talked, it felt almost normal. Almost. I played along, nodding at my friends' words, even cracking a few smiles, but I wasn't really there. My mind was somewhere else, somewhere stuck in the past, in memories I wasn't ready to let go of yet, I couldn't let her go. It was too soon to do so.