When it becomes real (Pablo Gavi)

Chapter 1

Mónica's POV

"And the winner of this edition of Operación Triunfo is...", the presenter stops dramatically while my heart is about to get out of my chest. "Mario!"

Smile smile smile...

"Oh my God, congrats!"

I turn to hug Mario and congratulate him on his win, even if I'm desperate to leave so I can cry. I was so close to winning. The vote was 55% to 45%. So close. But I lost again.

The cameras are all pointing at Mario, who will have to perform the song he already sang for tonight's final again. While I hide behind the rest of the contestants, who no longer pay any attention to me. Maybe it's for the best. Perhaps they'll forget I exist and I'll be able to run away.

A couple of minutes later, I'm back backstage. And I can finally cry. After three months of working, of not seeing my family because I was stuck in the academy, I can finally let it all out.

"Mónica?"

"Mami?"

I know I sound like a little kid but I don't care. I'm a kid. I was the youngest contestant in this year's edition and I felt the youngest every single day. I literally turned 18 while the show took place. And it was all for nothing. Because I didn't win.

"I'm sorry I disappointed you".

"Don't be silly, you can't disappoint me. And you finished second despite being the youngest! You did so well. The whole family is proud of you, darling".

"Really?"

"Really. You'll see them all soon and they'll tell you themselves".

My mum's kind words make me smile. How I've missed her these months. I'm so ready to go back to my normal life. But I soon realise that life no longer exists.

**

I barely have time to go back home and be with my family before my manager, because I now have one, comes to tell me all the things I need to do.

"We need you to do things as soon as possible or people will forget about you, Mónica. The younger audience adored you. Pretty, young, humble, ...they are obsessed with you. Maybe we can get you to do a perfume too, they'll buy anything you sell, really".

To say I'm overwhelmed would be an understatement. But I get it. In the era of TikTok, everyone forgets about everything so quickly. If I want to have a career in music, I need to release music soon and be active on social media.

We weren't allowed to go online while at the academy and it was a shock to see I have 5 million followers on Instagram right now. I used to have 100, and half were probably bots.

"We'll spend today making content for social media. You should film a couple of videos doing covers of songs and we need a make-up tutorial for TikTok. Everyone was obsessed with your make-up while you were at the academy".

"Ok".

"And what about Mario?"

"What about him?"

"You two had a thing, right?"

"What?"

But then it all makes sense. The comments of people mentioning us both. All the photos of us I've been tagged in. People think we are dating. Oh God...

"No, we aren't together. I was literally underage most of the time I was there and he's 24. Do people really ship that?"

And to that, my manager just shrugs. Great.