Gavi's POV
Mónica comes back to the kitchen right as I'm finishing dinner.
"Are the clothes ok? I can give you something else".
"No, it's ok. I might steal the hoodie. It's really soft".
"Wait until I write a song about that. There goes your reputation".
My joke makes her laugh. It's so nice to see she's fine after today. She's a lot stronger than I gave her credit for.
"Well, stealing clothes is a girlfriend thing apparently so...".
"Have you done it a lot before?"
"No. Didn't have the chance".
"What do you mean by that? You only dated people with a bad taste in clothes?"
"I never dated anyone", she says, quickly going to the table to sit. "Can we start eating? I'm really hungry".
"Sure".
Her words have affected me more than they should have.
"So, your first relationship is this?"
She hums to let me know I had heard right.
"Sorry".
"Why do you apologize?"
"Well, I get why we are doing this but no one's first relationship should be fake. It just feels wrong. Does Manuel know about this?"
"No".
She starts to eat, not looking at me at all. Great, I've embarrassed her.
"Is that why you didn't want us to kiss?"
That makes her look at me and nod.
"I get it now".
"Because it was impossible to understand that a girl didn't want to kiss you, right?"
"Literally impossible".
I like that she's laughing at my comment. She wouldn't have before.
"Can I ask why you've never been with a guy before? Not that it matters but I don't think it's been due to a lack of people trying".
"Are you trying to tell me that I'm pretty, Pablo?"
"You know you are".
Or I hope she does. Her blush makes me wonder.
"I just never found the right person. Only people who tried to force it and...I didn't want that. And then I kept getting older and you know guys, if you start doing things too early you are a slut and if you wait then there must be something wrong with you. The last time I liked a boy, he laughed at me when I told him I had never kissed a boy before".
The way she looks at me through her lashes makes me think this is a test. To see if I laugh at her too.
"What was so funny about it?"
"I wondered that too".
"So you've never...".
"No".
"There is nothing to be embarrassed about, Mónica. And you're still really young. Whoever judges you is just a dick".
"Thanks".
Mónica's POV
I don't know why I'm telling him this but it feels good to get it out of my chest. And his reaction...was perfect. Even those I thought were my friends laughed at me but he hasn't. He even looked mad when I mentioned another guy had.
"The sauce is delicious. Did you make it?"
"My mum did. Sorry to disappoint".
"I'm not a great cook. I can't judge".
"I'm alright", he says. "I could teach you what I know".
"I'd like that. And I would also like more garlic bread but I'm eating the whole thing myself".
"It's all yours if you want it".
"You want me to get the stinky breath, huh?"
"Maybe that's why you haven't kissed anyone before".
I stare at him. Shocked because he was joking, not mocking me.
"It was a joke. Too soon? I'm an idiot, sorry".
"No", I laugh. "Don't. It was funny and no, it isn't the reason. I would never eat this on a date".
"Well, I'm hurt", he jokes again, putting his hand on his heart. "I thought what we had was special".
I shake my head, laughing at this silly side of him. It's nice. He is nice.
"Do you have to go to bed early after a match?"
"Not really. Why?"
"Maybe we could watch a movie. To, you know, relax and try to forget".
It's as if that word reminds him of everything that happened today.
"Do you feel ok?"
"Yes. It was scary but we got out of it fine".
"I won't let them do that to you again".
The serious tone he switched to makes me believe him completely.
"I know. And it's fine. I'm going to the Champions League match with my dad. He'll drive and if someone gets in his way, he'll run them over".
"You don't have to come. Not after today".
"I want to. For him".
"What size does he wear?"
"What?"
"So I can send him a shirt".
"Right. Um...I think an XL but I can double-check".
"Cool. I'll get someone to send him one and you can have one too if you want to".
"Ok".
I get that girlfriends wear their boyfriend's shirts to the matches but I didn't think about it. I don't know why. But I don't hate the idea, especially if I'll be twinning with my dad.
"Pablo, my dad doesn't know this is fake".
"Really?"
"Does your family know?"
"Yes, Saúl is a family friend and keeps them more informed than me, really. Why didn't you tell your parents?"
"Mum already feels bad for all the things that have happened to me because of the show. She encouraged me to participate and now feels like if something bad happens, it's her fault. Knowing what it takes to have a career, she'll make me disappear from the public eye. And dad will probably fire Manuel, even if he can't. Just for suggesting it".
"I'll tell my family so they don't mess up when they meet".
After dinner, and after so many confessions, we move to the living room so we can watch a movie. But the exhaustion of the day makes me fall asleep halfway through it.
"Mónica", I hear Pablo whisper while he touches my face again, as he did at the car. I like how that feels. "You need to go to bed now. Come on".
He helps me get up and we walk together to our rooms.
"Good night, Pablo. Thank you for everything you've done for me today".
"No need to thank me. Good night!"
YOU ARE READING
When it becomes real (Pablo Gavi)
FanfictionMónica's dream had always been the same: becoming a singer. It was all she wanted and after finishing second in the singing contest Operación Triunfo, she thought her dream was never going to become real. Despite being the fan favourite, she didn't...
