When it becomes real (Pablo Gavi)

Chapter 12

Mónica's POV

My parents are more than ok with Pablo staying home, even if we are asked to sleep in separate rooms. I mean, I'm glad we have to but they don't know that.

"You ok, my love?"

"Yes, mum".

"That guy...I'm so glad you don't have to deal with him again".

"Me too".

"Sleep well. It's been a long day".

But I barely get to rest. So at 5 am, I just go to the gym to try and see if a workout helps in any way. It helps me forget about life for a second, so I guess it did work.

"You're up early", says my dad when I get to the kitchen.

"Couldn't sleep well".

"Anything I can do to help?"

"No. I'll be fine".

"Why don't you go wake your boyfriend up? He told me he needed to leave by 8 and I want him to have a good breakfast before training".

"Sure".

I walk to the room Pablo is staying in and knock on the door, but there is no response. A second knock is also received with silence so I get in and find him fast asleep.

I get closer and look at him. Ok, yes. He is more than cute. And sleepy like that, he looks adorable. But I have to wake him up.

"Pablo. Wake up!", I say, moving his shoulder.

He groans and puts his arms on his face, hiding from the world.

"You need to eat breakfast before you leave. Come on, sleepyhead!"

I get up and start walking towards the door when he stops me by grabbing my arm.

"Stay for a second, please".

"What do you need?"

"To know you're ok".

I sigh. "I'm ok. Just...it was a lot. And I hope you didn't get in trouble".

"Well, Saúl isn't happy. But my sister told me I did the right thing. So I'm choosing to only listen to her".

"I think you did the right thing too".

"You do?"

I nod, sitting on the bed, next to him.

"I guess I would have felt that anger had I seen anyone I care about in that situation. But knowing your history, I...".

I let the part about caring about me slip for now. "My history?"

"That you've never kissed anyone and others tried to force you as well. It made me even madder about the situation".

I look down, thinking. Because what I'm about to say will change everything for us.

"Can you teach me?"

"Teach you?"

"How to kiss. You know about this and don't care. So maybe you can teach me and then, you know, I won't be afraid whenever I meet someone I want to kiss".

Pablo's expression is a mystery. I don't know if he looks offended or annoyed.

"You want me to teach you how to kiss?"

I nod and he moves closer to me. "If that's ok. You don't have to".

But before I have time to say more, his lips touch mine. It's the softest touch. When he looks at me, he can see I'm still ok and goes back for another peck. This time, his lips stay on mine a little longer. And I can't help but move mine to kiss him back.

When I open my eyes, I see him staring at me again.

"That was nice", I say. "But how about a real kiss?"

"You sure?"

I swallow my nerves and nod. And he leans again to join our lips. I can notice his tongue gently touching my lower lip, and my brain takes that as a sign to give him permission for the real kiss I asked for. But when he's about to do it, a knock on the door interrupts us.

"Breakfast is ready!"

I put my hands on my face.

"I guess we have to leave the lesson for another day".

Gavi's POV

I'm still feeling shaky from that kiss. Even if it wasn't "a real one", like Mónica said, it felt very real to me.

I couldn't believe it when she asked me to kiss her. To teach her, actually. Because I can't believe we've gone from me worrying if we would even get on well to this. To her trusting me this much.

"I don't know what you eat before training so I got a bit of everything on the table".

Mónica's dad isn't exaggerating. His entire pantry seems to be there.

"I think I'll find something I like", I laugh. "Thank you".

"Where is my juice?"

"Oh Moni, sorry, I forgot to make it".

"I see...forgotten already. Wow! I don't need to ask who the favourite is".

We all laugh and she goes back to the kitchen island to make her juice. I hear her humming a song while she does and she still sounds fantastic singing like that, which is barely singing.

"Your food will get cold, Pablo".

"Huh?"

My stupid face only makes Mónica's dad laugh. "Eat your food and then you can look at my daughter some more. You two are so infatuated, it's hilarious".

Is that how he sees me? As someone infatuated?

He might have a point actually. And I can't lie and say that doesn't scare me. We are not supposed to catch feelings while doing this fake dating thing. But I guess it's easier said than done.