Forced Than Loved ★ Pablo Gavi

₂.₉

★☆★☆★

Waiting For You

★☆★☆★

Finally, everything has been packed and is ready to be put in the truck later today to be taken to my new apartment in Madrid. The producers have provided it for the year while we are shooting the video which was very kind of them considering Lilly and I struggled to find a proper place to stay. The thought of leaving fills me with a strange mix of excitement and nervousness, a bittersweet feeling settling in my chest.

Lilly, Pablo, Pedri, and my parents have helped me pack away my boxes, especially since my leg has only just started getting better. I still have trouble moving around, but at least it's better than being confined to a wheelchair or crutches. Every step forward feels like reclaiming a part of myself that the accident tried to take away. Lilly had come with her car, we would use it throughout Madrid since we would be in the same place almost every day. Pablo and Pedri had taken a train here, smart if you ask me.

But I must say, my dad wasn't happy to see Pablo's face at the front door. The moment he opened it, his expression darkened, lips pressed into a thin line. If I hadn't been standing there, I swear he would have punched Pablo right then and there. The tension between them is palpable, so thick it feels like the very air in the house has become heavier. I don't understand why he's still holding onto this anger, Pablo has apologized countless times, and I've long since forgiven him. But my dad is nothing if not stubborn, to be honest, I shouldn't be one to talk considering I am a copy and paste of his personality.

Anyway, Lilly and I have to leave in an hour or so, so I make sure I haven't forgotten anything. My mom, bless her absolute soul, has made an absolute feast for lunch, and I love her for that. I will eat anything she makes, her food is simply amazing, the kind that warms your soul. The smell of her cooking lingers in the air, wrapping around me like a comforting embrace, a reminder of home.

You would think my father would be excited to eat, but he isn't. And you can probably take a big guess why. He sits stiffly at the table, arms crossed, eyes darting toward Pablo with disapproval every few seconds. But I don't let it bother me, not today. Not when I have a plate full of my mom's food in front of me, something I'll be missing dearly once I start my strict diet for the movie.

I make my way downstairs to see that Lilly has just arrived, behind her are Pablo and Pedri. Joao would have loved to come, but he missed a lot of practices and got scolded by his coach. A part of me wishes he were here, though. Maybe he could have lightened the mood, broken the awkwardness that continues to settle in the room.

Anyway, I greet them and we all sit outside. I take my usual seat, sandwiched between Pedri and Pablo, much to my father's dismay. On the other side of the table sit my parents and Lilly. My mom has laid out the food beautifully, every dish carefully arranged, the vibrant colors making it even more appetizing.

We all dig in, but the atmosphere is still heavy, tainted by my father's unspoken disapproval. Pablo, who is usually so lively, so full of energy, barely speaks. He keeps his head down, eating slowly, his shoulders tense, yes everything he was involved in wasn't the best, but I have moved on from that from him. But I just can't take any more of my father making Pablo uncomfortable.

"Papa, please stop glaring at Pablo. He apologized, and the majority of all that happened wasn't his fault," I say, my voice firm, though irritation bubbles just beneath the surface.

"I agree, amor, please just eat and leave him alone," my mom almost yells, exasperation clear in her voice. My father knows better than to argue with her. She is a force to be reckoned with, and even he wouldn't dare push her too far.