Forced Than Loved ★ Pablo Gavi

₃.₀

★☆★☆★

Madrid

★☆★☆★

The drive to Madrid was nothing short of exhilarating. The sun hung low in the sky, casting golden hues over the vast stretches of land as we sped down the highway. The soft hum of the engine blended seamlessly with the rhythmic thump of our music, our shared playlist an eclectic mix of nostalgic throwbacks, feel-good anthems, and a few guilty pleasures. Lilly and I sang at the top of our lungs, laughing when we missed a note or when one of us completely butchered the lyrics. At times, we let the songs take a backseat and played a few movies on her tablet, not watching but listening to the familiar dialogues that filled the car with a comforting background noise. The journey felt effortless, time slipping through our fingers like grains of sand, and before we knew it, the skyline of Madrid loomed ahead, a bustling city waiting to embrace us.

As we pulled into our new apartment complex, my eyes were immediately drawn to the large moving truck parked out front. The movers had clearly been hard at work, as they were just finishing up unloading the last of the boxes onto the pavement. I hopped out of the car, stretching my stiff limbs before offering a quick but heartfelt thanks to the movers. Their weary but satisfied expressions told me they were glad to be done with the heavy lifting. Meanwhile, Lilly popped open the trunk, revealing our suitcases, six in total, a mixture of essentials and sentimental items we refused to leave behind.

With a deep breath, I grabbed three of my bags, grateful when I noticed the building had an elevator. The thought of lugging everything up six flights of stairs made me shudder. The weight limit meant I had to go up first, so with some effort, I wheeled my bags into the small space and pressed the button for our floor. As the doors closed, a strange sense of excitement bubbled in my chest. A new city, a fresh start, an adventure waiting to unfold.

When I stepped out into the hallway, I took a moment to take it all in. The place was far better than it had looked online. The walls were sleek and modern, the floors polished to a shine. It felt spacious yet cozy, and as I rolled my bags toward our unit, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was exactly where I was meant to be. After pushing my luggage to the side, I let out a breath. I didn't realize I was holding it, so I took a slow, appreciative look around.

Not long after, the elevator dinged again, and Lilly appeared, her expression mirroring mine. With wide eyes and an excited grin, she was just as enamored with the place as I was. I chuckled at her dramatic gasp and walked past her toward the balcony. As I stepped outside, the wind immediately tousled my hair, cool and refreshing against my skin. The city stretched out before me in a mesmerizing display of lights and life, but my gaze was instantly drawn to one particular sight, the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

A slow smirk spread across my face. It was surreal seeing it in person rather than on a screen. The realization that I could attend a game whenever I wanted to send a thrill through me. Sure, I was a Barcelona fan at heart, but I held no hatred toward Real Madrid. Both teams had their strengths, their histories, their legends. And now, here I was, right in the heart of it all.

I stayed outside for a few more minutes, soaking it in, before Lilly's voice cut through the moment, calling my name with an urgency that had me rolling my eyes with a smile. I turned, exhaling as I made my way back inside.

"What is it, Lills?" I asked, already suspecting what she wanted.

She stood in the hallway, positioned between two doors, arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently. Her expression was a mix of amusement and expectation. "So... which one do you want?" she asked, motioning to the two bedrooms behind her.