Me and Pedri have been back in Barcelona for two weeks, two weeks in which I popped in into the cafe I grew so much to love and showed up to work with Ela.
In a few days, FC Barcelona was playing Manchester United in the first leg of the Europa League. Truth is, I was a bit nervous as Manchester United always had a good team.
However, Xavi was sweet enough to let the boys have some free time, meaning that we all had some time to relax.
'When is Gavi coming? I thought he'd be here by now?' I ask as Pedri heads towards the kitchen.
Of course, we extended our invitation to both Gavi and Ela - fully knowing that those two are currently being awkward with each other - while Ela messaged right away saying that she won't be able to join as she has a "commitment" already, so Gavi texted Pedri last night that he's down to drive down this nice Saturday morning for a quick getaway before their important game.
'Yeah, he just messaged me that he's about 15 minutes away, shall we head down to the restaurant and wait for him there?' he says as he massages his thigh and straightens himself up immediately as soon as he catches me looking at him.
'What's up with your leg?' I asked, my eyebrows slightly frowned.
'There's nothing wrong with it.' he smiled softly. 'It happens when you're a footballer.'
'I know that.' I said sternly. 'Why didn't you check it out?'
'Because it's nothing serious. I'm fine.' he said and placed a soft kiss on my lips.
'Pedri.' I looked at him with pleading eyes. 'I've seen Neymar go through injuries. I've seen how horrible they are and I've seen how much they can affect you...'
'Stop stressing, honestly, it's all good.' he said rapidly. 'Now...' he said tracing small kiss on my neck. 'We do have some time, but I can't promise we won't be late to meet up with Gavi...' he said softly against my lips.
Rolling my eyes playfully with a smile spread across my lips, I place my hand behind his neck, making our lips meet.
Looks like Gavi can wait.
Gavi's POV:
A little break from the city sounds like a good idea. I have been wanting to see Sites for some time now too, my family and I have been here once when I was a small kid trying to make it at La Masia. I remember that day like it was yesterday. Ela came with my family, having gotten permission from her parents to join all the way from Sevilla. We were - are - inseparable since we were young kids.
I let out a sigh as I get closer to the hotel Irina and Pedri were staying at, trying very hard to convince myself that whatever this weird energy we have created between the two of us, it is just part of the process and that eventually we'll figure it out.
Just like how Pedri and Irina figure things out all the time. Those lovebirds seem to always work things out no matter what.
As soon as I thank the driver and walk in, the lady at reception leads the way to the hotel's restaurant where I am supposed to meet with Pedri and Irina. I scan the room as I am lead to a table with a panoramic view of the ocean.
Great, those two must be running late and I don't think I want to hear the reason why.
I order a glass of fresh orange juice and water as I sit down, taking in the view of the ocean as I take my phone out and starts scrolling through instagram mindlessly, when a certain post catches my eyes. It's Ela and Sergio - a friend from Sevilla, who we both know for years, but you see, I never liked this guy. He would always hang around us, at first seemingly just a normal hang out between friends, but slowly I started noticing the way he looks at Ela, the way he would always try to compete with me in making her feel special. He would always rush and hand her the water first when she says she's thirsty or open the door first for her when he clearly sees I am about to do the same.
But more importantly, he looks at her like he adores her.
Just like how I look at her.
I know I don't have any right, given how I have been lacking the guts to make any move until recently, and even then I have been deliberately avoiding talking to her about what happened in Qatar, but a sudden rush of jealously started to fill my stomach. I was about to snoop more in the comment section when suddenly someone pulls the chair across from me.
'Sorry we're late.' Pedri says as he flops down on the chair, but his whole face gives him away and I could tell that he's not sorry at all.
In fact, he has a big, proud smirk plastered on his face, which on a normal day I would have immediately jumped onto and would have given both of them a hard time, but this is Pedri. He doesn't normally act all cocky in front of anybody.
So I do what any bestfriend would and give him a high-five, making Irina choke on the water she's sipping on.
As if she's on a hunt to flip the switch and make me uncomfortable instead, she asks with a half-determined, half-annoyed look, "So Gavi, did you confess to Ela yet? I heard she's hanging out with a friend from Sevilla so she can't make it today." she said with a smile.
"She told you that?!' my eyebrows frowned. 'She didn't even tell me!" feeling extremely betrayed by my best friend, my voice went up a notch as I respond to Irina, which earned me a kick on the shin from Pedri. '"What the hell was that for?!" I look at Pedri as I reach down to my now aching shin.
"Don't yell at my girlfriend! I heard you're the one who's been avoiding Ela, so you only have yourself to blame here!" Pedri says serious.
