Forced Than Loved ★ Pablo Gavi

₃.₂

★☆★☆★

Late Night Call

★☆★☆★

I can't believe two months have already passed since I moved to Madrid. It feels like time has slipped through my fingers like sand, the days blending into one another in a whirlwind of filming, late-night rehearsals, and stolen moments of laughter with Lilly. And yet, despite the rapid pace, I feel different, lighter somehow, as if a weight I didn't even realize I was carrying has slowly begun to lift. Madrid has given me a sense of freedom I didn't know I needed, a version of myself that feels happier, and more alive.

I only hope I can carry this feeling back with me to Barcelona.

Lilly, too, seems to be thriving here. I don't think I've ever seen her smile this much in such a short span of time, not since we were kids, at least. There's something different in her now, a spark that had dimmed over the years but has found its way back. Maybe it's the city, maybe it's the movie, or maybe it's something, or someone, else entirely. Whatever it is, I'm just glad to see her this way. Taking this role was one of the best decisions we've ever made.

Despite the distance, my connection with my parents hasn't faded. If anything, it feels stronger. Every evening, right after I wrap up filming for the day, they call. It's a routine now, something I look forward to, the familiar warmth of their voices grounding me, making me feel like home isn't as far away as it sometimes seems. We talk for hours, catching up on every little detail of our lives, and I can hear the pride in their tone when they tell me how happy they are for me. The best part? They'll be visiting soon. Just the thought of it makes my heart swell. I miss them.

Then there's Pedri. He calls every week, usually on weekends, and we spend hours talking about anything and everything. He updates me on his matches, the latest team drama, and how much he misses having me around. But lately, our conversations have started shifting.

He's been asking about Lilly.

A lot.

At first, it was casual, simple questions, checking in on how she was doing. But as the weeks passed, I started noticing the subtle changes, the way his tone softened when he said her name, the curiosity in his voice when he asked about her day. And then there's Lilly, who always seems to find an excuse to linger in my room whenever I'm on the phone with him. She sits quietly, pretending to scroll through her phone, but I see her. And yet, the moment I call someone else, she's gone.

I'm not blind. Something is going on between them. But I won't interfere. Whatever's happening, they'll figure it out in their own time.

And then... there's Pablo.

I think about him more than I should, his name is a constant presence in the back of my mind no matter how busy my days are. He calls me every single day during our breaks, and our schedules are perfectly aligned so that neither of us has an excuse to miss the call. On weekends, though, it's different. He keeps the call running for hours, sometimes without even saying much. Just being there, the quiet comfort of his presence is enough to make my chest ache in ways I don't fully understand.

His smile when we first connect melts me every time.

He's coming to visit, along with my parents, and the thought both excites and terrifies me.

I'm trying to forgive him—really trying. And maybe, just maybe, I'm getting there. Maybe in a few weeks, it won't even be something I think about anymore.

Maybe I overreacted that day.

At least we aren't ignoring each other.

With a deep breath, I push the thoughts aside. Right now, I need to focus.