cruel summer | PEDRI GONZALEZ

[2] catalunya

❈

MARISOL's POV

i can't tell if i missed the weather or not.

it didn't help that my mom and i chose a black suit for me to wear. "at least you look pretty." she tells me before we make our way inside the building and get led into a waiting room.

apparently i'd be making my speech first so before my mom could leave with my little brothers, she fixes up my hair and swats off any lint on my blazer. "te amo con todo mi corazón. (i love you with all my heart) don't be nervous, you'll do great."

surprisingly i'm not that nervous, but i'm touched at her words.

she's always told me she considers herself lucky to have had a girl as her first child considering she didn't have anymore after me. but really i'm the lucky one. i thank her and she kisses my forehead until i feel tugging on my sleeve.

"suerte (luck), mari." thiago tells me until they all bear hug me enough for me to land flat on my ass and it hurt like hell.

"les quiero (i love you guys)." i say anyways and kiss them like it's the last time i'll ever see them and they hate but i'm convinced they secretly love it.

my mom leads them out and it's just my dad and i and some staff.

the second the door closes, my name is called which is my queue. before i could go, i turn to see my dad and his arms out for me. "aquí estaré apoyándote. (i'll be here supporting you)"

when hasn't he?

i give him one last squeeze and head for the door when someone opens it for me and everyone else walks out to take their seats.

i'm too busy not trying to trip in these heels even if it's three small steps so even though i'd like to see who's in the crowd, i wait to get to the podium and wait for everyone to simmer down.

the mic is adjusted and finally, i'm met with faces i haven't seen in forever.

both the women's and men's team are sat behind the first row where people like my mom and brother's take up, even laporta.

i make eye contact with xavi and he widely smiles at me. it's crazy to see the first team again because it's not the one i grew up with, but it's a promising one nonetheless. seeing busquets and jordi does bring some comfort, though.

it isn't until my eyes land to the third row where i see them sitting alined.

and to think i'd never see them again.

they wave simultaneously and i'm suddenly ten again meeting ansu, gavi, and balde at a training session.

then i remembered i'm onstage and i shouldn't waste time. "buenas tardes a todos, (good evening to everyone)" i tried really hard memorizing my speech, but i knew i'd have to end up winging it. "en primero, gracias a barca que abrió sus puertas para que mi familia y yo regresáramos a casa. (firstly, thank you to barca who opened their doors so my family and i could return home)"

i wonder how many pauses i'm gonna take so people could clap at me just for breathing.

"cuando me fui la primera vez, estaba devastada. pero hoy mis sueños se hacen realidad en regresando con barca femeni. (when i left the first time, i was devastated. but today my dreams become a reality to be returning to barca femeni)," but most of all,