When it becomes real (Pablo Gavi)

Chapter 32

Gavi's POV

My worries about rivals bringing up Mónica's comments were proven right 20 seconds into the match. But I've been getting ready for this. To ignore them.

"Shut them up with a couple of goals", says Robert when he walks past me.

I finally get the ball and move forward with it, finding some space their defence left. But then, someone pushes me.

"Is your little girlfriend going to come for me after pushing her boy?"

Ignore it, just ignore it.

But the taunting continues.

"Look at him. He needs his girl to defend him. Pathetic".

"Watch out. She might call you jealous for saying that".

"Jealous of what?"

Of me not being a twat like you two are, maybe.

"Ahhhh".

I hear the scream and turn to see Jules on the floor, holding his foot. I can see a lot of players from the other team surrounding him while on the floor and I run to protect my teammate.

"Leave him alone!", I say, pushing my way through them. "You ok?"

"Is your girl in the stands, Gavi?"

I'm crouching down, checking how the medics are treating Jules' injury.

"I can go keep her company", says another one.

"Talks too much, though. Girls like her are prettier when they are quiet".

"Oh, I know a few ways to keep her quiet".

I get up, ready to get them to shut up but Robert is already there. He just puts his arm around my shoulder and moves me away from them.

"Don't let them win".

"It's hard".

"I know. I have a famous wife too. I know what you'll have to hear and you have to learn to ignore it, ok?"

I nod, thanking him for the wise advice.

And even though I don't get to shut them up with a goal, the team does with a 4-0 win. One of their players approaches me and I can't help getting ready to defend myself from whatever he's going to say. Then I notice it's their captain.

"Sorry about my teammates. I told them to shut up but they do whatever they want. Maybe if they had concentrated on the match and not on trying to get you sent off, we could have won".

"It's ok".

"No, it isn't. Would you like to swap shirts?"

"Yeah, of course".

I guess not all footballers are assholes.

**

I'm told I have to do one of the post-match interviews and I'm dreading it. I just know what they'll ask about.

"Gavi, what were the other players saying to you? They seemed to be following you around and whispering all match".

"It's just mind games. We all play them".

"Was it about your girlfriend? Were they saying nasty things about her?"

"I don't want to talk about it. It's nothing important. Let's just talk about the important win".

"You were defending her at that show months ago and now she defends you, don't you think that's going to make people talk about it more? Maybe you should keep a lower profile and  focus on football? You fighting people off the pitch isn't going to help with your reputation".

"Are you really paid to ask those stupid questions?", I can't believe this guy.

"Well, it's you doing things that provoke people to have a reaction".

"Me defending my girlfriend from being kissed, against her will, by a guy that keeps on making lies about her is provoking people to react? I hope so. But that it provokes them to talk about him doing that, not about me".

I notice one of our press people behind me, grabbing my arm.

"Gavi...".

"No, I'll say it. She isn't happy she referred to other footballers in the way she did. We can all make those mistakes when we are upset about something. But keeping that creep away from her wasn't a mistake. And if you think it was, or that I only did it to get people's attention, it's you that has a big problem".

I leave the area, tired of all this crap. I have to deal with it on and off the pitch and I can't stand it.

No one speaks to me when I get back to the dressing room because they can see how angry I am. But Pedri gives me a friendly slap on the back when I walk past him on the way to the shower.

Thankfully, by the time I'm done, everyone else has left. I just want to sit down in silence for a couple of minutes but Mónica is waiting for me. And her dad isn't here today, so she's all alone.

"Hey", her smile is tentative. She knows what's happened.

Instead of saying anything, I just hug her and let her warmth calm me down. But when I look up, I see my parents leaving. My sister waves at me but my parents turn when they see who I am with and leave.

"I'm sorry. This was all my fault".

"Don't say that".

"But it was. I opened my big mouth and now you get in trouble...".

"I didn't get in any trouble, Mónica. Even the other team's captain apologized to me. They did that because they wanted to and are leaving frustrated because they got 0 points and didn't manage to rile me up like they wanted to".

"I still feel guilty. The press is already so harsh with you and now I give them more reasons to do it".

I grab her face with my hands and kiss her. Not because I want to shut her up, but because I need her to know a couple of idiots calling me names won't change how much I love her.

And her dad isn't here today. So there is no need for a PG kiss.