Forced Than Loved ★ Pablo Gavi

₃.₈

★☆★☆★

Evening Game in 

Barcelona

★☆★☆★

There was something undeniably special about being back at Camp Nou, surrounded by the sea of blue and claret, the electric buzz of anticipation crackling in the air. It had been over a year since I last sat in these stands, and now, after fifteen long months, I was finally here again, ready to watch the game unfold right in front of me.

The stadium lights illuminated the pitch, casting a golden glow over the field as fans around us chanted and cheered, hyping up the energy even before the game had started. I leaned back into my seat, soaking in the atmosphere, my heart pounding with excitement. It felt like home.

It had been five months since that evening on the beach with Pablo, five months of taking things slowly, of relearning each other, of falling back into something that, this time, felt right. There was no rush, no pressure, just us, building things in a way that made sense. And I loved it.

Lilly sat beside me, practically buzzing with excitement. She was proudly sporting a jersey with Pedri's name and the number 8 printed on the back, her relationship with him now public and stronger than ever. Watching her glow with happiness made me so proud of her, after everything, she finally had someone who made her feel secure, someone who truly cared.

Everything in our lives finally felt aligned, like things were falling into place exactly how they were supposed to. And I hoped, with every part of me, that it would stay that way.

I turned toward Lilly, amused by the way she bounced her leg up and down, her enthusiasm impossible to contain. "Are you excited for the game, Lills?" I asked though the answer was already obvious.

She turned to me with a look of pure excitement, her eyes practically sparkling. "Is that even a question? Of course, I am! We haven't seen a game in over a year," she chuckled, her energy contagious enough to make me laugh along with her.

The stadium erupted into cheers as the players finally emerged onto the field for their pre-game warm-up. I watched as they jogged onto the pitch, their movements smooth and familiar, their focus sharp. My eyes naturally searched for Pablo, and when I found him, I expected to see the usual spark of excitement in his expression, the passion that always lit up his face when he stepped onto this field.

But instead, he looked... tense.

His eyes met mine for a brief moment, and rather than the usual playful smirk or reassuring nod, there was something else, a flicker of nervousness, a hesitation that immediately made my stomach twist.

Pablo wasn't usually this anxious before a game. I frowned slightly, watching as Pedri walked up to him, leaning in to say something. Pablo nodded, running a hand through his hair before following Pedri back into their warm-up routine.

Lilly, noticing the shift in my expression, nudged me lightly. "Hey, Cassie, do you think Pablo is okay?" Her voice was softer now, laced with concern as she turned to face me.

I kept my eyes on him, tracking his every move. The way his jaw clenched, the way he stretched his arms absentmindedly, the way his movements seemed slightly off. Something was wrong.

"I hope so," I murmured, my fingers tightening slightly around the edge of my seat. Because whatever was on Pablo's mind tonight, it was big enough to shake him. And that made me worry more than I wanted to admit.

Pablo's P O V

Today is the day. The day I make Cassie mine again. Officially.