When it becomes real (Pablo Gavi)

Chapter 37

Mónica's POV

Being back from the holidays kickstarts the worst post-holiday feeling I've ever had. A part of me wishes Pablo and I could have stayed on that island for way longer but reality is calling. And it says we have to do a fashion campaign.

We booked this months ago but it doesn't make it less terrifying. I'm not a model. I don't know how any of this works. But I guess I at least have Pablo with me to reassure me everything will be fine. Even if he hates these things too.

"Good morning".

"Morning".

Saúl is back too. We have only seen each other once since Pablo almost fired him and he is keeping his distance again. It's quite funny to see such a big man scared of little me.

"Miss López, please follow me so I can do your make-up".

"Of course".

I'll never get used to having 3 people doing my hair while another one does my make-up, even though that happened every week at the academy to get ready for the galas. I'm probably going to get a headache from this and the smell of hair spray.

"Done", they say.

And I have to admit that I like what I see in the mirror.

Even though most of my bloating is gone, I still feel slightly insecure. But I remember what Pablo told me because he's right. Who cares about what others think?

"Where's Pablo?", I ask Manu.

"They're struggling with his hair. He's so pissed. You should see him".

"Are you enjoying seeing my boyfriend suffer?"

He shrugs. "I'm an Espanyol fan. Let me have this".

"I'll go see him".

When I get there I see Pablo's face and try not to laugh. He looks more annoyed than at the matches, and that's saying a lot. Also, his hair looks terrible. My poor boy.

"Hey, you almost ready?"

"No", he answers, frowning.

"We are trying to decide how to do his hair but nothing looks good", says one of the hair stylists.

"Maybe you should leave it natural. That's how people like it. And it's better if he looks like himself".

I can see Pablo sending me a grateful look.

"I guess...", the hairstylist is clearly not happy but they also need to be done quickly before the rest of the team starts to get impatient.

I go back to where the photographer is so he can start explaining to me how the shoot will be done and then Pablo, looking like himself, joins us.

"Thank you for saving me", he whispers.

"I was worried about your hair. It's too pretty to be messed up with".

"You are too pretty", he says, kissing my cheek.

Gavi's POV

Mónica's first show for her EP is in Barcelona, which means I can't miss it. She's so nervous but I know the moment she's on stage, she'll be fine. It's the same for me at the matches.

"Breathe in...breathe out", I tell her while I massage her shoulders.

"I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm totally fine. I'm not freaking out".

"There are 20000 people out there, damn!", says Manu when he gets backstage.

"I'm not fine!"

"Thanks for that", I tell him.

After some more meditation, she's ready to go on stage and I go join her family in our designated area. On the way there, I meet a lot of her fans that ask for photos.

A quick look on social media shows me they are already sharing them and talking about what a supportive boyfriend I am. Well, I try.

The show goes as well as I expected it to. Mónica is such a superstar. She was born to do this just as much as I was born to play football. And no one deserves all these adoring fans more than her.

"Gerard, if you cry, I'll cry".

I turn to see what Mónica's mum is talking about and see her dad trying not to show his tears. I get it. I'm incredibly proud of her too.

"We should go wait for her backstage. She'll like seeing us there when she leaves the stage", I tell them, and we all make our way there.

When the door opens, Mónica runs to hug her parents. I know she's not ignoring me, but that she needs to share this moment with them.

And as much as I am happy about it, I feel the pain of my parents' recent behaviour even more. She looked for her parents like I looked for mine after winning the league. But only one of us found who we were looking for.