First love (Pedri & Eric García)

Chapter 17

If there was something Laia was sure about, it was how happy she was to be reunited with Alicia. She had loved hanging out with Eric's sister when they were together. It could sometimes be weird to be friends with the siblings of the guy you were dating but Alicia always made her feel welcome in her life. She loved Laia...and when the break-up happened, they slowly drifted apart until they stopped seeing each other fully.

It was mostly Laia's fault but she was hurting so much after losing Eric. It was hard for her to spend time with his sister. Also, Alicia tried to mention him often. No one hoped for the couple to be back together more than she did. But the only thing that happened was that Alicia lost her friend.

"Hey, how are you doing?"

Laia met Alicia in a coffee shop and gave her the biggest hug when she got to the table where Alicia was waiting.

"Well...work is good".

Alicia chuckled, aware of the situation her friend was in the middle of. "You didn't choose yet then".

"Ali, how am I supposed to?"

Alicia got up to pick up their orders and then grabbed Laia's hand to hold it while they talked.

"I mean, selfishly, I want you to choose my brother so I don't lose you again".

"You don't have to lose me".

"You sure?"

Laia was slightly hurt by the doubt in Alicia's voice but knew she deserved that.

"Well, apparently I won't lose Eric either so you and I will be fine".

"What do you mean apparently?"

"He told me that even if I didn't choose him, we could still be friends".

"That's nice", said Alicia, smiling.

"Yeah...Pedri told me it was either I chose him or he leaves my life completely. And he said Eric is probably going to do the same but is lying".

There was a long silence and when Laia looked up, she noticed Alicia frowning.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"It just sounds like someone is playing dirty. Talking shit about my brother...as if you didn't date him for two whole years. You know Eric, Laia. You do. He's not lying. He wants you in his life".

"You're a little biased too", teased Laia. "But yeah, I also believe Eric. Or maybe it's me wanting to believe him. I don't know".

Alicia sighed, turning to fully face Laia with a serious expression.

"Who do you love?"

"Both?"

"No, Laia. Who? One question, one name. You don't love both".

"I love Eric", confessed Laia. "...I never stopped loving him so it's different. And I don't fully love Pedri because we didn't have time but I can love him if we give this a try".

"So you just have to decide between the guy you already love or the one you could love. Easy".

"Easiest thing ever", laughed Laia and Alicia joined her.

"I'm sorry I didn't help. But as you said, I'm not objective. Maybe try to find someone who is".

But who could that be? Most people in Laia's life knew who Eric was. No one knew Pedri...apart from Eric.

Though there was someone she didn't know that knew both. So it was worth a try.

"Hi. Thanks for meeting with me".

"Hey. It's ok. It just surprised me you talked to me", said Ferran and he seemed to struggle looking Laia in the eyes.

"You hate me, don't you?"

"I don't know you, Laia".

"But I'm the reason why your friend group is broken. You should hate me".

"I want to hate you", he laughed. "It would be easy. But they are the ones to blame".

Ferran motioned for Laia to sit next to him while they waited for her coffee and she did. But before she could say anything else, Ferran started to talk again.

"You know, when I got to Manchester, Eric helped me a lot. And we talked about feeling lonely there. He mentioned his ex. You. Said how losing you had been too painful and how he dreamed of getting a second chance one day".

"Ok...".

"I wanted that to happen. He looked so sad talking about your breakup. I could tell he loved you".

"Are you telling me to choose him?", she didn't expect such a straightforward answer.

"No. I would have back then. But I won't now".

"So you want me to choose Pedri".

"No. But I saw the same love in his eyes. When he was telling me about this girl he met. I felt happy for him. He had finally found someone who he wanted to keep for longer than a few days. And he was so happy...as happy as I knew Eric would be if he got you back".

"You're only confusing me more, you know?"

Ferran chuckled. "Probably, yeah. But I can't help you choose. I want both of them to feel that love and be happy. But that can't happen. And it hurts. Because I know even if you told them both no, their friendship won't be the same. And I'll be in the middle of that".

"I'm sorry".

"I'm in the same position as you in a way. They also want me to choose but I can't. They think us selfish for wanting both options to be possible...but they are the selfish ones. They hurt us and don't care".

"I'm sorry I'm hurting you too", said Laia, sincerely.

"You owe me nothing. But I just want this to be over".

"Me too, but I don't know what to do".

"Follow your heart. Someone will be hurt regardless. Just be selfish. Like they have been this whole time. And I guess I'll pick up the pieces".

Ferran saw the tears in Laia's eyes and hugged her. If there was something he hated was seeing people cry.

"You're not a bad person, Laia. You just found yourself in the middle of an impossible situation".

"I feel like a bad person".

"That's because you aren't one. If you were, you wouldn't give a shit about who you hurt with your actions".

"I would prefer it if you hated me".

"Why?", Ferran found that so odd.

"Because I deserve it. I hurt people. I don't deserve to have two great men fighting for my love. I deserve their hatred and yours".

"They aren't saints either".

"But...".

"But nothing, Laia. And you make them both very happy. That's special".

"But I'll have to hurt one now. It's not fair".

"Life rarely is. I've been hurt too and chose not to hate. It helps heal faster".

"Thank you. For the advice".

Advice from Alicia and advice from Ferran. It could seem like they didn't help her much. After all, they didn't tell Laia who to choose. But they did help. Now it was time for a final meeting with Eric and Pedri before she could decide.

If she could decide at all.