First love (Pedri & Eric García)

Chapter 22

The season goals had been more than achieved by Girona. Not so much by Barça. But they still had to play a final Catalan derby to see which team got bragging rights about being the best one in the region.

For Laia, it was an exciting match since she would get to see Eric play in Barcelona again. However, it was also the day Eric would reunite with Pedri after Laia finally chose who to be with. She hadn't spoken with Pedri and neither had Eric but they both found out Pedri knew about them being together. Ferran had informed them.

"Eric, promise me you won't do anything you'll regret", she told him on the phone while she was getting ready for the match.

"I promise".

"Really...just...forget everything that's happened. Don't let it affect you".

"Laia, it's ok. It'll be fine".

"Ok, I trust you".

But she didn't fully trust Pedri. It hurt so much to think of Pedri in that way. Laia had loved her time with him. Before Eric found out about them, Pedri had been so fun to be around. Lately, he had been a little off but she never blamed him. She was off too but it was hard to deal with the stress and pressure of needing to choose a boyfriend. And she understood it wasn't easy for them either.

Still, Laia knew Pedri was a good guy. Eric had told her about all the great times they had spent together. So she felt it was her who turned him into someone capable of hating like he hated Eric and Laia now. Another reason to feel guilty.

Laia was at the match with Eric's family and only Alicia knew about the Pedri situation. So it was only her sister-in-law who knew how nervous Laia was. And why.

"See? It was fine", told her Alicia when the match ended.

She was right. It had been fine. Eric played the whole match and Pedri played the last twenty minutes. And they didn't have any issues. No fights, no talking really...they basically ignored each other.

"Yes. Let's go have a drink while we wait for Eric".

Eric got into the tunnel and was walking to the dressing room when Pedri approached him. He shook his head and tried to keep walking but Pedri got in his way.

"Leave me alone, Pedri".

"Congratulations on your relationship. When is the wedding?"

"Just let it be, please. I wanna go".

"Is Laia here?", Pedri noticed the way Eric looked away. "Of course she is. Always there for you when she was never there for me".

"You're so full of shit. She was there for you when you needed her and see how you thanked her".

Hearing those words made Pedri so angry for some reason that he couldn't contain his anger and tried to shove Eric. But Ferran had already caught up to them and held him before he could do it.

"Have you gone mad?", asked Ferran.

"Stop being a child, Pedri", told him Eric, making Pedri want to shove him again. Or punch him. Something. He needed to do something to get this anger out of his body.

"I finally loved someone and you took her from me, Eric!"

"It was her who chose. And you didn't even want her in the end".

"Of course I wanted her! But I was too hurt by your betrayal to think straight and now she hates me", he finally confessed.

Pedri started crying and Eric could see how much he was hurting. He didn't want to see his friend like that. But he couldn't forget everything that had happened.

"Apologize to her".

"And to you?"

"To Laia", said Eric, repeating his request. "Apologize to Laia. She never wanted to hurt anyone. She didn't deserve what you did to her. I know you have made up all these stories in your mind but she truly cares for you".

Hearing that only hurt Pedri more and he couldn't stop himself from doing another confession. "I love her, Eric. I love your girlfriend".

Eric looked around, taking a deep breath and trying to be mature like Laia asked him to. "It's a weird situation we found ourselves in. But you need to move on, Pedri. You have to forget her".

Pedri nodded. "I'm sorry...".

"Save the apologies for her".

Eric left his friend there and hugged Ferran before heading back to the dressing room.

"He needs you".

"Is there a way we can all be fine again?"

"Maybe", told him Eric, feeling hopeful for some strange reason. "We'll see. But he'll need you more than I do now. Look after him".

"Will do. Tell Laia I said hi".

Eric nodded and twenty minutes later, he was reunited with his family. That included Laia and while he looked at her, he felt a twinge of sadness. Eric understood how Pedri felt. He didn't know how he would have dealt with Laia choosing Pedri. Seeing her being happy with another man would have been hard to accept but he would have been willing to if it meant still being a part of her life.

And Eric knew Pedri could reach that point too. One day. Hopefully soon.