OFFSIDE

54

❝ But does he know the pictures that you keep? ❞
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Pedri's POV
After training, everyone heads to Pablo and Elena's place. Despite it being October, the heat lingers, making the pool the perfect spot to unwind. We're all gathered around, some of us lounging by the poolside, others taking a dip to cool off. The atmosphere is relaxed, laughter and conversation flowing easily.

Pablo is animatedly telling a story about their trip to Paris a couple years ago. "So there we were, standing right in front of the Eiffel Tower," he says, his eyes sparkling with excitement. Elena sits beside him, her smile genuine but with a subtle tension I can easily detect. I know why.

Pablo continues, "And then, out of nowhere, this pigeon swoops down and almost lands on Elena's head!" Everyone bursts out laughing, Elena included, though I notice her eyes dart towards her phone lying on the table.

"And I have the perfect picture to show you all," Pablo adds, reaching for her phone. "You won't believe how scared she looked!"

Elena reacts quickly, almost too quickly. She snatches the phone from his hand, trying to play it off as nonchalant. "I know exactly where that photo is," she says, forcing a laugh. "Let me help you find it."

Pablo looks a bit surprised, raising an eyebrow but shrugging it off. "Alright," he says, chuckling. "You know your phone better than I do."

But I know the real reason behind Elena's reaction. She has pictures of us together on that phone. Pictures that Pablo can never see. My heart races a little at the thought. If Pablo ever found out, it would be a disaster. Not just for him or me, but for Elena too. Our 'thing' would be blown apart, and the fallout would be devastating for all of us.

As Elena scrolls through her phone, her fingers move quickly. She looks composed, but I can see the slight tremor in her hands. She's nervous, and that makes me nervous.

Pedri, focus. Act normal.

I take a deep breath, trying to keep my expression neutral. "So, Ferran," I say, turning to him, "are you going to show us those new moves you've been practicing?"

Ferran laughs, clearly enjoying the distraction. "Only if you promise not to laugh at me," he jokes, leaning back on his lounger.

"Deal," I say with a grin, but my mind is still half-focused on Elena and Pablo.

Elena finally finds the photo and shows it to everyone. It's a candid shot of her and Pablo in front of the Eiffel Tower, both of them laughing. It's a great photo, capturing a moment of pure joy. Everyone oohs and aahs, and the tension seems to dissipate a little.

"Wow, you two look amazing," Catalina comments, genuinely impressed. "That must have been such a great trip."

"It was," Pablo agrees, pulling Elena closer. "One of the best. We should all go sometime."

Elena smiles, but there's a fleeting look in her eyes that only I notice. It's the look of someone carrying a secret, one that's becoming harder to bear.

Everyone resumes their conversations as Elena stands up and heads inside. "I'm going to grab a drink. Do you want anything?" I ask Fermín.

"Just water," he replies.

"Surprising," I chuckle. I stand up and head to the kitchen with his glass and mine, where I see Elena standing in her bikini.

"Did he see it?" I ask her as we stand together in the kitchen. This is the same kitchen where we got very close a while ago. Just being here brings back those memories. Actually, everything in this house reminds me of that time, considering I spent two days here while Pablo was in Rotterdam.