OFFSIDE

66

❝ Oh, my God, who is she? ❞
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Pedri's POV
"Pedri?"

"Hi Emma, would you like to meet up?"

There was a pause on the other end of the line, just long enough for my anxiety to build. I shifted nervously from foot to foot, clutching my phone like a lifeline.

"Sure," Emma finally replied, her voice warm and steady. "Where do you want to meet?"

"How about the park? The bench we used to sit," I suggested, hoping the familiarity of the place would make the conversation we were about to have a little easier.

"Okay, I'll be there in about half an hour," she said. "See you soon."

As I ended the call, a wave of relief washed over me, followed by a surge of nerves. I needed to talk to Emma, to clear my mind and figure out where we stood. The affair with Elena had been a whirlwind of emotions, and breaking it off had left me feeling lost and conflicted. Emma had always been my anchor, and I hoped she could help me find my footing again.

When I arrived at our bench at the other side of the park I was, Emma was already there, sitting at out bench. She looked up as I walked towards her, her face breaking into a smile that eased some of the tension in my chest. I made my way over and took a seat next to her.

"Hi," I said, feeling awkward but grateful for her presence.

"Hi," she replied, her eyes searching mine. "You sounded a bit off on the phone. What's going on?"

I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "It's about the girl with the boyfriend. I ended things with her, and it's been... really hard."

Emma's expression softened with understanding. "I'm sorry, Pedri. I know it couldn't have been easy."

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. "It wasn't. I didn't realize how much it would hurt. But I knew it was the right thing to do. I couldn't keep doing this."

Emma reached across the table and took my hand in hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You did the right thing. It's important to be honest with yourself and with her. What do you want now?"

I looked into her eyes, feeling a mix of fear and hope. "I want to try with you, Emma. Really try. No more affairs, no more distractions. Just us." Actually I'm not sure if that's the thing I want. I really like Elena, but in this world there is no her and I.

Emma is so special for me and I'm sure that our old feelings will come back. If we give it the time. I never stopped loving her.

Emma's eyes widened slightly, but then she smiled, a genuine, warm smile that made my heart swell. "I've been hoping you'd say that. I want that too, Pedri. But we have to be sure this is what we both want. No more games."

I nodded emphatically. "No more games. I promise."

We spent the next hour talking about our past, our fears, and our hopes for the future. It felt good to be open and honest, to finally lay everything out on the bench. Emma listened patiently, offering her thoughts and support, and I felt a sense of clarity that I hadn't felt in a long time.

After a while we decided to take a walk in the park. The darkness was peaceful. We walked side by side, our hands occasionally brushing against each other.

"Do you remember the first time we came here?" Emma asked, glancing at me with a nostalgic smile.

"Yeah," I replied, smiling at the memory. "You tripped over a tree root and fell right into my arms. I thought it was the perfect cliché moment."