A Bet That Changed Us ︱Pablo Gavi

1

Together with my older brother Matteo, I share an apartment. He is a 25 year-old lawyer. I had always felt a strong connection with Matteo; when we were little, he took on the role of a father figure by looking after me as our parents weren't there for us.

Matteo was raised by his wealthy and affectionate parents, Carmen and Diego, in a wealthy area of Madrid before my birth. They would always guide and help Matteo and would always be there for him no matter what. They were considered as a "loving family"

Nothing bad could possibly occur, right? After 5 years of raising Matteo, father abruptly left Matteo, my mother when he discovered that she was pregnant with me. he decided to start a new family with his new girlfriend. After I was born, my mother sold the property in Madrid and relocated to a less affluent part of Marid since she was no longer able to support a wealthy lifestyle.
She would frequently go out to clubs, consume large amounts of alcohol, return home extremely drunk with different men and pass out on the couch.

Our grandparents were taking care of us when we were 13 and 17. While me, Matteo, Abuelo were watching the football game, my abuela was preparing lunch. Soon after Matteo opened after hearing a knock, two officers were waiting at our door informing us about our mother's death. Unexpectedly, our mother lost her life in a car accident. Matteo couldn't stop his tears from streaming down his face even if our mother wasn't there for us. He just lost his mother, and there was no sign of our father. Since then, our lives have forever changed. After taking custody of us, our grandparents moved us to the Catalonia city, Barcelona.

present time

I've wanted to work in the medical industry or become a doctor since I was a young child. The thought of providing help and showing compassion to others has always pleased me.

And now here I am, trying to achieve my goal

I had recently received my bachelor's degree in physiotherapy from university. I had always envisioned myself as an employee of F.C. Barcelona, the perfect team. August had begun, just in time for the start of the new football season. The air was filled with anticipation, and I could feel the energy of the city shifting as everyone prepared for the return of La Liga. Today was the day that all of the recent graduates who applied to be intern physiotherapists in the club were asked to come to the university. The club was selecting just one candidate, and I had taken the exam a few weeks ago, hoping against hope that I'd be the one they chose.

I arrived at the university early, the campus quiet without the usual bustle of students. As I walked down the familiar corridors, memories of the past few years flashed through my mind. Every lecture, every exam, every moment of doubt and determination had led me here. My heart pounded in my chest as I reached the room where we were supposed to meet. I could already see a few of my classmates inside, their faces reflecting the same mixture of excitement and anxiety that I felt.

I glanced around the room, recognizing most of the faces. We had all been through so much, and now, we were competing for a single opportunity—a chance to be part of the team we all admired.

 I waited for Dr. Rodriguez to emerge while I remained motionless in my seat. Dr. Rodriguez was one of the head physios in the blaugrana club. My knee was constantly bouncing up and down, and even though I was seated next to the air conditioner, which was blasting cold air right into my face and body, my palms were sweating. Dr. Rodriguez emerged at exactly that moment, cleared his throat, and asked for his full attention.

Just a second earlier, the entire room was buzzing with conversation; then the room went completely silent, that you could even hear a pin drop.

"Good afternoon, I'm glad to be here today, and I want to thank everyone who applied for the FC Barcelona intern physiotherapy position. You all took the exam a few weeks ago, as you are all aware. I'm proud of each and every one of you for preparing for the exam and giving it your all, but only the highest scorer has been selected. I will therefore declare a privileged student."

A sheet of paper, probably with the results of the top scorer, was presented to Dr. Rodriguez. My breathing grew erratic, my leg was bouncing swiftly, I clenched my hands in my lap, trying to keep them from trembling and my palms began to sweat more than before.  I wanted the position because Barcelona has always been my favorite team, and it was my dream to work in the medical field ever since I was a child. 

My mind drifted back to the countless nights I had spent watching Barcelona games with my older brother, Matteo. We'd sit on the edge of our seats, cheering for the team in their iconic red and blue jerseys, dreaming of the day we might actually set foot in Camp Nou. We even had the good opportunity to attend a couple of FC Barcelona matches at Camp Nou.

The voice of Dr. Rodriguez snapped me out of my thoughts, "I am pleased to announce that we will be offering the position of intern physiotherapist to Isabella Martínez!" I found it to be really unbelievable. The room, which had been so silent, suddenly erupted into a mixture of applause and murmurs. They all turned to face me, they had the same expression on their faces, their jaws lowered, their eyes wide open in shock. I was thrilled and felt like I was the happiest girl alive. The ones who had sneered and said I was just another girl with a silly dream, trying to get close to the players. I had proved them wrong, and it felt incredible. 

 Dr. Rodriguez spoke, " Welcome to FC Barcelona, we are so excited to have you this season, Congratulations for achieving your dream! Being selected as an FC Barcelona intern physiotherapist must be an amazing feeling especially considering your age and strong commitment to the club. It's exciting to see how your dedication and hard work have paid off and how you're reaching your goals. Welcome to an exciting new chapter of your journey!" after walking over to my row and shaking my hand.

 I mumbled a very small "thank you."

 As Dr. Rodriguez moved on to congratulate a few others who had scored well, I sat back down, trying to process what had just happened. I had done it. I was going to be part of FC Barcelona.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. I barely remember leaving the university, or the ride home. My phone buzzed constantly with messages from friends and family, all congratulating me, but I was too overwhelmed to respond to most of them. I just sat there, staring out the window, letting the reality of it all sink in.

That night, as I lay in bed, I thought about what lay ahead. I was about to enter a world that I had only ever seen from the outside, a world of intense pressure, high expectations. But I was ready for it. I had worked too hard to let anything stand in my way now. And as I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation, wondering what the next few months would bring.