Wrong choice (Ferran Torres)

Chapter 24

The day of the awards gala, Ferran went to training like any other day. But, unlike other days, he found Gundogan waiting on his seat in the dressing room.

"Your seat is over there, bro".

"I have an invitation you might want", said the German player.

"Invitation?"

"For this media awards gala. Your friend is nominated. And I don't want to go but maybe you do".

"Why would I want to?", said Ferran, sitting down on his seat now Gundo was standing.

"Do you think I don't know you like her?"

"But you also know she's engaged to someone else".

"Not happily engaged, it seems".

"What do you mean?"

"Just take the invitation, put on a nice suit and show her who she should be with", winked Gundo, who actually didn't know about how happy or unhappy Anna was. But when Pedri found out he was invited to the gala, he asked Gundo to give the ticket to Ferran to help him get the girl he liked and Gundo was happy to help.

Even if he wasn't sure about the plan, Ferran took the invitation Gundo was offering to him. And after thinking a lot about it, he decided to attend the gala. Not so much to do what Gundo said, but to support Anna. This was a special moment for her. Even if it would mean seeing her with her fiancé on the red carpet looking all in love and happy.

But he didn't see that. No one did. Because even though Anna waited outside the building where the awards were being held, calling Hugo several times, ...he never showed up.

"Hi".

Anna turned when she heard Ferran's voice and felt so grateful someone was there for her. Even if it wasn't who should be there. "Hey. I didn't know you were coming to the gala".

"I wasn't going to. But Gundo had an invitation and didn't want it. So he offered it to me and I didn't have anything to do so I thought I could come to support you".

"Thank you. That means a lot".

"Where's Hugo?"

"He might get here a little late. He's been working a lot lately".

Anna didn't want Ferran's pity so she found that excuse. But Ferran didn't believe it. And he didn't believe it because it would align with what Pedri thought he had seen. Don't you dare hurt her like that, Hugo...thought Ferran.

But the night kept getting worse for Anna. Hugo didn't show up at all and she didn't win the award she was nominated for. She was aware all the other people nominated were incredible journalists so she would have just been happy to have been nominated any other day. But she felt so vulnerable at that moment.

"I need to go now. See you soon", she told the group of her peers she was talking to.

But she didn't fully leave. When she finally found herself in an empty corridor, she sat down on the floor and started to cry. She wasn't fully alone, though. Someone had noticed she was leaving and wanted to make sure she was fine.

"Hi...he didn't show up?", asked Ferran, sitting down next to her.

"No".

"I'm sorry".

"I'm getting used to it...".

It was breaking Ferran's heart to see her like this. And he also remembered Gundo's words talking about Anna not being happy. Could it be true? And why didn't she tell him about it?

"You look so beautiful tonight, Anna. I mean, you always look beautiful".

"Thanks".

"But you shouldn't be so sad when you look so beautiful".

"Yeah, well...".

Anna bit her lip and looked down. Ferran lifted her chin with his hand and touched her lower lip with his thumb to release it from her teeth. They were alone and just staring at each other. It felt like a big moment for them and Ferran didn't want to waste it so he leaned down to place a soft kiss on Anna's lips. She stopped herself from reacting and kissing him back...even if that was all she wanted to do. But she just couldn't do it.

"Please, don't", she whispered.

"Anna...".

"I'm engaged, Ferran".

"Yeah, to an asshole who treats you like this. Anna...".

"I'm still engaged. I don't do this. I don't cheat".

"But he does".

"What?"

She stood up to take a step back away from him. She didn't want to hear it, she didn't want to believe it. Anna had been hurt enough that night. She couldn't take more of this...

"You're lying!"

"I wish I was...but Pedri saw him with another woman. He told me but I didn't know how to tell you and...".

"No. You just want to sleep with me so you'll lie about this. I'm going to marry him, Ferran. This isn't a joke!"

"I'm not joking. I really wish I was but it's true...".

"Stay away from me. From us".

Ferran followed Anna and tried to grab her hand but she slapped it away.

"Anna...".

"Don't touch me. Really...just leave me alone".