A Bet That Changed Us ︱Pablo Gavi

54: Unspoken truths

Pablo's pov

The day started off with the usual hum of activity around the office. I was in the middle of my routine when Angelina approached me, her demeanor bright and confident. She didn't waste any time. Standing right in front of Isabella, she asked if I was single and if she could get my number. I could see Isabella's body stiffen at the question, her face flushing with tension.

I glanced at Angelina and then at Isabella, whose eyes were already on me, filled with a mix of hurt and anger. I didn't want to make a scene, so I took a deep breath and simply said no. Angelina's face fell, disappointment evident in her eyes. I watched as she turned away, trying to mask her sadness.

As soon as Isabella was out of sight, I started to feel the weight of what had just happened. I wanted to go after her, but I needed to keep my composure, not wanting to add to the tension.

Later, I found Isabella in the staff kitchen, her back turned to me. I hesitated at the door, unsure if I should approach her. When she finally turned around and saw me, her face was already streaked with tears.

"Isabella," I began, but before I could say more, she cut me off.

 Her voice trembled, a mixture of anger and sadness. "Why did you let her ask you in front of me? You knew how much it would hurt."

"I thought I was doing the right thing," I said quietly, trying to explain myself. "I didn't want to encourage her, but I didn't know she'd ask in front of you."

She shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "It's hard to see you with other girls. It's hard to see you moving on while I'm still here, missing you. I still love you, Pablo. But all you've done is push me away."

Her words cut deep, and I wanted to reach out to her, to say the things she needed to hear. But I felt trapped, unable to find the right words. I could see the hurt and frustration in her eyes, and it made me freeze. I knew I couldn't force myself to say things I wasn't sure of, even if it meant hurting her more.

In a moment of raw emotion, Isabella slapped me hard across the face. The sting was sharp, but it was nothing compared to the pain I felt seeing her so broken. She shoved me, her anger and sadness pouring out.

"All you say are lies," she cried out. "You said you still loved me, and when I told you I love you, you just went silent. How can you be so cruel?"

The slap was a shock to my system, and I stood there, dumbfounded, unable to respond. I wanted to tell her everything, to let her know how I felt, but the fear of causing more pain held me back. I was scared that even if I told her the truth, I wouldn't be able to fix what I had broken.

She continued to cry, her sobs echoing in the small space. I wanted to comfort her, but every attempt felt like it would only make things worse. I remained silent, my heart aching with the knowledge that I was failing her once again.

Eventually, Isabella turned away from me, her shoulders shaking with the force of her tears. I felt helpless, standing there as she walked out of the kitchen, leaving me alone with my guilt and regret.

I knew I needed to address everything, but I wasn't sure how to navigate the mess I had created. My silence was a prison of my own making, and I was left grappling with the fear that I might lose her forever if I didn't find the courage to confront my own feelings.

Isabella's Pov

I fled the kitchen, my emotions spilling out in uncontrollable sobs. The corridors of the training center blurred around me as I made my way to Valentina's office. I needed comfort, and I knew Valentina would understand.

I found her finishing up with a few PR tasks, her face lighting up with concern as she saw me.

"Isabella?" she said, rushing over. "What's wrong?"

I couldn't answer immediately, the tears flowing too freely. I threw myself into her arms, clutching her tightly as I tried to catch my breath.

"Pablo," I finally managed to choke out between sobs. "He... he was with Angelina, and I... I saw him say no, but I don't know if he meant it, and he just... he just ignored me when I needed him."

Valentina's eyes widened with sympathy. She guided me to a chair, gently helping me sit down. "It's okay. Just breathe. Let's talk about it."

I took a few deep breaths, trying to calm the storm inside me. "He told me he still loves me, but when I tried to talk to him, he didn't say anything. I told him I miss him, that I still love him, but he just... he was silent. It feels like he's pushing me away, and I don't know why."

Valentina's expression softened as she listened. "I'm so sorry, Isabella. That sounds incredibly painful. Sometimes, people struggle to express their feelings, especially when they're conflicted. Maybe he's dealing with something he hasn't fully worked through yet."

I nodded, but the pain didn't lessen. "I feel like I'm just being pushed around, and every time I try to get closer, he pulls away. It's like I'm stuck in this cycle of hope and disappointment."

Valentina squeezed my hand reassuringly. "You're not alone in this. Let's find the others. We'll figure out a way to help you through this."

As we left the office, Valentina led me to where the others were gathered. Ansu, Balde, Lamine, and Mikky were all talking and laughing, their faces bright with the post-training camaraderie. The mood shifted instantly when they saw me.

"What's going on?" Ansu asked, his voice filled with concern as he noticed my tear-streaked face.

"It's Pablo," Valentina said, her voice steady but filled with emotion. "Isabella's been having a hard time. He's been ignoring her, and she's really hurting."

The group went quiet, their expressions turning serious. Lamine stepped forward, his face set in determination. "What happened? Do you want to talk about it?"

I tried to compose myself, taking a shaky breath. "Pablo and I had a confrontation earlier. He was with Angelina, and it hurt seeing him with someone else. I confronted him, and he just... went silent. I told him I love him, but he didn't respond. It felt like he's just pushing me away, and I don't know what to do."

Mikky's eyes narrowed with concern. "If he's treating you like this, then he doesn't deserve your pain. You deserve someone who communicates and values you."

"Yeah," Balde added. "We all saw how he was on the pitch. Maybe he's got his own issues, but that doesn't give him the right to ignore you like this."

I nodded, grateful for their support, but still feeling a deep ache in my chest. "I just don't understand why he's doing this. I thought we were getting somewhere, but now it feels like we're back to square one."

Valentina rubbed my back soothingly. "Sometimes, people need time to work through their own struggles. But that doesn't mean you have to suffer in silence. We're here for you, and we'll help you through this."

The group gathered around me, offering comfort and support. Their presence was a balm to my wounded heart, and I felt a little less alone in my pain.

The conversation eventually shifted to lighter topics, but I appreciated the effort they made to cheer me up. Still, the uncertainty about Pablo lingered in the back of my mind, making me question where we stood and what the future might hold.

As I left the training center later, I felt a small glimmer of hope knowing that I had friends who cared about me. Even though the situation with Pablo was still unresolved, I took solace in the fact that I wasn't facing it alone.