FROM FRIENDS TO MORE || Gavi x Pedri

Chapter 19 :: João and his love

João sat slumped on the bench, watching Gavi laughing with Pedri. He felt a familiar pang of sadness, a dull ache in his chest. He knew Gavi didn't see him, didn't notice him the way he noticed Pedri. He wished he could just disappear, fade into the background.

He couldn't bear it anymore. He needed to talk to someone. He knew Fermín was Gavi's close friend, and maybe, just maybe, Fermín could offer some advice.

"Fermín," he said, his voice low, "Can we talk?"
*
"It's Gavi," João confessed, his voice cracking slightly. "I... I think I'm in love with him. But he doesn't even look at me. I don't know what to do."

Fermín listened patiently, his brow furrowed in concern. He knew João well, and he knew the depth of his feelings. But he also knew Gavi's personality. Gavi was fiercely loyal to Pedri, and he was oblivious to the feelings of others.

"João," Fermín said gently, "I know this is hard. But you can't force someone to love you. Gavi is a good guy, but he's also very focused on his friendship with Pedri. You need to respect that."

João sighed, his shoulders slumping. He knew Fermín was right. He just wished there was something he could do.

"Maybe I should just forget about it," he said, his voice filled with resignation.

"Don't give up hope," Fermín said, placing a hand on João's shoulder. "Just focus on being yourself, and let things happen naturally. Gavi is a good person, and maybe one day he'll see you for who you are."

João nodded slowly, a flicker of hope rekindling in his eyes. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was willing to try. He would continue to be himself, hoping that one day, Gavi would notice him.

***

The notification on Gavi's phone buzzed, a simple text from João: 

joaofelix79
-Hey Gavi, wanna meet up? My place, 8pm?

Gavi, ever the loyal friend, agreed readily. He didn't think much of it, just another hangout with his teammate.

*

João's house was surprisingly cozy, filled with the scent of fresh-baked bread and the soft hum of music. He had prepared a simple meal, a pasta dish with Gavi's favorite pesto sauce. As they ate, João couldn't help but steal glances at Gavi, his heart pounding with a mix of nerves and anticipation. Gavi, oblivious to João's internal turmoil, was engrossed in the conversation, his laughter filling the room like sunshine.

"This is really good," Gavi said, his eyes shining with genuine appreciation. "Thanks, João."

João smiled, a warm feeling spreading through him. He wanted to say something, anything, but the words seemed to get stuck in his throat. He had to do this. He had to be bold. He had been holding back for too long, letting his feelings fester in the shadows. He had to let Gavi know how he felt, even if it meant risking their friendship.

He stood up abruptly, pulling Gavi to his feet. Gavi, startled, looked up at him, his eyes wide with confusion.

"João, what are you..." Gavi started, but João cut him off, his lips meeting Gavi's in a soft, tentative kiss. The world seemed to fade away, leaving only the warmth of their lips and the pounding of their hearts.

Gavi, taken aback, froze for a moment. The world seemed to tilt on its axis. Then, his senses returned, and he pushed João away, his face flushed, his eyes wide with a mixture of shock and confusion.

"João, what was that?" he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

João, his heart sinking, could only look at him, his eyes filled with a mixture of hope and despair. He had taken a chance, and it hadn't gone the way he had hoped. But he couldn't regret it. He had finally expressed his feelings, and that was all that mattered.

"Gavi," João began, his voice trembling slightly, "I... I have feelings for you. I know it's probably unexpected, and I understand if you don't feel the same way. But I couldn't keep it inside anymore."

Gavi looked at him, his eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and something that might have been sympathy. He didn't know what to say. He had never thought of João in that way. He had always seen him as a friend, a teammate, a confidant. The thought of João being in love with him was completely foreign, completely unexpected.

"I... I don't know what to say," Gavi finally managed, his voice barely a whisper.

João nodded, understanding the weight of his words. He knew this wasn't easy for Gavi. He didn't expect an answer, not right away. He just needed Gavi to know how he felt.

"It's okay," João said, forcing a smile. "I just wanted you to know."

Gavi, still processing everything, nodded slowly. He didn't know what to do, what to say. He felt a strange mixture of emotions, confusion, guilt, and a flicker of something else, something he couldn't quite define. He needed time to think, to process everything.

João, seeing the turmoil in Gavi's eyes, reached out and gently took his hand. "It's okay, Gavi," he said softly. "Take your time."

Gavi looked down at their intertwined hands, feeling the warmth of João's touch. He didn't know what the future held, but he knew he couldn't ignore this. He couldn't ignore João's feelings, and he couldn't ignore the strange, new feelings stirring within him. He needed time, but he knew he couldn't ignore this any longer. This was something new, something unexpected, something that might just change everything.