FROM FRIENDS TO MORE || Gavi x Pedri

Chapter 36 :: Music

The silence stretched between them, a tangible thing that hung heavy in the air. It had been three months since Pedri's drunken confession, three months since Gavi had retreated into a shell of icy indifference. The warmth that once radiated between them had vanished, replaced by a chilling distance that seemed to grow wider with each passing day.

Pedri watched Gavi from across the locker room, his heart sinking with every stolen glance. Gavi, usually a whirlwind of energy and playful banter, was now a ghost, a shadow of the boy who used to light up his world. He spent most of his time with João and Fermín, their laughter echoing through the locker room, a constant reminder of the void that now existed between him and Gavi.

He'd tried to bridge the gap, offering hesitant smiles and mumbled greetings, but Gavi met them with stony silence, his gaze fixed on anything but Pedri. It was as if he were invisible, a mere wisp of air that Gavi chose to ignore.

The sting of rejection was a constant ache in Pedri's chest. He'd never been good at expressing his feelings, but that night, drunk on the celebratory champagne, he'd finally let his heart speak. He'd poured out his soul, confessing his love for Gavi, only to be met with a stunned silence that morphed into a wall of ice.

He knew he'd messed up, blurting out his feelings in such a vulnerable moment. But he hadn't expected Gavi's reaction to be so cold, so dismissive. It was as if he'd said something unforgivable, something that shattered their fragile bond.

Now, Pedri found himself caught in a painful limbo. He yearned for Gavi's presence, for the warmth of his smile, the playful teasing that used to fill their days. But Gavi seemed determined to keep him at arm's length, his silence a deafening roar in Pedri's ears.

The silence was suffocating, a constant reminder of the chasm that now separated them. Pedri knew he had to do something, to break through the wall Gavi had built around himself. But how could he bridge the gap when Gavi seemed so determined to keep him at bay? He was trapped in a silent prison of his own making, yearning for the love he'd confessed, but fearing the rejection that lurked around every corner.

***

The final whistle blew, signaling the end of another grueling training session. Pedri stumbled out of the stadium, his legs heavy with fatigue, his heart even heavier with the weight of his unspoken feelings. He avoided Gavi's gaze, knowing the pain of his indifference would only intensify if he met his eyes.

He walked home, the familiar route feeling alien under the oppressive weight of his emotions. The silence of his apartment was a stark contrast to the boisterous camaraderie of the locker room, a deafening reminder of the void that now existed in his life.

He wandered into the bathroom, his gaze falling on a forgotten razor lying on the counter. He picked it up, the cold metal a stark contrast to the warmth of his tears. He didn't know what he was doing, why he was drawn to the sharp edge, but a desperate need to feel something, anything, other than the dull ache in his chest, propelled him forward.

He pressed the blade against his skin, a shallow cut appearing on his arm. The sting of pain was a welcome distraction, a physical sensation that momentarily eclipsed the emotional turmoil that consumed him. He bandaged the wound, the red stain a stark reminder of the turmoil within.

He stumbled into his bedroom, collapsing onto the bed, his body wracked with sobs. He reached for his phone, scrolling through his playlist until he found a melancholic Spanish ballad. The mournful melody mirrored his own pain, the lyrics weaving a tapestry of heartbreak and longing that resonated deep within his soul.

He lay there, enveloped in the darkness of his room, the music a soundtrack to his despair. He closed his eyes, picturing Gavi's face, the warmth of his smile, the sound of his laughter. It was a painful reminder of what he'd lost, a cruel reminder of the love he'd confessed, only to be met with silence.

The tears flowed freely, a cathartic release of the pain that had been building inside him for months. He cried for Gavi, for the love he'd lost, for the future they'd once dreamed of together. He cried for himself, for the pain of rejection, for the loneliness that now consumed him.

The music played on, the melancholic melody a comforting companion in his solitude. He lay there, lost in his grief, the world outside fading away as he surrendered to the overwhelming tide of his emotions. He knew he couldn't stay here forever, lost in the abyss of his heartbreak. But for now, he allowed himself to be consumed by the pain, to wallow in the depths of his despair. He needed to feel it, to acknowledge it, before he could begin to heal.