Veiled Hearts | Pablo Gavi

013 distance

The cool night air hits me as I step out of the club, my heart still racing from the tension inside. I scan the street, my eyes searching for Ben. The music from the club fades into the background, replaced by the distant hum of traffic and the occasional shout from passersby. I spot him leaning against a lamppost, his shoulders slumped, his back to me.

Taking a deep breath, I walk over, each step feeling heavier than the last. As I approach, Ben doesn't turn around. He's staring at the ground, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. For a moment, I hesitate, unsure of what to say. But then I remember the look in his eyes back in the lounge—hurt, vulnerable, something I've never seen in him before.

"Ben," I start softly, coming to stand beside him.
He doesn't respond at first, just takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "I messed up, didn't I?" he finally says, his voice quiet and tinged with regret.
I lean back against the lamppost, crossing my arms as I look up at the night sky. "Yeah," I admit, "but I get it."
Ben turns to face me, his expression full of frustration. "Do you? Because I don't even understand myself right now."
"I know you've been holding a lot in," I say, meeting his gaze. "But lashing out at Gavi... That's not like you."
He shakes his head, running a hand through his hair. "I just couldn't stand it, Soph. Seeing you with him, the way he looks at you... I've never felt so... helpless."

I bite my lip, trying to find the right words. "Ben, I never wanted to hurt you. You're one of my best friends, and that means everything to me. But... I don't know what I feel about Gavi yet. Tonight... it just made things even more confusing."
Ben's jaw tightens, and he looks away, staring out at the street. "It's not just about Gavi, though. It's about us. I've been holding onto these feelings for so long, and I thought... I don't know, I thought maybe there still was a chance. But tonight, it really hit me that you're not looking at me the way I've been looking at you."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I've known Ben for years, but I never really considered that his feelings ran this deep. "I'm sorry," I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. "I wish I could change how I feel, but I can't."

Ben nods, but there's a sadness in his eyes that breaks my heart. "I know. That's why I think it's best if we take some space."
"Space?" I echo, the word feeling foreign and heavy on my tongue.
"Yeah," he says, his voice steady now. "Considering Olivia, Emil, and I are flying back to Munich tomorrow. Maybe it's better if we put some distance between us for a while. Give me time to figure out how to move past this, you know?"
I feel a lump form in my throat, but I force myself to nod. "If that's what you need, then okay. I don't want to lose our friendship, Ben."
He finally looks at me, and there's a faint, sad smile on his lips. "We won't lose it. We just need to hit pause for a bit. Let things cool down."
"Okay," I agree, though the word feels like a lie. Nothing about this feels okay.

The night air feels cooler as Ben and I make our way back inside the club, the earlier tension still lingering between us like a shadow. We don't say much, just exchange a few quiet words about getting our things and heading home. The loud music and the press of bodies seem like a world away now, replaced by the quiet understanding that things between us have shifted, perhaps irreparably.

Olivia is waiting by the entrance, her phone in hand as she texts Emil to let him know we're ready to leave. She looks up as we approach, her expression a mix of concern and relief. "You guys okay?" she asks, searching our faces.
I nod, giving her a small smile. "We're good. Just need to get our stuff and head out."
Ben gives a brief nod in agreement, his eyes avoiding mine as he pulls out his phone to order the Uber. "I'll get the ride sorted," he says, already walking a few steps ahead.

Olivia shoots me a questioning look, and I just shake my head, silently telling her to drop it for now. There's a lot to unpack, but it can wait until we're home. Right now, we just need to get out of here.

As we make our way back into the lounge, I notice that some of the players have already left. Joao, Ansu, and Balde are nowhere to be seen, probably having slipped out earlier in the night. The energy in the room has mellowed, the earlier excitement replaced by a quieter, more subdued atmosphere.
Emil is chatting with Ferran and Pedri, while Fermín and Marc are in a corner, deep in conversation. Gavi is leaning against the back of a chair, his eyes flicking up as we enter. There's a moment of hesitation before he straightens, his gaze locking onto mine. I can see the unspoken question in his eyes, the concern that lingers there, but I just give him a small nod, reassuring him that everything is under control.

"I'll grab our stuff," I offer, not wanting to prolong the moment any more than necessary. "Ben's already ordered the Uber, so we should head out soon."
"Thanks," Olivia says, giving me a grateful smile as she follows Emil to gather their things and say a proper goodbye to Marc.

I walk over to where we left our bags, feeling the weight of Gavi's gaze on me the entire time. As I reach down to pick up my purse, I feel a hand on my arm, gentle but firm. I look up to find Gavi standing beside me, his expression serious.
"You sure you're okay?" he asks, his voice low so the others don't hear.
"I'll be fine," I reply, meeting his eyes. "Just need to get them home and... process everything."
He nods, though I can see the reluctance in his expression. "I'm here if you need anything. Don't forget that."
"I know," I say, giving him a small, appreciative smile. "Thank you, Gavi."
He returns the smile, but it's tinged with concern. Before he can say anything more, Ferran calls out to him, distracting him just long enough for me to step away and rejoin Olivia and Emil.

With our things in hand, we make our way back to the others. Ben is already standing by the door, his phone in his hand, avoiding looking in Gavi's direction. It's clear he's still not ready to face him after everything that happened.

"We're heading out," I say to the group, trying to keep my tone light. "Thanks for the night, guys. It was... eventful."
Pedri chuckles, though there's a hint of understanding in his eyes. "Take care, Sophia. And you guys too. It was great meeting you." he adds, nodding to Emil and Olivia.
Fermín and Marc give us quick goodbyes wishing my friends a safe trip back to Munich, and Ferran waves us off with a grin. "Let's do this again sometime—minus the drama," he jokes, earning a few laughs.

Gavi's the last to say goodbye, his eyes meeting mine one final time before he nods. "Safe trip back," he says quietly, though I can tell the words are meant more for me than for the others.
"Thanks," I reply, my voice just as soft.

And with that, we're out the door, leaving the club and the night behind. The Uber is already waiting at the curb, the soft glow of its headlights cutting through the darkness. Ben climbs into the front seat without a word, while Olivia, Emil, and I slide into the back.

The drive home is quiet, the city lights passing by in a blur as we make our way through the nearly empty streets. Olivia rests her head on my shoulder, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. Emil stares out the window, lost in his thoughts, while Ben keeps his gaze firmly on the road ahead, his expression unreadable.
I lean back against the seat, closing my eyes for a moment as the events of the night play over in my mind. So much has happened in such a short time, and now all I can do is wait—wait to see what the morning will bring, wait to see how these friendships will change, wait to figure out where my heart truly lies.

As the Uber pulls up to our house, I open my eyes, feeling the weight of everything settling in my chest. Tomorrow, Ben, Olivia, and Emil will fly back to Munich, leaving me alone to face whatever comes next. But for now, we're home, and that's enough.
We quietly gather our things and make our way inside, the silence between us heavy but not uncomfortable. As we step into the familiar warmth of the house, I feel a sense of relief, but also a pang of sadness. Tonight has changed everything, and I know there's no going back.

"Goodnight," Ben says quietly, breaking the silence as he heads towards his room. He doesn't look back, just disappears down the hallway.

Emil squeezes my hand, his eyes full of understanding. "We'll talk tomorrow," he says softly, pulling me into a quick hug before following Ben, leaving me and Olivia standing in the dimly lit living room.

"What a great last impression we left.", Olivia chuckles and I just laugh awkwardly.