Veiled Hearts | Pablo Gavi

014 goodbyes

The bustling noise of the airport surrounds us, the clatter of luggage wheels on the tiled floor, the murmur of voices, and the occasional crackle of announcements over the PA system. But in this moment, all of it fades into the background as I focus on the three people in front of me—Olivia, Emil, and Ben—my closest friends, who are about to leave Barcelona and return to their lives in Munich and Madrid.

Olivia is the first to step forward, engulfing me in a tight hug. Her familiar scent of vanilla and jasmine wraps around me, bringing a wave of bittersweet nostalgia. "I'm going to miss you so much," I say, my voice muffled against her shoulder.

"I'll miss you too, Soph," she replies, her voice a little shaky. She pulls back just enough to look me in the eye, her hands still gripping my shoulders. "But it's only a few weeks until October. I'm so excited to see how our apartment will turn out. We're going to make it perfect."

I smile, though it doesn't quite reach my eyes. "I can't wait either. It'll be amazing, Liv. Just like we always dreamed."

She nods, her eyes bright with unshed tears. "And don't worry, I'll keep you updated on everything. Facetime calls, mood boards, the whole shebang."

I laugh softly, the sound tinged with sadness. "You'd better. Otherwise, I'll have to take over all the design decisions."

Olivia grins, the moment lightening just a bit. "Deal. I wouldn't trust anyone else with our place."

We hug again, longer this time, both of us reluctant to let go. Finally, she steps back, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

"You too," I say, my heart heavy.

Next, I turn to Emil. His smile is soft, and there's a gentleness in his eyes that makes my chest tighten. "I'm going to miss you so, so much," I say, wrapping my arms around him.

He hugs me back, his embrace warm and comforting. "I'll miss you too, Sophia. But don't worry, we'll see each other soon."

"You'd better keep that promise," I reply, my voice thick with emotion. "I'll definitely visit you in Madrid, even if it's just for a weekend."

"I'd love that," he says, pulling back to look at me. "And you know you're always welcome. Anytime."

I nod, trying to keep the tears at bay. "Thank you, Emil. For everything."

He gives me a reassuring smile. "We'll stay in touch, okay? Just because I'm not here doesn't mean I'm not around."

"Of course," I agree, my voice wavering. "Take care, Emil."

"You too, Sophia. And remember, if you ever need to talk, I'm just a call away."

We share one last hug before he steps aside, leaving me standing in front of Ben. The atmosphere shifts slightly, growing tense and awkward as we both hesitate, unsure of how to navigate this moment.

Ben finally breaks the silence, stepping forward to hug me, though it's a bit stiffer than usual. I wrap my arms around him, feeling the awkwardness settle between us like an unwelcome third party.

"I'm still here for you," I murmur into his shoulder, my voice soft. "Even if you need space, I'm here."

He pulls back just enough to meet my gaze, his expression conflicted. "I know," he says quietly, his eyes holding a mixture of gratitude and something else—something unsaid. "Thanks, Sophia."

The hug lingers, the weight of everything unsaid hanging between us, making the moment both emotional and uncomfortable. There's so much I want to say, but none of the words seem right, so I just squeeze his hand one last time before letting go.

"Take care, Ben," I say, forcing a small smile.

"You too," he replies, his voice strained.

With that, the moment is over. They turn to head toward security, and I watch them go, my heart heavy with the weight of goodbyes. I wave as they disappear into the crowd, feeling a sense of finality that I wasn't quite prepared for.

As I leave the airport, the reality of their departure settles in. The city feels emptier without them, and as I drive back to my house, the familiar streets seem somehow different—quieter, lonelier.

By the time I get home, the afternoon sun is casting long shadows across the garden. It's Sunday, a day that usually feels lazy and relaxed, but today there's an undercurrent of melancholy that I can't shake. I head upstairs to my room, the house unusually quiet.
Theo is in his room, playing video games, and I stop by to say hi. We chat for a bit, the conversation light and easy, a welcome distraction from the heaviness in my chest. But soon enough, he's engrossed in his game again, and I leave him to it.

As the evening rolls around, I decide to pamper myself a little, hoping to lift my spirits. I draw a bath, filling it with bubbles and lavender oil, the scent soothing as I sink into the warm water. Afterward, I take my time with my skincare routine, applying a face mask before slipping into my bathrobe.
I settle onto my bed, fresh sheets that Maria changed earlier cradling me in their softness. My phone rests beside me, but I ignore it, not ready to face the world outside just yet. Instead, I turn on Netflix and scroll through the options until I land on *500 Days of Summer*. It's one of those movies that's both comforting and thought-provoking, and right now, it feels like the perfect choice.

As the movie plays, I let myself get lost in the story, though my mind keeps wandering back to everything that's happened. The confusion, the uncertainty—it all feels overwhelming, and I can't help but think about Gavi. Things have moved so fast with him, and I haven't even had the chance to really bond with him on an emotional level. We've barely scratched the surface, and now, after everything that happened at the club, I'm not even sure where we stand.
The thought of seeing him again makes my heart race, but there's also a part of me that's hesitant, unsure of how to approach things. I know he asked me out on another date, but with everything that's happened, I can't help but worry about how things will unfold.

The movie ends, and I turn off the TV, the room now filled with quiet. I lie back on my bed, pulling the covers up to my chin. My red light LED mask glows softly in the dim light as I slip it over my face, hoping it will help soothe my restless mind.

As I lie there, the events of the past few days swirl in my thoughts, making it hard to find any real sense of clarity. But eventually, exhaustion takes over, and my mind begins to quiet, the confusion fading into the background as sleep finally takes hold.

AUTHORS NOTE: Hey guys!! I promise to post more regularly now. As for the following chapters: Please feel free to comment your ideas on what should happen next. I am also open to criticism if you have any. Honestly would love some reader-input on this story so give me some ideas!!