FROM FRIENDS TO MORE || Gavi x Pedri

Chapter 55 :: Message

The notification blinked on Gavi's screen, a tiny blue icon promising a message from Pedri. His heart leaped, a wave of hope washing over him. He tapped the notification, his fingers trembling with anticipation. But the message wasn't from Pedri. It was a news alert, a headline screaming "Gavi and Pedri: Is the Rift Unbreakable?"

Gavi felt a familiar pang of despair. He'd known, deep down, that Pedri wouldn't respond. The silence had become a wall, and his message, a pebble thrown against it, had only echoed back, amplifying the emptiness.

He stared at the phone, the news article a cruel reminder of the public's scrutiny, the relentless speculation that was tearing at his insides. The pressure, the uncertainty, the fear of losing Pedri - it all felt unbearable. He slumped back, the weight of the world crushing him once again.

He couldn't bear the silence any longer. He needed to talk to someone, to release the pressure building inside him, to find some semblance of relief from the torment that consumed him. He reached for his phone, his fingers trembling as he scrolled through his contacts. His eyes landed on a name that brought a wave of comfort, a beacon of hope in the darkness.

He called Ansu Fati, his teammate, his confidante, the only person who truly understood the weight of his burden. Ansu had seen Gavi at his best, his worst, and everything in between. He knew Gavi better than anyone.

As Gavi's voice cracked with emotion, he poured out his heart to Ansu. He confessed his fears, his insecurities, his doubts. He admitted his inability to cope with the pressure, the scrutiny, the relentless speculation. He spoke of the silence that had fallen between him and Pedri, the weight of their unspoken tension, the fear of losing his friend, his teammate, his brother in arms.

Ansu listened patiently, his voice a calming presence in the storm that raged inside Gavi. He offered words of comfort, reassurance, and understanding. He reminded Gavi of his strength, his resilience, his unwavering passion for the game. He urged Gavi to be kind to himself, to acknowledge his pain, to seek help if he needed it.

"It's okay to feel this way, Gavi," Ansu said, his voice filled with empathy. "You're not alone. We're all going through something. We all have our own battles to fight. But you're stronger than you think. You have the strength to overcome this."

Gavi, his voice choked with emotion, felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had been carrying this burden alone for too long, his fear of judgment preventing him from reaching out for help. But now, with Ansu's support, he felt a glimmer of hope, a sense of validation, a feeling of being understood.

He realized that his breakdown wasn't a sign of weakness, but a sign of his strength, his courage to confront his pain, to acknowledge his vulnerability, to seek help. He knew that he still had a long way to go, that the road ahead would be challenging, but he also knew that he wasn't alone. He had Ansu, his family, his friends, and his team, all of whom loved and supported him. And that was enough.