FROM FRIENDS TO MORE || Gavi x Pedri

Chapter 57 :: Reply

The aroma of fresh bread and roasted coffee beans filled the air, a comforting scent that usually brought a smile to Gavi's face. But today, the bustling market felt like a stage set for a scene he didn't want to be a part of. He was lost in his own thoughts, the weight of the silence between him and Pedri pressing down on him like a physical burden. He had been avoiding Pedri, his phone a constant reminder of the unanswered messages, the unspoken words that hung between them like a thick fog.

He was picking out some ripe tomatoes, his fingers gently brushing against the smooth, crimson skin, when a familiar voice startled him.

"Gavi?"

He turned, his heart skipping a beat. There stood Pedri, his face etched with surprise, a hint of awkwardness in his eyes.

"Pedri," Gavi managed, his voice a mere whisper.

They stood there for a moment, both caught off guard by the unexpected encounter. The market noises faded into the background, the world around them shrinking to the space between them.

"What are you doing here?" Pedri asked, his voice softer than usual, a touch of uncertainty in his tone.

"Just... getting some groceries," Gavi mumbled, his gaze drifting towards the vibrant display of vegetables.

"Me too," Pedri replied, his gaze meeting Gavi's for a brief moment before darting away.

An uncomfortable silence settled between them, a stark contrast to the usual banter that had once filled their conversations. The air crackled with unspoken words, with the weight of their unspoken feelings.

"So," Pedri started, his voice hesitant, "how's everything?"

"Fine," Gavi replied, his voice barely audible.

They both knew it was a lie, a flimsy attempt to mask the turmoil that raged within them. But neither of them wanted to delve into the depths of their unspoken emotions.

"The team's been doing well," Pedri continued, trying to break the awkward silence. "We're on a good run."

Gavi nodded, his gaze fixed on the ground. He couldn't bring himself to engage in the usual football talk. The game, once a shared passion, now felt like a distant memory, a reminder of the bond they had lost.

"You know," Pedri said, his voice barely above a whisper, "I miss playing with you."

Gavi's heart skipped a beat. It was the first time Pedri had acknowledged the silence between them, the first time he had expressed his own feelings.

"I miss it too," Gavi replied, his voice barely a breath.

He felt a flicker of hope, a tiny spark in the darkness. It was a small step, a mere whisper in the face of the vast chasm that had opened between them, but it was a step nonetheless.

"Maybe we can... talk later?" Pedri asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.

Gavi hesitated for a moment, his mind racing with possibilities, with the fear of rejection, with the hope of reconciliation.

"Yeah," he finally replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah, maybe."

They stood there for a moment longer, the silence hanging heavy between them. Then, Pedri turned, his shoulders slumped, his gaze fixed on the ground.

"I'll see you around," he said, his voice barely a murmur.

"Yeah," Gavi replied, his voice barely audible.

Pedri walked away, his figure disappearing into the bustling crowd. Gavi stood there for a moment, watching him go, his heart pounding in his chest. He felt a strange mix of emotions: relief, hope, fear, and a deep longing for the way things used to be.

He looked down at the tomatoes in his hand, their crimson skin a stark contrast to the grayness that had settled over his world. He felt a sudden urge to do something, to break free from the silence that had enveloped him. He needed to talk to Pedri, to bridge the gap that had grown between them.

He walked towards his apartment, his steps lighter than they had been in weeks. The market, once a place of routine, now felt like a beacon of hope. The encounter with Pedri, though brief and awkward, had ignited a spark within him, a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, things could be different.

He reached for his phone, his fingers hovering over Pedri's name. He knew it was a risk, a leap of faith, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this was the moment he had been waiting for, the moment to break free from the silence that had held him captive for so long.

He took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. He typed a simple message: "I miss playing with you too."

He hesitated for a moment, then hit send.

He watched as the message appeared on Pedri's phone, a tiny blue bubble in the vast sea of their unspoken words. He didn't know what Pedri's response would be, but he knew that he had taken the first step, a step towards healing the rift that had grown between them.

He closed his eyes, his heart filled with a mix of hope and trepidation. He knew that the road ahead would be long and arduous, but he also knew that he was no longer alone. He had taken the first step, and that was all that mattered.