FROM FRIENDS TO MORE || Gavi x Pedri

Chapter 59 :: Friends

The training ground was deserted, the usual buzz of activity replaced by an eerie silence. Gavi stood alone, his gaze fixed on the worn grass, his mind swirling with a jumble of thoughts and emotions. He had been avoiding Pedri, the weight of their unspoken feelings pressing down on him like a physical burden. He knew he needed to talk to him, to break through the wall that had been erected between them, but the words seemed to stick in his throat, choked by fear and uncertainty.

He was startled by a gentle tap on his shoulder. He turned, his heart skipping a beat. It was Pedri, his face etched with concern, his eyes searching Gavi's.

"You okay?" Pedri asked, his voice soft, a hint of worry in his tone.

Gavi hesitated for a moment, his gaze darting away from Pedri's. He couldn't bring himself to lie, to pretend that everything was alright.

"No," he finally admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "I'm not."

He felt a wave of relief wash over him, a release of the tension that had been building inside him for weeks. He needed to talk, to let someone in, to share the burden he had been carrying alone.

"What's wrong?" Pedri asked, his gaze fixed on Gavi's, his expression a mixture of concern and curiosity.

Gavi took a deep breath, his mind racing, his heart pounding in his chest. He had never shared this with anyone, not even his closest friends. But something about Pedri, about his gentle gaze, his quiet concern, made him feel safe, made him feel like he could finally let his guard down.

"It's... my family," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "My dad... he's been struggling with his health. He's been in and out of the hospital, and it's been really hard on everyone."

He felt a lump forming in his throat, his eyes stinging with unshed tears. He had been trying to put on a brave face, to keep his emotions bottled up, to focus on the game, on his career, on anything that could distract him from the pain he was carrying inside.

"I... I don't know what to do," he continued, his voice breaking. "I feel like I'm failing him, failing my family. I feel like I'm letting them down."

Pedri listened patiently, his gaze never leaving Gavi's. He didn't offer any words of comfort, any platitudes, any solutions. He just listened, his presence a silent reassurance, a beacon of understanding in the darkness.

"I know it's hard," Pedri said finally, his voice soft, his words a gentle balm to Gavi's aching heart. "I've been there. My dad... he's had his own struggles. It's tough, but you're not alone."

He felt a wave of gratitude wash over him, a sense of connection he hadn't felt in weeks. It was as if Pedri had opened a window into his own soul, revealing a vulnerability he had never shown before.

"I... I've been pushing everyone away," Gavi admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "I've been trying to focus on football, on the game, on anything that could distract me from what's going on at home. But it's not working. I feel like I'm drowning."

Pedri reached out, his hand gently resting on Gavi's arm. He felt a surge of warmth, a sense of comfort he hadn't felt in a long time.

"It's okay to feel that way," Pedri said, his voice firm yet gentle. "It's okay to not be okay. It's okay to ask for help. We're a team, Gavi. We're here for each other."

He felt a tear roll down his cheek, a release of the pent-up emotions he had been holding inside for so long. He felt a sense of relief, a sense of lightness, a sense of being understood.

"I... I miss playing with you," he said, his voice choked with emotion. "I miss our connection on the field, the way we used to understand each other without words. I miss being a team, not just on the field, but off it too."

Pedri smiled, a genuine smile that reached his eyes, a smile that filled Gavi with a sense of hope.

"I miss it too," Pedri replied, his voice soft, his gaze meeting Gavi's. "I miss our banter, our jokes, our shared passion for the game. I miss being friends."

He felt a flicker of warmth spread through his chest, a sense of connection that had been missing for so long. He felt a sense of hope, a sense that maybe, just maybe, they could rebuild what they had lost.

"Let's... let's try," Gavi said, his voice barely a whisper, his heart filled with a mix of hope and trepidation. "Let's try to be friends again."

Pedri nodded, his eyes filled with understanding, his smile a beacon of hope.

"Let's try," he replied, his voice firm yet gentle. "We're a team, Gavi. We're always a team."

They stood there for a moment, their gazes locked, their hearts filled with a shared sense of hope. The silence between them was no longer heavy with unspoken words, but filled with a newfound understanding, a renewed connection, a promise of a brighter future.