Best Mistake ︱Pedri González

44

Pedri's POV

I walked out of the charity event with a mix of emotions swirling inside me. The way Luciana spoke had struck a chord—so honest, raw, and vulnerable. I hadn't realized just how much she'd been struggling, and seeing her up there, sharing her story, made me proud but also sad. It reminded me of how much I missed her, not just as someone I cared about but as a close friend who understood me like no one else.

Back at my apartment, I found myself scrolling through photos from the event. One picture caught my eye—a candid shot of Luciana mid-speech, her face a mix of nerves and determination. She looked strong, even in her vulnerability, and it hit me how much I regretted how things ended between us. I wanted to reach out, to be there for her again, but I wasn't sure if that was what she needed.

The next day at training, I couldn't focus. I went through the drills—passing, dribbling, shooting—but my mind was stuck on yesterday. I didn't even realize I was zoning out until Gavi jogged over, nudging me out of my thoughts.

"What's going on with you, hermano?" Gavi asked, tilting his head. "You've been off since yesterday."

I tried to play it off, shrugging. "Just thinking about stuff. The event... it was intense."

Gavi nodded, his usual playful demeanor softening. "Yeah, man. Luciana's speech... I didn't know she was going through all that. She's stronger than we thought."

"Yeah," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "I should've checked in on her more, but after everything that happened, I didn't know how. It's like... I didn't want to make things worse."

Gavi looked thoughtful for a moment, then spoke, his voice more serious than usual. "You still care about her, right?"

I hesitated but nodded. "Of course I do. I never stopped caring. I just don't know if I should reach out or give her space."

Gavi shrugged, but there was a knowing look in his eyes. "Maybe it's not about what you should or shouldn't do. Maybe it's about what feels right. You've always been there for her. Maybe it's time to just... be there again. No expectations, no pressure."

I thought about what he said for the rest of training. I didn't want to keep my distance anymore, but I also didn't want to rush her. She was clearly working on herself, and I didn't want to mess that up.

After training, I decided to clear my head with a walk around the city. Somehow, I ended up near a quiet park where Luciana and I used to hang out, just talking for hours or messing around with random challenges. As I walked, I spotted her in the distance, sitting on a bench with a sketchpad in her lap. She was lost in her drawing, headphones on, completely in her own world.

I hesitated, debating whether I should approach her. Part of me wanted to turn around and leave her in peace, but the other part of me missed her too much to walk away. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of her. She looked up, surprised but not upset, and pulled off her headphones.

"Hey," she said, offering a small smile.

"Hey," I replied, trying to keep it casual. "Mind if I join you?"

She shook her head and patted the bench beside her. I sat down, glancing at her sketchpad. She was drawing a beautiful landscape, the city skyline captured with soft, flowing lines.

"You're really good," I said, genuinely impressed.

She laughed lightly, looking a bit embarrassed. "Thanks. I've been trying to find new hobbies. Helps keep my mind busy."

We sat in silence for a moment, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was like we were both testing the waters, figuring out how to navigate this new version of our friendship. I wanted to say so much but didn't know where to start.