Veiled Hearts | Pablo Gavi

018 building

"You were insane!" I smiled into my phone.

"I know," Jamal grinned back proudly. "I got 'Player of the Game' on OneFootball."

I rolled my eyes. "You basically always do."

He shrugged. "Doesn't make it any less special. Gotta stay humble."

I giggled. "True. You humble man."

"So, anyway, enough about me. How are you? When are you coming back home?"

"End of September. I've already booked my flight. Uni starts mid-October, but I need to help Oli a bit with furnishing and decorating the apartment." Jamal nodded.

"Right, you're moving in together. Where exactly?"

"Altstadt-Lehel, on Ländstraße. Did you move into your apartment yet?"

Jamal gasped, squealing excitedly. "Soph! We're literally almost neighbors! I moved in right across from GIGIS!"

My jaw dropped. "No way! That's perfect!"

I heard the front door unlock behind me.

"Okay, promise I'll be your first visitor and you'll be mine!"

"Well, my family's already seen my apartment, and my mom helped me move in, but other than that, you're first. Promise."

I smiled and turned as voices approached. Suddenly, I locked eyes with Gavi, my expression freezing in surprise.

"Hey, Soph. Who are you talking to?" Theo, standing beside Pedri, greeted me.

"Sophia, I'm coming to visit every day! Uh... you okay?" Jamal asked, noticing my reaction.

I snapped back to the conversation. "Uh, yeah, Theo just got back from training."

"Is that Jamal?" Theo screeched.

"Let me see my boy T!" Jamal chimed in, as I got up and walked over to the group.

I handed my phone to Theo, who immediately dove into an eager conversation with Jamal, while I turned to Pedri and Gavi.

"Sophia, glad you're still alive. I feel like I see your mom more than I see you," Pedri said, pulling me into a hug I couldn't help but return.

"Miss me that bad?" I teased, then turned to hug Gavi.

"Hey," he whispered into my ear.

"Hey."

I smiled as we pulled apart.

"Well, it's not just us. Even Raphinha says you should come by again."

"Wow, I'm truly honored," I joked.

"You should be," Pedri added. "If I don't see you at the grounds tomorrow, I'm calling it quits on this friendship."

I raised my hands in mock defeat. "I'll be there."

"Jamal say hi. This is Pedri and Gavi," Theo held the phone up to their faces, and I laughed awkwardly.

"Hey guys," Jamal said. "Theo, you know this isn't my first time meeting them, right?"

"Right, my bad," Theo replied.

"Hey, Musiala. How's Germany treating you?" Pedri asked, and Gavi waved at the phone.

"Good, good. Looking forward to our match in October," Jamal winked.

"Ay, we're gonna kick your ass," Gavi said, stern but with a joking edge.

"A match in October?" I cut in.

"Yeah, Champions League. We're playing Bayern on the 23rd," Gavi explained.