Best Mistake ︱Pedri González

63

Luciana's POV

I didn't know how long I sat there on the floor, my back against the door, sobbing quietly into my knees. My chest hurt, my throat burned, and all I could think about was Pedri's last kiss—how final it had felt. My heart was shattered, and I had no idea how to pick up the pieces.

Suddenly, through the haze of my own thoughts, I heard voices outside my door. Familiar voices.

"Do you think she's still asleep?" That was Valeria's voice, soft but worried.

"I don't know. Let's just knock." Mikky's voice followed, just as concerned.

They knocked on the door, but I didn't move. I couldn't. The emotional weight was too heavy. Then, the door creaked open, and they stepped in.

"Oh my god, Luciana..." Valeria gasped, rushing over when she saw me sitting on the floor, my face streaked with tears. "What happened?"

Mikky knelt down beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Lu, are you okay? What's going on?"

I sniffled, barely able to form words. "He... Pedri... he left."

"What do you mean he left?" Valeria's tone was sharp now, her protective instinct kicking in. "Did something happen?"

I nodded, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. "He came over, saw the video... Dante's live. And now... he says we can't see each other anymore. He's scared it's going to ruin his career."

Mikky and Valeria exchanged a look, one I couldn't quite read. Mikky stood up, brushing her hands on her jeans. "We need to go talk to the club's PR team. Now."

I shook my head furiously. "No, I can't. I don't want to deal with this right now. I just need to be alone."

Valeria wasn't having it. She took my hand and pulled me to my feet. "No, Luciana. This is bigger than just you and Pedri. The situation is spiraling out of control, and we need to fix this before it gets worse. The longer we wait, the worse it's going to be."

I resisted, but they were determined. Mikky grabbed my jacket and handed it to me, practically forcing me to put it on. "Come on," she said, her tone firm but gentle. "You don't have to do this alone. We'll be there the whole time."

My heart was heavy, but I let them guide me out of the apartment. It felt like I was moving through a fog, my mind struggling to process everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours.

We arrived at the club's headquarters, and I felt sick to my stomach. This was the last place I wanted to be. Mikky and Valeria led the way, talking quietly to one of the PR staff members as they arranged a meeting. Before I knew it, we were sitting in a sleek conference room, the tension in the air almost suffocating.

The PR manager, a woman named Carla, sat at the head of the table. She looked calm, composed, and entirely in control. "Thank you for coming, Luciana," she said, her tone professional. "We've been monitoring the situation since last night, and we need to take action immediately."

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, feeling the weight of all eyes on me. "I didn't ask for this," I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper.

Carla gave me a sympathetic look but remained businesslike. "I understand that, but unfortunately, we have to address it now. The rumors are spreading, and it's already causing issues online. We need to get ahead of this before it affects Pedri's career, and potentially, the club."

I felt a fresh wave of guilt crash over me. This wasn't just about me and Pedri anymore—it was about the team, the club's reputation. I had to fix it, even if it broke me in the process.

Just then, Pedri walked in. His face was tense, his eyes dark with frustration. He sat down across from me, avoiding my gaze. I felt my chest tighten, the pain of his rejection still raw.

"We've come up with a plan," Carla began, her eyes flicking between Pedri and me. "First, we need to do some damage control. Both of you will need to unfollow each other on all social media platforms. We need to make it seem like there's no truth to what Dante said."

I blinked, confused. "Unfollow each other?"

Carla nodded. "Yes. Right now, people are assuming the worst because of the rumors Dante started. By unfollowing each other, we can make it seem like there's no ongoing relationship, which will help cool things down."

I glanced at Pedri, hoping he'd protest, but he didn't say a word. He just stared straight ahead, jaw clenched.

"The next step," Carla continued, "is for Pedri to release a statement denying everything. He'll say that Dante's accusations were made out of bitterness, and that there's no truth to them. We're framing it as an attempt to stir up drama."

My stomach turned. So, we were lying. Pretending that none of it had happened. I couldn't say anything, though. I felt trapped, like I had no control over any of this.

"And me?" I asked, my voice barely audible.

Carla's expression softened, but her words hit hard. "It's best if you stay quiet for now, Luciana. The more you engage, the worse it'll get. Let Pedri's statement handle the situation. After that, we'll work on downplaying your presence with the team. The less you're seen together, the better."

I looked at Pedri again, hoping for some kind of reassurance. Some sign that he didn't want this to end. But he remained silent, his eyes glued to the floor.

After a few more minutes of logistical talk, the meeting wrapped up. Carla stood, signaling that we were done. "Thank you both for cooperating. This is the best way to protect everyone involved."

As the PR team began to file out, I turned to Pedri, desperate for answers. "So, what happens to us?" I asked, my voice trembling.

Pedri looked up at me, and for the first time since he'd arrived, I saw the conflict in his eyes. "They're right, Lu," he said quietly. "We have to stay apart. It's the only way."

My heart dropped. "But... we just got back on good terms. We were trying to figure this out."

Pedri shook his head, his expression pained. "I know. But it's too risky now. If people find out what really happened... everything will fall apart. For both of us."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. After everything we'd been through, after all the promises, this was how it was going to end?

"But I love you," I whispered, tears stinging my eyes.

Pedri hesitated, his gaze softening for a split second. "I love you too, Luciana. But sometimes... love isn't enough."

With that, he turned and walked out, leaving me standing there in the empty conference room, my heart shattered once again.

Valeria and Mikky were waiting outside, their expressions full of sympathy. "I'm sorry, Lu," Valeria said, pulling me into a tight hug. "This isn't fair."

I nodded, unable to speak as the tears finally fell. Everything felt broken—Pedri, my life, the truth. And I didn't know how to fix any of it.

Mikky squeezed my hand. "We'll get through this, okay? One step at a time."