Fortified -Pau Cubarsí-

16 - sneaky and sweet

The stadium hums with electric anticipation, fans filling every seat, their chants vibrating through the air. I settle into my spot beside Celeste and Anna, clutching a Barcelona scarf tighter than I need to. My heart beats to its own rhythm—not just for the game but for the boy running drills on the field below.

Pau looks impossibly calm as he jogs alongside Hector during the warmup. His sharp movements make the stadium lights catch the faint sheen of sweat on his face, his jawline just visible despite the distance.

"You're staring," Celeste teases in a singsong voice, nudging me with her elbow.

"I'm allowed to stare. Hector's my brother," I reply, attempting nonchalance.

Anna chuckles softly. "If Hector's your focus, why do your eyes keep drifting over to the left?" She's sharp, this one, with an amused glint in her eye.

My cheeks burn, and I quickly adjust my scarf to cover half my face. "I—uh, I'm just watching the whole team."

Celeste bursts out laughing, earning a few looks from nearby fans. "Don't let her fool you, Anna. Cesca's not here just for Hector." She leans in conspiratorially. "She and Pau are... a thing."

Anna's eyes widen, and a delighted smile spreads across her face. "No!" she whispers excitedly. "Seriously?"

"Seriously," Celeste confirms, grinning like she's won some kind of prize.

I groan, pulling my scarf tighter. "Shhh! Nobody's supposed to know yet." My gaze darts nervously around us, but everyone seems too focused on the pre-match buzz to care about our conversation.

Anna looks absolutely thrilled. "Oh, this is so cute. No wonder you look so, i don't know, glowy-ish!"

"Anna!" I hiss, though the memory makes my cheeks heat even more. "Please keep it down. We're trying to keep things under wraps."

Celeste pats my shoulder reassuringly. "Relax. Anna's a vault."

The players start lining up for the anthem, and we all go quiet for a moment. The stadium falls into reverent silence as the music plays, but my chest swells with pride as I watch Pau standing tall and proud in the lineup. He glances briefly toward the stands, his gaze sweeping past our section—but he doesn't stop. He's good at this game, on and off the field.

When the anthem ends and the game kicks off, the three of us lean forward, fully absorbed. Celeste is the loudest, shouting Hector's name every time he touches the ball. Anna claps politely but beams every time Robert gets involved in the action.

I cheer too, mostly for Hector to keep the act up, but every time Pau gets the ball, my heart skips a beat. I can't yell his name, but the excitement bubbles inside me. He's playing like a dream tonight—sharp, focused, his movements so fluid they look like choreography.

When Pau intercepts a crucial pass and clears the ball, I can't help the quiet "Yes!" that escapes me. Celeste smirks, and Anna glances at me knowingly.

"Subtle," Celeste whispers.

I glare at her playfully, but the moment is cut short when Hector scores. The stadium erupts, and Celeste jumps to her feet, screaming at the top of her lungs. I follow suit, pretending my celebration is just for my brother, but my eyes find Pau immediately. He jogs over to Hector, grinning, and the two share a brief hug before Pau claps him on the back.

"They're adorable," Anna says, clearly oblivious to my internal conflict.

"They really are," I agree, keeping my tone light.

The rest of the match is a blur of tension and excitement. By the time the final whistle blows, Barcelona has secured a 2–1 victory. Pau was instrumental in the defense, and Hector's goal made all the difference.