𝘔𝘪 𝘌𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘥

𝘍𝘪𝘷𝘦

A couple of days later, Valentina stood in the doorway of her apartment, watching her brother, Pedri, load his bags into the car. The Barcelona pre-season tour was about to begin, and she tried to muster up a smile as she hugged him goodbye.

"Have a safe flight, Pedri," she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

Pedri pulled back, looking at her with a raised eyebrow. "You sure you're okay?" His concern was obvious, and it made her heart ache a little. He'd been such a constant in her life, but Valentina had made up her mind—she wasn't going to tell him about Ferran yet. Not now, not when things were so complicated.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just make sure to keep me updated. I want to hear all about the training and the matches."

She flashed him a grin, trying to mask the unease creeping into her chest. Pedri returned her smile, but there was still a look of doubt in his eyes.

"Alright, I'll call you when I land. Don't forget to take care of yourself, okay? Don't let the house get too quiet."

Valentina nodded, watching as Pedri climbed into the car with his agent. He waved one last time before the car pulled away, and the sudden silence that followed felt almost suffocating.

She stood in the doorway for a moment, letting out a slow breath, before closing the door and locking it.

The moment the door clicked shut, her anxiety crept up again. The house felt too big, too empty without Pedri's presence.

For the past few days, her parents had been staying with her, helping to ease the tension of being alone. But with Pedri now gone, it was just going to be her, her thoughts, and the echo of her breathing in the quiet apartment.

Her parents had moved in temporarily, taking up residence in the guest room while Pedri was away. They meant well, but Valentina couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't enough. She appreciated their presence, yet their comfort was a stark contrast to the unease gnawing at her insides. They were busy with their own routines—her mother cooking, her father reading the paper—completely unaware of the storm that was slowly building inside her.

They were here to keep her company, but the truth was, they didn't really see what was happening. They didn't see how the quiet made her feel trapped or how she fought to keep the panic at bay, even as it crept closer every day. To them, she was fine. She was always fine.

She forced a smile as she made her way into the living room, where her mother was sitting on the couch, flipping through a magazine. "Hey, Mom. Everything okay?"

Her mother glanced up, a soft smile on her face. "Of course. Just catching up on a few things. Are you feeling better today?"

Valentina hesitated, her throat tightening. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just... still getting used to the quiet."

Her mother nodded, clearly not catching the subtle tension in Valentina's voice. "I know, sweetie. It's hard being alone. That's why we're here. Don't worry, we'll keep you company."

The words were meant to be comforting, but they felt more like a reminder of how alone Valentina truly felt. She was surrounded by people who loved her, but they couldn't understand the fear that pulsed through her veins every time she was left alone.

Her father walked into the room then, his usual relaxed demeanor evident as he stretched. "What's this I hear about the house being too quiet? You know you can always call us if you need anything."

Valentina offered a small smile, grateful for their concern but wishing they could see beyond her surface-level calm. "Thanks, Dad. I know."

They didn't know the depth of her anxiety. They didn't know how the silence wrapped around her, suffocating her when she was left alone with her thoughts. They didn't know that she spent more time than she cared to admit pretending everything was okay, simply because she didn't want to worry them. It was easier that way. Easier to put on the mask of "I'm fine" than to reveal the truth.