𝕸𝖔𝖆_𝖑𝖎𝖒

all images were taken from pinterest.

where reader and jude bellingham are used to spending christmas together, but this year's christmas could change their relationship forever.

a/n: hope you like it;)

requests are open | check here my masterlist.

"my God, you started getting ready for dinner at two in the afternoon, it's almost seven at night and you haven't finished?" my brother appeared at the bathroom door, standing in the doorway with his arms crossed and completely incredulous. "i'm almost done." i replied. "you're already very pretty little sister, you don't need all this." he said making me smile "but i'm sure jude bellingham will notice all this effort." in response, he received a middle finger and the door closing in his face.

james knows me like no one else, unfortunately. not that i'm trying to get jude's attention with excessive makeup and flashy clothes, on the contrary, i want to be as natural as possible. and now, i have to say that thinking like this, i look like a 15 year old teenager trying to win over the boy she has a crush on school.

and my brother is exaggerated, i started getting ready almost now.

from my room i could hear the voices downstairs in the house, i could hear the voices of all the bellinghams but not jude, he didn't arrive.

my family and his family are friends, our mothers grew up together, he and i grew up together. and it's a christmas tradition to have dinner together, there wasn't a year when we weren't together. 

i think i was ten when i realized i had a crush on jude. he seemed like my superhero defending me from the bullying i used to suffer.  and he always showed concern for me, always sending me messages wanting to know if everything is okay with college, wanting to know if i'm in good health.

i can say that i love everything about jude, especially his worried way, but i also love his polite way of being. the smile he gives when he sees me, the photos he sends me after games, the way he touches my hair.

i don't know if jude is interested in me in the same way that i am interested in him, sometimes i believe that it is just his way of showing affection, even if it makes me fall more and more in love with him.

i was putting away what i had used when two knocks on the door made me jump back. i was distant, caught up in my thoughts."hey, are you ready yet?" it was jude. i was caught off guard again. "oh, hi jude! i'm done now." i said as i opened the bedroom door to see him. i looked bellingham up and down, he was as handsome as ever. "i loved your dress, it looks good on you" jude ran his hand over the back of his neck "thank you! you also chose your clothes well today." he chuckled.

"i bet my mom asked you to come get me." i said, turning off the light in the room and then leaving the room. bellingham moved a little more to the side. "you got it right." i nodded. "i thought you hadn't arrived, i heard everyone's voice but yours." he smiled. "i'm less talkative today." he commented as he directed his gaze to the floor. "lucky we have time to tell each other our problems today."

i signaled for bellingham to follow me downstairs and he promptly came. "green is definitely your color." his mother said as she hugged me. "you look stunning, jude will be even more in love." my cheeks flushed as i heard my mother's laughter and saw jude rolling his eyes. i was so embarrassed that my thank you came out almost silent. i greeted jobe and his father, then i sat between the youngest bellingham and jude.

jobe and i spent exactly fifteen minutes watching videos on tiktok, jude even laughed at some things but he's acting completely weird today. "what's going on in your head?" i turned my face towards the player who smiled shyly, without showing his teeth "a lot of stuff." i laid my head on his shoulder "do you want to talk about it?" he nodded and i got up from the couch, extending my hand to help him up.

i wanted to take him out to the backyard so we could have privacy, even though no one in the room would be able to hear our conversation due to the noise of the voices. jude sat across from me on the wooden table seat. we stared at each other for a few minutes, i raised my eyebrows when i noticed his eyes analyzing every detail of my face and bellingham laughed. 

"first laugh of the night, we're already moving forward." he chuckled before clasping his hands together and resting them on the table in front of him. "my mom is right, green is definitely your color." bellinghams love to make my cheeks blush "thank you mr jude! you don't look bad in black and white either." i complimented him "and you know you don't look bad wearing any color, that impresses me." i rolled my eyes. he has no idea that his playful flirting makes my heart race.

"i think this is a great time for you to tell me what's bothering you so much." he bit his lower lip "never mind, i don't know how to explain it." he said "oh please, draw a picture with twigs in the snow then." he smiled "does it have anything to do with madrid?" He denied "let's forget about it, i already feel much better." he smiled "ugh, it's okay! if you want to talk about it, i'll be willing to listen."

"let's go back inside, i'm going to freeze." i said, pretending my jaw was shaking. my coat isn't doing me much good. jude got up, I thought he was going to wait for me so we could go back inside my house together, but he sat down next to me. "let's stay here, i'll warm you up if anything! but i just want to stay here with you." i pouted "are you needy or do you miss me?" i turned my face towards him. "both of them." he rested his face on his hand. again i was rolling my eyes, again i was getting nervous.

"didn't you find anyone in madrid?" i questioned as i stood in the same position as the player. "my heart is set on birmingham." i laughed. "i bet it's that girl who used to go to school with us, but i must say she's engaged to a friend of yours." i said as i played with jude's hand "i don't even remember her anymore. unfortunately, only girls in green occupy my mind for a long time." 10 seconds to process what he had said. i laughed awkwardly and licked my lips. "you went from downcast to flirty really fast."

jude turned my face to him again. i looked at him confused. "i'm starting to think you're drunk." he threw his head back laughing. "but seriously..." he ran his hand over the back of his neck before continuing. "seriously what?" i asked. "do you think you and i wouldn't work as a couple?" i was speechless. jude bellingham is out of his mind. 

"are you kidding me?" i laughed nervously "what? you don't think so? if you knew how much i think about you every day you wouldn't say that." jude was serious. i was sure of it after analyzing his body posture. i can't believe what i'm hearing. "of course you think, we are bests." i said and then turned my head to the other side.  

jude put his hands on his face and then shook his head "you know i don't think of you as just a friend." my heart could jump out of my chest at any moment "i know?" i scoffed. jude turned my head towards him once more, his hand promptly brushing a strand of hair that was falling over my face behind my ear.

i could hear his breathing getting louder as he got closer. his mouth was just inches from mine. i want them to stick together.

"was that what was eating at your mind?" i questioned. bellingham's eyes flickered between my mouth and my eyes "maybe." he replied.

paring: jude bellingham × reader summary: jude wants to meet reader parents. a/n: i apologize for any spelling mistakes that may appear :) i hope you like it!

when i was younger and i thought about the day would have to introduce my boyfriend to my dad, i would almost cry. just imagining it would make me panic.

my father is the kind of father who tells his daughter something like "you'll only date when you're 30." and i took that seriously. i avoided having male friends as much as possible. i didn't want my father to see me around any boys. i remember my mother saying that this was the biggest nonsense ever, but i don't know, i was afraid my father would fight with me.

as I got older, i started to agree with my mother. i had my first kiss at 16 and currently at 20, i have kissed a total of 4 mouths and lucky for my father it is difficult to find a man who is good enough to be introduced to the parents these days.

but i found one three months ago, he hit my car when i was coming back from college. the most handsome real madrid player in my opinion, jude bellingham.

but he caught me off guard this week, he said to me loud and clear "i want to meet your parents". i, who was lying with my head on his chest, stood up abruptly and looked at him. 

everything my father told me about boyfriends went through my head, i'm 10 years away from turning 30. but if i want my relationship with bellingham to reach a more serious level, i have to introduce him to my parents, right? and while i've met almost all of his family, he's never even seen a single one of my relatives.

i told him he could come to my house on saturday to have dinner with me and my parents, he accepted. now all i had to do was talk to my parents.

i went home rehearsing everything i was going to say and when i got home and they were having dinner, a great time to tell them the news. 

"my love, i was about to call you to find out where you were." my mother said as soon as she saw me. "i forgot to tell you that i would be staying late at college." at least i wouldn't have to lie to them anymore about staying late at college, aka bellingham house.

i sat at the table with them, not hungry at all. my dad noticed that i was acting weird. "are you okay?" he asked. "yeah, yeah.. i just wanted to tell you something!" they stopped everything they were doing to look at me. "go ahead and talk." my mom said.

here we go. "remember when someone hit my car?" they nodded. "so, the boy who hit the car and i ended up getting pretty close. and i really wanted you guys to meet him, since things could get serious between us."

ny mother's eyes were wide and she had a smile on her face. "i can't believe it! i'm so happy, my love! how is this meeting going to be? tell him to come to dinner with us on saturday." my mother was excited. "i told him that, but i wanted you to confirm it." i said. "It's more than confirmed."

"i can't believe my baby has grown up, i want to meet him now!" my father left me speechless and even gave me a kiss on the top of my head to leave me even more shocked.  my mother winked at me.

easier than i expected it to be, now just wait until saturday.

                                 ...

bellingham is already here. he arrived earlier than i expected, the city traffic is apparently conspiring in our favor. but i was in the shower when he arrived, and my mother was the one who greeted him.

"dear, i seem to have felt that jude was english." my mother said as soon as she saw me coming down the stairs. "has jude introduced himself to you yet, mom?" i hugged the player from behind and he held my hands "of course, you took too long! your mother and i are friends now."

"if my wife approves of you, i approve of you too." my father arrived in the living room after going to the market. "hey man, how are you?" he said as he greeted bellingham. "good and you?" jude replied, "i'm glad to meet you. i just want to confirm if your name is really college?" i almost died of embarrassment. my father already suspected my lie. "i can't believe it, she said she was going to college? but unfortunately, my name is jude, not college." bellingham is a sly man. he knew very well what i was telling my parents when I was going to meet him. "oh, you're a real madrid player, aren't you? i'm only  used to the third division of the Spanish league." my father said "i'm going to have to bring you to the side of the biggest team in spain, so i'm sure that when you go to the bernabeu you'll change teams." jude joked "never." my father replied.

dinner went well, my parents loved jude and jude loved my parents. my mother wants him to come here all the time, she even asked if he wanted to sleep here tonight, bellingham didn't accept just because he had to go to training early tomorrow. he was all happy when my dad said he was the son-in-law of his dreams and my mom said he looked like the son she always wanted to have.

pairing . . . pau cubarsi x gf!reader

summary . . . Hard launching your relationship with Pau at a team event

request . . . yes!! based on this request!

word count . . . 4.4k+

warnings . . . none!

faceclaim . . . N/A

alexavia yaps . . . took me like two years but we dont take about that!! I HOPE YOU GUYS LIKE IT BC I YAPPED MY ASS OFF IN THIS ONE

taglist . . . @barcapix ,, @f1lover55 ,, @ilovebarcaaa ,, @notm4d1 ,, @httpsdana (lmk if you want to join the taglist!)

. . . The moment you stepped out of the car, hand tucked in Pau’s firm but gentle hold, the flashing lights began. Camera shutters clicked relentlessly, the glowing backdrop of the grand venue providing a perfect canvas for the chaos of photographers and fans.

The hum of voices grew louder, rising to an excited chatter as Pau emerged in a black suit with a cut that complemented his tall frame. But tonight, he wasn’t the main focus of his own entrance, that honor belonged to you.

Your outfit, effortlessly elegant and impossibly perfect, managed to be both understated and show stopping. A soft pastel hue swept through the fabric, catching the lights just so, making you look like you’d just walked out of a dream. Pau’s hand tightened slightly on yours, and you turned toward him, catching the soft curve of a smile he’d been trying to hide.

"You look…. incredible," Pau tilted his head slightly, his voice dropping to a low murmur only you could hear. His eyes, warm and undeniably devoted, traveled across your face as if memorizing every detail.

"Thank you," you whispered back, cheeks heating slightly under his gaze.

The cameras might as well not have existed. Pau only saw you.

The two of you stepped forward together, perfectly in sync, as though you’d been attending events like this for years. The truth, of course, was far from that.

You weren’t famous. You weren’t a model, an actress, or someone the media recognized. You were just you. And yet, tonight, standing beside Pau, you looked every bit his equal.

What made it even better was how natural it felt.

While reporters shouted Pau’s name, trying to get his attention, his focus never wavered. It was as if the world faded, leaving only you in his sight. He didn’t let go of your hand, not even for a second. He didn’t release you to wave to the fans or pose for solo shots.

Instead, he kept you close, his thumb brushing gently against the back of your hand as though to reassure you that this, all of this, was something you were facing together.

"You sure you’re okay?" Pau leaned down slightly, his voice soft against your ear.

You tilted your head up, meeting those deep green eyes that had an almost blue hue under the camera flashes. "I’m fine," you replied, smiling softly. "You don’t have to worry so much."

Pau let out a quiet laugh, a sound that sent warmth curling through your chest. "I can’t help it."

The way he looked at you was impossible to ignore. His gaze lingered, filled with such open admiration that it left you feeling both flustered and cherished. As you walked along the carpeted entrance, he barely noticed the cameras trained on him or the murmurs from the press.

All of his attention was centered solely on you.

When you stumbled slightly on a step, thrown off by the overwhelming lights and noise, Pau reacted instantly, his hand steadying your waist with instinctive care.

"You’ve got me," he said softly, flashing you that boyish grin that made your heart skip a beat.

His words weren’t loud enough for anyone else to hear, but the way his teammates, who were already socializing at the end of the carpet, shot each other looks said otherwise. They noticed everything.

The pair of you finally reached the event entrance, where a small gathering of Pau’s teammates stood off to the side. Their suits were sleek, their energy relaxed, but when Pau entered the space with you at his side, every single one of them fell silent for a beat.

Then came the looks; the wide eyes, the sly smiles, the unmistakable amusement.

Pau ignored them, choosing instead to lean in close to you again as he murmured, "Do you want to head inside, or should we stop for a few more photos?"

His tone was so gentle, so patient. You knew he wouldn’t push you into anything, and that only made you admire him more.

"Let’s go inside," you said softly, and Pau nodded immediately.

"Of course."

As the two of you passed the group of teammates, someone, likely one of the defenders, murmured loud enough for Pau to hear, "Look at him, acting all in love."

Pau shot them a pointed look over his shoulder, though there was no real annoyance behind it. He was used to their teasing. But as you glanced up at him, you couldn’t help but notice how unbothered he looked by their words.

If anything, the slight upward tilt of his lips told you he was proud. Proud to be here with you, proud to have you on his arm.

And the truth was, you felt it too.

The moment the two of you stepped inside the venue, the noise outside faded into a comfortable hum, leaving the warm, golden lights of the room to bathe everything in a soft glow. Pau finally stopped walking, turning to face you as he lifted your joined hands to press a gentle kiss to your knuckles.

"You’re doing perfectly," he said quietly, his gaze locking onto yours with a depth that made your breath catch. "Thank you for coming with me tonight."

You blinked up at him, momentarily stunned at how sincere he sounded, as though you’d just done him the greatest favor in the world.

"Of course," you replied softly. "I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else."

Pau smiled then, really smiled, and for a moment, it was just the two of you; standing in a crowded room and yet somehow existing in your own little world.

The night was just beginning, and you could already feel it. Pau wasn’t just proud to have you here, he was in awe of you.

And the way he looked at you, as though you were the most precious thing in his life, made you feel as though the world had stopped spinning. If only for a moment.

Later, as Pau guided you down the carpet and into the entrance hall of the gala, the energy around you both felt electric; like everyone in the room could sense something, but no one dared say it out loud.

His grip on your hand was steady, a silent reassurance you didn’t know you needed. Fingers laced securely with yours as if to silently tell the world, this is her. She’s with me.

If the photographers outside had been relentless, the attention inside was only slightly more subdued. Golden lights sparkled from the chandeliers above, the low hum of voices mixing with the faint clink of champagne glasses.

Everywhere you looked, there were athletes, managers, and club executives scattered across the sprawling room. Yet, Pau’s attention stayed fixed on you.

"You okay?" he murmured, leaning down so you could hear him over the low hum of conversations.

You nodded, letting a soft smile pull at your lips. "You’re staring again, Pau."

"Can’t help it," he replied effortlessly, his voice soft but firm.

Before you could respond, a familiar voice called out, slicing through the moment like a knife.

"Cubarsi! Took you long enough!"

You both turned to see a small group of Pau’s teammates nearby, clearly having spotted him the moment he entered the room. They were gathered by one of the cocktail tables, grinning like they were about to make the most of the situation.

Pau sighed lightly but didn’t look away from you. "Here we go," he said under his breath, his tone affectionate but exasperated.

He finally turned toward them, and as the two of you walked over, you felt a subtle shift in the air; a mix of curiosity and amusement radiating off the group.

"That’s why he was late," one of them muttered loud enough for you to hear, smirking as their eyes flickered to you.

"Didn’t think Pau would actually show up with someone," another chimed in, barely hiding the grin spreading across his face. "And here he is, making the rest of us look bad."

Pau gave them a pointed look, still holding your hand. "Don’t start."

"Oh, we’re starting," one of them shot back, clearly unable to resist. Then he turned toward you, his grin turning charming as he asked, "And who do we have to thank for getting Pau to finally show some personality?"

You didn’t miss the way Pau’s grip tightened slightly, subtle, but enough to remind you of his presence. Before you could answer, Pau beat you to it.

"She doesn’t need to answer that," he said insipidly, though the smile tugging at his lips defied the edge to his tone. "You can just say thank you and move on."

The guys let out a chorus of mock oohs, clearly enjoying Pau’s rare show of protectiveness.

"Relax, Cubarsi," one of them said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "We’re just saying. You bring someone like her to a club event, and what do you expect us to do? Pretend we’re not impressed?"

Pau shot him a sharp look, his hand never leaving yours as he turned back to you. His gaze softened immediately, a stark contrast to the deadpan he’d reserved for his teammates. "Ignore them," he said quietly, just for you. "They don’t know how to act."

"I heard that," one of the guys said, but his teasing tone made it clear he wasn’t offended. "Come on, man. You can’t blame us for being curious. Who is she?"

Pau hesitated for half a second, just long enough for his teammates to notice, which only made their grins widen.

"Oh, he’s done for," one of them laughed, nudging another’s shoulder. "Look at him."

"Pau’s not even denying it," someone else added, clearly entertained.

You turned to look at Pau, arching a brow in amusement. "They’re not going to stop, are they?"

"No," he admitted softly, a touch of exasperation in his voice. But then, as if to shut them out entirely, he shifted his focus back to you, his thumb brushing against your hand absentmindedly. "But they’re not important."

Pau’s eyes lingered on you, his expression softening as if seeing you for the first time. You felt heat creep up your cheeks under the weight of his stare. It was impossible to ignore, how utterly focused he was, like you were the only person in the room.

Unfortunately for Pau, his teammates were still watching.

"Oh, he's down bad," one of them teased. His teammates erupted with laughter, their teasing relentless but harmless.

"Could you be more obvious?" another chimed in.

Pau finally shot them a look over his shoulder, one that managed to quiet the group for a moment. "You all done?"

"Not even close," one of them muttered with a smirk. "But we’ll give you a break, for now."

Before they could start up again, Pau turned back to you, his expression softening in an instant. The sudden shift made your heart stutter; it was like a light only you got to see.

"I told you," he said, his voice low and steady, "they’re children."

You laughed quietly, shaking your head. "They’re not so bad."

"You’re being too nice," Pau said, a teasing glint in his eyes. Then, leaning closer so his words were just for you, he added, "They’re lucky you’re here to keep me from walking out."

"Oh, so I’m your saving grace now?" you teased back, though the way his words sent warmth spreading through you made it hard to keep a straight face.

"Always," Pau replied simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

And before you could come up with a response, one of the guys let out a loud groan from behind him.

"Seriously, Cubarsi, stop looking at her like that. You’re embarrassing the rest of us."

Pau didn’t even glance their way. His gaze held yours like you were the only one in the room, his thumb brushing over your hand one more time. "Let them be embarrassed," he murmured. "I’m not stopping."

You stared at him, caught completely off guard by how serious he was, how unapologetically in love he looked. Your heart hammered in your chest, but before you could process it, Pau gave your hand a light squeeze and leaned down once more.

"You look beautiful tonight," he said softly, as if the rest of the world had completely melted away.

The room around you felt distant; the lights, the noise, the teasing voices in the background. None of it mattered. Not when Pau was looking at you like this.

The teasing had dulled down a little after Pau’s teammates were finally distracted by other conversations, and for once, the two of you were left to yourselves. You stood beside him, your hand still in his as the evening carried on.

The gala had a certain charm to it, a mix of elegance and chaos that only big events like this could pull off. But truthfully, you didn’t care about any of it.

All you could feel was him.

The way Pau stood so close, like even the thought of space between you was unbearable. The subtle brush of his thumb against your knuckles. The way his eyes, soft and unwavering, would find yours every few minutes, as though he just couldn’t help himself.

You could feel the weight of people’s gazes. Every once in a while, someone would shoot you both a curious look or whisper something to the person next to them, but none of it mattered when Pau turned to you, his voice soft.

"You’re okay, right?"

His quiet concern made you smile. "You’ve asked me that three times now."

"Because I want to be sure." He squeezed your hand lightly, his expression warm. "You’re handling all this too well. If it were me, I’d want to disappear after five minutes."

You bit back a grin, tilting your head up at him. "And yet here you are, sticking it out for me."

Pau smiled, that kind that turned his soft features into something bright and breathtaking. "Of course. It’s you."

It was a simple phrase, barely more than a whisper, but the way he said it made your chest tighten. It’s you. Like the answer to every question in the world was standing right in front of him.

Before you could respond, a new wave of guests poured into the hall, forcing you and Pau to shift off to the side. The corner of the room was quieter, a little more private, away from the endless hum of conversations. Pau took the opportunity to guide you over, his hand firm against the small of your back.

The moment you stopped, he turned to face you fully, still holding onto your hand. For a moment, neither of you said anything. It was just quiet between you; comfortable, grounding, as if the rest of the world had gone still.

"You’re doing that thing again," you said softly, breaking the silence.

"What thing?" Pau’s voice was low, teasing, but there was something else in it, something heavier.

"Staring," you replied, though the warmth in your cheeks betrayed you. "Like I’m the only person here."

"Because you are," he said, his words coming out effortlessly, like he didn’t even need to think about them.

Your heart stuttered. The weight of his gaze was impossible to ignore; soft, steady, and so full of something you didn’t dare name out loud.

He was looking at you like you’d hung the stars in the sky, like he couldn’t believe you were real. And the way it made you feel, light, dizzy and almost untethered, was unlike anything you’d ever experienced.

"You’re ridiculous," you murmured, shaking your head.

Pau only smiled, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear. His fingers lingered there for half a second, brushing against your skin so lightly it made your breath catch.

"You’re beautiful," he said softly, like he didn’t even mean to say it out loud.

"Pau-"

"Just let me say it," he cut in gently, his thumb grazing your cheek. "You have no idea how lucky I feel right now."

For a moment, you were frozen in place, caught under the weight of his words. How was it possible for someone to look at you like this? To see you, really see you, and make you feel like the most extraordinary person in the room?

Pau tilted his head slightly, his gaze dipping down to your lips for the briefest second before meeting your eyes again. The subtle shift sent warmth rushing to your cheeks, and suddenly, the air between you felt heavier.

"Someone might see," you whispered, your voice barely audible.

He smiled faintly, his hand still cupping your cheek. "Let them see. I don’t care."

Before you could say anything else, he leaned in. It was gentle at first, tentative, as though he was waiting for you to stop him, but you didn’t. You couldn’t. Your eyes fluttered closed, and in the next breath, his lips were on yours.

The kiss was soft, slow. Like he had all the time in the world to love you, and he wasn’t about to rush it. The noise of the gala seemed to fade away entirely, the weight of Pau’s touch anchoring you in place. One of his hands stayed against your cheek while the other slid to your waist, pulling you just a little closer.

It was impossible to think about anything else. About the event, the people, the cameras waiting just outside the doors, when he kissed you like this. Like you were the only thing that mattered.

After a moment, Pau pulled back just enough to rest his forehead against yours, his eyes still closed. Neither of you said anything at first. The silence wasn’t awkward; it was soft, filled with something neither of you could put into words.

Finally, Pau opened his eyes, a small, lopsided smile tugging at his lips. "I’ve wanted to do that all night."

You let out a breathless laugh, still trying to collect yourself. "You’re lucky no one saw."

"I wouldn’t care if they did," he replied easily, brushing his thumb over your cheek one last time before letting his hand drop. "They’ll know soon enough."

Your heart skipped a beat at his words, but before you could respond, you both heard a faint, teasing voice from a few feet away.

"Did we interrupt something?"

You froze instinctively, whipping your head around to see two of Pau’s teammates watching the two of you with matching smirks.

Pau straightened slightly, his expression shifting into something closer to exasperation. "You two again? Don’t you have anything better to do?"

"Not when you’re putting on a show," one of them shot back, clearly enjoying himself. "Seriously, though, if you’re gonna sneak off to the corner for a moment, maybe don’t pick the one spot where everyone can see you."

Heat rushed to your face, but before you could get embarrassed, he squeezed your hand lightly, a small but deliberate reminder he was there. He shot his teammates a look that was more annoyed than anything else.

"Maybe mind your own business next time," he said.

One of the guys grinned, clearly unfazed. "Relax, Cubarsi. We’re just happy for you. You’ve been acting like a lovesick puppy all night, it’s about time you did something about it."

Pau ignored them, turning his attention back to you. His expression softened immediately, like his teammates didn’t even exist. "Come on," he murmured, brushing his thumb over the back of your hand. "Let’s get out of here for a minute."

You let him pull you away, barely registering the quiet laughter of his teammates behind you. His fingers stayed intertwined with yours, grounding you like a quiet promise as he guided you toward a quieter part of the gala, where the noise dulled to a low hum.

"Are they always like that?" you asked softly, though you couldn’t help but smile.

"Unfortunately," Pau replied, shaking his head. "But it doesn’t matter. They’ll get over it."

He stopped walking once you were both out of sight, turning back to you with that same soft, steady look in his eyes. "Are you okay?"

You nodded, your heart still racing from everything that had just happened. "More than okay."

Pau smiled faintly, his fingers brushing against yours once more. "Good. Because I don’t plan on letting go of you anytime soon."

You felt warmth bloom in your chest at his words, and as Pau pulled you just a little closer, you realized you didn’t want him to, either.

The night stretched on, but you hardly noticed. The gala was alive with energy, music, laughter and the hum of conversations all around.

But for you, the only person in the room was Pau.

After that kiss, he hadn’t strayed from your side. His hand remained intertwined with yours, his thumb tracing slow, comforting circles on your skin.

The movement was casual, like second nature, but the weight of it, the unspoken tenderness, was impossible to ignore. It made your heart flutter each time you caught it.

Pau couldn’t stop looking at you either. Every glance was drenched with admiration, like he couldn’t believe you were real, standing beside him, shining under the soft lights of the venue.

You noticed it every time someone greeted him. He would exchange polite words with a teammate, a coach, or a sponsor, but his eyes always drifted back to you. Like no one else mattered.

You were standing near one of the grand tables, talking with a few people Pau seemed to know. He was keeping the conversation light, mostly for your sake, his hand never leaving yours. You were mid laugh when you caught something, or rather someone, out of the corner of your eye.

It was a man across the room, tall and well dressed, his gaze unmistakably lingering on you.

You thought nothing of it at first. You were used to people glancing around at these events, sizing up everyone in the room. But this man wasn’t looking at the crowd, he was looking directly at you, holding the stare for just a little too long. You shifted on your heels, feeling slightly uncomfortable, and tightened your hold on Pau’s hand without realizing it.

Pau noticed instantly. His smile faltered, his head turning subtly in the direction you were looking. His gaze darkened the moment he spotted the stranger, sharp and unmistakable.

The warmth of his hand in yours was suddenly firmer, protective. He didn’t say anything, didn’t need to, but the message was clear. You’re with me.

"Pau," you murmured softly, as if to bring him back to the moment.

His eyes flickered to you, instantly softening. The frustration there melted the moment he met your gaze. "Sorry," he muttered, forcing a small smile as if he’d been caught. "I just-"

"You don’t need to explain," you teased gently, though your voice was laced with fondness.

"Still," Pau added, tilting his head slightly as he looked down at you, a mischievous spark in his eye, "if he keeps staring at you like that, I’m not responsible for what happens."

You let out a soft laugh, rolling your eyes. "Oh, please. You’re not intimidating anyone, Pau."

"Are you sure about that?" he challenged, his voice dipping just enough to make your heart race.

The moment hung between you, electric and full of something unspoken. And then, Pau tugged you gently toward him, forcing you to tilt your head up as he leaned down closer.

"You look too beautiful tonight," he said. His words were meant for you alone, low and warm like a secret shared in the dark. "That’s the problem."

You felt your cheeks flush at the way he said it; like he was confessing something sacred, something he’d been holding onto for hours. You couldn’t look away from him.

"And what would you like me to do about that, hm?" you teased, trying to steady your voice despite the butterflies in your chest.

"Stay close to me," Pau murmured, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

"You’re lucky I like you, Cubarsi," you said, though your voice had softened.

"Like me?" he echoed, pretending to be offended. "I think I deserve a bit more credit than that."

Before you could protest, Pau dipped down and pressed a kiss to your forehead; sweet, lingering, and painfully soft. It wasn’t showy or loud, but it sent a message loud and clear. You were his, and he wasn’t letting anyone forget it.

When you pulled back to look at him, you could see it again, the look of awe in his eyes. Like he still couldn’t believe you were real.

"I think you enjoy showing off," you teased lightly, but the warmth in your voice betrayed how much you adored him for it.

"Only when it comes to you," Pau replied smoothly, grinning as his hand lifted to gently tuck a strand of hair behind your ear.

Across the room, a few of Pau’s teammates had clearly noticed the little display. You could hear their teasing whistles and calls from a distance, but Pau didn’t care. He stayed close to you, smiling like the happiest man alive.

"Looks like they’re having fun," you said, nodding subtly toward them.

"Let them," Pau replied with a small shrug. "They’ll get over it."

You laughed at his nonchalance, but before you could say anything else, Pau leaned in again, just close enough that his voice was a soft murmur.

"Let’s get out of here soon," he suggested. "I’d rather spend the rest of the night with just you."

The way he said it made your heart flip. "And where would we go?" you asked, biting back a smile.

"Anywhere you want," he replied, his gaze steady and full of warmth. "As long as I’m with you."

You couldn’t fight the grin that broke across your face. "You really don’t let up, do you?"

"Not when it comes to you," Pau answered without missing a beat.

And just like that, with his hand still holding yours and his eyes never straying far from your face, the rest of the world melted away. It didn’t matter where you were, award show, gala, or anywhere else, as long as Pau was beside you.

For him, and for you, there was no better place to be.