you stood frozen in the doorway, staring at the familiar face you hadn’t seen in years. pedri’s eyes, those same deep brown eyes that once held your world, locked onto yours. he looked just as stunned as you felt.

“pedro?” your voice came out as a whisper, disbelief lacing every syllable.

“hi, y/n,” he replied, a nervous smile tugging at his lips. “can we talk?”

you blinked, trying to process his unexpected presence. “what are you doing here?” you finally managed to ask, your heart pounding in your chest. then it clicked. “did fer send you?”

he took a deep breath, his gaze never leaving yours. “he might have mentioned you were starting school in the city. congratulations, by the way. but i needed to see you, y/n. i know it’s been a long time, but i couldn’t let this chance slip by.”

you shook your head, memories of the past rushing back. “pedri, this isn’t a good time,” you said, your voice firm. but you didn’t have the heart to reject him. your heart still clenched at the sight of him, and your body craved to be near him. “but there’s a coffee shop around the corner. we can talk there.”

“okay, that works,” he said, nodding quickly. “lead the way.”

you grabbed your keys and phone, stepping out into the hallway and closing your door behind you. the walk to the coffee shop was silent, the air thick with unspoken words. you finally arrived at a small, cozy café and found a secluded corner table.

pedri was the first to break the silence. “i was planning to order. should i get you a macchiato? with caramel?” he remembered your favorite, of course he did. even though coffee was never his thing, he knew how much you raved about the drink and how many times he showed up at your door with it just to earn him a smile and a kiss.

“i actually don’t drink coffee anymore,” you stated, keeping your poker face. “i had to cut it out. it only worsened my anxiety,” your voice dropped, tinged with embarrassment.

pedri didn’t know what to say. he didn’t like the distant look you held on your face because it was unlike the vulnerable version of yourself he held and spoke through panic attacks with. how many had he missed? how bad had it gotten? the questions rested on his tongue, but he decided not to pry, even if that’s all he really wanted to do.

the silence was suffocating, making you feel even more self-conscious. “i do like matcha. maybe an iced matcha latte, please,” you politely spoke.

the whole interaction felt so foreign to pedri. between the two of you, you’d never been awkward around one another. your relationship grew so naturally and organically, where you could speak to each other about anything, even when life got busy.

“okay,” pedri offered you a smile before walking to the counter. surely, the patrons recognized him, which added to your nerves. you were already high-strung at seeing him unexpectedly, now you had to sit under the gaze of his fans.

once seated with your drinks, pedri looked at you with earnest eyes. you thanked him before taking a sip of your drink. “i’ve missed you, y/n. not a day goes by that i don’t think about you. about us. i made a mistake letting you go, and i’ve regretted it ever since.”

you took a deep breath, your guard still up. “pedri, it’s been years. we’ve both changed. our lives are different now. let’s not forget you are the one who broke up with me.”

“i know,” he said quickly, leaning forward. “but some things haven’t changed. my feelings for you haven’t changed. i wanted to tell you in person that i’m here, in barcelona, and i want to make things right. i want to make up for every day we’ve been apart.”

you shook your head slightly, struggling to keep your emotions in check. “pedri, it’s not that simple. you broke my heart. you don’t just get to show up and expect everything to be okay.”

“i know it won’t be easy,” he admitted, his voice earnest. “but i’m willing to try. i’m willing to do whatever it takes to prove to you that we can have a future together. please, just give me a chance.”

you looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity and hope reflected there, but the pain from the past still lingered. “why now, pedri? why after all this time? we are so far from the people we were when we were teenagers.”

he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “because i realized that no matter what i achieve, it means nothing without you. the distance was an obstacle, but now we’re in the same city. i can’t let this opportunity slip by without trying.”

you bit your lip, torn between the walls you’d built and the part of you that still cared. “i need time to think, pedri. this isn’t something i can decide right away.”

“i understand,” he said softly. “take all the time you need. just know that i’m here, and i’m not going anywhere.”

you nodded slowly, feeling the weight of the conversation settle over you. “thanks for understanding. i should get back now.”

“of course,” he replied, standing up. “i’m just a call away if you want to talk more.”

as you walked back to your dorm, you couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. seeing pedri again had stirred up feelings you thought you’d buried, but you knew you had to protect your heart. only time would tell if you could ever let him back in.

after walking back to your dorm, you couldn’t shake the mix of emotions from your encounter with pedri. the sight of him, the tension between you, and the lingering feelings left you feeling overwhelmed. needing to talk to someone who might understand, you reached for your phone and dialed fernando’s number.

the call connected, and fernando’s face appeared on your screen, looking both concerned and surprised to see you calling. “hey, y/n. what’s up? is everything okay?”

you took a deep breath, struggling to keep your voice steady. “fer, i need to ask you something. why did you send pedri to my dorm? he showed up out of nowhere, and i don’t know what to do.”

fernando’s brow furrowed, and he looked genuinely puzzled. “i didn’t send him, y/n. i had no idea he was going to show up like that. but i’m glad you called. it sounds like you’ve had a rough day.”

“yeah,” you said, your voice trembling. “seeing him again… it brought up so many old feelings. i thought i was over him, but now i’m not sure. he’s still the same pedri who broke my heart, and yet… i can’t deny that part of me still loves him.”

fernando listened attentively, his expression softening as he processed your words. “it’s okay to still have feelings for him. emotions are complicated, and seeing someone who meant so much to you can stir up a lot of unresolved feelings. it’s clear you’re struggling with this.”

“it’s just hard,” you admitted, tears welling in your eyes. “i thought i’d moved on. i built a life without him. and now, with him showing up again, it feels like everything i’ve tried to forget is coming back.”

“y/n, i know it’s difficult,” fernando said gently. “but maybe this is an opportunity for you to address those feelings and decide what you want. if he’s really serious about making things right, you need to think about whether you’re willing to give him another chance.”

you nodded, wiping away a tear. “i’m just so confused. i don’t know if i can trust him again.”

“take your time,” fernando encouraged. “it’s okay to be cautious. just remember, you have every right to protect your heart. and if you ever need to talk or figure things out, i’m here for you.”

“thanks, fer,” you said, managing a weak smile. “i really needed to hear that.”

as you ended the call, you sat down on your bed, feeling a mix of relief and sadness. fernando’s words helped, but the emotional weight of the day was still heavy. you stared at the iced matcha latte pedri had left you, its presence a bittersweet reminder of the pas

pedri knew showing up at your dorm out of nowhere was a bad idea, but he couldn’t help himself. after speaking to your mom, fishing for any new information about you, he found out where you were staying. she even told him your exact dorm number. he felt a mix of excitement and nerves, knowing this was his chance to make things right. he had rehearsed what he wanted to say, but seeing you again had thrown him off balance.

when he knocked on your dorm door, he was met with the unexpected sight of you opening it while wearing just a tank top. he felt a rush of emotions, his heart pounding as he took in the sight of you. you looked effortlessly beautiful, even in such a casual outfit. it was clear that you had just been relaxing, and the flannel you pulled over yourself did little to hide the way you made his heart race.

pedri’s eyes lingered on you, and he could see the way his gaze made you shiver slightly. his mind raced with the realization of just how much he had missed you, how even the simplest moments were filled with a beauty he hadn’t truly appreciated until now. the contrast of your relaxed appearance against the seriousness of the situation only intensified his longing.

as he walked back to his own place, he couldn’t help but replay your conversation in his head. the look in your eyes, the guarded tone of your voice, the way you still affected him after all these years. he was determined to win you back, but he knew it wouldn’t be easy. the journey was just beginning, and he was willing to do whatever it took to prove his unchanging love for you.

the next day, you were rushing out of your dorm, already late for your first class, when you saw him standing there again. pedri, with a determined look on his face and your favorite iced matcha latte in hand. your heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, but you quickly steeled yourself, reminding yourself of the hurt you’d endured.

“good morning,” he greeted, holding out the drink. “i thought you might need this.”

you hesitated, glancing at the drink before meeting his eyes. “you didn’t have to do that,” you said, your voice clipped. “i don’t need your gestures, pedri.”

“i know,” he replied softly, not withdrawing the drink. “but i want to. i want to show you that i’m serious about making things right.”

you sighed, taking the drink from him reluctantly. “this doesn’t change anything,” you warned, taking a cautious sip. “we can’t just go back to how things were.”

“i understand,” he said, his eyes earnest. “but i’m here, and i’m not giving up. i want to earn your trust again, y/n.”

you looked away, the mix of emotions overwhelming you. “i’m late for class,” you said, trying to maintain your composure. “thanks for the drink, but don’t expect me to be waiting around for you.”

“i don’t expect anything,” he said quickly. “i just... want you to know that i’m here. whenever you’re ready.”

you nodded slightly, turning to walk away. “we’ll see,” you murmured, feeling the weight of his gaze on your back as you hurried off to class. the iced matcha latte in your hand felt like a tangible reminder of the past, and despite your best efforts to remain guarded, you couldn’t deny the small flicker of hope that he might truly be trying to make amends.

as you walked to class, you felt a familiar ache in your chest. the sight of him, the sound of his voice, the small gesture of your favorite drink—all of it brought back memories you’d tried so hard to bury. it was as if the wounds you thought had healed were being ripped open again.

you couldn’t help but remember the nights you cried yourself to sleep after the breakup, the way your heart shattered when he chose distance over you. it had taken everything in you to move on, to build a life without him. and now, here he was, stirring up all those emotions again.

tears pricked at the corners of your eyes as you quickened your pace, desperate to put some distance between you and the pain he brought back with him. the matcha latte, once a source of comfort, now felt like a cruel reminder of what you’d lost. you wanted to believe he had changed, that he was sincere in his efforts to make things right, but the fear of being hurt again was too overwhelming.

reaching your classroom, you took a deep breath and wiped away a stray tear. you couldn’t afford to let him see how much he still affected you. you had to stay strong, to protect your heart, even if it meant pushing him away. as you sat down and tried to focus on the lecture, the words seemed to blur together, overshadowed by the weight of your unresolved feelings. the sadness of seeing him again, coupled with the longing for what once was, felt like a heavy burden you weren’t sure you could bear.

after finishing all your lectures for the day, you were practically a zombie walking back to your dorm. the emotional turmoil from seeing pedri earlier in the day left you drained. stay strong, you reminded yourself; this is a stepping stone for achieving your dream. you breathed in and out, trying to push away the lingering ache in your heart. you were so exhausted you couldn’t even think about cooking or eating right now.

when you reached your dorm, you noticed a small delivery bag waiting at your door. your curiosity got the better of you, and you carefully opened it. inside was a neatly packed meal and a handwritten note.

you unfolded the note with trembling hands, your heart pounding as you read the familiar handwriting.

y/n,

i know it’s been a tough day, and i didn’t want to add to your stress. i hope this helps a little. i’m here if you need me.

— pedri

you stared at the note, the simple act of kindness making the lump in your throat tighten. you could feel tears welling up again, the pain and hope mingling in your chest. you’d told him not to expect anything, but here he was, showing up again and again, trying to make things right.

you sat on the floor, the food forgotten beside you, and pulled out your phone. you hovered over his contact, your finger hovering above the call button. your mind raced with memories of the past—of laughter, of love, and of the heartache that had followed. you remembered the warmth of his touch, the way he had made you feel special, and how it all came crashing down when he chose distance over you.

a part of you wanted to call him, to hear his voice and see if there was any chance of rekindling what you once had. but another part of you was terrified of getting hurt again, of opening yourself up to the possibility of more pain. you knew that trusting him again would require time and healing, and you weren’t sure if you were ready to take that leap.

you took a deep breath and stared at the phone, your emotions swirling in a chaotic mix of longing and fear. finally, you set the phone down, feeling a sense of resignation wash over you. it was too soon to make any decisions, and you needed more time to process everything.

as you slowly stood up, feeling the weight of the day pressing down on you, you glanced at the food and the note once more. the gesture of his continued efforts had left an indelible mark on your heart.

you resolved to take it one step at a time, to give yourself the space to heal and reflect. but just as you were about to walk away, a small voice inside you whispered that maybe, just maybe, you should give him a chance.

you hesitated, feeling the familiar ache in your chest. slowly, you picked up your phone again, your finger hovering over pedri’s contact. your heart raced as you considered the possibility of calling him, of hearing his voice once more.

finally, with a deep breath, you pressed the call button.

the phone rang once, twice, and then you heard his voice on the other end.

“hello?”

your breath caught in your throat as you tried to find your words. the decision had been made, but the uncertainty of what came next weighed heavily on you.

“pedri…” you finally managed to say, your voice trembling. “we need to talk.”

next

as soon as pedri made it back into the locker room after the win over espanyol, he showered quickly, his thoughts already racing ahead. the celebrations disrupted his usual routine, but that didn’t stop him from meeting his family in the corridor outside the visitors' room.

“pedrito!” his mother’s voice was a balm to his buzzing nerves. he found his little family draped in his jerseys and entered his mom’s loving embrace. his father and brother, fernando, joined in shortly after. the adrenaline was still rushing through his veins, and he could not shake the happiness of achieving one of his dreams.

“congratulations, my boy,” his father said, kissing the top of his head. fer squeezed the back of his neck lovingly, the familiar touch grounding him.

the embrace was interrupted by his mother’s ringtone blaring from her phone.

“one second.” she pulled away and kissed his cheek before pulling her phone out. her lips broke into a smile seeing who was calling. “it’s lucia. she texted me earlier asking you to call her so she can congratulate you and make you some goxua when you come home.” his mom rattled off about her best friend before walking away to answer her phone.

pedri was unfazed at the mention of his mother’s best friend but couldn’t help his mind wandering to her daughter once again.

fer is pedri’s best friend; of course, he knew his brother wasn’t over her. however, he gave up on meddling because both of you failed to bite the bucket and tell each other that even after all this time, you’re still deeply in love with each other.

“i need to do some marketing and campaigns for next season, so maybe in a week? you could stay until then if you want,” pedri tried to offer nonchalantly, but he didn’t want to admit how lonely his apartment feels without his family and you.

“fer, you can’t. remember you promised tía that you would help y/n move,” their father spoke up before grabbing his wife’s hand as she re-approached them.

pedri’s eyes widened at his father’s words. “move? where? since when?”

fer looked at his dad with eyes mirroring pedri’s. no one was supposed to know, especially not pedri.

“cariño,” their mom squeezed her husband’s arm before clearing her throat, “yes, but she told us not to tell you. she’s moving to start her master’s degree on the mainland.”

wow, was all pedri thought. he always knew you wanted to further your learning with a master’s degree, but he couldn’t believe time had flown by so quickly. it seemed like just yesterday he held you while you cried, waiting for university acceptances. it broke him when his family attended your graduation and forwarded photos with you. that smile, one that was permanently ingrained in his memory, even though the last time he saw you, that same smile was absent from your face.

“that’s amazing. i always knew she could do it,” his head dropped with a smile.

“she’s actually—” his mom started before thinking over her decision to mention this information. seeing the love that’s ever so present in his eyes, she knew what she had to do. “she’s going to school here in barcelona. she got accepted to the computer engineering program at uab.”

his family could practically see a light bulb brighten over his head. he remembered his words from two years ago and the reason he made the decision to break up with you: the distance. even after all that, he felt the thousands of miles slowly vanish at the idea of you being in the same city as him.

maybe, just maybe, he can allow himself to indulge in the idea of being close to you again. that idea he has had almost every day and night since breaking your heart.

his heart is racing like it’s a game day and the ref is about to blow the whistle.

he finds himself thinking of your time together. you were always so gentle with him, caring for him when he was exhausted from games and training. he was so willing to ruin that, thinking it was the best for both of you.

“everybody keep it down,” pedri said over the voices of his teammates, his closest friends since he moved to barcelona.

“can you hurry? today’s training killed me,” alejandro groaned while slumping onto the already crowded couch.

“hermano, what could be so urgent that you sent an SOS to the group chat?” it was gavi’s turn to speak up.

pedri groaned. if they would stop their questions, maybe he could get there. he looked to his brother for help. fer chuckled before standing on the other side of his brother’s tv.

“okay everybody listen up before my brother bursts a blood vessel,” fer said. pedri rolled his eyes at his brother’s words. he knew what the impromptu meeting was for and was truly just there for moral support.

“i brought you guys here for some advice. you might remember my girl—” he stopped himself. “my ex-girlfriend from two years ago,” he started.

“the one you horribly messed up with?” ansu spoke up.

“the one you have moped over for the past two years,” fermin chimed in.

“the one we thought you’d never get over?” ferran added with a teasing smile.

“thank you for that,” pedri said sarcastically. “yes, my y/n. she has moved to barcelona from tenerife for her master’s degree, and seeing as we broke up because of distance, i think now would be the best time to reach out to her and maybe see if there is hope for us,” he finished and looked down at his friends’ smiles from the couch.

“which leads me to,” he continued and turned his attention to his tv, where he connected his phone.

operation: get y/n back

laughter erupted throughout the room, but not out of judgment; they all knew pedri would be the type of person to create a thorough presentation on how to get the love of his life back.

“you actually made a presentation?” gavi asked, still chuckling.

“of course he did,” fer said, shaking his head with a smile. “pedri, always the planner.”

pedri ignored his friends and puffed his chest while continuing the plan he had turned over in his head for days since he found out his girl was in the same city as him.

“listen, i need all of your help. i’ve mapped out the best places to take her, the right things to say, and even backup plans in case things go wrong.”

“wow, you really went all out,” alejandro said, impressed.

“this is serious, guys. she’s the one. i know it,” pedri said, determination clear in his voice.

“we’re with you, hermano,” ferran said, clapping him on the shoulder. “let’s get her back.”

“first things first,” pedri said, clicking to the next slide on his presentation. “we need to start with a casual meetup. something that doesn’t scream ‘i’m still in love with you’ but more ‘i’m happy you’re here.’”

“a coffee shop,” ansu suggested. “neutral ground, easy conversation.”

“and then what?” fermin asked.

“then, i remind her of the good times we had, but without making it seem like i’m living in the past,” pedri replied. “and i show her that i’m serious about making things work this time.”

“and if she’s moved on?” gavi asked.

pedri paused for a moment, then shook his head. “i don’t think she has. i saw the way she looked at me the last time we spoke. there’s still something there. i just need to show her that i’ve grown and that we can make it work.”

“you’ve got our support, pedri,” ferran said. “let’s make this happen.”

“thanks, guys,” pedri said, feeling a surge of confidence. “i will get her back, even if it’s the last thing i do.”

“did you leave anything? any books? some vitamins? any medicines?” your mom bombarded you with questions, the same ones she has asked every day in the past week you’ve been in your dorm at UAB.

“mami, i am okay. stop worrying. i just got out of a lecture. i was planning to get something to eat.” you could not be bothered to make yourself anything to eat. your dorm has a shared kitchen in the lobby, but you hated going down there midday while everyone was there.

UAB was nothing like your old campus. it doubled in size to compensate for the doubled population as well. you’re not sure you would ever get used to your new environment.

this wasn’t your first time in barcelona, but being here for a week was nothing like your visit from years ago when you came to his games.

nope. don’t think of him. you vowed to yourself the day after the league title you were done mourning your first relationship. you got accepted to your dream school and program. you had your family, and you would get friends. barcelona would have new memories attached to it, and the boy that broke your heart would not be a part of it.

“okay, make sure you eat a good meal, mi amor. don’t stay up again studying, please. your father and i love you,” your mom kissed through the phone as you said your goodbyes.

you loved your mom, but you inherited her tendency to worry. no matter how much you prepared for your test, you still found yourself studying for hours into the night.

you dropped your bag at the front of your room and looked into the mirror. after one week of schooling, you felt drained. you knew how vigorous your program would be but never imagined not having even a moment to breathe. you closed your eyes and took a moment to yourself before hearing a knock at your door.

you furrowed your eyes. you didn’t know anyone in barcelona yet and did not order food, so who could be knocking at your door? you decided to ignore the knocks and continued to take off your flannel, leaving you in your tank top.

that was until the knocking continued. you huffed, it must be a neighbor. there was no one else who would be knocking.

you grew annoyed at the knocking and quickly grabbed the knob without looking at the peephole.

your mistake.

you never imagined the person in front of you. the familiar brown eyes that looked at you. the boy who broke your heart, the one you haven’t seen since the day he shattered your heart on your doorstep.

next

“papi, look, a football pitch!” you screeched from the backseat of your parents' car. the volume of your voice caused your sister to cup her ears beside you.

“yes, mi princesa. right in your backyard you have a pitch,” your dad chuckled from the driver’s seat.

even at just six years old, football consumed your life. your mom credited your father for all the times he yelled at the tv during matches. however, the moment that changed your life was the day your dad took you and your sister to the camp nou for the first time. you swore you fell in love with the sport on the spot. the energy, the passion, and the movement of the players had you hooked.

your parents couldn’t help but smile at the happiness in your voice while absorbing your new surroundings. the move seemed sudden to you and your sister, but after your brother, rafael, was born, it made sense to move away from the city.

you roamed your surroundings and watched the houses from the window before the car came to a halt. one by one, your family barreled out of the car and stood in front of your new home.

your parents smiled while holding rafa between them. their happiness was infectious; even caro couldn’t hold back her smile.

your parents shooed both of you to the park a few meters from your home, the same one with the football pitch. you ran in front of your older sister to the pitch and saw a group of boys playing together. you watched in awe as the boys moved up and down the pitch. however, there was one boy who caught your eye; he seemed about your age and was wearing the same shirt your dad had of his favorite club.

you knew from the shirt alone you had to become friends with him one way or another. so deep in thought, you didn’t recognize the ball hurtling toward your head. it all happened too fast for your little brain to process, and it didn’t hit you (pun intended) until you found yourself looking at the sky on your back.

“hermana!” your sister dropped to her knees. your cheeks heated as you began to get surrounded by the boys who were playing on the pitch.

your sister made sure you were okay before getting up and reprimanding the boys for being so reckless as to hit her little sister.

“are you okay?” you heard from beside you as you turned to see the boy with the top from earlier. you froze, not knowing why the words escaped you.

the boy seemed even more nervous at your silence. without thinking, he placed his hand on your forehead just like his mom would do, causing you to break your silence with a giggle. you quickly nodded, showing you were okay, and then looked down at your hands, suddenly becoming shy. you’d never been this close to a boy before, especially a boy who looked about your age.

“do you like barça?” you finally whispered. you’ve always been shy around new people but felt the need to speak to him because of their shared love for the club on his shirt.

meeting his face finally, you witnessed his face light up like a tree on christmas.

“yes, i love barca. one day i’m going to play for them!” he exclaimed.

“me too!” you squealed, matching his excitement.

“my name is pedro gonzález lópez, and we are going to be best friends starting today,” he proclaimed while extending his hand to help you up.

“and just like that, barcelona reclaimed the league title for the 27th time,” you heard echo from your position behind the counter.

you wiped down the counter for the fifth time to avoid glancing up at the screen. you thought your actions would go unnoticed until you felt a poke at your side. looking next to you, your mom gave you a pointed look, the same look she always gave when hinting about him.

“you know rosa and the family are at the game,” she mentioned for the fifth time. over the past two years since your breakup, your families remained close. as expected, rosa and your mother became best friends through countless playdates and sleepovers over the years.

“yes, mami. i remember from the last five times you mentioned it,” you replied, using humor to disguise your annoyance.

it's been easy to avoid pedri over the years. it was a dance you were familiar with by now. when the season was over and he would return to tenerife, you would visit from the mainland. once you knew he was gone was when you would return. your sister, carolina, has made it clear how childish she thinks you are being, but you have shown no sign of stopping anytime soon.

“you must be so proud of pedrito,” your mom settled on.

of course, you were. god, you were so proud of the player he has become. even though it kills you to think of how far he has gotten without you. he was right, he didn’t need me.

“mami, por favor,” you pleaded. no matter how long has passed since that day, the lump in your throat and ache in your heart never faded.

the gleam in your mom’s eye dimmed, deciding to drop the topic. she took the cloth from you and motioned for you to head to the back while she served the patrons who lined up during your brief encounter. you trudged to the kitchen and slumped into the nearest seat. finally, being away from the buzz of your family’s cafe, you took a deep breath.

the past hour and a half of seeing him on tv had your thoughts racing a million miles per hour. why is it so hard for you to get over him? it has been two years, and he has been seen with women countless times; you cannot understand why you are so stuck on him. no matter how hard you try, your mind always goes back to that dire day.

“i think we should break up,” pedri said as soon as you opened the door to your home. it took you a few moments to truly understand his words.

“what?” you spoke a little lower than a whisper.

“i think we should break up,” he repeated while stuffing his hands into his pockets.

“i heard; i guess what i meant is why? is it something i’ve done?” your hands began to shake. pedri noticed and lifted his hands towards your hands; he had to hold himself back from grabbing your hands like he usually did when you grew anxious.

“no, no, mi vida, you’re perfect,” he rushed out, taking a step toward you.

“obviously not, if you’re breaking up with me,” you huffed, taking a step away from him and wrapping your arms around yourself instead. pedri dropped his hands in defeat, needing a moment to proceed.

“it’s not you, it’s—” you interjected, “let me guess, it’s you? you can save me the movie-type excuse, pedro.”

he could see the hurt in your eyes, and he cursed himself for his actions. even after thinking about this moment over the week and rehearsing it, nothing could have prepared him for seeing your heartbreak in front of his eyes.

“corazón, the distance has been killing me, and i know it’s hurting you. with your schooling and your family’s cafe, you have so much on your plate. let alone, i hardly get to see you because of the season. you know how hard it’s been adjusting to the team.”

you understood completely. going from his boyhood club to one of the biggest clubs in the world has taken pedri and his family by storm. suddenly, he was under a huge magnifying glass where his performances determined whether fans hated or loved him.

“if you need me to come to more games, i can do that. please just let me know how to help you. this can’t be the answer,” you finally entered his space and grasped his hands in your own—desperate for his warmth.

“it is hard to support each other while being two thousand kilometers away,” pedri settled on while gazing deeply into your tear-filled eyes. “what about your classes? your family’s business? your life is here while mine is in barcelona.”

“pedro, i love you. is that not enough to overcome this distance?”

pedri, even though it hurt him, never broke eye contact with you. he brought his hand to the back of your neck and brought his thumb to caress your cheek the way he always did. if this was the last time he got to touch you, he wanted to savor it.

“i love you; i think i always have and always will. but loving each other is not enough.”

you couldn’t hold back your tears as he placed a chaste kiss on your cheek before stepping away from you for good.

you laughed at yourself, how pathetic. he is achieving his dreams while you replay this day more times than you’d care to admit.

next