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It was not usual for it to happen, both are out of the squad at Old Trafford, so they ended up staying in Barcelona. One due to injury and another due to yellow card accumulation.
Gavi visited his friend to see how he was doing, but specify to watch the game together and have him by his side; Someone to celebrate or cry with.
Just for that.
Among much bickering, the anxiety that emanated from Gavi could be felt even in the chicken soup that Pedri had made with great difficulty and following Fer's instructions by mobile.
Once the meal was finished, Pedri was dragged to his car by the minor to kill the time that still remained. Anxiety already exceeded the four walls of his small home and was even more multiplied by the minimal patience and self-control that the man born in Seville possessed.
They ended up in a somewhat remote shopping center for Pedri's kind. The streets were almost empty as well as said place. It is well known that Barcelona is one of the strongholds for the passion of football and probably most of its inhabitants were in their homes or -peñas- waiting for the start of the match.
Gavi wore glasses despite the twilight of the day and Pedri was as usual with a sweatshirt and hiding his face by the hood.
"We're stupid, dude" Pedri said to Gavi when they left his apartment in such a pitiful costume because they were the golden children of the city and their simple profile and complexion was present in the memory of every fan in the city.
But against all odds they managed to go unnoticed.
Gavi was looking at some sweaters while Pedri was looking for something he needs. He wasn't one to have a lot of clothes so it was normal for him to carry almost nothing in his hands. A cap and a black jacket was what he held. Quite the opposite of Gavi who was wearing two joggers, three T-shirts, two jeans and already two sweaters when he had just started snooping in that section.
Pedri had fun seeing the attention and passion that Gavi devotes when choosing his clothes, like in the matches. Pedri smiled at everything Gavi was capable of doing to forget the game.
He took a seat to rest his legs after all, he was in recovery and was not allowed to travel long distances or stand for long. It took a few minutes that Gavi realized the absence of his friend so he looked for him finding his body sitting with his back turned, looking at his mobile.
Gavi remained pensive until in the distance he spotted some girls and another of his brilliant ideas occurred to him worthy of him to be added to his repertoire. Besides being able to kill his anxiety, of course.
Choosing clothes no longer served him much.
Gavi took a place next to his friend. Realizing this, Pedri gave him a small crooked smile. Gavi didn't have to be very smart to know that Pedri is bored and he only agreed to go out to please him as always.
He had a small moral dilemma at the beginning of leaving for a second, if Pedri said they were leaving... They were leaving. He doesn't force him into anything.
He machined little thoughts into his amused little head.
"Hey!" he settled next to him feeling the warmth of Pedri "I propose a game, Mr. banana"
Pedri gave a little snort, stopping looking at his mobile and ready to listen to one of the many crazy ideas that had occurred to him lately.
"Come on, it'll be fun" insisted the youngest passing his arm over the neck of the Canarian and bringing his face closer to Pedri's ear.
......
"It must be a fucking joke!" Pedri moves the body away from him in surprise.
"nope" said a happy Gavi full of satisfaction."and whoever gets rejected first, wins!"
Right now after hearing all. Pedri wants is to lie in bed and curl up in himself like he has been doing since after the first game against Manchester. He denies to himself the possibility of accepting. But it doesn't work because Gavi has his puppy dog eyes right now.
"Fuck.." he exhales and immediately looks around, he wants to tee off to win or lose without participating. Pedri sees a pretty woman, a little older for them but not that much of course. He dresses elegantly and thinks that Gavi has no chance because she probably doesn't care nothing about football.
"She" he points to Gavi. Pedri doesn't believe that he dares, he wants to believe that he will regret it in the second one. However, Gavi gets up smiling and walks towards the girl.
Pedri smiles at his naivety. Pedri is aware of his feelings but he resigned himself a long time ago to being the best friend, however it still hurts to see Gavi flirting every time; just like now when he chats with the girl in a fun and entertaining way in front of his eyes.
It's not more than two minutes and he sees how the girl writes something and passes her a piece of paper that Gavi keeps in his back pocket. Shortly after they say goodbye with two kisses and Gavi approaches triumphantly with the piece of paper in hands.
Pedri doesn't understand what's going on through that crazy head, they are not supposed to win by getting the date; In addition, it is clear that it is something petty to think about this game.
Gavi takes a seat next to him again.
"Your turn" Gavi says and Pedri takes a deep breath to gather strength.
"She" indicates the Sevillian, pointing to a girl his age, Pedri could even claim to be younger than him. Pedri doesn't believe that he would be able to play with the feelings of an innocent. But he remembers that he can always lie. Including to Gavi.
Gavi watches his friend go to his destination, he wishes Pedri was rejected for some reason. Gavi wants to lose already for suggesting such a stupid game. But he does not think as Pedri says.
Everything helps him to forget the bad luck of both and that the team plays the qualifiers in minutes.
He sees Pedri greet her kindly, by the woman's reaction he can ensure that Pedri will not be rejected and will continue the game allowing Gavi provoke Pedri even more. On the other hand he wants the opposite. He doesn't want to continue when he sees from the profile that Pedri smiles at her.
He can't be interested, right? Gavi thinks. The Pedri's summer scandal and now known to the whole world removed the expectations and desires of the canarian to even have an affaire... Right?
However, he also thinks that he can lose him by forcing to play. Everything is a contradiction right now within Gavi. He also hates himself a bit for being somewhat machiavellian.
He sees how they talk for a long five minutes that seem to never end and they even take a picture and finally Pedri approaches seriously with a piece of paper between his fingers.
"I Win" the canarian already ensures a few meters.
Gavi doesn't believe him "what are you saying! If you have the number or whatever" he blurts out with contempt.
Pedri takes his place once again, noticeably tired, his dark circles are darker than usual and his expression shows no amusement.
"Actually, it's for you," Pedri says, handing him the little note. Gavi takes it and unfolds the paper, seeing the Instagram username accompanied by the word Gavi with a small heart on the I.
"add her, she's really nice and of your age" "in fact, you should go and meet her right now" Pedri whispers as he adjusts his hood.
Gavi doesn't answer.
"Anyway, I won and the game was over" Pedri looks at him again.
He seems insistent for him to make a decision, Gavi saves the note and automatically gets up following the route Pedri returned by.
Gavi thinks that everything he does is useless. Pedri never be yours... He thinks
He is frustrated to keep quiet and only send hints...
Now the anxiety of never being reciprocated surpasses that of the match.
He stops, unable to move any further and returns to a Pedri who already is taking the few things he choosed.
"Pedri... " Pedri turns on his axis surprised that Gavi is already back. "you now.."
"I won't suggest any more silly games" for some reason Gavi's breathing becomes heavy.
"okey..." Pedri responds concisely. He doesn't understand how but he understands. Because he sees his eyes reflected in Gavi's hazelnuts looking at him that way, as he himself does.
"In fact, I didn't flirt with her" Pedri has the need to confess. "We talked about the club and at the end I told him that you might be interested, sorry about that" Pedri lowers his gaze.
Gavi exhales in relief.
"Me neither" he replies, identifying Pedri's unspoken question "I'm not interested, I couldn't... in fact I apologized at the end". Gavi also confesses.
Pedri looks at him pensively, half-closed his brown eyes embraced by the tenuous darkness of his dark circles. Gavi now believes he has a chance.
"What do we do then?" Pedri sighs just after each word.
"invent a new game" answers Gavi smiling shortening the space between them with each step.
"Okay" Pedri wets his lips, averting his gaze again, feeling a pressure against his chest that prevents him from moving.
"But one where it has a rule that you and I are extremely honest with each other" Gavi barely controls his breathing rate. Gavi believes that he could die right now.
Pedri looks at him again as nervous as he thinks he is, as if they were each other's reflection. As if he could hear his thoughts and understand his desires.
Pedri barely outlines an incipient smile in the left corner. "¿what will the game be called?" finely comes out of Pedri's red and slightly cracked lips.
"The name doesn't matter." Gavi stretches out his hand, taking Pedri's, kindly caressing the back with his thumb.
"Do you think we could start playing now" he adds and approaches Pedri a few centimeters away, intertwining his fingers with those of the canarian.
Gavi is alienated from the notion of time and the sense of him losing himself in those brown eyes that stop his heartbeat and that smile that paralyzes the perception of his reality.
Damn... Gavi loves him so much.
He wants to kiss him right now...he closes his eyelids tilting his face.
______
"Ten minutes to the start of this exciting match between Futbol Club Barcelona and United" Both hear through the store's loudspeaker. "a complicated match for the Catalans"
Pedri lets go of his hand with a small laugh looking at Gavi's expression, then Pedri looks around to see if anyone caught their moment.
Gavi curses the fucking speaker; but Pedri looks at him again and appeases his annoyance.
"Let's go home Pablo" offers Pedri with a tender gesture of his head for him to follow.
Gavi smiles because he understands that now there is an -us-.
"Let's go home" Gavi repeats ans smiles warmly following Pedri to the garage trying to touch Pedri's fingers to never let to go again.