Chapter Text
June 11, 2026
Pau Cubarsí is a nineteen-year-old with a fairly simple life. He has moved out of his parents’ house and now rents a small apartment. He’s about to start his second year studying veterinary medicine at UC Davis in California. He loves animals and hopes to help as many of them as he can. In his free time, he works part-time at a clothing store to help pay the rent and cover his day-to-day expenses.
Lamine Yamal’s life couldn’t be more different. He’s a successful footballer, living the kind of life many people dream about. He doesn’t have to worry about money. He’s famous, loved, and talented, everything anyone could wish for. Most of his time is spent training and working to become the best footballer he can be. When he’s not training, he spends time with his girlfriend, Ines, as well as his family and friends.
But despite their differences, Lamine and Pau share one thing: an intimate past. Pau was Lamine’s best friend, and Lamine was Pau’s. They had shared countless moments, both good and bad, and promised they would be best friends forever. So how had they drifted apart?
· · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · ·
As teenagers, Lamine and Pau were discovering the world, and themselves together. Pau had always felt a certain tension between them. It wasn’t the kind of tension he felt with anyone else; it was different whenever Lamine was around. Lamine felt it too. Since they had been best friends since childhood, they both assumed it was simply because they knew each other so well.
One day, they were at Pau’s house while his parents were out.
-Pau, I’m bored of playing FIFA.
-Yeah, me too. Want to do something else?
-Mmm, yeah. I want to try something I saw in a video.
-Oh, really? What do you want to try?
-Listen, I know this might seem strange, but I need to satisfy my curiosity...
Pau wasn’t sure what Lamine had in mind, but he trusted his best friend.
-Alright!
Lamine leaned toward Pau, looking shy, and gave him a brief kiss at the corner of his mouth.
When he pulled away, his cheeks were bright red. Pau felt his own face begin to burn, too. Butterflies fluttered in his stomach, and a strange thrill seemed to run through his whole body. Without saying a word, Pau leaned in and gave Lamine a clumsy kiss on the lips. When he pulled away, he saw a smile spread across Lamine’s face. Pau smiled back.
They didn’t really know how to kiss. It was the first kiss for both of them, but that didn’t matter. It felt good, and they both enjoyed it. It wouldn’t be their last.
After those first, awkward kisses, they leaned in again. This time, the kiss was more urgent. They were eager to explore what it felt like to kiss each other, to feel their lips, their teeth, and their tongues meet. They were discovering something new together, and their hearts beat faster with every passing second.
When they finally pulled apart, both gasping for air, Lamine looked into Pau’s eyes.
-God, Pau. I’ve always wanted to know what kissing feels like. I’ve seen it in movies, shows, and videos, but it’s always been between a boy and a girl. I wanted to know what it felt like to kiss someone of the same gender.
Pau was breathless, too.
-Me too, Lamine. Me too.- He paused. -Did you like it?
Lamine smirked.
-Of course I did. Did you?
-Yeah, definitely. This is more fun than playing FIFA, or any other game.
-Want to do it again?- Lamine asked, still smirking as he looked into Pau’s eyes.
-Sure!
Pau started to lean toward him, and Lamine did the same. They were just about to kiss again when Pau’s parents came home.
-Pau! Dinner’s here! Your father and I brought pizza for you and Lamine!- his mother called.
-Damn.- Pau muttered. Then he called back. -Give us a second! We need to finish this game!
-Pau, wait!- Lamine grabbed his wrist. -Please, let’s keep this a secret.- He took Pau’s hand and laced their fingers together. -Promise you won’t tell your mom, your dad, or anyone what we did in your room.
-Only if you promise we can do it again, Lamine.
-Of course, Pau! We can pick this up the next time we see each other. I really enjoyed it, and you did too, sooo...
-Yay!- Pau stood up and hugged him.
Lamine froze. Pau had hugged him plenty of times before, but this one felt different. More special. Better.
After a few seconds, Lamine hugged him around the waist and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Their faces were burning, and the moment felt like heaven.
They stayed wrapped in each other’s arms for nearly a minute, though it felt like an eternity. When they finally let go, they left Pau’s room, laughing over the secret they now shared.
They had something no one else could know: that they liked kissing when they were alone, and how deeply they made each other feel.
They were just two silly teenagers in love, happy in their own little world.
The next time it happened was at Lamine’s house. They met the following day to work on a school project.
-God, this project is stressing me out.- Lamine said with a sigh.
-Yeah, me too.
Lamine immediately smirked.
-You know what would help me relax right now?
Pau asked innocently. -What?
-A kiss... from you!- Lamine pointed at him.
Pau’s breathing quickened. He loved the idea, and, honestly, a kiss from Lamine would help him relax, too.
-Su- Pau didn’t get to finish. Lamine was already kissing him, more urgently this time. He wrapped his arms around Pau’s waist while Pau rested his hands on Lamine’s shoulders.
When they finally pulled apart to catch their breath, Lamine said:
-I love you, my Cuba~
Pau felt as if he were in heaven as he looked into Lamine’s beautiful brown eyes.
-I love you too, Mine~
This became their routine for years. They would meet, talk for a while, then start kissing and exploring their feelings for each other. Each time, they discovered something new. Sometimes, Lamine even took Pau along to his training sessions and matches.
They never formally asked each other to become boyfriends. They didn’t think they needed to. What they had already felt like more than friendship.
To Pau, Lamine was everything: his first kiss, his first crush, his first love, the first person to make his heart race, and the first person who made him feel truly understood.
And to Lamine, Pau was everything, too: the first person he trusted with his heart, his safe place, his favorite person, and the one he always wanted by his side.
At least, until that fateful day in 2025.
July 23, 2025
In the middle of summer, Pau was lying on his bed, scrolling through TikTok, when he received a message from Lamine.
Mine 💘:
heyyy, wanna hang out todayy?
Pau:
of courseee, mine. do u wanna come over to my houseee?
Mine 💘:
of course i do, cutieee ;)
Pau:
alrightyyy mineee! i'll wait for you attt 3:00 pm <3
Mine 💘:
i'll be there, cubaa. also, are u alone? ;))
Pau:
yepp, i'm home alone. i could use some company, hehe
Mine 💘:
perfecttt :))
At 2:58, Lamine was already waiting outside Pau’s house.
As soon as Pau opened the door and let him in, Lamine pulled him close and kissed him. They made their way to the sofa without breaking the kiss. Once they sat down, Lamine moved from Pau’s lips to his neck, making Pau let out a quiet moan whenever he gently bit his skin.
-Lamine, why are you so clingy today? Did you miss me?- Pau asked, stroking his hair.
Lamine didn’t answer. He only let out a low groan and continued kissing Pau’s neck.
-Oh, right. We haven’t seen each other since your eighteenth birthday party. That was, what, ten days ago?
-Mhm~
Even though Pau and Lamine were adults now, they had never had sex. They had kissed and touched each other, but that was as far as they had gone.
-Lamine, talk to me. You haven’t said a word since you got here. You’ve only been making noises.- Pau said with a smile. Then Lamine’s kisses stopped. -Lamine?
Pau lowered his gaze, but Lamine didn’t answer. For the next fifteen seconds, he kept his face buried against Pau’s neck, so Pau couldn’t see his expression.
-Pau...- Lamine’s voice was muffled against his skin. -What we’re doing isn’t right...
Pau tensed at once and stopped stroking Lamine’s hair.
-W-what?
Lamine lifted his head. His eyes were glassy, and his voice broke as he spoke.
-Pau... I’m on my way to becoming one of the best footballers in the world. You know there have been rumors that I’m gay because I’ve never had a girlfriend or talked about girls. That could affect my career. Football is a tough world, and people like us aren’t always accepted.
-B-but... Lamine... I know there have been rumors, but I don’t ca-
Pau couldn’t finish.
-But I do, Pau. I care about what people think. I can’t let these rumors keep spreading. This could affect my career, my whole life.- Lamine took Pau’s hand and laced their fingers together, just as they had the first time, when they promised to keep their secret. -You know this has been my dream since I was a child.
Pau squeezed Lamine’s hand. His eyes began to fill with tears.
-Lamine, please... don’t do this to me. You can’t just pretend that what we had meant nothing to you. Did everything we shared, from childhood until now, mean nothing?
-Of course it didn’t, Pau. Everything we shared means the world to me. You mean the world to me. You’re my everything. But I can’t risk my career because of this. It’s always been my dream, and I can’t risk losing it all. I need to get a girlfriend and put an end to these rumors.
-I don’t understand, Lamine. How can you care more about what people think than about us? I know this has been your dream since you were a child, but we could keep seeing each other. We could keep being “friends,” if that’s what you want to call it. Just... don’t get involved with anyone else, Lamine. I want to be yours, and I want you to be mine. You’re my everything. Please don’t leave me. I’m begging you...
-Pau...- Lamine’s voice cracked, and tears slipped down his cheeks. -I love you, but I just can’t. I need to focus on my dream and on my family’s well-being. I need to think about you, too, Cuba. You deserve someone better. I know you want us to walk down the street holding hands, kissing in public, and for me to introduce you to the world as my boyfriend. We never had to ask whether we were a couple; these past few years have said everything. Pau, I love you. That’s why I’m ending our relationship and our friendship here. I don’t want you to spend your life hidden away. You deserve better than being someone’s secret. But in this society, in this sport, people like us aren’t always accepted.
Lamine’s words cut deep. Pau felt as though his heart were being torn apart. Tears spilled down his cheeks, too.
-Lamine... I can’t believe you’re saying this. But I have to admit one thing: I wish you would do all those things. I wish you’d hold my hand, kiss me, and introduce me as your partner instead of calling me just a friend. We’re clearly more than that, Lamine...
-Pau...- Lamine gently cupped his cheek. -I love you.
He leaned in and kissed Pau, tenderly, as if it were their first time.
-But I can’t keep this a secret anymore. I can’t be part of this secret anymore. You deserve someone better...
-Lamine... please don’t do this to me. I love you. You’re the one I want by my side...
Pau tightened his grip on Lamine’s hand.
-Pau... please don’t make this any harder than it already is. You’ll end up destroying me...
-You think I’m not suffering, Lamine? I’m hurting so much. You’re leaving after everything we shared, after everything we did. Are you really asking me to let you go just like that? To let the love of my life walk away as if it were nothing?
Pau let go of Lamine’s hand.
Lamine continued to caress Pau’s cheek.
-My Cuba... I’m an adult now. I need to focus on my career. This hurts me too, but I know we’ll get through it. I know you will, and I will too. You’re strong, Pau. I need to follow my dream...
Pau let out a shaky sigh. Lamine’s words made it feel as though his whole world was falling apart. -F-fine. If that’s what you want, then g-go. I wo-won’t call or me-message you again. This is the last time you’ll see me, Lamine, so I hope you remember my face. You’ll ne-never see me again.
-Pau... How could I ever forget your face? I’ve seen it almost every day. It holds a thousand memories of everything we’ve shared. I love you, Pau. Please be happy with someone else, someone who deserves you and won’t keep you a secret. That’s what you deserve, Cuba.
They stood up from the sofa, and Pau opened the front door.
-I hope you’re happy with your new life. And I hope you achieve your dream, Lamine.
-Thank you, Pau. I hope you find happiness, too.
They shared one last smile through their tears. It hurt both of them. It felt like losing a part of themselves.
After Lamine left, Pau went straight to the kitchen, where his father kept the alcohol, and started drinking. He drank whatever he could find: vodka, beer, wine, whiskey. He was devastated. He cried all night, then the next day, and the day after that. The pain in his heart was indescribable. It hurt not having Lamine by his side. It hurt to lose the person he loved most.
And Lamine? As soon as he got home, he blocked Pau everywhere and deleted his contact. He needed to focus on his career as a professional footballer. He needed to forget Pau and move on with his life. But it hurt. The ache stayed with him for weeks. He couldn’t simply forget everything he had shared with his “best friend,” Pau Cubarsí Paredes. He still loved him.
· · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · ·
Months passed, and classes resumed. Pau moved out of his parents’ house because he wanted to grow up and focus on himself. He started university and began studying veterinary medicine in California. His first year helped keep his mind off Lamine, but it wasn’t easy. Lamine was famous, and sometimes Pau’s stupid algorithm seemed to know exactly when to show him something that would hurt. Whenever Lamine appeared on his feed, Pau blocked the content and tapped “Not interested.” He had made up his mind: he was going to forget Lamine.
Lamine, meanwhile, focused on football. He became a successful, famous player and got a girlfriend. His career continued to grow, the rumors faded, and from the outside, it seemed like he had a perfect life. But memories of the past still haunted him. After an exhausting day, he sometimes went to bed and dreamed about Pau. His subconscious remembered every detail: Pau’s green eyes, his eyebrows, his smile, the soft lips Lamine had kissed hundreds of times, his hair, his ears, his body, his arms, his legs, everything.
But he had made his choice, and he couldn’t go back to Pau.
Would they really be able to forget what had happened between them and carry on as if nothing had ever happened? And most importantly, would Pau be able to avoid Lamine now that the FIFA World Cup 2026 is just around the corner?