Chapter 05

A few months later...

Gabriella sat in her room, the faint hum of background music filling the air. She was busy with her artwork, the sketch she had started few days ago, to pass the time, finding some solace in her hobby.

It had been nine months since she moved to Madrid, and though she was beginning to feel more relaxed, a part of her still felt out of place.

Her fingers were smudged with lead pencil stains as she was working on an abstract sketch during a call with Sophia, casually gossiping and sharing news whatsoever.

The two girls kept her updated on every little details, gossips, shopping, and all the happenings in their world and same goes with Gabriella. They had all been close since school but this time they were getting even closer to each other.

Their group of seven,

Eugene, Isabella, Sophia, Ethan, Chris, Mike, and Gabriella remained close through group chats and occasional video calls.

During one of these video calls, the group teased her about Mike, claiming he'd been sulking without her continuously.

Gabriella blushed at their teasing, but Mike of course tried to brush it off in order not to make her uncomfortable and like a knight in a shining armor, came to defend her, taking all the teasing upon himself instead.

" He's not as moody and lost as he was when you first left,"

Sophia told her during the call.

Gabriella couldn't help but laugh at the update, though a hint of surprise lingered.

" Really? That's shocking. Mike and 'not moody' don't usually go together," Gabriella teased.

Sophia snickered.

" I know, right? But I think it's because of Ethan and Chris. They dragged him out of his pity party phase. You should've seen how dramatic he was. We actually thought he'd write poetry or something! "

Gabriella burst out laughing before saying

" Poetry? Now that I'd pay to see. What did he even do, sit around and stare at walls? "

"More like he'd go quiet and glare at Ethan whenever he joked about you," Sophia said, her tone light.

" It was... odd."

Gabriella felt a flutter in her chest but quickly dismissed it.

" Well, at least he's back to being his annoying self, right? "

" Sort of, " Sophia admitted.

" But, Gabriella, he's... softer now. Like, he doesn't mess around with other girls like he used to. It's kind of weird."

" Mike? Not flirting? What's next, Ethan giving relationship advice?" Gabriella joked, making Sophia laugh.

" Speaking of Ethan," Sophia said, her voice shifting.

" He's been impossible lately. He ate my ramen the other day and then blamed Eugene. Can you believe that?"

Gabriella grinned.

" Sounds like Ethan hasn't changed at all. How's Eugene, by the way? Still arguing with Isabella about who's older? "

" Every day, " Sophia groaned.

" I swear, if I hear 'I'm technically older because I came out first' one more time, I'll lose it."

"Some things never change,"

Gabriella mused.

"What about Isabella? Still terrorizing Chris with her sass?"

"Oh, definitely," Sophia said with a laugh.

"But it's funny because Chris just takes it. Ethan says he's whipped, but Chris denies everything. Classic Chris."

"Sounds like I missed a lot,"

Gabriella said softly.

"I can't wait to see you guys again."

"We can't wait either," Sophia replied.

"It's not the same without you, Mariya. Hurry up and come back already."

"Soon," Gabriella promised, a smile playing on her lips.

" Soon."

When the call ended, she set her pencil down, intending to wash her hands and head downstairs for lunch. Just as she stood, her phone vibrated on the desk. Mike's name lit up the screen.

Mike: I just saw your message. Wow, you really did a portrait of Madrid? That's amazing.

Her heart softened at his words forming a smile on her face. But before she could respond, another message popped up on the screen.

Mike: So, is this where I pretend I'm not jealous of Madrid for stealing your attention?

Gabriella chuckled softly, her cheeks warming. She hesitated for a moment before typing back.

Gabriella: Madrid has its charm, I won't lie. But don't worry, Seoul still holds a piece of me.

Mike: Just a piece? Ouch. I thought I had at least 51% of the shares in your heart.

Her fingers paused over the screen as her smile widened.

Gabriella: Bold of you to assume you had any shares to begin with.

Mike: Ouch again. You really know how to keep a guy humble, don't you?

Gabriella: Someone has to keep you grounded.

Mike: Touché. But seriously, I hope you're okay over there. I miss hearing your voice. It's too quiet here without you.

Her breath caught at the unexpected softness in his message.

Gabriella: You'll be fine, Mike. You've got the whole group.

Mike: The group's great and all, but... they're not you.

She felt her pulse quicken at his words, a mix of warmth and nervousness blooming in her chest.

Gabriella: Mike. You've got the others keeping you entertained.

Mike: Entertained? Ethan steals my food, Eugene won't stop talking about some new car, and Sophie thinks I'm her personal assistant. I think they're trying to drive me insane.

Gabriella: Sounds like business as usual.

Mike: Yeah, but it's different without you. Even Chris noticed. He actually asked me if I was okay the other day. CHRIS. That's how bad it is.

Gabriella laughed at the thought of Chris, the most reserved of them all, checking in on Mike.

Mike: Stay safe, Mariya. We miss you more than you think and I hope Madrid is treating you as well as you deserve.

Gabriella: Madrid is treating me well. The view is amazing.

Mike: Is it better than Seoul?

Gabriella: Maybe... but I'm biased. Seoul has all of you.

Mike: All of you sounds better. Seoul misses you, Mariya.

Gabriella stared at his message, feeling the weight of his words in her chest.

Mike: Stay safe, okay? And don't let Madrid steal too much of you.

Gabriella: I'll try.

Mike: Promise?

Gabriella: I promise.

Mike: Good. Because I don't think I could handle losing you completely.

She read his message over and over, her heart a chaotic mess of emotions.

He always had a way of saying just enough to leave her wondering, yet never enough to push her away.

He sent messages like these often, sometimes even daily. Gabriella couldn't tell if he simply missed her or if he was afraid of losing her, as though his words were his way of ensuring their connection stayed intact.

....

The next morning, Gabriella's cousins noticed her unusually quiet demeanor as they gathered for breakfast.

Elena narrowed her eyes over her coffee.

"You've been glued to your room since last night. Don't even think about skipping the party tomorrow."

Gabriella reached for the fruit bowl, trying to stay casual.

"I'm just catching up on some artwork."

Sara raised an eyebrow.

" Sure, Gabriella. Skip the pencils for once, okay?

We're going shopping later. Let's be divas tonight." She finished with her wicked smile.

Gabriella groaned, setting her phone down.

"Can we not do this right now? I'm a bit tired, you know "

From the doorway, Mateo smirked.

" C'mon Gab! Just go for it. Thinking about Mike is not the only thing in the world "

Everyone laughed at the comment.

Gabriella shot him a glare.

" Why are you all so obsessed with my life?"

" Because it's the most interesting thing happening right now,"

Sandra teased as she walked in with Olivia on her hip.

" Besides, it's obvious the guy is serious about you, and you're clearly affected by his absence."

Gabriella sighed, stirring her coffee.

" It's not like that."

"Look guys I.... Ah ok alright, I'll go with you" she continued but end up agreeing.

Elena cheered but left to bring her belongings.

Mateo leaned against the counter, arms crossed.

" If he's putting in this much effort, maybe you should give him a chance."

" I don't know, It's complicated," she muttered.

" Love always is," Mateo said, his tone more serious.

" But if it's real, it's worth figuring out."

Sandra chimed in gently.

" Gabriella, it's okay to let someone care of you. You've been through a lot. Maybe it's time to let yourself be happy."

Gabriella didn't respond, her thoughts too tangled.

After breakfast, she excused herself, heading outside for fresh air.

Mateo's words echoed in her mind.

" No pressure Gabby, okay? Just take your time. Figure it out. We're with you."

....

An hour later, Gabriella, Elena, and Sara strolled through Madrid's bustling shopping district. The vibrant shopping malls were alive with chatter, street musicians, and the faint aroma of freshly baked churros from a nearby café.

As they went out of the car into the mall, Elena nudged Gabriella with a playful grin.

" So, did you get any messages from lover-boy? "

Gabriella chuckled, nodding. She was getting used to their constant teasing.

" So," Elena pressed,

" Are you going to message him back or are you going to leave him hanging again?"

Gabriella glanced at her phone, biting her lip.

" I will when I get home," she muttered, earning a smirk from Elena.

" Mm-hmm, and what are you going to say? Something vague like, I'm fine, thanks? Or will you actually give him something to work with?" Elena teased.

Gabriella rolled her eyes.

" I'll just tell him I'm okay and that Madrid is nice. That's it."

Sara leaned in, her chin resting on her hand.

" You're impossible. That guy pours his heart into every word, and you're giving him crumbs."

Elena the arched an eyebrow after she continued

"Really? Because it sure looks like it. That boy misses you like crazy, and you're acting like you don't know it."

" It's not like that," Gabriella defended, a small smile tugging at her lips.

" I just don't want to lead him on."

" Lead him on? " Elena raised an eyebrow.

" Gabby, the guy's already halfway there, if not more. You're the one acting like there's no destination in sight."

Sara nodded.

" Exactly. And let's be honest, it's not just him missing you. The whole group does. But he's feeling it the most."

Gabriella stayed quiet, her thoughts swirling. Could she really let herself? Could she risk it all for something that might not work?

They eventually moved on to browsing outfits for next evening. They kept looking for new outfits for a birthday party that evening, a reunion with one of Elena's old school friends now living in Madrid.

" Elena, how close are you to this friend again?" Gabriella asked as she held up a sleek black dress for inspection.

" She's one of my best friends from high school," Elena replied, flipping through a rack of sequined gowns.

" It's her 25th, and she's throwing a semi-formal party at this rooftop venue. Trust me, you'll love it."

" Sounds pleasant to me," Gabriella said, turning to Sara, who was busy debating between a crimson jumpsuit and a silver cocktail dress.

" What do you think? Silver or red? "

Sara held the jumpsuit against herself and grinned.

" Red. Always red. What about you, Gabby? What's your vibe for tonight?"

Gabriella hesitated, her fingers trailing over a delicate, navy-blue satin dress with thin straps and a flowy gown. It was perfect and elegant.

" Maybe this! I'm not sure yet, because last time I wore a dress on prom."

" Oh, it's Perfect," Elena said, glancing over.

" It's very you. Comfortable but gorgeous."

After finalizing their choices, they stopped by a nearby café for a quick snack.

As they sipped iced coffees, Sara leaned back in her chair, sighing.

" I wonder who'll be at this party. Spanish birthdays are always fun, lots of dancing."

" I hope it's not too overwhelming," Gabriella admitted.

" I'm not much of a dancer."

" Don't worry," Elena said with a reassuring smile.

" You can stick with us. It's more about enjoying the vibe than actually dancing."

That evening, after spending whole day on shopping Gabriella sat on her bed, staring at her phone.

She had promised Elena and Sara she'd respond to Mike, but the words felt heavy, stuck in her throat.

She scrolled through his previous messages, her thumb pausing on the one that had stayed with her:

" They're great, but they're not you."

Her chest tightened. She couldn't deny that she missed him too, his teasing remarks, his quiet support, the way he always seemed to understand her without needing an explanation. But what if opening up to him meant risking the fragile balance they had?

Taking a deep breath, she finally started typing

Gabriella: Madrid has been treating me well, but it's nothing like home. How are you doing?

She hesitated for a moment before hitting send, her heart pounding in anticipation.

It wasn't much, but it was something.

His reply came almost instantly

Mike: Better now that I've heard from you.

Gabriella felt her cheeks flush, a small smile tugging at her lips. Before she could overthink her next move, another message came through

Mike: So... does that mean you miss me too, Mariya?

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure of how to respond. But deep down, she knew the answer.

She just wasn't ready to say it yet. Instead, she typed back

Gabriella: Maybe.

The single word felt like a leap, but Mike's reply was immediate and reassuring

Mike: I'll take that. It's a start.

For the first time in weeks, Gabriella felt lighter, like a weight she hadn't realized she was carrying had been lifted. Maybe it was okay to take things one step at a time.