Chapter 19 : A Day Out

The sun streamed through Nico's window as he woke up on his rest day, feeling a mix of relaxation and anticipation for the day ahead. He went through his usual routine of yoga, followed by a light jog through the neighborhood. His body felt good, the energy flowing after a few gym exercises. After a nutritious breakfast prepared by the nutritionist, he grabbed his phone, scrolling for a moment before he decided to call Aitana.

He hit the dial button, waiting as the phone rang.

"Hey, Nico!" Aitana's voice came through, warm and familiar.

"Hey," Nico replied, a smile creeping up on his face. "So, is it your rest day today too?"

Aitana chuckled on the other end. "Yeah, it is. Finally some time to relax."

"Thought we could take it easy today. Maybe meet up?" Nico suggested, casually leaning back in his chair as he looked out the window, the day stretching ahead of him. 

"I'd love that," she said with a laugh. "Let me just finish up some things and I'll call you back when I'm free."

Nico nodded, his thoughts already drifting to what they could do together. "Sounds good. I'll be waiting."

As he hung up, he leaned back in his chair, feeling grateful for the quiet moments with Aitana, even on their rest days.

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An hour later, Nico's phone buzzed, and a smile immediately spread across his face when he saw Aitana's name on the screen. He picked it up with ease.

"Hey," Nico greeted, leaning back in his chair, his excitement barely contained.

"Hey you," Aitana's voice came through, light and cheerful. "I'm ready to meet, you still up for it?"

"Of course," Nico replied quickly, standing up and stretching. "Let's meet near La Masia, then we can walk around the city, just chill."

"Perfect," she said, "I'll see you in about 20 minutes."

After hanging up, Nico changed into a dark blue, long-sleeve turtleneck and a pair of well-fitted denim jeans. He looked in the mirror for a moment, nodding in approval at his reflection. Casual, but still stylish. He ran a hand through his hair and grabbed his keys before heading out.

When he arrived near La Masia, he saw Aitana waiting for him. She looked effortlessly stunning, her dark green crop top catching the light, paired with a denim jacket and her hair tied up in a high ponytail. The way the sun made her features glow made his heart skip a beat.

"Wow," Nico said, smiling as he walked up to her. "You look amazing."

Aitana smiled back, a playful glint in her eyes. "Thanks, you're not too bad yourself."

They exchanged a knowing look, both feeling that unspoken connection between them, before they set off on their walk, the streets of Barcelona around them, the world momentarily fading as they enjoyed each other's company.

"Where to?" Nico asked, his voice soft but teasing as they strolled down the quiet streets.

"Anywhere," Aitana replied with a smile, "As long as we're together."

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As they strolled through Las Ramblas, Nico and Aitana fell into an easy rhythm, the street bustling around them while their conversation flowed effortlessly.

Aitana couldn't stop laughing as she recounted something from training. "So, we were doing a passing drill the other day, and Claudia, she's usually pretty sharp, right?" Aitana grinned, her eyes sparkling. "Well, this time, she got so into the drill, she completely forgot the drill itself! She was just… passing the ball to herself. Like, no one else was on the pitch."

Nico raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "She just... practiced solo? No defenders?"

"Exactly!" Aitana laughed, her voice light and carefree. "It was like watching a highlight reel, except it was just one person. Finally, Coach stopped the drill, and he was like, 'Claudia, are you practicing for the World Cup or just doing your own thing?'"

Nico chuckled, shaking his head. "I bet that wasn't her plan. What did she say?"

Aitana mimicked Claudia's serious tone, "'I was testing my own defense!'" She laughed harder. "Like, sure, Claudia, we all saw you just zigzagging for an imaginary opponent."

"Maybe she was just practicing for when the defenders aren't there," Nico teased, grinning.

"Oh, 100%. A future where no one marks her." Aitana winked. "But to be honest, that's something I can see you doing too."

"Me? Dribbling by myself?" Nico laughed. "Okay, maybe once or twice. But I wouldn't let anyone see it!"

Aitana raised an eyebrow, giving him a playful nudge. "Come on, I've seen you try some crazy flicks in training. You know the ones that make everyone go, 'Did he just pull that off, or did he just invent a new move?'"

Nico shot her a mock serious look. "Hey, those flicks were going to work, alright? They just didn't... yet."

"Right, right. Yet." Aitana grinned. "You should've seen your face last time you tried a rainbow flick. You looked like you'd just invented the wheel... except the ball went straight into the stands."

Nico pretended to be offended, crossing his arms. "Okay, okay, maybe I need to work on that. But hey, when I pull it off—watch out, because it'll be legendary."

She laughed, her voice light and teasing. "Sure, sure. I'll believe it when I see it."

As they walked, the conversation shifted away from football, and Aitana grinned mischievously. "So, tell me, Nico, do you ever, like, not think about football?"

Nico paused, looking slightly guilty. "Uhh... okay, well, sometimes I think about food. But it's mostly football..."

Aitana laughed. "Oh, come on, tell me something that isn't football. You have to have some weird hobbies, right?"

Nico scratched his head, thinking. "Well… I can play the guitar a bit. A little. I don't really know the chords, but I can strum a few notes here and there."

Aitana raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Wait, you play guitar? How long has this been going on?"

Nico laughed. "Not long, maybe a couple of months. But I thought it might be a good way to calm down after training. Plus, you can't just play football 24/7. I need a side hustle!"

She gave him a playful smirk. "A side hustle? Okay, let's see if you can strum and sing me a song next time."

Nico grinned. "I'll bring the guitar, but you'll have to do the singing. I'm still figuring out how to make it sound less like a cat dying in a tunnel."

They both burst into laughter, and for a moment, it felt like nothing else mattered—just the two of them, walking through Barcelona and enjoying the rare moment away from the pressure of their busy lives.

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As they walked through the vibrant streets of Las Ramblas, Nico and Aitana's laughter filled the air, their hands naturally finding each other's. The day felt light, carefree, and completely theirs—no football drills, no expectations, just the buzz of the city around them and each other's company.

Aitana pulled out her phone, snapping a quick picture of Nico with a cheeky grin. "Hold that pose! You look like a model in an advertisement."

Nico raised an eyebrow, playing along. "Well, if you're taking pictures, you better get my good side."

"Which side is that?" she teased, scrolling through the photos. "The one where you're not making a weird face?"

Nico dramatically put his hand over his heart. "Ouch, that one stings. I'll have you know, I only make incredible faces."

Aitana laughed, rolling her eyes. "I'm sure. Let's see your 'incredible' face again."

Nico pulled a ridiculously exaggerated pose, puckering his lips and crossing his eyes. "This is my legendary look," he announced in a mock-serious tone.

Aitana laughed so hard she almost dropped her phone. "Oh, that's definitely going on Instagram. This will break the internet."

Nico shook his head, still laughing. "You're evil. But I'll take it. We'll call it 'Nico Cryuff: The Art of Perfect Faces.'"

They kept walking, their fingers intertwined as they shared stories about their childhoods, their dreams, and random things that had nothing to do with football. Aitana took more photos of them together, catching moments when Nico wasn't looking, like when he smiled at something she said or when he glanced at her while she talked.

"We need a selfie," Aitana said, suddenly stopping and holding the phone up. "Ready?"

Nico smiled, leaning in close, their faces just inches apart. They both looked at the camera, their shared joy reflected in the picture. Aitana clicked it, and they both looked at the screen.

"Perfect," Aitana said with a smile, showing it to him. "We look good."

Nico smirked. "Yeah, I guess we do. We should start a trend. 'Couple goals: #IncredibleFaces'."

Aitana rolled her eyes, but she couldn't stop smiling. "Okay, I'll give you that one. But only because you made me laugh so much."

They continued walking, still hand in hand, the world around them seeming to fade away as they focused on each other and the simple happiness of just being together.

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As the evening sky turned a deep shade of purple, Nico walked Aitana back to her apartment. The streets were quieter now, the hustle of the day slowly fading, leaving only the soft rustling of leaves in the cool breeze. They walked in silence for a moment, the kind of comfortable silence that only two people who truly understand each other can share.

When they reached her door, Nico paused, turning to face her with a soft smile. "Well," he said, his voice quieter than usual, "guess I should let you get some rest."

Aitana smiled, looking up at him. "Yeah, I guess so. Thanks for today. It was nice... not talking about football for once."

Nico chuckled, "I couldn't agree more. You're way more interesting than any match."

She playfully shoved his shoulder. "Flattery will get you everywhere."

Nico gave her a mock-serious look. "Well, it's the truth. You know it."

There was a brief, sweet pause before Nico wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug, holding her close for a few seconds longer than usual. When he pulled back, he looked at her with a soft gaze, his eyes lingering on her face.

Before he could say anything more, Aitana leaned up on her tiptoes, pressing a quick, soft kiss on his cheek. Nico froze, surprised by the sudden warmth of the gesture. She pulled back just as quickly, a small blush creeping up her cheeks.

"Goodnight, Nico," she said, her voice almost a whisper.

Nico, still processing the sweet gesture, smiled warmly. "Goodnight, Aitana."

She turned and opened the door, but before stepping inside, she paused and turned back to look at him. "I'll miss you. Call me tomorrow?"

"Always," Nico said, grinning. "Goodnight."

With one last smile, Aitana stepped inside, leaving Nico standing outside, a quiet joy filling his chest. He walked away slowly, his thoughts wrapped around her and the way his heart had skipped a beat just now.

As he made his way back to his place, he couldn't help but smile to himself.

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A week and a half had passed since Nico and Aitana spent that day together. The time flew by with intense training and matches, but their connection only grew stronger.

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January 28 – Espanyol vs. Sevilla (Copa del Rey Quarterfinals, 1st Leg, RCDE Stadium)

Espanyol faced a tough test at home against Sevilla in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarterfinals. Despite dominating possession, Espanyol couldn't quite break down Sevilla's solid defense. The visitors capitalized on two quick chances, taking a 2-0 lead. Nico provided a late spark, scoring a beautiful free kick in the dying moments to give Espanyol hope for the second leg. But it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit, and Espanyol lost 2-1, putting them in a difficult position heading into the return leg.

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February 1 – Córdoba vs. Espanyol (La Liga, Estadio Nuevo Arcángel)

After the Copa del Rey setback, Espanyol bounced back with a strong performance in La Liga. In an intense match at Estadio Nuevo Arcángel, Espanyol took control early, with Nico playing a pivotal role. A well-timed assist from Nico set up a goal, and later, he added one of his own with a clever finish. Espanyol triumphed 3-1, with the young star continuing to show his brilliance. The win was important to keep their momentum alive in the league.

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