Chapter 30 : Meeting (bonus for power stones)

Around 6 PM, Nico washed up again, fixing his hair before getting dressed. He wore a sleek black turtleneck that hugged his frame, paired with denim jeans that fit just right. A thin silver necklace with a small Barcelona logo as the pendant rested against his chest, a subtle yet meaningful touch. 

Stepping out, he made his way to Aitana's house, the cool evening breeze brushing against his skin. Upon arriving, he took a deep breath and rang the doorbell, waiting for her to answer.

Aitana opened the door with a warm smile, her eyes lighting up the moment she saw him. "Right on time," she teased, stepping aside to let him in. 

Nico smirked, stepping inside as he took a quick glance around. "Of course, I'm always on time," he said playfully. 

She rolled her eyes, closing the door behind him. "Come on, my parents are waiting in the living room," she said, reaching out to grab his hand as she led him further inside.

Nico stepped into the living room, his posture relaxed but respectful. Aitana's parents, Vicenta and Josep, were seated on the couch, looking up as he entered. 

"Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Bonmatí," Nico greeted politely, offering a small smile. "It's nice to finally meet you." 

Josep nodded, his expression warm yet observant. "Likewise, Nico. We've heard a lot about you." 

Vicenta smiled, glancing at Aitana. "All good things, of course," she added, making her daughter blush slightly. 

Nico chuckled. "I hope so. Aitana's been keeping me on my toes." 

Josep raised an eyebrow playfully. "Good. She needs someone who can keep up with her." 

Aitana groaned. "Alright, alright, let's not scare him off already." 

Everyone laughed, and just like that, the atmosphere eased into something comfortable.

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They all settled down in the cozy living room, Aitana's mother pouring tea into delicate cups. The aroma of freshly brewed tea filled the air as Nico took a sip, nodding in appreciation.

"So, Nico," Josep started, leaning back slightly. "How are you finding life at Espanyol?"

Nico set his cup down. "It's been great. The team has been really supportive, and I feel like I'm improving with every match. But…" he smirked, glancing at Aitana, "some people are not too happy that I play for them."

Aitana rolled her eyes. "You're lucky I like you; otherwise, I wouldn't even be talking to you."

Her mother chuckled. "Football rivalry in the house already?"

Nico grinned. "We make it work."

Vicenta nodded approvingly. "That's good. Football is your job, but your relationship is about more than that."

Josep smiled. "And speaking of football, Johan must be so proud of you. Having such a legendary grandfather must be incredible."

Nico's expression softened. "Yeah, he is. He's been my biggest guide in football and in life."

Aitana glanced at him, knowing just how much his grandfather meant to him.

Josep leaned forward, curiosity in his eyes. "Tell me, Nico… how do you do it? At just 14, playing at such a high level, competing against grown men?"

Nico exhaled, setting his cup down. "It's not easy, certainly," he admitted. "But I've sacrificed so much to be where I am. I haven't eaten sweets since I was five. Every single meal I've had since then has been made by a nutritionist. I've never had a single cheat day."

Aitana's mother widened her eyes. "Never? Not even on birthdays?"

Nico shook his head with a small smile. "Not even once. Football is everything to me. If I want to be the best, I can't afford to slip."

Josep nodded, impressed. "That kind of discipline… it's rare, even among professionals."

Aitana glanced at Nico with admiration but also a hint of concern. "I keep telling him he's insane," she said, half-joking. "But he won't listen."

Nico smirked. "You love that I'm insane."

Aitana rolled her eyes, but she couldn't deny it.

Vicenta smiled. "It's inspiring, really. You have a clear goal, and you're doing everything to reach it."

Nico nodded. "That's the plan."

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Vicenta looked at him curiously and asked, "So, Nico… will you be playing for Barcelona next season? I know you're on loan at Espanyol, but what happens after that?"

Nico exhaled, leaning back slightly. "Honestly speaking, I don't know," he admitted. "In the last few months, I've realized that Barcelona's attack is already incredible. If I were to join, it would make their front line nearly unstoppable—Messi, Neymar, and me? Any team in Europe would struggle to contain that. But…" He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "The problem is balance. The three of us have similar attacking characteristics, and if we all play together, the defense might suffer. There has to be a structure that allows us to attack without completely exposing the backline."

Josep nodded thoughtfully. "That's a fair point. Luis Enrique has a system—do you think you'd fit into it?"

Nico sighed. "That's the thing. I don't know if he's willing to give me real minutes. I'm 14, and I understand that I still have a long way to go, but I also know what I bring to the table. If I return just to sit on the bench, that would be a waste of time. I need to be playing, developing."

Aitana, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. "You deserve to play. Any coach who sees you train knows that."

Nico gave her a small smile. "We'll see what happens. I just want to keep improving, wherever that may be."

Josep leaned forward, intrigued. "Are there any loan offers on the table?"

Nico nodded. "Yeah, a few. Juventus, Roma, Man City, Spurs… they've all shown interest," he said casually, taking a sip of his tea. "But I haven't considered any of them seriously yet. Right now, my focus is on finishing the season strong with Espanyol. I don't want to think too far ahead."

Josep hummed in thought. "That's quite the list. If you had to choose, where would you go?"

Nico chuckled. "I have no idea yet. Each option has its pros and cons. But whatever happens, I just want to play, develop, and keep proving myself."

Aitana smiled at him. "I don't think you need to prove anything to anyone at this point."

Nico smirked. "Maybe not, but I like reminding people."

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Vincenta smiled as she took a sip of her tea and looked at Nico with curiosity.

"So, tell me, how did you two meet?" she asked, glancing between Nico and Aitana.

Aitana chuckled softly, already knowing the story Nico was about to tell.

Nico leaned back slightly, a small smirk forming on his lips. "We met at La Masia. I was 13 at the time, training on my own, practicing my free kicks. Specifically, the Invisible Hand."

Vincenta raised an eyebrow. "The Invisible Hand?"

Aitana laughed. "It's his signature free kick. The ball curves in ways that shouldn't be possible."

Nico shrugged. "Anyway, I was in the middle of training when Aitana walked up to me and complimented my free kick. Then she asked if I could teach her."

"I couldn't get it at all," Aitana admitted, shaking her head with a smile.

"I told her I'd be practicing free kicks every day and that she could join me if she wanted," Nico added. "And, well… she did."

Vincenta looked at her daughter with an amused expression. "So, you used football as an excuse to spend time with him?"

Aitana blushed slightly. "Mamá!"

Nico chuckled. "That's exactly what happened."

Josep laughed. "Seems like football really does bring people together."

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Vincenta leaned forward with a playful glint in her eyes. "Alright, then, who confessed first?"

Aitana immediately looked away, pretending to be very interested in her cup of tea.

Nico smirked, tilting his head toward Aitana before looking back at Vincenta. "It was her."

Aitana's head snapped toward him, her face slightly flushed. "Nico!"

"What? It's the truth," he said, grinning. "She told me she liked me when I was carrying her after she tripped on her ankle."

Vincenta let out a soft laugh, looking at her daughter with amusement. "Oh? That's adorable."

Aitana covered her face. "This is unfair."

Nico chuckled. "Hey, I thought it was really sweet."

Josep smiled. "And what did you say back?"

Nico looked at Aitana, his expression softening as he recalled the moment. "I said, 'I like you too.'"

Aitana peeked at him through her fingers, her cheeks warming up. "And then I just stood there, frozen, processing it for ten minutes."

Vincenta and Josep chuckled, clearly enjoying the story.

"Well," Vincenta said, shaking her head, "this is already my favorite love story."

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Josep leaned back in his chair, studying Nico with curiosity. "Do you have anything else going on outside of football?"

Nico shrugged. "Nothing much, really. I recently signed as the ambassador of YSL, so I've got a few shoots coming up."

Aitana, who had been sipping her tea, nearly choked. She turned to him, her eyes narrowing. "Wait, what? Since when?"

Nico smirked. "I just got to know before coming here."

Aitana crossed her arms, pretending to be offended. "And you didn't think to tell me?"

Nico chuckled. "I was going to tell you. But then your mom asked about who confessed first, and I got distracted by making you embarrassed."

Vincenta laughed. "He's got a point."

Aitana rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips. "Fine, I'll allow it this time. But next time, I want to know first."

Nico grinned. "Yes, ma'am."

______________

After their conversation, they all gathered around the dining table for dinner. The atmosphere was warm, filled with laughter and light-hearted teasing. Vincenta and Josep were delighted by Nico's manners and the way he carried himself, while Aitana couldn't hide the fond smile on her lips whenever he spoke.

Once dinner was over, Josep suggested taking a photo together. They all stood near the living room, with Aitana and Nico in the center, her parents on either side. Vincenta took the photo, and before Nico could even ask, Aitana sent it to him.

"Here," she said, handing him his phone back. "Proof that you survived meeting my parents."

Nico smirked. "Barely."

She rolled her eyes before walking him to the door. As they stood there, the cool night breeze brushing against them, Aitana hesitated for a moment before wrapping her arms around him.

"Thanks for coming," she whispered.

Nico hugged her back, resting his chin on top of her head. "Of course. You'll have to survive meeting my grandparents again soon, so be ready."

She pulled back, smiling. "I think I'll be fine."

Nico smirked. "We'll see."

With one last glance, he turned and walked off, hands in his pockets, as Aitana watched from the doorway until he disappeared down the street.

_________________

As Nico lay in bed the night before the match against Atlético Madrid, his phone buzzed. He picked it up and saw Aitana's name on the screen. Smirking, he answered. 

"Can't sleep?" he asked. 

"Not really," she admitted. "I know how intense Atlético away can be… I just wanted to check on you." 

Nico chuckled. "You worried about me?" 

"Of course, I am," Aitana said seriously. "They're going to be aggressive, Nico. You know how they play. I just…" She hesitated for a moment. "Promise me you'll be careful?" 

Nico softened at her concern. "I'll be fine, princesa. I can handle myself." 

"I know you can," she sighed. "But that doesn't mean I won't worry." 

He smiled. "I promise I'll be smart. I won't let them take me out. And I definitely won't let them stop me." 

She let out a small laugh. "I should've known you'd say that." 

"Come on, you think I'd let a few hard tackles slow me down?" 

"No," she admitted. "But still, just… be safe, okay?" 

Nico exhaled. "I will. For you." 

Aitana hummed softly. "Good. Now get some rest. You have a game to win." 

He grinned. "I'll make sure you have something to celebrate." 

"I know you will," she said warmly. 

"Love you," he murmured. 

"Love you too." 

As the call ended, Nico placed his phone down, a small smile lingering on his face. He closed his eyes, ready to take on whatever the next day had in store.

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Author's note : Vote if you like what you're reading , he will play with barcelona in the upcoming chapters . It'll be crazy , Do comment about things you dont like , so i can fix it in the upcoming chapters