the club event was impeccable. lotta ties, glasses raised, discreet cameras. but you're only there out of obligation. and, secretly, because of him.

pedri had arrived late, his hair a little disheveled, and his smile more relaxed than usual. one look was enough for you to understand: he had been drinking. and not a little.

“shit, pedri…” you whispered, watching from a distance as he discreetly stumbled on the edge of the carpet.

you were sitting next to your dad, hansi flick, who was talking to one of the club directors. pedri, on other side of the room, had already ignored two attempts by a security guard to offer him water. but his eyes, even a little red, didn’t stop searching for you.

when he found you, he smiled. a silly, tender, exposed smile. was the kinda smile he only used when you're alone. and now, in that environment, was dangerous.

you stood up, pretending to go bathroom. In the mirror of the side hallway, you looked at your reflection and his own — who was following behind, dragging his steps with his shirt half loose from his dress pants.

“hey,” he said, leaning against the wall next to you, laughing softly. “found you.”

“are you crazy?” you whispered, getting closer so as not to be heard. “you’re drunk and daddy's five meters away from where you came out.”

“i’m fine,” he replied, tripping over his own shadow. you grabbed his arm and pushed him against the wall, trying to hide his body with yours while a group of players passed by the hallway.

“stop it, you can’t even stand up.”

“yes, i can. i just… i can’t stop looking at you.”

you closed your eyes, trying to take a deep breath. his scent mixed with the alcohol was intoxicating. and he looked at you as if he were dreaming.

“come with me,” you whispered, desperate to get him out of there before you drew attention.

but you couldn’t walk through the lobby with him like that.

you looked around. a maintenance door was half open, a staircase that went down to the backstage of the ballroom. no one would look there.

you pulled him by the hand, firmly, and he went — laughing, stumbling, leaning against you as if you were the only solid thing in the world.

in the dark space of emergency staircase, you pressed him against the concrete wall. the lights there were dim. the sound of the party seemed distant.

“you can’t do this,” you whispered, holding his face between your hands. “not today. not here.”

he closed his eyes and rested his forehead against yours.

“i’m sorry. i just… wanted to see you. and you look so beautiful…”

you felt your voice fail. he pulled you by the waist, his fingers trembling on the back of your dress.

“stay with me for a while,” he asked quietly. “just a little. just here.” and in that dark corner, between the muffled sound of the party and the secrets that could never be revealed, you hugged him — and knew that the danger was just beginning.