056 | supportive girlfriend

The air was electric as fans filled the stands at Camp Nou for the highly anticipated Champions League clash between Barcelona and Manchester City. Gianna sat in her usual seat in the family section, right next to Marc Guiu and Cienna. The two were deep in conversation about the starting lineups, but Gianna's attention was entirely focused on the pitch.

She spotted Hector during the warm-ups, effortlessly flicking the ball into the air and juggling it with precision. His movements were smooth, confident, almost rhythmic-a dancer's grace with the strength of an athlete.

Cienna nudged her, breaking her trance. "You've been staring at him for five straight minutes. Should I be concerned?"

"Shut up, Cici," Gianna muttered, though her cheeks turned pink.

"Hey, it's cute," Cienna teased, leaning back in her seat. "You've got the whole supportive girlfriend thing down."

Gianna rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. The label still felt foreign to her, but it also felt right. Hector had quickly become more than her best friend, and every time she watched him on the pitch, her chest swelled with pride.

The stadium erupted as the teams lined up, the Champions League anthem echoing through the air. Hector took his position, standing tall and focused. Even from a distance, Gianna could see the determination in his eyes.

The game kicked off, and from the start, it was clear that this was going to be a battle. Manchester City pressed high, their attacks relentless, but Barcelona held their ground. Hector was everywhere-closing down space, intercepting passes, and launching counterattacks with pinpoint accuracy.

"That's my boy," Marc said with a grin as Hector stole the ball from a City midfielder and sent a perfectly weighted pass to Lamine Yamal.

Gianna didn't respond, her eyes glued to Hector. He was in his element, commanding the midfield like he was born for it. Every tackle, every pass, every burst of energy-it was impossible not to feel awestruck.

At one point, a City player collided with Hector, sending him tumbling to the ground. Gianna's heart leapt into her throat, her nails digging into her palms as she held her breath.

"He's fine," Marc said quickly, noticing her panic.

Sure enough, Hector was back on his feet within seconds, brushing himself off and waving away the referee. Gianna exhaled, her shoulders relaxing slightly.

The game remained goalless as halftime approached, tension building with every passing minute. Then, just before the whistle, Hector found himself with the ball at his feet, just outside the box. He took a touch, glanced up, and unleashed a rocket of a shot that curled past the goalkeeper and into the top corner.

The stadium exploded in cheers, and Gianna jumped to her feet, screaming at the top of her lungs. "YES, HECTOR!"

Cienna laughed beside her, joining in the celebration. "That was insane!"

Gianna's heart raced as she watched Hector sprint toward the corner flag, his teammates swarming him in celebration. He pointed to the crowd, and for a split second, his eyes met hers. He gave a subtle nod and a smile that made her knees feel weak.

"That was for you, wasn't it?" Cienna teased, nudging her.

Gianna bit her lip, trying to suppress the grin spreading across her face. "Shut up, Cici."

The second half was just as intense, but Barcelona held their lead, eventually securing a 2-1 victory. When the final whistle blew, the players celebrated on the pitch, the fans singing in unison.

As the crowd began to filter out of the stadium, Gianna stayed behind, waiting for Hector. She watched as he exchanged handshakes and hugs with his teammates, his face glowing with pride and exhaustion.

When he finally made his way over to the family section, Gianna leaned over the railing, a wide smile on her face. "You were incredible," she said as he approached.

Hector grinned, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Had to put on a show for my favorite fan, didn't I?"

Gianna rolled her eyes but couldn't help laughing. "Come on, Fort. Let's celebrate."

"Dinner's on me," Hector said, reaching up to take her hand.

"And dessert," she added with a smirk.

"Anything you want, hermosa," he replied, his voice soft and full of affection.

As they walked out of the stadium together, Gianna couldn't shake the warmth in her chest. Watching Hector on the pitch reminded her just how much he meant to her-not just as a player, but as the boy she'd grown up with, the man who made her feel like the center of his world.

And tonight, she realized, he was the center of hers too.