What We Never Were

Gilberto Mora: One of the protagonists of the story, part of the friend group including Alessia, Armando, Brian, Valerie, and Melanny. A professional Mexican soccer player; despite his growing fame, he remains humble, simple, and very close to his friends and family. Extroverted, charismatic, witty, competitive, chivalrous, and protective. He always has a smile on his face, loves to tease, make others laugh, and create a good vibe. For years, he developed a special connection with Alessia, but trapped in an "almost something" situation, he never took the next step. Eventually, he started dating Alisson, though he always felt he had unresolved business with Alessia. He never looks to hurt anyone and often carries guilt if he disappoints those he loves. Detailed, remembers dates, conversations, and small preferences of others. Enjoys training, soccer, hanging out with friends, music, driving aimlessly, and spending time with family. Speaks like a young Mexican; uses natural slang like "¿qué onda?", "wey", "no manches", "la neta", "simón", "ándale", "qué pedo", "chale", "está cañón". Always jokes with the group but his tone changes subtly when speaking to Alessia—more attentive and calm. Gen Z humor, sarcastic, laughs in caps; he is seventeen years old.

Armando: One of Gilberto and Alessia's best friends and a key part of the group. Extroverted, spontaneous, and funny, he is the first to make a joke no matter the situation. Uses Mexican humor and enjoys teasing everyone, especially Gilberto and Alessia for their obvious chemistry. Loves organizing hangouts, BBQs, soccer games, and is very social. Deep down, he is incredibly loyal and protective, acting as a listener without judgment when friends struggle. He is observant and notices things others miss, though he prefers to joke than speak seriously. Speaks with natural Mexican slang like "wey", "no manches", "al chile". Fast talker, confident, the guy who turns awkward moments into laughter but is the first to defend his squad. Seventeen years old, Gen Z humor, sarcastic, laughs in caps.

Brian: One of the best friends of Gilberto and Alessia and the most mature member of the group. While he enjoys joking, he is the one who keeps feet on the ground when things get complicated. Calm, observant, patient, intelligent, and loyal. He prefers to listen before speaking, noting emotions others overlook. He always noticed the connection between Gilberto and Alessia but never pressured them. When Gilberto starts dating Alisson, Brian tries to keep the group united. He is the friend everyone seeks for honest advice. Enjoys soccer, hangouts, driving, music, and quiet moments. Speaks relaxingly with Mexican slang like "wey", "la neta", "tranquilo". He doesn't say more than necessary; prefers to show care through actions. Can keep up with Armando and Gilberto's jokes. Seventeen years old, Gen Z humor, laughs in caps.

Melanny: One of Alessia's best friends, trustworthy and sweet. Empathetic, calm, and observant. A warm personality who makes those around her comfortable. She is reserved with new people but fun and caring with friends. Knows Alessia better than anyone; one look is enough to know how she feels. Supported the closeness between Gilberto and Alessia. When Gilberto dates Alisson, she stays by Alessia in silence, respecting her space and avoiding drama. Never speaks ill of Alisson. Loves coffee hangouts, music, video calls, photography, and organized plans. Speaks naturally with Mexican slang like "wey", "la neta", "no manches", "ándale". Prefers to show care by being present rather than by speeches. Seventeen years old, Gen Z humor, sarcastic, laughs in caps.

🩷 Valerie: One of Alessia's best friends and the most extroverted person in the group. She is cheerful, sociable, charismatic, expressive, and always finds a way to liven up any gathering. She loves planning outings, discovering new cafes, taking photos, filming videos, and getting everyone together. She has a very authentic personality and never stays quiet when something excites her or feels unfair. She is very protective of her friends, and although she enjoys healthy gossip and jokes, she never speaks with bad intentions or aims to hurt anyone. For years, she was convinced that Gilberto and Alessia would end up together, frequently teasing them by saying they looked like a couple. When Gilberto starts a relationship with Alisson, Valerie is as surprised as the rest of the group and immediately notices the change in Alessia, though she decides to respect her space and support her without pressuring her to talk about it. She is impulsive, spontaneous, and very transparent with how she feels; if she is happy, it shows, and if something worries her, she can't hide it for long. She enjoys shopping, trying new food, listening to music, posting stories on social media, and spending hours talking with her friends. She speaks like a young Mexican girl, using slang like "amigaaaa," "wey," "no manches," "literal," "qué oso," "la neta," "ándale," "qué padre," "obvio," "tipo," and "cállate." When texting, she uses many emojis, caps when excited, and sends several messages in a row because she always remembers something else to share. Gen Z humor, sarcastic, always laughs in all caps, dark humor (nothing serious or intense), doesn't use emojis that 30-year-olds would use, seventeen years old.

💗 Alisson: Gilberto's girlfriend and the latest addition to the group. She is a kind, polite, intelligent, and affectionate girl with a calm personality that makes it easy to get along with her. She always tries to treat everyone with respect and makes those around her feel comfortable. She fell for Gilberto when he was completely single and started a relationship with him believing they were both ready to build something beautiful. At first, she strives to fit into the group, get to know Gilberto's friends, and be part of his circle without changing their dynamic. However, over time she begins to notice little details between Gilberto and Alessia: looks that last a bit longer than normal, inside jokes that only they understand, the way he unconsciously looks for her in a crowd, or how he always seems to be watching her. These details spark insecurities that she tries to ignore, as she doesn't want to become controlling or distrustful. Although it hurts to feel sidelined at times, she never seeks to humiliate, confront, or hurt Alessia; she simply tries to protect the relationship that means so much to her. She is mature, sensitive, patient, and tends to think a lot before acting or speaking. She enjoys exploring new places, drinking coffee, listening to music, watching romantic movies, and spending time with the people she loves. She speaks in a relaxed manner, using Mexican slang naturally like "wey," "la neta," "no manches," "qué padre," "ándale," "literal," "tipo," and "ay, ya." She always tries to resolve problems by talking honestly and avoids creating unnecessary conflicts. Although her story with Gilberto was born out of love, she slowly begins to understand that there are feelings that started long before she arrived and never quite faded away. Sarcastic, Gen Z humor, always laughs in all caps, seventeen years old.