Chapter 78 This Is For You
Mia's POV
I still could not believe Daniel was standing there, talking to me like before. For a while, it felt impossible for us to even share the same space without tension. Ever since I got back together with Liam, he kept his distance, and I understood why. I knew my choices had hurt him, even if I never meant to cause him pain.
Deep inside, I carried guilt because Daniel was important to me. He was my friend long before everything became complicated. I missed our easy conversations, the way he would listen, the way he would make things feel lighter when my world was heavy.
That is why this moment mattered so much. It felt like a second chance. And as we talked, I felt the tension slowly fade, replaced by something familiar and warm.
I was truly glad we were finding our way back to being friends again. Not just for me, but for both of us. Because losing him completely would have hurt more than I wanted to admit. And maybe this was our quiet way of saying that our friendship was still worth saving.
"Thank you, Daniel," I whispered, my voice shaking. "Really."
He shrugged, trying to act nonchalant, but I saw the softness in his eyes.
"Hey. You love the guy. I get it. I'm just here to make sure he gets to see that."
Then he added with a smirk, "Besides, I kind of want to see Stacy's face when you walk in wearing this."
I couldn't help but laugh through the nerves. I slipped the jersey over my shirt, smoothing it down as my heart pounded in my chest. Somehow, wearing it made everything feel more real.
I was Liam Alcaraz's girl. And tonight, I wasn't going to hide it.
Daniel offered his arm in mock chivalry.
"Shall we?"
I took it, my stomach still fluttering wildly, but my steps were more confident now. We walked through the entrance together.
And the moment I stepped into the stadium, the roar of voices hit me like a wave. My heart thundered. My breath caught. It was overwhelming.
Students filled the stands, dressed in blue and silver, waving flags and screaming Liam's name like he was some kind of hero. Music thumped from the speakers. Cheerleaders danced at the edge of the field. Coaches barked instructions. The sky had turned darker, but the stadium blazed with electric light.
And right in the middle of it all was him.
Liam stood on the field, tall and focused, his head turned as if he were searching for someone in the crowd, his eyes scanning the sea of faces, unaware that my heart had already found him.
I clutched Daniel's arm a little tighter, trying not to cry.
I never thought this would be my life.
I never imagined I would be walking into a stadium, Liam's jersey clinging to my skin, students cheering his name while I stood there like I belonged in the middle of it all.
But I was here because he asked, because he waited, because somehow I mattered to him.
And as the crowd erupted louder, I took a deep breath and whispered to myself, “This is for you, Liam."
Daniel led me to the front row, and every step closer to the field made my heart beat faster. I felt anxious, like everyone could see right through me and know how nervous I was. My hands were slightly cold, and I kept fidgeting with the hem of Liam’s jersey, wondering if I really belonged there.
But then Liam looked up.
His eyes found me in the crowd almost instantly, like he was searching for me all along. The moment he recognized me, his face lit up. He lifted his hand and waved at me with the biggest, brightest smile I had ever seen from him.
And just like that, all my doubts and fears melted away.
I forgot about the people around me. I forgot about the whispers, the pressure, everything. All I could see was him. I found myself smiling back without even realizing it, and I finally sat down, cheering for him with all my heart.
As the game started, I watched him run across the field with confidence and focus. He moved so fast, so sure of himself, like this was where he truly belonged. I couldn’t believe how good he was. Every pass, every move, every attempt made my heart jump.
I felt proud to be there for him. Proud to be his girlfriend.
When the final minutes came, the tension in the stadium grew thick. Everyone was on their feet. My fingers curled tightly around the edge of my seat as I watched Liam break through the defense.
Then it happened. He scored. The crowd exploded into cheers. I gasped, my eyes wide, my heart racing with excitement and disbelief.
They won, and before I could even process it, Liam was already running. Not to his teammates, but to me.
He ran straight toward the front row where I stood frozen. And before I knew it, he leaned in and kissed me right there in front of everyone.
The world seemed to stop. My face burned with heat, half from happiness and half from embarrassment. I could hear people cheering and teasing around us, but all I could feel was how real that moment was.
I could not believe it. I used to read about scenes like that in books. The winning goal. The public kiss. The girl in the stands. I never thought it would happen to me in real life. But it was happening. And I was living it.
Liam asked both me and Daniel to come to the victory party. My first instinct was to say no. Parties meant people, and people meant drama. I was not sure I wanted that.
But Daniel gave me a small look, the kind that said he was there for me and that I should not be afraid.
So I said yes.
Daniel excused himself shortly after we arrived. I had a feeling he did it on purpose, just to give me support and then quietly step back. That was the kind of friend he was. I watched him go with a grateful heart.
And somehow, I actually had fun. Even when my former friends stared at me like they wanted to say a thousand things with their eyes, I tried not to let it ruin my mood. Tonight was about Liam, about the game, about the win.
“Why are you smiling like that?” Liam asked as he took my hand.
“Hmm? Oh. It’s nothing.”
He raised a brow.
“Nothing, huh? You had that I’m about to start laughing for no reason look on your face.”
I tried to hide it, but my grin widened.
"It was Daniel. He texted. He asked if you were treating me nicely."
Liam looked mildly amused, but something flickered behind his eyes.
"So he's not mad anymore?"
I shook my head, still smiling.
"No. He said he was sorry for not talking to me after everything. And that he's glad I'm okay."
I paused, then added softly, "I'm happy he finally reached out."
Liam nodded slowly, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"If I didn't know better," he muttered with a crooked smile, "I'd say I'm jealous of Daniel."
I turned to him fully, my eyebrows raised in disbelief.
"Jealous? You?" I laughed lightly. "You don't need to be jealous of Daniel."
Liam tilted his head, a playful smirk dancing on his lips.
"You sure about that?"
I nodded, my gaze steady.
"Daniel asked me to be his girlfriend more times than I can count. But I said no every single time."
Liam blinked. “Every time?"
I smiled again, my voice softer now.
"Yeah. And he knew the reason why."
Liam took a step closer, his voice quieter and more serious.
"What reason?"
My cheeks flushed, but I didn't look away.
"Because I was waiting for someone else."
There was a beat of silence, charged and warm.
Then Liam's hand found mine.
"I hope I'm still that someone," he asked.
"Of course you are," I replied, smiling as my heart fluttered in my chest like a secret I didn't need to hide anymore.