29.

The next day, the atmosphere at school was buzzing with excitement as everyone gathered around the field for the much-anticipated match. The stands were filled with students, some cheering for the teams, others just looking for something to watch, but my eyes were trained on one person—Zephyr.

She sat quietly in the stands, a small figure among the crowd, but her presence felt larger than anything else. I could see her looking around, maybe trying to find me, or maybe just waiting for the game to start. Her smile from earlier lingered in my mind, and I had to admit, the idea of her seeing me play grounded me in a way I hadn’t expected.

The game started with a loud cheer, and I found myself slipping into the rhythm of the match, my movements fluid, my mind focused on the game. The sound of the ball bouncing, players shouting, and feet pounding the turf was all that filled my senses. I wasn’t the type to play for applause or approval, but with Zephyr there, I felt different. I felt like I had something to prove—not to the crowd, but to her.

The game was intense, the ball moving back and forth across the field, both teams giving their all. My teammates and I were in sync, passing and positioning ourselves effortlessly. The opposition was tough, but I could feel the adrenaline coursing through me. My legs pushed harder, faster, until I was in the right position to score.

I sprinted towards the goal, the ball at my feet, and with a swift movement, I shot it past the goalie, scoring a perfect goal. The crowd erupted into cheers, but my focus was on the stands, on her.

Zephyr had stood up in excitement, her hands clapping, a proud smile spreading across her face. That was the moment I realized I had done it—not for the cheers or the victory—but to make her smile. The rest of the match went by in a blur, and before I knew it, the referee blew the whistle for a break.

I jogged to the sidelines, sweat dripping down my face, my chest heaving as I took in deep breaths. But the only thing on my mind was Zephyr, sitting there, watching me. I quickly made my way over to the bench, but I couldn’t wait to see her up close.

Ignoring the calls of my teammates and the claps on the back, I walked straight towards her in the stands. She was looking down at her phone, probably checking the scores, but as soon as she saw me approaching, her gaze met mine, and she gave me a small smile.

“You were amazing out there,” she called out over the noise of the crowd. Her voice, calm and casual, was like a quiet balm to my racing heart.

I grinned, wiping the sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand. “You haven’t seen anything yet,” I said, taking a few more steps toward her.

Her eyebrows quirked up in playful challenge. “Oh, really? I’m waiting to see if you can keep it up.”

I chuckled and sat next to her, grabbing the water bottle from her hand before she could even protest. "I’m thirsty,” I said, a teasing smile on my face. She rolled her eyes, but didn’t stop me as I took a long swig from the bottle.

As I drank, I felt a strange sense of pride swell in me—not for the game, but for this moment. For Zephyr. She was here, right by my side, and everything felt... simpler. As I handed the water back to her, I could feel the eyes of my teammates on me, their reactions loud and exaggerated.

“Look at Ace! Got the girl and the game,” one of them called out, nudging the guy next to him. They were laughing, and the rest of the team joined in, hooting and whistling.

I tried to keep a straight face, but there was something about their teasing that made me feel good—like they were seeing me in a new light. It wasn’t just the play or the victory that mattered anymore. It was this connection with her.

“Shut up, guys,” I said with a grin, waving them off, though I could feel my cheeks warming.

Zephyr rolled her eyes but smiled, taking her water back from me. “You’re lucky I don’t slap you for taking my water like that.” Her voice was joking, but I saw the teasing glint in her eyes, the same glint that made my chest tighten in a way I wasn’t used to.

“I’m just thirsty,” I said innocently, leaning back on the bench and stretching my arms. “You can have it back now.”

She laughed, a soft sound that made my heart skip a beat. “What are you, five?” she teased, clearly amused.

“Maybe,” I said with a wink. “But you can’t deny I play better than anyone else out here.”

“Oh, I won’t deny that,” she said with a smirk. “Just don’t get cocky.”

I leaned in closer, lowering my voice just a bit. “I’m not cocky. I’m just... confident.”

Zephyr shot me an amused look but didn’t comment. We sat there for a moment, just talking casually as the sounds of the game faded into the background. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I wasn’t just Ace the player. I was Ace, the guy who was sitting next to Zephyr, the girl who made my world feel a little less heavy.

The break ended too soon, and the whistle blew to signal the start of the second half. I stood up and stretched, offering her a playful smile.

“Ready for the next round?” I asked, walking backwards a few steps as I headed back to the field.

She nodded, her eyes still sparkling. “Go show them what you’ve got, Ace.”

I gave her a confident nod before turning away, my heart light as I jogged back onto the field. This match was no longer about proving myself to anyone else—it was about proving to Zephyr that I could be more than just a guy who played in the air. I could be the guy who played for her.

The final whistle blew, and the entire field erupted in cheers. The score was close, but we had managed to pull through in the end. Victory was ours.

My teammates swarmed around me, slapping my back and hollering in excitement. It felt like the usual post-game frenzy, but for me, there was something more to it this time. Zephyr had been watching, and now that the game was over, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. She had seen me play, seen me at my best, and that meant more to me than the trophy or the applause.

I broke away from the celebration, scanning the stands until I spotted her sitting there, a little apart from the crowd. Her eyes were on me, and I gave her a quick wave. She smiled back, a warm, quiet thing, but it was enough to make the world feel right.

I jogged over to her, ignoring the calls from my teammates as they continued to cheer and congratulate each other. When I reached her, I bent down slightly, catching my breath. “I told you I’d keep it up,” I said with a grin, brushing off some of the dirt from my shirt.

She rolled her eyes, though there was a smile playing on her lips. “You were good,” she admitted, but her tone was playful. “I might actually start thinking you’re not all talk.”

I shrugged casually. “What can I say? I’m full of surprises.”

The crowd began to thin out as people started to leave for the after-party. I stood a little taller, my gaze locking with hers. “So... there’s a party tonight. My team’s throwing one to celebrate the win.”

Her smile faltered slightly. “I don’t know, Ace,” she said, clearly hesitant. “I’m not really... into parties.”

I raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. “Come on, Zephyr. It’s just the team. Nothing crazy. Just a small celebration. You can leave whenever you want.”

She looked down, clearly thinking it over. I could see the doubt in her eyes. She was always so guarded, so distant when it came to things like this. But I wasn’t about to let her pull away from this.

“I know you're not much for parties,” I continued, my voice softening. “But it’s just... I want you there. You’ve been a part of all this, you know? I want to celebrate with you.”

She bit her lip, her fingers fiddling with the strap of her bag as she avoided my gaze. “I don’t know if I belong there, Ace.”

I reached out and gently lifted her chin with my finger, making her look at me. “You belong wherever you want to, Zephyr. This is a celebration, and I want you to be part of it.”

For a long moment, she just stared at me, her expression unreadable. Then, finally, she sighed, the corner of her mouth lifting in that familiar, hesitant smile. “Fine. But only because you won’t stop bugging me about it.”

“Deal!” I grinned, already feeling the excitement build. “It’ll be fun, I promise. You won’t regret it.”

She shook her head, still smiling. “I’m sure I will, but we’ll see.”

We shared a small laugh before I pulled away, already heading back toward the locker room. “I’ll meet you there,” I called over my shoulder. “Get ready to party, Zephyr!”

Her voice followed me, just loud enough to reach my ears. “I swear, if it’s too loud or too much, I’m leaving early.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way!” I yelled back with a grin, knowing full well that, even if she didn’t stay for long, having her there was enough for me.

\---

Later that evening, I made my way to the venue, the small party hall reserved just for the team and their closest friends. The buzz of laughter and chatter filled the air as I entered, and the familiar sound of music pulsed from the speakers. I was about to grab a drink when I saw her.

Zephyr stood by the door, looking as though she wasn’t sure what to do. She was dressed casually, in a simple outfit that still made her stand out. The moment our eyes met, I couldn’t help but smile.

She had come.