Chapter 34 Chapter 34

Chapter 34 Chapter 34
Ciara’s POV 

The black car pulled up to the curb at exactly seven o'clock. I was standing in front of my apartment building, wearing a simple black dress and a light jacket. I had left the surgical mask in the drawer. The swelling was almost gone, leaving only a slight stiffness when I smiled.
Elijah stepped out of the driver’s side. He had on a black t-shirt and jeans. He stopped when he saw me, his eyes moving over my face.
"You look different without the mask," he said. He didn't say it in a way that made me feel like he was looking for flaws. 
"I feel different," I said. "Less like a dental patient, at least."
He laughed and opened the passenger door for me. "I was worried you might have changed your mind and blocked my number."
"I thought about it," I said as I sat down. The leather of the seat was cool against my skin. "But I realized I don't actually know how to get to the stadium on my own."
"Good. My lack of local geography skills is finally paying off," he said, getting back into the driver's seat.
The car ride was smooth. We drove through the bright, clean streets of Singapore. He pointed out different landmarks, telling me which restaurants were tourist traps and which ones actually had good food. 
"So, are you a big basketball fan?" he asked, glancing at me as he navigated through traffic.
"I haven't seen a game in years," I admitted. "My life has been a little bit preoccupied with other things."
"Well, try not to judge the sport based on my friend’s performance," he joked. "He’s a good player, but he gets distracted if he sees me in the stands."
"Why? Do you heckle him?"
"Constantly," Elijah said. "It’s the foundation of our friendship."
I felt a small smile pull at the corners of my mouth. "I'll try to be a more supportive spectator than you are."
The arena was a massive, glass-fronted building that boomed with energy. 
I felt a warm pressure against the small of my back. Elijah had stepped up beside me, his hand resting lightly just above my waist. 
"It's a big turnout tonight," he said, leaning in close so I could hear him over the noise. "Stay close to me so we don't get separated."
"I'm fine," I said, but I didn't move away from his touch. 
Inside, the energy was even higher. The smell of popcorn and floor wax filled the air. We walked through the concourse toward our seats. A group of men in jerseys spotted Elijah and shouted his name.
"Elijah! Over here!"
He led me over to them. "Hey, guys. This is Ciara."
The men were friendly. They gave me quick nods and smiles, but they didn't linger or ask me a thousand questions. They were focused on the game and their friend.
"Nice to meet you, Ciara," one of them said. "Elijah didn't mention he was bringing a date."
I opened my mouth to correct him, to say that we were just acquaintances from a flight, but the words didn't come out. Elijah didn't correct him either. He just smiled and shook their hands.
"We should get to our seats," Elijah said, guiding me away.
Our seats were close to the court. The game started almost immediately. I watched the players move with a speed and precision that was fascinating. I found myself leaning forward, watching the ball move back and forth.
Elijah’s friend was number 22. Every time he made a basket, Elijah stood up and cheered, then immediately followed it with a loud, playful insult about his footwork.
About halfway through the second quarter, 22 made a spectacular shot from the three-point line. Elijah let out a shout and turned to me, his face lit up with genuine excitement. I couldn't help it. I started to laugh. It wasn't a quiet, controlled chuckle. It was a real, deep laugh that made my chest feel light.
Elijah stopped cheering. He sat back down and just looked at me.
"What?" I asked, trying to catch my breath.
"Nothing," he said, his voice softer now. "That’s just the first time I’ve heard you laugh. It’s a terrible sound.” He laughed.
My laugh increased. I clutched my hand to my stomach.
I felt a heat in my cheeks that had nothing to do with the temperature in the arena. I turned my attention back to the game, but I was hyper-aware of him sitting next to me. Our shoulders brushed every time one of us moved.
During a timeout, a woman sitting in the row in front of us turned around. She was holding a tray of drinks.
"Could you hold this for a second?" she asked Elijah. "I need to find my phone in my bag."
"Sure," Elijah said, taking the tray.
The woman looked at me and smiled. "You two are a very handsome couple. How long have you been together?"
I froze. My brain went to a dozen different lies, but then I looked at Elijah. He was looking at me, waiting to see what I would say.
"Not long," I lied. I don’t know why but I did.
The woman nodded. "Well, enjoy the game."
She took her drinks back and turned around. 
Elijah leaned toward me. "Not long, huh?"
"It was easier than explaining that we met while I was hiding under a baseball cap and you were returning my purse," I whispered.
"I agree," he said.
When the game ended, Elijah’s friend’s team had won by two points. The crowd poured out of the arena. We walked back toward the car, the adrenaline of the game still hummed through me. I felt more awake than I had in weeks.
We reached the car, but he didn't unlock the doors right away. He leaned against the side of the vehicle, looking at me. The streetlights cast long shadows across his face, making his eyes look dark and intense.
"I’m glad you came, Ciara," he said.
"Thank you for inviting me." I replied. 
"So…" he said, taking a small step closer. The space between us disappeared until I could feel the warmth of his breath. "Am I going to see you again?"
I felt a flutter in my chest. 
I hesitated. I looked at his mouth, then back at his eyes. "I don't know. It depends."
Elijah stepped closer. He was so close now that our jackets were touching. He looked down at me, his face inches away from mine.
"On what?"