I didn’t even realize I had drifted so far into my thought until Aria tapped my arm.

“Evie, what are you looking at? “she said. 

“The game,” I replied quickly, “it’s really interesting”.

The words left my mouth easily, but it wasn’t true. I wasn’t watching the game, not really, I was watching him.

He stood out without even trying, handsome, tall, fair-skinned and impossibly composed. The way he moved across the court doesn’t feel ordinary. It was as if the ball belonged to him, as if every step, every turn, every pass obeyed his command. He didn’t just play, he controlled the game.

And I couldn’t look away.

The sharp squeak of sneakers against the floor echoed around the gym, mixed with loud cheers, shouting, clapping and calling out to the players.

But all of it faded into the background for me, because my eyes were fixed on him, player number nine.

Then the final whistle blew sharply through the gym, cutting through the tension like a blade.

For a brief second, everything went still. Then the noise exploded.

The winner is team red and black. Then the crowd erupted with cheers, filled the air loud, and overwhelming. Students jumped to their feet, clapping, shouting and celebrating. Some players collapsed onto the floor in relief, others laughed, breathless and exhausted, excitement written all over their faces.

But I stayed where I was, at the edge of the court, my heart still pounding fast and uneven, and I couldn’t tell if it was because of the game or because of something else entirely.

My eyes searched the court, almost unconscious, as if I had lost something and needed to find it again.

And then I saw him. Player number nine.

Without thinking, I started walking towards him. Each step felt strange, uncertain, like I didn’t fully understand why I was doing this, but I didn’t stop.

 “Player number nine,” I called softly. He looked up.

For a moment, our eyes met, and something inside me shifted. Before he could even say anything, I walked up closer and sat down beside him.

“Congratulations on winning,” I said trying to steady my voice. “Thank you.” His reply was simple.

But his voice was deep, calm, smooth, in a way that lingered. I swallowed.”What’s your name?” I asked. “Jack” he said.

Jack.

The name settled inside me as it has always belonged there.

“That’s a beautiful name,” I said, before I could stop myself.

“Thanks,” he said.

Again, short, distant. He wasn’t rude, just cold. ”I’m Evie,” I added, “I’m nineteen and you?”

“Same”, that was all, and yet I didn’t feel like leaving.

Because even with his short answers, there was something about him that pulled me in. Something quiet. Something guarded. Something I didn’t understand, but I wanted to.

“You played really well,” I continued. “The way you handled the ball… it was amazing. He glanced at me briefly. “Thanks.” I kept talking about the game, about how intense it was.

About how everyone was cheering.

The words kept spilling out, filling the silence he left behind. I didn’t even realize how much I was saying until—

“I need to change. ”His voice cut through my thoughts. I froze for a second. Then reality rushed back in all at once. Oh .“Okay,” I said quickly, standing up. “Sorry”, I didn’t realize I was keeping you.”

“You weren’t,” he replied, already getting up. But he didn’t stay. And for some reason, that small detail made something inside me sink. I stepped away, giving him space, watching as he walked off.

And I stood there a moment longer than I should have. Still looking, still thinking, still feeling something I couldn’t quite explain.

When I got outside, Aria was already waiting “Where have you been?” she asked. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“I just went to greet one of the players,” I said. “To congratulate him.”She studied me for a moment, then nodded. “Okay.”

We walked together toward the bus stop, the noise from the game fading behind us with every step. But my thoughts didn’t fade. They stayed. Wrapped tightly around one person.

Jack.

By the time we reached the bus stop, I barely noticed anything else.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Aria said as her bus arrived. “Yeah,” I replied. “Bye.”

I watched her get on the bus before mine arrived shortly after. Inside the bus, I sat by the window, staring outside but not really seeing anything. Because my mind kept replaying everything.

The way he looked.

The way he spoke.

The way he barely spoke, and yet it still stayed with me. I let out a quiet breath. What is this? It felt strange.

New.

Overwhelming in a quiet way. I had just met him. Just spoken to him for a few minutes. So why did it feel like something had already changed?

“Green hills Stop!”

The driver’s voice pulled me back. I blinked. My stop. Quickly, I got down and walked home, but even as I moved, my thoughts stayed stuck on him.

“I’m home,” I called as I stepped inside. “Welcome back!” Mom replied from the kitchen. I didn’t say much else. I just went straight to my room. As soon as I closed the door, the silence wrapped around me.

I dropped onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling. And for a moment, everything felt still.

Too still. Because my thoughts were anything but. They kept circling back. To him.

Jack. The name echoed softly in my mind. I turned slightly, exhaling.

Why can’t I stop thinking about him?

On the other side of the city, Jack stood on his balcony, the cool night air brushing against his skin. The game replayed briefly in his mind—the movements, the win, the control.

He had played well.

He knew that.

But that wasn’t what stayed with him. Instead, a memory surfaced.

A girl.Sitting beside him, talking

Smiling, Unbothered by his silence, 

He frowned slightly. What was her name? For a moment, he tried to ignore the thought. Tried to push it away. But it lingered.

Persistent.

Quiet.

Unfamiliar.

“Evie,” he muttered under his breath. he said it like he was testing how it sounded. And yet It didn’t feel easy to forget.

He exhaled slowly, looking out into the distance. Why was he thinking about her? It didn’t make sense. It shouldn’t matter.

It was just a brief conversation. Nothing more. Nothing important. But even as he told himself that Something didn’t sit right.

Because for the first time in a long time Someone had managed to stay on his mind. And he didn’t know why.

Back in my room, I closed my eyes, trying to sleep. But instead of darkness, I saw him.Clear.Unavoidable.

Jack

And somewhere deep inside me, a quiet thought formed…This wasn’t just a passing moment. And somehow I knew it wouldn’t be the last.

And somewhere deep inside me, a quiet thought formed…This wasn’t just a passing moment.And somehow I knew it wouldn’t be the last.