Chapter 5-Unexpected Doubles

The morning after felt... different.

Walking into school, I noticed it immediately. The way the air felt lighter. The way my steps felt a bit quicker. My gaze scanned the hallway—half on autopilot, half searching.

For him.

For the boy with guarded eyes and a quiet smile meant only for me.

In badminton practice, things were... not as usual.

Coach walked in with an unexpected announcement. “This week, we’re doing doubles practice. The upcoming interschool tournament requires both singles and doubles entries.”

The groans echoed around. Zayen stood silently in his corner, arms crossed as usual.

Coach continued, “Pairs will be assigned.”

My heart skipped. What if…

“Liya and Zayen. You two are one pair.”

My jaw almost hit the floor.

Gasps and murmurs spread like wildfire across the court.

“Wait… him? With her?” someone whispered.

“She’s just a junior…”

“She’s brave… or crazy.”

Zayen didn’t react. His face was unreadable. Cool. Composed. Almost… bored.

But his gaze flickered to me.

And in that brief moment—no words, no smiles—there was acknowledgment. Acceptance.

“Looks like we’re a team,” I said softly, walking up to him.

“For now,” he replied, adjusting his racket strap.

“For now?” I raised an eyebrow.

He shrugged, a ghost of a smirk teasing the corner of his lips. “Don’t slow me down.”

“Oh, please. Worry about yourself.”

For the first time, there was teasing. Playfulness woven into our banter.

Something between us had shifted.

The game began. Rally after rally.

Zayen’s movements were sharp, calculated. He was powerful but precise. I adjusted, matching his rhythm.

We weren’t perfect. We clashed a few times—reaching for the same shuttle, almost bumping into each other.

“Left! Take left!” he called once, his voice sharper than usual.

“Say that sooner!” I snapped back, breathless but laughing.

Other players watched in stunned silence. No one had ever seen Zayen talk this much during a game. Especially not with anyone else.

But slowly... something clicked.

His smashes, my drop shots. His clears, my net play. Our rhythm smoothed out like the flow of a river finding its path.

We won the first practice match.

Then the second.

Then the third.

By the end, people weren’t whispering insults anymore.

They were whispering something else.

“They actually… work really well together.”

“Are they... friends?”

Or maybe... something more.

After practice, as we packed up, one of the other seniors—Elina—walked over.

Tall. Gorgeous. Confident.

“Hey, Zayen,” she said, flipping her ponytail. “You’ve never played doubles before. I didn’t know you... could.”

I pretended to focus on my bag, ears burning.

Zayen didn’t look at her. “Didn’t try until now.”

“With her?” Her tone wasn’t rude... but wasn’t exactly friendly either.

“Yeah. She’s good.”

Three words.

I froze.

Did he just—?

My head whipped around. Zayen met my gaze, eyes steady, unreadable.

But I swore there was a softness there.

A quiet truth.

Elina left, clearly flustered. And Zayen? He casually adjusted his wristband, as if nothing happened.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Huh? Yeah. Totally fine,” I mumbled, face probably glowing red.

He didn’t press. Just nodded once.

And then—out of nowhere—he said, “You’re fun to play with.”

My heart actually stopped.

“I—uh—you too.”

Silence.

Then… a laugh. Small. Quiet. From him.

That evening, we walked to the school gate together again.

This time, no one needed to ask why.

Not even us.

End of Chapter 5

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