Winter was slowly creeping in.
The sky had turned paler, and the wind carried a crisp bite. Students began swapping their short sleeves for cardigans and cozy hoodies.
Inside the school gym, the rhythmic sound of basketballs echoed off the walls. Lucifer and his team were deep into practice. Sweat shimmered on his forehead as he glided across the court—swift, sharp, and effortlessly graceful. He looked completely in his element, commanding the game without even trying.
Eliza sat on the bleachers, her chin resting on her palm, quietly watching. She didn't cheer. She didn't need to. Her presence alone was enough for him.
Every chance he got—during plays, water breaks, even mid-game—Lucifer's eyes found hers.
Their gazes met.
And every time, he'd smile. That soft, lazy, only-for-you kind of smile. Sometimes it was a charming smirk, sometimes a quick wink. Occasionally, a goofy little peace sign when no one else was watching.
The girls nearby giggled and whispered.
"Is he looking at her again?"
"They're totally dating."
But Eliza didn't care.
She didn't care what anyone said. When Lucifer smiled at her like that, the rest of the world just faded away.
And his teammates? They said nothing. By now, they were used to it—Lucifer's gaze finding Eliza in every practice, every match. It had become routine. No teasing. No questions.
There had been no announcement. No dramatic posts or public confessions. But the way they acted around each other was answer enough. They didn't flaunt it. They didn't hide it. They just... were. Tucked away in their own little world.
When the final whistle blew, Lucifer jogged over to the bleachers, towel slung around his neck, damp hair clinging to his forehead. He dropped beside Eliza like gravity had pulled him there.
She handed him his water bottle, her lips twitching. "You missed a shot."
He took a sip, then leaned toward her, flashing that cocky grin. "Distraction was sitting in the bleachers."
Eliza rolled her eyes. "Smooth."
He shrugged. "Accurate."
She bumped his arm with her elbow, trying not to smile. But she failed. Miserably.
After practice, Lucifer went to freshen up while Eliza waited for him outside the gym. The air had turned chillier, and the wind nipped at her skin as she stood there, arms folded, lightly shivering.
When Lucifer returned, towel slung over his shoulder, he noticed immediately.
"You're shaking," he said, pulling off his jacket without hesitation and wrapping it around her shoulders.
"What are you doing? I don't need it," Eliza protested weakly.
Lucifer raised an eyebrow. "Says the one who's literally trembling."
She huffed. "What about you? Aren't you cold?"
He smirked. "Nah. I warmed up from the game. So keep it."
He patted her head affectionately.
"How gentlemanly," she said, teasing.
"Always ready to serve you, my lady," he replied with a dramatic bow and a crooked grin.
He gently brushed some hair away from her face, eyes lingering on her like she was the only thing he saw. His gaze flicked downward—to her lips.
And there it was.
The tension.
Thick and electric.
~They went on movie dates, where Lucifer always bought too much popcorn.
They took long walks home, hands intertwined the whole way.
They hugged often—warm, tight embraces—and Lucifer had this habit of pressing his cheek to the top of her head like she was his anchor.
He'd purposely flinch at scary movie scenes just to make her laugh.
There were late-night phone calls filled with sleepy voices, soft giggles, and secrets shared under the covers.
They did all the things couples usually did.
Except one thing.
They hadn't kissed.
It wasn't like they didn't want to.
They felt it—that weight hanging in the space between every almost-moment.
Like right now.
It wasn't because they didn't have the chance. There were plenty of chances.
When he walked her home and lingered too long at the gate.
When they sat shoulder to shoulder, knees touching, hearts thumping too loud.
When she looked up at him, eyes soft and waiting.
The tension was always there. The longing.
But somehow, they never talked about it.
And maybe that's exactly why they hadn't crossed that line.
Maybe they were scared.
Maybe they didn't want to ruin this sweet, steady thing they had.
Or maybe… maybe they were just waiting—each hoping the other would make the first move.~
Lucifer cleared his throat, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"Alright, princess," he said, "let's get you out of here before you freeze to death. Can't let my girl die from the cold."
Eliza rolled her eyes, her cheeks turning a soft pink.
"Dramatic much?"
"Only for you."
Meanwhile, a different kind of chaos brewed across the gym featuring none other than Ava and Ryan.
Ava sat on the bleachers, sipping her hot coffee with her usual cool expression, pretending to ignore the way Ryan kept dribbling the basketball a little too close to her.
"You know," Ryan said, pausing beside her, "your poker face is impressive. But I bet you were secretly checking me out."
Ava didn't even blink. "The only thing I was checking was how badly you missed that last shot."
Ryan clutched his chest like she stabbed him. "Ouch. You wound me."
"I was hoping I'd knock you out," she muttered.
But the corners of her mouth twitched.
Ryan caught it.
He smirked, leaning down just a little. "You smiled."
"No, I didn't."
"You did."
"It was a twitch."
"A twitch of happiness," he said confidently.
Ava rolled her eyes, standing. "God, you're annoying."
"And yet… here you are, still standing next to me."
She tried to walk past him, but he gently tugged her hoodie string.
"I'm onto you, angrybird," he teased.
Ava snorted. "You're barely onto your homework."
Ryan grinned like she gave him a love letter instead of an insult. "Guess I need tutoring. From you. Preferably in sarcasm and eye rolls."
"You couldn't handle my level."
"Try me."
Their eyes locked for a second longer than necessary before Ava pulled away with a scoff. "Keep dreaming, Romeo."
"Oh, I will," Ryan said under his breath, watching her walk away—and yeah, definitely smiling like an idiot.
Watching from a distance, Eliza shook her head with a knowing smirk. "They're either going to kill each other… or get married."
Lucifer snorted. "Same thing. But let them play their own game. You just need to focus on me, not them."
To be continued....