Because now—
it wasn't just about getting closer to her…
it was about not losingto someone who already knew her.
The thought stayed.
Even after the noise returned.
Even after everyone went back to their conversations.
Stephan didn't move.
His eyes were still on them.
Pixel.
And Daniel.
Standing there—
like this wasn't new.
Like this had happened before.
Daniel looked at her—
and this time, Pixel smiled.
Not just slightly.
But genuinely.
"Daniel."
There was warmth in her voice.
Something rare.
Daniel smiled back.
Daniel: Finally… you're actually smiling.
Pixel: You disappeared.
Daniel laughed softly.
Daniel: Not disappeared… just busy.
Daniel: Matches, training… I was mostly out of the city.
Pixel nodded.
Pixel: I know.
Then she asked—
Pixel: How's your mom?
Daniel looked slightly surprised.
Then smiled.
Daniel: She's good.
Daniel: She still asks about you.
Pixel looked away slightly.
Pixel: I should call her sometime.
Daniel: You should. She misses you.
There was a pause.
Then Daniel looked at Stevan.
Daniel: And who's this little guy?
Stevan smiled instantly.
Stevan: I'm Stevan!
Daniel chuckled.
Daniel: Nice to meet you, Stevan.
Stevan: I'm her friend.
Daniel raised an eyebrow slightly.
Daniel: Her friend?
Stevan nodded proudly.
Stevan: Yeah. Pixel is the best.
That line—
broke the tension for a second.
Daniel smiled.
Daniel: That hasn't changed.
Pixel didn't react much.
But there was a faint softness in her expression.
Then Daniel looked back at her.
Daniel: You didn't come to any of my matches.
Pixel looked at him.
Daniel: I was waiting for you.
That line—
landed quietly.
But deeply.
Pixel paused.
Then said softly—
Pixel: You were doing fine without me.
Daniel shook his head.
Daniel: That's not the point.
A small silence.
Then—
he added—
Daniel: Back then… I wasn't fine.
The tone changed.
Daniel: When I got injured in school…
I thought everything was over.
The noise around them faded a little.
Daniel: I stopped practicing… stopped showing up.
His eyes moved to Pixel.
Daniel: Everyone moved on.
A pause.
Daniel: Except you.
Stephan's eyes shifted instantly.
Daniel: You used to sit there every day…
forcing me to go back.
Pixel: You would've regretted it.
Simple.
But firm.
Daniel smiled.
Daniel: Yeah… I would have.
That moment—
felt real.
Not just memory.
Something deeper.
Something that stayed.
From a distance—
a group of girls whispered quietly.
Girl 1 (whispering): Isn't that Pixel?
Girl 2: Yeah…
Girl 3: Seriously, she's not even that pretty… just average.
Girl 1: Still… everyone seems to like her.
Girl 2: First Stephan… now Daniel?
Girl 3: Lagta hai sabko phasa rakha hai usne.
They laughed softly.
But not loud enough to be obvious.
Yet not quiet enough to be ignored.
Stephan heard it.
His expression tightened slightly.
Because somehow—
he didn't like that either.
Meanwhile—
Pixel didn't react.
As if she hadn't heard.
Or didn't care.
Then she turned slightly—
Pixel: This is Ketty.
Ketty smiled politely.
Ketty: Hi.
Daniel nodded with a calm smile.
Daniel: Hi.
Ketty: Everyone knows you here.
Daniel chuckled.
Daniel: That's not always a good thing.
Ketty laughed lightly.
Ketty: Still… it's impressive.
Their conversation stayed light.
Normal.
But Stephan—
wasn't part of it.
Because his focus was somewhere else.
On the difference.
The way Pixel talked to Daniel.
The way she wasn't distant.
Not like she was with him.
From the side—
Johan leaned closer.
Johan: Yeah… this is bad.
Hill smirked.
Hill: Not bad… dangerous.
Stephan didn't respond.
But his jaw tightened slightly.
Because now—
he wasn't just noticing.
He was comparing.
And he didn't like what he saw.
After a moment—
Daniel stood straight.
Daniel: I'll be around for a few days.
Then casually—
Daniel: This time, I don't want to lose contact again.
A small pause.
Then—
Daniel: Give me your number.
Silence.
Pixel didn't hesitate.
She took out her phone.
And handed it to him.
"Save it."
Same words.
Same calm tone.
But this time—
it felt heavier.
Because Stephan had seen this before.
And now—
he couldn't ignore it.
Daniel saved his number.
Then looked at her again.
Daniel: Don't ignore this one.
Pixel didn't answer.
But she didn't disagree either.
From the side—
Johan whispered again.
Johan: You're late.
Hill added—
Hill: Very late.
Stephan finally looked away.
But not because he wanted to.
Because he had to.
Because for the first time—
he wasn't just trying to understand her…
he was trying to catch upto something that already existed.