Che, Leon, and Felix stood around in the locker room post-shower, towels around their waists, Che and Leon messing around while Felix leaned quietly against a bench.
"What's up with you, man? You're quiet today." Leon chucked a wet towel at Felix.
"Ugh, seriously?"
"Yeah—you should be more hyped now that you got the call-up."
Felix paused. "It's cool, I guess. But I gotta tell you guys something." He stepped forward. "I'm leaving at the end of this season. Leverkusen came through."
Che and Leon just stood there for a second—not totally surprised, but it still hit.
"It's not official yet," Felix added, "but I think I'm gonna take it."
Leon broke the silence. "That's it? Dude—I thought this was a breakup confession."
"What?"
"Leon thought your girl dumped you."
"I don't even have a girlfriend."
"See? We clearly didn't know." Leon shrugged. "Anyway, is that what's got you down? The move?"
Felix nodded. "Yeah. I've been here almost three years now. This place started to feel like home. I came in wanting nothing more than to make the first team." He glanced around the room. "But sometimes dreams shift."
"I'm proud of you, man," Leon said. "What I'm actually looking forward to is facing you next season."
"Same. We'll see each other again."
"Okay, but we gotta celebrate this somehow. I got this girl's number from your school—and she's got friends too." Leon held up his phone like it was a ticket to paradise.
"Don't we have a match Saturday?"
**"Come on, bro. You've been preparing forever. We're always prepping—but this? Us hanging out like this? This might not happen again."
"It totally will—"
"Shhh." Leon covered Che's mouth.
Felix chuckled. "You know what? Screw it. Let's go have fun."
Later that afternoon, the three of them stood outside a laser tag place waiting. Leon had just wrapped up a call and walked over.
"They said they're on their way." Felix looked them both over. "Seriously? Tracksuits?"
"What else were we supposed to wear?" Che asked.
"We're meeting girls. You could've picked anything that doesn't scream 'football is my entire personality.'"
The girls finally arrived. Leon waved them over with a confident smile.
"Alright—Felix, tallest one. Che, shortest. And I'm obviously going for the pretty one." Leon grinned. "Oh, Marlene, my Marlene..."
Che squinted. "They're all taller than me."
"Being short is tough, huh?" Leon teased.
"How is that my fault?"
Leon introduced them: Marlene, Nele, and Lia. Inside, teams were set—Leon with Marlene, Felix with Nele, Che with Lia.
Laser tag got competitive fast. Leon and Marlene ended up winning, which they celebrated obnoxiously. Afterwards, they hit a restaurant.
"For someone who's great at hitting top bins—you're horrible at laser tag, bro," Leon laughed.
"You literally cheated."
"Don't hate the player." Leon grinned. ''Hate the game.''
They all laughed over food, then headed to a nearby park to hang out. Everyone naturally split into pairs.
Leon and Marlene sat at a bench, chatting.
'' I really find it hard to believe you don't have a boyfriend.'' Leon smirks while looking straight as Marlene's eyes.
''No, I don't. I don't know why that would be hard to believe.'' Marlene blushes while looking away and playing with her hair.
'' I don't believe it because of how pretty you are.''
''Thank you.'' Marlene smile and her face is red.
''What... what about you? Do you have a girlfriend?'' '
'Me? Oh no.''
Meanwhile, Felix and Nele walked beneath the trees, soft orange light from the sunset filtering through the branches.
"I forget how pretty the sunset is sometimes," Nele said.
"You don't come out here much?"
"Not really. Lia and I stay in most weekends. Marlene's the social one."
"You guys family?"
**"Yeah—Lia's my little sister. Marlene's our cousin."
**"Nice. So, what made you come out tonight?"
"Marlene's been crushing on Leon for ages," Nele laughed. "She couldn't shut up about him. She always hangs around guys—oops, sorry."
"Nah, it's fine. Leon's kinda the same—with girls, obviously."
"They're probably made for each other then."
Che and Lia sat on the grass, not far from Leon and Marlene.
"Oh my gosh, are they kissing?" Lia made a face. "So gross. In public too."
Che burst out laughing. "Classic Leon. Dude's a menace."
"It's just... too public. Kissing's supposed to mean something."
"So you've never—wait, your first kiss hasn't happened yet, huh?" Che teased.
"Shut up!" Lia smacked his shoulder.
"Don't worry, I'd volunteer. Just doing my civic duty."
"Eww, no." Lia laughed, hiding her face. **"You shouldn't say stuff like that."
"A kiss never hurt anyone," Che shrugged.
**"Maybe, but it's different in public. It just feels... personal."
Che blinked. Oh. She wasn't joking.
They sat there, quiet, stealing glances. Che realized maybe he shouldn't have pushed that joke. But now? They were both leaning closer.
He paused. It wasn't something he actually wanted. But it was too late—Lia's eyes were closed and she was already leaning in.
He matched her pace, lips barely brushing—soft and quick. Then they both pulled back, flushed and quiet.
"We should... probably go," Che said, standing up fast.
Lia nodded, still seated, fingers on her lips.
Che's heart was hammering. What did he just do?
He walked over to Leon, who was still mid-flirt.
"Yo—sorry, but we gotta bounce."
"Relax, I'm busy."
"Seriously, man."
"Just chill until Felix comes back."
Che gave up and walked back to Lia. They sat down again, both awkward.
Then Che broke the silence. "So... how was it?"
Lia smiled nervously. "It was nice. Do you... do you want to do it again?"
"Wait—what?" Che blinked.
"I do. Don't worry about the whole 'boyfriend' thing. Marlene does this kind of stuff all the time."
Che looked down, then shrugged. "Well... a kiss never hurt anyone, right?"
They leaned in again. This time, it lingered longer, deeper.
Then they heard Leon yell from a distance:
"Oii Che! What's going on over there?"
They pulled away and laughed—