*Yawn*. Luna stretched her hand across the bed, expecting to touch someone, but her fingers met only the cold, empty bed. For a moment, she lay there with her eyes closed, hoping she was wrong, that maybe he was still beside her. But when she rolled over, all she found was the same empty bed. With a sigh, she sat up, murmuring under her breath, "So… he really left."
Dragging herself out of bed, Luna brushed her teeth, her movements slow, almost like she was unwilling to wake. Her body was awake, but her heart wasn't ready to face the day ahead. She walked barefoot into the kitchen, and her steps faltered.
The dining table wasn't empty. A full breakfast spread awaited her: eggs perfectly scrambled, toast stacked neatly, bowls of fruit, fresh juice, and steaming coffee. It wasn't just a meal. It was a buffet, laid out with care. And at the center, a folded note.
Her breath caught as she reached for it. The handwriting was unmistakable. Dayo's.
Didn't want you waking up to nothing. Eat well. Don't skip meals. —JD.
A blush crept across her face before she could stop it, more like she didn't want to stop it. She sank into a chair, the smell of coffee wrapping around her. Dayo made the best coffee, and she always disturbed him to make it for her. For a while, she simply sat there, staring at the note, replaying the night before in her head.
Flashback
"Luna, I'll be going back home tomorrow," Dayo said casually, scrolling through his phone as he ate.
Dayo had entered her life suddenly, changing her world in ways no one had in years. When they first met, he'd flirted openly, almost shamelessly, but over time, he grew more reserved. Their closeness remained, but his change unsettled her.
She lowered her fork slowly, her appetite gone. She hadn't said it out loud, not even to herself, but somewhere along the line, she had fallen for him.
Finally, she couldn't hold it in anymore. "Dayo…"
He looked up at her serious expression, eyebrows raised, and he kept his phone aside. "Yeah? You okay?"
Her heart jumped in her chest. The fact that he noticed her mood gave her courage. She took a breath and asked, her voice softer than she intended: "Dayo… do you like me?"
The question made him nearly choke. His spoon dropped against his plate as his eyes widened. He looked stunned, like she had just dropped a bomb.
"…"
Heat rushed to her cheeks. Embarrassed, she pushed her chair back, muttering, "Forget it," but before she could stand, his hand caught her gently pushing her back to sit.
"Sit," he said quietly. Something in his tone made her obey.
He slid his chair closer until they were face to face. His gaze was steady, but softer than she'd ever seen. "Luna, you're an amazing woman. Any man would be lucky to have you. And yes… I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel something for you. But I can't be with you. I'd hurt you emotionally."
He drew in a sharp breath. "At first, I'll be honest—I just wanted to sleep with you. But the more I got to know you, the less I could follow through. You're not just anyone. You're different. And I can't risk ruining that."
What he didn't say aloud sat heavy in his chest—that there was an invisible gap between them. Luna might not care about status, but he did. Without her, Hall of Fame wouldn't have reached the world. Without her, FIFA wouldn't even know his name nor would the song the FIFA anthem. And he hated that truth, hated the shadow it cast over everything. He wasn't feeling inferior, just helpless.
The silence stretched, thick and heavy.
"So…" Luna's voice trembled, almost breaking. "You admit you like me, but you're pushing me away because you think you're not good for me?"
His jaw tightened, guilt flickering in his eyes. "Yeah. I didn't expect this, Luna. You're not just… anyone. You make things feel real. And that scares me."
Her chest ached, torn between hurt and warmth. She tried to laugh, but her voice cracked. "That's the most honest thing you've said. And… for the record? I didn't mind the cocky idiot who flirted with me that first day."
He blinked, surprised, then chuckled. "Oh really?"
"Yeah," she said softly. "I've met perfect guys with perfect lives who vanished the next week. But you? You came into my life when I needed someone most. You fixed things I didn't even know how to face. And you made me feel… safe."
Dayo stared at her then, really staring, like he hadn't allowed himself to before.
"Luna… you deserve more than a guy who's afraid of what he feels. I don't want to give you half-love and end up breaking you."
Her eyes glistened. Slowly, she leaned forward. "Maybe I already know that. But maybe I just want you. No labels. No promises. Just us, here, tonight."
His breath hitched. He wanted to pull back, but her closeness drowned out reason. And when she pressed her lips to his, gentle but sure, his resistance cracked.
The kiss was soft, uncertain, but real.
When they parted, his voice was rough. "Luna… what have you done?"
She smirked, cheeks flushed. "You talk too much."
He laughed, shaking his head. "And you kiss better than I imagined."
She shoved him lightly, muttering, "Idiot."
But neither pulled away. The air between them grew heavier, charged with something unspoken.
Then the restraint shattered. His hand slipped around her waist, pulling her close. She gasped, but melted against him as the kiss deepened, no longer hesitant, but hungry.
The chairs scraped back as he scooped her up effortlessly. She clutched at his shoulders, surprised by his strength, before he carried her toward the bedroom.
Her laughter turned into breathless sighs when he tumbled her onto the mattress. He hovered above her, his grin reckless and bright.
"Still think I'm a jerk?" he teased, tilting her chin.
"Definitely," she whispered, her breath ragged. "But—"
Her words were cut off as he kissed her again, fiercer this time. The night blurred into tangled sheets, flushed skin, and whispered confessions between gasps of pleasure.
And when the exhaustion finally claimed them, Luna lay in his arms, knowing this was fleeting. Tomorrow, he would leave. But tonight, he was hers.