Her heart skipped. She tilted her head slightly, curious but unsure.
"I… think we should head home soon," he said sheepishly, biting the inside of his cheek. The words were a gentle retreat, masking his own frustration. Anger and disappointment prickled at him for chickening out at the last moment. The rain, the quiet, the closeness—it had all made the perfect stage for a confession, yet he couldn't risk scaring her on their first real date. He wanted to be sure, to let it feel right.
The rain fell harder, drumming a rhythm around them, but the world seemed to shrink to just the two of them. Noelle's chest tightened, the warmth of the jacket and his gaze wrapping around her like a shield.
"Sure, it's getting late and we are drenched" she breathed, a smile breaking across her face.
They started walking back toward the street, the jacket still draped over both of them, a quiet barrier against the drizzle. Noelle's mind buzzed, the anticipation of the match mingling with the warmth of being so close to him. Each step felt lighter, the earlier tension of the rain and the quiet moment under the jacket giving way to something almost electric.
Ren glanced sideways at her, his grin softening. "You know, it's kind of unfair," he said lightly, "you get to look like that in the rain. It's distracting."
Noelle felt her cheeks warm, half embarrassed, half pleased. She tucked a strand of damp hair behind her ear and tried to laugh it off. "Distracting? Really?"
"Really," he said, his tone teasing but gentle. "It's unfair how… normal you make everything else feel. Like I'm suddenly too aware of… well, everything." He cleared his throat and looked ahead, but the faint curve of his lips betrayed him.
He glanced down, a soft smile tugging at his lips, and let out a quiet laugh. "You know… if this keeps up, I might have to bring you to one of my matches so you can see me in action. No pressure, of course, but it's more fun than standing around in the rain."
Noelle blinked, caught off guard by the casual invitation. "Football? Your matches?"
He nodded, his eyes lighting up. "Yeah. You should come. It's loud, rowdy but kind of fun. I'd… I'd like you there. If you want."
Her heart skipped, caught between surprise and excitement. The moment was soft, intimate, yet teasing. Ren never pressured, never pushed. Just an invitation, light and easy, but it carried a weight she felt keenly. She smiled shyly, the rain still dripping off her hair. "I think… I'd like that."
Ren's grin widened, a hint of mischief and something gentler flickering in his gaze. "Great. I'll save you a spot in the stands."
She felt a strange flutter in her chest, caught between amusement and something softer, something deeper. The rain continued to drizzle, but the moment had its own quiet warmth. Noelle realized she was enjoying this: being with him, laughing lightly, sharing the small, unspoken intimacies that had nothing to do with confessions or pressure.
As they reached the corner where the bus would take her home, Ren hesitated. He shifted slightly, brushing his shoulder against hers, as if testing a line he didn't dare cross yet. "I… I'll see you at the match, then?" he asked, his voice just a touch uncertain, betraying how much he cared about her answer.
Noelle smiled, feeling her heart lift. "Yeah. I'll be there."
The bus roared to a stop, and they parted with a small wave.
Ren watched Noelle step onto the bus, her smile lingering as she waved goodbye. For a moment, he stood frozen, the drizzle soaking through his jacket but completely unaware. Inside, his chest felt light, a surge of happiness he hadn't expected. She had said yes to coming to his match. Just the thought made the corners of his mouth tug upward into a grin that refused to fade.
Walking back along the wet pavement, he bounced on his heels, unable to contain the energy. His teammates would be practicing later, but he barely cared about drills or formations at that moment. All he could think about was seeing her in the stands, her eyes fixed on him, laughing at his antics or cheering when he scored.
He imagined her watching him sprint across the field, the ball at his feet, the chaos of the match all around, and felt a rush of pride and protectiveness. Somehow, knowing she'd be there made everything sharper, brighter. Even the rain earlier seemed insignificant now compared to the warmth of that small, fleeting connection.
Ren tugged his jacket tighter against the damp, still replaying the way she had smiled shyly under the drizzled jacket, how her eyes had lit up at the idea of the match. It was a simple thing, a small yes but it carried more weight than he could put into words.
Ren's grin lingered but the thought struck him: he didn't actually have her number. How else could he confirm the match or let her know when he'd be playing?
He tried to think casually. He could ask in person tomorrow.
The next morning, he spotted her walking past the library courtyard, books clutched to her chest, her head tilted in that same shy, observant way he loved. Heart thumping, he jogged to catch up.
"Hey, Noelle," he called, flashing a bright, easy smile. She turned, slightly startled but returning the gesture.
"Hi, Ren," she said softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Quick question," he said, pretending to glance around as if the world itself might be eavesdropping. "I was thinking… for the match, it might be easier to text you the time and all that. Do you… um… mind sharing your number?"
Noelle blinked, caught off guard. She hesitated, then laughed lightly, slightly flustered. "Sure, I guess that's easier than waiting for you to track me down every time."
He scribbled his number first and handed her his phone to type hers, the brush of their fingers fleeting but sending a little spark up his arm.
"Great," he said, grinning as he pocketed the phone. "Now you'll have no excuse for missing my spectacular goal."
Noelle rolled her eyes, smiling despite herself. "We'll see about that."
As she walked off, Ren's mind was already racing with plans: where she'd sit in the stands, how he'd play differently knowing she was watching and all the small, little ways he could impress her without even trying.
The day of the match arrived with bright skies and a buzzing excitement that seemed to cling to the air. Noelle had convinced a few of her girlfriends to come along, partly to support her new friend, partly to enjoy a fun outing. She smirked at them as they approached the stands, clutching their snacks.
"I have no idea what an offside is," she admitted, adjusting her cap and laughing lightly. "I'm purely here to give Ren moral support."
Her friends exchanged sly glances and one leaned closer with a grin. "Moral support? Sure, but we're also here for the eye candy. Don't pretend you didn't notice him."
Noelle felt her cheeks heat but she couldn't deny it. From where they were standing, Ren was pacing near the field, giving instructions, tossing a ball to a teammate, his movements effortless and commanding. The sunlight caught the angles of his face and the strong line of his jaw, making her pulse skip.
Ren glanced up at the stands and spotted Noelle waving. A grin spread across his face that made her stomach flutter. He jogged over during a brief break, and as he reached the railing near them, he leaned casually, tossing her a thumbs-up. "Glad you guys made it!"
Noelle laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm just here to cheer… and maybe make sure you don't score too many goals without me noticing."
Ren's eyes twinkled at her playful comment. "Deal. But if I score a spectacular goal, you have to clap extra loud."
The whistle blew and the match began. Noelle's attention flicked between the game and Ren, her heart racing every time he sprinted across the field, called out instructions or deftly controlled the ball. Every move he made was precise, confident, and effortless and she found herself completely captivated even without understanding half of what was happening on the field.
Throughout the match, she laughed with her friends at her lack of knowledge, mimicking the commentators' excited shouts and exaggerating cheers. But beneath the jokes, her eyes never left Ren. When he glanced up at the stands, their eyes met, and a private smile passed between them.
The crowd roared as the referee's whistle cut through the air during second half of the game. Noelle clutched her umbrella tightly, her friends clustered around her with popcorn and drinks, their voices blending into the sea of noise. She tried to keep her eyes on the ball, on the way Ren darted across the field, fast and focused but her gaze often wandered to him alone. The captain's armband gleamed against his arm and even in a plain jersey and shorts, he stood out.
Her friends leaned in, whispering between cheers.
"Wow… look at those legs. His thighs are insane."
"Insane? More like carved out of stone. He's got no right to look like that in high school."
Another burst of laughter rippled through the row behind them, where a group of older girls were less subtle in their appreciation.
"Forget the game, I'm here for Ren. Did you see his warm-ups? The stretch? God, those muscles."
"And his abs! He's got washboard abs, I swear. He should've just taken his shirt off after the game. That's the only reason I came."
Noelle's face heated instantly, her eyes darting to the field where Ren was sprinting down the wing. She wanted to cover her ears but the voices carried.
"I heard he's top in class too. Hot and smart. Honestly, he's the full package. Totally wasted if he doesn't end up dating someone gorgeous."
Her friends snickered, nudging Noelle. "Well? Looks like you're not the only one cheering him on."
Noelle ducked her head, embarrassed, hugging the drink in her hands as if it could shield her from their teasing. She wanted to say she wasn't like them, that she wasn't just there for the so-called "eye candy." She'd come because Ren invited her because the way his eyes had lit up when she said yes made something in her chest flutter.
Still… she couldn't deny the truth in their words. Watching him out there, every movement sure and powerful, it was impossible not to notice. He looked untouchable, the kind of boy everyone wanted to claim.
But then, when he turned toward the stands and his gaze flicked upward, Noelle swore it landed on her.
At the end of the match, Ren jogged over again, panting lightly but still managing a grin. "So… are you enjoying the match?" he teased, brushing damp hair from his forehead.
Noelle nodded, her cheeks tinged with warmth. "Absolutely. But I think I need a crash course on offside before the next match."
He laughed, a low, easy sound that made her heart flutter. "I can give you a personal lesson if you want."
Her friends snickered in the background, nudging her teasingly. "See? You're basically being invited to a private tutorial. Don't act so innocent."
Noelle's cheeks flushed a warm pink and she quickly looked down, pretending to fuss with the strap of her bag. Ren caught the way her blush spread and a slow, satisfied smile tugged at his lips. It wasn't often that he saw her flustered and he found he liked it far too much.
He wanted to linger, to walk her out with the others, maybe even steal a quiet moment with her. But the coach's voice was already calling him back for the debrief. He hesitated for a beat, eyes flicking from her to the huddle of teammates gathering on the field.
"I guess this is where I leave you," he said, tone reluctant but light.
Noelle lifted her gaze, her smile small but warm. "Go. Don't keep your team waiting. I'll see you tomorrow at school."
That simple promise eased the sting of having to walk away. Ren gave her one last grin, his eyes lingering on her longer than necessary before he jogged back toward the field. Noelle watched him go, her heart skipping at the easy confidence in his stride.