Because now—
it wasn't just about getting closer to her…
it was about not losing to someone who already knew her.
The thought stayed.
It didn't fade.
Even when the noise around him returned.
Even when conversations resumed.
Even when everything went back to normal.
For Stephan—
it didn't.
His eyes didn't move.
Still fixed.
On them.
Pixel.
And Daniel.
Standing there—
like this wasn't new.
Like this had happened before.
Like this—
was natural.
Daniel looked at her again.
And this time—
Pixel smiled.
Not the small, polite smile she gave others.
Not the controlled one.
But something real.
Soft.
Genuine.
"Daniel."
There was warmth in her voice.
Something rare.
Something Stephan hadn't heard before.
Daniel noticed it too.
And smiled back.
"Finally… you're actually smiling."
Pixel tilted her head slightly.
"You disappeared."
Daniel let out a soft laugh.
"Not disappeared… just busy."
"Matches, training… I was mostly out of the city."
Pixel nodded slowly.
"I know."
That answer—
was simple.
But it carried something.
Like she had been aware.
Like she had kept track.
Then she asked—
"How's your mom?"
Daniel paused for a second.
Surprised.
Then smiled.
"She's good."
A softer smile this time.
"She still asks about you."
Pixel looked away slightly.
Not avoiding.
Just… shifting.
"I should call her sometime."
Daniel nodded.
"You should."
"She misses you."
A small silence formed between them.
Not awkward.
Not forced.
Comfortable.
Like it had existed before.
Then Daniel looked down at Stevan.
"And who's this little guy?"
Stevan stood up straight immediately.
"I'm Stevan!"
Daniel chuckled.
"Nice to meet you, Stevan."
Stevan grinned.
"I'm her friend."
Daniel raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Her friend?"
Stevan nodded proudly.
"Yeah. Pixel is the best."
That line—
lightened the moment.
Daniel smiled.
"That hasn't changed."
Pixel didn't react much.
But there was a faint softness in her expression.
Then Daniel looked back at her.
"You didn't come to any of my matches."
Pixel looked at him.
Steady.
Calm.
"I was waiting for you."
That line—
was quiet.
But it landed.
Deep.
Stephan's eyes shifted instantly.
Something tightened in his chest.
Pixel paused.
Just for a second.
Then said softly—
"You were doing fine without me."
Daniel shook his head slightly.
"That's not the point."
The tone changed.
Subtly.
"But clearly."
"When I got injured in school…"
His voice lowered slightly.
"I thought everything was over."
The background noise faded.
Not completely—
but enough.
"I stopped practicing… stopped showing up."
His eyes moved back to her.
"Everyone moved on."
A pause.
"Except you."
Stephan's jaw tightened.
Daniel continued—
"You used to sit there every day…"
"forcing me to go back."
Pixel's voice came calmly—
"You would've regretted it."
Simple.
Firm.
Certain.
Daniel smiled.
"Yeah… I would have."
That moment—
was real.
Not just words.
Not just memory.
Something deeper.
Something shared.
Something that already existed.
From the side—
a group of girls whispered quietly.
"Isn't that Pixel?"
"Yeah…"
"Seriously, she's not even that pretty… just average."
"Still… everyone seems to like her."
"First Stephan… now Daniel?"
A soft laugh followed.
Not loud.
But not quiet enough.
Stephan heard it.
Every word.
His expression changed slightly.
Not visibly—
but internally.
Because for some reason—
he didn't like that.
Not the words.
Not the tone.
And not the way they said her name.
Meanwhile—
Pixel didn't react.
As if she hadn't heard.
Or maybe—
she had.
And chose not to respond.
Then she turned slightly.
"This is Ketty."
Ketty straightened a little.
"Hi."
Daniel nodded politely.
"Hi."
Ketty smiled.
"Everyone knows you here."
Daniel gave a small laugh.
"That's not always a good thing."
Ketty laughed lightly.
"Still… it's impressive."
Their conversation stayed normal.
Light.
Comfortable.
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.
Wasn't guarded.
Wasn't pulling away.
Not like she did with him.
From the side—
Johan leaned closer.
"Yeah… this is bad."
Hill smirked slightly.
"Not bad…"
"Dangerous."
Stephan didn't respond.
But his jaw tightened again.
Because now—
he wasn't just noticing.
He was comparing.
And he didn't like what he saw.
After a moment—
Daniel straightened up.
"I'll be around for a few days."
Then casually—
"This time, I don't want to lose contact again."
A small pause.
Then—
"Give me your number."
Silence.
Stephan's eyes moved instantly.
Pixel didn't hesitate.
Not even for a second.
She took out her phone.
And handed it to him.
"Save it."
Same words.
Same tone.
Same calmness.
But this time—
it felt different.
Heavier.
Because Stephan had seen this before.
Just yesterday.
And now—
he couldn't ignore it.
Daniel saved his number.
Then looked at her again.
"Don't ignore this one."
Pixel didn't reply.
But she didn't disagree either.
From the side—
Johan whispered again—
"You're late."
Hill added quietly—
"Very late."
For the first time—
Stephan looked away.
Not because he wanted to.
But because he had to.
Because staying there—
watching that—
felt worse.
Because now—
he wasn't just trying to understand her.
He wasn't just trying to get closer.
He was trying to catch up—
to something
that already existed.
And for the first time—
he wasn't sure
if he could.