Love at First Game

Episode 24 Courtside Confessions

The lingering twilight had long since faded, but the excitement of the game lit up the basketball court. Daniel Thorne’s effortless shot had just wowed the crowd, but Vivian wasn’t paying attention to the cheers. She couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by the presence of Daniel Thorne.

"Recognized? What does that mean?" she asked Mia, trying to distract herself from the growing attention on him.

Mia replied nonchalantly, "Oh, there’s this popular gossip thread on the campus forums where they pair up the most famous singles. You and Daniel Thorne are recognized as the most mismatched couple."

Vivian blinked in disbelief. "There are threads like that? How boring do people have to be?"

Her complaint went unanswered as Mia and Elle started chatting about something else. But the comment nagged at her. "Wait, how are we mismatched?" she blurted out.

Mia shrugged. "That’s just what they said. Something about your appearances and professions being so different. Let me think—oh! They described one of you as ‘elegant and understated like an ink painting,’ and the other as ‘vibrant and colorful like an oil painting.’ One is ‘an otherworldly celestial being,’ and the other is ‘a wealthy flower in the mortal world.’”

Vivian scowled. "Wealthy flower? That’s outrageous. And for the record, I am not greasy."

Mia rolled her eyes. "Your jokes are so lame."

Vivian persisted, "What’s wrong with our professions? We’re both on computers. That makes us the ultimate IT duo."

Mia scoffed. "The IT duo? Do you even hear yourself? Besides, computers are just one of Daniel Thorne’s many talents."

Defeated, Vivian huffed but quickly switched gears. "Fine, who do they think is a good match for him, then?"

Mia smirked. "No one, really. Everyone has critics."

Vivian brightened. Good.

The crowd suddenly erupted, pulling everyone’s attention back to the game. Vivian looked toward the court just as Daniel Thorne stepped out in his white jersey. The sight of him was almost too much to take in—his natural grace, his calm demeanor, and his quiet confidence.

He caught a pass, dribbled a few times, and, with a quick burst of speed, feinted a drive toward the hoop. Then, stopping abruptly, he leaped and let the ball soar in a perfect arc.

Swish.

The ball sank into the net with a satisfying sound. The audience roared, but Daniel Thorne didn’t react. He simply turned to his teammates, exchanged a few words, and went back to warming up.

Mia sighed dreamily. "He’s the ultimate idol."

Stella chimed in, "Did you know he’s even better at swimming than basketball? Imagine a swimming competition with him..."

Vivian’s face turned beet red as an image of Daniel Thorne in swimwear popped into her mind.

Stella noticed. "Vivian, why are you so flushed?"

Vivian scolded her. "You’re so inappropriate!"

The game began, and it was as intense as Vivian expected. Daniel Thorne commanded the court, his movements deliberate and precise. His passes were crisp, his strategies sharp, and his sheer presence made him unstoppable.

To Vivian, he looked like Nathan from the game—calm, calculated, and overwhelmingly skilled. Every move he made seemed to echo the memories she had of playing alongside him. Her heart pounded with admiration. She realized that there really was such a thing as falling completely for someone in an instant.

After the first half, Daniel Thorne was subbed out to let the reserve players take the court. The crowd groaned in disappointment, but Vivian was relieved. She spent most of the break sneaking glances at him as he rested on the sidelines. She watched him talk to his teammates, drink water, and lean casually against the bench.

Suddenly, Daniel Thorne stood up, set down his water bottle, and walked straight toward the audience stands.

The crowd hushed, their focus shifting from the game to him. Daniel Thorne moved gracefully, his every step confident and deliberate.

He stopped in front of Vivian.

Her mind went blank as he leaned down, resting one hand casually on the back of her seat.

"I might not be able to go online tonight," he said, his voice calm, "We’re planning to hang out later."

Vivian nodded, unsure of how to respond.

"What are you planning to do tomorrow?" he asked.

"Study," she replied reflexively.

Daniel Thorne paused briefly. "Hmm. I’ll go with you tomorrow."

Vivian blinked. "Oh... Then I’ll save a spot for you."

She was completely on autopilot, her brain struggling to keep up.

Daniel Thorne glanced at Stella, sitting at the edge of their row. "There’s an empty seat over there. Can you move in a bit?"

Stella stared at him for a moment before mechanically shifting to the next seat. Mia and Elle followed suit, shuffling down the row like dominoes.

Vivian stood and slid over to take Elle’s old seat.

"Thank you," Daniel Thorne said politely before settling in beside her.

Daniel Thorne sat as if completely unaware of the tension radiating from Vivian. He watched the game intently, his focus unwavering. Yet within a ten-meter radius of him, the crowd was completely silent, as if his presence had stolen all the air from the room.

Vivian sat stiffly, her heart pounding in her chest. She stared straight ahead, pretending to be engrossed in the game, but her thoughts raced uncontrollably.

What did he mean by going with her tomorrow? Was he serious? Did it mean anything? And why, out of everyone in this crowded gym, did he choose to sit next to her?

Her mind replayed his earlier words over and over. "I’ll go with you tomorrow." It was such a simple statement, but it carried a weight she couldn’t fully understand.

Vivian bit her lip, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. He seemed completely at ease, as if this moment was entirely ordinary.

But to Vivian, it was anything but ordinary. This was the beginning of something she couldn’t quite define, and she wasn’t sure if she was ready for it.

But then again, she thought to herself, when it comes to Daniel Thorne, maybe I’ll never be ready—and maybe that’s okay.