By lunchtime, the cafeteria was buzzing with noise. Noelle sat with Mei Ling, picking half-heartedly at her noodles while Mei Ling prattled on about a pop quiz that had taken everyone by surprise.
Her mind, however, wasn't really on food or quizzes. It was on the boy across the room who had just walked in with his teammates, laughing at something one of them said, his presence commanding attention even without trying.
Ren.
He caught her eye almost instantly. The grin that spread across his face was casual enough for everyone else but softened into something more private when it landed on her. Without hesitation, he excused himself from his group and made his way over.
Mei Ling arched a brow, smirking knowingly as she slid her tray aside. "Guess I'll give you two some space."
"No, you don't have to—" Noelle started, but Mei Ling was already up and gone, winking at her.
Ren slid into the seat Mei Ling had vacated, leaning forward with his elbows on the table, so close that the noise of the cafeteria faded into the background.
"You busy this weekend?" he asked, his tone light, almost too casual.
Noelle blinked. "Um… not really. Why?"
He tilted his head, studying her reaction before answering. "We've got a match. Big one. And I thought… maybe you'd want to come watch."
Her chopsticks paused halfway to her mouth. "Watch? As in… me? At your game?"
Ren chuckled, leaning closer. "Yeah, you. Who else would I want there?"
Her face flamed instantly, and she ducked her gaze to her tray. "I don't know, maybe your fan club?" she muttered, half-teasing, half-serious.
His laugh was low and warm. "Forget them. I play better when I know you're watching." He smirked, the kind of boyish grin that both teased and disarmed her in the same breath. "No pressure, though."
Noelle's heart skipped, tangled in both nerves and a strange flutter of pride. "I—I don't really know much about soccer," she admitted.
Ren shrugged, his grin widening. "Doesn't matter. Just sit there, cheer if you feel like it and maybe yell at me if I screw up. Honestly? That'll be enough."
She looked up at him then, unable to hide the small smile tugging at her lips. "You're ridiculous."
"And you're dodging the question," he countered smoothly. "So… is that a yes?"
Noelle hesitated for just a second longer before nodding, her voice softer than she meant it to be. "Yes."
Ren's eyes lit up like he'd just scored already. He leaned back, stretching his arms lazily, but the smirk stayed. "Good. Guess I'll have to step up my game. Can't have you thinking I'm all talk."
As he stood to leave, his hand brushed hers under the table, deliberate, lingering just long enough for her pulse to race. Then he was gone, back to his team, leaving Noelle staring after him with her chest buzzing and Mei Ling returning just in time to catch her expression.
"Well?" Mei Ling drawled, dropping back into her seat with a sly grin. "What did lover boy want?"
Noelle pressed her lips together, trying, and failing, not to smile.
"He… wants me to go watch him play."
Mei Ling's squeal nearly made the whole table turn to look.
Saturday came faster than Noelle expected. She found herself clutching her tote bag a little too tightly as she followed Mei Ling through the school gates, the field already buzzing with students, parents, and more than a few self-proclaimed Ren-fans waving handmade signs.
"Wow, this is bigger than I thought," Mei Ling muttered, adjusting her sunglasses dramatically. "Half these girls aren't even here for soccer, they're here to ogle Ren."
Noelle tried to roll her eyes but the truth stung. Her stomach twisted as her gaze swept the bleachers, where clusters of girls giggled, craning their necks for a glimpse of him.
And then she saw him.
Ren was jogging across the field with his teammates, warming up, the afternoon sun glinting off his hair. Even from a distance, she could spot the easy confidence in his stride, the way he laughed at something a teammate said, the magnetic presence that seemed to draw all eyes to him.
Almost unconsciously, she smiled.
"Uh oh," Mei Ling teased, nudging her. "You've got it bad."
The whistle blew, sharp and piercing, and the field exploded into motion.
Noelle sat forward automatically, her fingers gripping the edge of the bleacher as if her body could spring into the game with them. Mei Ling, on the other hand, was already shouting encouragement with zero restraint, cupping her hands around her mouth to yell Ren's name in a way that drew curious stares. Noelle barely noticed. Her eyes were locked on Ren.
It was like watching someone transform.
She'd seen him study, laugh, tease her, soften around her—but this? This was something else. On the field, Ren was a force. He wasn't just playing—he was commanding, directing teammates with sharp gestures and calls, his voice carrying across the pitch even over the crowd's noise. Every time the ball came near, his movements sharpened: quick, decisive, a blur of strength and control that made it clear he wasn't just another player. He was the center of gravity, and everyone else shifted around him.
"Wow," Mei Ling muttered between her shouts, fanning herself dramatically. "Noelle, you didn't tell me your boy was basically captain material."
Noelle barely heard her. She could only follow the way Ren cut down the field, eyes narrowed, jaw set. He wasn't smiling, wasn't teasing. He was fierce, like a different person entirely. Every sprint, every calculated pass, every interception carried a razor edge of focus.
The crowd began to stir too. At first it was just the usual cheers, but then, little by little, the whispers started.
"Ren's insane out there."
"He's everywhere. I swear he just ran the whole length of the field twice."
"Do you think he's going pro? He has to be, right?"
"God, he's so hot when he's serious."
"Look at how he commands the team. He's not just playing, he's leading them."
Noelle's chest tightened, pride swelling, mingling with something else. It felt strange, almost surreal, to see the boy who had held her hand so gently now driving forward with such power, barking orders with the authority of someone far older than seventeen. She felt her cheeks heat as her heart hammered, caught between admiration and a flicker of intimidation.
Ren cut past an opponent, sliding the ball forward with a swift pass, then sprinted downfield again, his teammates shouting his name. For a moment, he glanced up toward the stands, and Noelle swore—swore—that his eyes found hers. Just a flicker, just a heartbeat. But it left her breathless.
Mei Ling nudged her, smirking. "See that? He's showing off for you. Half the school's drooling but you're the one he's actually looking at."
Noelle ducked her head, pretending to fix her hair, though the flush spreading across her face was undeniable.
And then, little by little, the whispers started.
"Isn't that Noelle? From our class?"
"She's sitting so close to the field."
"Do you think… she's here for Ren too?"
"No way…oh my god, look at him, he keeps glancing this way!"
Noelle's cheeks burned but she couldn't deny it. Every time he was glancing her way, especially after a good play, as if seeking her reaction. Every time she clapped, his grin widened just a little.
By halftime, the energy was electric, Ren's team holding the lead. He jogged off the field with his teammates, sweat glistening on his skin, jersey clinging to him. Cameras flashed, phones lifted high. His expression softened just slightly when he passed by their section and Noelle's pulse skipped.
The second half only heightened the chaos. The other team pushed harder and Ren matched them stride for stride, his presence even more commanding, almost relentless. When the final whistle blew and victory was theirs, the field erupted. Students poured down from the stands, crowding the sidelines, clamouring for photos.
Ren disappeared into the chaos, pulled into victory chants, surrounded by classmates reaching for him like he was some kind of celebrity. Noelle tried to stand steady as Mei Ling leaned close, whispering with a teasing grin, "Girl, your life's about to get complicated. Do you realise half the stadium just fell in love with your boyfriend?"
Noelle managed a laugh, small and nervous, even as her heart thudded harder than it had all game. She hadn't known this side of him existed. And now that she did, she wasn't sure if she should feel proud, dazed… or a little bit scared.