The afternoon sun hung low over the university, casting golden light across the basketball court. The chatter of students echoed through the stands, bouncing off the walls, mixing with the rhythmic dribble of basketballs and squeak of sneakers against polished wood. Reina walked with her friends, phone tucked in her pocket, trying to keep up with their animated conversation. Yet her mind was only half there, distracted by the anticipation gnawing at her.
"Reina, come on! You're too quiet. Are you excited or what?" one of her new friends called out.
Reina gave a small, distracted smile. "Yeah… I'm fine," she said softly, though her pulse had begun to quicken. He's here… Adrian is here, she reminded herself, almost whispering it inside her head.
When she stepped closer to the court, her breath caught. Adrian was already there, moving with a natural grace she hadn't fully noticed before. His dark hair stuck slightly to his forehead with sweat, and his fair skin gleamed under the afternoon sun. The way he carried himself—light, agile, confident—made him seem both approachable and untouchable at once.
Reina watched as he dribbled the ball, pivoted, and made a precise shot that bounced off the rim before sinking perfectly into the net. The crowd erupted in cheers, a roar that washed over the court. For everyone else, it was the sound of celebration and excitement, but for Reina, it was distant, like a soft echo behind a glass. Time slowed. The noise faded. And all she could see, all she could feel, was him.
There was something about the way he moved—so fluid, so commanding yet effortless—that made her heart flutter without permission. His eyes focused, determination etched across his face, and yet there was a warmth in the way he smiled at his teammates after a good play, a lightness in his laughter that made him magnetic. She had admired him before, yes, but watching him in his element, in motion, brought a new kind of reverence, a new kind of awe that she hadn't felt before.
He's… amazing, she thought, stomach fluttering. And not just because he's good at basketball… it's how he carries himself. How he moves. How people respond to him.
Her friends nudged her, laughing about a missed shot nearby, but Reina barely noticed. The chatter, the laughter, the shouts of encouragement—they all blurred into background noise. Her eyes followed Adrian as he sprinted down the court, the sunlight catching the sweat on his arms, the muscles in motion, the quick, confident steps that made him look both strong and graceful. Each movement seemed choreographed, yet perfectly natural, effortless yet powerful.
When he passed the ball to a teammate, Reina noticed the subtle kindness in his gesture, the encouragement in his nod, the easy camaraderie he shared with the team. He was a "guy's guy," approachable yet respected, someone who could be both a leader and a friend. And yet… to her, all of that was secondary. She felt something deeper stir within her—a warmth that tickled her stomach, a pull she couldn't quite name, a fascination that felt almost electric.
She leaned forward instinctively, as if her proximity to the court could somehow make her part of this moment. The rhythm of the game, the bounce of the ball, the calls of the referees—all of it faded around the edges, leaving only Adrian in her vision. She admired the determination in his eyes, the subtle tension in his jaw, the way his focus never wavered even under pressure. Every move, every decision on the court, made her pulse quicken and her chest tighten in a way she hadn't expected.
I've never… felt like this before, she admitted silently to herself. It's like… I can't look away.
She could hear her friends talking, teasing her lightly, but she wasn't listening. Even the cheers from the crowd, which seemed so vibrant and alive, were muffled in comparison to the vividness of the image before her: Adrian, commanding, alive, captivating, the embodiment of energy and skill. Her admiration wasn't just for his talent—it was for him entirely. The way he existed, fully and unapologetically, made her yearn to reach for that same kind of presence, that same kind of confidence.
The ball came back to him, and Adrian pivoted, dribbling past an opponent with swift, confident steps. He launched himself into a jump shot, and for a split second, Reina held her breath. The ball arced perfectly, swooshing through the net, and the crowd erupted once again. Adrian's teammates clapped him on the back, celebrating the point, but Reina barely registered them. She was mesmerized.
He's… flawless, in a way, she thought, cheeks warming. Not perfect, no… just… remarkable. And yet… somehow approachable. Real.
Her chest tightened again, a tickling, fluttering feeling that made her hands fidget lightly. She realized she had been holding her breath for a while, entirely caught in the spell of watching him play, watching him exist in his element. A slow smile crept onto her lips despite herself. Why does this feel… so intense?
When the game paused for a short break, Adrian jogged over to the sidelines, wiping sweat from his brow, laughing with a teammate. Reina noticed how naturally he smiled, how effortless he seemed. She felt a strange combination of admiration, curiosity, and… something else, something that made her stomach flutter and her heart race like it had wings.
Maybe… maybe I could be braver. Maybe I could… The thought trailed off as she watched him talk to someone nearby, animated and warm. She felt inspired in a way she hadn't felt before, not just by his skill, but by the energy he carried. It made her think of herself—of her own potential, of the walls she had built, of the shy, cautious Reina who had been hiding for so long.
I want to… be more like that. Strong, confident, alive. Not for anyone else… but for me.
The whistle blew again, signaling the resumption of the game. Adrian sprinted back onto the court, and Reina leaned back slightly, letting out a soft sigh. Her eyes followed every movement, every jump, every pass. Each point scored felt like a small revelation, each cheer from the crowd a gentle nudge that the world was bigger, brighter, and more alive than she had allowed herself to believe.
For the first time in a long while, she felt a mixture of awe and determination, admiration and longing—not just for Adrian, but for herself. Watching him play, seeing him thrive, made her want to push herself, to step out of the shadows, to explore the strength and confidence she had buried for so long.
And so, amid the roaring crowd and the bright evening sun, Reina made a quiet promise to herself. She would chase her passions, she would be braver, she would embrace life with more energy and courage. Adrian had shown her a spark—his effortless charm and skill had ignited something in her, and she would carry that fire forward.
For a moment, she allowed herself to simply watch, to admire, to feel the tickling warmth of excitement in her chest. And in that moment, with the game in full swing and the world alive around her, Reina realized that admiration could be more than just fascination—it could be a compass, guiding her toward the person she wanted to become.