His Possession To Claim

At the entrance stood eleven players, looking as sharp as freshly polished apples. But Aria's eyes searched for one person in particular. There he was, his poker face intact, but his honey-brown eyes glimmered with a light she couldn't quite place. He stood tall, radiating an effortless charm that seemed far from human. His messy brunette hair looked like it was just waiting for fingers to run through it, adding a disarming glow to his face. As he took a deep breath and exhaled, his lips curved into a smile towards a figure standing beside him.

Aria was stunned to speak as every act of his was graceful as a swan, each action effortlessly captivating. But immediately her eyes caught the sight of the person standing close to him, she looked hurt. The sheer sight of Daphne standing next to him, her hand intertwined with his, made her stomach twist painfully. They looked like the perfect couple.

"What are you guys doing? Get onto that field and show me you're real players!" Ms. Loveth barked, her commanding voice snapping everyone to attention.

Daphne, catching Aria's lingering gaze on Jared, decided to pull him in for a kiss at the last minute. "All the best, babe," she whispered. Jared responded with a tender smile, pulling her into a warm hug before jogging off to join his team.

The display left Aria feeling like she'd been punched in the gut. She hadn't expected that, not when she least expected it. Her gaze flicked back to Daphne, who wore a blank expression as their eyes met. Aria quickly looked away, knowing she had never won any of their silent standoffs.

"You have better things to do than watch two lovebirds locking lips with each other," Aria mumbled under her breath, trying to shake off the bitterness. She hated how much it stung. Deep down, she knew it wasn't just the sight of them—it was her selfish wish to be in Daphne's place that hurt the most.

Aria had harbored feelings for Jared for as long as she could remember, even though she was painfully aware of his relationship with Daphne. She tried to suppress it, knowing nothing good could come from entertaining such emotions. But her heart refused to cooperate.

And Jared—Jared didn't make it easy as he was always sweet to her every time they got to exchange words. Each time, he treated her with a kindness that only made her feelings grow. In her attempts to fight it, she would always want to find a reason to call him out and possibly start hating on him by pushing his limits, which she was very good at, she could easily bag an accolade in it, but his action were a big slap on her face, because his action was always the opposite of what she anticipated.

She still remembered the time she'd "accidentally" spilled ammonium solution on his designer coat during a lab session, a coat she knew she was never going to pay off in two years to come. She had expected him to lash out, at least a teeny weeny reaction for a kid who literally bathed in luxury, especially since the chemical reeked like urine. Instead, he brushed it off only to check if she had gotten hurt. That moment had sealed her fate; no matter what she did, Jared remained firmly embedded in her heart.

The sharp blast of a whistle jolted Aria from her thoughts. She turned her attention to the field, where the players were already in position. Lockwood's team lined up in a classic 4-3-3 formation, their midfielders ready to control the pace of the game. On the other side, Bridgeton's players looked equally prepared, their defensive line solid and their captain exuding confidence. Their focus razor-sharp as they waited for the referee's signal. When the second whistle blew, the game burst to life.

Jared, playing as a forward, darted toward the ball with the finesse of a seasoned striker. He outpaced a Bridgeton defender with a deft sidestep, sending the crowd into cheers. He passed the ball to his teammate on the wing, who sprinted down the touchline before delivering a precise cross back to Jared in the box.

Jared leapt, aiming for a header, but Bridgeton's goalkeeper reacted swiftly, punching the ball away. It was a close miss, and the Lockwood supporters groaned in disappointment.

Each tackle and pass caused an abrupt cheer from the crowd, mounting much pressure to the atmosphere. The cheerleaders added flair to the already electrifying atmosphere with their mad skills. But while the game was heating up, Aria's mind kept wandering back to that kiss. It was abrupt, yet so filled with passion that it replayed in her mind like a broken record. She felt like disappearing, but she knew better than to run away from her emotions—it never solved anything.

On the field, the game was neck and neck. Neither team seemed willing to yield, and as the first half neared its end, the tension grew unbearable. Just when it seemed like the stalemate would continue, a player from the Bridgeton team managed to break through the defense and score. The crowd erupted into a thunderous ovation, many leaping to their feet in excitement.

Aria snapped back to the present and one look at her team, she knew it was the Bridgeton that took this round. She peered into the crowd to see the player, who had seemingly scored the goal as he had his knee embedded to the ground, his hands raised to the sky giving a victorious smile. His teammates swarmed in celebration as they gave him a bare hug and warm handshakes, clearly proud of him. There was something oddly familiar about him, but she couldn't quite place it.

Before she could dwell on it further, the player turned toward the crowd. Their eyes met, and Aria instantly recognized him—it was the same guy who'd been staring at her during the earlier banter. She had been too engrossed in her own world, she didn't see him leave for the game.

"Go, Damien!"

"Woo-hoo!" The Bridgeton supporters roared his name, their cheers drowning out all other sounds.

Immediately their eyes locked with each other, he gave a wink, a cheeky grin spreading across his face as he ruffled his hair. Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she quickly looked away, feeling the telltale signs of a blush creeping in. That was definitely a ladies man and she was not about to fall for that.

The game resumed after a brief halftime break, the second half even more intense than the first. Both teams fought fiercely, their determination evident in every move. Jared, as the captain of Lockwood's team, found himself locked in a relentless battle with Damien. The Bridgeton player matched him move for move, making it nearly impossible for Jared to gain the upper hand.

After a particularly crafty maneuver, Jared managed to shake Damien off and push toward the goal. But instead of passing the ball to a teammate, he decided to take the shot himself. It was a flaw he struggled with—his inability to trust others on the field. Without the coach there to guide him, the habit reared its head again.

Damien seized the opportunity, intercepting the ball mid-kick with a powerful leap. His counterattack sent the ball soaring toward the stands, where it smacked Aria square in the face.

The impact left her dazed, but she managed to steady herself, picking up the ball with the intention of throwing it back. Just as she prepared to toss it, a towering figure loomed over her. She looked up to find Damien standing there, his grin as confident as ever.

Before she could react, he took the ball from her hands, leaned down, and planted a quick kiss on the eye which had been hit, he playfully tilted his head slightly, his eyes sparkling with mischief before dashing back to the field.

The crowd went wild. Cheers and wolf whistles filled the air as everyone gushed over the unexpected moment. Aria stood frozen, her mind racing to process what had just happened. Too stunned to speak, she remained rooted in place, the cheers of the audience echoing around her.