The rest of the match passed in a blur. Diana, after struggling to keep up at first, gradually found her rhythm. She had started the game feeling awkward, trying to anticipate Daniel's moves, but as the minutes ticked by, her body adjusted. Her steps became lighter, quicker, and her confidence soared with each well-placed shot.
Daniel, on the other hand, seemed to hold back slightly, letting her take more control of the rally. But by the end, neither of them was going easy. They both went full force, their sneakers squeaking on the gym floor as they darted across the court, returning shots with an intensity that drew the attention of a few nearby students.
Then came her moment. Diana saw the opening, the perfect opportunity. Daniel was already leaning back, expecting another power shot, so she flicked her wrist and sent a soft, deceptive drop shot just over the net. It was quick, low, and barely reachable.
Daniel lunged forward, but it was too late. The shuttlecock hit the floor with a quiet thud, just inside the line.
"Point!" the teacher called out.
Diana couldn't help it—she grinned widely, her breath coming in short, rapid bursts. She wiped the sweat from her brow, laughing softly to herself. She had won that point.
Daniel jogged over, smirking as well. "Nice one," he said, ruffling his hair with a hand, clearly impressed. But there was no frustration in his voice, just the playful banter that had always existed between them.
Diana tried to hide the grin, but it was impossible. She couldn't stop smiling.
From across the gym, Aiden had been glancing over every now and then, trying to focus on his own match but getting distracted by the pair.
At first, he had been worried—worried in the way you get when you see a friend you care about in a situation that makes you uneasy. Daniel could be, well, the most gullible human being he had ever met. There was this one time when Aiden had convinced him that swallowing gum would make your stomach stick together. Daniel had spent the entire afternoon panicking, chugging gallons of water to "un-stick" his insides.
So, when Diana appeared, this quiet, reserved girl who looked like she'd be the last person to cause trouble, Aiden felt that familiar protective urge kick in. Not because she was doing anything wrong—she wasn't. She was just playing badminton. But because Daniel was, well, Daniel. He trusted too easily, believed too much, and Aiden couldn't shake the feeling that at some point, Diana would realize just how vulnerable Daniel really was. Maybe not today, not during this match, but soon enough.
He kept stealing glances, expecting to catch some subtle manipulation, some moment where she'd start planting seeds in Daniel's head. Nothing major—just enough to start taking advantage of how trusting he was. But, to his surprise, that never came. The game continued, and they seemed to actually be having fun together. Daniel was laughing, his usual carefree grin on his face, and Diana? She looked genuinely happy.
Aiden felt his brow furrow as he watched them, his initial worry softening, though it didn't disappear entirely. Maybe she wasn't the manipulative type. Maybe they were just getting along. But still, he'd be keeping an eye on her. You could never be too careful when it came to Daniel.
On the other side of the gym, Ava scowled. She had never seen Diana play before, and frankly, she hadn't expected much. Diana was quiet, kept to herself, and, well, she didn't exactly look like the type who'd excel at sports. Especially not badminton. Who would've thought this girly, quiet little thing could move like that? Diana was quick, almost graceful in her steps. And that last drop shot? It was infuriatingly good.
Ava huffed, blowing a strand of hair out of her face as she effortlessly smashed another shot past her opponent. Victory came easy, but it didn't feel as satisfying. Her eyes flicked back to Diana and Daniel. Why were they laughing so much? What was so funny?
And... cute? Who said anything about cute?
Ava shook her head, irritated by her own thoughts. No, this wasn't about Diana being cute. It was about the fact that Diana—Diana—was good at something she hadn't expected.
With a final swift move, Ava finished off her opponent, barely breaking a sweat.