Dranred didn't move.
He held her like he had been waiting years just to do that one simple thing — to finally pull her close and feel her there, real and warm.
Rosette could feel his heartbeat pounding against her cheek, fast and uneven, like the rhythm of someone terrified to let go.
"Dranred…" she whispered, her voice trembling between confusion and something softer, something she didn't want to name.
He drew in a deep breath, his voice low against her ear.
"I thought you left," he said. "I looked everywhere. I thought I missed my chance again."
Rosette's lips parted, but no words came out. The sincerity in his voice froze her — it was raw, unguarded.
People were still watching, some smiling, some pretending not to stare, but Dranred didn't care. For once, the noise of the world didn't matter.
"Dranred, people are—"
"Let them watch," he murmured, finally pulling back just enough to see her face. "You think I care what they see? I almost lost you once because I hesitated. I'm not making the same mistake again."
His words made her chest tighten. She'd never seen him this serious — not even during his games. His eyes, still glimmering under the stadium lights, were fixed on her like she was the only person left in the world.
"I didn't leave because I wanted to," she said quietly, meeting his gaze. "I just… didn't know what to say after everything."
"Then say nothing," he replied gently. "Just stay."
Rosette blinked, her breath catching. "Stay?"
He smiled faintly, the tension in his shoulders melting. "Yeah. Stay where I can see you. Stay where I can hear you cheer for me. That's all I need."
Her heart skipped. She looked away for a moment, cheeks flushed, trying to steady her thoughts.
"You're such an idiot," she whispered — but there was no anger in her tone.
"I've been called worse," he said with a soft laugh. "But you still came, didn't you?"
She wanted to deny it, to tease him, to deflect — but instead she found herself smiling, a small, genuine smile she hadn't shown in a long time.
"Yeah," she said at last. "I came."
Dranred exhaled like he'd been holding his breath for hours. His hand brushed against hers — hesitant, then certain.
"Then I guess that means I won," he said quietly.
Rosette raised an eyebrow, half amused. "Won what? The game?"
"No," he said, his voice low and certain. "You."
For a moment, she just stared at him — the noise of the world fading until there was only his voice, his gaze, and the faint hum of the stadium lights.
Then, unable to stop herself, she laughed softly.
"You really are impossible," she said.
Dranred grinned. "That's what makes me unbeatable."
And for the first time in a long while, Rosette didn't argue. She just stood there beside him, as the night air filled with the echoes of the crowd, and for once — both of them were exactly where they wanted to be.
"Why are we back here? Everyone's gone and—"
Rosette stopped mid-sentence when Dranred suddenly halted on the mound. His face was serious, his eyes locked on hers. The sight made her chest tighten.
Watching him play earlier — the strength in every throw, the calm in every pitch — she couldn't stop her heart from racing. But now that he was standing before her, that excitement had turned into something else. Fear. Hope. Anticipation.
"What are we doing here?" she asked again. The stands were nearly empty; only a few workers were cleaning the field. "Red?"
Dranred didn't answer. Instead, he gently took her hand and led her toward the mound.
"You're acting strange," Rosette said, pulling her hand back once they stopped.
"Am I?" he asked, finally facing her.
Her breath hitched. He wasn't smiling. His eyes were intense — too intense. Why was her heart pounding like this? Was she really expecting something from him? What if she was only imagining things?
"Well?" she said, trying to sound composed. "Are we just going to stand here and stare at each other?"
Dranred's lips curved slightly. "That doesn't sound so bad. I could do that."
"You brought me here just to joke around? I thought you wanted to talk—"
"Hear me out," he said, stepping closer.
Rosette froze. His voice had changed — quiet but steady, every word deliberate.
"I told you," he continued, "I'd find the right words… and tell you how I feel."
Her pulse raced. "Y-yes… you did."
"Then listen carefully," he said softly. "Because I finally found them."
"Honestly," Dranred began, his voice low but steady, "I'm not sure if the words I'm about to say will ever be enough. But still—I want to say them."
He placed a hand against his chest, right where his heart was pounding fast. "There's one thing I know for sure," he continued softly. "Whatever I feel inside… it's something I can't control anymore."
Rosette looked at him, frozen in place. The sincerity in his tone made her heartbeat quicken.
"This might sound strange," Dranred said, his eyes never leaving hers. "I know I've always treated you like a little sister. But I can't do that anymore." His expression hardened with quiet conviction. "I don't even remember when it started—but I just can't see you that way now."
Rosette's lips parted slightly. She didn't know what to say, only that her heart was racing so wildly she could almost hear it.
"Right now," Dranred said, his voice dropping even lower, "I'm already asking for your forgiveness."
"Forgiveness?" she echoed, confusion flickering in her eyes. Was he… confessing to her?
He nodded slowly. "Because after this, I won't hold back anymore. From now on, I'll move forward—straight toward you. I'll do everything I can to make you fall for me."
He took a step closer, then another, until only a small space remained between them. Rosette's breath caught in her throat.
"So be ready," he said with a faint, teasing smile. "Because I'll be coming for you, Rosette. And I won't hesitate."
Her cheeks burned, her knees felt weak, and the butterflies in her stomach fluttered uncontrollably. Before she could answer, the stadium lights suddenly flared to life, flooding the empty field with bright white light.
Startled, Rosette gasped and took a step back. But her legs, weakened by nerves and the weight of his words, gave way for a moment—until Dranred's arm wrapped around her waist, steadying her before she could fall.
"Careful," he murmured. His hand lingered at her waist as he pulled her close. The sudden proximity made her pulse race even faster.
Rosette's hand instinctively pressed against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her palm. Her face grew impossibly hot.
"I—uh—everyone's looking," she stammered, glancing toward the stands. Even though the stadium was nearly empty, a few maintenance workers had stopped to watch.
Dranred only chuckled softly, his gaze never wavering. "Let them."
She swallowed hard, trying to calm herself. "Is this… is this your way of getting an answer?"
He smiled—a warm, disarming smile that made her chest tighten. "Maybe," he said. "Or maybe it's just my way of showing you how serious I am."
Rosette's heart fluttered violently. She could barely look at him without feeling her whole face heat up.
"You're… unfair," she whispered, trying to steady her voice.
"Maybe I am," Dranred replied with a grin, "but I don't plan to let you go anymore."
For a long moment, they simply stood there—bathed in the glow of the stadium lights, the world around them fading into silence.
Rosette lowered her gaze, her voice barely a whisper. "Do you have any idea what you're doing to me?"
"I do," he said gently. "Because you're doing the same thing to me."
Her heart felt like it was breaking and blooming at the same time. When she finally looked up, Dranred was smiling at her—not the teasing smile he often wore, but one full of affection, certainty, and warmth.
He brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, his fingers lingering for a moment longer than they should have. "I'll prove myself to you," he said softly. "Not just as a player… but as a man who's fallen for you."
Rosette bit her lip, her voice trembling. "And if I fall, too?"
Dranred's smile deepened. "Then I'll make sure you never regret it."