Two days after the exhibition match, the national baseball team held a press conference before their flight to Japan — their first-ever entry into the World Baseball Cup. Excitement buzzed across the country; fans, sports networks, and reporters all wished the team good luck.
After the conference, reporters from every major network followed the players straight to the airport. The scene looked more like the send-off of movie stars than athletes — flashing cameras, waving fans, and chants echoing through the terminal.
"You didn't know he was leaving today?" James asked as he stood behind Rosette, who was watching the news broadcast. He noticed the way her eyes shimmered, the way she tried to blink away tears.
"He didn't tell me," Rosette whispered, her voice barely holding steady.
"Don't waste your tears on someone like him," James said sharply. "If he left without even saying goodbye, it only means—"
He stopped mid-sentence as he saw a tear roll down her cheek.
"You're crying over him again," he muttered, exasperated. "You look so pathetic." With a sigh, he turned and disappeared into his room. When he came out, he was holding his jacket.
"Are you just going to sit there and cry?" he asked, tone gruff but eyes softer than before.
Rosette looked at him, startled.
"Get up. If we leave now, we might still catch him."
"James…" she breathed, quickly wiping her tears.
"Move before I change my mind," he said curtly, heading for the door.
Rosette hurried to her room, grabbed the baseball Dranred had given her — the first one he ever handed to her — and ran outside. She found James already in the car, waiting silently. Without a word, she climbed in.
The car sped through the streets, the city lights blurring past. Luck seemed on their side; the traffic was unusually light.
When they reached the airport, they could already hear the noise of the crowd — reporters shouting questions, fans waving banners, cameras flashing.
"Thank you, James," Rosette said softly as he stopped the car near the main entrance.
"I'm only doing this because I don't want to see you cry," James said, still looking at the steering wheel. "I promised our parents I'd never let you cry again. So go — say a proper goodbye this time."
Rosette smiled faintly and nodded. Then she jumped out of the car and ran toward the entrance.
The airport was swarming with people. She struggled to get through the wall of fans and reporters, her heart pounding faster with every step. Just as she reached the security line near the departure gates, two guards stopped her.
Beyond them, she saw the national team walking toward the terminal — and among them was Dranred.
Rosette was gasping for breath, her pulse racing as her eyes searched for Red. Then, she saw him — standing behind Peter.
"Red!" she shouted, her voice loud enough to make everyone turn their heads.
Dranred froze at the sound of her voice. He turned and was stunned to see Rosette struggling against the security guards trying to hold her back.
"Dranred!" Peter called out as he noticed the young man stepping toward the commotion. He quickly grabbed his arm. "There are too many people here—reporters, cameras—"
"It doesn't matter," Dranred said sharply, brushing Peter's hand away before walking straight toward Rosette.
"Hey! What are you doing here?" Dranred asked with a faint smile, stopping just behind the line of security. The crowd's attention—and every camera—was now focused entirely on them.
"Seriously? You're asking me that?" Rosette shot back, her voice trembling. "After deciding to leave without even telling me? If I hadn't seen the—"
Her words cut off when Dranred suddenly took her hand and pulled her closer, forcing the security team to step aside.
"I didn't tell you because I knew you'd react like this," he said once he stood before her. "You have no idea how hard it is for me to walk away from you. But I have to. I promised James that I'd reach the peak of success. We have to be apart for now."
He looked at her gently. "You can wait for me, can't you? I'll come back as the brightest star there is—bright enough to blind everyone. So for now… be patient."
He placed a hand on her head, smiling softly. "You can do that, right?"
Rosette swallowed hard. "Still… you should've told me."
"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry," he said quietly. Then his lips curved into a teasing smile. "Stop sulking. Everyone's watching. They might think I'm making you cry."
"Hey!" Rosette protested as he stepped closer, cupping her face and tilting it up so their eyes met.
"I need to recharge," Dranred murmured. "It's going to be a while before—"
He stopped mid-sentence when Rosette suddenly grabbed his face with both hands and pressed her forehead to his. The sudden gesture caught him completely off guard.
"Your face is red," Dranred said with a laugh, his eyes gleaming.
"I'm already embarrassed enough," she muttered. "So shut up and get your recharge."
Dranred grinned. "This recharge isn't enough for me."
"Huh?" Rosette blinked, confused, pulling her face back slightly.
"This," he whispered, sliding an arm around her waist, "is what I need."
Before she could react, he tilted her face up and captured her lips in a kiss.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Cameras flashed. The baseball players nearby erupted into cheers—except for Nathan, who clenched his fists in silent disbelief, unable to accept what he had just seen.
Rosette instinctively covered her mouth as Dranred pulled away.
It was the second time he had kissed her — and she had no idea where to hide her face. Cameras were flashing everywhere; everyone had seen them. Her cheeks burned.
"I'm fully charged now," Dranred said with a teasing smile. "I can beat everyone."
"You're impossible," Rosette muttered through her hands. Then, as if remembering something, she lowered them and reached for the baseball inside her bag. She took it out and gently placed it in Dranred's hand.
"I can't be by your side," she said softly, "so bring this with you. I'll be waiting. And make sure you become the brightest star there is."
Dranred's smile softened. "That, I promise."
He pulled her into an embrace, holding her as if he never wanted to let go. In his heart, he didn't. But he had to leave. He had to prove to James — and to himself — that he could reach the top, achieve his dreams, and come back worthy of Rosette's pride. When he returned, he would earn James' blessing, no matter what it took.
Slowly, he released her and slipped off his jacket, draping it over her shoulders. He knew the media would swarm her the moment he left, and the jacket might shield her just a little. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of James standing behind Rosette, quietly waiting.
"I have to go now," Dranred said.
He adjusted the jacket around her, then leaned forward and kissed her one last time — quick, but full of meaning — before gently turning her toward James. Rosette's fingers tightened around the fabric of his jacket, unwilling to let go.
"Take care of her," Dranred said to James.
"You don't have to tell me," James replied, his voice steady.
Dranred smiled faintly and walked toward his teammates. He gave one last, simple glance over his shoulder at Rosette before disappearing into the Departures gate.
Rosette almost turned back to watch him go, but James stopped her with a light hand on her shoulder. He didn't need to see her face to know she was crying; the tremor in her breath said enough.
"He'll come back," James said gently. "Let's go."
He slipped an arm around his sister's shoulders and guided her away from the airport's bright lights and flashing cameras, leaving behind the echo of a promise that hung in the air.