---
Lavinia was looking at Rocky with sparkling eyes.
Her eyes shone as if they carried many words on the verge of coming out.
She opened her mouth slightly,
her breaths quickened,
and she was about to say something important…
something that could change everything.
But before she spoke, Rocky moved one step backward.
He smiled a light smile that carried a mix of shyness and confusion, then said:
"Lavinia, I think I have to go now… let's meet later, okay? And also, this crown… I think I'll keep it."
He waved at her with his hand…
then left with quick steps, leaving her standing in her place,
looking at his back as he walked away, her heart pounding violently.
Lavinia remained frozen for a few seconds.
Then suddenly she dropped to her knees.
She began rubbing the grass with her hands nervously and said in a low voice filled with regret:
"I was about to confess to him… I was really about to say it… but why did I stop?!"
She lifted her head toward the sky.
And exhaled strongly.
"Ugh, what if…" she muttered.
"What if I tried to change Rocky instead of avoiding him? Instead of running away?"
Her eyes suddenly widened.
She stood up quickly, almost losing her balance.
She clenched her hands with excitement and said:
"Yes! I've decided! I'll confess to him this evening! I won't avoid our future, I'll change it!"
She suddenly stopped and slapped one palm into the other.
"Ah! Right! Micheal's match!"
She turned around and ran at full speed toward the basketball court.
---
When she arrived.
She found that she was late.
The match had already ended, and Micheal's team had won.
The court was crowded, the stands filled to the very last seat.
And the cheers were still echoing through the place.
From above…
Lavinia looked down and saw Micheal among his teammates.
They were carrying him and lifting him high.
She smiled without realizing it, then began descending the steps quickly to reach him.
The moment Micheal saw her, his eyes widened, he left his teammates, and ran toward her.
Then he hugged her tightly, lifted her high, and began spinning with her.
Lavinia screamed:
"Micheal! Put me down, you madman! I'm going to fall!"
Everyone was shocked by his behavior.
The crowd began to whisper, and some stared in obvious amazement.
"For heaven's sake, is that Lavinia again?!"
"Look at how he treats her!"
"Micheal?! No, you're making me feel jealous!"
Even Micheal's friends at the club were stunned. One of them said while staring:
"Guys… is this really Micheal who used to break girls' hearts?"
His teammate replied laughing:
"Looks like he finally has a girl."
Chloe was standing at a distance, watching the scene in silence.
Then she burst out laughing and said:
"They look wonderful… Micheal is acting like a lovestruck child."
Finally…
Micheal put Lavinia down, and she said while placing her hand on her head:
"Thank you, because of you I feel dizzy."
Micheal laughed, then said with clear excitement:
"I have happy news to tell you!"
She raised her eyebrow and said curiously:
"What is it?"
Micheal looked around, then said:
"Not here, come with me outside."
They left the noise of the court.
And sat on one of the nearby benches.
Micheal was wiping the sweat off his face, then suddenly looked at her and said:
"By the way… you look wonderful today."
She looked at him sarcastically and said:
"I know that. Did you bring me out here just to tell me that?"
He laughed, then cleared his throat…
And his voice changed slightly as he said:
"Actually… maybe after graduation… I'll leave for America."
Lavinia froze in her place, then suddenly stood up and grabbed him by the shoulders.
"What?! Why?!"
Micheal fell silent for a moment, then began to remember.
---
Half an hour before the match, the coach had approached him and pulled him away from the rest of the players, and said to him:
"Micheal, there is someone who wants to meet you."
"Who?" Micheal asked in surprise.
"Follow me."
He took him to one of the halls…
And there he found a middle-aged man, wearing a formal suit.
Micheal stepped forward and greeted him,
Then the coach said:
"Micheal, let me introduce you to Mr. Gerd Albert, a basketball coach in the United States of America."
Micheal said politely:
"Pleased to meet you."
Mr. Albert smiled and said:
"How interesting… so you are Micheal? I want to tell you that I admire your skills and the way you lead the team. I see a great future in you, and I am ready to make you a famous player."
Micheal's eyes widened in shock.
He had never imagined hearing such words.
The coach said enthusiastically:
"Congratulations, Micheal! If you agree, you will become a player in the United States."
He hesitated a little, then said:
"I'll agree… but I want to go after graduation."
---
Micheal returned to the present and said to Lavinia with a smile:
"And that's how it happened."
Lavinia said with sincere admiration:
"Wow… that's amazing! So you'll become a famous player!"
He nodded:
"Yes."
She said in a joking tone that hid concern:
"So we'll stay friends, right? You won't forget me there among the crowds and fans."
Micheal laughed and said confidently:
"Of course I won't forget you. How could I forget a girl of your height."
So Lavinia hit him on the arm:
"I'll take that as a compliment."
---