---
Haniya entered the practice hall, her hair tied neatly, bag slung over her shoulder, face calm, composed, and confident. To the team, it looked as though nothing had happened. Her stride was steady, her gaze forward, and her usual spark was intact. But beneath the surface, her heart still raced, replaying the events of the previous night—the call, the lingering feelings, the impossible deal, and Aarav's soft kisses that had left her breathless.
"Morning, sunshine!" Vivaan called out the second she stepped in, a mischievous grin on his face. "Late breakfast, or were you plotting something in your room?"
Haniya smirked, turning to face him, eyes sharp. "Plotting? Honey, I was too busy making sure you don't trip over your own ego while practicing."
Harsh snorted, nearly choking on his water bottle. "Whoa! She's on fire today! Watch out, Aarav, your girlfriend just got savage!"
Aarav, standing by the strategy board, noticed the playful banter but also sensed something beneath her perfect façade. He frowned slightly but said nothing. Haniya's quick-witted replies were sharp, confident—but there was a tension in her shoulders, a subtle weight in her eyes that he couldn't ignore.
"Focus, people," Kashvi said, rolling her eyes, "or Vivaan and Harsh will find a new way to make fools of themselves while Haniya entertains them."
Haniya laughed softly, her savagery intact. "Oh please, Kashvi. I think they're already beyond help."
Vivaan mock-gasped. "Rude! And you didn't even wink at me once this morning. I'm offended."
Haniya shot him a look so cold it could freeze fire. "Try surviving your own gameplay, then come complain to me."
The hall erupted in laughter, but Aarav's eyes stayed on her. He noticed how she laughed, sharp yet restrained, how she responded to the teasing yet never fully let herself relax. She was putting up walls, performing normalcy, and he knew it.
Practice began. Haniya immediately took her position as the jungler, moving with precise coordination, communicating clearly with her teammates, marking objectives, and calling rotations. Aarav, the exp laner, followed his usual aggressive pattern, while Kashvi dominated the mid lane, making her presence known in every fight.
Despite the normalcy, Aarav's mind kept drifting. He noticed her subtle hesitation when she glanced at him during plays, the faint twitch of her hand when she adjusted her hair, the way her eyes sometimes seemed distant.
During a break, Vivaan and Harsh nudged each other, clearly noticing Aarav's distracted gaze.
"Bro," Vivaan whispered, "she's acting normal, but you can see it. That smirk? That's hiding something."
Harsh nodded. "Exactly. She's like a lion with claws in a velvet glove. Don't be fooled."
Aarav ignored them, but inside, he was torn. He wanted to tease her, to pull her into the moment like they usually did—but he also didn't want to push. Not today. Something in her behavior told him that whatever had happened last night, combined with that mysterious call, had shaken her more than she let on.
The practice continued, and finally, after an intense scrim, the team gathered around, towels draped over shoulders, sweat dripping, but spirits high. Haniya wiped her forehead and smiled, her savagery returning during playful teasing from Vivaan and Harsh.
"You two," she said, smirking, "stop distracting Aarav. He's fragile enough without your nonsense."
Vivaan raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fragile? Bro, she just said it! She's dangerous!"
Harsh laughed. "Yeah, better watch out. If she flips, even Aarav can't save you."
Aarav chuckled softly but shook his head. "Leave them alone. Focus on the next rotation."
Once the team settled, Haniya walked toward the water station, grabbing a bottle. Aarav followed quietly, his voice low.
"Haniya," he said gently, almost cautiously, "is there… anything wrong?"
She turned, smiling casually, but there was a glint of mischief and defiance in her eyes. "Why would there be anything wrong, Aarav? Everything's fine."
He studied her for a long moment, sensing the subtle tension in her shoulders, the quick flick of her eyes when she avoided his gaze. "You know I can tell when you're not fine."
Haniya smirked, leaning against the counter. "Oh really? Then tell me, Mr. Exp Laner, what am I not fine about?"
Aarav's lips twitched in a half-smile, the corner of his mouth betraying his amusement. "You're pretending. You're acting normal, but… you're holding something back. I can feel it."
Haniya's smile didn't falter, but her eyes softened slightly. "Maybe I like to keep some mystery for my favorite teammate."
Aarav stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Haniya… you can tell me. You know you can."
Her fingers brushed the bottle cap, pausing. She sighed softly, the walls she had been holding cracking just slightly. "It's nothing that's going to affect practice. I promise. Don't worry."
He shook his head, a teasing glint in his eyes now. "You're impossible. But I like that."
Haniya laughed quietly, leaning against the counter again. "I know."
Then, before either could say anything more, Aarav's hand brushed hers as he picked up a bottle of water. Their fingers lingered, and without thinking, he leaned in, catching her lips in a playful, stolen kiss. It was light, teasing, but carried the warmth and familiarity of everything they had shared.
Haniya froze for a moment, then melted slightly into the kiss, a spark of joy and reassurance passing between them. When they pulled back, both were laughing softly, hearts racing.
"You really like to mess with me, don't you?" she whispered.
"Maybe," he replied, smirking. "But I also like reminding you who you belong to."
She rolled her eyes, but there was a faint blush on her cheeks. "Don't get cocky. Practice isn't over."
He chuckled. "Of course, coach might throw me off the team if I slack."
Haniya gave him a sharp look. "You think I'd let that happen?"
Aarav leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Not with me around."
She smirked, shaking her head. "Fine. But you owe me for that one."
The moment was small, playful, yet significant. For the first time that morning, the tension she had been carrying eased slightly. She could still act normal in front of the team, but now she knew Aarav understood her—more than anyone else.
As they walked back toward the scrim area, Aarav glanced at her, voice soft but teasing. "You know, your savagery is really impressive, but sometimes, I wish you'd save a little of that for me."
Haniya shot him a mischievous look. "Maybe I will… later."
The team called out, laughing and joking, but now Haniya's confidence and composure were no longer a mask. She was herself—playful, teasing, sharp, and completely in control of her feelings. Aarav noticed, and the subtle tension that had plagued the morning finally began to ease… though a spark of anticipation for the next private moment between them lingered, warm and promising.
The practice ended, and as the team gathered around the strategy board once more, Haniya felt a new sense of clarity. She had her heart, her choices, and her feelings. And for the first time in a long while, she wasn't afraid to own them—especially not around Aarav.
---