"Okay, that's enough. Everyone get ready so we can practice," the coach said, clapping his hands sharply.
The sound snapped through the court.
Players stood up one after another, stretching, grabbing their jerseys, and heading toward the locker room.
Ava walked toward the audience seats and sat down, crossing one leg over the other as she pulled out her phone, clearly uninterested in the rush.
Most of the team disappeared into the boys' locker room.
Except Aiden.
He remained where he was, eyes closed, leaning back slightly as if everything around him was just noise. The ten guys around him continued chatting in low voices.
"Hey, Ava… the food you brought—can we eat it?" one of them called out.
Ava didn't even turn.
"It's food. If you're not meant to eat it, then what—stare at it?" she replied lazily, scrolling through her phone.
The guy grinned and started to get up
Thud.
A sharp kick landed on his leg.
"Sit your ass down," the muscular guy beside him muttered. "You want to eat now? Or you want the coach to kill you?"
"Don't waste the effort Aiden used to get you here," the guy with blue contacts added, arms crossed. "You don't even know if you've made the team yet, idiot."
The guy immediately sat back down, rubbing his leg.
A few minutes later, the others began returning from the locker room, now dressed in their basketball jerseys.
"Alright! The five main team members—sit on the bench!" the coach shouted.
Rick and Matthew walked over and sat down, both in white jerseys.
Rick leaned back casually, while Matthew calmly took a bottle of water, unscrewing the cap and taking a slow sip.
The guy with blue contacts and the muscular one stood up and headed down toward the court.
The remaining players climbed up toward the audience seats.
Only then did Aiden open his eyes.
He stood.
Without a word, he walked toward Ava.
When he reached her, he didn't sit.
He squatted behind her seat instead.
Close.
Too close.
Ava didn't react.
She was watching videos… no—taking photos now.
Of Matthew.
Her finger tapped lightly on the screen as Matthew tilted his head slightly, sweat catching the light while he drank water.
Aiden noticed.
A small smile formed on his lips.
His eyes remained calm.
"So…" he said quietly, voice low near her ear, "you're really interested in him."
No response.
Ava didn't even pause.
Aiden let out a soft breath, almost amused.
"Doing all this for a guy… I wonder what the Quinn family would say about this ."
Ava finally spoke.
Her voice was flat as if he is boring her
"Since when does my family concern you?"
She didn't turn
"Last I checked, you're the Wright . So focus on your own family instead of acting like a monkey in front of me."
Aiden's smile widened faintly.
But Ava wasn't done.
"No matter how chaotic my family is, it's not like yours."
A pause.
Then she finally tilted her head slightly—just enough a mocking smile.
"You—the rightful heir—got kicked out at five after your mother fell ill. Then brought back later… only for your father to refuse to recognize you."
"It was your grandfather who stepped in. Declared his first grandson dead… and you a lookalike he wanted to adop how unfortunate for you."
Silence.
"Just to cover up your father's cheating and second marriage."
Aiden chuckled.
Low.
Unbothered.
He reached up, rubbing the back of his neck lazily.
"Hm… I really should've learned my lesson earlier," he said lightly.
"If I hadn't seen my dear father cheating… if I hadn't tried so hard to be a 'good son' for my mother…"
His voice filled with merit .
"I might not have lost her."
A brief pause.
Then he smiled Carefree.
Almost mocking himself.
"Got declared dead… and came back as an adopted child."
He shrugged faintly.
"But in the end…"
He tilted his head slightly, eyes glancing at Ava.
"I'm pretty pitiful, aren't I?"
Ava turned to look at him, brows lifting slightly like she just heard something amusing.
"Pitiful?" she echoed, then let out a soft laugh. "Since when is a devil ever pitiful?"
Her eyes sparkled faintly as she leaned back against her seat.
"We both know what you can do anyone who can survive in the wright family are not normal are there."
Aiden rolled his eyes and stood up, stretching slightly.
"Are you still judging me for what happened when we were three?" he said lazily. "Grow up, Ava."
Ava clicked her tongue, shaking her head like she was disappointed.
"A three-year-old who somehow caused his own father mother's death…" she said lightly, almost like she was telling a story. "And yet every single piece of evidence pointed to your dear aunt who just happened to want your mother gone."
She tilted her head, smiling a mocking light in her eyes.
"The same woman who was sleeping with your father and wanted her place."
Then she waved her hand dismissively.
"And now you're here acting innocent? Please. You're worse at lying than I am at least I don't paint black white."
She didn't wait for his reply—already lifting her phone again.
Click.
Another picture of Matthew.
Aiden clicked his tongue.
"Ahh… right, that," he said with a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, death was already knocking. I just helped open the door faster."
He glanced at her, amused.
"A devil recognizes another, after all."
He leaned slightly closer.
"I would've killed you too… but you were different."
Ava didn't even look up this time.
"Shut up," she said casually. "You did try to kill me."
Now she turned, giving him a look—half annoyed, half amused.
"You only stopped when I broke your leg."
A small smile tugged at her lips.
"And reminded you what death actually looks like if Sophia have not save you then you would have met devil by now I thought using your father to get rid of you would help but here you are still bugging me ."
A beat.
Then her eyes shifted.
Matthew was looking at her.
Her expression changed instantly.
She frowned—then rolled her eyes like she was caught doing something embarrassing.
"Ugh."
She lightly pushed Aiden's shoulder.
"Move. My handsome is getting jealous."
She grabbed a tissue and wiped her hand dramatically like she just touched something questionable.
Then immediately—
Her whole face brightened.
She waved at Matthew with a soft, sweet smile, completely different from before.
Aiden watched that switch.
Then just hummed quietly, clearly entertained, and walked away.
Aiden hummed softly to himself as he walked down the stairs to the court.
He dropped onto the bench beside Matthew, Rick, the muscular guy, and the guy with blue contacts, leaning back like he had all the time in the world.
The coach stepped forward, clapping once.
"Alright, you all know the drill," he said, scanning them. "Normally, I pick fifteen players."
He pointed toward them.
"The five main team members wear white. The next five wear blue. If anything happens to anyone in white, the blue team replaces them. That makes ten."
He paused briefly.
"The remaining five are backups."
Then his tone shifted slightly.
"But to prepare for the upcoming competition, I'll be taking five extra players. That makes twenty."
His eyes flicked to the empty spot.
"But since one person has been removed, we're nineteen."
A beat.
"No more talk. Practice starts now."
The players in blue moved quickly, taking their positions.
Rick stretched his arms lazily, a grin spreading across his face.
"Sigh… finally, a competition. I was starting to get bored out of my mind."
He leaned toward Matthew, eyes shining.
"New faces always bring me joy… but your face? That's my real source of happiness."
He wrapped an arm around him.
Matthew immediately pushed him off.
"Stop acting like gum," he said, rolling his eyes as he stood and walked onto the court.
Aiden watched him go.
His gaze lingered.
Like he was studying something interesting.
A toy.
The guy with blue contacts leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"Want us to make his life hell?"
The muscular guy cracked his knuckles slowly.
Aiden didn't even look at them.
"Try it," he said calmly, pointing slightly toward the stands.
They followed his gesture.
Ava was there.
Watching.
"Do it, and she'll kill you."
Aiden stood up, brushing invisible dust off his clothes.
"Anyway… it's not time to act yet."
He walked onto the court, and they followed.
The game started.
And almost immediately
The gap showed.
The white team dominated the court completely.
Their movements were smooth, fast, controlled. Points stacked quickly, leaving the blue team struggling to keep up.
"Damn…" one of the players muttered under his breath. "Rick, Matthew, and Aiden are kings of the court. With them playing, the others just look like toys they are even covering up the mistakes of those other two in their team how will coach remove them . When are we even supposed to get a chance?"
"Shut up," his friend snapped. "Didn't you just join the team? You think it's that easy? You couldn't even beat the blue team, talk less of the white."
"Go to hell," the first guy muttered.
"Enough!" the coach shouted, stepping forward.
"I want teamwork—not this nonsense!"
He pointed sharply.
"Aiden—you're the captain."
"Rick—you're the assistant."
"Matthew—you're the center."
His voice was firm.
"You're all strong individually, but right now—" he pointed at the muscular guy and the blue-contact guy "—those two are weak links."
A pause.
"And other teams will target that."
He crossed his arms.
"Aiden, you cover every weak point."
"Rick, you control the flow—make it feel like all five of you are one."
"Matthew, your defense is good. Keep protecting them."
He clapped again.
"Start again!"
The game restarted.
This time—cleaner.
More coordinated.
More dangerous.
From the stands—
Ava's voice rang out.
"Matthew!!"
She clapped loudly, completely unbothered.
"The rest of you can go to hell!"
No one even reacted anymore under how many minutes.
They were used to it.
After an hour of intense practice, sweat dripping and breathing heavy, the coach finally blew the whistle.
"That's enough. Go change."
The game ended.Got it—this scene just needed cleanup, flow, and controlled humor without making it weird or overly explicit. I kept the playful, chaotic vibe and Ava's personality.
After some time…
The locker room door suddenly opened.
"Ava—"
She paused mid-step.
"…damn."
Her eyes widened slightly.
Several guys were still in their boxers, and in a split second, they grabbed towels and wrapped them around their waists.
Ava let out a low whistle, quickly covering her eyes—
…but not completely.
She peeked through her fingers.
"What are you doing?" Aiden's voice came from the side.
Ava turned.
Her eyes widened again.
Aiden stood there, fresh out of the shower, water still dripping from his hair down his neck… trailing slowly across his chest before disappearing beneath the towel around his waist.
Ava blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Her gaze followed the drop—
Aiden raised an eyebrow.
"Ava," he said dryly, folding his arms, "you're a pervert."
Ava snapped out of it immediately.
"How am I a pervert?" she shot back. "It's not like you're naked or anything but seriously though without your annoying character and if you keep your mouth shut your would be a good eye candy."
She straightened confidently.
"And anyway, I'm here to check on you guys in case anyone is injured. Isn't that what an assistant coach does?"
"I doubt it," one of the guys muttered, looking away awkwardly.
Ava shot him a glare.
"Anyway, I'm looking for someone."
And just like that, she continued walking further into the locker room, completely unbothered—her eyes casually scanning.
"…wow," she murmured. "Look at those abs. My poor heart."
"Want to touch?" one of the guys joked.
Before her brain could catch up, her hand had already lifted slightly—
A few of them instinctively flexed.
For a second—
Ava looked like she had reached heaven.
Then—
Someone grabbed her by the collar and dragged her backward.
"Hey! What the hell—" Ava snapped, turning
And froze.
Matthew.
She immediately smiled, dimples showing.
"Handsome~ wait a minute," she said quickly. "I was just testing their muscles to see if they're qualified players."
Matthew looked at her, unimpressed.
"You have a lot of excuses for being perverted."
He turned to leave.
Ava instantly blocked the door, holding it open.
"I'm not done looking—wait! Damn it, let me look!" she protested.
From behind them—
"If you want to look, look at this one," Rick said with a grin.
Before anyone could stop him—
He lifted Matthew's shirt slightly.
Ava froze.
Her eyes widened.
Her face turned bright red instantly.
Matthew's reaction was immediate.
He grabbed her wrist and dragged her out of the locker room.
Rick followed behind, laughing.
Just as Ava leaned in, her hand already reaching—
Smack.
Matthew hit her hand away.
Before she could react, he grabbed her wrist and dragged her straight out of the locker room toward the stadium side.
"Hey—!"
Ava stumbled a little before he finally let go.
She dropped onto the bench dramatically, crossing her arms.
"Let me see," she complained. "It's not my fault I have a thing for abs—it runs in the family."
She pointed at him like she had a solid argument.
"I came here to support you. I'm basically your sugar mommy, and you won't even let me touch? Which sugar mommy is treated like this?"
Matthew looked at her lazily.
"You."
Then he tossed his bag at her.
"Carry it."
Ava caught it, offended.
"Excuse me—"
"Let's go," Matthew said, already turning to Rick.
Rick was busy stuffing snacks and drinks into his bag like he was preparing for a trip.
Behind them, some players were coming out.
"Hey, Rick—share!" one of them called.
Rick ignored them completely and jogged over to Matthew.
Aiden and his group had already left earlier.
Matthew started walking.
Ava followed, now carrying both her bag and his, still muttering under her breath.
Rick walked beside her, grinning.
"You know," he said, "if you like abs that much, I can tell you which clubs to go to."
Ava flipped her hair slightly.
"I already have a source. Jordan sends me pictures—swimmer abs."
She lifted her chin proudly.
Rick's eyes lit up.
"Send me."
Ava paused.
Then nodded seriously.
"Of course. We must appreciate the beauty of abs."
Rick sighed dramatically. "Finally, someone who understands."
Up ahead, Matthew's eyebrow twitched.
Behind him, the two had already taken out their phones, scrolling, comparing, even zooming in on pictures like it was some kind of research.
"Look at this one—"
"No, this one is better—"
"Definition matters—"
Matthew stopped walking.
"Let's go eat," he said flatly, cutting them off.
Rick snapped his fingers.
"Oh! I know a place."
Ava looked up immediately.
"It's a sports café," Rick continued. "Not in the best area, but near a sports school.
Around this time, the guys are training—half-shirt, full view."
He grinned.
"The building is glass. You can eat and watch."
Ava's eyes widened.
"Damn… where have you been all my life?"
Rick placed a hand on his chest, proud.
Matthew turned to leave.
He was done.
Completely done.
But before he could take two steps—
They both grabbed him.
"Let's go!"
And just like that—
He got dragged along.
A while later—
They were seated inside the café.
Right by the glass window.
Outside, athletes were training—running drills, stretching, some shirtless, sweat glistening under the light.
Ava leaned forward slightly.
Rick was already glued to the view.
"…this place," Ava whispered, impressed.
Rick nodded slowly.
"A masterpiece."
Matthew sat between them.
Silent.
Regretting every life decision that led him here.