Chapter Fourteen

CHAPTER SONG: DANDELIONS (SLOWED) BY RUTH B

"Dad worked for the United Nations. He was a senior political affairs officer. The year before he died, they'd just promoted him and so he had to change stations. That's how we moved to Paris." She kicked at a pebble and sighed.

"Everything was going well for us. Then, in one fell swoop, we lost everything. The house, all the benefits... we couldn't afford games development school anymore and I had to quit so we could all go to school. Mom had to get a job and becoming a nurse was the next best thing."

"You gave up your dreams so your family could survive."

"We all had to sacrifice something. Besides, it's not like I had much of a choice but, what I learnt was that when you love someone, I think you'd be willing to sacrifice anything for them. I mean, isn't that the very definition of love?"

"Maybe," he said, "but Sapphie, what you did? Everyone has a choice always. There are so many ways it could have played out, for the worst, too."

Kylian suddenly stopped. He remained quiet for a second. Sapphie saw the cogs working in his mind.

"I honestly don't know if I could ever have sacrificed my dreams to become a professional football player for anything... or anyone. I keep thinking that if it'd been my family in that position, I probably would have been more persistent until I made it. Then lift everyone else up. But the question is, what would it cost everyone around me if I did that? What if something happened and all the extra hard work didn't pay off? I would end up hurting everyone dear to me for my own selfish gain. That's why I find it really admirable what you did." He said, peering down into her eyes.

"You make it sound like I did something impossible, like a saviour of sorts." She snorted with a shake of her head, "Don't sell yourself short Kylian."

"Yeah, you can be too competitive or intense sometimes when you really want something. But you're a great guy with a big heart and that focused determination... it's so extraordinary and something to envy. When you believe in something, you... sort of become it. I know that if the roles had been reversed, you still would have been able to find your way out of it." She tapped his forearm and smiled.

"I see the way you always get yourself out of some of the stickiest situations on the pitch. I have a feeling that's not just for football."

And there it was. If there had been any doubts, they evaporated right then. Kylian couldn't deny he was falling for Sapphie, hard now. How could he not? When she put the needs of others before her own daily? She was funny, beautiful, strong, opened her arms to the poor—the sort of person he wanted in his life. She was almost too good to be true. Before her, really knowing her, being in a relationship was one of the last things on his mind.

He'd thought he'd wait until he was well into his career before he even considered having one. Kylian, gathered Sapphie's face in his hands, tugged her face into his and kissed her softly.

Even if he'd tried, he couldn't have stopped himself from acting on impulse.

His heart beat faster and faster as he slowly he coaxed her to relax into him. And when she finally melted into him, that's when Kylian finally understood what people meant when they said 'it was like the world around them disappeared'. Kissing her was a fine wine, nice and sweet. But this wasn't just a kiss. It was rich and colourful. Like a drug, he wanted more of her. In that moment, nothing besides holding Sapphie like this mattered. He settled one of his hands on her lower back and pressed her closer to his solid frame when she lifted her arms to caress his shoulders and face.

But all too soon, it ended before it had barely started. Sapphie, as if quickly remembering something, suddenly stiffened in his arms and shoved him back. Kylian stumbled back with a dazed look of bewilderment on his face.

"Oh, my gosh!" she gasped, her dark eyes blazing with anger. "What are you doing?"

"What do you mean, what am I doing?"

Had he missed something? Perhaps he'd imagined her kissing him back?

He watched as she lifted her hand to her lips in disbelief. As if some kind of realisation had hit her hard.

"I'm not sleeping with you, Kylian." She clenched her fists at her sides and stared him down.

"Wait, what?!" he blinked. How in the world had things flipped around so fast?

Instead of answering him, she simply shook her head and stomped off. Mumbling beneath her breath as she did so.

"Okay, Sapphie. I'm sorry." He ran up to her and reached out for her hand.

"Stop!" she yanked her hand out of his hold. "To think I thought you were different. All you rich footballers are the same. You think just because you have money and fame, you can do whatever or have whomever you want."

Though he'd mastered tha art of mentally deflecting all kinds of allegations, people threw around about him—for obvious reasons—but her words stung. It only sent more question marks hovering around his head. Fortunately, it only took him a second to get it.

This might have something to do with more than just a kiss, he thought. He definitely had not imagined her wrapping her arms around him, either.

"What are you talking about?" He cursed at himself when he failed to keep the anger out of his voice.

"I'm talking about why you'd be kissing another girl when you're with someone else."

He blinked at her.

"Why would I be dating two girls at the same time?"

"I don't know, you tell me—" His words clicked in her mind.

"Wait, dating... two...?" This time it was her turn to scratch her head.

Kylian scoffed in realisation and turned to walk away.

"Wow." He snorted.

Unbelievable, of all the people... he'd thought Sapphie knew him better than that. Kylian tried to ignore the crushing disappointment that burned in his chest.

"So, you're not dating Coralie...?"

"You know, for a person who thinks I'd be different, don't you think you're being a hypocrite right now?" He shook his head, "I never pictured you as a person who listened to tabloids Sapphie. Especially if they spin their story just to get clicks and money. I sincerely apologize for forcing myself on you." He walked off, tugging his phone out of his pocket as he did so.

"I'm confused." She went after him.

"Yes, well, that makes the two of us." He scrolled through his call log, a little surprised neither Martin nor Paul had tried to call him.

"Kylian, slow down. Please?" she grabbed him by the forearm and spun him around to face her. "What's going on?"

"Nothing, apparently." He threw his hands in the air out of sheer frustration. A silence stretched between them as Sapphie stared at him, trying to figure out what was going on. Until his previous words came echoing in her head,

"Wait, was this... supposed to be a date?" she asked, trying so hard to not sound hopeful or ridiculous in case she was wrong.

"I thought it was, but I guess I now know where we stand." He stalked away again.

Sapphie stayed rooted to the spot, completely puzzled.

"I don't understand. Why would you want to go on a date with me? I'm... me and you're... you."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" he narrowed his eyes at her.

Sapphie shrugged, "Let's not kid ourselves Kylian. I'm this nobody immigrant girl who can barely keep her job or pay her bills and you're... France's golden boy. What would you even see in me?"

"I went out with you for the same reasons any other regular guy would want to go out with a girl."

"Be honest, you're not exactly a regular guy Kylian."

"Why? Because I'm a professional football star with millions in my account? Or because I can't go out on the street without having someone recognise my face? You of all people should know better." Kylian came up to her and gently cupped her jaw in his palms.

"I like you, Sapphie, and I hope you like me too." He fixed his gaze on her watery one. His heart beat faster again. He didn't know if he could handle her rejecting him. If she did, he was certain he would do something insane.

"I like you too, Kylian." She laughed and sniffled as she tried to blink away the tears that were gathering in her eyes. Kylian couldn't help but smile as he continued to caress her jaw.

"Good." his smile widened when she lifted her hands to cover his. "I know it is a little too late but, may I kiss you?"

Uncertain her voice would work properly because of the enormous lump in her throat, Sapphie simply nodded, and that was all he needed to go in. This time, when he kissed her, she didn't push him away. He pecked her lips again and again.

"You know, it's difficult to kiss you when you're smiling." She giggled softly.

"I can't help it. I can't believe I'm kissing you right now." He whispered back, winding his arms around the small of her back.

"You're one to talk." She snorted and leaned into his warm chest. Kylian pressed his lips against hers again, a little firmer this time.

That night, she went to bed giggling like a schoolgirl, and she dreamt only of him.