Chapter Fifteen

CHAPTER SONG: VA VA VIS BY FLORINA

January flew by in a blur. Between press conferences, award shows, brand management and checking in with his foundation and her going through her final semester in school and helping Pierre get ready for the team's next stage in their UCL games-the round of 16 matches-they got little time to see each other outside of work. But not being able to see each much during work hours didn't stop them from communicating in other ways.

It was in the little things. Like the secret smiles and the 'sneaky' glances they shared during training sessions. No matter who he shared seats with, whenever they travelled for a match, if he wasn't relaxing while playing games with the other guys, Kylian almost always made sure he took the seats closest to her. Be it in front, behind or across the aisle. In his mind, he didn't want to make it too obvious by sitting with her too often. He didn't know he'd already lost that battle with subtlety.

They didn't have a proper date until late February while they were in Spain for an away game against Madrid. Though it wasn't much, they made plans to have dinner in the hotel's restaurant after the match.

Kylian ignored Ach's amused reflection behind him in the mirror and checked his hair again. He straightened his clothes for what must have been the tenth time, then adjusted the chain around his neck one last time.

"I can't believe it took you this long, man." Said Achraf as he shook his head. He laid back on the bed, folded his hands behind his neck and continued to watch his friend.

Kylian only huffed out a breath and shook his head. He wouldn't fall for it.

As he turned away from the mirror, satisfied with his look, someone unexpectedly knocked on their door. Kylian froze where he stood and stared at as if it would explode any minute. His heart rate spiked.

"Relax, it's just the food I ordered." Achraf hopped up from his bed and shuffled across the room to get it.

Kylian swallowed and waited. Though they'd agreed to meet downstairs, there was always the possibility that those plans could have changed for whatever reason.

His shoulders only slumped after he saw that for sure it was a room attendant who was pushing in a trolley with covered dishes into the room.

After the woman happily ambled out with a good tip in her pocket, Achraf turned to him and laughed.

"This is so unlike you. You're acting like you've never been on a first date before."

"Actually. This is our second one." He said nonchalantly as he applied lotion on his hands one last time. This time, it was his best friend's turn to freeze.

"Really? When was the first?"

Kylian turned to Ach and held out his arms. "The Christmas party. Now how do I look?"

"I didn't know you guys considered that a date," he popped a grape into his mouth, then pointed at his outfit, "Like you're trying too hard."

The smile dropped instantly from Kylian's face.

"Really?" His mouth fell open, and he glanced down at his outfit, then stared up at his friend.

"Nah, I'm kidding. You look great, I haven't seen you worry like this since the last world cup final. Just go. Have fun."

"Yeah, yeah." Kylian nodded and blew out a breath through his lips.

"Wait! One more thing." He said suddenly, causing Kylian to look at him quizzically.

Achraf walked up to him and grabbed his shoulders, "Kyky, my friend. Don't bomb this. Tonight, tonight you become a man. You go down there, and make me and Ney proud."

"Get out of here man, you make it sound like I'm seventeen and going down there with a box of condoms or something." laughed Kylian.

"They grow up so fast-," was the last thing Kylian heard as he shut the door to their room behind him. He only shook his head at his friend's antics.

But, as much as Ach was being silly, he was right too.

Don't bomb this Kylian.

***

Dressed in jeans, a woollen sweater and her most comfortable pair of boots, Sapphie stopped by the restaurant's glass doors and scanned the room. It was a task, doing that without chewing her lipstick off her lips before this thing even began.

Gosh, the last thing she ever wanted to happen was to smile at him without knowing her teeth looked like she'd eaten that 'special' chocolate pie by Minny from The Help.

When she spotted him, he stood up and waved her over. He was wearing dark jeans and a plain white shirt underneath a black leather jacket. Though an understated getup, she knew it probably cost more than her monthly salary. He looked amazing, he always did.

Adrenaline pumped into her system, making her hands clammy as she walked over to him. But on her way to their table, Sapphie saw the head coach and Pierre at one table, deep in conversation. That instantly slammed some amount of fear into her heart. Players weren't exactly prohibited from dating staff members, but they had to declare it if it occurred. But knowing her boss, she knew the man would make something out of nothing just to cause her trouble. So, she avoided looking in their direction and picked up her pace.

"Hi," she said breathlessly. When he returned her greeting with his iconic warm smile, it melted her insides into jelly.

"Hey," he kissed her cheeks and gestured for her to take her seat. He'd chosen a booth right at the back of the room for extra privacy.

"Thank you," she slid in.

You know what? To hell with Pierre, thought Sapphie.

She shutout any other thoughts of him and what he might try to do to her. It had taken them long to get her, and she could hardly believe they were finally doing this. She decided she would allow herself to enjoy tonight, no matter what. Besides, to everyone else around them, it probably looked like an innocent dinner between two colleagues slash friends who were only celebrating the team's recent and surprising victory over the most successful team in the champions' league.

"This is for you." He picked up a red rose she had failed to notice before and handed it to her.

"Kylian," she opened and closed her mouth, "I-thank you. I'm sorry I didn't get you anything-"

"It's the least I could do, considering how well you took care of me the last time we went out."

"Okay," she beamed, then smelled the flower, "no one's ever given me a rose before."

"Never?" He blinked.

"Nope," she shook her head, "I mean, I haven't had a date in like two years so..."

"Really?"

Sapphie nodded.

"Wow, sounds fake but okay." He shrugged, causing her to laugh.

"Anyway, thank you. It's beautiful, truly."

Their server came by not long after. That's when she first suspected she wasn't the only nervous person at their table. He hid it well; it hadn't shown until he started trying to be the perfect gentleman and try to help her order. Plus, the death grip he had on the menu was another dead giveaway. And although he was slightly failing, she found it cute. Somehow, while talking with the server, he had forgotten that this wasn't the first time the team had used this hotel whenever they were in town. She'd been to this restaurant many times. Only, this time, she was with the man she had been deeply infatuated with for a while now.

Sapphie hid her smile behind her menu. It was like someone had fed him info on how to score brownie points with her. The 'take charge kind of guys' always had her weak in the knees. It only got better because he ended up choosing something she would have gone for. The Thai chicken wrap and a salad. Thai food was amazing, but it would have been her go to, mostly because she could eat it without looking like a starved hyena. Kylian opted for the pasta carbonara for, which didn't go unnoticed by her.

"Thanks for ordering for us. It was... different."

"Different good, I hope?" She had to clench her teeth to not laugh out at his wide eyes.

"Different good, don't worry." She smiled.

He nodded, "I'm glad. I wanted to make it a special night."

"What?" The glass that was halfway to his lips paused mid-air. She was still grinning at him.

"Pasta huh?"

"Yes, it's my absolute favourite. Why?"

"Oh nothing, I was just thinking that it really is true that you're le pâte-man, the pasta man?"

Kylian almost choked on his water. Sapphie laughed.

"Where did you hear that-you know what? I'm not even going to ask. Sometimes I forget you work with us." He shook his head, setting his glass down with a little wobble. He was glad when none of the water spilled over the edges.

Man, you need to calm down; he told himself and he smoothed his hand down the front of his shirt, then adjusted the way he was sitting on his side of the booth.

"How did you know I would like the Thai Wrap?"

Kylian shrugged, "I guess when it comes to, you I just have a knack for knowing what you like without you telling me."

She smiled to herself. Everything felt just right, and she hoped it would stay that way. They both started talking. Conversation flowed easily, as it always did between them. They talked about all sorts of things. Football, family, travel and life.

After the server brought their food and made himself scarce. Grateful for the meal since they both hadn't eaten since before the match, they quickly dug into their food. A little while later, Kylian was the one who kicked started the conversation again. He asked more about what was going on for her at school. They'd talked on previous occasions about how the workload and school were straining, but it had only been almost in passing.

"I just wish you were following your passion right now. That you didn't need to take the longer way round." He commented.

"Don't we all?" She laughed, "but then again, that would mean I most definitely would never have met you."

"You don't know that." He challenged.

"Come on, we both have been at PSG for a long time now and look how long it took to actually have a first date."

"Alright, first, this is the second date. I'll write it in stone. And second, fine, let's say I see your point. If you were studying game development, what kind of game would you make as your final project?"