when i fell for the wrong player

CHAPTER 6

**Zania's POV**

It started small.

Ariel's name popped up in texts I didn't want to read. A photo, tagged "Great game tonight 😏," shows her sitting close to Safeer on the sidelines. Just sitting. Just smiling. Just... there.

I told myself it meant nothing. I'm overreacting. She's just a cheerleader. Safeer would never—

But the seed of doubt was planted.

Later that evening, I waited at our favorite coffee spot. I told myself I'd confront him calmly. "Just ask him, get the truth, and move on," I repeated. But my fingers fidgeted against the cup.

When he walked in, hoodie slightly disheveled, hair sticking up like he'd been running through wind tunnels, my stomach did that stupid thing again. That flutter.

"Hey," he said, leaning over to kiss my cheek.

I pulled back slightly. "Hey." My voice wasn't cold, but it wasn't warm either.

He frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I lied. *Big mistake,* I thought immediately. My eyes caught a glimpse of my phone—another alert. Another photo of them together. The corners of my stomach twisted into knots I didn't know were possible.

"Zania," he said, voice low, stepping closer. "You're tense. Talk to me."I swallowed. "I... I just don't like the way Ariel keeps showing up."

He blinked, a little too surprised. "She's just... being friendly. That's it."

I wanted to believe him. I *tried.* But the small voice in my head whispered something else. Something dangerous.

*Trust him? Or watch carefully?*I didn't answer. I sipped my coffee instead, pretending my hands weren't shaking.

**Safeer's POV**

She looked upset. More upset than I'd seen in months.And it wasn't about the game. It wasn't about practice. It was her. Always her.

Ariel.

I ran my hands through my hair. "Zania... It's nothing. Seriously. She's just... friendly. That's all.""Safeer," she said, voice firm, eyes flashing, "I know when something's *off.* Don't lie to me."

Shit.

I hated lying to her. I hated disappointing her. I hated the way she made my chest ache just by giving me *that* look.

"I swear," I said, trying to keep my tone casual, but my mind raced. *Don't screw this up. Don't screw this up.*

"I just... I don't like feeling second," she admitted quietly.

And that was the dagger.

Because the truth? I didn't even know if I could fully promise her that anymore. Not with everything swirling around: basketball, scouts, college parties, Ariel's teasing smirk planted in my head.

I took her hand. "Zania... you're not second. You're... you're everything."

She looked down at our hands, uncertainty flickering across her face. She wanted to believe me. I could see it.

And that's when Ariel walked past the coffee shop window—smiling at *me*.And my chest tightened.

I wanted to look away. I wanted to tell Zania it was nothing. But somehow, her eyes caught mine at the same moment.
 **Zania's POV (closing of Chapter 6)**

It wasn't the first time I'd seen her smirk, and I knew it wouldn't be the last.Safeer's hand in mine felt warm, but my heart... wasn't.

Because for the first time, I realized just how easily he could be pulled in another direction.And for the first time, I realized that maybe, just maybe, *our perfect world was already starting to crack.*