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Trophy of My Heart

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Chapter-3

Evening – Basketball Court

Aaron's POV

Aami stormed in. Fierce. Determined. Mira trailing behind, equal parts amused and scandalized.

I was sitting on the bench, stretching lazily, the bottle right beside me. Like bait.

She marched up, voice sharp.

Aami: "I want my bottle back."

I didn't even blink.

Me (grinning): "Which one? The one you left with me? It's mine now."

Aami (crossing her arms): "You know it's my favorite."

Me (standing up, walking closer): "Then why did you leave it behind?"

Mira (stage whispering from the side): "Oh my God I live for this."

Aami: "I didn't. You stole it."

Aami (smirking): "Borrowed. You gave it to me. Kind of poetic, don't you think?"

I held it up, tipping it in my hand like a chalice.

Me: "A token of your reluctant affection."

Aami looked like she was one second away from tackling me to the ground.

And that's when I knew—

The game between us?

Officially started.

Aami's Dorm – The Heist Plan

Aami's pov

I paced the room like a war general, hands flying in exaggerated gestures as Mira lay flat on my bed, already questioning her life choices.

Me: "Okay. Operation Get-The-Bottle-Back is officially in motion. I've tried being polite. I've tried demanding. I even tried bribing Liam with that packet of imported spicy ramen. Nothing worked."

Mira: "That's because you're going up against a six-foot-three, obsessive golden retriever with abs and no moral compass."

Me: "Which is exactly why this plan is perfect. I sneak into the boys' locker room when they're all in the showers—"

Mira (bolting upright): "Pause. Time out. Illegal. Terrible. Do you want to die?"

Me (smirking): "Oh I'm not going in blind. I've mapped the exits. I've timed their shower breaks. You'll keep watch, stall them if necessary."

Mira: "I did not sign up for a Mission Impossible meets Rom-Com sabotage."

Me (pointing dramatically): "You made me go to that match. You owe me."

Mira groaned, but I already had my hoodie zipped, mission-face on.

This is personal.

Boys' Locker Room – The Heist

Authors pov

The air was thick with steam and body spray. Aami tiptoed through the side door Mira had bravely propped open. Voices echoed off the tiled walls—half-laughs, some cursing, a water bottle squirting war she didn't want to know about.

Aami (whispering): "Okay... top shelf, far end locker... third from left..."

There it was. Her water bottle. Glowing like the freaking Holy Grail.

She stretched up, fingertips grazing the edge—

"You know, for a girl who swore I was just a playboy, you sure do end up in my spaces a lot."

She froze.

Turned.

There He was. Aaron Blackwell

Half-dressed. Fresh out of the shower. Hair wet. Towel slung over his shoulder. Smirking like the villain in her least favorite K-drama.

Mira?

Gone.

Vanished. Probably halfway to the cafeteria, pretending she didn't know her.

Aami (stammering): "Th-this isn't what it looks like."

Aaron (crossing arms): "Oh? It doesn't look like you broke into my locker room, dodged half-naked athletes, and tried to steal your own bottle back?"

Aami tried to run. He caught her wrist. Not hard—just enough.

He dragged her—not roughly, but determinedly—to the nearest equipment storage stall and shut the door behind them.

Aami (fuming): "Let me go."

Aaron (mock-innocent): "So you can rob me? Again?"

Aami (hissing): "It's my bottle."

Aaron: "Possession is nine-tenths of the law, sweetheart."

Aami: "You're unbelievable."

Aaron: "You're ridiculous."

They were standing so close now she could smell the stupid citrus shampoo he used.

The kind her friend Mira would probably swoon over.

Aami (eyes blazing): "Why are you like this?!"

Aaron (softly): "Because you won't look at me unless I make you."

Her breath caught. Just a second.

He saw it.

But She shoved it down. Flipped the switch. Tried to grab the bottle from the shelf but Aaron was fast.

Aami (over her shoulder): "Enjoy your victory, basketball captain. This isn't over."

And she stomped out.

Aaron stood there, smiling.

Because for once, it wasn't over.

She was playing the game now.

And he always wins games.

Mira's Accidental Confession

Authors pov

Aami was storming across campus with her new water bottle clutched in her hand like a Priced crown jewel. Mira trotted next to her, already exhausted by her recounting of every detail from the locker room showdown.

Aami (fuming): "He actually dragged me to a storage room. Do I look like some fangirl who melts when a basketball player smirks at her?"

Mira (huffing): "Well... I mean... you did melt a little. But more like in rage."

Aami (glaring): "Not. Helping."

Mira raised her hands in surrender, then grinned—mischief brewing behind her eyes.

Mira: "But... can I just say one thing?"

Aami (suspiciously): "No."

Mira: "Okay but I'm gonna say it anyway."

Aami sighed dramatically.

Mira (casually): "You know his class schedule now."

Aami stopped mid-step.

She kept walking. Paused. Looked back.

Mira (teasing): "You didn't deny it."