As the Champions of the World tournement intensified, the Blazing Lions had a particularly off week where there were no training, and no matches.
So, everybody took advantage of it where they mostly slept, drew, worked out, or even had dates.
During the week, Uno had been absent from Denise's side for most of the days. Some times he's found alone on the hotel lobby where laid down on the couch and signed autographs on passing fans. Sometimes he was found hanging out with the boys.
Denise was getting skeptical of her boyfriend, not because she thinks that he doesn't love her anymore, quite the contriary, Uno loved Denise so much, but out of the fear that Uno could be cheating on her.
So, she hatched up a plan to see if Uno truly does love her so, so much as he claimed.
As Uno returned from hanging out with the boys, Denise turned to him. "So, how'd your day go?" She said rather coldly, Uno looked at her, confused. "Uhh, it went smoothly. Why'd ya ask?"
Uno felt a slight chill in Denise’s tone, but he dismissed it, hoping it was just his imagination. He tossed his bag onto a chair and approached her with a soft smile. “I missed you today, though. What did you get up to?”
Denise crossed her arms and shrugged. “Nothing much, just trying to enjoy the week like everyone else.”
Uno sensed something was off. He leaned in to kiss her, but she turned her head slightly, causing him to miss her lips and kiss her cheek instead. He frowned, worry creasing his forehead. “Denise, is everything alright? You seem... distant.”
Denise sighed and looked away. “I’ve just been thinking, that’s all. You’ve been away a lot this week, and I barely see you.”
“I’m sorry about that,” Uno said, scratching the back of his head. “I’ve just been trying to unwind with the guys. You know how intense things can get during the tournament.”
She nodded, but her expression didn’t soften. “Yeah, I get it. I just... I guess I feel like you’re avoiding me.”
“Avoiding you?” Uno’s eyes widened in surprise. “Denise, that’s not it at all. I’ve just been—”
“Busy?” she interjected, her voice edged with frustration. “Too busy to spend time with me? Your girlfriend?”
Uno sighed deeply, realizing the depth of her feelings. “Denise, that’s not fair. You know I love you. You mean the world to me.”
“Do I?” she snapped, tears welling in her eyes. “Because it doesn’t feel like it. It feels like you’d rather be anywhere but with me.”
Uno felt a pang of guilt. He knew she deserved better than this. He had been so caught up in trying to decompress that he hadn’t realized how much it was affecting her. “I’m sorry, Denise. I’ve been an idiot. I should have spent more time with you.”
She shook her head, wiping a tear from her cheek. “I just don’t understand, Uno. We finally have some time off, and you’re always gone. What am I supposed to think?”
“You’re supposed to trust me!” Uno shot back, his voice rising in frustration. “I’m not doing anything wrong. I just needed some time to clear my head.”
Denise’s face flushed with anger. “Trust you? How can I trust you when you’re never around? You think it’s easy for me, just sitting here wondering where you are and who you’re with?”
Their voices echoed through the thin walls of the hotel, catching the attention of their teammates. Olivia and Lance, in the next room, exchanged worried glances, while Angelo and Jada paused their conversation to listen.
