During the Olympics, American swimmer Ryan and Filipino volleyball star Elena meet by chance, igniting a whirlwind romance amidst the intense competition.
As their feelings grow, they must navigate the pressures of the world's biggest stage while fa...
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AFTER THE INTENSE match and the late-night celebration, Elena didn't plan on waking up early and she was more than happy to sleep in and take advantage of the rare day without training. With their game against Japan still two days away, she made a mental note to finally do some sightseeing around the city. Paris was too beautiful to let it pass by unnoticed, and she was eager to explore it beyond the confines of the Olympic Village.
As she stretched lazily in her bed, savoring the morning of peace and quiet, her mind began wandering back to the game, the celebration, and... Ryan. She still couldn't shake the memory of their conversation the night before, the way he looked at her, the way he made her heart race with just a smile and those dimples. It was unsettling and thrilling all at once.
Just as she was about to lose herself in those thoughts, her roommate, Mia, bounced over to her bed with a mischievous grin plastered across her face.
"You're not going to believe this!" Mia said, her voice bubbling with excitement as she plopped down on the edge of Elena's bed.
Elena blinked. "What? What's going on?"
"Ryan's got a game today. Men's 400m Freestyle at Paris La Défense Arena. It's at 5:45 PM," Mia answered, leaning in.
Elena shot up in bed. "Wait, how do you even know that?"
Mia just shrugged as she waved the question off. "I have my way," she winked, clearly enjoying Elena's surprised and confused reaction. "But seriously, you should go."
Elena stared at Mia, processing the information. Ryan had a race today. Ryan had a race today! The thought of seeing him in action sent a jolt of excitement through her veins. But wait, should she go? Did he even want her to be there?
"Hm, I don't know that's a good idea," Elena began, biting her lips as she considered the idea. "It's weird, right? I mean, we just started talking, and..."
Mia waved her off again and laughed. "Oh, please! He came to our game, right? It's only fair you return the favor. Besides, it's not like you're declaring your undying love or something. You're just going to watch and support him."
Elena's cheeks flushed at the thought. Mia had a point. Ryan showed up for her, cheering her on from the sidelines. Maybe it was her turn to do the same.
"Okay, okay, fine," Elena relented, a grin slowly breaking through her hesitation. "But I'm not going alone. You're coming with me."
"Deal!" Mia chirped, clapping her hands together. "This is going to be so much fun! And who knows, maybe you'll get a chance to talk to him after the race," she added, winking at Elena.
Elena just rolled her eyes playfully at Mia before getting out of bed. She stood in front of the mirror, pulling her hair into a loose ponytail, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. She wasn't sure if it was the idea of touring Paris or the thought of seeing Ryan again that had her nerves on edge. When Mia suggested going to watch Ryan's swimming event, it was like a switch flipped inside her. And now, she couldn't stop thinking about it. She shook her head to dismiss the thought and quickly threw some clothes on and tied her shoes while Mia and Alex waited for her.
