︵‿︵‿୨♡ Ｗｈｉｓｐｅｒｓ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｈｅａｒｔ ~ ♡୧‿︵‿Paigebueckers

Part 5

Chapter 5: Comfortable in the Spotlight

The weeks following Jasmine's first Instagram post brought a new normal for Paige. At first, she had braced herself for the inevitable buzz, the curious looks, and the questions, but to her surprise, the attention didn't bother her as much as she'd expected. Jasmine's effortless confidence in sharing pieces of their relationship rubbed off on Paige, and soon enough, she found herself relaxing into the openness of it all.

One Thursday morning, Paige sat in the campus café, scrolling through her phone as she waited for Jasmine to arrive. She hadn't planned to check social media, but a notification from Jasmine's latest post popped up, drawing her attention. Clicking on it, Paige smiled at the sight of a casual life update.

@JasmineVball:

. Life update: volleyball's on fire, classes are kicking my butt, and I've got the best company by my side. 💛 #Grateful #BusyButBlessed
@notpbuckets1
@notazzifudd
Comments:
@Alyssa14: "Killing it, as always! 💪"
@KaraVolley: "Don't let classes beat you down, girl! You've got this."
@NinaM: "Love the vibe. You're glowing!"

Paige found herself smiling at the post, the warmth of Jasmine's words settling comfortably in her chest. It was subtle, but there was something deeply affirming about seeing how Jasmine integrated her into her life—not just privately but in little public gestures like this.

Her phone buzzed again, this time a direct message from Jasmine:

Jasmine: "Saw you liked the post 👀. Lunch after class?"

Paige quickly typed back, grinning to herself: "You know it. Usual spot?"

Jasmine: "Yep. Can't wait to see you. 😘"

As Paige pocketed her phone, she leaned back in her chair, feeling surprisingly at ease. People had started to notice—whether through Instagram posts like Jasmine's or from seeing them around campus together—but it didn't feel overwhelming anymore. Instead, it felt... natural. Paige was slowly getting used to being seen, to being part of something that was real and open.

Later that afternoon, as they met for lunch at their usual café, Paige found herself sitting across from Jasmine, who was happily recounting her latest volleyball practice. As usual, Jasmine's energy was infectious, her hands moving animatedly as she described a particularly tough play.

"So, do you think you'll post a 'life update' soon?" Jasmine teased, leaning back in her chair with a playful grin.

Paige rolled her eyes but laughed. "Maybe. I don't know if my life is as interesting as yours, though."

"Please," Jasmine scoffed, leaning forward with a mock-serious expression. "You're Paige, the basketball legend. You're the only one around here who can keep up with me on the court, remember?"

Paige couldn't help but grin at the comment, feeling the familiar warmth of Jasmine's playful praise. "I'll think about it."

"Good. No pressure," Jasmine said, her tone softer now. She reached across the table, her fingers lightly brushing against Paige's hand. "But I like seeing us out there, you know? Feels right."

Paige squeezed Jasmine's hand gently, the comfortable weight of her words sinking in. "Yeah," she said, her voice low but steady. "It does feel right."

That evening, after they'd parted ways and Paige was back in her dorm, she scrolled through her own Instagram feed, pausing at Jasmine's latest post again. The caption might've been a simple life update, but to Paige, it represented something bigger—a quiet acknowledgment of where they were headed, shared with the world in a way that was honest but unforced.

Maybe one day she'd post her own update. For now, though, she was content. Content with the pace they were moving, with the way Jasmine had made her feel seen in a world that sometimes felt too big. Most of all, she was content knowing that whatever came next, they were in it together.