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CHAPTER TEN, Axel's Doubts ❝ Don't do this to me. ❞
THEAIRINTHECOMPETITION hall was thick with tension. The echoes of shouts, the slap of bare feet on mats, and the rhythmic calls of referees filled the space. The second eliminations were underway, and Galina, Solana's team, had just been called to face off against Dublin. Solana stood off to the side, adjusting her wrist wraps, trying to focus on the match ahead.
Roman approached her with hesitant steps, his expression a mix of unease and determination.
"How's the midnight training going?" he asked, keeping his tone casual, though there was a trace of awkwardness in his voice.
Solana glanced up at him, momentarily caught off guard. "Alright," she replied simply, but a small smile crept onto her face as her mind drifted back to her last midnight session with Axel. The adrenaline of sneaking into the training hall, the shared laughs, and the almost comedic panic of nearly being caught were moments she hadn't realized would mean so much.
Roman shifted on his feet, clearly dissatisfied with her short answer. After a beat of silence, he finally blurted out, "I'm sorry if I've been an ass to you."
The words startled her. Solana tilted her head, studying him, before offering a small, genuine smile. "It's whatever," she said with a shrug. If this apology had come a few days ago, her response might have been sharper or more sarcastic, but now? She truly didn't care anymore.
Roman frowned slightly, as though her easy forgiveness only made him feel worse. "Are you sure?" he pressed. "This isn't me trying to justify anything, but... I didn't think you deserved to be on this team. I thought your dad's influence got you in. And then...you seemed distracted a lot."
Solana blinked, caught off guard by his honesty, but instead of bristling, she placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him mid-ramble. "Roman, I'm sure. Don't worry about it," she said firmly. Then, with a smirk, she added, "Besides, it's not like you were wrong. I was distracted."
Roman exhaled, his shoulders sagging in relief. "But after I said all those things...you did get better," he admitted with a sheepish smile.
Solana rolled her eyes, but a laugh escaped her. "Maybe I did need it."
They shared a quiet chuckle, the kind that eased tension rather than added to it.
"What made you want to apologize?" she asked after a moment, genuinely curious.
Roman hesitated, scratching the back of his neck. "I talked to André last night about it. He said if I wanted you to improve, it'd be better if I was there for you instead of against you."
