Ophelia adjusted her blazer as she stepped into the vip box, already feeling the attention before she even fully walked in. This was exactly what she had been trying to avoid.
Too many people. Too many eyes. Too obvious.
But she couldn't not come not for this.
Not for him.
She moved further inside, giving a small polite smile to a few familiar faces before stopping near the glass. The view of the pitch was perfect from here and her eyes immediately found him.
Daniel was already warming up, focused, calm, like this was just another game. But she knew better. This was his first match for Lazio. It meant everything.
Her phone buzzed in her hand.
daniel 💗
daniel 💗
you made it?
she smiles slightly, typing back.
yeahh. Don't look up.
She barely had time to lock her phone before he did exactly the opposite.
From down on the pitch, his head tilted up, scanning the vip section and then he saw her.
even from a distance, she could tell. The way he paused for half a second, the way his expression shifted into something softer, something only she would recognize.
Ophelia shook her head under her breath, smiling. "Idiot."
She turned her attention back to the game and trying her best to act normal, but it was already too late for that. A few people in the vip box had started to recognize her. She could feel it in the glances, the double takes.
Being the daughter of lionel messi didn't exactly help with staying unnoticed.
The match started, and she tried to focus like anyone else watching, but every time daniel touched the ball, her attention snapped right back to him. He was playing differently. More confident, more intense, like he had something to prove.
Or someone.
It didn't take long for people to start noticing the pattern. Every now and then, his gaze would flick up toward the vip section. Toward her.
Not enough to be obvious to everyone, but enough for people nearby to start putting things together.
Midway through the second half, everything shifted.
Daniel made a sharp run forward, slipping past a defender before receiving a perfect pass. Without hesitating, he took the shot.
Goal.
The stadium erupted instantly.
Ophelia clapped without thinking, a bright smile breaking across her face. She couldn't even hide it if she tried.
And then he looked up.
Not quickly this time but directly at her.
The cameras caught it.
Within seconds, the big screen flashed his celebration, and then it cut to the vip section to her
Standing there, smiling, clapping, completely recognizable.
A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd almost immediately.
People started pointing. Phones went up everywhere.
"Is that messi's daughter?"
"No way..."
"What is she doing here?"
"Is she dating daniel maldini?"
Ophelia's smile dropped for a second as realization hit. "Oh my god" she muttered, lowering her hands, but it didn't matter. It was already everywhere.
Down on the pitch, daniel saw it happen. He just shook his head slightly, a small smile forming like he wasn't even surprised.
By the time the final whistle blew her phone wouldn't stop vibrating. Notifications, messages, mentions, everything hitting at once. She didn't even bother checking.
Instead, she slipped out of the vip box, heading toward the quieter hallway near the tunnel.
She had barely stopped walking when she heard his voice.
"Lia."
She turned, and there he was still in his kit, hair slightly messy, looking at her as if there wasn't a loud crowd cheering for him.
"Well" he said letting out a small breath, "that was subtle."
She laughed, shaking her head. "This is your fault."
"My fault?" he raised an eyebrow. "You're the one sitting in the vip box."
"You're the one who kept looking at me."
"I scored for you." He said simply.
She tried not to smile but it didn't work. "You're annoying."
"And you still came."
She stepped a little closer, lowering her voice. "Everyone knows now."
He shrugged, just as calm as ever. "Yeah."
"You don't care?"
He looked at her properly then, his expression softening. "Do you?"
She hesitated for a second then shook her head. "No."
A small smile spread across his face. "Then we're fine."
And just like that, it was simple again.
Outside, the stadium was still loud, fans still talking, phones still recording. The story was already out there, spreading faster than either of them could control.
But standing there with him, none of that felt important. Because the only thing that mattered was that she showed up.
And now, everyone knew why.
authors note!
This was requested and I love it!!
