Chapter 30: Chapter 30 - No Promises
*Yawn*. Luna stretched her hand across the bed, expecting to touch soone, but her fingers t only the cold, empty bed. For a mont, she lay there with her eyes closed, hoping she was wrong, that maybe he was still beside her. But when she rolled over, all she found was the sa empty bed. With a sigh, she sat up, murmuring under her breath, "So... he really left."
Dragging herself out of bed, Luna brushed her teeth, her movents slow, almost like she was unwilling to wake. Her body was awake, but her heart wasn’t ready to face the day ahead. She walked barefoot into the kitchen, and her steps faltered.
The dining table wasn’t empty. A full breakfast spread awaited her: eggs perfectly scrambled, toast stacked neatly, bowls of fruit, fresh juice, and steaming coffee. It wasn’t just a al. It was a buffet, laid out with care. And at the center, a folded note.
Her breath caught as she reached for it. The handwriting was unmistakable. Dayo’s.
Didn’t want you waking up to nothing. Eat well. Don’t skip als. —JD.
A blush crept across her face before she could stop it, more like she didn’t want to stop it. She sank into a chair, the sll of coffee wrapping around her. Dayo made the best coffee, and she always disturbed him to make it for her. For a while, she simply sat there, staring at the note, replaying the night before in her head.
Flashback
"Luna, I’ll be going back ho tomorrow," Dayo said casually, scrolling through his phone as he ate.
Dayo had entered her life suddenly, changing her world in ways no one had in years. When they first t, he’d flirted openly, almost shalessly, but over ti, he grew more reserved. Their closeness remained, but his change unsettled her.
She lowered her fork slowly, her appetite gone. She hadn’t said it out loud, not even to herself, but sowhere along the line, she had fallen for him.
Finally, she couldn’t hold it in anymore. "Dayo..."
He looked up at her serious expression, eyebrows raised, and he kept his phone aside. "Yeah? You okay?"
Her heart jumped in her chest. The fact that he noticed her mood gave her courage. She took a breath and asked, her voice softer than she intended: "Dayo... do you like ?"
The question made him nearly choke. His spoon dropped against his plate as his eyes widened. He looked stunned, like she had just dropped a bomb.
"..."
Heat rushed to her cheeks. Embarrassed, she pushed her chair back, muttering, "Forget it," but before she could stand, his hand caught her gently pushing her back to sit.
"Sit," he said quietly. Sothing in his tone made her obey.
He slid his chair closer until they were face to face. His gaze was steady, but softer than she’d ever seen. "Luna, you’re an amazing woman. Any man would be lucky to have you. And yes... I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel sothing for you. But I can’t be with you. I’d hurt you emotionally."
He drew in a sharp breath. "At first, I’ll be honest—I just wanted to sleep with you. But the more I got to know you, the less I could follow through. You’re not just anyone. You’re different. And I can’t risk ruining that."
What he didn’t say aloud sat heavy in his chest—that there was an invisible gap between them. Luna might not care about status, but he did. Without her, Hall of Fa wouldn’t have reached the world. Without her, FIFA wouldn’t even know his na nor would the song the FIFA anthem. And he hated that truth, hated the shadow it cast over everything. He wasn’t feeling inferior, just helpless.
The silence stretched, thick and heavy.
"So..." Luna’s voice trembled, almost breaking. "You admit you like , but you’re pushing
away because you think you’re not good for ?"
His jaw tightened, guilt flickering in his eyes. "Yeah. I didn’t expect this, Luna. You’re not just... anyone. You make things feel real. And that scares ."
Her chest ached, torn between hurt and warmth. She tried to laugh, but her voice cracked. "That’s the most honest thing you’ve said. And... for the record? I didn’t mind the cocky idiot who flirted with
that first day."
He blinked, surprised, then chuckled. "Oh really?"
"Yeah," she said softly. "I’ve t perfect guys with perfect lives who vanished the next week. But you? You ca into my life when I needed soone most. You fixed things I didn’t even know how to face. And you made
feel... safe."
Dayo stared at her then, really staring, like he hadn’t allowed himself to before.
"Luna... you deserve more than a guy who’s afraid of what he feels. I don’t want to give you half-love and end up breaking you."
Her eyes glistened. Slowly, she leaned forward. "Maybe I already know that. But maybe I just want you. No labels. No promises. Just us, here, tonight."
His breath hitched. He wanted to pull back, but her closeness drowned out reason. And when she pressed her lips to his, gentle but sure, his resistance cracked.
The kiss was soft, uncertain, but real.
When they parted, his voice was rough. "Luna... what have you done?"
She smirked, cheeks flushed. "You talk too much."
He laughed, shaking his head. "And you kiss better than I imagined."
She shoved him lightly, muttering, "Idiot."
But neither pulled away. The air between them grew heavier, charged with sothing unspoken.
Then the restraint shattered. His hand slipped around her waist, pulling her close. She gasped, but lted against him as the kiss deepened, no longer hesitant, but hungry.
The chairs scraped back as he scooped her up effortlessly. She clutched at his shoulders, surprised by his strength, before he carried her toward the bedroom.
Her laughter turned into breathless sighs when he tumbled her onto the mattress. He hovered above her, his grin reckless and bright.
"Still think I’m a jerk?" he teased, tilting her chin.
"Definitely," she whispered, her breath ragged. "But—"
Her words were cut off as he kissed her again, fiercer this ti. The night blurred into tangled sheets, flushed skin, and whispered confessions between gasps of pleasure.
And when the exhaustion finally claid them, Luna lay in his arms, knowing this was fleeting. Tomorrow, he would leave. But tonight, he was hers.
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