062 | the favorite couple

The next day, Gianna found herself sitting in a cozy café with Hector, enjoying the quiet hum of morning chatter around them. The sun filtered through the large windows, casting soft rays on their table. Hector was casually leaning back in his chair, scrolling through his phone, while Gianna absentmindedly stirred her coffee. She felt a calmness she hadn't experienced in a while. The game, the headlines, and even the chaos of the media had faded into the background, leaving her with only one thought: Hector.

The door to the café chimed, signaling the arrival of another customer. Gianna didn't pay much attention at first, until she heard a familiar voice that made her heart flutter in the most unexpected way.

"Ah, there's my favorite couple," came the teasing voice from the doorway.

Gianna's head snapped up in surprise, her heart rate picking up. She saw Cienna standing in the entrance, arms crossed, her lips curving into a sly grin.

"Cici!" Gianna groaned, trying to hide the blush creeping up her neck. She hadn't expected Cienna to show up this early, and certainly not with that comment.

Cienna sauntered over to their table, her smirk growing as she glanced between the two of them. "Oh, don't play coy. The whole world knows now. Your little wink has the media in a frenzy. And now I see you two having a cute little breakfast date? It's adorable."

Hector chuckled softly, looking up from his phone with a teasing glint in his eyes. "We're just getting started, Cici. But I don't think it's as cute as you're making it out to be." His voice held that playful, easy charm that always seemed to keep everyone on their toes.

Gianna rolled her eyes, but there was no denying the way her heart fluttered at the mention of being a couple. The thought felt so new and yet so natural with Hector.

"You two are way too much," Cienna said, sliding into the seat opposite them without invitation. "So, Gianna, what's this I hear about a second wink during the match last night? Care to share the details?"

Gianna groaned, her face flaming red as she leaned back in her chair. "Cici, please, don't start with that. I wasn't thinking-just a little wink to him, and now everyone's freaking out about it."

Cienna raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Oh, I'm sure it was just a wink," she said, drawing out the words in a teasing tone. "But come on, Gigi. I can see the way you look at him. And I can see the way he looks at you."

Gianna sighed, glancing over at Hector who was now grinning at her with that ever-present smirk. "Cici," she started, shaking her head in mock frustration, "we're just... figuring things out. It's not some big declaration."

"Oh, please," Cienna interrupted, her expression playful yet knowing. "I've known you two since we were kids. You don't wink like that at someone unless you've got feelings." She winked at Gianna with exaggerated drama, causing both Hector and Gianna to laugh.

Gianna gave a reluctant smile, rolling her eyes as she leaned forward. "Okay, maybe you're right. But it's not as easy as it looks, you know?"

"Trust me, I know," Cienna said, her tone suddenly serious for a moment. "But don't overthink it, Gigi. Life is too short to worry about things like that. And besides, you've got one of the best guys by your side. Everyone can see it."

Hector's grin softened, and he reached out to place a hand gently on Gianna's. His voice was warm, his usual teasing tone replaced with something more sincere. "You're not alone in this, hermosa. No matter what the world says, we've got this."

Gianna looked at Hector, her heart swelling with affection as she squeezed his hand. There was something in his gaze that made her feel like everything-every fear, every doubt-faded away. He was right. They did have this.

Cienna watched the exchange with a soft smile on her lips. "Okay, okay. I'll stop being a pain. But I still think you two are my favorite couple. No one can pull off that kind of chemistry like you two."

Gianna laughed, shaking her head at her friend's antics. "You're impossible, Cici."

"Well, I am your best friend, after all," Cienna said, shrugging nonchalantly. "It's my job to be annoying."

The three of them shared a moment of laughter, the tension of the previous day's whirlwind finally starting to lift. It felt good to have Cienna there, supporting them both, and for once, not feeling like she was an outsider in the midst of it all.

"I guess we can handle the media frenzy together," Hector added, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms casually. "But the real fun starts when we get to see what everyone thinks about the wink. Maybe we'll need matching shirts or something."

Gianna gave him a playful shove, but her heart was light. She realized how lucky she was to have this-this support, this comfort, this undeniable connection with him.

"Let them all talk," Gianna said, her voice steady and confident now. "At the end of the day, we're in this together. And that's all that matters."

Cienna smiled knowingly. "And I'm here for all of it, so don't worry."

As they continued to chat and laugh, the rest of the world felt miles away. For once, there were no headlines, no pressure-just the three of them, enjoying a moment of normalcy. Gianna glanced at Hector, her heart warm with affection. She didn't care what anyone else thought.

They were on their own journey, and that was more than enough.