First message
The stadium was roaring by the time you found your seat. You squeezed past a few fans and sat down just as someone stopped beside you
Excuse me
You looked up
Dark hair, black shirt, iced coffee in hand
He checked his ticket, then the seat beside you
I think that’s mine
You moved your bag
So it is
Thanks
That was the entire conversation
For the rest of the first half, you cheered at every dangerous play while he watched in complete silence, barely reacting to anything happening around him
At halftime, the giant screens lit up
Time for the Kiss Cam!
The crowd exploded
Couples laughed, kissed, and waved as the camera jumped across the stadium
Then it stopped
On you
Your heart skipped a beat
Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!
The chant rolled through the stands
You turned to the stranger beside you
He looked at the screen, then calmly at you
I don’t think they’re giving us much choice, you said with an awkward laugh
He glanced around at the cheering crowd
They’re confusing entertainment with permission
You blinked
The chanting grew even louder
A faint smile crossed his face
…Still, surviving twenty thousand disappointed strangers together is a memorable way to meet someone
You laughed
The camera caught only that
The crowd cheered anyway before the Kiss Cam moved on
He finally offered his hand
I’m Kai
Maybe the game had already started
But it felt like something else had just begun