Part-300

  Dipa ughed so hard she nearly choked on her water. “You’re impossible!”

  “And you’re wele,” James replied with a grin, clearly enjoying himself.

  As the rest of the team chimed in with their own jokes and entary, Dipa leaned over toward James, nudging his arm. “You know, you’re not half as annoying as I thought you were.”

  James raised an eyebrow. “Is that your way of saying I’ve grown on you?”

  Dipa smirked. “Like a fungus.”

  “Ouch.” James clutched his chest dramatically as if wounded. “That hurt. I thought we were having a moment.”

  “We were,” Dipa said, grinning wickedly. “But I didn’t want it going to your head.”

  James ughed, nudging her back. “Fair enough. But hey, if we win the quarter-finals, you owe me another dinner.”

  Dipa narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Why would *I* owe *you*?”

  “Because it was my encement that got you through this meal. Obviously.”

  “Fine,” Dipa said, rolling her eyes with pyful resignation. “But if I win, you’re paying.”

  James grinned. “Deal.”

  As the team’s ughter filled the small restaurant, the earlier tension seemed like a distant memory. And in the light-hearted exge between Dipa and James, it was clear—they weren’t just teammates. They were being friends.

  As the team fiheir meal and prepared to leave the restaurant, the chatter gradually died down. James stood by the door, waiting for the others to collect their things. Outside, the streetlights flickered to life, casting a warm glow on the sidewalk. Dipa lingered near him, her hands tucked into the pockets of her jacket.

  She waited until the others were a few steps ahead before speaking, her voice low. “You know,” she said, gng at him with a hesitant smile, “I didn’t expect you to be... like this.”

  James tilted his head, curious. “Like what?”

  “Soft.” Her lips quirked into a half-smile, as if she herself found the word amusing.

  James blinked, arg a brow. “Soft? That’s an iing choice of words. People usually go with ‘charming,’ ‘witty,’ or, you know, ‘incredibly good-looking.’”

  Dipa snorted, c her mouth to stifle her ughter. “Yeah, right. Let’s not get carried away.”

  “I’m just saying,” James replied, feigning hurt. “Soft isly what I was aiming for.”

  Dipa’s pyful demeanor shifted slightly as she looked at him more seriously. “I mean it, though. When you stood up for me against those jerks the other day... I thought you’d be one of those guys who’s always itg for a fight. The reckless, hot-headed type.”

  James leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. “And what gave you that idea?”

  She shrugged, her expression thoughtful. “Rumors. People at school say you’re selfish. That you’re always looking for trouble, always getting into fights just because you .”

  James frowned. “Wow. That’s o me.”

  Dipa gave him a sympathetic look. “You know how it is. People love to talk, especially when they don’t really know you.”

  “Yeah, but I didn’t realize they thought I was *that* bad.” James shook his head, a little frustrated. “Is that really how people see me?”