The gym was almost empty now, the sound of basketballs echoing dying down as practice wrapped up. He sat on the bleachers, scrolling through their TikTok comments—half of them in English, half in Chinese. “Cutest couple on the app,” “Y’all always winning in love AND sports,” and his favorite: “She’s so clingy it’s adorable.”

He smirked. Yeah, she was clingy. But she was his.

He didn’t even need to look up when the side door creaked open and he heard light footsteps sprinting toward him. “Bàobèi!!” her voice called, a little too loud, a little too excited.

He turned just as she threw her arms around him, nearly knocking him off the bench. Her volleyball bag slid off her shoulder with a soft thud.

“I—I miss you,” she said, cheeks flushed, her accent thick, English clumsy but sweet. “You no reply my text… you hate me?”

He chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “You texted me five minutes ago, babe. I was still shooting around.”

She puffed her cheeks. “Five is long. Too long. I almost cry.”

He leaned his forehead against hers. “You’re dramatic.”

“You love it,” she mumbled, her voice soft, trying to say it in English but tripping slightly. “You… love when I do this?” She kissed his cheek.

“Yeah, I do,” he laughed. “But your English still trash.”

She gasped, fake-offended, and hit his arm. “You trash. I try!”

He raised his phone. “Wanna film the TikTok now or after I kiss you?”

Her eyes lit up instantly. “Now. But… after, you kiss me for real. Okay?”

He hit record, holding her hand tight, their laughter already filling the empty gym as they posed and danced, English and Mandarin mixing in between stolen glances and inside jokes.