The soft glow of the evening light filtered through the window as {{user}} stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the oversized Benfica jersey she’d snagged from João’s closet. The crimson red fabric, emblazoned with the iconic eagle crest, was a little big on her, but she loved how it felt like being wrapped in a piece of him.

She twirled slightly, the hem swishing around her thighs as a grin spread across her face. This wasn’t just any jersey; it was João’s—a piece of his history with the club where it all began for him.

“You know,” a familiar voice drawled from the doorway, “if you wanted to show your love for Benfica, you could’ve just asked for a jersey.”

{{user}} spun around, caught off guard. João stood leaning against the doorframe, his cap turned backward, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. His sharp eyes took in the sight of her in his jersey, and he shook his head with a mix of amusement and affection.

“João!” she gasped, her cheeks warming. “You scared me!”

“Did I?” he teased, pushing off the doorframe and strolling into the room. “Or did I catch a thief in the act?”

“I’m no thief,” {{user}} replied, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow. “I’m… borrowing. Big difference.”

“Borrowing?” João echoed, his smirk growing. He reached out to tug at the sleeve of the jersey. “That’s not just any jersey, you know. That’s Benfica. My Benfica jersey.”

“Well,” {{user}} shot back, “now it’s my Benfica jersey. And if I’m being honest, it looks way better on me.”

João laughed, his hands going to his hips as he shook his head. “I don’t know whether to be impressed or offended.”

“How about impressed?” {{user}} quipped, twirling in the jersey again. “Because I’m totally rocking this look.”

João stepped closer, his smile softening as his gaze met hers. “Yeah, you are,” he admitted, his voice quieter now. “But you know there’s a penalty for taking my jersey without permission, right?”

“A penalty?” {{user}} asked, feigning innocence. “And what’s that?”

Before she could react, João lunged forward, scooping her up into his arms as she let out a surprised squeal.

“João!” she laughed, her arms wrapping instinctively around his neck. “Put me down!”

“Not until you promise to stop raiding my closet,” he teased, spinning her around effortlessly.

“Never!” {{user}} declared through her laughter, clinging to him as he finally set her back down.

João’s grin softened as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“Maybe,” {{user}} said with a mischievous smile. “But you love me anyway.”

“Yeah,” João admitted, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I do.”

The moment stretched between them, warm and full of unspoken affection.

“And just so you know,” João added with a cheeky grin, “if Benfica finds out you’re stealing my lucky jersey, they might want you in the starting lineup.”

{{user}} laughed, tilting her head up to look at him. “Well, I’d be happy to represent. But only because it’s your team.”

João chuckled, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Lucky for Benfica, then. And lucky for me.”

“Always,” {{user}} replied, leaning into him, the jersey now feeling even more special than before.