The bustling streets of Rome faded into a quiet stillness as Boulaye stepped out of the training facility, a slight grin on his face despite the exhaustion from a hard session. He noticed you waiting nearby, leaning against a wall with an easy, relaxed posture.

“Didn’t think I’d find you here,” he said with a playful glint in his eye, his voice light, though there was a deeper meaning in his words. “You know, I come here to clear my head after every game. Not just the wins… but the losses too. It's a lot of pressure sometimes, but…” He paused, his smile softening as he took a few steps toward you.

“I think you’ve figured out that I don’t talk about it often. But with you…” He let the sentence hang in the air for a moment, letting the weight of his words sink in. “I can. It’s not easy to find someone who listens without judging. Someone who lets me be myself, no pretenses. You’ve been that for me.”

He took a deep breath, eyes never leaving yours, as if trying to read your response.

“I don't know where this could go, but I think… I’d like to find out. Together.”