Court-Side Confessions

The late afternoon sun dipped lazily over the court, painting long shadows across the asphalt. The ball bounced hard, sneakers squeaked, and laughter echoed as Ryan and Lila moved in perfect sync.

“Left, left_now!” Ryan shouted, already knowing she’d catch his drift.

Lila darted around Thomas, lightning-fast, and Ryan lobbed the ball over Raymond’s head. With an easy leap, she caught it and sank a flawless three-pointer.

“Boom! That’s game!” she yelled, arms raised triumphantly.

Ryan whooped, charging over to high-five her so hard their palms echoed like a slap of thunder. Thomas collapsed onto the ground, groaning dramatically.

“This is cheating. Absolute cheating. You two together are... unbeatable!”

“More like annoying,” Raymond muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. “It’s like playing against telepaths. Do you people secretly have walkie-talkies in your heads or something?”

Ryan smirked. “What can I say? Dream team.” He nudged Lila’s shoulder, and she bumped him back, both grinning like kids who just pulled off the perfect prank.

They were all panting, sweat dripping, and laughter ringing, when Ryan reached into the sports bag for a bottle of water, he was about handing it over to Lila. Just as he turned, hand outstretched, he froze, because right in front of him, Lila was doing the exact same thing.

Two identical bottles hovered midair between them. Their eyes met.

Silence.

And then, Thomas exploded first, rolling on the ground clutching his stomach. Raymond doubled over, pointing at them. “Oh my God, you two, newlyweds are ridiculous!”

Ryan blinked, then laughed despite himself. “Okay, that…was not planned.”

“Sure,” Lila teased, lips quirking, cheeks pink despite the sweat. “Just admit we’re in sync.”

“You’re insufferable,” Ryan muttered, but he took the bottle from her hand anyway. Their fingers brushed, and something unspoken flickered in the air.

Pamela walked onto the court, her ponytail bouncing, a towel around her neck. “Well, well. I came late again, the games is over. Oh, Newlyweds showing off again?” she teased smiling even though it did not reach her eyes.

She gave Lila a quick hug before turning to Ryan with a smile that lingered a little too long.

“Congratulations, Ryan. Really. You look good together. But isn't it crazy to finally marry your childhood friends, you guys are practically like siblings now, anyways, congrats all the same”

Ryan smiles, then turned to check Lilas expression and just as he predicted she was rolling her eyes as she cussed underneath her breath.

She really doesn't like Pamela, and Ryan wonders why though, Pamela is a sweet girl, except she's a frank speaker, she says things the way she sees them, more like calling a spade a spade.

But she is a no-no for Lila, and he really wonders why. But Lila would never tell anyone the exact reason why that she did not like Pamela, its actually because Pamela once confessed to her how much she likes Ryan, and how she was going to make Ryan hers.

She had even gone as far as saying she would do whatever it takes to get Ryan in bed with her, and when he does, she said she would do everything to get pregnant and then make Ryan marries her, and since then Lila never liked her again.

For coveting Ryan her own man, her everything. No way. Anyways tgat was for later.

Back to the guys...

Thomas finally got to his feet, shaking his head. “Yeah, congrats. You’ll be unbearable forever now, huh? You now have better reasons to give us dog food” he said with a cheeky laugh as he gently walked away.

They all laughed, exchanged a few more jokes, and eventually drifted off the court, Pamela tugging Lila along to go grab food.

That left Ryan and Raymond lingering by the bag, cooling off in the fading light.

Ray leaned against the fence, sipping water, eyes sly. “So. Tell me something, man.”

Ryan glanced over warily. “What?”

“How the hell did you end up marrying her?” Raymond grinned. “Because the last time we talked, you swore up and down she was just your best friend. Emphasis on just.”

Ryan rubbed the back of his neck, smirking helplessly. “Yeah... that was before I realized best friends could drive you insane one second and make you feel like the luckiest idiot alive the next.”

He glanced toward where Lila was laughing with Thomas’s sister, her head tilted back, light catching her hair. His smile softened. “She’s definitely more than a friend.”

Ray let out a low whistle. “Whoa. That’s the most poetic thing I’ve ever heard come out of your mouth.” He bumped Ryan’s shoulder. “So, uh... when are you planning to actually tell her all that?”

Ryan’s grin faltered. “...What do you mean? She knows. We’re married.”

Ray snorted. “Marriage doesn’t mean confession, genius. You’ve been playing it cool, jokes, teasing, your usual nonsense, but have you actually said it? You know, the three magic words?”

Ryan’s silence said it all.

Ray shook his head, chuckling. “Unbelievable. Ryan-the-unbeatable, terrified of a girl.” Then, a bit softer, “Look, don’t pressure yourself. Lila... she might not feel the same yet. But that’s fine. You’ve got all the time in the world now, don’t you? She’s your wife. That means plenty of chances to win her over for real.”

Ryan exhaled slowly, watching her from across the court. Her laughter floated back to him like music. His chest tightened in a familiar, maddening way.

“Yeah,” he murmured. “Plenty of time.”

Ray grinned knowingly, slinging an arm around his friend. “Just don’t take forever, man. Or I’ll tell her first that you’re secretly a sap.”

Ryan shoved him off, laughing, but the thought lingered.

Plenty of time... but maybe not as much as he thought.

Lila had just stepped aside from the group, fanning herself with her palm after the exhausting game. Her laughter still lingered in the air from when everyone had teased her and Ryan with the twin water bottles. She was about to sit down on the bench when Pamela suddenly appeared, her expression tighter than usual.

“Lila, can I talk to you for a second?” Pamela’s voice wasn’t soft, it was edged, and that alone made Lila straighten.

“Sure,” Lila said cautiously, brushing a strand of hair off her damp forehead.

Pamela crossed her arms, her eyes flashing with a mix of hurt and accusation. “Why did you marry Ryan?”

The bluntness of the question caught Lila off guard. “What... what do you mean? You know why, our parents...”

Pamela cut her off sharply. “Don’t give me that ‘parents forced us’ excuse, Lila. You could have said no. You should have said no. Especially when you know how I feel about him.”

Lila froze, guilt immediately prickling her chest. Pamela’s voice trembled, but she kept it steady.

“You’ve never looked at Ryan the way I do. Everyone knows you’ve only ever seen him as your best friend, nothing more. And yet, here you are, wearing his ring.”

“Pamela...” Lila sighed, her tone soft but heavy. “It’s not like that. I_ I didn’t plan for any of this. I didn’t want to hurt you. Yes, it was our parents’ decision, but... even if it’s not the love story people imagine, I’ve decided I’ll stay. Ryan and I_ we’ll just keep things as friends. That’s it. Friends forever, nothing more.”

Pamela let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “Friends forever? Do you even hear yourself? You think that’s fair to him? To me?” She stepped closer, her voice tightening.

“You’re being selfish, Lila. You tied him to you with a marriage, knowing full well you don’t love him the way I do. You robbed me of a chance, and for what? To play pretend wife?”

Lila’s chest constricted. She didn’t know what to say, because Pamela’s pain was undeniable.

“And don’t think I don’t hear things,” Pamela added, her tone sharper now. “Rumors spread fast, Lila. People are saying Ryan still clubs, that he still hooks up with random women even now that he’s married. What does that tell you?”

Lila flinched, her lips parting.

“It tells me your marriage is nothing but camouflage,” Pamela said bitterly, her eyes glistening. “He’s still out there living like nothing’s changed, and you_ what? You sit here pretending friendship will be enough? Pretending you didn’t steal him away from someone who actually loves him?”

Lila’s throat tightened, emotions swirling inside her, guilt, anger, confusion, hurt. She wanted to defend herself, to explain, but Pamela’s words had pierced too deep.

For the first time since the wedding, Lila was forced to face a truth she had been pushing aside: maybe this marriage wasn’t just complicated for her and Ryan, it was breaking hearts around them too.

Lila stayed frozen long after Pamela stormed away, her chest tight and her head buzzing with a hundred thoughts she couldn’t untangle. The laughter and chatter from the others felt distant, muffled, like she was underwater.

“Lila.”

She blinked, startled at the familiar deep voice. Ryan had slipped away from the group and was now standing in front of her, his brows drawn together.

“You look pale. What happened?” he asked, his tone softer than usual. His hand instinctively reached out to her arm, steadying her.

Lila forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

Ryan tilted his head, unconvinced. “Don’t give me that. I’ve known you since we were kids. You don’t go that quiet unless something’s eating you.”

Her throat tightened. For a moment, she considered brushing it off, but the weight of Pamela’s words lingered heavy on her heart. She bit her lip.

“It’s just... someone said something.”

Ryan’s eyes sharpened. “Who?”

“Pamela.” Lila’s voice came out barely above a whisper.

He stilled, his jaw tightening as if he’d expected the name. “What did she say?”

Lila hesitated, then looked away, her fingers twisting the hem of her dress. “She... asked why I married you when I don’t... when I don’t love you the way she does. She said it’s unfair, that this marriage is just camouflage. She... she even mentioned rumors that you still go out, that you still...”

Ryan’s expression darkened. “That I still what?”

“…that you still sleep around.”

The words burned coming out of her mouth, and she instantly regretted repeating them. But Ryan didn’t lash out. He just exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair.

“So that’s what she’s been filling your head with.”

“Ryan_”

“No, Lila.” He looked at her squarely, his gaze fierce but steady. “Listen to me. Whatever Pamela feels about me, about us, that’s her problem. But don’t you dare let her poison your mind about us. I may not have chosen this marriage either, but I’m here. I’m not running around, and I sure as hell am not treating this like some game.”

Lila swallowed, the sincerity in his voice tugging at something in her chest.

He stepped closer, lowering his tone. “And for the record... I don’t regret that it was you. Forced or not, I’d rather face this mess with you than with anyone else.”

Her lips parted, breath catching at the intensity in his eyes. For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Ryan softened, his thumb brushing lightly against her hand. “So, don’t let her words get to you, okay? You’re not unfair, Lila. You’re just... trying. And that’s more than most people would give.”

Lila blinked rapidly, fighting the warmth flooding her chest. She wanted to believe him, needed to believe him, but Pamela’s words still echoed faintly in the back of her mind.