Dadi tilted her head, studying Ling with deliberate slowness.
"She is beautiful," Dadi said simply.
Ling's ears went red instantly. "I know."
Dadi smiled. Dangerous.
"Oh no," she said. "You don't know the way I know."
Ling sighed. "Dadi..."
"Her eyes," Dadi continued, counting on her fingers.
"Sharp but soft when she's tired. Brows, perfect arch, always tense like she's ready to fight. Lips that never smile unless they mean it."
Ling's shoulders tightened.
"Her walk," Dadi went on. "Like she owns the ground but doesn't trust it. Her waist..."
"Okay," Ling cut in quickly, face heating up. "Enough."
Dadi laughed. "Her hands," she added anyway. "Strong fingers. Gentle grip."
Ling buried her face in her hands. "You're doing this on purpose."
"Of course," Dadi said cheerfully. Then, casually, deadly.
"Wanna make her your baby's mommy?"
Ling froze.
Then made a sound halfway between a groan and a protest and fully hid her face, elbows on knees.
"DADI."
Rina burst out laughing. "Oh my God."
Dadi shrugged. "What? I'm asking seriously."
Rina waved her hand. "Wait, but you're both women."
Dadi opened her mouth. "She is Simha..."
"STOP."
Ling snapped her head up so fast it almost hurt. "Don't."
Rina blinked. "Oh..."
She paused.
Then her eyes widened. "Ohhh. I forgot. Sorry."
Dadi smirked, entirely unbothered.
Ling exhaled slowly, trying to regain composure. "That's not something to joke about."
Dadi's tone softened, just a little. "It's not a joke. It's your truth."
Ling looked away.
Rina leaned back, still grinning. "Honestly? That explains a lot."
Ling shot her a glare. "Say one more word."
Rina zipped her lips theatrically.
Dadi said, "Relax, tiger. Your secret is safe."
"But remember," she added gently, "power like yours doesn't come to hurt."
Ling didn't reply.
She sat there long after they left, cheeks still warm, heart racing...
Not because of the teasing.
But because the image Dadi planted...
Rhea, unguarded.
Rhea, choosing.
...was more dangerous than any rule she'd been given.
Dadi didn't talk for a while to make Ling restless.
Ling shot Dadi a look. "Why are you acting like this?"
Dadi grinned wider. "Why would I? I've just started."
Rina snorted. "Oh no."
Dadi circled Ling slowly, eyes mischievous and sharp. "That girl, Rhea, she's built strong."
Ling groaned. "Dadi, stop."
"Pelvis wide," Dadi continued, completely ignoring her. "Grounded. Balanced."
Ling's ears turned red instantly. "That's... why are you observing that?"
Dadi shrugged. "Experience."
Rina laughed so hard she had to sit. "I can't breathe."
Dadi went on, unapologetic. "Healthy frame. Good posture. Strong legs. She'd give birth to healthy children."
Ling covered her face again. "PLEASE."
"And beautiful," Dadi added thoughtfully. "Very beautiful."
Rina chimed in, sing-song. "Which means..."
Dadi finished it with delight. "Your children would be cute and healthy."
Ling peeked through her fingers, mortified. "You're both impossible."
Dadi leaned closer, voice dropping just enough to be serious beneath the teasing. "And you'd be terrifyingly devoted."
Ling froze.
Rina's laughter softened.
Dadi straightened. "I tease because I see."
Ling lowered her hands slowly. "See what?"
"That for the first time," Dadi said gently, "you're imagining a future that isn't just control."
Silence settled.
Rina smiled softly now. "She's not wrong, you know."
Ling exhaled, shaking her head. "You two are dangerous."
Dadi winked. "Only to people who pretend they don't want things."
Ling didn't argue.
Dadi's teasing slowed.
For the first time that night, her smile softened, not playful, not sharp.
"I was afraid," Dadi said quietly.
Ling looked up at her, surprised.
"When Eliza said Mira will marry you," Dadi continued, sitting down heavily, "I was afraid for you."
Rina stilled.
Ling's voice came low. "Afraid of what?"
"That you'd be caged," Dadi said plainly. "By someone who worships you but cannot stand you."
Ling frowned.
"I didn't want a girl who bows to you," Dadi went on. "I wanted my granddaughter-in-law to be beautiful, yes, but strong."
She tapped her own chest.
"Full of ego. Full of attitude. Someone who can look at you and say no."
Ling swallowed.
"Someone who can control my granddaughter," Dadi said softly, "because no one else ever has."
Rina glanced between them, suddenly quiet.
"And," Dadi added, voice turning mischievous again but with truth underneath, "someone who can give me healthy, terrifying great-grandchildren."
Ling groaned. "You never miss that part."
Dadi smiled. "Because it matters."
She leaned closer to Ling. "You need fire. Not mirrors."
Ling's jaw tightened. "She doesn't try to control me."
Dadi nodded. "Exactly."
Silence stretched.
Then Dadi reached out and squeezed Ling's hand. "For the first time, I saw you bend, not break."
Ling's eyes burned. "What if I hurt her?"
Dadi's gaze sharpened. "Then I'll hurt you."
Rina blinked. "Fair."
Dadi stood, satisfied. "Sleep now, tiger. Tomorrow you go back to pretending you don't care."
Ling looked away.
But her heart was loud.
>>>>>>>>>
The whistle cut sharp through the air.
Match over.
Ling Kwong hadn't lost, but more than that, she hadn't slowed. Goals clean. Movements ruthless. Crowd roaring her name like a ritual.
She wiped sweat from her brow, chest rising evenly, eyes already searching.
Found her.
Rhea stood at the edge of the stands, arms crossed, unreadable.
Ling didn't wait.
She turned toward the crowd and lifted her voice, clear, commanding, impossible to ignore.
"Rhea."
The name landed.
Heads turned.
A ripple went through the stands.
Rhea stiffened.
Ling pointed to the ground. "Come."
Zifa grabbed Rhea's arm. "She's insane."
Rhea exhaled once, then walked down, slow, deliberate, pride intact.
Ling was already bouncing the ball with her foot when Rhea reached her.
"We won," Ling said, like it was an afterthought. Then, lighter, provoking.
"So we can practice now too."
Rhea arched a brow. "You don't get tired?"
Ling smirked. "I get bored."
She rolled the ball toward Rhea with her foot. "Show me."
Rhea glanced around. Too many eyes. Too much attention.
"This isn't private," Rhea said flatly.
Ling stepped closer, lowering her voice just enough. "Then ignore them."
She leaned in, not touching, not quite. "You ignore me well enough."
Rhea's jaw tightened. She tapped the ball back with her foot. Clumsy. Controlled.
"Happy?" Rhea asked.
Ling laughed softly. "Not yet."
She moved around her, guiding with presence alone, cutting angles, blocking space.
"Again," Ling said.
Rhea kicked harder this time. Better.
Ling nodded, approval sharp and unspoken. "See? You learn fast."
Rhea scoffed. "You're enjoying this too much."
Ling didn't deny it.
She stole the ball effortlessly and stopped it dead between them.
"Five minutes," Ling said. "Then you can leave."
Rhea met her gaze. "And if I don't?"
Ling's smile was slow. Dangerous. "Then we keep playing."
Around them, the crowd buzzed, confused, curious, electric, still hovered, phones out, whispers buzzing.
Ling turned sharply, voice cutting through everything.
"Don't you all have class?" she shouted.
"Or you like staring?"
Dead silence.
Then chaos.
Students scrambled instantly, bags slung, feet moving, heads down. No one dared linger. Within seconds, the ground began to clear.
Rhea watched it happen, disbelief flickering across her face.
She turned to Ling. "I have to go too. Class will start."
Ling checked her watch lazily. "We have twenty minutes."
"I'm serious," Rhea said. "You need to change. I need to..."
"Don't worry," Ling interrupted, already walking backward, ball at her feet. "You won't miss class."
Rhea narrowed her eyes. "Ling..."
Ling suddenly turned and shouted toward the dispersing crowd, spotting a boy she recognized.
"You," she called.
The boy froze.
"Yes... yes, Captain?"
Ling pointed at him with two fingers. "Tell the professor not to start the lecture till I come."
The boy swallowed. "Uh..."
Ling's gaze sharpened. "Now."
He nodded rapidly and ran.
Rhea stared at her. "You can't just..."
"I can," Ling said calmly.
She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "And I did."
Rhea scoffed. "You think the world bends for you."
Ling smiled faintly. "No."
She nudged the ball toward Rhea again. "I know it does."
Rhea kicked it back harder than before. "You're impossible."
Ling caught it effortlessly, eyes bright. "You're still here."
Rhea opened her mouth...
Then stopped.
Because she was.
Ling leaned in just enough for her shadow to fall over Rhea's shoes.
"Ten minutes," Ling said softly. "Then I'll change. Then we'll both go to class."