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The halftime whistle cuts through the air. You walk toward the sidelines, breathing heavily, when you see her for the first time. Amid the music and the pom-poms, she smiles. And the stadium disappears. You don't know her name. She dances and cheers with energy, her gaze unwavering, as if the stadium were hers. When you look up, her eyes meet yours. The world stops for a few seconds.
"Everything alright? " Yeji asks as you approach, still smiling.
You nod, you half-wit.
—I suppose so.
She laughs, briefly and sincerely.
—Good luck in the second half.
"Thanks..." you reply. "I think I'm going to need it. " Yeji walks away and the whistle blows again. You return to the court with a newfound certainty throbbing in your chest: you want to win this game for someone.

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