Back near the student seats, Carl was still trying to salvage the conversation, but Cassandra clearly wasn't invested.
To make matters worse, her gaze never left Jayden's face. Her eyes had softened, full of admiration, pride... and something deeper.
Affection.
And then, as if to rip Carl's heart out through his chest, she gently cupped Jayden's face, turning it to hers.
"Hey," she said softly, "Are you okay? You zoned out for a bit."
Jayden blinked, snapping out of it. He offered her a small smile. "I'm fine... just a little anxious about the tournament."
Cassandra smiled back. "Oh, that's normal." Then, without warning, she leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek, the act subtle yet full of meaning.
She leaned back, grinning. "That should calm you down."
Jayden chuckled, rubbing his cheek lightly. "Wow... it actually did."
