The Girl He Sees
Pairing:Lamine Yamal x Reader
Word Count:3206
Request open!
Football Masterlist
You always sit in the same seats.
Row 14, seats 7 and 8. Your father jokes that theyโre older than you are, that theyโre practically part of the family. He pats the plastic armrest every match like itโs a dog thatโs followed him home.
โHome sweet home,โ he says as you both step into your row, the stadium already buzzing. โBest view in the world, eh?โ
You smile, tucking your scarf tighter around your neck. โYou say that every time.โ
โAnd Iโll say it when Iโm eighty,โ he replies, dropping into his seat with a groan. โTheyโll have to carry me out.โ
You sit down next to him, your heart already beating a little too fast. The players are finishing their warm-up. You know exactly which one youโll start watching.
Your father elbows you lightly. โHeโs starting again,โ he says. โYour boy.โ
โHeโs not my boy,โ you mumble, staring determinedly at the pitch.
โSure, sure,โ your father says, but his grin is maddening. โThe way you scream when he scores, you couldโve fooled me.โ
You open your mouth to protest, but your eyes find him,Lamine,jogging toward the sideline to take a last drink of water. Heโs laughing at something one of his teammates says, and then he glances up.
You swear heโs looking right at your section.
Your lungs forget how to function for a second. He shields his eyes from the stadium lights with one hand, scanning. Row 14. Your row. Your seat.
No way heโs actually,
His gaze catches yours.
Itโs barely a second. A flick, a lock, a tiny familiar jolt that hits you square in the ribs. His mouth curves, just a bit, like heโs found what he was looking for.
You go rigid.
Your father frowns. โYou all right?โ
โFine,โ you squeak.
โYou look like youโve seen a ghost.โ
โDonโt be dramatic,โ you say, heat crawling up your neck.
On the pitch, the whistle blows. The match begins.
It started a few weeks ago,at least, thatโs when you noticed it.
Heโd pulled off some ridiculous run, dribbling past two defenders, and youโd reacted before your brain could intervene. Youโd stood up, hands clasped to your chest, and shouted his name like heโd personally saved your life.
When the ball hit the back of the net, the stadium exploded.
You jumped. You screamed. You beamed so hard your cheeks hurt, spinning to your father.
โDid you see that?โ you gushed. โDid you,he just,he went past both of them,โ
โEasy, easy,โ your father laughed, grabbing your coat so you wouldnโt tumble forward. โYouโll end up on the pitch at this rate.โ
When you turned back, breathless, Lamine was jogging toward the corner, teammates piling onto him.
And then, mid-celebration, he looked up.
Straight at your section.
You still remember the way his eyes seemed to find you, even in the chaos. Youโd frozen, mouth parted, heart stuttering. Your scarf slipped down your shoulder. You mustโve looked like an idiot.
Heโd smiled, quick and real, before letting his teammates drag him away.
Youโd spent the rest of the match trying to decide if youโd imagined it.
But then it kept happening.
Warmups. Corners. Throw-ins near your side. His eyes flickered up, searching. Always toward your seats. And whenever you met his gaze, your face betrayed you,joy, panic, awe, all written loud and clear.
Your father noticed something was off.
โYouโre awfully invested in that boyโs career,โ he said one night as you walked home. โThink he owes you commission?โ
โHeโs justโฆ fun to watch,โ you muttered.
โMhmm,โ your father hummed, unconvinced. โIf your smile gets any brighter, theyโll have to dim the stadium lights.โ
Tonight, though, the stadium feels different. Louder. Closer.
Every time Lamine gets the ball, your stomach does somersaults.
โGo on,โ your father murmurs, leaning forward. โTake him on, lad.โ
Lamine cuts inside, slips past a defender, and the crowd rises with him. You rise too, your body moving before your brain. Your hands are pressed together under your chin, your eyes wide.
He shoots.
The ball whistles just past the post.
The entire stadium groans.
You exhale like someone knocked the wind out of you. โSo close,โ you whisper.
Down on the pitch, he curses under his breath, then glances up toward your section as he jogs back.
Youโre still watching him, caught.
He sees your disappointed little wince and huffs out a breath, almost laughing, like your reaction amuses him. He gives you a tiny shrug that says, My bad.
You feel your lips curve without permission.
โAre you smiling at a missed shot?โ your father asks.
You yank your scarf up over your face. โNo.โ
โLiar.โ
Half-time comes with the score still 0โ0. You scroll your phone out of habit, thumb flicking, not really looking,until a notification freezes you.
Your father glances over. โWhat are you frowning at?โ
You open the article link with a pit in your stomach.
Itโs a photo from last weekโs match. Lamine in the foreground, looking up, mid-celebration. In the background, blurred but unmistakable: you, hands to your mouth, eyes shining, leaning over the railing like youโre about to leap.
The headline punches you:
WHOโS THE GIRL LAMINE CANโT STOP LOOKING FOR?
Your veins turn to ice.
โDad,โ you whisper. โDad.โ
He leans closer, squints at the screen. โWhat the,โ
There are other pictures in the article, from different angles. Lamine looking up. You in the background again and again, always in the same seats. Comments already piling up underneath.
He keeps looking in the same direction after he scores??
Bro found his lucky charm.
Find her @ the club, do it for science.
Your head spins.
โThis is bad,โ you say. โThis is so bad.โ
Your father reads silently for a moment, jaw tightening. Then he looks at you.
โDid you know about this?โ he asks.
โNo!โ you protest. โI mean, I knew heโฆ sometimes looked up. But I thought,I donโt know what I thought. I didnโt think people would,โ
โHey, hey,โ your father says quickly, seeing the tremble in your hands. โItโs just some gossip article. Youโve done nothing wrong.โ
Your heart drums against your ribs. โBut what if people find me? What if he gets annoyed? What if,โ
The whistle for the second half blows, cutting through your spiraling thoughts.
โLook,โ your father says gently. โIf you want to leave after, weโll leave. We donโt have to come to the next one if it makes you uncomfortable. All right?โ
You nod, throat tight. You try to push your phone back into your pocket and pretend you didnโt see it.
Down on the pitch, the players take their positions again.
When Lamine looks up this time, he finds youโฆ smaller. Wrapped into yourself. Your scarf pulled too high, your shoulders hunched.
His gaze lingers.
You duck your head.
You donโt see his frown.
He scores in the 72nd minute anyway.
Itโs a brilliant goal,low, precise, the kind that makes the whole stadium roar. Your father jumps up, swearing happily, grabbing your shoulders.
โLook at that! Look!โ he shouts.
You clap, you stand, you cheer,but you donโt let yourself look at him. You stare at the big screen instead, where the replay loops over and over.
You can feel it, though. That pull.
You know, without seeing, that heโs searching for you.
You keep your face turned away.
After the match, your father threads his arm through yours and steers you toward the exits.
โWeโll go straight to the car,โ he says. โBeat the traffic. Weโll talk about that article properly at home.โ
You nod, still dazed, the stadium noise ringing in your ears like an echo.
Youโre almost at the gate when a security guard steps into your path.
โExcuse me,โ he says, and your stomach drops. โAre you seat fourteen, row seven, seat eight?โ
Your father narrows his eyes. โWhy?โ
The guard checks a note on his phone, then looks back at you with a kind of careful politeness that makes you even more nervous.
โPlayer request,โ he says. โIf youโre comfortable, one of the players would like to meet you.โ
Your brain flatlines.
Your father blinks. โYouโre joking.โ
The guard shakes his head. โI can escort you both. If youโd prefer not to, thatโs fine too. No pressure.โ
You stare at him, mouth dry. โWhich player?โ
The guard looks faintly amused. โI think you know.โ
Your father turns to you, his expression a mix of stunned, proud, and I knew it.
โWell,โ he says. โWhat do you think, kiddo?โ
Your heart is trying to punch its way out of your chest. The article, the photos, the rumor storm,this is exactly what you were afraid of. But thereโs another feeling under the fear, bright and insistent.
He asked for you.
You swallow. โO-Okay,โ you manage. โJustโฆ for a minute.โ
The corridors under the stadium are colder than you expect.
Your footsteps echo on the concrete as the guard leads you and your father through a maze of tunnels, past doors with signs you donโt have time to read. The noise of the crowd above fades into a dull hum.
Your father squeezes your shoulder. โYou all right?โ
โNo,โ you croak. โI think I might be dead.โ
He snorts. โIf you faint, Iโm telling everyone it was from the smell in the tunnels.โ
You breathe out a shaky laugh.
The guard stops in front of a door, knocks lightly, then pushes it open.
โGot them,โ he calls.
You step inside and see him.
Lamine is standing near a table, still in his kit, hair damp, socks half rolled down. Thereโs a towel around his shoulders, and a half-empty bottle of water in his hand. When he turns and spots you, his entire face brightens.
โThere you are,โ he says, like youโre late for something heโs been looking forward to.
You freeze in the doorway.
Your father nudges you forward. โGo, go.โ
You take a few uncertain steps. The room smells like grass and tape and detergent. Your fingers twist in the edge of your jersey.
โHi,โ you say, voice too small.
He laughs, a little breathless. โHi.โ
Thereโs a beat of silence where you justโฆ look at each other. Up close, the stadium lights and camera flashes are replaced by something softer. His eyes are warm, curious. Nervous, you realize with a tiny spark of disbelief. Heโs nervous too.
โIโm Lamine,โ he says, then winces. โObviously. You know that. Sorry.โ He rubs the back of his neck, smiling sheepishly. โIโm bad at this.โ
You let out a nervous laugh. โItโs okay. Iโm worse.โ
He glances behind you, where your father hovers, pretending to read some poster on the wall.
โThis is my dad,โ you say quickly. โHe, umโฆ heโs had these seats since,forever.โ
โAh,โ your father says, stepping forward to shake Lamineโs hand. โPleasure, son. You gave us a bit of a scare missing that first chance, you know.โ
โSorry, sir,โ Lamine says with a grin. โI fixed it later, no?โ
โThat you did,โ your father says, eyes twinkling. โIโll wait outside. Let you kids talk.โ
โDad,โ you hiss, but heโs already heading for the door.
โDonโt worry,โ he calls back. โI wonโt go far.โ
The door clicks shut.
Youโre alone with him.
You stare at your shoes for a moment. โIโฆ didnโt know you could do that,โ you murmur.
โDo what?โ he asks.
โAsk for people,โ you say. โFrom the crowd.โ
He shrugs, leaning back against the table. โYou can. I mean, they donโt always find them. But I asked, andโฆ they did.โ
โWhy?โ you blurt.
His gaze softens. โBecause you didnโt look at me today,โ he says quietly. โNot like before.โ
Your cheeks burn. โI,there was an article. With pictures. People in the comments were saying things, and I thought,I didnโt want to cause trouble. Or make you uncomfortable. Or make it weird.โ
He stares at you for a second, then laughs, incredulous. โYou were worried about making me uncomfortable?โ
โYes,โ you insist, then falter. โI mean. Yes?โ
He shakes his head, a smile tugging at his lips. โDo you know how many cameras are in that stadium? Iโm used to weird. Butโฆโ His expression grows a little more serious. โIโm sorry they picked you up in it. That canโt have been fun.โ
โIt wasnโt,โ you admit. โPeople were trying to figure out who I was. I didnโt reply, obviously. But it wasโฆ a lot.โ
He shifts like the ground matters suddenly. โDid anyone bother you? Likeโฆ properly?โ
โNo,โ you say quickly. โJust speculation. I just donโtโฆ Iโm not used to being seen.โ
His eyes flick thoughtfully over your face. โYouโre very expressive, though,โ he says softly. โKind of hard not to see you.โ
Your breath catches. โThatโs not a compliment,โ you mumble.
โIt is to me.โ
You have to look away. โYou keepโฆ looking for me,โ you say, your voice barely above a whisper. โDuring matches.โ
He chuckles quietly. โYou noticed.โ
โHow could I not notice?โ you say. โYouโreโฆ you.โ
โAnd youโre always in the same place,โ he counters. โEvery match. Same seat. Same scarf. Same way ofโฆ doing this.โ He mimics the way you clasp your hands under your chin, eyes wide.
You want the floor to swallow you. โStop,โ you groan. โThatโs embarrassing.โ
โItโs nice,โ he says. โIt makesโฆ everything feel less big. You know? All the noise. When I look up and see you, itโs like,oh, okay. There you are. I can breathe.โ
You blink at him. โYou can breatheโฆ because Iโm panicking in row fourteen?โ
That makes him laugh, a proper one this time. โYouโre not panicking.โ
โIโm constantly panicking.โ
โNo,โ he says, still smiling. โYouโre justโฆ honest. With your face. I score, you light up. I miss, you look like someone stole your phone. Itโs,โ He shrugs, searching for the word. โReal. And I donโt get a lot of that, I guess.โ
You swallow hard. Something warm unfurls in your chest, mixing with the nerves.
โI thought youโd be mad,โ you admit. โAbout the article. Like, โWhoโs this random girl the media thinks Iโm obsessed with.โโ
He raises an eyebrow. โAre you random?โ
โYes!โ
He looks unconvinced. โI donโt think so.โ
Your heart does something painful.
He glances down, fidgeting with the cap of his water bottle. โLook,โ he says, voice turning shy. โI just wanted to tell you myself. So you wouldnโtโฆ stop. Because of some stupid gossip.โ
โStop what?โ you ask.
โComing,โ he says simply. โBeing there.โ
He meets your eyes, and itโs suddenly so quiet you can hear your own pulse pounding in your ears.
โI play better when youโre here,โ he says, like itโs the most natural thing in the world. โDonโt stop coming.โ
The words land with the weight of something thatโs been waiting a long time to be said.
You stare at him, lips parted. โYou donโt have to say that,โ you whisper.
โIโm not saying it because I have to,โ he replies. โIโm saying it because itโs true. You saw me tonight, yeah?โ
โI didnโt look at you,โ you say helplessly.
He huffs a soft laugh. โYeah, I noticed. Thatโs why I had to work twice as hard. Terrible conditions.โ
You canโt help it,you laugh, the tension cracking. โYou scored an amazing goal.โ
โAnd it wouldโve been even better,โ he says, โif Iโd seen your face after.โ
You want to bury your flaming cheeks in your scarf. โYouโre ridiculous.โ
โMaybe.โ He tilts his head. โWill you come next match?โ
Your instinct is to say yes. Your fear says maybe not.
โWhat if the media keeps going?โ you ask. โWhat if they sayโฆ worse things?โ
He considers that for a moment. โThen they say them,โ he says finally. โTheyโll get bored eventually. And if they donโt, we deal with it. The club can help if it gets serious. Youโre notโฆ alone in it.โ
โWhy would you bother?โ you ask, almost to yourself.
He looks at you like the answer is obvious. โBecause I like when youโre there,โ he says. โIs that not a good enough reason?โ
You exhale slowly.
โIt is,โ you say.
He smiles, relief softening his shoulders. โSo?โ
You bite your lip, but your face has already decided for you,your eyes bright, your mouth curling up, that traitorous glow your father always teases you about.
He sees it and laughs under his breath.
โIโll come,โ you say. โNext match. Same seats.โ
โGood,โ he says, his grin spreading. โIโll look for you before kickoff this time. Not just after I mess up.โ
โYou donโt mess up that much,โ you say.
โMmh, tell that to my coach,โ he jokes. โBut itโs easier to try things when I know youโre up there, freaking out.โ
โI thought you said I wasnโt panicking.โ
โI changed my mind,โ he says, eyes dancing. โYou panic very nicely.โ
You groan. โYouโre never letting that go, are you?โ
โNot a chance.โ
Thereโs a knock on the door, and a voice calls, โLamine, media in five.โ
He rolls his eyes. โYeah, yeah!โ he shouts back, then looks at you, softer again. โI have to go be boring and say the same three sentences a hundred times.โ
You smile. โYouโre good at that. Iโve seen interviews.โ
โDonโt expose me,โ he pleads dramatically. โIโm trying my best.โ
You laugh, and he watches you like he wants to keep that sound.
โCan I ask you something?โ he says suddenly.
โSure.โ
โNext match,โ he says. โWhen they say my name in the lineupsโฆ cheer for me, yeah?โ
You splutter. โI always cheer for you.โ
โI know,โ he says. โBut now Iโll know you know I know.โ
You blink. โThatโsโฆ confusing.โ
He shrugs, grinning. โDestiny usually is.โ
Your heart stutters at the word, and you hope it doesnโt show on your face,but judging by the way his eyes soften, it does.
โOkay,โ you say quietly. โIโll cheer.โ
โAs loud as before?โ he asks.
โMaybe louder.โ
โGood.โ He starts toward the door, then hesitates, glancing back at you. โAnd, uhโฆ if it gets too much,โ he adds, โwith the media or the commentsโฆ tell me. Or tell the club. Justโฆ donโt disappear without saying anything, yeah?โ
You nod. โI wonโt.โ
He smiles, satisfied. โSee you in row fourteen.โ
โSee you on the pitch,โ you reply.
He opens the door, then pauses one last time, looking over his shoulder at you.
โAnd, hey,โ he says. โFor what itโs worth? I donโt think youโre โthe girl in the crowd.โโ
Your eyebrows lift. โNo?โ
He shakes his head. โYouโre my girl in the crowd,โ he says, a little bashful but not taking it back. โThereโs a difference.โ
Before you can answer, heโs gone, swallowed by the hallway.
Your father slips back into the room a moment later, eyebrows raised. โWell?โ he asks. โDid you survive?โ
You press your hands over your burning face.
โI think,โ you say, voice muffled, โI might actually die next match.โ
Your father chuckles, slinging an arm around your shoulders as you walk out together.
โIf he plays better when youโre there,โ he says, โyou donโt have much choice, do you?โ
You think of Lamineโs words, the quiet sincerity in them.
I play better when youโre here. Donโt stop coming.
You hug your scarf to your chest, heart full and terrified all at once.
โNo,โ you say softly. โI donโt.โ














