"I know, but still... It's important for me that you know I'd never betray you."

~•~

Willa sat in the stands, her heart pounding with excitement and tension. The stadium was packed with spectators watching the pole vault final, but for her, there was only one person who mattered—Mondo. He was the only competitor to have cleared six meters, an incredible feat in itself. The gold was already his. No one could challenge him. But now, it was about something more.

Willa knew this was the moment Mondo had been waiting for. Not only did he have a chance to stand on the winner's podium, but he also had the opportunity to break his own world record. Six meters and twenty-four centimeters—that was the height he had cleared once before, which had launched him into the legends of the sport. Today, however, he had set a new goal: to surpass it by a single centimeter. Six meters and twenty-five centimeters.

"You can do this," she whispered to herself, watching as Mondo prepared for his first attempt. The atmosphere in the stadium was tense. The crowd buzzed with excitement, all eyes focused on the track, waiting for that moment when Mondo would begin his run.

Willa tried to concentrate solely on Mondo. The air around her vibrated with tension, and she felt her nerves tighten with each step Mondo took. He was ready, she knew that. He had trained hard and focused on this very moment. But breaking a world record—that came with a completely different pressure. She was sure he could do it, but a small doubt lingered in her heart. What if he didn't?

Mondo took hold of his pole and stood at the start of the runway. He paused for a moment, eyes closed, as if visualizing every step he needed to take. The stadium fell silent. Everyone, including Willa, held their breath. They all knew this wasn't just any attempt—this was a shot at something extraordinary.

"Come on, Mondo, you've got this," Willa whispered as she watched him take a deep breath, mentally rehearsing every move. Then he began his run.

His steps were fast and precise, the pole firmly gripped in his hand. Willa tracked his every move as he neared the end of the runway. His body was taut, every muscle working perfectly. As he launched himself into the air, the crowd gasped. Mondo soared, his body gliding above the bar—but not high enough.

The tip of his foot brushed the bar, which wobbled and then fell to the ground.

Willa felt her heart drop along with the bar. The crowd let out a collective sigh of disappointment, but Mondo quickly recovered. He stood up, shook off the frustration of the first failed attempt, and headed back to his coaches to strategize for the next one.

Willa watched him walk away, his face focused, though she could see the frustration in his expression. He didn't want to make a mistake on his first try. But it wasn't over yet. He still had two more attempts.

"It's okay, Mondo, you still have time," Willa murmured to herself, even though she knew he couldn't hear her. The air in the stadium felt heavier now, the tension mounting. People waited, eager to see what would happen next. Willa leaned against the railing in front of her, her hands trembling slightly. She was filled with nerves, but she believed in him. He always pulled through.

When it was time for the second attempt, Mondo once again stood at the start of the runway. This time, he looked even more focused, his gaze sharp and determined. The air around him seemed almost still, as if the whole world was waiting for him to make his move.

Willa held her breath as Mondo began his run again. His steps were faster, stronger this time, but as he launched himself, the pole wobbled slightly, and his body didn't fly high enough. The bar wobbled again and fell.

This time, a disappointed murmur spread through the stadium. People began to doubt whether Mondo could truly break his record. Two attempts down, only one left.

Willa felt her heart stop for a moment. Her eyes fixed on Mondo as he rose from the ground and walked back to his coaches again. This time, she could see the disappointment on his face. But there was something else in his eyes—determination. Willa knew that look well. Mondo never gave up. Never.

"You've got this in you," she whispered, watching as he received advice from his coach. His third attempt was his last. It had to be now, or never. Six meters and twenty-five centimeters.

The tension in the stadium was palpable. The crowd was silent, every movement watched with anticipation. Willa felt her palms grow sweaty. Mondo had to make it. This wasn't just about the medal anymore. It wasn't just about victory. It was about pushing the boundary he had set for himself. He wanted to break his own record. He wanted to be the best in the world.

Mondo stood at the start once again. This time, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and stood still for a moment. It was clear he was trying to find his calm, that state where everything works just as it should. The stadium fell silent. Willa felt like she wasn't even breathing.

And then he started to run. His steps were fast, precise, his body moving gracefully and powerfully. This is it, Willa thought. This is going to be the one.

Mondo took off, the pole bent, and it catapulted his body into the air. He flew high. His body soared over the bar with a grace Willa had never seen in him before. This time, there was no touch, no mistake. Everything was perfect.

The bar stayed in place. It didn't move.

The stadium erupted into a massive cheer. People jumped from their seats, clapping, shouting, whistling. Mondo lay on the ground, his eyes full of shock and joy as he realized what he had just done. He had broken the world record.

Willa had tears in her eyes. She couldn't believe what she had just witnessed. He had done it. Mondo cleared six meters and twenty-five centimeters. She had witnessed something incredible.

"That's it," she whispered to herself, while the crowd around her cheered. "Mondo, you're the best."

The stadium roared with excitement. The audience was cheering, clapping, and celebrating the historic moment they had just witnessed. Mondo had broken the world record—6.25 meters—and not only became an Olympic gold medalist but also the new world record holder; or rather, the holder of a new number, since the previous world record was already his. What everyone thought was impossible, he had just achieved. Everyone expected the record to be broken eventually, but not in the same year that he set the previous one.

Willa stood among the cheering crowd, trying to hold back her emotions. She was so proud of him. Mondo, her best friend, had done it. She knew this was something he had dreamed of his entire life, and now his dream had come true. His success was now her joy, but deep down, she felt something more. The feeling she always had when she was with him now mixed with overwhelming pride and gratitude.

And then she saw him. Mondo had just gotten up from the ground, raising his arms in victory, looking around joyfully. But when his eyes found Willa in the crowd, his face lit up even more. Without hesitation, he ran straight toward her, through the stands, past his coaches and team, who were surrounding him with excitement.

"Cupcake!" he shouted as he approached, his voice full of joy and excitement.

Before she could react, Mondo hugged her tightly. He was drenched in sweat and exhausted, but his energy was incredible. Willa laughed and hugged him back, feeling her heart race. This was a moment she would never forget.

"I can't believe it!" Mondo gasped, his face beaming with joy as he pulled back slightly to look into her eyes. "I did it!"

"I know," Willa replied, her voice almost hoarse from emotion. "I knew you would, Mondo. You always had it in you."

Mondo looked at her with gratitude and calm in his eyes, but then his expression changed. For a moment, he frowned as if remembering something that weighed on him. "Willa, I really need to tell you again how sorry I am for talking to Miles. If I had known what happened, I never would've..."

"No," Willa interrupted, shaking her head. "We've talked about this already. I know you didn't know. It's not your fault."

But Mondo took her hand and squeezed it tightly. "I know, but still... It's important for me that you know I'd never betray you. I would never want you to feel the way you did because of him."

Willa's chest tightened with emotion. She knew Mondo was sincere. She was his closest friend, but in that moment, she felt there was something more between them. It was like an unspoken connection that had always been there but now became clearer, more tangible.

"Thank you," she whispered with a gentle smile. "And I know you'd never betray me, Mondo. You're the best friend I've ever had."

Mondo stared at her for a moment, as if thinking about what to say next. And then, without warning, he gently pulled her closer and kissed her.

Willa was caught off guard for a moment. A kiss? She hadn't expected it, not at this moment, not here, in the middle of all the people and the celebration. But as soon as his lips touched hers, she felt a sudden warmth surge through her. It was a soft, tender kiss, full of emotions that had been building up in both of them all this time.

Willa smiled into the kiss, her eyes closed. This is it. This is what was missing in my life. Everything she felt for him—friendship, gratitude, admiration—now intertwined with something deeper.

When Mondo pulled back after a moment, the look on his face was one of surprise and relief. It was as if he realized he had done something he should have done a long time ago but had only just found the courage for.

"I like you, Cupcake," he whispered softly, his eyes full of affection and sincerity. "I've wanted to tell you for a long time."

Willa looked at him, her heart racing faster than ever before. Memories of all their moments together flooded her mind—how he had always been there for her, how he had supported her. And now, standing before her as an Olympic champion, she knew she felt the same.

"I like you too," she finally replied, her voice quiet but firm. "I like you too, Mondo."

They stood there, in that moment, as if the world had stopped. Around them, people were cheering, celebrating his victory, but for Willa and Mondo, that moment belonged only to them. They smiled at each other, their gazes lost in each other for a moment.

Everything they had been through, everything that had connected them, had now led them to this moment. It was more than just love—it was friendship, mutual respect, and a deep bond that they shared.

And that kiss sealed it all.

~•~