I can still feel the lingering touch of Leo's hand as I sit in the locker room. The adrenaline of this match is unleashing conflicted emotions. This victory was supposed to be my focus and the first step towards the Olympic gold, but all I can think about is the blonde-haired Swedish player who had somehow gotten under my skin. 

In the locker room, the atmosphere is electric. Teammates are exchanging high-fives and back slaps, the energy of the win still coursing through them. I keep trying to join in, but my mind keeps on drifting back to Leo's intense gaze, the way he moved on the court, and the knowing smile that suggested he knew something that I didn't. 

"Hey, Ethan, you okay?" asked Ryan, he is one of my closest friends from childhood and the team's libero. Ryans voice broke through my thoughts, bringing me back to the present and out of my head. 

"Yeah, just... still processing the match," I replied, forcing a smile. 

"Well, what's there to process we won! And you were on fire out there. That last set was perfect," Ryan said, grinning. "But something tells me you've got more on your mind than just the match."

I hesitate, unsure of how to explain the strange mix of emotion swirling inside me. I've never been one to get distracted by a guy especially not by another player on a different team. But there was something about Leo that felt different, something I can't quite put into words. 

"It's nothing," I finally say, brushing it off. "Just trying to focus on the next game, you know? We've got a long tournament ahead of us."

Ryan gives me a knowing look, but I know he won't press the issue. "Alright, but if you need to talk, I'm here. We've all got each other's backs, on and off the court.

"Thanks, Ryan," I say, approaching the offer. 

We all finished up in the locker room and were heading to the Olympic Village. The Olympic Village was a sprawling complex, buzzing with athletes from around the world. As my team, Team USA started heading towards the dining hall. While walking I am trying to scan the sea of faces, half-expecting to Leo among them. I keep telling myself it maybe was just curiosity after all, it wasn't every day you played against someone as talented as Leo. But deep down, I know it was more than that. 

Inside the dining hall, the energy was lively, athletes from different countries mingling and sharing stories. I keep trying to focus on my meal instead of the beautiful guy with those ocean eyes. All of a sudden out of the corner of my eye I think I see a flash of blond hair. My hear racing and skipping beats as I turn to see Leo walking into the dining hall. I'm trying my hardest not to stare as I feel my cheeks burning because I am blushing so hard. I don't want to be caught staring but I can't help myself, so I turn to look and boom. There he was. 

"Hey, Ethan, right?" Leo's voice was smooth and confident, with that slight Swedish accent that made his words sound like music. I look up trying to not get ahead of myself. 

"Yeah, that's me," I reply, my voice a little unsteady because of the nerves fluttering in my chest. 

"I just wanted to say, you played a great game today and I meant the comment about your curly black hair. It makes you look handsome," Leo says, his blue eyes locking onto mine. "You've got a serious talent for setting. It was fun going against you."

"Thanks," I said blushing slightly, feeling a mix of pride and discomfort under Leo's flirty gaze. "You too. Your spikes are... pretty impressive."

Leo grins with a playful glint in his eyes making me get all kinds of butterflies in my stomach. "Glad you think so. Maybe we'll get a rematch in the finals." 

"Maybe," I say, unable to stop the small smile that is tugging at the corners of my mouth. 

There was a brief, charged silence between us, the sounds of the dining hall fading into the background. I can feel my heart pounding like it always does thinking about Leo. My thoughts racing. What was it about this guy that got to me so freaking much?

Before the moment could stretch any longer one of Leo's teammates called to him to join them at their table. Leo gave me one final lingering gaze before turning to walk away, leaving me with a confusing mix of emotions. 

As Leo walked away from me, I felt this strange sense of loss, as if something important had just slipped through my fingers. I know I should be focusing on the tournament, on my team, but all i could think about was what could happen between me and Leo. The way Leo moves, the way he smiles, the way he makes me feel like I was teetering on the edge of something new and unexpected. 

I take a deep breath, trying to push those thoughts of him aside. I am here to win with my team and to bring home a gold medal for Team USA. But at I watch Leo with his teammate across the hall, I can't shake the feeling that this Olympics was about to become more than just a competition. 

It was the beginning of something else, something that scares me as much as it excited me. I get up and go over to my team to enjoy the Olympic Village with them and to stop overthinking.