Dalia was waiting in front of the apartment, anticipating the arrival of Lando who was just 5 minutes away according to his last text. The neighborhood they were in was relatively quiet, with a good selection of small restaurants. She shifted her feet nervously, trying to calm herself down, when she heard a familiar voice greeting her from behind. Apparently, Lando had parked his car further down and walked up to meet her. He was dressed in a brown shirt, denim jacket, blue jeans, and a black mask on his face. "So I don't embarrass you," he joked, gesturing to his mask. Dalia chuckled and thanked him for being considerate. "So, where to?" he inquired, gazing into her eyes. The mask somehow made him look more imposing. She shook her head, unsure of where to go for a meal. "I thought so," he chuckled. "Follow me, I know a place nearby". The shop was merely a couple of blocks away, yet the journey there seemed longer, particularly due to the silence that lingered between them. Uncertain of what to say, she simply attempted to keep up with his brisk pace. Upon entering the shop, they were greeted by the owner who welcomed Lando like an old friend, promptly locking the door and flipping the sign to closed. With a quick motion, he pulled down the curtain to shield them from prying eyes outside. Lando took a seat, positioning himself to face her with his back to the window, hastily removing his mask as if it were constricting his breathing.

"I used to come here with my friend max whenever we were in Belgium, I know the owner for quite some time, and let me tell you, he serves the best kind of fries" he explained with a large smile. Dalia was delighted, she let Lando order on her behalf and watched as he exchanged a friendly chit chat with the owner. He turned his attention back to the woman sitting across from him, crossing his arms on the table and leaning in slightly. "So, how are you enjoying the F1 event?" he inquired with a smile. Dalia's eyes sparkled with excitement as she gushed about her amazing experience. Lando listened intently, his gaze shifting to the little red bump on her nose as she mentioned the incident. "I followed Oscar's advice and put some ice on it," she joked, but before she could continue, she felt Lando's gentle touch on the wound. She froze, meeting his serious gaze as he carefully massaged the bump. After a moment, he asked, "What do you think of Oscar?" before withdrawing his hand. Dalia's heart skipped a beat at the unexpected touch, her cheeks flushing as she tried to compose herself. She cleared her throat before responding, "He seems like a genuinely nice guy." Lando's gaze remained fixed, almost as if he was suppressing his thoughts. He relaxed into his seat and watched as the owner served the cheesy french fries. As soon as his friend left, he took a bite and casually inquired without making eye contact, "Is he your favorite driver?"Dalia gave him a puzzled expression, "You mentioned McLaren was your favorite team, but never told me which driver you were rooting for" he nonchalantly remarked. Dalia's heart skipped a beat as she confessed that he was her favorite driver.

Lando's face beamed with joy upon hearing her confession, he chuckled and continued eating, trying to conceal his own embarrassment. Throughout their conversation, Lando couldn't help but be captivated by Dalia's effortless charm and sincere curiosity in sharing her thoughts and experiences. He listened attentively, studying every feature of her face - from her dimples to her curly hair, glasses, and oversized hoodie. Every detail about her piqued his interest, and as she grew more comfortable engaging in their playful banter, he found himself increasingly drawn to her.

As the clock neared midnight, they mutually agreed to end the evening and escorted her back to her apartment. The cool night air drew them closer together, seeking solace in each other's company through shared laughter and joy. Lando carefully considered reaching for her hand multiple times, but ultimately chose not to in order to avoid surprising her. Instead, he opted for his jacket pockets."Thank you for walking me home," Dalia expressed gratefully as she approached her door. "It was my pleasure," he murmured, hands tucked into his jacket pockets. Despite his initial intention to leave, he found himself lingering, captivated by her. The desire to kiss her remained in his mind, unsure of her reaction. However, when Dalia gave him her familiar puzzled look, he realized they were not on the same page. Feeling a sense of embarrassment, he bid her a quick "cheers" and hurried away. The irresistible urge to kiss her took him by surprise, a feeling he had never experienced before. Perhaps it was the way she appeared so small and warm beneath her fluffy hair and hoodie, or the sweetness that always radiated from her lips, whether she was speaking, smiling, or simply lost in thought. There was something about her that ignited a spark within him, a mixture of joy and fear.

Dalia and her team woke up to fantastic news the next day. Their interview video had gone viral overnight, leaving fans ecstatic about Olivia's questions and creative game ideas. Viewers were eager for more content showcasing the drivers' personalities. Luckily, the day's schedule was less hectic, prompting Noah and Dalia to head to downtown Brussels for technical supplies instead of joining Olivia at the track. With the sun shining brightly, they decided to relax at a nearby coffee shop while waiting for their materials, while treating themselves to mouthwatering ice cream waffles. "So..." Noah began, "are you dating Lando Norris?" Dalia was surprised, almost spitting out her food, quickly grabbing her iced tea to soothe her throat. Once she regained her composure, she explained everything to Noah, clearing up any misunderstandings. 

"hmm" he spoke " I mean I know its your personal life, but I can't shake off this feeling of concern," he expressed, gazing at the pigeons soaring in the sky above the bustling square. Her gaze intensified as she awaited a more detailed explanation. With a mouthful of waffle, he elaborated, "You see, drivers often engage in hook-ups frequently, and the most accessible targets are usually the females surrounding them, who are often invited models or journalists." His eyes remained fixed ahead as he spoke. Dalia stood her ground, insisting they were just friends. but a nagging feeling persisted within her that there was something deeper between them. Despite her limited experience in relationships, she was not oblivious to the subtle hints of flirtation. The way he looked at her and the closeness of his touch and how it caused her heart to flutter. "You know Dalia, women like you are easy targets" Noah glanced over at her, pushing his sunglasses down his nose. "Um, excuse me?" she asked, a hint of irritation in her voice. "Oh, no, that's not what I meant," he quickly backtracked, "I meant that innocent and kind-hearted ladies like you tend to attract them. Once he realizes you're not easy to catch, he'll just move on to someone else." Dalia found herself at a loss for words, feeling a pang of pain in her heart as if it had been shattered by the countless daydreams she had entertained about the slim chance of anything happening. Noah's expertise in the F1 world, not to mention his gender, seemed to validate his opinion. She shook off these disheartening thoughts, trying to reassure herself that Lando only saw her as a friend and would never consider dating her. 

As they returned to the track to set up the materials, Dalia found herself overwhelmed by negative thoughts. Earlier, she had been looking forward to the chance of seeing Lando again, but after her conversation with Noah, she just wanted to finish the task and head home as soon as possible. It was qualifying day and Olivia called for a meeting in the conference room to talk about future strategies. Noah rushed over, while Dalia decided to take a quick coffee break before joining them. She was taken aback when she spotted a couple of drivers chatting near the coffee shop, so she quietly made her way to the counter to place her order. "Wow, it looks pretty red," a deep familiar voice remarked beside her. She turned and greeted Carlos, surprised that he still remembered her. He was kind as he checked in on her and engaged in some casual conversation. He suggested they walk together since the Ferrari hospitality was close to her destination. As they went past the McLaren building, Dalia noticed a young, beautiful woman with blonde hair and a slim figure entering. Suddenly, she heard Carlos sigh as if something was bothering him. She turned to him and asked, "Who is that?" Carlos hesitated for a moment, considering whether to tell her or not, given that she was a journalist. "Magui Corceiro," he simply replied before changing the subject.

The team was still stuck in the conference room with Olivia trying to organize their busy schedule while the qualifying had started 20 minutes ago. Luckily, there was a TV set in the room so they could follow what was happening. Dalia sent an encouraging text to Lando wishing him good luck, but when he asked her to join him in the garage, she had to decline due to their meeting. Lando made her promise to be there the next day, which warmed her heart. However, that warmth quickly faded as she remembered the mysterious figure she had seen earlier. While Olivia was occupied on the phone, Dalia leaned towards Noah and quietly asked, "Who's Magui Corceiro?" She closely observed his reaction as Noah's honey eyes shifted from surprise to what appeared to be concern. "Hmm... She's rumored to be dating Lando Norris." She felt a sudden chill as she sat up in her chair. It was like a ton of bricks hitting her in the head. It was clear now that Lando was never into her. All those flirty moments were just figments of her imagination. Of course he'd be into someone like Magui, tall and stunning, not into someone like her, which was the total opposite.

She couldn't believe she had been so blind to the truth. It was a harsh reality to face, knowing that she had built up this fantasy in her mind only to have it come crashing down around her. As she sat there, feeling the weight of rejection settle in her chest, she felt Noah's hand gently placed on hers. He told Olivia to take a 5-minute break and pulled Dalia outside with him. They stood on the balcony overlooking the track, where Noah lit a cigarette and offered one to Dalia, who politely refused. Despite the noise of the F1 cars, the crowd, and the commentator, Dalia felt like she was surrounded by silence. She despised how much it affected her. She was upset with herself for feeling so devastated over something so premature. "You know," Noah's deep voice interrupted her thoughts. "The lonelier we are, the more we yearn for love, and the more likely we are to make foolish mistakes." Dalia wanted to argue, to defend herself, but deep down she knew he was right, and she resented how transparent she was to him. " I know it's a dreamy idea to feel loved by someone important and famous" he exhaled more smoke before facing her, "but a remarkable woman like yourself shouldn't seek validation from someone like that to feel worthy," he spoke sincerely. His intentions were meant to comfort, but they ended up stinging instead. 

She slowly shifted her gaze to finally lock eyes with him, seeing the soft concern in his expression. Noah, a bit taller than her, with his messy black hair, and his usual nonchalant demeanor, always seemed to have a soft spot for her. She flashed him a grateful smile for his kindness before turning her attention back to the track. In a daze, she felt compelled to confide in him, "It's been ages since I've been on a date. Sometimes it feels like I never have, or that men just aren't interested in me." Her words were met with a chuckle, prompting her to turn and see Noah grinning at her. "You've got to be joking," he said with a hint of amusement. Confused, she shook her head. He extinguished his cigarette and turned his tall frame towards her, leaning slightly against the wall. "Why do you think everyone opens up to you so easily?" he asked. "I always bring you along when shopping for the cameras because the owner enjoys chatting with you and ends up giving us a discount because he finds you charming and sweet. Olivia hired you despite a tight budget because she found you intelligent and inspiring. And I..." He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing softly, "I want to always be by your side because... I like you."

Dalia's mind raced as she tried to process the weight of the words that had just been spoken. She had never expected this confession, never imagined that the person standing before her could harbor such feelings. The air around them crackled with unspoken emotions, the tension thickening with each passing moment. And as they locked eyes, a million thoughts and questions swirled in Dalia's mind, leaving her frozen in shock. She struggled to find the right words, to make sense of the situation unfolding before her. Just as she was about to break the tension, the phone chimed with a text from Lando: "Guess who's in pole position! Have you seen it ? Can't wait to see you tomorrow!"