The next day...

I walked over to Loki who was holding his sport bag. On the tennis court, there was already a large crowd of reporters. Loki was hitting balls with the racket and nodding to his coach's speech. I have to work hard to get his permission.

...oh. - he stared at me. Loki looked over and caught my eye. He said something to his coach and ran over to me looking amazed. - Ana... you really did come again?

Of course I did! I said I would carry on until I get your permission.

'He just called out my name, and for some reason it got my heart racing.'

Hey Loki, why do you remember that journalist's name? That unusual.

I turned to where the voice came from, there was a male riporter with a wide grin on his face.

Could you be the same women from the airport yesterday?

The same woman? -I asked.

You ran into Loki and got your clothes stuck in his bag's zipper.

Huh..? N-no that wasn't me!

Female journalists have their own secret weapons, huh? It's fine, it's fine.

I felt my face flush red.

You don't really see people go that far to get what they want. - Loki aimed his sharp retort at the man.

He turned again to his coach. ' Was he just supporting me? I might have a chance here.'

At my office...

Oh, man...! - I sigh.

What's the matter? Isn't your coverage of Loki going that well? - asked my college, Melissa.

I sighed again. - Yeah, I keep on trying but not making any progress...I just keep getting knocked back.

You're not going to give up, are you?

Of course not!

Good. Now, pull yourself together, go out there and get that story!

All right, I'll do it! - Talkin with Melissa helped me regain my motivation.

I headed back to Loki.

...huff...huff...

That's it, that's a good breathing pattern! - said the coach. - Keep it up like that.

Loki was working hard on his strength training. On the top of his toned skin, you could see drops of sweat from his efforts. I found myself captivating on him.

'Now I know what all the fuss is about. He always looks good, better that most of the celebrities. But wait...what am I thinking? I'm here to report!'

Hey, move a little bit closer and get a shot of Loki! - said a journalist.

I'm trying to... - said his camera man. - There's just so many people here.

'What's going on behind me?' *THUD*

Whoa! - the journalist behind me surged forward, and I ended up getting pushed onto the floor. - Ow... - I was in pain and when I tried to stand somebody grabbed and hold of my arms.

Come over here... - That was Loki. He had hold of me. I was pulled into a deserted corridor. - Ana, I'm not going to feature in the magazine, no matter how many times you come. You don't have to get in the middle of the people like that. Please go home, and you don't hurt yourself.

His greenish blue eyes looked at me coldly. My body was stiff with tension. All I could do is to shake my head in return.

...I can't do that. This is my job!

Then you're just the same as the rest of the media. Wanting to take photos and report for your own gain.

That's not what 'Total Coverage' is all about!

What do you mean?

The article we want to write, is not about what we think about you. It's all about who you really are.

The real me?

Yes, about what you really think...and what you really feel. Whatever words come from your mouth will appeare in the piece. If I just write an article about now, it wouldn't show who you really are, would it? - I looked right into his eyes. He seemed slighty surprised. - Why don't you want to do the article? Please tell me the reason, if I can do something for it, I promise I will!

There's nothing you can do about it...

After that he mumbled something and a moment later...*THUD*

Ahh! Ow...! - Loki grasped my shoulder and pinned me up against the wall.

Please give it up already! All this nagging gives me another idea.

..!.. - his face was right in front of mine. He whispered in a low, threatening tone. His eyes glistened like an animal. I was unable to speak.

Go home now. My mind is scattered. - Loki let go of me slowly and didn't make an eye contact with me. He walked away without looking back. It would be impossible to hold him back now. I headed back to the office again.

'oh man, there's no way I'm going to get his permission.' I dropped my head on my desk, and I felt someone patting the back of my head.

What's the matter? You don't seem to be very happy. - that was Josh.

Mr. Miller..I'm sorry. No matter what I do to get permission to cover Loki!

I understand, but getting that permission won't happen if you just sulking here, will it?

Umm..I guess not. - It only made me feel miserable. - He really hates the media, no matter what I say, he just thinks I'm the same as everyone else. I can't get him to trust me.

If so, there's only one thing left for you to do. You have to show him that you're not like everyone else. - he smiled at me gently.

Behind the smile, there was an another meaning...~Don't come back until you get that permission!~ It was as clear as daylight.

'How am I going to show him, that I'm not like everyone else?'

…

At the tennis club

Loki wasn't there. 'Why did I even think come now?' There were barely any people around at night.

I heared a noise. It was the sound of tennis balls being hit from one of the courts. 'Is that Loki over there?!'

'Yes! But at this time? Practising by himself..?'

I was about to head over him but...

No, the swing is different. I'm hitting it the same every time.

I looked at him focused on practising. I couldn't bring myself to disturb him.

'Maybe it'd be the best for me to go home...' Just then, he turned in my direction.

Is anyone there?

Hearing his voice, my heart began to race. - I-It's me. - I couldn't hide any longer, so I stepped closer to him.

Ana? You're still working on your article at this time of night? - He looked at me up and down, and shrugged in amazement.

N-no...! I'm not here for work this time.

What are you doing here then?

I found myself thinking of you, and my feet just lead me here.

...Hmm. - Loki looked at me skeptically. He thought for a moment and muttered. - So you're not here for work then. If so...- he looked right at me and moves quietly towards me. He looked at me seriously.

I felt myself getting hot. When he was right in front of me. - Do you mind if you practise with me for a little bit?

Practise?

Yeah, even just throwing the balls to me would be a big help. You can do that, right? - he seemed to be hinting at something as he held out a basket with tennis balls in it. - Keep on knocking the balls over to me, and I'll hit them back to you.

Is that will right if I hit them lightly?

That's fine, it's only for practise.

We went to our spot, Loki was spinning the racket in his hand and stood waiting for me.

Okay, here I go. - I started working my way throught the mountain of balls in the basket.

He sent all the balls back to where I was stood on the court.

That's good, let's keep on going.

Okay! - Down the left, down the right, now..down the centre. No matter where I sent the ball across the court, it was like Loki could read what I was going to do, and returned every ball I sent to him. He hits them back even if I sent tricky shots. My heart was pounding.

...Phew..Are you trying to make this hard for me now?

Oh, you knew? You were every ball so I tried to make it harder for you.

Sweat dripped down on his cheek, he wripped it away from his wristband.

He stood there silently looking at me. 'What? Is he angry at me?'

You're getting used to hitting it. You're not afraid to return my hits. Ana, do you have some experience for playing tennis? - He looked at me puzzled.

Well, I used to play tennis when I was younger but, if I have arms like you I'd probably do better job of retuning the balls over to you.

Hmm... - Whit that, Loki left the court. He started to collect all the balls. I ran over to help him. - Do you know where my next tournament is going to be?

It's the Davis Cup isn't it?

That's right... Well then, I'm off.

You did well today!

Loki packed up his stuff quickly, he threw his large bag over his shoulder. 'He is as cold as ever.'

No doubt he won't bother asking if we should leave together. It doesn't matter becouse I managed to get closer to him today.

...Ana.

Yes?

Loki stopped walking and turned around slightly.

My match will be at 11am. - Then he left.

'What did he mean by that?! Could he mean...?'

I was left alone, stunned on the spot. In my heart, a faint glimmer of hope appeared.

To be continued...