whisper. She kept wringing her hands together as they walked, her eyes dartin

A thousand doubts and "what ifs" danced through her mind, but she forced herself to push them aside. She didn't want to sho

he sky, casting golden light across the basketball and volleyball courts. The sounds of sneakers squeaking,

it open, the cold air from inside brushing against their warm skin. Inside

ght next to the basketball court. From where they stood, Almora could already

ortable athletic shorts and matching school t-shirts. They bot

" Stacy

'll ever be,"

slowly. They gave each other a nod and stepped out of the lo

hing, chatting, or nervously checking their tags. A few people were warming up with p

each of them a small colored tag, one blue and on

ame team," Stacy said

out from the center of the co

one t

a clipboard in her hand and a whistle around her neck. She wore the scho

een given tags, some are blue, others yellow. These colors represent the teams you'll be playing on today. You'll be competi

ross the crowd, s

ood?" sh

d in unison, their voices echoing

ow, let'

determination and nerves, then walked over to th

th. The team lined up and took their positions on the court

ame b

ir spikes forceful, and their reflexes quick. On the other hand, Almora's team was disorganized. They missed e

s, the whistle blew again. The

glaring difference. Yell

"If we keep playing like this," she said, wiping swe

m but firm. She wasn't wrong. From the moment the game started, no one was co

ed out to the rest of their team, but no one responded. Most of them

owed in frustration.

ads, visibly annoyed. One girl with curly bro

hat it is. You should be thinking about how we can win th

eyes widene

h me but if we keep playing like we did in the first half, we'll all be cut. Do you really want tha

ge. Slowly, one by one, the team members sa

"I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you," she said. "I guess we s

it with a smi

and nods. A plan was made. They discussed formations, strengt

histl

ond hal

red powerful serves while Stacy blocked and passed with precision. The crowd starte

scoreboard read: Yel

ad made an impr

d angrier. One of their players glanced toward Almora, and for a brief secon

ed, suddenly screamed in pain and colla

d out, dropping to h

tle blew

an over. "Wh

e I was standing, then-Ahhh!" Almora sc

he start, sprang into action the moment he heard her cry. He rush

, her voice sharp. "Come over

how to undo it," she stammered, voice trembling. "

her forehead gently, and whispered a soft spell. Her eyes fluttered

eful and precise, as though she were the most fr

to the infirm

today are over," she called ou

ounds. His expression was dark, and his grip on her never faltered. His eyes burned with

o the bed. The nurse moved quickly, applying magical salves and

ter a few moments. "By the time she

ng. He raked his hand through his tousled hair, nodded, a

r, stayed behind