Smash to the Heart

Margo's POV


The scent of freshly polished wood and the sound of sneakers squeaking against the court floor filled the air as Margo stood at the edge of the tennis court.

North Hills Academy was buzzing with energy as the day of the internal school tennis tournament arrived.

For most students, it was just another competition.

But for Margo, this tournament meant everything.

This was the chance to prove, once again, that she was the best—the one who would represent her school at the division tournament.

Margo had been the undisputed champion of North Hills for years.

Her dominance on the court had made her a household name within the school, with whispers of her skill reaching beyond the campus.

But today was different.

Today, she wasn’t just defending her title; she was facing the toughest competitors yet.

And at the end of it all, only one person would come out on top.

Only one person would earn the right to wear the North Hills colors and represent the school at the biggest tennis event of the season.

It wasn’t just about winning.

It was about maintaining the legacy she had built, about proving to everyone that her position at the top was unshakeable. The pressure was high, but Margo thrived on it.

However, the pressure was never just from the court. It was from home too.

Her parents had always expected greatness from her.

They had big dreams for her, bigger than the courts of North Hills.

Every conversation, every moment, seemed to revolve around her future in tennis, the Olympic dream that they had envisioned for her from the very start.

To them, anything less than perfection was a failure.

Her mother, always calculating and strategic, constantly pushed her to excel. "Don’t settle for being good, Margo. You’re meant to be the best," she’d say with a forced smile, as if her words were the only truth.

Her father, on the other hand, was a bit quieter but no less intense, always reminding her of the sacrifices they had made to get her into the best training programs.

"Don’t let them down, Margo. You’re better than this," he’d often tell her in hushed tones, his eyes filled with a mixture of pride and expectation.

It wasn’t that Margo didn’t want to live up to their hopes; she did.

But sometimes, the weight of it all felt suffocating.

There was no room for failure, no space to breathe.

The constant reminders from her parents, the endless talks about her future, made every match feel like it carried the weight of the world on her shoulders.

As she adjusted her grip on her tennis racket, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of expectations pressing down on her.

She was ready for the match, but the pressure, both internal and external, was palpable.

This was more than just about proving herself to her school and teammates; it was about proving herself to her parents and to the future they had already mapped out for her.

The road ahead wouldn’t be easy. Her competitors were fierce, and the stakes were higher than ever.

Margo wasn’t just fighting for herself. She was fighting for her spot, for her team, and for the school that had always supported her.

And as the first match of the day began, Margo knew that this was only the beginning.

The tournament had just started, and the journey to the final match had only just begun.



______________________________________________________________



First Match: North Hills Academy – Round 1


The first round of the internal tournament began, and Margo was up against Anna, a strong but unpredictable sophomore from the tennis team.

The gym buzzed with excitement as her classmates gathered along the sidelines. The competition within North Hills was always fierce, and today was no different.

The winner of this match would move one step closer to representing the school at the division tournament.

Anna stood on the other side of the court, eyes locked on Margo.

She had a strong serve, but Margo knew she could handle it. She'd studied Anna’s game—her forehand was solid, but her backhand had a few flaws.

Margo planned to exploit that.

“Anna, ready?” the referee asked.

Anna nodded and tossed her racket over her shoulder. “I’m ready,” she said, giving Margo a sly smile.

Margo responded with her usual poker face, the determination clear in her eyes. “Let’s do this,” she said, taking a step back and preparing for the first serve.

The game started off fast. Margo’s first serve was strong and fast, aimed deep into Anna’s backhand corner.

Anna struggled to get a good return, and Margo quickly capitalized on it, forcing a weak shot to the net.

“15-love,” the umpire called, and Margo felt the rush of excitement.

She kept her focus, her eyes scanning the court for the next shot.

Anna wasn’t an easy opponent, though. She started to fight back, her serves getting faster, her volleys sharper.

Margo could feel the pressure building as she found herself at deuce in the first game.

“Kaya mo 'yan, Margo!” Caia shouted from the sidelines, waving a towel in the air.

Margo nodded, taking a deep breath. “Focus,” she muttered under her breath. She had to keep her head in the game.

The rallies grew longer, but Margo’s control was evident.

She used her slice shots to make Anna scramble, then blasted a powerful forehand down the sideline for the win.

“Game, Margo!” the umpire announced, and Margo’s heart skipped a beat.

It was just the first game, but the momentum was shifting in her favor.

She played through the next few games with more confidence, using everything in her arsenal—topspin, slice, even drop shots—to keep Anna off balance.

By the end of the first set, Margo had won 6-3.

“First set goes to Margo,” the umpire called. “Change sides.”

Margo walked to her side of the court, wiping the sweat from her face. Syra gave her a thumbs-up, and Miv gave her a quick nod.

“You’re doing great, Margo! Keep it up!” Miv called.

Margo didn’t respond. She was in the zone now, and there was no turning back.

The second set started strong, but Anna wasn’t backing down.

She hit a few strong serves, and for a moment, Margo found herself having to dig deep to keep up.

Anna even managed to break Margo’s serve at 3-2, but Margo wasn’t fazed.

“Don’t let her get to you, Margo!” Syra shouted, her voice full of energy.

Margo shook her head. “Walang makakatalo sa’kin,” she muttered under her breath, trying to keep her focus.

The game continued, but Margo soon regained control.

With a series of aggressive baseline shots, Margo managed to break back and closed out the second set with a 6-4 win.

She let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.

“Match point goes to Margo!” the umpire called, and Margo couldn't help but grin. The first round was done.


Second Match: North Hills Academy – Round 2


The following day, Margo was up for her second match—this time against Carmen, a senior who was known for her quick reflexes and impeccable net play.

Carmen had been one of the top players last season, but Margo was determined to make sure there was no doubt about who deserved to represent North Hills.

The game started off differently this time. Carmen immediately took control with her strong serves, sending Margo running to the corners of the court.

“Come on, Margo!” Caia shouted from the sidelines. “Kaya mo 'yan!”

Margo wiped the sweat from her brow and focused on Carmen’s serves. She adjusted her stance, anticipating the spin.

It wasn’t just about power; it was about precision.

She needed to outsmart Carmen, and that meant staying patient.

After a long rally, Margo got the first point of the match. “15-love!” the umpire called.

The match proceeded at a quicker pace, with Carmen’s aggressive play putting Margo on the defensive.

But Margo had learned to take every challenge as a chance to grow.

Every point was an opportunity to improve.

The first set was a hard-fought battle, with Margo using her quick footwork to chase down balls and counter with precise shots.

After breaking Carmen’s serve at 5-4, Margo sealed the set with a strong serve down the T. “6-4, Margo,” the umpire said.

“Great job!” Miv cheered.

But Carmen wasn’t giving up that easily. The second set was neck-and-neck, with both players pushing each other to their limits. At 5-5, Margo found herself at deuce, and the tension was palpable.

“Focus, Margo. One point na lang,” Syra encouraged.

Margo didn’t waste any time. With a strong cross-court forehand, she forced Carmen into a mistake.

Margo broke Carmen’s serve again at 6-5 and served out the match with a confident ace.

“Match, Margo!” the umpire declared.

Margo exhaled, wiping the sweat from her brow. She had made it past Carmen, but the final match was approaching. One more to go.


Third Match: North Hills Academy – The Final Round


The final match would determine who would represent North Hills at the division tournament.

Margo could feel the weight of the pressure on her shoulders, but she refused to let it break her.

The stakes were higher than ever, and there was no turning back now.

Her opponent in the final match was her biggest challenge yet—Liza, the reigning champion of North Hills Academy’s tennis team.

Liza had been undefeated in school tournaments for years, and she wasn’t about to let Margo take the title easily.

The gym was packed now, the atmosphere electric with anticipation.

"Ready na?" Caia asked as she and the others walked to the sidelines.

Margo nodded, her focus sharp. “I have to win this.”

The match began with both players exchanging strong serves.

Liza was fast, her shots crisp and aggressive. Margo found herself playing catch-up in the first few games, but she knew it wasn’t over.

Every point was a battle, and Margo used everything she had learned over the years—footwork, mental toughness, and a variety of shots—to stay in the game.

At 4-4 in the first set, Margo faced Liza’s serve, knowing this could make or break the match.

<span;>She broke Liza’s serve at 5-4 and sealed the set 6-4 with a wicked forehand winner.

The second set was a different story, though. Liza was determined to fight back, and after a tense back-and-forth, the set reached 5-5.

Margo knew she couldn’t afford another mistake.

Every point was crucial now.

With her heart pounding in her chest, Margo played the next game with perfect precision, using a drop shot to throw Liza off balance.

With one final serve, Margo won the match.

“Game, set, and match, Margo!” the umpire called.

Margo collapsed on the court, exhausted but exhilarated.

She had done it.

She would be representing North Hills Academy in the division tournament.

Her friends rushed to her side, cheering. “You did it!” Syra, Caia, and Miv shouted, lifting Margo into the air.

Margo smiled, her heart soaring with pride. “I couldn’t have done it without you guys.”

—

Margo wiped the sweat from her brow, her body sore from the rigorous training.

The match had ended, and although she had won, the victory felt hollow.

She knew it wasn’t enough.

Not yet.

As she packed her things into her gym bag, she heard the familiar voices of her teammates and friends, but her mind was elsewhere.

She barely noticed her coach’s praise, distracted by the feeling of her father’s eyes on her.

“Good match,” her coach said, patting her on the back.

“Thanks,” Margo replied absentmindedly, trying to shake off the tension that had been building in her chest.

“Hey, Margo!” Caia called out, waving from the other side of the gym.

But before Margo could make her way over, a familiar figure appeared at the door—her father.

Damien Castellen.

The man who had pushed her to be the best since she could remember.

He was tall, imposing, his sharp features set in a perpetual look of determination.

The sight of him made Margo’s stomach twist with anxiety.

She didn’t need to hear the words to know what was coming.

It was written all over his face.

“Dad,” Margo greeted, her voice flat.

Damien’s eyes scanned her, assessing her every movement, before his gaze locked onto hers. His jaw tightened as he approached. “You won. But I saw the way you played.”

Margo felt her heart sink. She already knew where this was going.

"You need to be more aggressive out there,” Damien continued, his voice harsh. “You were holding back. You could have won faster, dominated, but you let her take control for too long. What happened? You’re wasting time, Margo. You can’t afford to do that.”

“I—I’m fine, Dad,” Margo said, trying to deflect the criticism, but it only made his gaze sharper.

“Fine? Fine is not enough. You’ve been playing tennis for how many years now? Do you really think ‘fine’ is going to get you anywhere? You want to be the best, don’t you?” Damien's tone grew colder, more demanding.

“This isn’t a hobby, Margo. This is your future. You want to get to the top, you have to perform like you’re already there. No excuses.”

Margo opened her mouth to respond, but her words caught in her throat.

She knew better than to argue with him.

Her father didn’t have room for excuses.

He never had.

Every victory was expected.

Every loss was a failure in his eyes.

And now, even after a win, it felt like she had done nothing right.

“Do you understand?” Damien’s voice cut through her thoughts, his eyes unwavering.

Margo nodded, trying to keep her emotions in check. “Yes, Dad.”

“Good. Now don’t disappoint me next time. You know what you’re capable of. You need to push yourself harder.” He turned and started to walk away, but then stopped, glancing over his shoulder. “We’ll talk more when we get home. I expect better.”

With that, he left, his words lingering in the air like an unshakable weight.

Margo stared after him, the sting of his criticism settling deep in her chest.

She tried to ignore the tightness in her throat, the feeling that she could never do enough to please him.

She forced herself to shake it off, but it wasn’t easy.

Her father’s voice echoed in her mind as she made her way out of the gym, her friends already waiting for her.

But even their cheerful chatter couldn’t drown out the suffocating pressure she felt, the expectation that she would never be allowed to just be good enough.