Smash to the Heart

Aerin's POV

Aerin stood on the court, sweat already beading on her forehead as she adjusted her grip on the racket. 

It had been a long day of training, but she wasn’t about to let that slow her down. 

Coach Vega was on the other side of the court, watching her with a sharp, critical eye, as usual.

"Let’s go again, Aerin," Coach Vega called out, her voice firm and focused. "This next one’s all about your speed. Keep your footwork tight."

"Yes, Coach," Aerin replied, nodding before positioning herself to serve.

Her heart raced as she bounced the ball in her hands. 

She could feel the weight of the upcoming competition—the division tournament looming in the distance—but she had to focus now, on the present.

The first serve hit the ground with a satisfying thud, followed by the swift movement of Aerin’s feet, her body in perfect sync. 

She raced to meet the next shot, her racket slicing through the air, but Coach Vega stopped her mid-move.

“Too slow on the recovery, Aerin. You need to react faster. You’re overthinking,” Coach Vega said, crossing her arms as she assessed the situation.

“Sorry, Coach,” Aerin said, her breathing heavy. She wiped the sweat from her brow, frustration creeping into her voice. “I’m just... feeling the pressure.”

Coach Vega raised an eyebrow, but there was no sympathy in her gaze. "Pressure doesn’t win matches. Your instincts do. Try natin ulit, but this time, let it flow. Don’t fight your body. It knows what to do."

Aerin took a deep breath, pushing the nerves aside. 

She had trained for this moment for years, and she wouldn’t let anything stop her now. 

She nodded, once again preparing for the next round of shots.

The drills continued for hours—her movements becoming more fluid, the tension easing as she gained control over her body and mind. 

The sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the court, but Aerin didn’t stop. She couldn’t afford to.

—

Galey’s Match (Basketball)

Aerin stood by the bleachers, her heart racing with excitement. 

Today was all about supporting her friends, and Galey’s basketball game was next on the list. Aerin and her friends—Soleil, Jex, and herself—had been hyping up Galey all morning, and they were all ready to cheer her on.

“Good luck, Galey!” Aerin shouted as her friend stood at the free throw line, her expression calm but determined.

Galey shot her a quick, confident smile before taking the shot. 

The ball swooshed through the hoop without a hitch. "Thanks, Aerin!" Galey called out, her focus immediately shifting back to the game. 

It was clear she wasn’t going to let anything distract her now.

The game kicked off with a fast pace, and Aerin couldn’t help but admire how fluid Galey was on the court. 

She was a true leader, coordinating plays, making quick passes, and sinking shot after shot. 

Every time Galey scored, Aerin and the others cheered loudly—especially Soleil.

"Go, Galey!" Soleil shouted, her voice carrying across the court.

“Nice pass!” Jex added, bouncing on her heels from the sideline.

By the end of the game, Galey’s team had claimed victory, and the crowd went wild. Aerin couldn’t stop smiling as she rushed over to her friend.

“Ang galing mo!” Aerin exclaimed, throwing her arms around her in a tight hug.

Galey wiped the sweat off her face and laughed. “Thanks, guys. I couldn’t have done it without the support.”

Soleil and Jex joined them, and together they high-fived Galey.

“Great job, beb! You were on fire out there!” Soleil said, grinning widely.

“You were unstoppable!” Jex added, giving her a playful shove.

Galey grinned back at them. “Couldn’t have done it without you guys cheering me on!”

Soleil’s Match (Running)

Next up was Soleil’s race. Aerin stood near the starting line with Jex and Galey, all of them chatting and getting ready to watch their friend race. 

Soleil was on the track, stretching her legs and shaking out her arms. Her focus was intense, but Aerin could still see the familiar twinkle of confidence in Soleil’s eyes.

“Good luck, Solei!” Aerin called, giving her a thumbs-up.

Soleil flashed a grin. “I’ve got this,” she said, her voice filled with determination.

As soon as the whistle blew, Soleil shot off the starting line, her legs moving in perfect synchronization, her stride strong and steady. 

Aerin’s heart raced as she watched Soleil gain speed with each passing meter. Soleil was built for this—her form was impeccable, her speed unrivaled.

“Go, bebe!” Galey and Jex yelled, both of them waving their arms to cheer her on.

Soleil didn’t even look back; she was focused entirely on the finish line. 

Aerin could feel the electricity in the air as the race came to a close, with Soleil pulling ahead of the competition. 

She crossed the finish line in first place, her face breaking into a wide, victorious smile.

“First place!” Soleil exclaimed, catching her breath as she slowed to a jog.

“You were incredible, Solei!” Aerin cheered, running to meet her as she took a deep breath.

“I told you I had it in me,” Soleil said, her grin never fading. “Thanks for the support, guys!”

“You killed it!” Jex shouted, high-fiving Soleil. “I knew you could do it!”

Aerin smiled, giving her friend a hug. “I’m so proud of you!”

Jex’s Match (Badminton)

After the race yesterday, it was Jex’s turn on the badminton court. 

The atmosphere was quieter here, but the intensity was no less real. Aerin, Galey, and Soleil were all lined up along the sidelines, cheering for their friend.

“Good luck, Jex!” Aerin shouted as Jex took her place on the court, facing off against a formidable opponent.

Jex flashed a quick smile. “Thanks! Mabilis lang 'to!.”

The match started, and it was clear from the first hit that Jex wasn’t here to waste time. 

Her movements were sharp, quick, and precise. 

Every swing of the racket, every drop shot, every smash—Jex was in control.

“Go, Jex!” Soleil and Galey shouted in unison, their voices filled with excitement as they watched Jex outmaneuver her opponent with ease.

Jex’s focus never wavered. She darted back and forth on the court, anticipating every move, her reflexes sharp. 

It wasn’t long before Jex hit the winning point, sending the shuttlecock flying over the net and into the perfect spot on the opponent’s side.

“That’s game!” Jex called out, pumping her fist in the air.

Aerin rushed over to her friend, grinning widely. “Grabe ba, Jex! That drop shot was unreal.”

Jex shrugged, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “Told you no one’s beating me today. Thanks for cheering me on!”

“You crushed it!” Galey said, pulling Jex into a hug.

“Yabang na nama nito! Pero ang galing mo, Jex!” Soleil added, giving her a high-five.

There was no better feeling than sharing in their friends’ successes, and Aerin couldn’t wait for her own turn to shine.

—

The next day, after all the matches were done, we gathered in the gymnasium at Southbridge Academy. The energy in the air was electric. Athletes from various schools filled the bleachers, their faces a mix of exhaustion and excitement. Everyone was talking about their performances, discussing how they’d done, and speculating on what would come next.

Galey, Soleil, and Jex were with me, standing just a little bit apart from the crowd. Their faces were tired, but I could see the glint of excitement in their eyes. We were all in the same boat—ready for the next big challenge, but still trying to catch our breath from all the hard work.

Coach Vega, who had been keeping an eye on us through all of this, stepped up to the microphone, and the room immediately quieted down. The anticipation was thick, and it felt like everyone was holding their breath.

"Alright, athletes," Coach Vega’s voice rang out through the gym. "I know you’re all eager to hear the news, so let’s get to it. After a long round of trials and matches, it’s time to announce which schools will be competing in the Division Tournament!"

A buzz ran through the room, and I could feel my heart thumping in my chest. This was it—the moment we’d all been waiting for.

"First," Coach Vega continued, "The Division Tournament will take place right here at Southbridge Academy!" The crowd erupted into cheers, and I couldn’t help but smile. It was exciting to know that we’d be competing in the same gym where we’d spent so much of our time training.

Coach Vega raised her hand to quiet everyone down, and we all fell into silence. "Now, let’s talk about the schools that will be joining us in this competition. In no particular order, here are the schools that have made it through:"

"North Hills Academy," she said, and a few heads turned, some whispering about the name. It wasn’t familiar to me, but the name seemed to get some recognition from the crowd. I hadn’t paid much attention to them yet, but I could tell they were strong contenders.

"Silverdale Institute," Coach Vega continued, and the crowd responded with a wave of applause.

"Greenfield School, ," she added, and a few cheers rang out.

"Riverdale Academy,," followed shortly, and the gym was filled with energetic clapping.

"Westbrook High," was next, and the excitement in the room grew.

"Crestview Prep," Coach Vega announced, and the crowd roared.

"And of course, Southbridge Academy," she smiled proudly, her voice rising as she spoke our school's name. "We’ll be hosting, and it’s going to be a fierce competition."

The gymnasium was alive with noise now, the athletes are all talking, exchanging glances, and making plans. 

I could feel the anticipation building in me too, the pressure rising. 

But I also felt a sense of determination settle in. 

This was what we’d been working for.

Coach Vega raised her hand once more. "The tournament will take place on the 12th of next month. So, everyone, keep training hard. The real challenge is just beginning."

The crowd erupted into applause again, and I turned to Galey, Soleil, and Jex, feeling the same sense of excitement coursing through me.

It was real now. The Division Tournament was just around the corner.