Café (1)
Margo's POV
Weeks had passed since the announcement, and the pressure was starting to get real.
The division tournament was just around the corner, and I could feel the weight of all the training building up.
My body was sore, but my mind was sharp. There was no room for failure—not when everything I had worked for was on the line.
The gym was filled with the sound of tennis balls bouncing off the walls as I stood at the baseline, ready for another round of practice.
Coach Leo was on the other side of the court, giving me pointers on my form.
"Focus on your footwork, Margo," he said, his voice cutting through the air. "Move quicker, anticipate better. The key to winning isn’t just about power; it’s about precision."
I nodded, taking a deep breath. With a quick nod from Leo, he fed me a few balls, and I immediately went into my rhythm, hitting each one with power and accuracy.
My racket sliced through the air, and I could feel the ball responding perfectly.
My movement was fluid, just like I had practiced over the past few weeks, but there was still a sense of urgency.
Every practice session felt like it mattered more than the last.
"That's it. Keep it up," Coach Leo called, his eyes scanning me closely, watching every move I made.
I pushed myself harder, moving faster, hitting the ball with more precision. I could feel the sweat dripping down my face, but I didn’t care.
I was focused, locked in.
Each swing of the racket felt like a step closer to my goal.
After another hour of intense training, I finally stopped to catch my breath.
Coach Leo gave me a nod of approval.
"Good work today," he said. "But don’t forget: you need to stay sharp. The competition will be fierce."
"Thanks, Coach," I replied, wiping my forehead with the back of my hand.
I was exhausted, but in a good way.
Every day of training was preparing me for what was to come.
We wrapped up the session, and the girls and I decided it was time to take a break.
The tension of the upcoming tournament was building, and I knew we all needed to unwind before everything got even more intense.
—
The days leading up to the tournament were flying by, and the tension was building.
I could feel it in my bones—the nerves and excitement all at once. But before the madness of the division tournament tomorrow, we decided to take a break and unwind at a new café that had opened in town.
It was the perfect way to clear our heads and relax for a bit.
The café had a chill vibe with modern décor—light wood tables, plants hanging from the ceiling, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air.
I let out a deep breath as I sank into a chair, feeling a bit of the weight lifting off my shoulders.
“Grabe, hindi ko na alam kung anong mararamdaman ko bukas,” Miv said, tapping her fingers on the table. “Nervous, excited, lahat.”
“Same here,” I replied, looking over at the counter where Caia was eyeing the pastries. “But let’s just take today easy. We deserve it.”
“Agreed,” Syra said, grinning as she scrolled through her phone. “One day off before all the craziness tomorrow.”
As we chatted and laughed, the door opened, and four girls walked in.
I couldn’t help but notice them, not because they were doing anything out of the ordinary, but because of the way they carried themselves.
They just seemed... different.
The first girl had short, dark hair, and a sharp, confident look in her eyes.
The second one had a short hair also, straight hair and a warm, friendly smile.
She looked easy to approach, and her eyes were bright and full of energy.
The third girl was tall, with a strong build. She moved quickly, and there was a certain intensity in the way she walked. She was focused, but also had a relaxed air to her.
And the last girl... she had long, chestnut hair that caught the light, and she just seemed to move with a kind of ease. Her presence was calm, but there was something about her that drew you in. It wasn’t just her appearance, but the way she held herself. Confident, composed, but not in an overbearing way.
I wasn’t sure why, but something about her stood out to me, though I couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
I wasn’t staring, but my gaze briefly followed them as they made their way to the counter.
That’s when I noticed something: all four of them were wearing Southbridge Academy lanyards, clearly marking them as students from that school.
Southbridge Academy... that was the school where the tournament was being held tomorrow.
I wondered if they were competitors or just happened to be from that school.
Syra, who had been texting something on her phone, looked up and noticed the girls too. “Uy, Southbridge rin sila,” she murmured, raising an eyebrow.
I blinked, glancing at Syra. “Tama ka. Lanyard, Southbridge.”
“Hmm... Looks like we’ll be seeing them tomorrow,” Syra said with a playful grin. “Tignan mo, may mga cute din yata.”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help but laugh. “Sana naman hindi tayo ma-intimidate bukas.”
Caia, still with her eyes fixed on the pastries, glanced at the girls too. “Sana di tayo ma-‘intimidate’ bukas. Kailangan focus tayo sa laro.”
“I’m sure they’ll be good competitors,” I said, even though my thoughts were still lingering on the group of girls.
I wasn’t sure why, but there was something about them that caught my attention.
Especially the girl with the chestnut hair. There was just something about the way she moved that stood out to me.
Syra’s phone buzzed, and she quickly checked it, her eyes lighting up as she typed a response.
But we all noticed that she was unusually smiley, which was rare for her.
“Syra, sino ‘yan?” Miv teased, leaning in to take a peek.
Syra quickly locked her phone, trying to hide her grin. “Wala, wala,” she said, clearly embarrassed, but not really denying it.
“Huh? You have ka-chat?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Ano ba, wala! Wala nga!” Syra replied, half-laughing, half-denying it.
I leaned back in my chair, smirking. “Aha! You have a secret pala.”
Syra rolled her eyes, her cheeks flushing. “Wala nga, okay?”
“Okay, okay. Basta, don’t get too distracted, ha,” Miv teased, giving Syra a playful nudge.
Syra only huffed but didn’t seem all that bothered. “We’ll see.”
As we continued chatting, the group of girls from Southbridge grabbed their drinks and moved to a table across the room.
I couldn’t help but glance back at them one last time.
They didn’t seem to notice us, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d see them again tomorrow at Southbridge Academy.
Whether they’d be friendly or not, I couldn’t say.
For now, though, I was focused on my friends and the tournament ahead.