Smash to the Heart

Aerin’s POV

“Game, set, match—Lysvane!”

The umpire’s voice cut through the applause, and just like that, it was over.

I stood still for a moment, racket at my side, heart still pounding from the final rally. 

The sweat on my skin was starting to cool, but the adrenaline hadn’t quite left me yet. 

I bowed slightly out of habit, then headed toward the net to shake hands with my opponent.

She smiled politely. “Good game.”

“You too,” I said quietly.

The moment I stepped off the court, I could hear Gianna and Junie clapping in the distance, their cheers faint but familiar. 

I gave them a small wave as I grabbed my towel from the bench and wiped my face. Coach was already making her way toward me, clipboard in hand and that usual calm look on her face.

“Nice control,” she said, handing me a bottle of water. “Especially second set. You adjusted fast.”

I nodded, still catching my breath. “She was aggressive sa baseline… pero medyo predictable.”

“Exactly. You exploited that. Very clean work.”

I took a sip of water and tried to calm my pulse. I didn’t want to celebrate too much — not yet. Because one match still stood between me and the championship.

Coach glanced at her clipboard again, flipping through a few printed sheets. “Your finals opponent was just confirmed.”

My eyes met hers, alert. “Sino?”

She handed me the sheet.

I scanned the bracket—and there it was. Her name, now officially listed for the finals match.

Margo Castellen.

For a split second, my mind went quiet.

The girl from the café. The same one from the garden. The one I had watched in the earlier match— the one with the sharp, precise forehands and a calm that mirrored my own.

I had memorized the way she moved, probably longer than I was willing to admit. I didn’t know her before this tournament.

But now?

I wouldn’t forget her name.

“Looks like you’ll be facing one of the North Hills girls,” Coach added. “I heard she finished her match in two sets. Quick and efficient.”

Of course she did.

I looked back at the sheet, her name bold against the white paper. There were no pictures attached, but I didn’t need one.

I already knew her face. Her style. Her silence.

And soon, I’d know her game.

I folded the sheet and tucked it into my bag.

This was it.

Finals.

And the next time I walked into that court… it would be against her.

Margo Castellen.

—

The moment I stepped off the court, the familiar weight of my racket in my hand and the sweat clinging to my skin, I heard clapping from the side.

“Solid match, Aerin!” Jex called, grinning from the bench area near the entrance. “Finals ka na!”

I offered her a small smile, still catching my breath. “Thanks.”

“Ang linis ng galaw mo do'n,” she added, walking beside me as I grabbed my towel and slung it around my shoulders. “’Di ka pinagod masyado nung kalaban mo?”

“Medyo,” I shrugged. “Pero manageable. I needed to test some footwork din, kaya medyo pinaikot ko na rin siya sa second set.”

“Kaya pala may halong landi yung crosscourt mo kanina,” Jex teased.

I just chuckled, shaking my head. 

As we stepped outside the gym, the late afternoon breeze touched my skin, bringing some relief from the stuffy heat inside.

“Hoy Aerin!” another voice called out.

Soleil jogged toward us, her hair tied in a tight ponytail, still in her running uniform. 

She waved her water bottle at me. “Grats! Finals ka na agad?”

“Yup,” I nodded.

“Bilis ng turn mo ah,” she smirked. “Tapos ako? Hindi pa nagsisimula.”

I raised a brow. “Ha? Bakit?”

Soleil huffed. “Umuulan kanina. Na-cancel yung track events after lunch. Coach said it’ll resume tomorrow once the track dries.”

“Sayang. Finals mo di'ba ngayon?”

“Supposedly,” she nodded. “Pero okay lang. At least may extra time to rest and scout.”

Jex laughed. “Scout daw oh. Kala mo basketball.”

“Eh scouting talaga,” Soleil defended herself, mock offended. “’Di ba ikaw rin kanina, nanonood sa mga kalaban mo?”

“Okay fine, fair,” Jex muttered.

I smiled faintly, watching my friends banter like they always did. 

These moments were rare in tournaments—time to breathe, talk, and joke around. We always moved from one match to the next, sometimes not even getting the chance to process things.

“Sino nga ulit kalaban mo bukas?” Soleil asked, shifting her focus back to me.

I took a deep breath before answering. “Margo Castellen.”

Both of them paused.

“As in…” Jex narrowed her eyes. “Yung—”

I nodded slowly.

“Holy crap. Siya?” Soleil's brows shot up. “That’s your finals match?”

“Yup.”

“Welp,” Jex said, eyes wide. “That’s gonna be… interesting.”

“She’s good, Aerin,” Soleil admitted, her tone a little more serious now. “I didn’t see her match kanina, pero may nakakwentuhan ako sa holding area. Hindi raw pinaporma yung kalaban. Two sets agad.”

“I heard the same,” Jex nodded. “Sobrang composed daw. Parang… hindi nagpapressure.”

I stayed quiet for a moment, fingers tightening around my racket’s grip.

“Remember when we watched her before? Day 1, second match?” I finally said.

They both turned to me.

“She’s sharp. Fast. Very tactical,” I answered, letting the images replay in my head. “She doesn’t just hit to win. She calculates. It’s almost annoying, how precise she is.”

“So in short,” Soleil leaned closer, “your finals will be insane.”

“'Yun na nga,” I mumbled.

The three of us continued walking toward the dorms, our shoes crunching against gravel as the sun dipped lower in the sky.

“Teka,” I said, glancing at Jex. “Ikaw? Kumusta match mo?”

“Pasok sa semis,” she grinned. “Sobrang dikit. Last set was 22-20.”

“Wow,” I blinked. “Clutch ka pa rin as always.”

“Nakakakaba sobra,” she laughed. “May part nga dun gusto ko na lang sumigaw ng ‘bahala na si Batman’.”

Soleil laughed loudly at that. “Sana pala napanood kita.”

“Eh ikaw rin! Wala akong napanuod sa inyo kanina. Nalate kasi ako sa venue transfer,” Jex rolled her eyes.

“Si Galey?” I asked, checking the time.

“Nasa game pa raw,” Jex said. “Last update ng coach niya, halftime pa lang. Malamang sunod na yung third quarter now.”

I exhaled slowly, feeling the tension settle again in my chest.

Tomorrow was the finals.

Me versus Margo.

We’ve never shared a court before, but somehow, it always felt like this moment was inevitable. 

Ever since that first time I saw her swing a racket back in the junior division highlights… I knew it.

And now, it’s real.

My grip on the towel tightened.

“Let’s go?” I asked them.

Jex grinned. “Let’s. Ikaw na next mag-chika sa iba.”

Soleil nudged me with a smile. “Finals girl.”

I forced a smile back, but my heart was already racing — not from the earlier match…

…but from the one that’s coming.