🎌 Opening Whistle. Regional Nerves.
The stadium in Naga was bigger than anything Gubat's teams had ever played in.
Tall bleachers. Bright lights. Banners flapping like war flags. Seven full days of matches. Seven days of victories, losses, sweat, sunburn, sports drinks, and whispered crushes.
Alona tightened her grip on her racket. Her palms were already sweaty—and not just because of the heat.
Dane stood beside his basketball teammates, bouncing slightly on his heels. Focused. Calm. But when his eyes met hers across the court entrance tunnel, he gave a small nod.
She nodded back.
Gubat had arrived.
🏸 Round 1: Birdies and Butterflies
Badminton was up first.
The gym echoed with squeaking shoes and the sharp thwack of shuttlecocks. Alona and Nina faced a pair from Southern Pines, a school known for their aggressive smashes and no-mercy style.
Coach Cely clapped once. "Trust your footwork. Play smart. Play Gubat."
And so they did.
The first few rallies were chaos. Nina yelled for a drop shot; Alona dove for a save that left a burn on her elbow. But slowly—point by point—they found rhythm.
Nina grinned between points. "We got this."
They won the first game, lost the second, but scraped through the third by a hair. Alona's final shot clipped the net and dropped in like a miracle.
They collapsed on the bench, panting.
"That's one win," Coach Cely said, offering them towels. "Six days to go."
🏀 Hoops and Hype
Basketball came next. The boys were up against San Juan Tech, a team with matching haircuts and egos larger than their passing game.
The tip-off went to San Juan. Dane snatched the ball back within five seconds.
By halftime, Gubat led by two.
By the final quarter, it was tied.
And then—last play.
Dane passed to Karl. Karl fake-passed back. Marlon called for it. Chaos.
Then—Dane again. Open lane.
Layup. Buzzer.
It went in.
The gym erupted. Coach Dan threw his clipboard and screamed, "THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!"
Dane didn't smile. Not yet. He looked toward the stands—where Alona had been watching.
She gave him a tiny thumbs-up.
He smiled then.
🥤 Courtside Chatter
During lunch, the volleyball and tennis teams shared tables with the basketball and badminton players. Jokes flew across trays of fried chicken and cold rice.
Yumi sipped her juice. "Dane gave Alona a look during the basketball game."
Nina squinted. "Was it the 'I-like-you' look or the 'we're-going-to-win' look?"
"Same look," Yumi replied sagely. "Multi-purpose."
Karl grinned from the next table. "Phase Six is incoming."
"What's Phase Six again?"
"Accidental-but-totally-on-purpose hand holding."
⛹️♂️ Post-Match Debriefs and Moonlight Talks
Back at the lodging, everyone was sore but satisfied. Gubat won two of three volleyball matches, tennis split theirs, chess swept 3–0, and badminton held strong.
The night wind from the sea cooled the hallways. Alona found Dane sitting alone on the stone steps, nursing a sports drink.
"Tired?" she asked.
"Nah. Just… processing."
She sat beside him. "Me too."
They looked up. Stars again. Different sky, same feeling.
Dane glanced down at her hand—resting next to his.
Close.
Not quite.
Then—barely a brush of pinkies.
This time, it was her who didn't pull away.
📝 End of Day Notes – Yumi's Notebook
Alona: 12 smashes, 1 elbow burn, 1 pinkie moment
Dane: 16 points, 1 buzzer beater, 1 confirmed smile
Team morale: high
Flirting level: simmering
Phase Six Probability: 78%
💤 Final Lines
Coach Cely whispered to Coach Dan as they tallied results.
"Day one done."
Coach Dan nodded. "We'll be lucky if we survive day two."
Outside, the Gubat banner fluttered against the night breeze.
Six days to go.
And Gubat was just warming up.