The morning air at Evermore University shimmered with a nervous electricity — the kind that curled around the grass, stirred the banners, and made every heartbeat feel louder than it should. The day of the rally had finally arrived, and the campus looked alive in a way Reina had never seen before. Students crowded the field in bright jerseys, faces painted, flags fluttering. Laughter floated through the air, mixing with the rhythmic beats of drums echoing across the grounds.
Reina stood near the front steps, her racquet bag slung over her shoulder even though her badminton match wasn't until tomorrow. She loved sports days — the noise, the frenzy, the rush of energy. But today felt different, heavier in her chest. Maybe because she knew Adrian would be at the center of it all.
And she would finally get to see him in his element.
Her friends — Maya, Rima, and Tasha — were already buzzing with excitement.
"You're coming to watch the rally, right?" Tasha asked, eyes sparkling.
Reina nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Of course. Adrian's playing." Then she immediately regretted saying that out loud.
The girls exchanged a knowing look.
"Ohhh," Maya teased with a sly smile, nudging her. "So that's why you're extra excited today."
Reina rolled her eyes, but heat rose up her neck. "It's not like that."
"Sure," Rima grinned, "and I'm the Queen of Evermore."
They laughed, and Reina couldn't help but laugh with them. It felt good — natural — like she was finally breathing properly after months of holding her lungs too tight.
The rally began with a burst of cheers as the teams entered the field. Adrian, wearing Evermore's blue and white jersey, walked with confident strides, sunlight hitting the curve of his jaw. His hair was pushed back, sweat already forming at his temples though the match hadn't even started.
Reina's heart skipped.
He looked like someone carved out of movement itself — focused, determined, the quiet center of the entire storm swirling around the field.
When he glanced toward the stands and saw her, his expression shifted for a split second — softer, lighter.
Then he winked.
Reina felt her breath catch.
Tasha elbowed her hard. "Girl, are you breathing?"
"Barely," Reina muttered.
The rally was intense. Adrian wasn't just good — he was mesmerizing. Every move seemed precise, every tactic smart. He dodged, sprinted, passed, shot — like an unstoppable force wrapped in calm. The crowd roared each time he took the lead.
Reina couldn't look away.
At one point, Adrian almost slipped trying to catch a pass, but he regained balance, shot the ball back into play, and scored. The crowd exploded. Reina gasped, gripping Maya's arm so tight she yelped.
"Relax, he's not dying," Maya laughed.
But Reina couldn't relax. Not when she could feel the adrenaline pumping through her veins like she was playing the match herself.
By the final round, Evermore was leading by three points. Adrian sprinted across the field, received the ball with a swift turn, and broke through the opposing defense. The air seemed to freeze around him.
His body lifted — time slowing —
And he scored.
The final whistle blew.
Evermore University won.
Reina stood frozen for a second, chest tight, heart hammering with pride that didn't belong to her but felt like her own. Adrian raised his arms in victory, teammates swarming him, lifting him off the ground.
He was laughing — loud, carefree, beautiful.
Reina clapped, her eyes stinging with an emotion she couldn't name. Something warm. Something too bright.
When the crowd shifted and Adrian finally broke free from his team, he jogged toward the audience. Toward her.
He stopped right below where she stood, hair messy, breath heavy, cheeks flushed.
"Well?" he said, panting lightly. "Did I do okay?"
Reina tried to sound casual, but her voice betrayed her. "Okay? You were… incredible."
His smile widened — slow, proud, boyish. "Good. I wanted you to see me win."
Her heart stuttered.
The stadium noise blurred behind them like distant thunder.
That night, Evermore glowed with celebration. Music vibrated through the dorm halls, lights strung like stars along the walkways. Students danced, laughed, ran around with medals and snacks.
Reina stayed out late with her friends, letting herself get swept into the wild warmth of university life. She didn't drink, but she tasted the freedom of the moment like it was something she'd been starving for.
Every now and then, she caught glimpses of Adrian — surrounded by people, slapping hands, laughing at jokes. But he always found her through the chaos.
Always.
Their eyes met again and again.
And each time, something in her chest tightened a little more.
The next morning came fast — the day of her badminton match.
Reina looked at herself in the mirror: ponytail tight, wristbands on, racquet in hand.
"You got this," she whispered.
For once, she believed it.
Her friends greeted her at the court, cheering obnoxiously loud. Even more surprising — Adrian was there too, sitting casually on the bleachers, elbows resting on his knees.
When she walked in, he gave her a half-smile.
"Nervous?" he asked.
"A little."
"You'll win."
She raised a brow. "You sound very confident."
He shrugged lightly. "I just know."
His confidence wrapped around her like sunlight.
The match began with fast rallies, sharp smashes, and quick footwork. Reina moved across the court like she was made of instinct, not muscle. Each swing felt natural, like she was painting strokes in the air.
Her opponent was skilled — no doubt — but Reina was on fire. The cheers rose with every point she scored.
At match point, she served, sprinted forward, and smashed the final shot so cleanly the sound echoed through the hall.
She won.
The crowd cheered. Maya and Rima jumped and hugged her. Tasha screamed.
Reina felt her heart float. Her legs trembled, but with joy, not exhaustion. She lifted her racquet high, grinning for the first time in a long, genuine, unstoppable way.
When she looked toward Adrian, he stood up — slow, proud — clapping with a softness that curled around her like a hug.
When the crowd thinned, he walked toward her.
"Told you," he said.
She laughed, shaking her head. "Okay fine, you were right."
"I'm always right."He tapped the end of her racquet gently. "Champion."
Her chest warmed at the word.
She didn't remember the last time someone called her anything other than "quiet," "reserved," or "too emotional."
Champion felt different.
It felt earned.
And hearing it from him made it feel even more real.
Later that afternoon, they all gathered near the campus fountain — Reina, her friends, Adrian, and some others from the rally team. Students shared snacks and drinks, chatting loudly, music playing from someone's portable speaker.
Reina sat on the stone ledge, dipping her fingers into the cold water. Adrian sat beside her, stretching his legs.
"You're glowing," he said suddenly.
She blinked. "What?"
"You look happy."He smiled lightly. "It suits you."
Reina looked down, cheeks warming. "I… had fun. It feels good."
"Happiness looks good on you," he added, voice softer.
This time, she couldn't look away.
For a moment, the world dulled around them — the laughter, the splashing water, the music — fading into a blur of warmth and sunlight.
Reina's friends were nearby, watching discreetly but excitedly, pretending not to stare.
The day felt perfect.
And Reina realized she wasn't just happy because she won.
She was happy because she wasn't alone.
Because for once, life didn't feel heavy.
Because Adrian was here — not as a lifeline, not as a savior — but as someone who simply made breathing easier.
Someone who made joy feel possible again.
As the sun set, painting the sky in warm gold and soft pink, Reina leaned back on her hands, letting the breeze play with her hair.
Adrian nudged her shoulder gently."We should celebrate properly," he said.
She chuckled. "This isn't enough?"
"No," he said with a playful smirk. "You deserve more."
"Like what?"
"You'll see."
Reina felt her heart race — not from fear, not from memories, not from shadows.
But from anticipation.
The good kind.
The kind that whispered maybe life wasn't just about surviving the dark.
Maybe it was also about letting the light find her again.
And today, with victory in her hands and Adrian beside her, she let herself believe it.