EL'S

beat someone, do it so well

boxing matches-but today, I walked into the scho

ir of a high-stakes battlefield. Banners lined the walls. Folding tables were covered in velvet cloth. Judges circled like referees. An

the kind of posture that screamed te

him. Not about his stup

e bumped her shoulder into mine. "They look c

don't swoon. Not where they can see it. They're probably not even here for chess," Hannah add

pres

hey kept smiling at every guy who passed, tuck

ular guy, with monolid eyes and cheeky smile waved at me as if we knew each other.

d smiled apologetically at me. I knew them. Specifical

ball," I muttered. "This

g into an arena, not a match. There was a reason people called me the Que

Mater Carmeli's top seed

inst the table edge, a glossy MCS pin glittering on

n we locked eyes. W

ust

pl

anced. Knights leapt. Her nostrils flared-bar

ckless. But I didn't. I played clean

h drew a small crowd. Whispers floated in the background. Even the MCS boys w

Except maybe

ands tucked into his jacket pockets like he was bored. Except

cia. Mater Carmeli

," I m

ro narrowed her eyes

ec

, breathing t

k

lly to lock her out. Her nostrils flared, just a l

later, I ha

mate,"

se. This wasn't tha

e when Isidro leaned back in her chair, her fingers

od," she s

are

. But I di

thout another word. And that

e stepped forward. I

espite her effort to stay cool. But I swore I saw her shoulders drop t

t losing in front of him made

ey...

uld spurt out a

he said, tu

but his tone wasn

tly. "You don't look li

But I know how to recogni

taring at a board and actually knowing

Quiet. Brief. Like

sti," h

dn't

ust a little. "I'

rned and w

was

nd handed one to me. Her eyes squinting i

w

alking abou

He said two sentenc

ve me

t that my heart had skipped-not during the matc

watch the exhibition volleyball game. Hannah scream

ey'll hear y

h, there's Basti again. And the dancer

owed h

hair. Diamond earring. A body that mo

crowd. A group

yes. "Walking

dged her head towards the direction of

hoose

ised a br

them-not for a pretty face, not for a dancer, and definitely

I th