Chapter 3: District Heat

The Gubat sun had no chill. It battered the roofs of tricycles and glinted off the windows of Gubat Coastal High like it was trying to start a fire.

Inside the gym, the air was hotter than a Bicol express left on the stove too long.

Districts had officially begun.

Gone were the casual vibes of Intrams. Now it was serious—inter-school banners waved with pride, referees actually used whistles properly, and the gym's sound system blasted the Encantadia theme song like it was the Olympics.

Badminton: A Rougher Court

Alona zipped her jacket halfway, tugging at the sleeves as she paced the gym floor. Opposite her, the Barcelona High girls were warming up. Their top seed, Janine Valerio, was slicing smashes like a demon in pigtails.

Coach Cely pulled Alona aside. "She's fast. Reads your flicks like subtitles. Don't let her settle."

Alona nodded. "Copy."

"Hey," Nina whispered from the bench, biting into an unripe mango. "Destroy her soul, please."

"No promises," Alona muttered—but her eyes were already locked on the court like a hawk spotting its prey.

The match began.

The sound of rubber soles squealing across the faded floor echoed louder than the crowd. Alona held nothing back—jumps, tight net kills, deep clears—but Janine wasn't bluffing. She countered with defense so solid it felt like Alona was hitting a wall made of mirrors.

15–14.

18–17.

The rallies grew longer, tighter. Alona lunged for a drop shot, barely grazing it over. Janine dove—missed.

21–18.

Alona won—but she was drenched, panting, heart racing.

"She's the first to make me sweat," Alona admitted to Nina between gulps of Gatorade.

"Ew, growth," Nina teased. "Is this character development?"

Basketball: Eye of the Storm

Meanwhile, at the covered court across the field, the Gubat Coastal Falcons were battling the Barcelona Heatwave, known for full-court presses and trash talk louder than karaoke night at a barangay fiesta.

Dane, as always, was focused.

"Watch #10. He's their sniper," he told Z mid-game.

"Got it," Z said. "Also, this guy keeps elbowing my ribs."

"Flirt back," Toto offered.

The game exploded into speed—fast breaks, alley-oops, chest bumps. Dane weaved through defenders like he had cheat codes in his blood. A bounce pass. A hesitation. Pull-up jumper. Swish.

But the crowd's loudest reaction came from the arrival of a tiny girl holding a large banner.

"KUYA DANE, BAKA KULANG KA SA PULBOS!!" it read in glittery blue letters.

Dane blinked. "Yumi?"

At the far end of the bleachers, Mayumi "Yumi" Villanueva stood proudly, lollipop in mouth, waving her sign.

Nina shrieked with laughter. "Oh my God, she's perfect."

Alona turned. "That's his sister?"

"She's better than him," Nina declared.

Yumi just gave them a thumbs up and yelled, "Alona, wag ka magpatalo sa mga mukhang overcooked siopao!"

Alona tried not to smile.

That Evening: Practice Under Moonlight

Districts were on a break for the day, but Alona couldn't sleep. She returned to the gym under the moonlight, racket in hand.

Dane was already there, shooting free throws.

"You live here?" she asked.

"I could ask you the same," he said, catching his rebound one-handed.

She sat near the baseline. "I wanted to smash something."

"Emotionally or literally?"

"Both."

A beat of silence.

"You were amazing today," Dane added.

Alona didn't answer. Just looked at the shuttle in her hand. "I got lucky."

"No, you trained harder."

She glanced at him. "You always talk like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like you're a poetry book disguised as a person."

He chuckled and joined her at the baseline.

"You don't talk like most athletes," she added.

"Neither do you."

"I scream during rallies."

"That's passion. Not noise."

She rolled her eyes. "Stop being likable."

He smirked. "Make me."

They sat side by side in silence, the night wrapping them in warmth and tension neither knew how to name yet.

District Results

The scoreboard was updated the next day. Gubat Coastal High advanced to Provincials for both badminton and basketball. Volleyball narrowly missed it, their coach crying into a towel like it was an MMK episode.

Tennis, however, shocked everyone. Their doubles team had gone undefeated.

"Bro," Z said, slack-jawed. "Tennis? Since when?"

Coach Dan clapped his hands. "Focus! Provincial's in two weeks. You want to win or be memes?"

"Both," Toto said.

Back at Home

Dane found Yumi on the porch that night, polishing her racket.

"I saw your game," she said. "Your crossover still needs work."

He chuckled. "Thanks, Coach."

"She likes you, by the way."

Dane blinked. "What?"

"Alona. Don't act like your free throws. Be sure."

Then she looked up.

"But if you mess it up, I'm siding with her."