The morning sunlight poured through the curtains as Alina woke up to the soft clinking of dishes downstairs. It had been a peaceful night after the biology play performance. Despite the initial nerves, everything had gone smoothly. Allen and Alina had returned home together, shared dinner with Mrs. Clark, and quietly disappeared into their own rooms. She hadn't slept so peacefully in weeks.
Now, standing at the mirror while tying her hair, Alina couldn't help but feel excited for the day. There was no special event scheduled—but something about the atmosphere, the cool breeze outside, and the leftover joy from yesterday made everything feel lighter. She took the bus as usual, while Allen cycled ahead to school.
By the time she entered the classroom, Grace was already there, scribbling something in her notebook. "Morning, superstar," Grace greeted her with a grin.
"Morning," Alina said, settling beside her. "Still can't believe the play went so well."
Grace leaned over. "You were amazing. Even Allen looked like he enjoyed it."
Alina laughed, but her thoughts drifted elsewhere. Suddenly, she remembered the awkward memory—the one she had tried to forget.
That moment when Vanessa had tricked her into going to the playground, saying Allen had called everyone for extra practice. Alina had waited for almost two hours, wondering if she'd misunderstood something. She had felt humiliated and confused. Until now, she hadn't said a word about it
During Lunch break Alina spotted Vanessa near the water fountain beside the sports hall. No one else was nearby. She walked over, her expression calm but her voice firm.
"Vanessa," she said.
Vanessa turned, tossing her hair back like she'd just walked off a runway. "Oh, Alina. What's up?"
"You lied about Allen inviting us to the playground for extra practice," Alina said flatly. "You made it up, just to leave me there."
Vanessa blinked innocently. "It was just a joke."
"Was it?" Alina stepped a little closer. "Because you watched me wait there like a fool. You knew exactly what you were doing."
There was a flicker of guilt—or maybe irritation—in Vanessa's eyes. "You take things too seriously. Maybe you should learn to relax a bit."
Alina gave a half-smile. "And maybe you should learn that kindness isn't weakness. I might be new here, but I'm not afraid to stand up to people who hide their insecurities behind cheap tricks."
Vanessa stared at her, speechless for once.
Alina didn't wait for a reply. She turned and walked away, her chin lifted high.
From a distance, Allen stood beside his bicycle under a tree, having just returned from a short ride to the gym storeroom. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop—but he'd seen the confrontation.
As Alina walked away, Allen's lips curved into a quiet, almost surprised smile.
"She's not weak," he thought to himself. "She's… brave. And kind of cool, actually."
Just as the lunch break ended and the school corridors began to fill again with chatter, Jack stood near the blackboard in the science classroom, pinning up a bright orange sheet.
Alina and Grace entered just in time to hear him say, "Alright everyone, big news! There's going to be a basketball tournament between classes next month. Any class can participate, and the team that wins will get exclusive rights to the school court for the rest of the year. Sign-up starts now!"
A few curious glances were exchanged around the room, but no one said a word. The science class had always been known for its focus on books, not sports. Most students simply resumed heading to their desks.
But not Alina.
Her eyes lit up at the mention of the tournament. Without thinking twice, she hurried toward Jack with a burst of enthusiasm.
"I'll sign up!" she said with a smile, eyes bright. "This sounds really fun. I'd love to try."
Jack paused for a second, surprised—but then his usual smirk returned. "You sure?" he asked, in a tone both impressed and amused.
"Yeah! Why not?" Alina said, already reaching for the pen hanging beside the sheet.
Jack leaned against the blackboard casually, crossing his arms. "Well… you seem super enthusiastic. You know what? Why don't you take charge of the sign-up? Help get your class motivated."
Alina blinked. "Wait—me?"
He grinned. "Think of it as a small leadership role. I mean, you volunteered first. That's some confidence."
She hesitated for just a moment, glancing back toward Grace—who stood frozen halfway to her seat. Jack had been so friendly with her before… Was this really encouragement? Or something else?
Later, as Alina returned to her desk with the form, Grace whispered, "Jack tricked you."
"What?"
Grace gave her a look. "You didn't notice? He wanted someone else to take the responsibility. No one's ever beaten the Art class in basketball. Not in school history. And he knew you'd say yes if he framed it like a compliment."
Alina stared at the form in her hand, realization dawning. Her fingers curled around the edge of the paper.
So that's why he smiled like that...
But instead of regret, a different emotion flickered across her face _ determination
Later that afternoon, the classroom had quieted down. Some students were already immersed in their textbooks again, and the usual end-of-day laziness was settling in. Alina sat at her desk, twirling the tournament form in her fingers. Grace had gone quiet too, watching her with a mix of curiosity and concern.
Alina finally stood up, determination written all over her face.
She found Allen standing near the window, lost in a book as always. The sunlight poured in around him, catching the edges of his dark hair and making the moment feel oddly cinematic.
"Hey," she said, her voice soft at first.
Allen looked up, eyes cool as always. "Hmm?"
Alina hesitated, but then stepped closer. "So… about the basketball tournament. I kind of got tricked into signing up for the whole class."
He raised an eyebrow. "You got tricked?"
She sighed and crossed her arms. "Jack tricked me. He made it sound like I was just signing up, but then handed me the responsibility of getting the entire class to participate."
Allen blinked once, but didn't say anything.
"It's not fair," Alina continued. "Just because we're science students doesn't mean we can't try. And honestly… I don't want to be the only name on that list. It's embarrassing."
"You're the one who ran up to sign it," Allen said, flipping a page.
Alina frowned. "Yeah, well, I thought it would be fun. I didn't think I'd end up alone in it."
Allen didn't reply, but his eyes lifted from the book just slightly. He was listening.
"So," Alina said, her voice softening, "Will you join?"
He closed the book slowly, looking at her now.
"Why me?"
She shrugged. "Because if you sign up, the others might follow. You're kind of the quiet leader in class. People listen to you. And you're… tall," she added with a small laugh. "That helps in basketball, right?"
Allen didn't laugh, but the corner of his mouth curved the tiniest bit.
"You're asking me to play a sport I haven't touched in years," he said.
"I'm asking you to help me not look like a fool," she replied, her eyes meeting him without flinching. "You saw how everyone looked at me after Jack handed me that form."
There was a pause.
Then finally, Allen stood up. He didn't say yes right away—but after a beat, he walked over to the board and picked up the pen.
He signed.
Alina's mouth fell open a little. "You're serious?"
He glanced at her. "You asked nicely. That's rare."
She beamed, unable to hide her relief. "Thank you."
And just like that, Grace whooped from her seat. "If Allen's in, I'm in!"
That broke the silence. One by one, students started rising from their seats, walking over, writing their names beneath Allen's. The board filled faster than anyone expected.
But just as excitement began to bloom around the room, Mr. Harrison entered.
He glanced at the board and frowned.
"What's this?"
"Basketball tournament," Jack said. "The class just signed up."
Mr. Harrison crossed his arms. "This class has a strict academic focus. Sports tournaments aren't more important than your studies. I can't allow distractions when exams are near."
The room fell silent. Just moments ago, students were buzzing with excitement. Now they all looked at each other, unsure.
Alina's fingers tightened on the edge of her desk. She wasn't going to let it end here…
The tension in the classroom was palpable. The news that the science class wasn't going to join the tournament spread quickly, and the mood shifted from excitement to frustration. The art class, however, seemed to take great pleasure in this.
During the break, the art students gathered in the corridor, laughing and mocking the science class.
"Looks like the 'nerds' are too scared to join!" one of them called out. Another snickered, "Maybe they'll stick to their books instead of embarrassing themselves on a court."
Alina felt her cheeks flush with anger. She had never been one to back down from a challenge, and the last thing she wanted was to let these remarks slide.
She could hear the other science students murmuring among themselves, their frustration building.
Jack, who had been leaning casually against the door frame, straightened up. His eyes narrowed. "You know what? We're going to show them just how wrong they are."
The next few moments passed in a blur. As Jack stepped out into the corridor to face off with the art class, his usual calm demeanor was replaced by an energy that could only be described as… playful chaos.
"Come on, let's show them how 'disciplined' we are!" Jack shouted. He was no longer his usual cool self, and the sight of him riling up the students felt both surprising and oddly entertaining. Alina couldn't help but watch with a mixture of disbelief and amusement.
The art class students, in turn, began taunting them even more, trying to provoke the science class. And, of course, that led to an outright shouting match. Jack and the art students exchanged jabs, their voices rising.
It didn't take long before Ms. Burnett, the bio teacher for the science class, arrived at the scene, her stern gaze scanning the situation. Behind her, Ms. Wells, the art teacher, also stepped forward, clearly agitated.
The situation quickly escalated as both the students and teachers began arguing over the ridiculousness of the whole thing. The argument intensified as the art students mocked them even further.
Ms. Wells, her arms crossed, glared at Jack. "This is ridiculous! All of this just for a tournament? You should be ashamed, all of you!"
Jack raised his hands in exasperation. "You don't understand! This tournament isn't just about basketball! It's about our pride. The science class doesn't get enough recognition. If we don't participate, we'll always be seen as the 'boring' class."
But his words fell on deaf ears. The art students and their teacher seemed unconvinced. The argument spiraled into more back-and-forth shouting. At that moment, Alina realized the only way to settle this was to take control of the situation.
Without thinking twice, she stepped forward, her voice calm but determined. "Mr. Harrison, Ms. Burnett," she began, addressing the teachers directly, "If we don't join the tournament now, we'll regret it later. We won't know what we could have achieved as a class. It's not just about basketball; it's about standing up for ourselves. And if we don't fight for this chance now, we'll lose our opportunity to prove ourselves—not just to the art class, but to everyone."
Her voice was steady, and her words, though firm, were not disrespectful. She spoke with a sense of conviction, but there was no hint of insult. She continued, referencing how important it was to seize opportunities, even when others doubted them. "Even the most successful people have faced criticism. The difference is, they didn't let that stop them. They kept going, even when others told them it was impossible."
Alina's speech hung in the air for a moment, and the silence that followed seemed to make her words even more impactful.
Ms. Burnett exchanged a look with Mr. Harrison. Both teachers were silent, clearly considering Alina's words.
After a long pause, Ms. Burnett spoke first. "Fine. I'll allow you to join the tournament. But if you don't take this seriously, you'll regret it."
Mr. Harrison nodded, his expression still stern but slightly more relaxed. "I'll allow it too. But don't let me down. Practice hard. And make sure you balance it with your studies."
Alina breathed a sigh of relief, her heart racing with excitement. She had done it. The class was going to participate, and they had a chance to prove themselves.
As soon as the permission was granted, Ethan, the art class representative, stepped forward with a challenging smirk. "We'll see who wins. We're not backing down either."
Alina smiled back, her determination only growing stronger. "We'll see you on the court," she said confidently.
That evening, the basketball practice sessions began. The gym was filled with energy as the science class, led by Alina, started to prepare for the upcoming tournament. Every evening, they practiced together, pushing themselves to get better. Even though the task ahead was daunting, Alina could feel the strength of her class growing with each passing day.
And just as she had hoped, the excitement was contagious. The students were finally united with a common goal: to prove that they, too, could be champions.
The day of the inter-class basketball tournament had finally arrived. The school grounds buzzed with excitement, with students from all streams gathering to cheer for their respective teams. After days of preparation, hard work, and spirited practice, the Science Class, led by their captain Allen, stood proud and ready.
The tournament began with preliminary rounds against other classes. Both the Science and Art classes displayed strong teamwork and strategy. Eventually, after intense matches, the final round came down to the anticipated face-off—Science Class versus Art Class. The rivalry was more than just about basketball; it was about pride, unity, and proving themselves.
Just before the final match, Alina stood near the edge of the court, checking on her team and making sure everything was in order. She didn't play herself, but as the team's representative, she ensured everything ran smoothly. That's when Ethan, the captain of the Art Class team, approached her with a smile.
"Hi, Alina," he said, his voice light. "Looks like your team's in top form."
Alina smiled back politely. "We've worked really hard. Good luck for the match, Ethan."
Allen noticed their exchange from a distance. Though he said nothing, a subtle shadow passed over his expression. He wasn't angry—just a little off balance. He didn't know why seeing Ethan talk to Alina stirred something he couldn't quite name.
The final match kicked off. In the beginning, the Science Class gained a strong lead. Their coordination and Allen's leadership were remarkable. But the Art Class wasn't to be underestimated. With skill and agility, they caught up and won the first half. The Science Class began to feel the pressure.
But they didn't give up. The girls from their class, including Grace and Alina, stood at the sidelines cheering passionately. Their energy boosted the players' morale. The second half of the match saw a fierce comeback. Allen, along with Jack, Leo, and Max, gave it everything. The final buzzer echoed—and the scoreboard confirmed it. Science Class had won the tournament.
Cheers erupted. Alina and Grace ran toward the court, beaming with pride. Ethan walked over, extended his hand to Alina, and said, "You guys deserve it. Congrats."
"Thanks, Ethan," she replied warmly.
Allen glanced their way again. He nodded at Ethan with a polite smile but said little.
Meanwhile, Grace nudged Jack, grinning. "Great job, Jack!"
He laughed, slightly breathless. "Thanks. Couldn't have done it without the team."
"By the way," Jack said as he motioned to two boys standing nearby, "Alina, Grace—meet Max and Leo."
Leo smiled and gave a small wave. "Hey. You two were cheering louder than anyone."
Max chuckled. "It worked. We were losing until you guys started yelling."
They all laughed together. Soon, conversations shifted to school life, favorite subjects, and academic strengths.
"I actually like physics," Max said. "Numbers make more sense than people."
Alina nodded. "Same here. I love figuring things out logically."
Leo added, "Math and chemistry are my thing. Guess we're more science than sport."
Grace giggled. "So basically, we're a bunch of nerds who just happened to win a basketball match."
Jack looked around at the group, his face lighting up. "You know, we make a great team—on and off the court."
"That's true," Alina agreed. "We should form a group—study together, support each other."
"What should we call it?" Leo asked.
They all fell silent, thinking.
"How about... The Synergy Squad?" Grace suggested. "Because together, we're better."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Later that evening, the newly named Synergy Squad decided to celebrate their victory. They visited a small student-friendly diner near the school. Over plates of fries and milkshakes, their laughter echoed through the cozy space.
They shared funny stories, talked about their academic goals, and discovered how much they had in common. It didn't feel like the beginning of something—it felt like something that had always been waiting to happen.
As the day drew to a close, Allen and Alina walked home together. For once, they weren't awkward. The air was light.
"You were amazing today," Alina said.
Allen shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. "We all were. It was a team effort."
They talked about their favorite shows, hobbies, and random school memories.
Then, after a pause, Allen said, "Hi, I'm Allen. Can we be friends?"
Alina smiled. "You're a bit late with that, don't you think?"
He laughed. "Better late than never."
When they reached home, they parted ways and went to their rooms. Alina sat on her bed, replaying the day in her mind.
"When I first came here," she thought, "everyone felt like strangers. But now… I've made some real friends."
Her phone rang. It was her mom.
They talked for a few minutes. Her mother asked about her studies and gently reminded her about her academic performance.
Alina nodded along. "Yes, Mom. I'll keep that in mind."
After hanging up, she looked out the window with a thoughtful expression.
Her heart was still light.
She whispered to herself, "Today was a good day"
To be Continued.....