Between Bruises and Butterflies

St. Augustine Academy – Gymnasium (9:30 AM)
The gym buzzes with noise — sneakers screeching against the polished floor, the echo of whistles, and the faint smell of sweat and floor wax hanging in the air.

The class is split into teams for basketball, and Coach Mendoza prowls the sidelines like a predator.

Sienna ties her shoelaces, chewing on a grape lollipop, while Jayjay dramatically stretches next to her.

JAYJAY (groaning): I think I pulled a muscle.

SIENNA (deadpan): We haven't started yet.

COACH MENDOZA (blowing his whistle): Montemayor! Castillo! You're captains. Pick your teams.

CUT TO: DAMIEN AND SIENNA LOCKING EYES
Damien spins a basketball on his finger, his smirk sharp as a knife.

DAMIEN (mocking): Try not to cry, Castillo.

Sienna stands up, rolling her shoulders.

SIENNA (grinning): Don't worry, Montemayor. I'll save you some dignity.

CUT TO: PICKING TEAMS
Sienna grabs Jayjay, Cass, Nico, and Bee.
Damien picks Zephyr, Theo, Vanessa, and Matt.

Jayjay vibrates with excitement, hopping in place like an energized bunny.

JAYJAY: I call cheer captain!

CASS (nervously): I haven't played since 6th grade...

SIENNA (smirking): Don't worry. We're just here to destroy them.

CUT TO: GAME STARTING
The whistle blows, and the game turns into a war zone.

Damien scores a three-pointer with zero effort, Zephyr blocks every shot, and Matt plays so aggressively he nearly shoves Jayjay into the bleachers.

Sienna dodges past Damien, sinks a layup, and flashes him a smug grin as she jogs back.

SIENNA (mocking): You blinked.

DAMIEN (panting, smirking): You're fast.

SIENNA (winking): And out of your league.

CUT TO: JAYJAY SCREAMING
Jayjay flails under the hoop as Matt charges toward him like a rhino.

JAYJAY (panicking): I didn't sign up to die!

MATT (grinning): No mercy, baby.

Jayjay dodges, but the ball bounces off his head and lands in Cass's hands.

CASS (terrified): Oh no, oh no, oh no—

She chucks the ball with her eyes closed, and by some miracle, it goes in.

JAYJAY (screaming): QUEEN CASS!!

CUT TO: FINAL MINUTES

The score is tied, and the tension is thick enough to choke on.

Sienna has the ball, sprinting down the court, Damien right on her heels.

He grabs her wrist, spins her, and they both crash to the floor, sliding across the polished wood.

They land hard, chests heaving, faces inches apart.

DAMIEN (grinning through heavy breaths): If you wanted to be this close, you could've just asked.

SIENNA (smirking, barely winded): I was trying to outrun your ego.

Damien's fingers are still wrapped around her wrist, but Sienna doesn't flinch.

She leans in — so close their noses nearly touch.

SIENNA (whispering): But thanks for the assist, Montemayor.

And with that, she yanks her arm free, hops up, and makes the winning shot like it's the easiest thing in the world.

NET SWISHES LOUDLY.

The gym erupts with cheers, and Jayjay actually falls over screaming.

JAYJAY (shrieking): WE ARE VICTORIOUS!!

Cass claps timidly, and even Bee jumps up and down, almost dropping her phone.

CUT TO: DAMIEN STILL ON THE FLOOR
Damien stays sprawled out, chest rising and falling as he stares at the ceiling, grinning like a maniac.

Zephyr stands over him, eating chips.

ZEPHYR (smirking): Bro. You lost.

DAMIEN (grinning wider): No.

He wipes the sweat off his forehead, eyes locked on Sienna as she celebrates with her team.

DAMIEN (softly): I just started winning.

FADE TO BLACK.

TO BE CONTINUED...