Bruised (A Thomas Torres Fanfiction)

One

It’s been months since the volleyball finals of the UAAP Season 76 and another exciting season is about to start. I remember, I chuckled, that I encountered someone who managed to spark my interest during that time. I knew her, of course, before that encounter. However, I certainly didn’t expect someone like her to be there a day before her team’s championship game.

“Oh wow,” I said as I took a seat beside a familiar girl. In the dark, her hair that was dyed light brown appeared black and it was let down, reaching just past her shoulders. Even as she was sitting down, it’s quite obvious that she’s taller than the usual Filipino girls. “It’s kind of funny to find you here,”

 

“Great to know my presence is giving you a laugh,” she flatly responded, a slight slur in her voice, before she took another drink from her glass of whiskey. She never bothered to look my way even as I rolled my eyes at her response. “Who are you anyway?” She slurred, this time slowly turning towards me.

 

I smirked.

 

“It’s you,” she sighed. “Where are you other Green Archer buds? They aren’t around, are they? I wouldn’t want to run into more of you guys,”

 

“You sure take this school rivalry thing seriously,” I commented as I watched her finish her glass. Once she did, she filled it with more from the bottle standing by her glass.

 

She shrugged. “Maybe,” the girl responded lowly. “Maybe not. Maybe it’s just for fun,”

 

I sighed as I took the glass away from her. “Stop drinking. Don’t you have a game tomorrow?”

 

She immediately protested. “Hey! Give that back! I paid for that!” She exclaimed. “Why do you care anyway? Wouldn’t you want that? One of the players from the opposing team appears in the game drunk and messes up the whole team’s performance? Yey! A default win to La Salle,”

 

I just shook my head. “That’s quite unfair, don’t you think? Giving us an advantage? You’re one of the players your school depends on,”

 

“Oh wow. I didn’t know that the Thomas Torres actually watches our games,” she chuckled after she managed to get her glass back from me. I could only watch and shake my head as I saw her finish the drink in one gulp. “Which actually makes me wonder, why the hell are you talking to me? And why the hell are you in a bar in Tomas Morato? Are you alone?”

 

“You just asked the same questions I want to ask you,” I grinned. “Really though. Going to the bar on the night before a championship game, wow,”

 

“None of your business, Torres. Last time I checked, we aren’t friends. We’re both just athletes who do what we have to do to win for our school. Might I add, we aren’t even from the same school. In fact, your school and my school are quote-unquote, rivals,”

 

I just shook my head and stood up. “Okay. I get it. I’ll leave you alone, geez. Best of luck tomorrow, I hope you don’t trip on your own two feet on the court,” I smirked.