Trinket ✔️

CH-001

PART 2

It has been years.
I have grown, faced challenges, and learned valuable lessons from life. And if there's one truth I've carved into my soul, it's this—love is an illusion, a fleeting mirage. But in the end, self-love is the only unwavering truth—the key to true existence.

A new season. A fresh beginning. A story yet to be written.

UCLA.
The dream university. The utopia of scholars and athletes alike. A realm where aspirations take flight, where the magnificent campus and world-class education intertwine to craft legends. Must I say more??

The championship camps were upon us, and the echoes of victory resonated through the air. The jubilant screams of girls, the roaring chants of spectators, the electrifying proclamations of triumph—UCLA had already been crowned victors before the game had even begun.

And then, they arrived.
The UCLA basketball team stormed onto the court, led by none other than their boisterous mascot, Joe Bruin—a lively brown bear bounding and twirling with uncontainable fervor. The atmosphere surged from thrilling to euphoric. It wasn't just the home crowd who felt the energy; even Stanford's team, their adversaries for the evening, knew they were on foreign soil, unwelcome and outmatched.

Then came the captain.
Kendrick Jonathan Holt.

The shooter. The game-changer. The epitome of versatility and prowess. Every girl on campus was under his spell, yearning for even a fleeting glance from him, a simple acknowledgment that would send their hearts into a frenzy.

Majoring in Economics and Finance, Kendrick was the perfect blend of intellect and athleticism. A tall, enigmatic figure with a killer presence he was a dangerous deal to handle. He was a player on and off the court.

Yet, beneath the arrogant facade lay a heart of gold. Family was his sanctuary, and his team was his second kin. He was their leader, their protector.

The referee's whistle sliced through the air.
The game commenced, and UCLA unveiled their true nature—untouchable and undefeatable beasts on their own turf.

Amidst the deafening crowd, amidst the sea of voices cheering for their favorites, one girl stood apart. She wasn't just a spectator; she was a silent devotee. Her eyes were locked on one man—the Power Forward. The strongest, the most formidable, the player Stanford feared above all. They tried, time and again, to wrestle the ball from him, but could they? Not a chance.

Sage clenched her lip between her teeth, her fists tightening with each passing second. Anxiety clawed at her insides. She had never spoken of it, not even to her best friend, Jill. Not once had she confessed that she harbored a colossal, heart-throbbing crush on the Power Forward. Hell, she couldn't even look at him directly. She stole glimpses, but never had she dared to capture him wholly in her gaze.

The scoreboard blinked—tied scores, fifteen seconds left, the semi-finals. The air was thick with suspense. Every breath was held. Every movement was calculated. And then—

Five seconds.

The ball was in his hands.

Three seconds.

He soared.

Caden made the basket.

Stanford 7 – UCLA 8.

The stadium exploded.

Sage's cheeks bloomed with color, her lips stretching into the widest smile. Jill shrieked, throwing her arms around her, both jumping in exhilaration.

"Oh my god, Sage! They are incredible! Your brother is the best captain!" Jill gushed, jumping with excitement.

Sage merely smiled, her gaze drifting back to the court. The victors were reveling, running, and high-fiving the crowd. Kendrick waved at someone—Beth. Head of External Affairs and a classmate of Kendrick's. Their relationship wasn't public knowledge yet, though she often hung out with Kendrick and Caden. Lucky girl.

Then Kendrick's eyes found his little sister. He grinned, flashing his teeth, and she returned the gesture. And that's when it happened.

Her gaze met his.

Caden.

He was looking at her.

Something unreadable flickered in his dark eyes—curiosity, amusement, bewilderment? She had no idea. But for her, time stood still. Her pulse roared in her ears. Her body betrayed her, her gaze faltering as she cast her eyes downward, her cheeks burning. Why was she ashamed? She had no reason to be. Yet, when she looked up again, he was gone.

The team was retreating from the court, brandishing their trophy, basking in their moment of glory. This was just another championship added to UCLA's collection, but for Kendrick and their father, it was a monumental triumph.

Kendrick had been a sports prodigy since he was four. Their father had trained him rigorously, molding him into the athlete he is today. Sage, on the other hand, was the scholar. A valedictorian, she had received acceptance letters from multiple Ivy League schools. But UCLA was close to home, and Kendrick was already there. So, she chose UCLA. And, in turn, she found him.

The first time she saw Caden was by the shore.

It was around 7:30 in the evening. He had been staring at the sea, his hair tousled by the wind, his expression unreadable—like a man mourning something he had lost, something he longed to return to.

She had forgotten about that mysterious boy.
Until she saw him on campus.
It was her first day at UCLA. Walking through the hallways with other freshmen, she spotted the basketball team emerging from the seminar hall. Her brother was among them. And then, just behind him—

A familiar face.
Brown hair. Chiseled jaw. A commanding presence. Caden.

Her heart pounded as her gaze fell on his jersey—CADEN 97.
The name engraved in her mind, now in bold letters across his back.

She whispered his name, and he turned as if sensing it.

She ducked behind a girl, evading his eyes. That girl later became her friend, but at that moment, all Sage cared about was disappearing from Caden's sight.

Back in the present, she was still staring at the court's exit when Jill's voice snapped her out of it.

"Your brother's long gone, but I know who you were staring at," Jill teased, tugging her towards the exit.
"Come on, spill it!"

Sage laughed, shaking her head. "No one, you know."
She giggled, attempting to flee, but Jill was relentless.

Sage was full of life—a devoted daughter, a beloved baby sister to her star athlete brother. Kendrick had forbidden her from hanging out with him on campus, but everyone knew who she was. Their parents, deeply rooted in the entertainment industry, had warmly raised them despite their demanding careers.

Their mother was a renowned magazine editor. Their father was a sought-after talent agent. Growing up, Sage and Kendrick had brushed shoulders with celebrities like it was second nature.

When she arrived home, the entire house was buzzing with joy. Her parents, Kendrick, and a handful of his friends celebrated the win. It was rare for Kendrick to bring his friends over; usually, they stayed confined to his loft.

Then she saw him.
Caden.

Her breath hitched, and she swiftly stepped out of sight, not like this. She wasn't ready for this moment.

As she cautiously moved toward her room, something on the floor caught her eye—an ID card, face down near the guest bathroom. She picked it up and turned it over.

It was his but what caught her eyes was his name.
Her heart skipped a beat.
It was: Niall Caden C. Jacksonville.

*****
A/N: The long-awaited story of Niall begins! This book is going to unravel his past and his journey ahead. Stay tuned, and keep your hopes high—I'll try my best to complete this story soon.
Ciao!