Games Of Hearts

18. Fresh start

Eva's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing through me like a dagger. "You're playing with fire, Joshua," she whispered, her voice low and menacing. "You think you can just waltz back into my life and stir up all these memories? You're wrong."

I smirked, my eyes locked on hers. "Oh, I'm just getting started," I said, my voice dripping with defiance. "You see, I have a perfect memory, and those moments on the beach... unforgettable."

Eva's face twisted in a snarl, her fists clenched at her sides. "You're a jerk, Joshua. Always pushing boundaries, never respecting personal space."

I shrugged, my grin widening. "That's what makes life interesting, Eva. And you know it."

The air was charged with tension, our words hanging like a challenge between us. The silence that followed was deafening, a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.

Suddenly, Rue's voice cut through the tension. "Okay, kids, let's take a break. We can finish this later."

Eva's eyes never left mine, but she nodded curtly and turned to leave. I watched her go, my heart pounding in my chest. This was far from over.

"Good match, bruh!" I exclaim, as Mark and I embrace, our fists bumping together in a brotherly gesture. We hug each other tightly, patting each other's backs in a show of mutual respect.

As we separate, Eva's voice cuts through the moment, her tone tauntful. "Ahh, I see your shoulders are better, Joshua." She raises an eyebrow, a sly smile spreading across her face.

I grin, my eyes locking onto hers. "Hey, someone's got to keep up with your stalking skills, Eva!" I retorted, my voice laced with playful sarcasm. "And yeah, my shoulders are feeling great, thanks for noticing." I flex my arms, striking a pose to show off my muscles. "Must be all the weightlifting I've been doing... or maybe it's just the weight of my ego after that epic win!"

Eva squished her eyes but they're sparkling with amusement. "You're such a show-off, Josh," she says, shaking her head in mock disbelief. But her smile betrays her, revealing a hint of admiration for my playful confidence.

Mark chuckles, clapping me on the back. "Josh, you might have won this match but next match is on me" He grins, his eyes gleaming with friendship.

"We'll see about that" I got into my car, the other three parted their ways from me. I ride back to my house after a boxing match, the boxing match was on notch looking at the bruises on our and Eva's unexpected appearance was the cherry on top. I parked my bike

As I stepped into my home, a sense of excitement and anticipation washed over me. I had been waiting for what felt like an eternity to hear back from Greenslade University, one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. I dropped my bag on the floor and hastily made my way to my laptop, my heart racing with anticipation. I opened my email inbox, and my eyes scanned the list of unread messages until they landed on the one I had been longing to see - the acceptance letter from Greenslade University.

My eyes widened as I read the words "Congratulations, you have been accepted..." over and over, the news sinking in slowly. A beaming smile spread across my face, and I felt a surge of pride and accomplishment. All my hard work, dedication, and perseverance had paid off. I did it! I was going to be a part of one of the best universities in the world. The feeling was indescribable, a mix of joy, relief, and disbelief all rolled into one. I felt like I was on top of the world, like nothing could stop me from achieving my dreams now.