The Sweetest Fruit ( Tomboy 🏳️‍🌈Love Story )

6. long day

Sonia

The door creaked open and MJ entered, her presence already shifting the atmosphere. I sat up from my cluttered desk, where opened textbooks and crumpled papers lay abandoned.

" So did I make the team ?" I blurted out barely giving her a chance to drop her bag.

She froze, her face unreadable, but the crease between her eyebrows deepened. That frown — it was like her signature. She hesitated, her eyes darting to the mess on my desk before meeting mine.

" MJ tells me I can handle the truth." My voice cracked a little bit, betraying the confidence I was trying to project. She let out a sigh, crossing the room in a few strides to sit beside me on the narrow bed. Her hand, soft and warm, slipped into mine.

" I'm sorry but ... " she began her voice soft yet heavy. Like the rain clouds gathering outside. Her touch sent a pang through me and I felt the knot in my stomach tighten. I didn't know how bad I wanted to be a part of the team.

" I knew it,” I muttered,  the words falling out faster than I could catch them.”My mother must be behind this."

MJ’s head tilted a little, her frown softening into curiosity. " What do you mean your mother must be behind this?"

"She probably prayed for this," I said, letting out a hollow laugh. “ Anything to keep me away from distractions.”

A rare laugh escapes her lips, light and unexpected. Like sunlight breaking through the clouds, I felt my heart flutter.

“Relax, Sonia, you made the team.”

I blinked. Taking my time to register her words, and when I do, I launch myself in her arms like a spring uncoiling.

" I made the team? Did you just say I made the team!" My arms wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her close. Her strong, spicy cologne filled my senses, grounding me in the moment.

" I also said but .. "

" Yeah, you said, but what does that mean?" I ask, still holding onto her.

Her lips curved into a smirk, the one that made her brown eyes glow under the yellow light. "There are two spots only and there are three of you."

The excitement that had surged through me had longed passed away and replaced with unease.

" What now ?"

" The girls with the most improvement will be the permanent team players," she explained in a firm tone. “ It's all about teamwork and you lack that.”

Her words were blunt, like a ball hitting me square in the chest.

" I've always played alone,” I admitted, my voice barely a whisper. “That's how I used to deal … with stuff.”

Her expression softened. " Don't worry I'm going to help you."

" Really?" I blinked, half the time she doesn't want anything to do with me and now she wants to help me.

" Yeah just know I won't go easy on you, " she muttered, a smirk curling on those cherry lips.

" I don't expect any less from you," I replied, swallowing hard.

" What's that supposed to mean ?" She asked, standing up with a raised brow.

" That's… very good," I said, stepping back.

She moved closer, her movements deliberate, trapping me between her veiny hands on the wall. " I'm also good at other things," she said, her voice low.