The Girl Who Stole My First Kiss

Chapter Five - Volleyball

Orm

My mom, finally free from work for a day, cooked us dinner last night at her place. This morning, Prigkhing and I decided to have an indoor picnic because, hey, who can resist a private pool?

As we were leaving, Mom reminded us, "Gotta get back to work, kiddos. Turn off everything before you go. Lunch is packed, eat before you head out!"

"You're so lucky to have your Mom," Prigkhing said dreamily.

"Not so lucky when she starts nagging," I countered, and we both chuckled.

Then the conversation shifted to Ling. "So, what's going on with you two? I saw you getting all cozy in the garden," Prigkhing teased, clearly dying to know the details.

"Honestly, I have no idea," I admitted in a hushed tone.

"Still not together? That's surprising," she said.

"Of course not! Remember, she hates me," I sighed, the sting of rejection still fresh.

"Hates you?" Prigkhing scoffed. "Then why the hug? Who hugs their enemy like that?"

Her words sparked a flicker of hope, but I quickly doused it. Been there, done that. No more getting hurt because of wishful thinking.

"Don't be ridiculous," I cut her off. "She just needed a hug, that's all."

Prigkhing shrugged. "Well, if it were me, I'd hold out for someone better." She popped an apple slice in her mouth.

"Someone better?" I echoed.

"Ever considered Ying? Seems like she's got a thing for you," Prigkhing suggested, earning a playful swat on the arm.

"Seriously? Ying's practically a sister to me! She takes care of me, but there's nothing romantic there," I explained, rolling my eyes. Prigkhing, ever the apple bandit, had practically devoured the whole plate by now.

"Alright, girls, positions!" Coach Tan barked. Even though it was Saturday, we were stuck with practice. Apparently, there's an inter-campus volleyball competition next month, and rumor has it, it's going to be brutal - our opponents are national-level players.

"Milk's setting for now. You're libero," Ying whispered. I nodded. We were facing the school's varsity team, which meant Ling was on the other side of the net. This was my first time playing with Milk, who'd been delayed due to vacation. Man, she and Ying were amazing together, their teamwork was flawless.

"Good job, Orm!"

"That's my girl!"

"Sheesh!"

Ying kept hyping me up with those shouts every time I made a good save. I returned the favor with winks, high fives, and even a flying kiss. But throughout the entire practice, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. It was like someone was glaring daggers at me, but I couldn't pinpoint who.

Then came Ling's turn to spike. I'd seen her spikes before - powerful didn't even begin to describe them. But this time, the ball was coming straight for me. The force of her hit was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. It was the first time during practice that I completely fumbled the catch. The sting in my forearm lingered, a constant reminder of the impact.

Here's the thing: if that spike was a surprise attack, then the next ones felt deliberate. Ling kept targeting me, and with every failed catch, her smirk grew wider. Did she hate me that much? I had no idea what was going on, but I wasn't about to back down without a fight.

After a decent exchange where I finally managed a good save, I muttered to Milk and Ying that I wanted to spike. They looked confused, but Ying eventually nodded, probably sensing my simmering anger.