Twice The Trouble

Chapter 38: Falling Harder

Sophia

I read somewhere that writers were masochists. 

The pain was usually the inspiration for their stories, and it helped a great deal for the woes and sorrows to come to life on the pages, the characters' gloomy and somber origins capturing the hearts and sympathies of their readers.

People who took pleasure in being hurt, emotionally and physically. I wasn't a fan of masochism but I couldn't deny my belief that I was a masochist. Maybe a part of me relished the wounds.

Or I could just be plain stupid.

It is Monday noon and two days away from Preliminary exams--which, in college life, estimated from three to five days--so I had to start cracking books and browsing printouts.

But I have to run this errand first.

With my proposal about the Orion Arrow being approved last week, I, as the Editor-in-Chief, had to familiarize myself with the basketball court--or the Tech Center--where PE classes also held volleyball games, tennis matches, and dance rehearsals, aside from the dance studio, of course.

Not only am I the E.I.C, but I was also assigned to handle the sports column, since I had the most experience in this sport in particular. I knew the hows, whys, whens, who's, and whats by heart.

When I reached the top of the staircase leading to the TC, my brown eyes widened in awe.

Massive. Magnificent. It was everything I expected it to look like, and more.

I snickered to myself, remembering a time I described a chocolate cake in the same manner.

The university gymnasium had pale blue bleachers opposite each other, sandwiching a long and spacious basketball court whose floor was glossy hardwood,freshly waxed. I could see my reflection when I bent my head down. A rack of basketballs stood in one corner, while another box of volleyballs was lined against another wall. There were two male dressing rooms and two female locker rooms in one row. The windows were ceiling-to-floor, allowing the sunlight to pour into the marvelous and opulent court.

It was lunchtime, but I opted to grab a burger later and simply assess the gymnasium, where there would be a basketball game between home and visitors. Orion's biggest rival, Scorpius.

Both constellations rang a bell, and I vaguely recalled an old myth or legend about the Hunter and the Scorpion being sort-of enemies. I reached inside my gray vest-pocket and fished out my white cellphone, resuming my stroll while connecting to the university's free and fast internet.

I was about to type into the Google search-rectangle when I felt my feet slip across the floor.

"Ah!" I cried out, dipping backwards as my phone soared in the air.

Steeling myself for the inevitable,I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for the pain to come.

When it didn't, I fluttered my brown eyes open and surveyed my surroundings warily.

A pair of lean arms encircled my waist,one hand on my back as my body was diagonal.

I raised my chin and was welcomed by two soft brown eyes and a gentle, amused smile.

"You should be more careful next time, Ya. You could have hit your head."

My cheeks felt warm and pink as Lucas continued to steady me in his arms. I was transfixed by the easy and effortless way he clutched at my phone while leveling me at the same time.

"I'll make note of that," I said and cleared my throat, and I took my phone from his hand.

"How, by vandalizing your palm?" the black-haired male asked as he helped me land on my feet.