It all started when peace meets war. Northridge University's resident badboy genius meets his match in the form of a snobbish transferee from Avalon University. Copyright © 2024 by J.C. Ortega

Jeremaia Anderson came to Northridge University to win-quietly, cleanly, on his own terms. But in Metro Manila's biggest semi-final, one name keeps getting under his skin: Johnny Harrison, Avalon University's loud-mouthed golden boy who plays like he owns the field... and Jeremaia's attention. Their rivalry is public. Personal. Brutal. And when Jeremaia goes down hard on the last play-knocked out just before the winning shot-he expects to wake up to Northridge teammates and a loss he can't swallow. Instead, it's his rival who's there. A/N: This is my official entry for the Open Novella Contest 2026. Prompt # 58. "You're injured during a big game, and to your surprise, your rival from the other team carries you off the field." #ONC2026