In the heart of University of St. La Salle Bacolod, two athletes stand at the pinnacle of their respective sports. Blaire Corinne Yap, the fierce and determined captain of the volleyball team, and Art Theodore Dela Vega, the charismatic leader of the basketball squad. They are both driven by their passion for the game. Their worlds seemed separated, yet their pasts are deeply intertwined.
As children, Blaire and Art were the standard, best of friends who shared childhood dreams and promises. But time and distance pulled them apart, forcing them to grow into strangers. Now, as they navigate their university years, the echoes of their past re-surface. A chance encounter re-ignites long-forgotten memories, and the spark between them threatens to blur the line between rivalry and romance.
However, their journey is not without obstacles. As captains, they bear the weight of expectations, responsibilities, and the pressure to lead their teams to victory. Old wounds, personal struggles, and the fear of losing everything they worked for stand in their way. Will their re-kindled bond survive the tests of ambition and competition? Or will fate once again tear them apart?
With every match played, every challenge faced, and every moment shared, Blaire and Art must decide-will they let destiny write their story, or will they take control and pen their own dreams?
1st Book in By love series
At St. Xavier's College, Reyansh Malhotra is a name everyone knows. The charming, cocky, and undisputed basketball captain, he rules the court and the college halls with equal ease. With a magnetic presence, a devil-may-care attitude, and an army of admirers, he is the last person anyone would associate with books or academics.
On the other side of campus, Ishani Mehta prefers the quiet corners of the library over the noise of the basketball court. A topper, an aspiring criminal lawyer, and a girl who has never let distractions-or boys-get in the way of her ambitions. With her sharp wit and focused mindset, she has built a world where grades matter more than gossip, and competition means nothing unless it's academic.
When an academic confrontation forces them into an unexpected rivalry, sparks fly. Ishani finds herself forced to tutor Reyansh, a punishment neither of them is thrilled about. But what starts as mere bickering soon turns into a friendship full of witty banter, unexpected moments, and a growing closeness neither anticipated.
But everything changes when Reyansh is dared by his rival team to do the unthinkable-make Ishani fall for him. Caught between his ego and his conscience, he steps into the game, unaware that the lines between pretense and reality will blur faster than he imagined.
As emotions spiral out of control and hearts are put on the line, what happens when the player gets played by love itself?