Chapter 1- The Smash of Destiny

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The sound of shuttlecocks hitting rackets echoed through the school’s badminton court. Cheers, laughter, and competitive screams filled the air. It was the annual School Badminton Selection Trials, and the entire Class 12 was either competing… or watching from the sidelines with bated breath.

Standing at the center of it all was Luna Carter—fearless, confident, and unapologetically bold. Her ponytail swung behind her as she gripped her racket tighter. Her honey-brown eyes burned with determination.

“Alright,” Luna muttered under her breath. “Time to prove... again.”

But her smirk faded the moment a familiar voice pierced the court.

“Move aside, Carter. This court’s not meant for amateurs.”

The words were cold, sharp—like ice needles.

She turned… and there he was.

Zane Blackwood.

Tall, effortlessly cool in his black wristbands, his jet-black hair falling slightly over his deep stormy-grey eyes. His gaze was unreadable, his expression stoic, but his presence was impossible to ignore.

The school bully. The mysterious boy everyone either hated… or secretly admired.

“Oh, it’s you,” Luna scoffed, tossing her racket onto her shoulder. “Didn’t realize trash talked now.”

A faint, almost invisible smirk curled on Zane’s lips. “Funny. I thought trash only made noise, not jokes.”

The tension was instant. The entire court quieted. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

They had always been like this.

Snarky remarks. Fierce rivalry. Constant bickering.

But what no one else knew... was the secret buried deep beneath this hate.

A secret neither of them had spoken about for years.

A secret that started… back when they were just two little kids, in a park, under a cherry blossom tree.

But right now, they were enemies. And badminton? This was war.

“Pair number 7,” the coach called out. “Luna Carter… Zane Blackwood… you're partners.”

Silence.

Utter silence.

Both Luna and Zane whipped their heads toward the coach in disbelief.

“Wait—what?!” Luna gasped. “No. No way. Absolutely not.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Zane muttered under his breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. “This is a nightmare.”

The coach tapped his clipboard. “We’re short on players. Doubles. Both of you are the best in your categories. Deal with it. Unless... you’d rather give up the chance to compete in Nationals?”

Luna’s fists clenched. Zane’s jaw tightened.

There was no choice.

No way either of them was walking away from Nationals.

“Fine,” Zane snapped. “But stay out of my way.”

“Gladly,” Luna shot back. “Just don’t mess up.”

The air around them practically sizzled with electricity as they walked to the court.

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As the game began, something unexpected happened.

Despite the glares, the silent treatment, and the gritted teeth… their bodies moved in sync. Like muscle memory. Like they'd done this before.

Luna jumped. Zane covered. Zane smashed. Luna countered.

Perfect rhythm.

Perfect flow.

Even they seemed confused by it.

"How...?" Luna blinked mid-game.

Zane didn’t answer. But something flickered in his eyes. Something… nostalgic.

A buried memory.

A little girl in pigtails holding a tiny badminton racket.

A little boy handing her a red hairclip, whispering, “Don’t be scared. We’ve got this.”

The past… was beginning to unravel.

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When the game ended, the coach clapped. “Perfect. Exactly what I expected.”

But Luna and Zane just stood there, breathless… not from the game.

But from the realization that something between them was far from over.

And neither of them was ready for what came next.

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To Be Continued...

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