When I reached home, I changed into house clothes and then faced my laptop. I intend to research strategies that I can suggest to help our team.
Maven knows a lot about this, but I swore to myself that I wouldn't ask for his help because, aside from the fact that I want to do it on my own, I know that asking for his help is also inadvertently asking for Coach Vicente's help too.
For sure, what Maven's going to teach me is also what he has already learned from him.
It's been hours that have already passed that I didn't notice until I heard patterned knocks on my door. Two loud knocks and three soft, slow knocks I can't help but smile.
"Come in, GD!" I yelled, and then the door opened up. My brother entered, who obviously just came from a gang war because I saw he still had his brass knuckles on and his white shirt had blood stains on it. I rolled my eyes at the sight of it.
"Didn't I tell you before to at least wear something black if you are to have any fights, so the blood won't be obvious? You look horrible," I told him, which he just laughed off.
There are four of us, and Kuya GD is the eldest. He's already twenty years old and just got out of college. He helps with the family business, yet he is also active in the gang, where he and my other brother are members. They are called Secret Monarch, and if my memory serves me right, dad used to be a member there too, along with some of his business partners, but now the members are their children, and GD is the leader.
"Do I really look horrible? Savanna said that I still look good with this." He's beyond proud saying it.
I rolled my eyes. "Of course she is your fiancée!" I growled, then got up from my seat to retrieve the first aid kit, though all he has are minor scratches on his shoulder.
"Rennan told me that you're still on that team that St. Agatha won't even support," he started.
I just shrugged. "It's fine with me. One more thing, I really love volleyball, so I don't really mind.
"But which one do you love more? Maven or volleyball?"
I pouted at that, saying, "That's unfair." He just laughed and then ruffled my hair.
"You know what? All of us are afraid for you. Can you please be careful? Rennan told us that you don't walk away from fights." He suddenly turned serious.
"Well, why would I back off if I can handle myself? You guys taught me martial arts, didn't you?"
"Yep. And that's our biggest mistake."
I can't help but smile at that. Among my brothers, GD has always been the most protective when it comes to me. CL and Rennan are like that too, but GD is different. I remember how he gave Maven a hard time during the time he was courting me. Maven even admitted that he almost gave up if he just didn't love me.
"Do not worry about me too much, big bro. You know that I can protect myself. I can even defeat Rennan, you know. But anyway, let's talk about you. What happened?"
I remember not understanding why my brothers engaged in gang wars until the time came when I finally did. The Secret Monarch is a bigtime gang being handled by our company. Dad told me that the Secret Monarch is like the protectors of our company. That they are the ones in charge of fighting off people who dare to tarnish the image of our company.
"As usual, we managed to bring them down, and they pledged not to bother us again," he said in a not-so-interested way.
"How about me? When will I become a member of the gang?" I asked because I have always been curious.
"Don't even dream of it, princess. I won't allow you to enter the fucked-up world that me and your brother entered. Never."
My lips tugged downward at that. "How can you say that when you do it for our company? I can protect myself, you know that."
He shook his head, and from here, I knew that nothing would really make him agree. GD is generous when it comes to what I like, but not like this, which can jeopardize my safety.
"It's still a no, princess. Nothing you say will ever change my mind," he said with finality.
***
Trina called, and she said that Kisha met up with her and told her that she, along with her minions, would be leaving the team already.
So here I am, rushing to get to school already and, every once in a while, growling at my twin brother to drive faster.
"Piss off, Arya! If you're forgetting, I'm still five minutes older than you!" he yelled at me, but then he was driving faster, thankfully.
"So what? I am still the princess! And you know that I am in a rush!" I yelled back. "Why don't you just give Kisha a chance, even just one date, anyway? You're a womanizer, so it won't be hard."
I am silently wishing that I can still convince Kisha and the others to stay, because if not, there is no way that the interschool league committee will allow us to play if the team only has six members. I am desperate already.
"Yes, I am a womanizer, but I am a womanizer with taste, Arya. Just take a look at that girl. It seems that she only gets to take a bath once a week, and someone told me that she reuses her socks. That's just fucking gross!"
I narrowed my eyes at that because I did not know how true it was. Kisha is flamboyant herself, so it's really hard to believe.
"Who told you that?"
"Monique"
I rolled my eyes at that. "You're stupider than I expected. Of course, Monique would badmouth her because she likes you! Kisha isn't like that; for fuck's sake, she won't even touch the ground."
My twin brother just smirked. I did not say anything more because just then, we had already entered the school grounds, and once the car stopped in front of the high school department, I quickly got out of the car.
I saw my friends at the top of the stairs, obviously waiting for me. They both twitched upon seeing me.
"You just got here on time! Try talking to Kisha now!" they urged. Well, that is what I will really do, even though they do not tell me.
"Kisha Mariano!" I yelled upon seeing the she-devil herself talking to her friends. She looked at me, then rolled her eyes.
"What is it?" she asked disinterestedly, even crossing her arms. Her minions are looking cockily at me, but I have decided not to mind it anymore.
"You perfectly know that two weeks from now the interschool league will start, yet you just decided to leave just now?" I snapped.
She put her arms around her waist. "Aren't you informed yet? Duh, our team is trash!" she said bitchily. If I just forgot that I was asking for her favor, I could've punched her already.
"Don't be like that. We can't just give up right now. We've been training for years."
"You perfectly know why I just joined the team, right? But until now nothing has happened. Your brother is still not approaching me. If you want me and my girls to stay, then arrange a date for me and your brother."
I stopped to think about it. What she's asking for isn't really hard, and I don't really care who Rennan dates, but I am not quite sure if I can convince Rennan.
"If I can do that, can you promise to stay on the team?" I asked in a tone that meant business.
"Yes, and I will even do my best," she replied. Crazy girl. Does she really need a guy to do her best? Why can't she be an independent woman who doesn't need a man?
"It's a deal then. You'll know my answer tomorrow," I answered, then turned on my back to leave. This is frustrating!
My friends are still waiting for me, and by the looks on their faces, it seems like they have braced themselves for the worst already.
"Fuck this. Rennan is the only solution for Kisha and her bitches to stay on the team. I need to convince Rennan to date her!"
Trina snorted at that. "Damn her. What a cunning fox. She's using your weakness for her benefit."
I just shook my head. "I do not really care. All I want is our team. The final filling up of the line-up would be next week, and by this time we're supposed to be sure already who will be playing."