章 32: She barely touched me
The adrenaline from our victory was still surging through me as Rowena and I stood near the edge of the court, basking in the post-match energy.
Sweat dripped down my back, mixing with the grains of sand that clung stubbornly to my skin, but I didn't care. The rush of triumph, the crowd's cheers—it was electric.
Luncindra's partner approached us, extending a hand. His face was flushed, but his expression was sincere. "That was a great match," he said, shaking my hand firmly. "You two are no joke out there."
"Thanks," I replied, smiling despite the lingering tension in the air. "You guys were tough too."
He nodded, then moved to shake Rowena's hand, but his gaze darted over his shoulder, and I followed it to see Luncindra storming toward us.
Oh, no.
Her eyes blazed with unspoken fury, and her posture screamed aggression. Before I could even process what she was doing, her fist was already swinging toward Rowena.
"Watch it!" I shouted, but Rowena was faster.
She ducked instinctively, her reflexes honed by years of sparring and mischief. Without missing a beat, she countered, her fist connecting squarely with Luncindra's jaw. The impact echoed, sharp and brutal, as Luncindra staggered back.
"That's for trying to sucker-punch me," Rowena said, her voice low and dangerous.
But Luncindra wasn't backing down. She lunged forward, and suddenly the two of them were locked in a chaotic brawl. Fists flew, sand kicked up in clouds around them, and the crowd gasped and shouted in shock.
"Are you kidding me?" I groaned, rushing forward.
It took a group of people including the referee and Luncindra's partner—to finally separate them.
Rowena stood, brushing sand off her arms, her grin wide and unrepentant. Luncindra, on the other hand, looked far worse for wear. Blood trickled from her nose, and her cheek was already swelling into a nasty bruise.
"Rowena, are you okay?" I asked, checking her over.
She laughed, brushing me off. "I'm fine. She barely touched me."
"Barely touched you? You look like you've been rolling around in a sandstorm!"
"And I still look better than her," Rowena quipped, shooting a smug glance at Luncindra, who was being helped away by her partner.
The referee's voice cut through the noise, sharp and authoritative. "Enough! I want no more of this nonsense. The next time anyone starts a fight, you'll be banned from the tournament—and the hotel."
Rowena shrugged, utterly unbothered, while I tried to smooth things over with the referee.
"She'll behave," I promised, shooting Rowena a glare.
"Of course I will," she said innocently, though the twinkle in her eye told me she was far from repentant.
The referee gave us a final warning look before walking away, muttering under his breath about unruly competitors.
I turned to Rowena, exasperated. "You just couldn't let it go, could you?"
"She threw the first punch," Rowena said, grinning. "I just finished it."
"Great. Now we're on thin ice with the tournament officials."
Rowena shrugged. "Worth it."
Here's an expanded and descriptive version of your beach volleyball tournament scene, infused with vivid imagery and detailed match progression:
The rest of the tournament continued, the energy on the beach reigniting with the buzzing excitement of each new match.
Cheers and whistles echoed across the sandy expanse as players dove, spiked, and served with precision, each team vying for their spot in the finals.
The sun hung high in the sky, a golden orb casting a warm glow over the scene, while the rhythmic crash of waves provided a natural soundtrack to the competitive fervour.
Rowena and I sat side by side on the sidelines, our toes buried in the warm sand as we watched the matches unfold.
The first team we observed was a pair of wiry twins with matching green tank tops and lightning-fast reflexes. Their synchronised movements made them seem almost telepathic as they returned every spike with deft precision.
"The Pendrake Twins, what with those ridiculous names" Rowena murmured, her eyes narrowing as she assessed their technique. Their opponents, a slightly older duo with powerful serves, struggled to keep up, and soon the twins claimed victory with a blistering 21–15 win.
Next up was a boisterous duo known as "The Storm Chasers," a pair of towering athletes clad in navy jerseys. Their serves hit the sand like thunderclaps, leaving their challengers scrambling to make even a passable return.
Despite their intimidating power, they weren't as agile, and their lack of speed allowed their competitors a nimble, strategic team named "The Foxgloves" to exploit openings and clinch a narrow victory.
As the matches continued, the heat of the sun seemed to intensify, but so did the energy of the crowd. Spectators erupted into applause as each game brought fresh drama.
One particularly thrilling match pitted "The Sundowners," a veteran pair known for their defensive prowess, against a young, fiery duo called "Team Inferno."
The Sundowners' ability to read the game was almost supernatural, and their dives to save impossible shots drew gasps from the audience.
However, Team Inferno's raw energy and relentless offence ultimately won the day, ending with a nail-biting score of 25–23.
Rowena and I traded knowing glances as we observed, quietly discussing each team's strengths and weaknesses.
Although there were some strong competitors, I couldn't help but feel a spark of confidence. Nothing we couldn't handle or so I thought.
When our turn arrived, Rowena and I stepped onto the court, the sand soft yet scorching beneath our feet.
Our first opponents were a duo with contrasting styles: one was a muscular powerhouse who specialised in smashes, while the other was a lanky, quick-footed player with an uncanny ability to anticipate the ball's trajectory.
The match was grueling, their aggressive playstyle keeping us on edge. But Rowena's incredible blocking at the net and my sharp cross-court spikes eventually turned the tide.
The game ended 21–18 in our favour, leaving us exhilarated but aware of the effort it had taken.
The second round introduced us to "The Scarlet Suns," a fiery team clad in vibrant red. They were aggressive, their serves brutal and their attacks unrelenting.
However, their overconfidence led to critical errors, and we capitalised on every missed hit. Rowena's unshakable focus and my determination saw us through, the score ending at 21–17.
By the semi-finals, the stakes had risen, and the crowd's anticipation was palpable. Our opponents were "The Azure Blades," a team known for their tactical brilliance.
They played with an almost surgical precision, placing the ball in hard-to-reach spots and testing our endurance.
Rowena's blocks were met with clever tips, while my spikes were often returned with pinpoint accuracy. It was a tense battle, and sweat dripped down our brows as we fought for every point.
The match stretched into extra points, but a final, decisive spike from Rowena secured our victory at 26–24.
When the final matchups were announced, I froze, staring at the board in disbelief.
Our final opponents were listed in bold letters: Seraphine and Riley.
My mouth dropped open as I processed what I was seeing.
"Are you kidding me?" I hissed, my voice rising in pitch.
"What's the problem?" Rowena asked, leaning over to look at the board. When she saw the names, her eyes widened before she burst into laughter.
"Our moms?" she said, doubling over. "We're playing against our moms?"
"This has to be a mistake," I muttered, shaking my head. "Who the hell puts their kids against their own parents in a tournament? What kind of twisted setup is this?"
Rowena wiped tears from her eyes, still laughing. "Oh, this is going to be fun."
"Fun? This is insane! You know they're going to destroy us, right? Mom has that freaky precision, and Mama's...well, Mama."
Rowena grinned, slinging an arm around my shoulders. "Relax, Rhiannon. We've got this."
I stared at her, incredulous. "You're seriously not worried about this?"
"Why would I be? It's just a game."
"A game against Riley and Seraphine," I emphasized, throwing my hands in the air. "You know, the literal powerhouses who trained us?"
Rowena smirked. "Hey, they taught us everything we know. Time to show them what we've learned."
"Great," I muttered under my breath. "Just great."
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