Chapter 28 — Day 4
Kabaddi Quarter-Finals
The kabaddi ground was nothing like the polished courts of basketball.
It was rough.
Dusty.
Unforgiving.
Every step kicked up clouds of dry sand that hung in the air like smoke. The sun burned overhead, turning the ground hot and harsh.
Teams gathered along the sides of the field.
Care stood with her team, tying her hair tightly into a high ponytail. Her eyes were sharp, focused, calculating every movement around her.
Lyra stretched beside her, shaking out her arms.
"You ready?" Lyra asked.
Care cracked her knuckles.
"Always."
The whistle blew.
The match began.
First Raid
A player from the opposing team stepped onto their side, chanting under her breath.
"Kabaddi… kabaddi… kabaddi…"
Care crouched low, watching her every move.
The raider lunged forward, trying to tag two players at once.
Care moved instantly.
She grabbed the girl's wrist and twisted her balance just enough for the others to tackle her down.
The referee's whistle blew.
Out.
Their team cheered.
Lyra bumped Care's shoulder.
"Nice one."
Care only nodded, eyes already scanning the field again.
Care's Raid
Now it was her turn.
Care crossed the midline.
"Kabaddi… kabaddi… kabaddi…"
Her voice stayed steady as she moved across the dusty ground.
The opposing team circled her.
Waiting.
Care suddenly dashed forward, tagging one player and spinning around.
But the moment she turned, two girls grabbed her legs.
The dust exploded around them as they crashed into the ground.
Care struggled hard.
Her lungs burned as she inhaled mouthfuls of dusty air.
Still chanting.
Still fighting.
She twisted, dragging two defenders across the line before they could stop her.
The whistle blew.
Two players out.
The crowd erupted.
Lyra laughed breathlessly.
"You're insane!"
Care just wiped the dust off her face.
But she coughed once.
Then again.
She ignored it.
Final Minutes
The match turned brutal near the end.
Players dove, tackled, rolled across the dirt. Dust coated everyone's clothes, hair, and skin.
Lyra made a risky raid, tagging a defender before barely escaping a tackle.
But when she returned to their side, she bent forward slightly.
Her legs trembled.
Care noticed but said nothing.
The last raid decided everything.
Care went again.
She moved like a predator—fast, calculated.
She tagged one player.
Then another.
They tried to trap her.
But she dropped low and slid under their grip, barely escaping back across the line.
The whistle screamed through the air.
Match Over.
Quarter-finals won.
Their team shouted in victory.
Lyra collapsed onto the ground laughing, completely exhausted.
Care stood still for a moment, breathing heavily.
Her chest felt tight.
Too tight.
Washroom
The locker room washroom was quiet.
Care leaned over the sink, turning on the tap.
Water splashed against the porcelain.
She coughed.
Once.
Twice.
Then suddenly—
A violent cough shook her body.
She gripped the sink.
Another cough ripped from her lungs.
Something warm hit the sink.
Care looked down.
A small streak of red mixed with the water.
Blood.
Her breathing stopped for a second.
The sound of the tap filled the silence.
Care stared at the blood, her expression frozen.
Her lungs burned.
Her chest felt heavy.
She understood immediately.
They were getting worse.
Slowly, she turned the tap stronger and washed the blood away.
The red disappeared down the drain.
Care splashed cold water on her face and straightened.
Her expression hardened again.
No one would know.
Outside
Lyra leaned against the corridor wall, wiping sweat from her forehead.
Her legs trembled slightly.
Alex walked over immediately.
"You're shaking."
"I'm fine," Lyra said weakly.
"You're not."
Alex crouched in front of her before she could protest.
He grabbed a bottle of water from his bag and handed it to her.
"Drink."
Lyra took it slowly.
Alex looked at her legs.
"They're still trembling."
Lyra tried to laugh.
"Congratulations, doctor."
Alex didn't smile.
He gently held her ankle, checking the strain in her muscles.
"You pushed too hard."
Lyra shrugged.
"Quarter-finals."
Alex shook his head.
"You don't always have to destroy yourself to win."
Lyra looked at him for a moment.
Soft.
Tired.
"Someone has to keep up with Care."
Alex glanced toward the hallway where Care was walking back from the washroom.
"She's worse than all of you."
Lyra nodded quietly.
But she was so exhausted that she didn't notice the slight tightness in Care's breathing.
Night — Mansion
The entire group looked destroyed when they returned.
Dust-covered clothes.
Bruised knees.
Exhausted faces.
Daisy collapsed on the couch immediately.
"Don't talk to me for the next twelve hours."
Ben laughed weakly.
"Deal."
Kevin dropped his bag near the stairs.
Lyra practically fell into a chair.
Alex placed a blanket over her shoulders without saying anything.
Within minutes, half the group had fallen asleep.
The mansion slowly grew quiet.
Late Night
Care stood near the balcony, looking outside into the dark garden.
Her breathing was calmer now.
But the tightness in her chest hadn't fully disappeared.
Footsteps approached.
Cole.
He leaned against the railing beside her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Cole glanced at her.
"You okay?"
Care didn't answer immediately.
She looked straight ahead.
"I'm fine."
Cole studied her face carefully.
"You sure?"
Care nodded once.
"Just tired."
Cole didn't push further.
But his eyes stayed on her a little longer than usual.
Because something about her breathing felt…
off.
And he knew Care well enough to recognize one thing.
When she said "I'm fine", it usually meant the exact opposite.