CHAPTER 30 — DAY 6 (PART 1)
The Semi-Finals Begin
Morning arrived heavy.
The sky above the college ground looked pale and dull, clouds slowly gathering like silent witnesses. Sports Week had already exhausted everyone, but today felt different.
Today was Semi-Finals Day.
The stands were already filling with students shouting, cheering, waving flags of different departments. Dust floated in the air as the grounds were prepared for multiple events.
But for one person, the day was about to become something much more dangerous.
Care stood near the edge of the ground, tying the laces of her sports shoes.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
Not from fear.
From exhaustion.
Her body had already taken too much in the last few days — running, tug of war, kabaddi, volleyball practice, constant strain.
And her lungs.
They were burning.
She inhaled slowly, forcing her breathing to stay calm.
No one should notice.
No one must notice.
Because if they did…
They would stop her.
And she was not going to allow that.
Behind her, the group gathered.
Cole, Ben, Kevin, Nova, Daisy, Alex, Joong, Ash, and Lyra.
The whole group had arrived early that morning to support everyone competing today.
But most eyes were on Care.
Because she had three matches today.
Kabaddi.
Tug of War.
Volleyball.
Even professional athletes would hesitate.
But Care had signed up without blinking.
Cole watched her quietly.
Something about her breathing was… off.
He couldn't explain it.
But something was wrong.
He walked closer.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Care didn't even look at him.
"Yes."
One word.
Short.
Flat.
Cole crossed his arms.
"That didn't sound convincing."
Care stood up slowly.
Dust brushed off her knees.
"I didn't ask you to be convinced."
Cole sighed.
Same stubborn girl.
Same walls.
But something in her eyes looked different today.
More tired.
More strained.
Before he could ask again, the announcer's voice thundered across the stadium.
"FIRST EVENT OF THE SEMI-FINALS!"
"KABADDI!"
Cheers erupted everywhere.
Students rushed toward the kabaddi field.
Lyra stretched her arms beside Care.
"You ready?"
Care cracked her knuckles.
"Always."
But when she inhaled…
Her chest tightened.
Just a little.
Just enough to remind her.
Her lungs were not normal.
Still—
She walked toward the field.
The Kabaddi Semi-Final
The kabaddi ground was rough.
Dry sand covered the surface, and every step kicked dust into the air.
Care stepped inside the boundary line.
Across from her stood the opposing team.
Tall.
Muscular.
Aggressive.
The crowd roared.
Lyra stepped beside Care, shaking out her legs.
"These guys look rough," Lyra muttered.
Care didn't reply.
Her eyes were focused.
Calculating.
Kabaddi was not just strength.
It was strategy.
Timing.
Precision.
And Care had always been dangerous when she thought.
The whistle blew.
The match began.
The opponent team sent their first raider.
He charged forward aggressively.
"kabaddi kabaddi kabaddi—"
The chant echoed.
He tried targeting Lyra first.
Lyra dodged quickly.
The raider turned toward another player.
But Care moved.
Fast.
She grabbed his arm and twisted sideways.
Lyra immediately joined the tackle.
Together they slammed him into the sand.
The crowd exploded.
"OUT!"
Cheers roared through the stadium.
Care stood again.
But the movement made her inhale sharply.
Dust entered her lungs.
Her chest burned.
She coughed once.
Quietly.
No one noticed.
The match continued.
This time—
Care was the raider.
She stepped across the line.
"kabaddi kabaddi kabaddi—"
Her voice stayed steady.
She moved low.
Care circled the defenders like a predator.
One wrong step.
One mistake.
And she would be trapped.
Suddenly—
She lunged.
Her hand slapped two defenders.
Gasps erupted.
They grabbed her instantly.
Three players locked around her body.
She struggled.
Sand sprayed everywhere.
Her knee slammed into the ground.
Pain shot up her leg.
But she refused to stop.
She twisted violently.
Dragged herself forward.
Inches.
Just inches.
The midline was right there.
"CARE!"
Lyra shouted.
Care pushed with everything she had.
Her fingers touched the line.
The whistle blew.
"SAFE!"
The crowd exploded.
But Care stayed on the ground a second longer.
Her breathing was heavier now.
Her chest rising too fast.
Lyra grabbed her arm.
"You okay?"
Care stood quickly.
"Fine."
But when she walked—
A faint red scrape showed on her knee.
Blood mixed with dust.
Still she ignored it.
The game intensified.
Raid after raid.
Tackle after tackle.
The opponents became desperate.
In the final minutes—
One raider rushed forward violently.
Lyra tried to stop him.
But he broke past her.
Straight toward Care.
The impact was brutal.
They both crashed to the ground.
Sand exploded everywhere.
Care's elbow scraped hard against the ground.
Skin tore.
Blood appeared instantly.
But she refused to let go.
She locked her arms around his leg.
With Lyra joining the tackle—
The raider fell.
The whistle screamed.
"OUT!"
The scoreboard updated.
Their team had won.
The Kabaddi Semi-Final.
The crowd roared wildly.
Teammates surrounded Care and Lyra.
Cheers.
Shouts.
Celebration.
But Care stood very still.
Her breathing was no longer steady.
Her lungs felt tight.
Heavy.
Burning.
She turned away from everyone.
And coughed.
Once.
Twice.
Her chest hurt.
But she forced the cough down.
No one should see.
No one must know.
Because the next match…
Was even worse.
Volleyball
And her body was already reaching its limit.