The airport bustled with noise and excitement, but Jenny Lai kept her head low, hoodie up, and earbuds in. Her flight had just nded in Switzernd for the International Youth Shooting Competition. She was one of the top shooters for Team Taiwan—low-key, quiet, and consistent since the age of 14. Now 18 and about to enter college, this was her st competition before a new chapter of her life began.

  “Still the same old Jenny,” Victor teased as he caught up beside her, suitcase in tow. “You wear that hoodie like it’s your superhero cape.”

  Jenny smirked. “Maybe it is. Keeps the nerves away.”

  Victor nudged her shoulder. “You don’t get nervous. You just pretend you’re not human.”

  “I get nervous,” she replied, her voice soft but sure. “I just don’t let it show.”

  Their coach called for the team to gather, and the group headed to the hotel. The competition was in two days. Jenny and Victor were both favorites to win, having consistently ranked high in nationals and regionals.

  The day before the competition, Jenny stepped out of her room to stretch her legs. The hotel corridor was quiet—until she turned a corner and ran into someone she hadn’t seen in over a year.

  Melissa.

  Jenny stopped in her tracks.

  Melissa looked her up and down and smirked, arms crossed. “Well, well. If it isn’t the queen of the trigger.”

  Jenny gave a curt nod. “Melissa.”

  Melissa leaned in slightly, voice dripping with sarcasm. “Hope your aim’s still as sharp as your ego.”

  “I don’t have time for this,” Jenny muttered and walked past.

  Behind her, she heard Melissa chuckling with her teammates. “Still so full of herself,” Melissa whispered loudly. “Let’s see if she chokes tomorrow.”

  Jenny exhaled slowly. She wouldn't let Melissa rattle her—not this time.

  Competition Day

  The air at the venue was thick with tension. Jenny stood steady, her breathing even. One hand on her hip, the other gripping her pistol. Victor gave her a thumbs-up from his ne.

  Bang. Bang. Bang.

  Every shot was crisp, clean, and calm. Jenny’s performance was nearly fwless.

  When the final scores were posted, the announcer’s voice boomed over the speakers.

  “And the Gold Medal goes to… Jenny Reyes of the Philippines!”

  Victor cheered beside her, having earned the bronze. But Melissa? Her name was under Jenny’s—silver. Again.

  Jenny turned, expecting the usual sportsmanlike nod. But Melissa’s eyes were burning.

  Later that afternoon, Jenny went to the locker area alone to grab her gear. As she turned the corner, Melissa was waiting.

  “You always win,” Melissa snapped. “You think you’re better than everyone?”

  Jenny frowned. “Melissa, this again? You pced second in a global competition. That’s incredible.”

  Melissa scoffed. “It’s never enough. Because it’s always you in front of me. Every single time.”

  “Maybe,” Jenny said, tiredly. “But we don’t compete to beat each other. We compete to be better than who we were yesterday.”

  “Oh, spare me the Zen talk,” Melissa snapped. “Three years ago, I almost won nationals. Then you came out of nowhere.”

  Jenny held up both hands. “I’m done. I’m not doing this with you.”

  She turned to walk away.

  And that’s when it happened.

  Melissa grabbed her arm—hard.

  Jenny lost her bance, slipped on the smooth flooring, and fell with a sickening thud—right onto her outstretched right arm.

  The pain was instant. Sharp. Screaming. White-hot.

  “Ahhh—!”

  Victor heard the scream and sprinted toward the sound. “Jenny!”

  Their coach followed close behind.

  Melissa was already running down the hall.

  Jenny clutched her arm, tears streaking down her cheeks. Victor knelt beside her, panic in his eyes.

  “Don’t move,” he said, voice shaking.

  Hospital

  The emergency room was bright and sterile. Jenny y on a gurney, pale and exhausted from the painkillers.

  Victor paced the hallway while their coach spoke to the attending doctor.

  After surgery, the doctor pulled off his gloves and approached them.

  “She’s stable. The fracture was severe, but we were able to align and fix it. She’ll need six months of recovery. That includes physical therapy if she wants to regain full strength and precision.”

  Victor clenched his fists. “What about competitions? Nationals? College tryouts?”

  The coach exhaled. “All on hold.”

  Inside the recovery room, Jenny stirred awake. Her arm was in a cast, elevated with tubes and wires attached.

  Victor sat beside her.

  “Hey,” he whispered.

  Jenny blinked at him. “Did we win?”

  “You did.” He tried to smile. “Gold, remember?”

  She closed her eyes. “Worth it?”

  Victor hesitated. “It should’ve been a victory day.”

  A tear slid down the side of her cheek.

  “She pushed me,” she said weakly.

  “I know.”

  “She hates me.”

  “She envies you.”

  Jenny sighed. “Same thing.”

  Victor took her hand gently. “You’ll heal. We’ll come back from this. I’ll help you.”

  “You always do,” she said, voice barely a whisper.

  He didn’t say anything. Just stayed beside her, knowing that this was just the beginning of a long road.