Two Different Worlds

Chapter 1

He started speaking, "My sister's okay now. Thank you. Thank you so much. I appreciate your effort more than I can express."

I smile as I tell him "Yeah, sure. It's fine. What happened to your sister, by the way?"

"Well, let's put it this way, her heart isn't healthy."

"Oh, I see. Sorry about that."
"Don't say sorry." He laughed. Weirdo.

We arrived at the hospital and he's about to leave now. "Again, thank you! Thank you so much!"

"Don't mention it. I hope your sister's fine now." I told him and he thanked me once again. He waved at me and started taking his steps towards the hospital entrance and before I realise it, he's walking back to me and my little car.

I rolled my window down, "Did you forget something?" I asked.

"Um, yes."
"What is it?"
"Your name."
"What?"
"I forgot to ask your name." He said once again.
"Ah, tell me yours first and then I'll tell you mine." I uttered.
"Fine. The name's Tyler. Tyler Torres."
"Mine is Victoria Galang. Call me Tori."

Who the fuck is Tori?! Why did I say Tori? I am Vic, not Tori! I've lost my senses! I'm drained!

"Oh. Beautiful, see you around." He told me and I was confused.
"Around?" I asked him.

"Yeah, if I'm not mistaken, we're in the same school. I think I've seen you there." He retorted.

"Really?! You're from LaSalle?" I cried.
"Yeah. See ya there." With that, he bid his last goodbye and I drove myself home.

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Sunday afternoon, Margot and I decided to resume our plan. We're meeting at the same old coffee shop. Our favorite getaway.

I arrived at 2pm. Now it's 2:30 and where the hell is she? What's taking her so long? This is very unusual.

"Vic!" Hearing that voice, I already knew who it is.
"You're late!" I accused Margot.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry!" She insincerely apologized. Best friends are best friends, ya know.

"Explain yourself now." I demanded.
"Fine, fine. Just keep your chill, will you?" She started explaining, "Yesterday, I canceled our plan, remember? I was at the school gym. I asked about the tryouts for the women's volleyball team! We're gonna be there, Vic! We have to be there!"

"What?!" I lost my chill. Margot and I used to play volleyball back in highschool but we stopped when we got in LaSalle for college. I've always wanted to join the LaSalle team and play for the university but I never had the guts.

"Yes, beshie! I wanted to surprise you! We both miss doing this! Back to start, beshie. Tryouts! It's gonna be fun! Fun! Fun!" She exclaimed.

Feeling all excited and happy, I wholeheartedly hugged Margot.

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We got ourselves ready for the tryouts and made our way to Taft.

The school gym is crowded right now. Are they all interested about getting into the team?

While waiting for the tryouts to begin, I saw Margot applying lip tint on her lips. I never knew she does this kind of thing. I looked at her blankly and she just shrugged.

"Where's Margot and what did you do to her?" I joked.

"Shut up." She rolled her eyes.

The crowd started getting wild and loud as some guys enter the gym. The men's basketball team, I reckon.

Right then and there, I noticed that the students here are mostly girls. So, they are here because of the basketball team? Not because of the tryouts? Oh. What's new?

A few minutes later..

"Tori?" I heard someone called from the back.

"Tori?" That voice again, it sounds familiar.
"Tori!" The voice is now beside me, waving right at my face.

"Tyler! It's you!"
"I thought you forgot me already," he laughed, "because I've been calling your name for the nth time!"

"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't realise that you were calling out for me!" I explained.

He was about to open his mouth when someone screamed his name, full name.

"TYLER TORRES!"

All eyes on him, on us.

He was taken aback. I looked at Tyler's face. His expression is priceless. I tried to look away to keep myself from laughing.

"YOU'RE LATE AGAIN!" Hearing that made me realise that the angry voice is not just an angry voice. He's the coach of the men's basketball team. Which means, Tyler is a member of the team?

Tyler poked me and whispered "See ya around." Smiling, he then rushed his way to where the team is seated. Some other girls inside the gym are glaring at me as if I did a crime.

"Tori? Who the hell is Tori? Where's Vic and what did you do to her?" Margot's voice, "Tori who? Explain yourself now, beshie." She demanded.

Wow. She's throwing all my words back at my face.

"Chill. I'll tell you later. After the tryouts." I retorted.

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We got in, Margot and I. We made it to the team. It was a very tiring Sunday but come night time, over the phone, Margot still insisted to know the story behind me (Tori me, not Vic me) meeting Tyler Torres. I told her every bit of the story and from hearing her voice, I could tell that her face is crumpled. She's still wondering how I got the nerve to let a stranger ride with me but that's not the point here. She's even more confused about the the fact that I called Tyler a stranger.

"I mean, you never knew Tyler? When you gave him a ride yesterday, you didn't know who he was?! How is that possible? Everyone knows him!" She cried.

I defended myself, "You know me, Margot. I'm not socially inclined. I don't care if someone's famous or not. If I don't know the person, I don't know the person. Period."

I heard her laugh from the other line.

"Keep laughing." I tell her. She just won't stop teasing me.

We spent another 30 minutes talking about getting in the team, about Tyler, about getting in the team again, about Vic becoming Tori, and about getting in the team once more.

Since we're now part of the women's volleyball team, our trainings will begin tomorrow. This is going to be a hectic schedule for Margot and I but I know we'll enjoy this.

Right after Margot ended the call, I immediately changed into my pajamas and now I'm off to sleep.