If there was one person that got on your nerves more than anyone else on this Earth, it’d probably be Tashi Duncan — the woman that you were directly competing against for the most important sponsor of the year at Stanford University.

On the court, you were different from Tashi and her game; something she could give to you — you were good. You were on a certain level, that wasn’t a secret for anyone, but you weren’t her.

And you’d never be.

And that’s probably what certain this petty hate for her that grew inside your brain, and you found yourself thinking about her more that you’d like — in the morning, during your shower, on the court, at night. Constantly criticizing her in your thoughts.

Tashi could see the gaze you bore into her back whenever she was around — and she could understand your childish jealousy, the inferiority you felt; but she could also see the heated looks, longing eyes, the ones you tried to hide.

It was only at that sponsor party (that Tashi had gotten, in the end), that she finally decided to break the ice with you.

You were standing on the side like a punished child, sour look on your face when she approached you. You immediately scoffed; thinking she would smear her win in your face.

“Are you done acting like I stole your favorite toy?” Tashi said, sipping on her champagne. “You know, I can feel your eyes on me; all the time?” she smirked, her brown eyes looking around before she glanced at you.

The expression on her face was amused, like she was mocking you — maybe she was, maybe it was something else than just mocking.

“You can love me or hate me, but in the end, you want me just like the others.” she ended, whispering at you like it was her biggest secret.