Vermilion

Intramurals had been the most anticipated event in Sinatra University. Aside from the fun and excitement brought about by the various games it had, it was also the time of the year when almost all the famous and good-looking students usually exposed themselves readily to the eyes of their supporters and admirers.

Being known to be the home of champions and "Mr. Universes", the College of Engineering and Architecture had achieved that utmost reputation of having the most number of supporters, may it be from their own college or from another. That day, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when the sun shone the most painful, almost everyone who was involved in Sinatra had gathered together inside the massive Sinatra Gymnasium to witness the final basketball game between the two rival colleges: the College of Business and Governance and the College of Engineering and Architecture. These two had been rivals of all rivals since 2005 and it would really shock everybody if the friction between them had lessened overtime. Of course, it had not, as manifested by the various chants and booing inside the arena from both their supporters. Some of their supporters even brought with them both handmade and ready-made paraphernalia just to show their loyalty to whichever team they were supporting. 

Almost everyone was already ready, even the players from the Business and Governance were already warming up inside the court. However, the Engineering team had not arrived yet, which, by no means, worried their supporters. For goodness' sake! They had been Sinatra University's basketball's champion for four consecutive years and their supporters were not really in the mood of giving the honor to other colleges, especially to their rival college, the College of Business and Governance. But it seemed like this year, unfortunately, they were running out of time. The referee who was somehow a fan of those players tried to wait for them for a couple of seconds. But then again, no players from the College of Engineering and Architecture had arrived. And even though it was disappointing on his part, he still had to do his job, fairly and squarely. This time, he was already approaching the announcing area and was probably ready to announce the victory by 

default of the other team. Luckily, just in time, as if it was a scene from an action movie, the whole team of Engineering basketball players showed up with their team captain, Vaness Brandon "V" Jalandoni, at their lead.

All were in no doubt pretty boys, but got a little or perhaps totally messed up. Bruises and bloodstains were seen both on their bare skins, especially on their faces, and on their uniforms, which definitely made everyone furrowed their eyebrows. Where on earth had they been?

Their coach, Coach Jared, tried to call them to ask what happened to their appearances and to somehow give them a little sermon for their tardiness. But no one among the team members glanced on his direction, not even one, for all of them really looked agitated and disturbed. Hands curling into fists and feet walking so fast toward the other team's direction, these men meant business. All of them were ready to fight and ready to destroy. The Business and Governance's team captain, Miko Alcantara looked slightly appalled by the engineering's appearance, but pretended to welcome them with a smile and greeted them.

"Hey V, what took y-" 

But before he could finish his sentence, he was stopped in the middle of it by a deadly punch by V.

"What the hell?!" Miko shouted and tried to punch back but he was beaten by V to it. V punched him again on his face, and it was in that moment that the signal for the school year's basketball court riot was made. A lot of people, coaches, security guards, and announcers tried to stop the commotion. Some of them even tried to call the police because the fans from both teams were also joining in the fight. Describing the gymnasium as a mess was an understatement. It was a sight to behold. Fortunately, after so many attempts of stopping the riot, the security guards and even the teachers were finally able to drag each member of the teams out of reach from one another. V was dragged by his coach out of the commotion while the others were pulled by some of the security guards. A couple of seconds after, the commotion somehow subsided and all the players were now heading outside, together with all the other people who were involved to settle things out. V was one of them. But before he finally got out, with coach Jared trying so hard to drag him, his eyes caught sight of a very pale young lady in a somewhat black hippie-like attire with no slippers on her feet. She was so strange that even the other members of the team and some of their supporters took notice of her. She was just standing serenely at the corner while looking at the sight before her. And her eyes, which seemed to lack of any emotion, now turned to V's direction. They caught each other's eyes for a few seconds, and for the first time since earlier, weirdly, V finally got into his senses. He suddenly became aware of what they had just done and what was currently happening. And into his mind, he shouted, 'shit!' 

He finally broke from the stare and looked at the commotion. Everything's messed up. A lot of people, even those who were not directly involved got into trouble because of that one punch from him that started it all. But he got more annoyed by the fact that he was not really the one who really caused it in the first place; it was because of some dirty actions made by their opponents. He tried to calm down and think. But it just seemed weird to him that after some time, when he glanced back at the lady's direction, the lady was still looking at him. He felt awkward, of course, who wouldn't anyway? So he decided to just ignore her and continued walking till they reached the outside of the gymnasium and finally proceeded to the Dean's office.