Meriedeth Salazar
I just sighed. All of the memories of the accident came back. It feels heavy. I can still hear how Uncle Mario shouted at me.
Blaming me for the accident.
Because I wasn't able to save my cousin.
Marjorie doesn't remember anything about the accident. I don't know why but, they said it traumatized her. But, I have a feeling she is faking it.
I distanced myself. I don't want to be near with my other cousins because they blamed me too. They said that I was the one who brought Marjorie at the cliff.
I wasn't given a chance to speak up. I told them that it wasn't me, it was Marjorie who went there alone. But, nobody believe me except Aunty Rebecca.
She did not blame me, because I was a kid too. Being a swimmer in a pool and in the ocean is different. In the pool, you don't have to be afraid because there are no wild animals.
In the ocean? There are animals, and its their home. We can't say how deep it is because of the high tide and low tide. It's too open, and it is part of nature.
I just sighed because of what happened earlier.
Why did I jumped? Fuck.
Shit.
I don't want something like what happened to Marjorie will happen again. I want to prevent it. And my classmates are bullshits. They are laughing while their friend is drowning.
Bullshit. What if that person died? Who will take the blame? Tss.
"Salazar," I sttod up.
I'm inside one of the cubicles of the bathroom of the swimming club. I should just have gone home, but the heck, I'm all wet!
How could I go home in this kind of state? Tss.
"When are you coming out, Salazar?"
I'm pissed off. I opened the cubicle door. I saw Eryx, he just came from the shower because his hair is still wet. He is wearing our uniform. He offered me a towel. I accepted it because I'm still wet because of the water.
"Classes are cancelled because of what happened, dry yourself up."
I did not speak a word, he is just staring at me as I dry my hair. I raised a brow and he shook his head.
"Sorry. Uh, Shelanie and Rovic went to the clinic. Maybe they are on their way back. They borrowed some extra uniform for you. We have a dryer here at the swimming club. It's located at the stockroom area."
"Okay."
"I'll wait outside."
I did not reply, Eryx went out of the bathroom while I continued drying myself. Shelanie arrived and I changed my uniform. The skirt is too short but it's still okay. She also gave me my phone. She had it all along when I jumped into the pool earlier.
Shelanie helped me in drying my uniform. We will get it later we still have classes, last two subjects in the afternoon.
"You're a swimmer, Shark?" Rovic asked when we arrived at the lounge area.
They are sitting at the couch, Eryx looked at us. He stood up and fixed his polo. While Rovic is just staring at me, I ignored him and just walked pass by him.
"Hey, Shark girl," Rovic said.
Shelanie and I are wearing our shoes.
"What? Shark girl? Stop joking around, Rovic," Shelanie said.
"I don't know her name. I forgot so I'll just call her Shark girl."
I raised a brow at Rovic because he sat beside me and wear his shoes. Then he flashed a smile, a smile that can irritate you. Tss.
"Hello, Shark girl," he said.
"Do I look like a fucking shark to you? My name is Meriedeth Salazar, so stop calling me Shark girl, Fajardo."
"Oh, Meriedeth," I stood up and fixed my shoes. I raised a brow at him because he is staring at me. "Your name doesn't suits you."
"Your name doesn't suits you too because you're not a king, you look like a soldier."
Shelanie laughed because of what I said. The name Rovic means king if I'm not mistaken. Rovic look surprised because of what I said.
"Burn," Shelanie told Rovic.
"Whatever, I'm handsome."
What's the connection?
We walked back to our classroom. While we are walking through the hallways Rovic asked again.
"Shark, I mean, Salazar. Are you a swimmer? Or you just swim fast?"
"I'm not a swimmer. I just got lucky earlier."
"Really?' I looked at Eryx, he doesn't believes it.
I don't want to admit it, maybe they will force me to join the swimming club!
It's been years since I left the pool. Since that accident happened, I stopped swimming.
I swear, I'll never swim again.
I don't want it.
"You got a good form when you dove earlier."
I stopped because of what he said. He just smirked at me. I just shrugged. I hope they will not force me to join. I really don't want to join a club.
Time passed by fast. We just finished our last class. I put my bag around my shoulder. I looked at Eryx who is fixing his things.
"Fuentabella," I called.
"Yes, Salazar?"
"I'll get my uniform at the swimming club. You got a spare key, right?"
"Yeah. You'll get it right now?"
"Of course, tss."
"I'll go with you guys! Ate Mel just texted me, they are there."
"Dude? You'll join us?" Eryx asked Rovic.
"I'll pass. Maybe Ate Melanie will recuit me. I'll still have to check the try-outs for the basketball team," he said as he stood up and fixed his hat.
"You are not really joining the club?"
"Sorry, Dude. I'll go ahead, Dude, Shelanie," Rovic looked at me. "Shark girl."
I did not response, he went out of the room. The three of us went to the swimming club. Wesley and Melanie are there, Shelanie went with me to the stockroom to get my uniform.
"Salazar," I looked at Shelanie.
I just put my uniform inside my bag. I raised a brow at her, she just stared at me.
"The view when you dive earlier is beautiful, Salazar."
"It was because of the timing."
"Are you a swimmer?"
"I'm not."
"Too bad. But, can I ask you to be my model for the poster?"
"Poster? For what?"
"Uh, Ate asked for a favor. I'll make a poster for them to post at the bulletin board to recruit new members. It's still allowed to post."
"I thought the club is going to be dissolve?"
"Kuya Wesley submitted a letter to the student council about that. So, the deadline got extended. Nobody is going to manage the pool area if the swimming club is gone."
"Ah, okay."
"So, can I make you the model for the poster?"
My eyes widened because of what she said.
"What about you just make Eryx your model? He is an official member."
"He doesn't want to. So, please," as she held my hands and did a puppy eyes, acting cute.
"Sorry, Shelanie. That kind of charms don't work at me," I move my hand away. "Let's go."
When we arrive back at the lounge area, they looked at us.
"Meriedeth! You're the one who rescued the student who got drowned earlier! Maybe you like to jo---"
"I just rescued her, I don't know how to swim. I'm still not interested in joining the club."
She sighed but she smiled and nodded. We went out of the building and I bid them farewell.
When I arrived home, Kuya is still not around. I changed closthes and lay on top of my bed. I can still feel the water even though in not in the water now.
"Meriedeth..."
"Deth-Deth."
I opened my eyes. I saw Kuya, looks like he just finished cooking. i can smell the aroma of food coming from the kitchen.
"Did you eat?" he asked.
"Not yet."
"Let's go."
We are heading out of my room when he speak.
"Your p.e. teacher gave me a call to check on you. Maybe you'll get traumatized on what happened at the pool area earlier.
"I'm fine po, Kuya."
"You rescued someone," he tapped my shoulder. "An expected gesture coming from a swimmer like you."
"Kuya, I'm not a swimmer."
"Yes, you are."
"Please, let's not talk about it, Kuya. It's in the past and it's a long time since I stopped. Swimming brought nothing but bad things to me."
I took my seat and we started eating dinner.
Yeah, me and Marjorie are not in the same campus, but why do I feel like, worse things are about to happen.