Mereideth Salazar
I have no choice but to attend the class. I thought Miss Morales was going to tell my brother about my absence during the classes that was held at the pool area but she didn't.
It's been a week since the accident happened. Cheena thanked me for saving her.
"Salazar, are you done?" I heard Shelanie asked.
I went out from the cubicle. I looked at her, she's wearing her one piece swimwear too. I took a quick shower and fixed my hair with the swimming cap.
"Are you okay, Salazar?"
"I'm fine, Shelanie."
We are at the indoor pool and its only 5 feet deep, Miss Morales scolded the students who played around last meeting. She also said something but I did not hear anything that she said.
I'm just staring at the pool water. I want to swim but it scares me.
The water is comfortable but at the same time, it scares me. I'm scared that an accident like that last time is going to happen and I can't do anything.
But, I was able to rescue Cheena.
Much better if you'll just distance yourself from the water, Meriedeth.
"Alright, who knows how to swim?"
My classmates started to raise their hands and one of them are Eryx and Rovic.
"Salazar?" I looked at Miss Morales.
"Raise your hand," Shelanie whispered.
"Why?"
"You know how to swim," she raised my hand.
Miss Morales told us what to do for today, we are going to learn the floating and kicking. So, some of my classmates that are boys took some kickboards and pull bouys.
"Students, please don't play around. Okay? We are having a class right now. The ones who know how to swim, please help me monitor your classmates."
Some of my classmates nodded. Psh. Miss Morales discussed the different stroked. Eryx is the one who did a demo of the different strokes so the class will have any idea.
"So, class, we are going to study about freestyle stroke at backstroke for today."
The class started, I sit down at the edge of the pool where my legs are submerged underwater."
I know how to swim so why would I join them? Right?
"Salazar," I looked at the one who called me. It was Miss Morales.
"Yes, po?"
"They said you have a good diving form, can I see it?"
I frowned because of what Miss Morales asked. I saw how some of our classmates slighty looked at our direction. I looked at Miss Morales.
"I don't know how, Miss Morales. It was just luck, hehehe."
Go Meriedeth, tell some more lies.
"Oh, okay," she talked to our some of our classmates.
"Are you sure it was luck, Shark girl?"
I looked at the one who spoke, it was Rovic, the guy who looks like a soldier. I went down to the pool, the water is around my hips.
"Salazar, can you help me with the backstroke?" Shelanie asked.
"Okay."
"I'm scared."
"I'll pull you up if you'll sink, just relax."
On the first try, she immediately stand up when she feel like she was sinking. I helped her until she was able to do it.
"I think it's allowed to use the outdoor pool, right?"
"I think its okay to hold at the edge of the pool, duh."
"Let's go!"
I saw five of my classmates who went to the outdoor pool. I sighed, I think nobody noticed them. I went out of the pool and followed them outside.
That's why some accidents ouccr because there are people who are hard headed.
I'm just standing by the door, I looked at them and they are just at the edge of the pool. There's a girl and a boy who went down to the pool. They laughed because they are floating. Tss.
"Worried about them, Salazar?" I looked at the person beside me, it was Eryx.
"Actually, I don't care. But, Miss Morales said we should keep an eye on our classmates. Nobody noticed them. Tss."
I don't want to see somebody drowning again.
It irritates me.
"You cared, deep down. Because if you really don't care about them, you shouldn't be standing here," he smiled.
I just rolled my eyes. I don't care, why can't he understand that?
"Tss."
I was about to turn my back when he speak again.
"Intramurals is approaching."
"So, what? I don't care about that event." I raised a brow at him.
"Can you be one of the swimming representative for the swimming competition for our class?"
"What? No way! I don't want to."
I'm not swimming again. No way!
"Please, Salazar."
"Just make Shelanie do it."
"Shelanie doesn't want to."
"Wait, you said for our class, is the competition by classes
"Yep."
I frowned, if there are students who knows about swimming. Why is that the swimming club have only three members?!
"I know, you're confused. Okay, there are students who knows how to swim and they prioritize different things. They can swim but they don't love swimming."
"Don't we have classmates who know how to swim?"
"None. I mean, there are some, but its much better if its you."
"Tss. You can't make me join, so stop it Fuentabella."
"Please, Salazar."
"No, I don't want to."
"Just this time."
"It's not like we are going to get kick out of our class we don't have and representative."
"Miss Rios was expecting you to join. But, well, it's still approaching. Maybe you'll change your mind."
I shook my head.
"I'm not interested in swimming. I have no plans in getting entangled with it."
"Hmmm?" he narrowed his eyes at me. It's like my heart stopped beating because of what I said.
"Nevermind. How about you'll watch them. Since you are here."
Weeks passed and the day where we prepare for the intramurals came, it is going to be held next week.
I'm sitting at my seat while the class is having a meeting about the players who are going to participate at different sports. The meeting is also about the persons who are going to prepare the snacks for the player, cheering squads for the volleyball and basketball. What color are we going to wear for our team? Some of my classmates are making some pompoms.
"The meeting of the student council, the color that they give us is white. Do you have any ideas what are we going to name our team?"
"President, how about white warriors?"
"It sounds like soap, like we are going to be the one who will kill the bacteria."
"White Eagles!"
"Duh?"
"Should we really put white?"
"Yeah, should we really include white?"
"President, how bout white minions?"
"Hey, stop joking around!"
"Let's go for Shining light! Nega baro naye shining light!"
"You are too addicted to Twice."
"You make me feel special!—"
"Awwe, hope that everyone is special."
The Vice-President slammed the table making everyone shut their mouths. I sit properly. I frowned when Shelanie give me some pompoms.
"What am I going to do with these?"
"We are going to use when we cheer for our classmates, we didn't join any sport to play."
"Let's choose the name later, let's decide the players for now," our Class President said and started to make a list.
I'm just staring at the pompoms and waved them. The colors are white and silver, there is also a black color, a mix of cartolina ang tin foil.
"How about for swimming? Eryx, as usual?"
We looked in front. The tournaments that are written are the different stroked and meters are also written. There is also a medley.
"Estevan! Maybe—"
"Don't you call me Estevan! Bullshit!"
I glance at Rovic who is pissed off. Our gazes met and I raised a brow at him. he rolled his eyes at me. Wow, they are guys who rolls their eyes?
"Rovic, is it still your name," Shelanie said.
"Are you going to join the swimming ompetition?" Class President asked.
"I'll think about it."
"Just join the competition, the slot for the basketball team are already full," Eryx calmly said.
"Tss."
"Maybe you want to join the cheering squad, Rovic? I have extra pompoms here, you can use it," Shelanie offered.
"Shark girl," I narrowed my eyes at him, I don't know why.
He is hard headed, he still calls me Shark girl. Do I look like a Shark? Tss.
"You know how to swim, right? If you will join the competition. I will join too," and he grinned.
"Shut up, I'm not going to join," I said as I fixed my notebook that is on my desk.
"Just join it, Salazar. I'm sure you will be included at the finals," Shelanie said.
"Who was the representative for last's year women's swimming competition? You should get her."
"It was Andrea."
"Then get her instead. I'm not interested. I'll just help in giving the snacks."
It's been five days since Eryx, Shelanie and Rovic are pestering me about joining the swimming competition and I always decline their offer. I hope they will stop tomorrow, it pisses me off.
"Shark girl! Join—"
"No."
"Salazar, I want to see you swim again—"
"I don't want to, Shelanie.
"Salazar, please."
I looked at the three of them and massaged my temple. Sometimes talking to them is tiring.
"Guys, stop forcing Meriedeth."
We looked at the one who spoked. Its one of our classmates, I forgot her name.
"I'm the representative of out class."
"Yeah, can't you respect Andrea?"
"She's willing to represent our class, you are forcing somebody who isn't willing."
"Andrea is a better swimmer."
"She is even faster than Meriedeth."
"You can shut the fuck up," they looked at me.
"I don't give a fuck on who is going to swim. I'm not interested about the competition. The three of them are the ones who is forcing me."
"We're just hoping that you'll change your mind, right, Dude?" Rovic said to Eryx.
"Yeah. We respect Andrea. We are just hoping about Salazar."
"Still, you should respect her."
"Yeah."
Why these people are small minded?
The day for the intramural arrived, it will be for a whole week. I really want to take some absence but there are plus points for attendance. Also, I don't want to be scolded by my brother, if I'll do that, maybe when I opened my eyes, me and Marjorie are in one campus, I don't want that to happen.
"Salazar, ribbon."
I looked at Shelanie, she give me a ribbon. There is a ribbon tied around her hair. I took it and tied it on my hair.
After we attended the opening ceremony, we went to the gym while bringing the bag full of water for players. We are assigned to give water to the basketball players. We are also with some of our classmates.
The game started, the girls from our class cheered to the max for our players, even Shelanie joined the cheering. I just waved my pompoms.
"What the heck, included in the cheering squad but it's like you're bringing negative vibes because of your face," I looked at the one who spoke.
( =_=) (^___^ )
"Shark girl," he teased and sat beside me.
I notied he is wearing a jersey, is he going to play?
"Are you going to play, soldier?"
"I'm at the bench for now."
"It's obvious."
He just gave me a poker face, I raised a brow.
"I'll play later."
"If you could play," I teased him.
"I'll be the one who will substitute if one of the players get tired. I'm good at shooting balls," and he grinned.
"I'm not asking," and I looked at the players gaming, passing the ball and shoot it. Score.
"You're so exaggerated, Shark girl. That's why you don't have friends."
"I don't need friends."
"What? We are not friends?!"
I raised a brow at him.
"Acquaintance."
"We are friends."
"We are not."
"You are friends with Shelanie and Eryx."
"It's just luck that I'm only talking to them. They are not pissing me off."
"Me? Am I irritating?"
"Depends."
He narrowed his eyes at me.
"Really? It depends?"
"I think you often do. Stay there," I stood up and left him.
I was about to get some water when Shelanie walk towards me and she is in panic mode.
"Salazar!"
"Why?"
"There is an emergency at Andrea's place, she is going to be late!"
Our classmates looked at our direction and they are worried, some of them dialed Andrea and they said she is going to be late.
I drink some water, I noticed they are staring at me.
"What?"
"You'll be the one swimming, Salazar!"
"Yeah! You should! We don't have any representative!"
"You can do it, Mereideth!"
"Salazar?" Shelanie asked.
"I don't want to. I'm not swimming. Tss."
I sat at the bench, I frowned when Rovic stood in front of me. He fixed his sports headband while staring at us.
"Shelanie, plan B."
I looked at Shelanie and raised a brow.
"What's plan B?"
"Can you come with me to the cafeteria? Please?"
"E? There are snacks there."
"I want to eat some cake, let's go, please, Salazar," she hold my hand and pulled me up.
I gasped when Rovic carried me on his shoulder like a sack of rice. I cant understand what is happening around me.
"Hey, soldier face! Put me down!"
"No way, Shark girl!"
"I'm really sorry, Salazar!" I heard Shelanie said.
I'm getting dizzy because of my posisyon and Rovic is running while carrying me. When he put me down I was about to fall down because of the dizziness.
"Oh, you got dizzy?" Rovic asked while assisting me.
"Ah, no I didn't. How about I'll carry you? Stupid."
I noticed we are inside the swimming club building. They give something and pushed me towards a vacant cubicle in the bathroom.
"Change your clothes inside!" Rovic commanded.
"The fuck?! What is happening?!"
"Please, swim for us, Salazar," Shelanie said
Then I realized the things that they gave me. A one piece swimsuit, swimming cap and goggles.
"The fuck! Let me out of here! I'm not swimming!" I slammed the door and tried to push it, but it seems like there is something blocking from the outside.
"Change your clothes and we will let you out!" Rovic shouted.
"Hey, Soldier, let me out!"
"Where is she?" said the new voice, it was Eryx.
"She's inside, she's hard headed," Rovic reported.
"Just swim for us once, Salazar," Eryx said.
"I don't wan to! Bullshit! Stop forcing me, Fuentabella! I don't want to swim-"
"Swim for us Meriedeth Salazar," his tone is serious.
"I don't want—"
"Fastest swimmer at the age of 8, two-time champion of relay, and known for the freestyle and perfect position in diving, two-time champion at the freestyle competition."
I sighed.
Fuck.
Where did he find out about those?
I heard Shelanie and Rovic reacted. Looks like they don't have any clue about it.
"The three of you are bullshits."
"We are not going tolet get out if you are not going to change," Eryx said.
"We are gonna pour water on you so you'll change!" Rovic warned.
"The three of you are shits!"
I found myself changing into the swimwear.
Fuck this day!