Meriedeth Salazar
I frowned when I saw a chat head appeared in my phone screen. I has a lot of messages, who is this?
I'm reading something online, it's Saturday today and we have no assignments.
Melanie: Guys! Kindly add Meriedeth in this gc! Thank u!
Shelanie added you to the group chat.
Rovic: There is a gc?
Wesley: For club purposes only.
Eryx: Are they going to process their forms, Kuya Wesley?
Wesley: I will still talk to them.
Rovic set nickname to Gwapo. Change
Rovic set nickname for Shelanie to Shells. Change
Rovic set nickname for Meriedeth to Shark Girl. Change
Shells: Are you bored, Rovic?
Gwapo: Why don't you talk, Shark girl! Seener much.
I typed for a reply.
Shark girl: I'm reading so stfu
Shells: 😱
Wesley: We will held our first club meeting this Friday. Absents are not allowed, there is a penalty.
Gwapo: What's the penalty?
Melanie: Cleaning the outdoor pool every Friday for the whole month.
Okay. The penalty is scary.
They still said a few things in the group chat, I muted the group chat. It's too noisy, I don't want it to disturb me while I'm reading. Another chat head suddenly showed up, it's Eryx.
Eryx: Reply at the gc
I rolled my eyes. I opened the group chat, there are a lot of messages.
Melanie: Where is Meriedeth?!
Shark Girl: Here.
Melanie: Don't be absent at the first club meeting!
I just clicked the like button. Kuya asked me how the party was last night when I came home. I told him that I joined the club, Aunty Rebecca and Kuya are happy.
Monday came, Shelanie and the other's vibe are too shiny and bright, it's blinding. When I took my seat, they greeted me. I can feel happy vibes from the three of them.
"Friday is too far away," Rovic complained.
"I'm excited about the club meeting," Shelanie said.
"Why can't we just do it today?"
"Club meetings should only be held at Friday," Eryx answered.
"Oh, yeah, the district meet is approaching," Shelanie said.
"Shark girl will be automatically be the representative for the women's freestyle event?" Rovic asked.
"That's one of the things that we will talk about this Friday," Shelanie answered.
"We still lack members," we looked at Eryx.
"How come?" Shelanie asked.
"Well, the individual medley is fixed, but we can't join the relay."
"Oh, yeah, you do have a point."
I can feel they are worried about it.
"I think it's fine if we can't join the relay."
"More chances of winning, Shark girl."
"More chances of winning, Deth! Let's join!"
Why did I just heard her voice? Tss.
"We are lacking members. The relay needs four swimmers."
Our phones suddenly sounded, we all looked at our phone. Wesley was the one who chatted.
Wesley: Good morning, the club will not be dissolve because we have enough members. This Friday we will be able to know who is going to be our club advisor.
I heard Eryx whispered 'yes!'. He reacted a heart towards Wesley's chat.
Melanie: Next week we will start the trainings for the district meet. After class, go directly to the club area.
Shells: The teachers will allow it?
Melanie: Of course! They are happy that there are new members! We have representatives for competitions!
Gwapo: We can't join the relay.
Eryx: We are lacking some members, even if we will have new ones, even if one boy and girl.
Shells: Two girls.
Wesley: We will recruit later.
Melanie: We still have an exam later.
Eryx: We will be the one who will recruit. You guys, are also the other building.
"What?" they looked at me.
"What?" Eryx asked.
"Nothing."
Rovic was about to speak when our teacher came in and classes started. When lunch came we eat our lunch.
"So, how are we going to recruit students?" Shelanie asked. "We don't have flyers," she added.
"We can just talk to them," Rovic said.
"How about we will prepare a flyer? I think it's easy to make one. We can borrow a camera from your club, Shelanie," Eryx said.
"We can, just accompany me after."
"What picture are you going to use? Do you need a model?" Rovic asked.
"Salazar," Shelanie said with pretty eyes.
"What?"
"Do a dive, please."
"I don't want to."
"So, that's the photo that you are going to use?" Rovic asked, Shelanie nodded.
"That would be a great idea," Eryx agreed.
Why the heck I'm doing this?!
"Jump now, Shark girl!" Rovic commanded.
I'm at the platform, I'm wearing a swimming attire right now. I fixed my goggles while they are at the side, watching. Shelanie is the one who will take the picture. We don't have any more classes, we borrowed a camera and the keys to enter the club area, swimming club.
"Do I really have to do this?" I annoyingly asked them.
"Yup," Eryx answered.
I took a deep breath, I went to preparation form. I closed my eyes and counted one to three. I dive, I heard them shouting from the sides. I immediately went up to the surface and walk towards them.
"Is it okay?" I asked them as I raised up my goggles.
"You did not gave us a signal," Rovic complained, I raised a brow at him.
"Salazar," Shelanie cried. I frowned because of her reaction.
Eryx let me see the camera, my eyes widened because I wasn't there, I mean, I'm already underwater and that's the picture.
"Can we do it again, Salazar?" Shelanie pleaded.
"Timing is the problem?" I asked.
"Rovic, why don't you make a signal," Eryx suggested.
"What do you think I am? A buzzer?"
"I'll be the one doing it," and sighed.
"Try making it a burst shot," I told Shelanie.
"How to do that?"
"Just long press the shutter button," Rovic answered.
I fixed my goggles and went back to the platform. I heard Eryx counting.
"Two..."
I took a deep breath.
"Three, go!"
As he said 'go' I jumped. Being in the water is great. I went out of the pool and went near them.
"I think there is something wrong," Shelanie said in a disappointed tone.
"Why" I looked at the pictures.
"There is really something wrong," Rovic whispered.
"Salazar's form is perfect," Eryx said.
"I'll be the one taking the picture," Rovic said as he took the camera. "Go back there, Shark girl," as he pouted towards the platform.
"I'm really sorry, Salazar," Shelanie cried.
"It's okay."
I went back to the platform, Eryx signaled and I dive into the water. I heard them cheering. I went towards them and checked the shot he took.
Impressive, beautiful.
While we are walking out of school, there are some students that are going home too but there are only a few of them. Most of the other students went home early.
"Salazar, you'll go home already?" Shelanie asked.
"Why?"
"Uh, let's have some snacks. I'll treat you. I feel bad about not taking a good picture of you!" I blinked because of what she said.
"There's a new flavor of cornetto, should we try it?" Rovic suggested. "You,'' come with us, Eryx?"
"Sure."
They looked at me, well, it's still early. Also, it doesn't seem like we will stay there for too long. I texted Kuya, maybe they will wait for me. We went to 7-eleven that's near our school.
As Shelanie said, she treated me. We are hanging out at the park while eating ice-cream. They are talking about the flyer that they are going to make. After eating the ice-cream we head to our separate ways.
When I arrived home, Aunty Rebecca is the only one there, Kuya will come home late. We ate dinner together and I did my assignments. The next day, Shelanie showed us the flyer.
It was good. It was beautifully edited.
It also states the benefits of joining the swimming club. What the club is going to do, also the president and vice-president.
"Miss Morales is our club advisor?" I asked them.
"Yup that's what Ate said."
"Will she be included in our meetings every Friday?"
"I don't know. Maybe," Shelanie answered.
Lunch came and we ate our lunches quickly than we usually do because we are going to hand out some flyers. Wesley already asked permission for recruiting students for our club.
"Guys! Maybe you want to join the swimming club," Shelanie said as she gave flyers to our classmates.
"Who's this? It's beautiful."
"That's just Photoshop."
"They just got it from google."
"That person is me."
Our classmates looked at me. They immediately apologized, I just ignore them and walk outside. They are not worth my time.
"Just relax, Shark girl," Rovic said and tapped my shoulder.
"Tss."
We gave the flyers to random students. I don't know why I go with them, psh.
Give here, give there.
"Don't you feel hot, Shark girl?" Rovic asked, I raised a brow at him. "You're wearing a jacket."
I always wear a jacket, encase if it rains.
"Mind your own damn business."
"You are harsh as ever."
"Excuse me, Ate," we looked at the one who spoke.
From the looks of it, she's a first year because of color of her ID strap. I raised a brow at her.
"What do you want?"
"Hey, don't scare the second year," Rovic reprimanded me.
"What should I have said?" I asked the guy who looks like a soldier.
"Try to smile sometimes."
I closed my eyes because of what he said. I looked at the first year again.
"What do you need, kid?"
I can see through my peripheral vision, Rovic did a face palm. I'm still looking at the little girl.
"You're the one in this flyer, right?" as she showed the flyer.
"Yeah, do you have a problem?"
"None, po," she smiled. "Good luck po for the upcoming competitions that you are going to join po," and walked away.
"You scared her, look what happed," Rovic complained.
"Tsk."
Days passed and we still haven't receive any club application form from students.
"I guess we can't join the relay," Rovic said.
"Guys! There are transferees at the second year!" Shelanie said as she entered the room.
Today is Friday, it's kind of a miracle that she was the last one who arrived from the four of us. Usually it was me. I took out my notes for our subject, we always have a summative test every Friday.
"Oh? Did you gave them a flyer?" Eryx asked.
"I did, but there are a lot of other students who gave them flyers."
"Are they famous?" Rovic asked.
"Them?" I asked while frowning my forehead, she just nodded.
"I heard the transferees are twins," Eryx said.
"Oh? Late enrollees."
"Let's just pray that they will join the swimming club," Shelanie said.
After our classes, Melanie chatted. We will go to the swimming club for the club meeting. They are finishing an activity for their class.
When we arrived there, I sit at the couch and listen to some songs, I can hear them talking, I just close my eyes. Somebody tapped my shoulder, I remove my headphone.
"We will go to the cafeteria. You wanna come?"
I shook my head.
"You want some cup noodles?" Rovic asked.
"Hmm, okay. Special beef flavor," and I handed him some money.
I returned my headphone. After a few minutes I can feel somebody watching me.
"Bro, I think we shouldn't just barge in," I heard a girl speak.
"But, it says here that swimming area. This is the building that they are talking about," the boy said,
"Hey, take off your shoes, look," the girl said.
Noisy.
Tss.
"Should we use the slippers, then?"
"Do you know how to read instructions? I can't believe you're my twin. You're so stupid!"
"I just want to make sure. You're the one who is more stupid!"
"Slippers for visitors," the girl read the sign, the one posted in the wall.
"Is there anyone here? They will have a club meeting right?" the boy said, I can feel him his standing behind the sofa.
"There's a pair of shoes, look."
They are noisy!
I removed my headphone and stood up to look at them. As I stood up, I heard a scream. I looked at them, they are hugging each other.
"What do you need?"
It looks like they are scared of me. They are twins, the boy pushed his twin and stand properly.
"I'm here to join the most powerful swimming club!"
My forehead frowned because of what he said.
Powerful? Is he sure about that?
I think something is wrong, Melanie said that our school is not included in those ranks.
"Are you sure?" he nodded.
"I want to join this club because the club members of this club are awesome! They are really passionate about swimming! It made me inspire to learn how to swim and I decided to enroll at this school! Well, we're late enrollees but still!"
"Alright, sit down," I told them as I pointed the couch.
He quickly sat at the couch that is in front of the couch that I was seating, his female twin followed.
"A-Are you going to interview us, po, Ate?" the girl asked.
I was about to speak when her twin speak first.
"Are you the club president?"
"N—"
"Wait, is this you?!" he excited asked while pointing the flyer. I just nodded.
"Wow," he exclaimed.
"Do you have a registration fee, po?" his female twin asked.
"Requirements?" the boy asked.
"Do we have to take a test to prove that we're qualified for this club?"
"Do we need to pass some certificates?"
"Do we need medical certificate?"
They keep on asking questions until I can't hold it in anymore—
"Shut the fuck up!" I said in annoyance because of them.
They just blinked. I took a deep breath and shook my head.
This is why I don't want to join a club, when there are new members they have a lot of questions! It's a pain in the head! I think my energy is almost gone because of their presence.
"Shark girl! Did something happened?!" we looked at the door.
Rovic and the others are back, he is holding my cup noodles. They also brought a plastic bag with them, snacks for sure.
"Oh, who are they?" Rovic asked.
"You guys, handle them, my head is in pain because of them. They have a lot of questions!" I said in an annoyed tone.
"Goodness," Shelanie whispered, she looked at the twins. "Oh my gosh! You are going to join the swimming club?" Shelanie asked them in an excited tone.
"Yes po, we are interested. But, she did not answer any of our questions," the boy said.
I raised a brow at him.
I wanna pour him some water—should I pour my cup noodles at him?! how annoying!
"How can I answer all of your damn questions when you take turns asking?! Bullshit. I'll pour this noodles on you."
"How rude."
I took a deep breath, I went out and eat my noodles outside. I'm irritated because of what he said.
Rude.
Rude, your face! Tss.
"Hey," I looked at the one who spoke, it was Eryx, and he sat down beside me.
There are benches near the club area and there are trees surrounding the area so it's not too hot, also it's already afternoon.
"Shelanie is talking to them. Ate Mel and Kuya Wesley are coming."
"Tss. Rude. How annoying."
"Just calm down, Salazar."
I took a sip of the hot broth of the noodles.
"That's why I don't want to talk to people sometimes. They have a lot of things to say, it's noisy."
We saw Melanie and Wesley went inside the building.
"Did you finish it?" Eryx asked.
"Not yet, it's hot. I'm still annoyed. You can go ahead. I need to cool down."
"Okay. Here," as he placed a c2 solo beside me and went inside the building.
Hays.
It's a hassle to talk to people.
———
Trivia:
Gwapo – means handsome in Filipino.
Kawal – means soldier in Filipino.