Meriedeth Salazar
I gained consciousness, I saw Eryx's face a few inches away from me. I immediately went up. I can feel water coming out. I coughed. Fuck.
"Salazar, a-are you okay? Do you feel any pain?"
I looked at the person who asked, it was Shelanie. From the looks of it, she cried. They all looked worried.
"Can you stand up, Shark girl?" Rovic asked.
I just nodded, Shelanie and Rovic supported me. I did not object, I feel unwell. We went home at the house, Wesley called my brother telling him about what happened, I spoke to him and told him I'm fine and it was an accident.
I cleaned myself and lay down at my bed.
I am not feeling well.
I feel so stupid.
It happened again.
I almost died there.
The door opened and Shelanie entered. She brought a mug ang place it on top of my bedside table, hot milo.
"How are you feeling, Salazar?" she's still worried.
"I'm fine, Shelanie. I'm still alive, thanks," as I raised the mug and took a sip.
"Don't talk like that!" tears started to fall from her eyes. "I-I—I'm really worried about you when I saw Eryx carrying you and you are unconscious!"
"Eryx?" she nodded.
"He gave you a CPR. Jazrill fainted when he saw you, it was a good thing that Kuya Wesley moved fast. I really don't know what to do, Salazar. I got scared, too scared. What happened?"
I sighed and put the mug back at the table. I touched my face.
"I..."
I glance at her, she is waiting for me to talk.
"I… I panicked."
I sighed while remembering what happened earlier. I hugged my knees. I can still feel the weird thing that I felt earlier.
"I…"
"Hmmm?"
"I don't want to do it again."
The feelings that I'm feeling right now is heavy. I feel so stupid. I'm ashamed of what happened. The emotions that I'm feeling right now gives a heavy feeling in my chest, hay.
"You can rest, I'll go downstairs. Everything will be fine, Salazar," and she gave me a hug.
It's my first time being hugged by someone who isn't a family—I mean, not first time but, it's been a while since someone hugged me.
"Finish your milo and have some rest," as she stood up.
"Uh, how's Jazrill?"
"He is resting at the other room. He was terrified. I talked with Jazhel earlier, Jazrill felt guilty. He was the one who called you. He didn't know that you'll be surprised. He saw you slipped. He thought you'll be fine, but," she shrugged.
"I'll talk to him later."
She nodded and went out of my room. I lay down at my bed and closed my eyes. I felt tears escaped from my eyes as I lay down at my bed.
I don't know what time is it. I get up, I feel light headed. I went downstairs, I'm hungry. I saw the box at the living room.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" I looked at the one who spoke, it was Melanie, and she looks worried.
She is with Wesley and two of the triplets.
"Kind of. I'll drop these off at my Lola's place."
"Is your Lola's house far away? We can go with you."
"Nah, I can handle myself."
"Are you sure, Meriedeth?"
I nodded, I was about to pick up the box when I remembered about the plastic bag. I went back to my room to get it, then went back downstairs. I carried the box and went outside.
"Oh, do you have to go somewhere?" Rovic asked.
"I'll drop these off at my Lola's place—Hey!" he grabbed the box.
"I'll go with you."
"I can—"
"I'll carry it, I'm stronger that you. Maybe your bones will break, sheesh."
What?
I just rolled my eyes and let him carry it. We are just walking, it's around 4pm. It's still bright outside but it's getting dark.
Rovic and I are walking in silence at the streets. There are no cars passing by. A few moments I can see Lola's house from here but I stopped in my tracks when I saw the car that is parked outside the house.
"Shark girl, is there a problem?"
"L-Let's come back here later," I was about to turn my back but he hold my arm.
"We already walked a long distance. You will come back here later? Tss."
"You don't understand me," I annoyingly said.
"Then tell me, you can talk to me about some stuff, Shark girl. I know how to get serious on situations."
He is staring at me. I sighed. I fixed my hood, maybe somebody will see me. Tss.
"Let's just wait until that car leaves."
"Okay," as he sat at the street.
Damn it. I did not brought my headphones.
We are just a few blocks away from Lola's house. It's been minutes, it looks like Uncle Mario will be staying for a while. Hays. It's getting dark.
"You don't like the person who owned that car?" Rovic asked.
I was about to speak when two kids suddenly run towards our direction. One of the kids bumped me, my eyes widened when I saw the boy. He looked surprised too.
"Ate Deth-Deth?"
I avoided my gaze but he hold my hand.
"You did not told us that you're here! Aunty Rebecca told us that you'll go home!"
"Wait, Melvin," I stopped him.
"Why, po?"
I looked at the other kid he is with, I face palm when the kid ran towards inside Loa's house.
"Who was that?"
"The one with me, po?" I nodded.
"It was Marion, po."
I sighed.
Great, just great, it was Marjorie's younger brother who saw me. Bullshit.
"Let's go," I said and he led the way.
I tapped Rovic's shoulder and he followed us. When we entered the gate, Melvin happily ran towards the door and announced that I'm here.
Rovic just quietly followed me. The moment I stand in front of the door, I peak to see whose inside.
I saw Lola, she's talking to Uncle Marion and Aunty Rea. Aunt Maylene is also here, she is the mother of Mellisa and Melvin. I saw Mellisa and Markean at the kitchen, it looks like they are cooking something.
Our other aunts and uncles are not around. Lola smiled when she saw me. Aunty Maylene gave me a nod while Uncle Mario stared at me with disgust.
"You did not told us you are going to arrive home today, Deth-Deth!" I hold my Lola's hand and pulled it gently to my forehead as sign of respect, also Aunty Maylene's.
I was about to went near Uncle Mario at Aunty Rea to pay respect but he is the one who shook his head making me stop. I looked at Lola, she's staring at Rovic.
"Uh, Fajardo, the box."
"Oh," he gave it to me and I placed it at the floor.
"This is the thing that Aunty Rebecca is talking about, also this one," as I placed the plastic bag on top of the coffee table.
"How is your brother?" Aunty Maylene asked. "Take a seat," she said to us.
I cannot decline her offer, she pulled me beside her. Rovic also sit beside me.
"He is fine, po."
"Hijo, you are so handsome. Are you my granddaughter's boyfriend? What is your name, hijo?" Lola asked. My eyes widened and I looked at Rovic.
"Hahaha, you're mistaken po, I am not your granddaughter's boyfriend. I am only Meriedeth's friend. I'm Rovic Estevan Fajardo," he proudly said.
"Fajardo? Familiar. Are you from here, Rovic?" Aunty Maylene asked. "Who is your father?"
"Opo, uh, my father is Stephano Fajardo."
"Oh, we are neighbors," Aunty happily said.
"It's a miracle, that somebody wants to be your friend, Meriedeth," Uncle Mario said.
I took a deep breath, I'm forcing myself to remain calm. If Rovic wasn't around, I already went home. Bullshit.
"Did you just arrive today? What day did you arrive?" Lola asked.
"Yesterday. It took a while for me to come here because we have some errands to do."
"It's good that your brother allowed you to go home to our province so you can skip school and to have fun here," Aunty Rea said.
"We are not here to have fun. We came here for school purposes."
"School purposes, but you don't have any classes. You just deceived your brother so you can date," Uncle Mario said while shaking his head sideways. "You are really not like Marjorie and your other cousins that are focus on their studies."
I combed my hair using my fingers and stood up. I looked at Lola and smiled.
"We should go po, Lola," I announced. "Aunty Maylene."
"Goodness, you are not going to stay here and have dinner?"
"Nah, next time if I am with Kuya Marcus, we will stay for dinner."
I looked at Rovic and signaled him to stand up. He look confused but stood up.
"Let's go," I whispered and gently pushed him outside.
"Are you sure you are not going to have dinner here, Deth?" Aunty Maylene asked.
"No, po, there are still people with us who left at the house—"
"Oh, Meriedeth, just say it already that you are just going to have a date with your boyfriend. School purposes, people left at your house. Maybe you'll get pregnant because of him! You brother, and your parents will suffer, look at your dad, he had a heart attacked because of what you have done in the past. Maybe the next time he will have a heart attack he will really go to the other world because of your hard headedness."
Fuck this situation.
I looked at Uncle Mario, he is shaking his head while looking at me. I saw Lola is getting worried.
"We will go, po, La, Aunty Maylene," I turned my back.
I was about to step outside when Aunty Rea spoke.
"How disrespectful. You are not going to asked permission from us. You can't see us, Meriedeth?"
I stopped in my tracks. I don't want to be with them any longer! Bullshit! I faced them, I was about to speak when Rovic speak ahead of me.
"With all due respect, po, Meriedeth is not disrespectful. You are the ones who are disrespectful to her, po."
"What the!" Aunty Rea shook her head.
"Rovic, what are you doing?" I whispered, he looked at me and shook his head.
"We are here because we are training for the district meet that will be hold next month and Kuya Marcus knows about it. Kuya Marcus knows about the people we are with. He allowed us to stay at their house while we are here," Rovic explained. "Meriedeth is not going to get pregnant because she also focuses in her studies."
"District meet?" Lola asked and smile. "Did you returned to swimming, Apo?"
I slowly nodded, Lola hugged me.
"That's good that you returned to swimming, Apo. Bring home the trophy and medal, okay?" Lola said while caressing my cheeks, I just nodded.
"Tss, you returned swimming. A swimmer who doesn't know how to save one's life. Tsk, tsk, tsk."
"You should just focus on your studies, Meriedeth. Marjorie is the number three from their class," Aunty Rea said.
Tss. Fine, go endorse your daughter, bullshit.
"I guess you didn't know po, Meriedeth is a top student. She may not be the first one but she is still included in the list," Rovic said.
"Top student, but you cannot reach anything if you will just swim. You are just wasting your time, Meriedeth! If only you will find a part-time job like Marjorie, you can have your own allowance. You are still useless. You just keep on swimming but you cannot save one's life."
"La, we are leaving."
I pulled Rovic away from that house. I heard Uncle Mario yelling how disrespectful I am. I can hear Rovic ranting, I let go of his arm when we are already a few meter away from the house.
"Just please shut up."
"Shark girl, your uncle is so disrespectful! Why is he talking to you like that? So, what if we are just swimming? Killjoy. I wanna punch him. We did not go astray!"
"Shut the fuck up!"
"Fine, but still its irritating. We keep on swimming, so what? How about I will drown him—"
"Estevan!" I shouted in annoyance to make him shut up.
He blinked twice. I took a deep breath and fix my hair. The light from the lamp post are the only light that gives us light in the darkness.
"It is really ugly—"
"Just shut the fuck up!"
Rovic covered his mouth because I shouted. I walked away, he is just following me. We are just silence, after a few minutes we are able to see the house from a far, he speak again.
"Shark girl, why is your uncle like that? You did not even utter a word. You should fight for yourself," he lectured me.
"You know, what Fajardo, you know nothing. So, just keep quiet."
"Yeah, I know nothing but it make me lose respect for your uncle. He blabbering about nonsense, you getting pregnant? What the heck? You?" he ranted while looking at me. "You don't even have a boyfriend."
"Tss."
"It's true."
"Shut the fuck up."
"You are being compared by, who was that again? Marjorien?—"
"Marjorie."
"Yeah, so what if you don't have any part-time job now? You are a top student but why are they treating you like that? I'm so pissed off!"
"So, just get pissed off."
"Your uncle keep on talking about saving a life, what was that about?"
"Rovic," I seriously called him, he stared at me. Waiting for an answer, he sighed.
"Just stop asking. Don't tell them about what happened. As if something is going to change."
"Yes, something will change and that is how they will treat you. Fight for yourself, Shark girl. I'm not with you every time to give a speech like the one earlier."
I laughed because of what he said, he froze. I shake my head sideways while laughing.
"I'm tired of fighting, Fajardo. Believe me, I did that. What happened? Hahaha, everything is still my fault, bullshit."
I turned my back while shaking my head. I was about to enter the gate when he hold my arm.
"What are you talking about?"
I took a glance of the house, nobody seems to be outside. I looked at Rovic.
"Well, since, you heard about it. Let me summarize the story."
He is seriously looking at me.
"They blamed me for not saving Marjorie when she fell from the cliff and hit the ocean. Marjorie lost her memories and they blamed me for that. They said that I am the one who invited Marjorie who doesn't know how to swim to jump off that cliff."
"When did it happened?"
"I forgot. I don't want to remember it because it's bullshit. They blame me everything when all I did was stopping Marjorie but because she forgot about everything that happened it makes me the bad person! No matter what they said, they will not believe me."
"Hey, calm down, Shark girl," he said and tapped my shoulder.
"I fought for myself that time, Fajardo. No matter how many time I explained they did not believe me because I'm a swimmer. They did not believe me that I also almost died that day too."
My vision starting to get blur, damn it.
I looked above to stop my tears from falling.
"Without that kid who helped me, I'm probably at the other world right now."
"Kid?"
"It happened years ago, Fajardo. I'm thankful for that kid. Just like what happened earlier, I have trouble looking at that time because I wasn't able to bring my goggles with me. I tried to help my cousin but I had a leg cramp so I wasn't able to move it."
Rovic lowered his head while holding his chin, he is thinking about something.
"What are you thinking?" I asked him. He looked at me. "If you are thinking about you speech, stop it. Nothing will change."
We went inside the house, I smell barbeque. When we arrived at the other side of the garden, the others are having barbeque. Miss Morales is also here, she just arrived earlier when we are out.
She immediately asked me how I have been. Wesley informed her about what happened earlier. I talked to Jazrill who is sitting at the corner, he seemed scared. It was good that he talked to me too, I told him I'm fine. I saw how his shoulder drop and relaxed.
We have dinner. They prepared a lot of barbeque. I noticed that Eryx wasn't around.
"If you're looking for Eryx, he is sleeping," Shelanie said.
"I'm not."
"It looks like he was having a fever. His face was so red."
"Did you give him some medicine?"
"Yes, Kuya Wesley was the one who gave him earlier though."
After having dinner they decided to watch a movie. They are at the living room, I went straight to my room and lay down on my bed.
When I woke up, the only thing that gives light to the room is from my lampshade that was on. I saw four figures lying at the sofa bed. It's already 11pm, I'm craving for hot chocolate.
I slowly went downstairs and went to the kitchen looking for milo. I turned on the heater, I heard some footsteps that are walking downstairs.
"S-Salazar?"
"Oh?" it was Eryx.
"What are you doing?"
"Milo with milk. Want some?"
"Hmmm."
I also made one for him. I sit beside him after placing the mug of hot chocolate in front of him.
"How are you feeling?"
"Hmmm, thanks to you, I'm still alive," I'm stirring my milo inside my mug.
"I thought you're jealous of us jumping from the cliff earlier. I was wrong."
I did not utter a word, I glanced at him. He take a sip of his drink.
"You panicked," and he looked at me. I avoided his gaze. "Something scared you, what is it, Salazar?"
"You'll just laugh if I'll tell you. Tss."
"Why would I laugh at other people's weakness? Hmmm?"
"To be honest, I really don't want to join this training camp," I answered while staring at him.
He sit properly and waited for the next thing that I would say.
"When I found out about the destination, I really don't want to go home here. But, you guys want to come here, you guys are going to call me killjoy."
"You could tell Kuya Wesley the reason. He will understand—"
"For what? So, all of you will adjust? I'm not that important for you to change the venue of the training camp, Fuentabella."
"This is a training camp. But, the athlete's mental condition should be prioritize too. If you feel it's wrong, learn to say 'no' because there is nothing bad in explaining yourself, Salazar."
I laughed because of what he said and took a sip.
"Explain myself? For what? That's a tiring thing to do, Fuentabella. I've been there. Nobody believed me, might as well shut up and keep our businesses," I said and shook my head.
"That's the problem. You're keeping your problems to yourself, you don't trust people around you, anti-social."
Wow.
I faced him.
"So, what? At least, I'm not being a burden to other people. Why would I trust people who doesn't event believe me when I will say my opinions? That is stupidity."
"You're making a barrier from us, Salazar. We don't even know you."
I was about to speak but he speak first/
"We know you by your name. But, we don't know what you really want, what you don't like, what's your personality. Because you're distancing yourself from us."
"Stop sticking your nose on my business, Fuentabella," I annoyingly said.
I stood up and placed my used mug at the sink.
"You're good at swimming and academics. You're also good at keeping your problems to yourself."
"At least, I'm good at it."
"That's why you don't have friends."
I shook my head. I was about to leave when he speak again.
"You don't trust people around you. You don't even trust your brother."
"Don't bring my brother into this."
"What? I'm just stating the fact that you do not trust anyone."
I stopped because of what he said. Well, that's true. But, I'm starting to trust Kuya. Tsk. How annoying.
"What's the point in arguing anyway? Sweet dreams, Fuentabella," I was going upstairs when he chased me, I raised a brow at him. The mug in front of his sit a while ago is not there anymore.
"That is one of your problems. Fight for yourself, Salazar. Maybe one day, they will blame you for a thin you didn't do, and you'll not do anything about it," he tapped my head and passed through.
"Wow," I looked at him, he is looking at me. I laughed because of what he said.
"No need to be concern, Fuentabella. Because that day already happened," I took a step upstairs and tapped his shoulder. "And that day was the reason why I do not want to come here in the first place."
His forehead frowned because of what I said, he looked confused.
"Just like what happened today, I almost died back then. Almost, no, wait. Almost? Every member of our family blamed me for what happened to my cousin."
He did not utter a single word while staring at me.
"She fell from the cliff, near the cliff where you and Fajardo are jumping earlier."
"So, that was the reason why you tried to stop us?"
I smiled bitterly.
"My uncle blamed me because I was the one who brought my cousin there which was not true. Just like what happened earlier, I tried to stop her. But, she accidentally slipped."
Eryx is only staring at me. I took a deep breath before speaking again.
"That time, I just learned how to swim. I won a few tournaments but I'm afraid of what lies in the sea. I'm scared of a fucking seaweed and a fucking jellyfish. Go ahead and laugh right now," I said because of annoyance.
He just shook his head.
"I heard few news reports that jellyfish can kill a person. Children would be afraid. I saw my cousin drowning. I'm scared, I don't know what to do. Should I run to get my goggles or should I call for help."
"Salazar..."
"You know what I did? I jump. I jumped without my goggles which could protect my eyes from salt water. The result? Just like earlier, I cannot see anything because sea water sting my eyes."
"Hey…"
I raised my hand to stop him from speaking because I am not done yet, might as well tell him everything. How annoying.
"I tried my best to help her but what? My eyes sting, I cannot move my leg because I had a leg cramp that time, that is why I almost died."
I can feel pain in my throat.
"The result? She have amnesia. Whose fault was it? Mine, because I invited my cousin to jump off that cliff even if she doesn't know how to swim. Hahaha. Bullshit."
"Salazar."
"No matter how I explain everything to them, nobody believe me. I'm a swimmer but I wasn't able to save my cousin's life. No matter how many times I told them what happened to me, that I had a leg cramp they did not believe me."
"Shhh, Salazar…"
"If it wasn't for those kids who helped us back then, my cousin and I would be at the other side of life. So, stop saying that I did not fight for myself because I did! And I swear to that fucking day that I will never swim again but bullshit—"
I stopped talking because he suddenly hugged me and tapped my back.
"I'm sorry, Salazar."
I felt tears escaped from my eyes. Wow.
"Let it all out, I'm here, we are here for you. We trust you. I'll believe in you no matter what happens."
I silently cried on his shoulders while he tapped my back.
All of my emotions are mixed up…
From frustration of the past…
From the fear of what happened earlier…
Fear of trusting people…
Everything…
-------
Trivia:
Apo – it refers to a grandson or granddaughter.