Meriedeth Salazar
"Salazar, what took you so long?" Shelanie asked in a worried tone.
It was great timing our teacher for the first subject wasn't around yet. I just answered her that I woke up late.
"It's a miracle that you are late, Shark girl," Rovic commented, he just arrived. From the looks of it, he just came from the cafeteria, he is carrying a plastic bag full of snacks. "Want some?" and he offered a box of peperro.
"Hmm, sure," as I accepted the box. "Thanks."
"Dude, did you talk to Andrea?" Rovic asked Eryx and take his seat.
"Yeah, why?"
"Did you had a fight with her? I saw her crying a while ago," as he took a bite of the sandwich that he bought.
"Are you accusing Eryx, Rovic?" Shelanie asked.
"I'm just asking, Shells."
"She's mad at me because of what happened to her sister. She's asking me why Kuya left her Ate."
I sit properly and prepared the book that we are going to use for the next subject.
"Ate Ariana is the one at fault, right?" Shelanie asked.
"She doesn't have any idea what her sister did. She's blaming Kuya Carson," Eryx answered.
"What did really happened, Dude?" Rovic asked. "Was there a third party?"
"There was, and Ate Ariana is the one who cheated."
I took a glance of them, Rovic and my gazes met, he grinned at me.
"Shark girl can't relate," he said while laughing, I just rolled my eyes at him.
"Do you want to know the story, Salazar?" Eryx asked.
"Nope. I'm not that interested."
Classes are dismissed and the four of us proceeded to the club area. I changed clothes and took a shower. I saw Shelanie and the others outside. Rovic is already swimming, the triplets are also here.
I went to a lane and a platform. I took a deep breathe, I fixed my goggles and fixed my position. I'm staring at the water. I counted one up to three and jumped.
I swim towards the other end. I immediately turn around and swim back, when I was able to touch the wall I saw Shelanie cheered, just a little bit more and I can have a new record.
"Ate Salazar is so cool," Jezreal commented.
I went out of water and sit at the edge of the pool, Melanie and Wesley just arrived and they proceed to train. While we are in the middle of training somebody arrived.
"Andrea! Great, you came!" Melanie happily said and hugged Andrea, she's wearing a swimsuit. She's holding her swimming cap and goggles.
"I will introduce you to the other members!"
Wesley called us to go near them. We went out of the pool and walked towards their direction.
"Guys, this is Andrea Gueverro. She is classmates with your Kuya Eryx, she is our representative for the backstroke event."
"Wow," Jezreal said in amazement.
Melanie introduce the triplets to Andrea. Jazrill did not utter a single word and went back to his training.
"I'm sorry about our twin's attitude," Jazhel immediately said.
"It's fine," Andrea and my gazes met, she looked at me from head to toe.
Tss.
"You know Meriedeth, right?" Wesley asked.
She just nodded.
"So, since we are complete for the relay. Why don't we start training for it?" Shelanie suggested.
"Are you a member of the club?" Andrea asked back.
"She's the manager," I answered and fixed my goggles.
"Jezreal, do you have experience about the relay?" Melanie asked.
"Opo, I'm the second swimmer. The first one who is going to swim is Ate Andrea, then, me, then you and lastly, Ate Salazar."
"Good. Shelanie, the timer."
"Did you train at your place, Andrea?" Rovic asked while sitting at the edge of the pool, he just came from the other end.
"Yes, we have a pool."
Wow.
They fixed their goggle and we formed a line. Andrea hold the handle that is in front of the platform. She is turning her back from the water.
It's always like that, if you are the representative for the backstroke, it's not like the freestyle event that you can immediately jump into the water. Swimmers who are going to swim backstroke are facing the wall in the beginning of the event.
Shelanie gave us a signal and Andrea jumped. We heard the splash, Andrea is swimming fast. She's already almost at the half of the pool. Jezreal prepared at the platform and took a deep breath.
"Andrea is really fast," Melanie happily said.
I stretched, Andrea is also coming back. Melanie talk to Jezreal about the timing because she is getting nervous.
"Go!" Shelanie shouted.
Jezreal quickly jump, Andrea went out of the pool and removed her goggles. Jezreal is also swimming fast, a few moments she is coming back. Melanie prepared to dive. When Jezreal arrived, Melanie quickly jumped.
Butterfly stroke is really beautiful. Of all the different swimming strokes, the butterfly stroke is the most beautiful out of all of them. Melanie is coming back, when I saw her touched the wall, I dive into the water.
I swim towards the other end. I move my arms and legs fast. In the relay, it is very important that the last swimmer is the fastest. Even if your teammates are slow, you should be fast because you are the last one. You're the one who will finish the relay.
When did I last swim for a relay?
It's been a while.
I turned and swim back. When I touched the wall I move my goggles upwards and look at them.
"What?" I went out of the pool and sit at the edge.
"You guys still need practice," Wesley honestly said.
"I'm sorry po, I got really nervous," Jezreal said.
"We still have two weeks. We can work on it," I said.
"You and Kuya Eryx seem like to have the same speed during the relay," Jazhel said.
"Oh?" Jezreal reacted.
"Work on your timing, Jez," Jazrill said.
Spend the rest of the week training, until the day of the district meet finally came. I fixed my bag and hang it around my shoulder. Kuya Marcus gave me a ride, he said he is going to watch later.
There are only a few people at school because it's district meet today, there are no classes. I immediately went to the club area and they are there. When I arrived, only Andrea and the triplets are not around.
"We should go to the field, the service that we are going to ride is already there," Wesley said.
"Can we ride the bus?" Rovic asked.
"The guys from the basketball team don't want us to ride with them because the cheering squad is with them," Melanie answered.
"I should drown them, their faces are too thick to say those kinds of things, and we are also representatives of EEHS!" Rovic said. "We don't even have a cheering squad."
"You are just bitter because you weren't able to get into the basketball team," Shelanie said and everyone laughed.
"Goodness, I'm not bitter, alright. It's not my lost," as he shook his head. "If I would become a member of their team, a lot of people will ask pictures of me, there will also ask for my autograph, goodness!" as he hold his temples acting like it is very problematic.
"You're what? An actor? A celebrity?"
They looked towards my direction and laughed. While Rovic is shaking his head sideways.
"Burn!" Shelanie teased.
"I am already famous when I started joining the swimming team, how much more if I'll join the basketball team? My fangirls will chase me."
"You have fans? You look like a soldier."
"Hey, Shark girl, don't be like that! You should support me!" he said like a child.
"Yeah, Dude. Where are you fans?" Eryx asked while laughing.
"Hays," he shook his head again. "The president of my fans club called earlier. They are waiting for me at the venue."
"You're too much, Rovic! Hahaha! I really believe in how high your self-confidence is," Melanie said and laughed again. "Tell your fans to also cheer for us later. Hahahaha!"
"Oh, sure, I'll text them."
Our conversation is filled with laughter as we wait for the other members. Andrea was the last one to arrive.
"Did something happened? You're a little late," Melanie asked in a worried tone.
"I didn't sleep properly last night. I'm nervous for the event later," Andrea answered.
"Me too, I'm also nervous," Jezreal said in a verge of tears.
When we are complete we went inside the bus. We are the only ones in there, the basketball team and cheering squad wasn't around yet.
I looked at Wesley because he sighed. Jazrill and Jazhel are playing games with their phones, while Jezreal is talking with Andrea. Eryx is quietly staring outside the window, while Rovic is feeling like a celebrity and talking to Shelanie.
"I'm nervous, maybe I'll make a mistake during the jump and the event is not yet starting," Jezreal said.
"Then, you are stupid, hahaha," Jazrill commented.
"Hey, don't be like that towards Jez," Jazhel reprimanded.
"I'm also nervous," Andrea said. "This is not my first time, I'll get through it."
"We are not yet going, right?" I asked.
"Not yet, why did you asked, Meriedeth?" Wesley asked.
"Is the cafeteria open right now?"
"Yup, I just came there a while ago," Rovic answered.
I went out of the bus and went to the cafeteria. I bought a small box of fresh milk.
To be honest, I'm also nervous right now. It just sink in to me that the place we are going is where will be the competition is going to happen and we cannot repeat it because it is only a onetime event, if you will make a mistake later, tsk.
I'm holding a plastic bag filled with boxes of fresh milk. I'm drinking this before the competition when I am nervous. Maybe their anxiousness will disappear if---
"Veronica, what is happening to you?! Hey!" Carrie asked while shaking Veronica's shoulders who is standing and can't relax.
"I'm nervous! Maybe while I am going to jump I will accidentally trip!"
"Tss. You are spreading anxiousness right now," Aileery complained.
"Oh, girls! Drink some fresh milk. To let you nervousness disappear," Coach said and handed us some boxes of fresh milk.
I closed my eyes when I remembered that memory. Damn. I looked at the plastic bag that I am holding. I sighed.
I bought 10 fresh milks.
Damn. I'm even more nervous than before.
Why did I even buy for them? In the first place, I don't care about them----
Fine.
I'm a little bit concern about them. Just a little bit, how can they swim properly if they are nervous?
Yes, I am also nervous and this is my way of getting rid of being nervous by drinking fresh milk.
This is just help.
I don't care about them.
Argh.
I drink my fresh milk as I walked towards the bus. When I arrived there, it's too noisy inside. Am I in the right bus? They are really loud, it's irritating!
I saw Wesley and the others at the end. I walked towards at the end of the bus, the basketball team and cheering squad are too loud. They look like animals that are being killed for meat because of their noise, how irritating!
"Are you okay, Salazar?" Shelanie asked in a worried tone.
"Hmm, a little bit, it's too noisy."
"Maybe they will hear you," she warned me.
I looked at them, there are a few cheer leaders who are giving us a bad eye. I looked at Wesley and the others. I took a deep breath before speaking.
"Uh, I know we are all nervous for our events later. I don't know if it could help but I hope so. Do you want some? Fresh milk?"
I gulped as I raised the plastic bag that I'm holding.
"Your treat? Wow," Rovic said in amazement and took one. "Thanks, Shark girl!"
"I'm not included as swimmers later, but as a member of the club, I am also nervous," Shelanie said and took one. "Thank you," and she smiled.
"Can I have one, Salazar?" Eryx asked. I handed him one. "Thanks," as he took a sip.
I looked at Jazrill and Jazhel, they also get one.
"Actually, this is our favorite drink before a game. Thank you, Ate Salazar," Jazrill said and smiled.
"Uh, how about you guys?" I asked Wesley.
They get one, Melanie and Wesley smiled at me.
"Thanks, Meriedeth!" they happily said.
I looked at Andrea and Jezreal. They also get one and thanked me. I was able to relax. I thought they will get mad at me, there is still one more box left. I sit beside Eryx and continued drinking my milk. I fix my headphone and listen to music, I can still hear the surroundings. I don't want to lose my ability to hear, even if the ones sitting ahead of us can make someone deaf because of their loudness.
"Why are they here? They don't have a service? The bus is too tight," a cheerleader complained and rolled eyes at us.
"Just let them be, Miss Morales pleaded to let them ride the bus," said the other cheerleader and laughed.
"They should just have their own service, the bus it too tight."
She thinks we are too many in here. There are still unoccupied seats, picky creature.
"Let' just shut up because it will become an issue! My gosh."
"What did they join?" A cheerleader who complained earlier looked at us. "What is your game?" she asked while looking at us.
"Our sports is swimming," Rovic proudly answered.
"Ohhh, swimming, so you are going to swim later?" another one excitedly asked.
"No, we are going to fly. Tsk. Stupid," I whispered while shaking my head.
I looked at Eryx because he laughed. I shook my head again.
"There are only a few of you here, you guys could commute going to the venue. It's really tight in here, and you are here with us. You guys should have budget, right?"
I looked at her, she rolled her eyes at me while her friends are looking bad at us. They are so picky, when they are not the ones going to play later, they are only the cheering squad.
"What are you looking at, huh?" the girl who complained earlier said in a tone with a hint of disgust while looking at me. I removed my headphones.
"To be honest, why don't you just shut the fuck up?"
I heard Wesley and the others gasp behind my back and the girls in front of us were surprise, even the guys with them. She covered her mouth.
"Salazar!" Shelanie reprimanded.
"Hey, you and you team are just hitching for a ride at our bus! This is only for the basketball team and cheering squad," as she pulled me up while holding the collar of my shirt. "Let me remind you and your club are just hitching for a ride, loser," as she look at me from head to toe.
"Get your filthy hands off me."
"What?"
"Hey, that's enough," Melanie warned.
"You'll not let go of me?" I coldly asked.
She just smirked. I hold her hands tightly, the reason that she cried in pain.
"Ouch! Let go of me! Ouch! Help!"
"Hey! Hey! Hey! What are you doing? Why are you hurting my girlfriend?!" a guy went near us.
With all my strength I pushed the girl towards her boyfriend, making them fall on to the floor of the bus.
"Tell your girlfriend to shut the fuck up."
"Who are you? You are so arrogant. Are you a member of the swimming club, huh?"
"That's enough, we're sorry for the—"
"Why are we apologizing?" I cut in Wesley's sentence.
"Salazar!" Shelanie reprimanded again.
"Hey, girl, you are just hitchhiking for a ride on our bus. You don't have any rights to her my girlfriend," the guy arrogantly said.
His girl is giving me a bad look.
Who is she scaring?
"First of all, your girlfriend is throwing a lot of complains because it's tight and the bus is full. Are you blind? There are still vacant seats. Don't be so stupid. Your girlfriend is the one who hurt me first, discipline her."
The other cheerleaders drop their jaw. The ones sitting in front begin to look at our direction,
"Look at her bad attitude, they are the ones who are hitching---"
"What is the sport that you join, Miss?" I asked the guy's girlfriend who is standing behind him.
"Duh, we are the cheering squad for the basketball team. Stupid, why are you asking?"
"Between the both of us, we have more rights than you to ride this bus. It's in the school rules, athletes are prioritize during events like this. This bus is also not yours because its school property so don't own it like it's yours. So, just shut the fuck up."
"Meriedeth," Wesley tapped my shoulder.
"You and your team are walking to the venue—"
"What is this?" we looked at the one who asked.
The coach of the basketball team, another teacher and Miss Morales. The others sit properly. The girl and her guy did not take their seats yet.
"Sir, the members of the swimming club have a terrible attitude. She said, us cheerleaders don't have any right to ride this bus because we are not an athlete."
"Who said it?"
"Her," and she pointed at me.
We looked at the coach of the basketball team. Then he laughed, also the other teacher with them.
"Well, she's right so don't fight with each other. It is in the school rules."
She and her boyfriend drop their jaws while looking at each other. Wesley and I took our seats. The bus was brought to life and we travel to the venue. I fixed my headphones.
When we arrived at the venue, we went off the bus. When I went off the bus, the cheering squad are looking bad at us. Tss. They feel that they have a lot of roles. Tss.
"What are you looking at? Do you want me to drown you?" Andrea asked coldly at the cheering squad, making them leave.
"Hey, don't be like that," Wesley reprimanded.
"It's tiring to talk to them, Wesley," I said.
"They look down on us too much," Jezreal said in a sad tone.
"Meriedeth did the right thing, Wesley," Eryx said.
"Okay, but next time, don't do it again."
"Ah, Meriedeth was so cool earlier! I didn't even recognize her immediately," Melanie said and wrapped her arms around my shoulder.
We walk our way towards the pool area. We are at the bleacher. There are a lot of schools that are going to participate. We are wearing our physical education uniform, while other schools have their own uniform for today.
Actually, Melanie ordered something for the team, but is hasn't arrive yet.
"The pool is so beautiful," Shelanie said, full of amazement in her eyes.
"You guys should prepare," Miss Morales reminded us.
Jezreal and I, and the others went to the comfort room to change. After changing we went to the bleachers. My heart is beating fast. When did I last feel this nervousness?
"Good luck later," I looked at the one who spoke.
It was Eryx.
"You too."
"Salazar!" we looked at Shelanie who is running towards our direction. Behind her is Rovic.
"Did you remember what I said to you back then?"
"Which one?"
"Did you see the girl sitting at the other bleacher?" as she looked at the other direction.
"There are a lot of people, Shelanie," Eryx said.
"The one wearing a blue jacket."
I saw the girl that she is talking about.
"Why?"
"She's going to be your deadly enemy on your event."
"You know her?
"Who would never know Savannah Torington? Tss."
We all looked at the person behind us. It was Andrea.
"Is she half?" Rovic asked.
"She is a fast swimmer. She is from Clarine North High School. Good luck, Salazar."
I took a deep breath. In a few minutes, participants for the freestyle event are called. I went down towards the pool area. I fix my swimming cap.
I took off my physical education uniform and place it inside the basket. I'm wearing my swimsuit earlier. I fixed my goggles and went to the platform.
"Go Salazar!" they cheered for me.
We prepared, I'm at the fourth lane. I noticed that the one beside me at the next lane is Savannah. I mentally shook my head. I crouched down. I took a deep breath, calming myself down.
"Go Meriedeth!"
I frowned my forehead, the voice was coming from the other bleacher. I saw a girl wearing a blue jacket, waving at me.
My jaw dropped when I recognized her---
The buzzer sounded, a signal that the event has officially started. I can hear the others already jumped.
Bullshit!
I dive into the water. I quickly swim towards the other side. Fuck. Who was that? Why does she looked familiar?
Fuck, I messed up from the start!
I heard Rovic's cheer and the others from the bleachers where we are assigned. I keep on swimming. I kick my feet faster and crawl my way forward.
"She's a fast swimmer."
Damn. Why am I remembering what Andrea said earlier? Tsk.
When I reached the end I immediately made a turn. I swim back.
Why am I nervous? Bullshit. Fuck this!
When I touched the wall, the buzzer made a noise. I stand up, the water is only up to my chest. I removed my goggles, I looked at the scoreboard.
4 2 Meriedeth Salazar EEHS
5 1 Savannah Torrington CNHS
I lowered my head, bullshit.
------
Trivia:
So, this story is originally written in Filipino. If you guys have trouble understanding about what Rovic meant about the question "Is she half?" in the original story he asked this "Half ba 'yon?". I just translated it.
Rovic is asking about Savannah's identity because of her surname.
Hehehe. I hope you guys are not mad by the way I write that part. It's just a little bit normal here in the Philippines to ask if you are 'half' when they hear your surname is for different nationalities. No hate, spread love.