Meriedeth Salazar
I went out of the pool and looked at the scoreboard.
4 2 Meriedeth Salazar EEHS
5 1 Savannah Torrington CNHS
I heard cheers from the bleachers. I looked at the other contestants who are with me, they are leaving.
I sighed, I grabbed my physical education uniform and went inside. I removed my cap and goggles.
"Salazar!" I heard someone called me, it was Shelanie, and behind her are Eryx and Rovic.
They walked towards my direction, Shelanie gave me a hugged.
"It's okay, Salazar. You did great---"
"Great?" I looked at her.
"You did your best, the others came up last, and you're in second place. It's not easy to reach that place. There is always a next time. Even if you are in second place, you're the one who made the most beautiful form in diving—"
"Dive? I messed up my timing, Shelanie," I annoyingly said.
"She's trying to cheer you up, Shark girl," Rovic defended.
"We all know I messed up from the beginning, I know that you all saw it. No need to sugar coat your words, tsk. Just leave me alone," and I walk pass them.
I heard Shelanie called me but I did not looked at her. I don't want to talk to anyone right now. I changed clothes at the comfort room, I placed my swimsuit inside a plastic bag. I get my bag from the lockers here and wear my hoodie.
I feel like shit.
The voice that called me earlier is pretty familiar. I know who owned that voice, but I am not sure yet.
I already sighed a lot of times, I'm here at the back part of the building. There is a little garden here and there are a lot of trees, it makes you feel relax, but bullshit.
The one who called me is really bullshit.
Fuck.
Why did I get distracted?!
Wait, why am I getting mad? In the first place, it doesn't matter to me who won or lost…
Ah, just fuck it.
My vision started to get blurry, I touched the edges of my eyes. I'm crying. I hate this feeling. It's bullshit. My chest feels so heavy.
I've been training for almost a whole month and I just ended up in second place.
I can't do anything because those are the results.
I just need to improve for next year, so I can be better.
Fuck. How many months am I going to wait!
I never felt this frustrated before.
I feel so stupid.
It makes me lose my desire to swim, so much. I hugged my knees.
I want to shout.
I want to shout all of this bad feeling that I have in my chest right now.
I have no right to complain about this because in the first place, I messed up! I was the last one who jumped into the water while they already started swimming.
Yes, I was able to catch up but it wasn't enough!
Second.
Second place.
I wiped my tears that I can't stop from falling. I turned my head to the side because I felt somebody was standing at my side.
I met Eryx's gaze. I immediately avoided his gaze, I turned my back at him.
"What do you need?!" I asked in an annoyed tone.
"I know you told me to leave you alone but I'm kind of worried. Here, water. I'll go back inside," as he placed a bottle of mineral water at my side.
"You need this to," and he handed me his handkerchief.
"I don't need that, you can go, Fuentabella."
"I know it's frustrating but we can't do anything—"
"I trained for months, Eryx! You don't know how frustrated I am right now! I used up a lot of days and time for this to train and I didn't win!" I said out of my irritation as tears fall from my eyes.
Fuck, I feel so stupid.
I fix my hair while tears are falling from my eyes that I can't stop.
I closed my eyes because of irritation, I feel hurt because of what happened right now. It pains me, it's heavy in my chest.
"If only I jump a little early, if only I wasn't distracted! Bullshit! It's really bullshit! I'm stupid."
I sighed.
I felt Eryx sit beside me and tapped my shoulder.
"We can't change the results, Salazar."
"I know!"
"Yes, you know."
"Ah, bullshit," I said in an irritated tone.
"It is your first time to lose?"
I looked at him, he is just staring at me. I sighed and nodded. I always won my competitions back then.
"In a game, there are two possibilities. You win or you learn."
I frowned because of what he said.
"You'll learn from your mistake. By learning from it, you'll improve. I know how you feel. It's frustrating but we can't do anything about it. We all want to win but maybe it's not time yet to win."
I opened the bottle of water that he gave me earlier and drink it.
"Next time, you can join again."
"Fuentabella, that is still far away."
"You have all of your time to train after the district meet."
"It makes me lose desire to swim."
"Are you going to let Savannah beat you?"
"Tsk."
"Then train. Rovic, Shelanie and I will be with you. Even the whole club. By the time that the intramurals and district meet will be approaching. Your movements will be different."
I only looked at him.
"There are improvements that will happen. You just came back from swimming, right? Don't be hard on yourself, Salazar."
I took a deep breath and drink some water. I realize that what he said was right. There are room for improvements.
"Let's go?"
"Wait, how about your event?"
"It will be hold later around 1pm. They are eating at the cafeteria. Let's go?"
"I'll stay here for a while. I don't have any appetite to eat."
"Are you sure? I'll grab a burger for you if you want."
I raised a brow at him.
"Cup noodles?"
"I'll just go back with you."
I stand up, I hang my bag at my shoulder and we went inside the building. It's frustrating, but it's slowly disappearing. After hearing words from Eryx, I feel a little better.
When we entered the cafeteria I saw other students from different schools eating their lunch too. Eryx went to the counter to order some food, I saw Shelanie and the others. I just ordered some fresh milk, I don't want to eat after what happened earlier.
From swimming, plus I lost, it makes me lose my appetite.
"Salazar," Shelanie called why tears are forming in her eyes as I sit beside her. I raised a brow at her.
"What?" I punched a hole in box of fresh milk using the straw.
"I'm sorry about earlier, I'm really sorry," and hugged my arm.
"It's fine. I'm sorry too, I was frustrated earlier."
"Are you still mad at me, Salazar?"
I shook my head while taking a sip of milk. Rovic and my gaze met, he is eating but not that much.
"What?" I asked.
"Eat some rice."
"I have no appetite, Soldier."
"We will win our events for you guys, so you guys won't be sad anymore," Rovic said.
That was when I know that Jezreal landed on third place, while Melanie and Andrea also landed at the second place like me.
"There is still a relay guys, so don't be sad," Miss Morales said. "You can still try again next year."
I mentally sighed. I don't want to listen that phrase.
Try again next year.
How about Melanie? By that time they already graduated.
Argh. This is frustrating.
The next event is going to start which our Eryx's and the others event so they leave the cafeteria. The first one who swim was Eryx, we cheered for him—I mean, them, and they are the ones who cheered the most. I was just sitting at my chair.
"Go! Go! Go Eryx!" Miss Morales cheered.
"Go! Go! Go Eryx!" Shelanie and the others cheered.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!"
It's too noisy, I stood from my sit when I saw eryx is swimming back. He is leading! I just found myself clapping with them because he won first place. He can be included in the regionals.
"I'll be the next one," Wesley announced as he stood up. We wished him good luck before he left.
Eryx arrived, we congratulated him. He sit beside me while wiping his hair with his towel. He join the others in cheering Wesley.
Wesley will also proceed in the regionals, Jazrill landed on the third place while Rovic landed in the second place. He is smiling when he got back from the pool.
"There is still next year! So, don't lose hope, guys!" Rovic said. "Right, Miss Morales?"
"Yes, don't lose hope. There are room for improvements. Frustrating but we can improve. Okay?"
"Miss Morales, when will be the relay and individual medley?" Jazhel asked.
"Relay events will be hold tomorrow."
"Are we going home?" I asked, making them look at me.
"There are still other games playing at the other buildings. Do you guys want to check?" Shelanie suggested.
"We could, how about volleyball?" Wesley asked.
"Let's go," they said.
I stand up and followed them, I fixed my hoodie. While we are going outside to the other building I saw a vendo machine. I want to taste the chocolate milk, it looks delicious.
I told them to go on ahead and I'll follow after buying. Hmmm, may chocolate milk. May strawberry din. Oh? Chocolate milk with cookies? Would that be okay?
I immediately buy one and followed Shelanie and the others. We are going to watch the volleyball game, I went inside to a building. I asked the guard, I'm in the correct building. I am drinking my chocolate milk with crush cookies while looking for them.
I look at the bleachers from the first court, they are not there. I went out of that area and continued to look for them. They are not in the second area either, I'm walking my way towards the third area. I'm near the court, it was our school representatives who are playing and it is the second set.
I went out of the area and I am walking my way towards the entrance of the bleachers, before I could enter the bleachers area somebody pulled me from behind. I dropped the box of milk that I was drinking because somebody slapped me.
My eyes widened when I recognized who slapped me.
"That's for leaving without a word, Meriedeth," she coldly said.
My heart beat fast. I want to speak but no words came out from my mouth.
"V—Ve—"
"You gave us false hope, Meriedeth! You just disappeared into thin air! During vacation we are preparing for the upcoming tournament! When classes started you were gone?! How could you, Meriedeth?!"
"V-V--Veronica—"
"Did you know that Coach cried when you left?! I'm so mad at you, until now, I'm still angry at you!"
"I... I... I..." I sighed, there are no words coming out from my mouth.
"We were not able to participate at the relay because you disappeared. We didn't have any news about you. You didn't even call!" she shouted in irritation.
"In last few years, Meriedeth. We didn't hear any single thing from you, then, now! You're swimming? Wow," she said sarcastically. "You have no right to swim, especially at relays, because you are not trustworthy."
My vision turned blurry because of the heavy feeling that I am feeling right now. I don't know what to do? Should I talk? Should I leave?
"What? You are just going to cry there?! How dare you cry, Meriedeth?!" she pulled my collar while shaking me, as if she is trying to wake me up.
"S-S—Stop—" I whispered and hold her arm.
"Stop?! Really, Meriedeth? After all you've done?! I'll stop?! No! I will not stop until you will have listen to everything that I will say."
She tightened her grip of my collar. My tears are falling nonstop. Veronica is giving me a sharp look. We can hear the cheers of the crowd because of the game, but no one can hear us here.
"How dare you swim after you left us," she said coldly.
"I-I—I'm sorry," I said while crying as I close my eyes.
"Your sorry will not return everything, Meriedeth!"
I lowered my head because of what she said. My body won't move.
"Veronica!" I looked at the one who called her.
Their eyes widened when they saw Veronica holding my collar, Carrie covered her mouth while Aileery is standing behind her.
"Nica! What are you doing?! Let go of Meriedeth," Carrie said and was about to take a step closer.
"I'm talking to this selfish bitch."
"Nica," Aileery coldly reprimanded.
"What? She left us without a word! And, now! We suddenly see her swimming? After all these years we didn't hear anything from her then now?! Fucking bullshit!" Veronica shouted and irritation as she pushed me, making my back hit the wall.
I fixed my t-shirt. Carrie was about to speak when suddenly somebody pushed Veronica and slapped her. My eyes widened when I recognized who did it.
"You have no right to do this to Salazar," Shelanie said to Veronica while staring at her.
"And you have no right to butt in this conversation, Miss," Veronica coldly said.
"Yes, I have no right but you are too much, Miss. You slapped Salazar and shouted at her. Blaming her for things that happened in the past when you can calmly talk about it."
"What about it? Do you understand what I am feeling right now? Of course, you don't have any clue! We are preparing for an upcoming tournament and she suddenly disappeared like bubbles!"
"Nica," Aileery reprimanded and hold her shoulder.
"Before you blame Shark girl because of not joining, you should ask her what her reasons are before you hurt her, Miss," I looked at my right side, Rovic is here, I'm too occupied that I didn't even noticed him.
"Are they your friends, Meriedeth?" I looked at Carrie, as always, she has a beautiful voice. It is soothing.
I raised both of my eye brows as an answer and she nodded.
"You should go with them. Let's talk some other time."
I weakly nodded. Shelanie hold my arm as we walked away. I stopped when Veronica said something.
"Always remember, Meriedeth! You have no right to swim relays because you're not trustworthy!"
I sighed because of what she said. We left that area and sit at the bleachers where other club members are. The volleyball game is almost ending.
"What happened?" Eryx immediately asked when he saw us.
"Nothing," I answered.
"Nothing? You cried, Salazar."
"There was a girl who is hurting Salazar, Eryx. She slapped Salazar and pulled her collar," she sighed. "Why did you stopped me earlier, Rovic? If only I talked to that girl earlier she couldn't have said those harsh words."
"Because I thought she would be okay, because Shark girl knew her."
"She was slapped, you're annoying, and why did you even stopped me earlier. I could have slapped her twice, she is insulting Salazar too much."
"That girl has a lot of nerve to tell those thing, who does she thought she is. She's saying that Shark girl doesn't have any right to swim in relays, argh! She's too childish!"
"Both of you don't argue in front of Salazar."
The three of them looked at me. I just close my eyes and lean my head at the back part of the seat.
"Are you okay, Salazar?" Shelanie asked and hold my hand.
"Hmmm. I'm fine."
"Who was that, Shark girl? They are from Clarine, right?"
"My former teammates," I said in a low tone.
They gasped because of my answer. They argued in front of me again. Eryx sit beside me and tapped my shoulder. I raised a brow at him.
"Are they mad at you?"
"Something like that."
"Because of the past?"
"Kind of. Veronica is mad at me," I sighed.
"You can talk tomorrow."
"I'm ashamed to talk to them," I said and let out a laugh, making Shelanie and Rovic to look towards our direction.
"Why?'
"She's so mad and I understand her. Between the three of them, I know Veronica would be so angry at me."
"Even if she is mad at you she should understand you," Shelanie said.
"This day is tiring."
"Forget about what she said earlier, Shark girl."
I sighed and closed my eyes.
"Always remember, Meriedeth! You have no right to swim relays because you're not trustworthy!"
Hays.
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I hope you guys like this chapter! I hope you will leave some comments!