Chapter 101: Night vs Leslie
More and more people are coming into the indoor pool, most of them are students, and some are visitors that must have been interested in what was going on.
’Shoot! I forgot to change my clothes. Wearing high heels all the time is uncomfortable.’ I thought.
"I’ll be changing clothes first." The moment I said that Ace stood up from her seat.
"Tell them to not start while Noelle’s gone." Ace said as she offered to accompany me to the restroom and even said that she’ll bring me my shoes. But why would it matter if those people start doing what they want to do?
"Let’s see if Fuentes’s really serious about it."
I heard Ace muttering but I ignored it as I waited for her in the locker room inside the indoor pool. Since I have a change of clothes inside my locker, all I need now are the shoes that Ace will bring.
When Ace arrived back, she brought me my flat shoes and we both went back to the bleachers. It looks like things are heating up due to lots of students coming into the indoor pool.
’Honestly, it doesn’t feel that great for me.’ I thought while sighing as I sat down beside Ace.
"Aren’t you happy? Your prince wants to go on a date with you." Carla said after she heard me sigh.
I can’t even say that I’m not interested in Night anymore since Shiho, Himari, and Makoto are sitting near us. They’ll probably hear me if I start saying anything about not liking Night anymore. ’They’ll think that’s impossible because I’m married to him.’
"Isn’t this fantastic?" We heard Ericka speaking on a microphone. Where did she even get a microphone? And here at the indoor pool too? "Our school’s number 1 prince, Night Fuentes will be competing with our swimming team’s ace and president, Leslie Domingo. Who would win a date with our mermaid princess, Noelle?" Ericka sure is enjoying herself while commentating like that.
’And why did she even call me a mermaid princess? It’s embarrassing.’
People would start bashing me now because of this, and I don’t like it. What if another student like Francesca tries to bully me because Night is for everyone and not for myself? I shook my head to remove that thought.
"This is amazing, our last year in this school is truly something else," Maris said with a smile on her face as if teasing me. Her words sounded sarcastic.
"When will it start though?" Carla asked while people are filling the bleachers in the indoor pool.
"Leslie’s still changing into her swimsuit," I said as I sighed. "And Night’s still in the locker room too," I added.
I’m still wondering why is Leslie competing with Night and why would she want to go on a date with me? Is she playing with me or is it only because she wants to compete with Night Fuentes and she’s only using me to do that?
I sighed. ’I hope Leslie wins.’ It’ll be easier for me to deal with her than deal with Night who’s the infamous prince of our school.
"There they are! Go, Leslie!"
I heard Tristen from below us screaming with her hands raised. She looked up at me and winked. ’What was that wink for?’ I thought as I shook my head.
"The battle for the high prize is here! This is a once-in-a-lifetime battle so everyone that is watching, pay some money would you?" Ericka giggled and that’s how Doreen started making everyone pay except for the swimming club members like me.
"This is exploitation!" Andy said causing Doreen to nod.
"Pay to watch or get out."
Andy pouted as he placed money in Doreen’s basket. They’re really using this chance to gain more money, huh?
"Everyone bet on your choice! We’ll be giving extra prizes to those who win." Doreen announced.
’Oh my god. They’re making this indoor pool looks like a gambling place.’ I thought as I sighed once again, even deeper than before.
Is this even allowed? Wouldn’t this create a chaotic atmosphere for the school festival? Where is coach Samantha anyway? ’Ugh! I don’t care anymore. I’ll let them do whatever they want.’ I thought while continuing to sigh.
The moment Night came out of the changing room, all the girls around us screamed at the top of their lungs. Even though Night’s wearing a full swimsuit covering his whole body. ’That’s right, he can’t show his body filled with scars after all. It will ruin his princely image in the school.’ I thought as I remembered those scars I saw before.
Where did he even get such scars? And it all looked like it’s been years since he had them.
Our teammates cheered for Leslie since it’ll boost her morale and it wouldn’t feel fair for her that it’s only Night receiving cheers. ’I actually want to cheer for her but I can’t since Shiho’s sitting behind me.’
"Shall we start now?" Ericka said into her microphone. "These two are fighting over our little mermaid, Noelle." She said as she pointed at me causing everyone to look at me.
’Oh my god! Why is she doing this to me?’ I tried to hide my face but Andy keeps showing my face to everyone.
"Isn’t she that princess from the beauty pageant?"
"She is! She’s so pretty even without her costume."
I heard some visitors saying. ’I’m glad they think that way, but the other students are probably cursing at me inside their minds.’
With this, the biggest game the swimming club is holding finally started. ’Is it really fine for Night to exhaust himself like this? He’ll still be judging the beauty pageant later.’ I sighed.
"Stop overthinking things." Ace said. "No matter what happens, you already decided for yourself, didn’t you?" She added.
I have already decided that I’ll move on with those feelings I had for Night, but he keeps moving closer to me. ’I hate it.’
"Shall we start this most-awaited event?" Ericka said making the girls scream.
Night and Leslie went to the platforms, preparing for the swim.
"Everyone scream!" And just like what Ericka wanted, the girls screamed, and even the boys.
What is this? Some kind of concert in an indoor pool?
"Players please be in your positions," Ericka said on the microphone. Must she really say that on the mic? "On your marks." She said. Night even looked at me before he looked at what was in front of him. ’What was that for?’ It made my heart skip a beat due to surprise.
"Get set."
Why do I feel so nervous? I’m not even the one competing and this isn’t something to feel nervous about. ’Is it because I’ll be the one suffering no matter who wins here?’
"And... GO!"
Night and Leslie dove into the pool and started swimming. It’ll be commendable if Night wins against the women’s swimming club’s ace.
’Although people would say that it’s normal since men are better than women. That’s incorrect though. Women and men are equal.’ Wait, that’s not the point right now! Whoever wins this competition, I will still be in an awkward state with whoever it is.
"Go Night!" I heard Bethany and her friends screaming. Does she know that if Night wins this, he’ll be going on a date with me? The person Bethany hates the most, it’s me.
"Night looks so determined on winning. He must really want to go on a date with Noelle." I heard Carla saying. "I knew it! Night’s interested in Noelle too." She said.
Night’s relatives could hear her, but I’m glad Makoto isn’t saying anything about it. It would be bad if he starts spouting things about Night and my secrets.
I heard Shiho giggle behind me. "My brother’s cool, huh." She whispered enough for me to hear.
Night’s indeed cool if he wasn’t doing this just to trick me and to make me fall for him again. ’It’s honestly annoying.’ I thought as I watched Leslie and Night compete. It makes me want to swim with them and compete too. It would have made me feel better if I’m the one competing with Night since I can accept it wholeheartedly if I lose to him.
"Who do you want to go on a date with anyway?" Andy asked as if I could answer him when Night’s younger sister is just sitting behind us. "Night Fuentes is really something. This place is more hyped up than the beauty pageant, it’s amazing." He said after realizing that I can’t answer his question.
What he said was correct. Night’s really amazing for creating this event just by his well-known name. He’s so perfect that even students from other schools get charmed by him. It makes me feel like the beauty pageant is nothing compared to this battle.
I used to think that Night was really perfect, but that was because I was only looking at his outer appearance and the way he acts at school. It’s not because I truly know who he is.
’It was stupid of me to think that I know all about him when the truth is I know nothing.’
"Oh my, looks like we have a winner!"
