Chapter 24: The Things I Need To Do
"Are you an idiot? Did you even listen to what I said?"
Hearing him call me an idiot for the 49th time today makes me feel dead tired. "I listened! But I forgot it too quickly." I received a bonk on the head using a rolled paper from him. "Ow! Why do you keep hitting me?!"
"It’s because we’re going through circles, and you still don’t get it. Are you an idiot?" See that? That’s the 50th time he called me an idiot today!
"I’m not an idiot! I’m just a slow learner! Would you stop screaming at me!"
I panted while looking at Night’s face. We’ve been arguing the whole time, and I don’t think I’ll get any of this at this point. "If you don’t want to teach me, then don’t. You’re just wasting both of our time. It’s not like I love being with you."
"Said by the girl who announced how she’s still in love with me this morning."
I felt my face heating up. "T-That’s a lie. I only said that for my friends to stop doubting me."
"Yeah, right."
It pisses me off how he’s treating me like this, but it’s more annoying when he thinks I still have feelings for him. "If you hate helping me, then don’t!" I screamed at his face as I collected my belongings and rushed out of the room.
Rika was waiting for me as she took all my things while Kenji became flustered with how I flounced my way back to my room. ’That annoying jerk! Why did I even think I would learn something being taught by him? He’s a complete jerk towards me, and I hate him! I hate him!’
The next day came, and I thought I’ll start managing all I needed to do. First, I need a club to join. I think I’ll ask Ericka for that. Second, I need someone willing to tutor me without asking for anything back. However, that seems quite impossible, to be honest. And lastly, I need to prepare for the bridal lessons. My teacher will be arriving tomorrow like what grandpa said. I hope that person won’t be too strict with me since I’m getting through a lot now.
"Ellie!"
I immediately looked in front after I heard Andy shout my name. "I’ve been calling you for like seven times now. What got you so distracted that you can’t even hear me anymore?" Andy asked.
"O-Oh, I’m only thinking about something," I said as I saw that some of our classmates were already gone. It must be because it’s already lunch break. "Right, I’m going to meet Ericka today. You should eat without me." Ace is absent for today, which leaves Andy all alone.
"Sure, are you taking Kaoru with you?"
I looked at Kaoru, who was already standing behind me. "Yeah. He doesn’t know his way, so I might as well give him a tour." I lied. It’s because Kaoru needs to stay beside me all the time, not because he might get lost in this school.
With that, I went to Ericka’s classroom, but she was not there.
"Where did she go?"
We stumbled upon Night and his classmates as I roamed the campus with Kaoru behind me. They’re still tailing him as if he’s a prince they’re obsessing over. It made me roll my eyes due to frustration because of the memories I had yesterday. It’s horrible, and I really hate him. "Aren’t we going to greet the young master?" Kaoru whispered into my ear.
"Why would we?"
I turned my back on Night and started walking away. All I need to do is to find Ericka. But where can I find Ericka right now? Don’t tell me she’s in the pool area. "I think we should go to the pool area." Right after I said that I bumped into someone. I almost fell to the ground if only Kaoru didn’t catch me. "T-Thanks."
"Oh, Noelle! I’m sorry for bumping into you."
A smile immediately formed on my face. It’s Ericka! This is what I call great timing! "My classmates said you were searching for me. Do you need something?" She asked with her typical eye smile and cheerful tone. "Do you want to join the swimming team now?"
I nodded lots of times which caused Ericka’s smile to vanish. "R-Really?!" Her loud voice made those people with Night look at us. "Are you sure you’re not joking around with me?" I didn’t want to catch Night’s attention even more, so I pulled Ericka and Kaoru away from that place. "Noelle, you’re not kidding, aren’t you? If you are, I will really feel hurt by this."
"I’m not," I said as I sat on the bench near the flowerbed. It’s better to talk here than where other people can hear. "I’ve been skipping classes because of my personal circumstances, and now my grades are in danger. Miss Valencia said that I need extra grades from club activities, but I didn’t join a club."
Ericka smiled from ear to ear. "Great! We’re waiting for you to join us for the championship. We need someone fast and good at every style. Your butterfly form is majestic, didn’t you know that?" Hearing a swimming term like this makes me blush a little. It’s been a while since I stopped swimming. "Coach also wants to make you join the team. She’ll feel ecstatic hearing this." Her excitement made me smile as I followed her to where the coach was.
"Will she really accept me? You’re all in the middle of training for the competition, right?"
Ericka pinched my cheek gently, which caught me off guard. "It’s fine. Miss Samantha wants you on our team, and I know you’re quick to learn." She said. "You’re basically a mermaid. Why would we hesitate to accept you?"
’A mermaid? That sounds kind of cool.’
"Miss Samantha always hangs out in the pool area during lunch break, so we might see her there," Ericka said. "By the way, who’s this guy who keeps following you?" She pointed to Kaoru, which made me flustered.
"O-Oh, don’t mind him. He’s my friend."
Ericka nodded as she opened the door to the indoor pool. "Miss Samantha! I brought our ticket to the championships." She said, making me feel embarrassed. I did know I’m good at swimming, but how she acts makes it look like I’m a prodigy even if I’m not. "Miss Samantha?"
I roamed my vision and noticed how tidy the indoor pool was. How many years did pass since I last saw a pool like this? It used to be a massive part of my life, but I tossed it away because I was obsessed with Night. That proves how poor I am when it comes to decision-making.
"Ericka? Why are you here during the lunch break?" A woman in her mid-20s came out of the storage room. She’s rubbing her eyes as if she had just woken up. She has short straight hair reaching just above her shoulders, and she still has visible bed hair, making me think she was indeed sleeping in the storage room before we came. "Oh?" Miss Samantha gawked at me, making me back away.
"I-Is there a problem?" I asked.
A smile slowly forms on Miss Samantha’s face. "The majestic butterfly from Westside Middle School!" She said as she pointed at me. W-What? Majestic what? First, it’s a mermaid. Now I’m a butterfly? Where do they get these nicknames from? "You’ve won three times in that famous swimming competition for middle-schoolers. You also got scouted by the national youth team." Why is the coach saying all of this to me?
"Have you decided to join our team?" Her big round brown eyes sparkle as she stares at me. "I know it’s only two months before the competition, but you can still win it." Why is she saying that as if I’m the only one that can win that competition? Doesn’t she have other students she can support? For example, Ericka is right here.
"U-Uhm, I want to join the club for extra grades."
Miss Samantha and Ericka exchanged glances. "You are welcome here! Here, fill this up and give it to me after class." She gave me the form for application. "And also, I need to speak to your guardian, so make sure they know about you joining the club." It was too fast that all I could do there was nod and smile.
"Thank you for joining, Noelle! We’ve been dying to have you on our team." Ericka kept on saying that until I arrived back in our classroom. "I’ll make sure you won’t regret this decision." She said. I mean, why would I regret this decision? It’s only for the extra grades, and they might be the ones to regret this.
"I didn’t know the young miss is good at sports."
I shook my head. "Now you know," I told Kaoru as we entered the classroom. Now that I’m done finding a club that will accept me, I only need to find someone that can tutor me far better than Night. At least, that’s my plan.
"Enter."
Yet here I am again.
I rolled my eyes as I entered Night’s room. "I thought you’ll never ask for my help ever again?" Just hearing his voice makes me want to throw a punch at him.
I really need to find someone else!
