Chapter 31: Swimming Team
I remember, back in middle school, I told Ace I’d become the fastest swimmer she’d ever know. How come I quickly forgot about that? "Get to your proper seats." Miss Valencia arrived, and I couldn’t say anything back to Ace. That reminds me, why is Andy still not here? "You’re here, Miss Caguioa." All attention went to Ace after Miss Valencia called her surname.
"I need you to go to the faculty room later."
After saying that, Andy arrived sweating buckets. "I’m sorry, I’m late." He said, but since he came from a student council meeting, Miss Valencia excused him. Right, I remember Ace is the student council’s vice president. Is it really okay for her to skip meetings? But I mean, I would rather her stay at home to recover quickly.
The class started like usual; the only difference was that I listened carefully to my teachers, unlike before. "If you have further questions, you can ask them now." Miss Valencia said, looking at me as if telling me to ask something.
I’m a slow learner. I know that. Still, I feel like I’ll be disturbing the class if I start asking a question that everyone understands, and only I feel confused about it. "What about you, Noelle? Don’t feel shy." She said. Her tone’s not the usual terrifying tone she used before. It’s comforting and kind that it made me forget my fear.
I stood up as I gulped. "A-About that first part." Miss Valencia explained it again, and I understood it more clearly. I never expected her to do that; this was the first time I enjoyed listening to her lessons.
"I’m so glad Ellie asked about that again," Andy said after our first class finished. Miss Valencia had already gone to her next class. "I also didn’t understand that part, but I’m scared to tell Miss Valencia since she might lash out at me like before. You know? Since I often ask the obvious things." He said while shaking his head.
I didn’t know that even Andy didn’t understand something. I thought he got everything well the first time. It makes me happy that I helped someone even with that simple thing. "You’re really working hard now, huh? Are you making Night your motivation or something?" Andy asked.
Thinking about that using other people’s perspectives, Night might look like one of my motivations. He makes me succeed because I want to go far from him. If I became my own person who doesn’t rely on my parents’ wealth, I could probably hire people to protect me rather than becoming Night’s wife.
But that’s too far from where I am now, so all I can do is be patient. "Right, you’re not joining the sports festival? The two of you?" Ace and I looked at each other after Andy asked that. "I heard Night will be joining the relay, although he was forced by his classmates." I couldn’t help but chuckle after hearing that.
"What’s funny?"
I stopped after realizing they were both staring at me as if I had done something wrong. "I-It’s because I’ll be seeing Night run in a relay." It makes me want to puke whenever I act like I still like that jerk. "O-Oh! Too bad I need to study for my exam." I scratched the back of my head and let out a laugh that was too fake. It made Ace raise an eyebrow.
"I am proud that our princess here is taking her studies seriously, but she’s not going to watch her prince run in that relay? Sounds suspicious." Ace crossed her arms. Is it even okay for her to talk much when her voice is hoarse? "Did you do something embarrassing in front of Fuentes? That’s why you’re like this?"
I could feel Kaoru’s gaze on me, but I just shook my hands. "What do you mean, something embarrassing?" I laughed again.
"Yeah, Ellie’s always been an embarrassment when it comes to Night." My eyes widened after hearing Andy say that. "No offense." He added while patting my head. What does he mean no offense?! Before I could even retort, our next teacher arrived, and that conversation might as well be forgotten.
"I’ll be going first." That’s what Ace said as soon as the dismissal arrived. "Tell the president that I won’t be able to attend." She said that to Andy, and Andy just nodded.
"Noelle!"
I heard Ericka’s voice in front of the door. "I’m going too. See you tomorrow." I bid Andy goodbye, and he just waved his hand at me while looking at the papers for the sports festival. He’s working hard, huh? "Did you wait long?"
Ericka shook her head. "Let’s go. I’m excited to see you swim again." The two of us— I mean the three of us, Ericka, Kaoru, and me, went to the indoor pool. "Let’s change into our swimsuit." She pulled me to the locker room, and we left Kaoru alone near the bleachers. He’s really going to watch us swim? What if one swimmer calls him a pervert for watching us all the time?
"Hey, what’s on your mind?"
I shook my head to remove that thought after Ericka talked to me again. "N-Nothing. Just remembering my lessons for today." Since I’ll be coming home at 5, my bridal lessons will probably start at 7 after I eat dinner. Then I should have my own study session after the bridal lessons.
I have lots to do, and my mind can’t keep up. After changing into our proper attire, I took a deep breath. It’s not the time for me to be distracted. I should focus on what’s in front of me right now.
When we got out of the locker room, some of the members were already near the pool and were warming up. "We should warm up too while we wait for the coach." I followed Ericka to the side, and we started stretching.
"Oh my god, it’s really Noelle."
I heard the first years that had just arrived talking near the locker room. ’I think they mentioned my name.’ My eyes went to them, and they all looked away. Are they also uncomfortable with me being here? Is my presence too much to bear? Am I annoying?
"Don’t mind them." I looked at Ericka after she said that. "They’re fans of yours." She added. "Here, let me help you stretch."
It makes us look like we get along well. Although we really do, some of the members look like they’re not happy about my presence here. I can feel their glares, and I’m trying my best to ignore them, but I feel threatened. What if I get kicked out because most of the members voted to kick me out because they hate me?
"Okay, girls! Gather up." Miss Samantha, our coach, arrived and used her whistle to get everyone’s attention. Everyone went in her direction, and so did I. "Before starting, let me introduce our new member. You all must have known her since she’s famous as that glorious butterfly who won that middle school competition and got scouted by the NYT." It’s making me feel embarrassed when she says it like that.
Someone raised a hand, causing the coach to call up to her. "I thought she’s called the unbeatable mermaid?"
"That is also one of her nicknames." The coach said, and they all started talking simultaneously that I didn’t know who to listen to. It’s embarrassing how they keep calling me nicknames. ’Is this the new type of bullying?’
"Okay, okay! Here she is, our Noelle." It made me nervous when everyone’s eyes all went to me. I used to love the attention, but now I feel like I’m about to puke due to anxiety.
"H-Hello, I’m Noelle Alcantara, and I’ll be joining the team now. Please be good to me."
Everyone clapped, which was unexpected. Someone from the first years raises their hand again. "I heard you’ve been swimming since you were a kid." She said, and I nodded. It was a hobby that turned into something I’m passionate about. I’m not good at studying, but I’ve always been athletic, and swimming was like breathing. It’s a dream I discarded for a guy. It was stupid. I was stupid.
"Why did you stop swimming then?"
I gulped as I couldn’t answer. It’s embarrassing that I stopped something I’ve always been doing just because of a man that won’t even look at me.
"Didn’t you know? She chose to chase after Night Fuentes because of his good looks than continue becoming the champion even in high school." One of the girls at the back who has her arms crossed said.
The atmosphere turned awkward after that. It’s like no one can say anything back to her. Maybe she’s the best on this team. Even though I know that what I did was stupid, it made me happy before. "She’s back here only because she needs the grades to be able to graduate."
W-What? How did she know about that?
