Episode 4: School Club 3

The club day started. It's three minutes before the program starts. I opened the door only to hear a lot of noise inside. It escaped through the hallway of the school and I quickly went inside to contain it.

I scanned the surroundings. Filled with members with their phones on and is being held horizontally. Some of them banded in groups while others seemed to prefer being alone.

There's a seat available near someone; I took the chance to sit on it. The woman next to me seemed to be focused on her phone. As I expected, it's an online game that's common nowadays.

"Okay, quiet down now," the seemingly teacher in charge of the club said. Everyone started to hide their phones to pay respect to him. Some did not notice but eventually were told by the person close to them. I, on the other hand, started to bend my stiff body.

The usual starting-the-day-talk went well. It was now time for some activities.

"First off, let's do some ice breaker," the teacher said. I prefer to do ice melting than that

So it went like this: the teacher introduces himself and then points at someone to introduce himself or herself. Eventually, it reached me where I managed to introduce myself, though probably not clearly. I can't keep track of myself when being taken over by anxiety.

Well moving on, I learned that the woman sitting beside me is named "Rita". She somehow resembles her in some way...

---

Club continued for weeks. It was a manageable one as I managed to get along with the others. But as days passed by, it seems that a change is inevitable.

The woman I knew for years already stood in front of me. This was the second time around, with the last one being a faux.

"This time, I'll be telling no lies with you," she said.

"Better be," I replied.

"During clubs, we have to extend for another hour."

I stared at her for a few seconds. I looked into her eyes as she was sitting in front of me. A table separates us where I lay my elbows at. This time, I'm sure she's telling the truth.

"Seems like it's something we should expect."

"Yeah, right." She rested herself at the table. "And I thought I made a solution to that problem already." She muttered.

"Don't worry, it shouldn't last long," I reassured. "It'd only stay like that until the end of the competition, correct?"

"Yeah, right."

I stroked her hair to at least calm her down. I then looked outside where the city exists. I hope nothing goes wrong. I Should probably do something...

---

"I'm sure that everyone in this team has asked their parents or guardians for consent already, am I right?"

The coach did the introduction of the program. This time, we'll have to train harder than before.

"Haah. This will tire our body a lot," one of the team members told me in a low voice.

"I agree."

"I'm glad that we're doing competitions now, but ah, I miss the casual days."

"Right."

I tried replying to them as much as I could. This training that we do is an interruption between me and him. This sucks but trying out for a competition is fun too. Choices, choices, so many of them.

I then wondered about him. At least he should pass by the court to wave goodbye to me right? I'll literally bully him the next day if he doesn't-. Haah, distractions!

---

The club ended. I walked through the hallways of the school and realized that it was empty. Still, he did not even show up to my practices or say goodbye to me! Gosh, I know that he's a shy person but he could at least be a little aggressive.

The shirt I'm currently wearing is wet. Full of hard work's sweat. And so the extra shirt in my bag that I left in class should help me feel comfortable.

I opened the door leading to my classroom. I opened as fast as I could only to see the unexpected.

Someone's sleeping on my desk. He used my bag as a pillow. I know I smiled under this sweaty face. Jeez, that is aggressive enough.

I went closer and saw his light-expressionless face. I then lightly hit his back to wake him up. He sat up straight and looked at me.

"Oh, I fell asleep. Sorry about that."

I went closer and hugged him. My weight was pushed upon him. Smiling is all I think I could not stop for this day.

"He-hey, your shirt's wet!"