Human: Paradigm (COMPLETED)

JEON

The sun’s high up. Not even mah umbrella can do enough shade. Walking at this time’s a bad idea. Should’ve put sunscreen or wrapped skin in tissue.

“I’m soooo excited for your showdown,” idiot says.

“I am nervous if honesty is what you are seeking. Furthermore, what we are participating in is an audition and not a showdown.”

“Nope. It’s a showdown for me. And I’m sure you’re gonna gonna be the wiiiiner.”

“Thank you for believing in my skills.”

We turn to the field where the clubroom is. We enter. Not a single soul’s floating yet.

He stretches arms above head. “Ahh. I’m so full.”

“You are full from the amount of food you have eaten?” it’s like yogurt and sandwich.

“Yep~”

“That is so diminutive.”

“I’m used to it now.”

Arriving at the changing room changes the atmosphere. Smooch’s there, standing in black jammers.

He bows to me. “Hello, master.”

Creeps run to me like a bolt of mah ability. What the hell?

“Oh great!” idiot shouts.

“Good afternoon Mr. Lee. Good to see you today.” I force a smile. “I wish us good luck.”

Smooch’s skin ain’t wet and his hair’s dry. Means he trained at his damn pool. Also means am at snag here.

“You need to get changed right? If you don’t mind, I’ll be leaving now.” he smiles smugly.

“That is very kind of you.”

“Well then, see you later.” he walks away.

Idiot looks at me. I shake mah head.

“What’s up with that guy?” he asks.

“I am clueless, but I think that I should start changing since the audition will be starting soon.”

“Go a~head!”

I walk to the metal rack. It’s built-in the wall and seems strong enough to hold 50 18-wheelers. There are 3 layers, mah bag’s the middle. I take it.

“Eh? It’s open!” idiot’s voice stab mah ears.

“What is it?”

“My bag is open!”

“Maybe you just forgot to close it when we left for lunch?” you blabber so much that’s why you keep on messing.

“No. No. I’m 100% sure I’ve zip it before we leave.”

I turn to him. “Have you inspected the contents of your bag? Is there anything missing?”

He turns it upside down. Several mess fall. Mess of shirt, mess of towel, and mess of empty bottle.

“All my things are still here.”

“There is nothing to be worried about if that is so. However, you should be mindful of your properties when left unattended.”

“How about yours? Maybe we should check it.”

Can do it mahself

I look inside, and mah phone says hi to mah face. Mah wallet and ID join the meet n greet. Ain’t remember what it looks like before but nothing’s missing... I guess.

I turn back and see idiot’s shining eyes.

“You can take a breath now,” I say.

“Haaah.”

The heck? For real?

Sigh. “Nothing is missing nor extraordinary with my properties.”

“I thought something is missing in your things. I’m glad everything’s alright.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“It’s ok. You’re my friend after ALL!”

Friends? Ain’t sure bout that but you’re always tailing me back like mah damned shadow.

Ah. The time! Stripping mah clothes, feel bit cold on mah skin. On the corner, I notice the aircon’s buzzing like a queen bee. Eh? Didn’t idiot murdered it before?

“Do you have any water?” idiot asks.

“I have half of a bottle here. Are you feeling thirsty?”

“Yep. I drank mine earlier before we leave for lunch.”

Seriously? You came outta pool for hours and still wanting water? You a fish?

Thinking how much idiot he can be, I give what he needs so can have mah peace.

“Are you sure?”

“Please have it.”

“Great! Thank youghhgh.” he’s gulped down the water.

Atleast finish talking.

“It’s refreshing.”

“All right.” I wave mah hand “We need to leave.”

“Sure~” he wraps arms round mah shoulder.

There’s a smile his face that’s almost a grin. Tsk. A real idiot. Am not kind and decent as am tryna show. Pretty sure you’ll turned off if you know the real me.

Beside the pool stands president and glasses boy. Other peeps watch around. Their eyes itch me down but I shake it off like Hillary Taylor.

“Good afternoon,” president says.

“Good afternoon,” I say.

“Af-ter-noon~!”

“You’re here too.” glasses boy points idiot. “I thought you’re not going to attend because you’re already in.”

“Noooope. I’m supporting Chun!”

President gazes me. “You seem to be ready.”

Trust me, am not.

“Get in your position now.”

I walk to the long course’s edge. Smooch walks beside me and lowers his eyes to mah legs.

Knew it, he’s making fun of mah square cut. So what? It’s easier to move in this than your shitty jammers.

“May the best one win,” I say.

“Yes.” smooch answers.

“Good luck, Chun. You’re the Albatross.”

There’s idiot at the back. Not like before, his face’s kinda stiff and blank. Maybe he’s feeling sleepy from being high-strung?

“Thank you.”

He pouts to scmooch. “Win against that guy.”

Tch. A real idiot who ain’t embarrassed. Heh heh.

“Teacher is not going?” glasses boy asks.

“He’s in the conference today,” president answers.

“But you told him right?”

President nods. “He granted me the authority to judge this event.”

“Eh? I wanna judge too.”

“Sure. We’re all judges here anyway.”

Suddenly, president looks at us.

“Ok. We shall start now.”

Smooch and I say yes with heads. Then, we walk forward the diving board.

Here goes nothing.

FFFFFRRRRRTTTT!!!

Hearing the sound, I plunge mah body to the water. It flows on mah skin, massaging down while all round me slow down. Can’t focus on nother thing cept this.

First one’s Fly.

I thud mah legs to a dolphin kick. Then, move mah arms circular strokes.

Like having mind of their own, mah body and fins move in sync like Magic Mike. Good thing I practiced earlier.

Breathe in, out. Breathe in, out. HAAAA—

Swoosh!

In a moment, mah hand feels rough surface. An image comes me. Looking forward, I see a wall. It’s already a lap?

I kick the wall and change to backstroke. Mah body flips over. All can see’s ceiling but thanks to mah glasses, lights ain’t that blinding.

Splash... Splash...

Mah lower limbs move fast.

Fwugh Fwugh Fwugh

I feel something rough again.

Swoosh

I stomp the wall to change position. Shortly, I glide the water.

The water’s sound only thing am hearing. It’s bit harder.

Splash Fwugh Splash Fwugh

Mah body moves up and down. I feel water tearing mah skin like the whip he used me— what in the world am I thinking?

Splash Fwugh Splash Fwugh

Changing to crawl, I kick the wall again.

Splash splash splash

Pull, exit. Breathe in, breathe out. Pull, exit...

Each movement I make strikes the water. It feels light. Like am floating.

O-gun didn’t call me Albatross for nothing. Nevermind red-hair cuz mah love for swimming won’t change.

Splash splash splash

See the rough surface on the other end.

Here I go! I dash through.

FFFFFFRRRRRTTTTT!!!

The sound stings mah ear. I get up and the same time mah bout-to-explode lungs calm down. I catch mah breath.

“Haa...”

On the other side, smooch’s in water, still doing front crawl. Feel electricity creep up to me. So that means?

“Alright!” big voice booms. “The one who won is—”

“Daeshin, wait,” glasses boy interrupts.

President looks at him. His expression quickly changes to a frown.

What’s up?

I exit the pool.

“What happened?” someone asks.

“Call the ambulance!” president says.

“He fainted? What the?” someone’s voice says.

In one of mah senior’s arms droops a body.

Idiot?

End of the year was beating round the bush. All 3rd years were busy for college. Found mahself sitted on the bench of the cold winter while waiting Gunwoo.

Footsteps came to mah ear. Turning mah head, I noticed someone’s approaching.

“Sup.” idiot been waving hand with a grin.

Should’ve expected this. “Hi. What brings you here?”

He wrinkled his nose. “Ah! You’re waiting for someone, aren’t you? Then I arrived instead.”

“You are right. I am certain that there is no need for me to conceal the truth. You already know about it.”

He sat the space beside me.

“How’s your day? Busy? Full? You must be tired. Like really really reeeally worn out!”

“Maybe.”

“I see. You’re waiting for Hyung? I mean Gunwoo seonbae.”

I just nod cuz matching his energy’s draining the hell outta me.

“You know, you should ask him sometimes what he’s doing...

Huh?

“Keep an eye on him.”

The heck.

“I am sorry, but are you implying that Gunwoo is involved in infidelity?”

“No that’s not what I—”

Mah skin became hot, mah heart screamed loud that I stood the bench.

“I would like to inform you that you have no authority to intervene in our relationship.”

“Even though he’s flirting with another girl?”

Flirting with another girl?

Flirting with another girl?!

I turned back and stomped away.

“Please get out of the way.”

A paramed slices through the peeps.

Many of them fill the room, but smooch’s off mah sight. He ain’t the water. President’s ran outside. Glasses boy’s talking to paramed, and the others look ugly.

What happened to him?