The cheers thundered around Sora as she climbed out of the pool as it was something she had grown used to. As she walked back to the bench, towel draped over her shoulders, her gaze flicked to the screaming crowd as if she was looking for someone and it seemed that she found what she was looking as her eyes fell on David as he took a photo of her the moment they made eye contact and she quickly turned away and sat on her bench to avoid David seeing her red face but she couldn't hide it from Chloe who happened to be watching Sora since she climbed out of the pool.

Just then, the announcer’s voice boomed across the gym declaring the schools that would advance to the finals and as fate would have it, Sora, Chloe and Ava's school were among the only two schools that made it to the finals. Excitement and nerves ripple through the air as they screamed for joy except for Sora who had pretty much expected that they would make it in. 

However Sora's mind was on something far more important; the finals were in three days and she would have to prepare adequately if she wansted to get that scholarship she was looking for. 

******

The atmosphere on campus had shifted. With the finals around the corner, swimmers were under sharper eyes. Posters about the competition decorated the school halls, whispers about who had advanced and whether they would win, floated between students.

It was during these times that the three girls would feel an overwhelming pressure on them as everyone expected good things from them. 

So the first day after the Semifinals, they all came to school earlier than usual and practiced in the gym although Sora was always distant from them but they didn't let it bother them. In addition to that, all participants are excused from classes so as to give them more time to sharpen their skills.

It became like an mini event too as students began to spend their lunch breaks going to the school pool to watch them practice and the school even encouraged it as it would serve as a source of inspiration & motivation to the three girls. 

To most of the students, it seemed that everything was fine with the three girls but David who was among the students who came to watch them during lunch break immediately noticed that there was one thing that was wrong and it became more apparent to him by the second day.

They had been practicing only single person event and not team events like 100M or 200M laps instead of relay matches which involved the three of them working together. But then remembering how most people would always steer clear of Sora, he wasn't too surprised. 

David: But... Isn't this like a bad thing? 

David realized that swimming was a team sport just as much as it was an individual sport but they hadn't apparently gotten the team part down yet and it worried him.

********

After practice ended at around 5PM that evening, Sora was the only left the pool as she wanted to squize in some extra time by herself but the coach wasn't having it and she sent Sora to get dressed and leave the gym, which annoyed Sora but she understood where the coach was coming from. 

As Sora made her way to the school gate, her mind began to reflect on everything she had done as the finals for the competition was tomorrow.

Sora: Everything.... Everything has been leading up to this moment... I can't fail here. 

However, as soon as she got close to the gates, she saw David standing there, rest his back on the gates, waiting for someone and Sora stopped dead in her tracks wondering why he had to be there today of all days.

Sora: (to herself) Relax... He may be waiting for someone else... It might not be me specifically.

But then, David looked up noticed her and immediately began waving at her to come over which made her stomach turn.

Sora: (to herself) Oh... 

Each step she took felt heavier than the other as her heart began to beat fast and her face began to turn red again but then she had to compose herself so she wouldn't give away that she had begun to feel odd and weird around him. 

And it worked coz David didn't seem to notice how hard she was trying to stay composed. 

David: Hey...

Sora: What are you doing here? Everything already went home hours ago.

David: Well, I saw Ava and Chloe leave earlier but not you so I waited. 

Sora raised her eye brows.

Sora: You waited... Why? 

David began to scratch the back of his head nervously.

David: Well... I mean it's late and it's not really good for a young girl like you to walk home alone. They're dangerous people put here, you know...

Hearing those words made Sora's heartbeat increase and she looked away to not let David see her red cheeks and when she composed herself, she wanted to talk but then David spoke again. 

David: ...and... I also want to talk to you about something. 

***** 

A few minutes later, David was walking with Sora as she led the way to where she lived since David had offered to walk her home. As they walked in silence, both of them began to think to themselves what they would say to break the odd silence going on between them. 

David: (to himself) Damn it... I'm the one who said that I wanted to talk but... I didn't think she'd give me the time of day... What's different? 

Sora: (to herself) Why isn't he saying anything? He said he wanted to talk... So talk... I have a competition to go to tomorrow. 

Finally, David cleared his throat as it finally seemed like he was ready to say something.

David: So uh... How's the whole swimming thing going?

David immediately realized that this was a dumb question but then he really was running out of ways to beat around the bush before he said what he actually wantes to say. 

Sora on the other hand, for confused as the question he had just asked could easily be answered by him but he choose to ask it anyway so she decided that she was going to answer because she didn't want to be swallowed by another round of awkward silence.

Sora: Yeah... It's going great... I mean... You already know that. 

David was surprised again because Sora would normally not even give him a straight forward answer but today was different.

David: So uh... Where's the finals going to be held? You know... So I can go and watch it live... I didn't really pay attention when the principal said it yesterday.

Sora looked at him briefly and then looked down before she responded. 

Sora: Yukimura Brilliant Park.

David looked at her and smiled.

David: Thanks. 

He already knew where it was going to be held and he had already planned on going to skip school and watch it the day before, but he needed to keep the conversation and it felt like the ground for what he wanted to really say had already been built up, so he went for it...

David: Well, there isn't much I can tell you because I don't really know much about swimming but all I can say is good luck and I hope you win. 

Sora hearing this smiled but his her face to not let David see it and her face turned red again.

Sora: (to herself) No... Why does everything he say suddenly get me like this? Why do I feel like this around him...?

But then David spoke again, cutting through her thoughts.

David: And also, I hope you don't mind me saying this but I think you should have some more faith in Ava and Chloe. 

Sora became uncomfortable with that statement for some reason and her face went back to the usual face she always has and then she looked at David's face this time. 

Sora: Why? 

David: (puzzled) Why? Because they're your teammates and swimming is a team sport, isn't it? And you also gonna have to rely on your teammates if you're going to win some contests. 

Sora: Why do I have to do anything of that? All they'll do is just slow me down. I can do put my faith in people who can't bother to be as good as me...

Hearing those words from Sora really irritated David but he kept his cool because this wasn't something that was new to him as he already knew the kind of girl that Sora was. 

David: That's kinda of a harsh way of way of thinking about people. Don't just look down on everyone like that. I don't know what you've been through to have that kind of mindset but that's just wrong. You can't keep treating people like they're anchors weighing you down. 

Hearing those words from David triggered a particular memory that Sora has wanted to forget to flash through her mind briefly; a memory of a younger version of herself watching someone else win an award she could've won but... 

Meanwhile, David continued to speak while Sora was silent. 

David: You don’t have to carry this team by yourself and act like everyone is below you. Chloe & Ava, they’re with you and you need to trust them.

Sora froze mid-step and then turned as her eyes has turned cold.

Sora: Trust? Don’t talk like you know me.... You have no right to give me advice.

David blinked. 

David: I don't need to be a coach or swimming instructor to tell you what's right and wrong… I’m just saying you don’t need to...

The words that came from Sora at that moment were like venom. 

Sora: You’re an eyesore you know that right?

David was thrown back by this as he didn't expect Sora to insult him in that manner, but then again, she wasn't done talking.

Sora: Why should I listen to anything from you with no future plans. You always pester me and try to talk to me like you have nothing else to do with your life. What do you know about pressure? About having dreams? Stop pretending you understand me or you have the knowledge to every problem out there!! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!!!! 

The silence hung heavy.

David’s grip tightened around his backpack. For once, he didn’t try to smile or try to deflect like he would normally do when Sora was rude to him. He just nodded faintly and when Sora saw the look of absolute disappointment on his face, she begun to regret everything she had just said.

David: Okay...

Without uttering another word, David turned around and walked away and Sora was left standing under the dim hallway lights which had began to light up as the sun had just descended. 

Sora: (to herself) Why… why did I say that?

She wanted to chase after him and apologize for what she had just said but, she let herself sink into the silence she had been trying to avoid all evening.