One on One

Everyone is doing their very best. Every movement is calculated, precise, and clean to have such speed while driving their way to the pool. The cold water didn't seem to be a hindrance to their heating passion for the sport.

As soon as he went out of the water, he felt a slight pain in his shoulder. He thought it was a slight cramp but no, as he lay his hand on the area, the feeling of pain starts to crawl in his entire back.

Pain feels like a hundred needles poking in his skin. He massaged it gently hoping that it would ease some of it. Minutes passed by and he felt a little relief as it lessens.

"Zy..." a voice called.

He looked at the man responsible for who he is in the sports world today, walking in his direction. The man who stood up for him, who taught him many lessons not just about swimming but also in life, the man who gave him the confidence he needs. The man who filled the hole in his existence.

"Yes, coach? " Zylant responded.

Coach Jerro hands him a towel. Zylant looked at his eyes and starts to be confused as he saw his coach's expression.

"Are you doing fine these days?" coach asked.

"Yeah, still the same. School, training, school training... why?" Zylant replied.

Coach Jerro stared at him with worry. He's having this weird feeling that Zylant is hiding something from him. Jerro just smiled at Zylant and patted his head.

"Take care of your health, if you need anything I'm here Zylant. Anyway, good job. Another fast record for this year's training." Coach Jerro advised to him. Zylant assured his coach with a smile.

"Thanks, Coach."

Zylant finished his training practice with the other swimmers. As he went out of the shower room, he saw his best friend waiting outside.

Volt is standing beside the bushes while scrolling to his phone. He's wearing a gray t-shirt and a pair of skinny jeans. To keep himself a low profile, he wore a black cap.

"What's up, Voltaire?" Zylant greeted with a smirk in his handsome face.

"Tss, Volt is enough. Let's grab some drinks."

"Woah. Did something happened between you and Ashlyn?" Zylant teased.

Volt rolled his eyes and went straight to his car. Zylant did the same thing while continuously laughing at his pissed friend.

Thirty minutes of driving until both of their cars arrived at Volt's rest house and there they have their drinks.

Zylant sat comfortably on the sofa and turned on the air conditioner. He grinned when he saw Volt spacing out while holding his glass. Volt seemed to be drowned in his thoughts when Zy called him once. His brows were furrowed and his jaws are tightened.

Zylant assumed that he's starting to have weird feelings for Ashlyn, hoping that he's starting to fall for her.

"Well, falling in love may help him with his behavior issues. After all, love can give someone evolutions when struck." Zylant thought. He felt a small ache in his chest as he remembered someone, the girl whom he secretly likes.

"So tell me, what happened as I left?" Zylant curiously asked.

"The usual." Voltaire bluntly replied.

"Usual? Like cats and dogs fighting for the smallest reason? Dude." Zylant shrugged his head in disappointment.

"What do you expect from someone who has no interest in her? I'm just doing her a favor." Voltaire reasoned out while scratching his nape.

"Ha! I pity you so much Volt. Imagine wasting a nice catch? Stupid." Zylant said as he shakes his head in disbelief.

Volt poured liquor into his glass as he blankly stares at his friend. He's wondering how is not liking Ashlyn and his' situation even a catch? Both of them hates it.

"You know what?" Zylant started.

"I admire Ashlyn for being so understanding of you. Imagine, being beautiful, a top student, well mannered and a very kind lady, having a special relationship with YOU. Ha! what a mess." He added.

Zylant shakes his head in disappointment. Volt got insulted at his comment so grabs a throw pillow and aims it at his best friend's face.

"Wanna know what I think of her? She's smart-smart and nice but a little dumb." Volt muttered as he sips on his drink. Zylant furrowed his brow in confusion with his friend's words.

"Do you hear yourself? Ever realize you're contradicting your statement?" said Zylant.

"Tch. What I mean is, she's dumb at making decisions for herself. Why the heck will she let her parents use her for title and money? She's not the same Ashlyn I've met when I was a kid." Volt explained.

He suddenly reminisces about his friendship with Ashlyn. He felt a little sad knowing that things are different now.

From waking up early in the morning to knock on Ashlyn's grandfather's nipa hut, play all day, and defend Volt from bullies to now cold treatments, icy stares and forced dinners.

Volt shrugged his thoughts and used his phone. He opened his mobile game app and decided to play.

While waiting for the match, he noticed his opponent. A familiar one, and there, he comes up to the conclusion that it is the player he hated in his past game.

"Oh.. we meet again growling_jel." he whispered but Zylant heard him.

"Who?" Zylant asked.

"growling_jel? MVP in earlier game." Volt excitedly spoke. Zylant arched his brow in intrigue at Volt's sudden behavior.

"Yeah, the dude's cool. How did you remember that?" Zylant raised a question.

"Let's just say... the dude is remarkable. " then he winked. Zylant stared suspiciously at his friend before drinking his shot.

Minutes have passed when the game started to heat up. Torrets of the opponents were destroyed especially in the top way. Allied minions started to level up making it time-consuming for the opponent's minions to kill them. Teammates are cooperative, did a nice rotation, and do their roles accordingly.

"Dude, this match is so intense!" Volt exclaimed as he resumes his farming for his character.

"Voltaire, did you invite me here just to watch you play?" Zylant bitterly muttered as he drinks his shot. Volt chuckled to his face and gestured wait to his friend. Zylant rolled his eyes in annoyance.

Volt's teammates decided on attacking since most torrets of their opponents are down. Minions were mobilized and allies defeated the lord. As they reached the opponent's base, a clash started that the opponent's tank initiate.

Volt concentrated on destroying the opponent's main tower but a player suddenly attacked him. He was flustered by the sudden attack but regain himself and decided to throw attacks too.

He is now wondering why it's so strong. When he checked the player ID, he's surprised that it was growling_jel. His lips automatically smiled as he felt the pleasure of having a combat with the player.

"Yes!!" Volt shouted and stood up as he gains victory, not just in the game but also in his one on one with growling_jel. He then sent a friend request to the player after the game.

"Dude, what's with the reaction and also with the smile? You look stupid." Zylant bitterly commented having disgust written all over his face. Volt just laughed at him as he takes his seat and kept his phone.

"Nevermind that, I just won the match having a strong alliance and smart opponents. The game was intense but, I won anyway as the MVP." Volt brags to his friend as he took a shot.

"Well I enjoyed watching you play, I'm so happy that I manage to get bored and ate all the food you prepared." Zylant sarcastically stated.

The conversation goes on with the two boys teasing each other. They were having a sensible talk about their studies when Volt's phone suddenly rings.

Volt checked the caller ID and saw Ashlyn's mom calling. He cleared his throat before answering.

"Yes hello, this is Voltaire Flammia speaking." He formally answered.

["Voltaire, Ashlyn is admitted here in the hospital. She collapsed earlier..."]

Volt suddenly stands up, making his shot glass shattered as it landed on the floor. His eyes were wide open and his knuckles are clenched.

"Alright, I'll be there." the call ended.

~~~~~

Blinding colorful lights from disco balls, the aroma of every kind of liquors, and guests that are having the time of their lives are inside a wide place where fun lives in.

In the corner, closest to the counter of drinks, a man alone there is drinking and is now tipsy. His face is red, and so are his eyes from all the crying he did since he did there.

"How is she doing?" he said in the call.

["She's doing fine sir. She looks happy while hanging out with her friends. Three girls and two guys."]

"Alright, just look after her for me. Don't make it obvious or I'll smack you!" and he ended the call before drinking another shot of liquor.

"Why must you leave? And why do you look so happy while here I am, being miserable as ever. I miss you so bad." The man bitterly said.