World of Crowns

02

NOTE: Please be aware of the chapters point of view.

“Asher!!”

Few of the girls screamed when I came out of the locker room with my teammates and headed out in the pool area. All swimmers are stretching on the side of the pool only wearing a swimming trunk, goggles hanging on their and a cap on their head. I unzipped my warm up jacket to reveal my toned torso. A smirk immediately plastered on my lips when I heard the loud screams of the students watching us today.

“What a damn attention seeker,” Kuya Jameson exclaimed. He scoffed and rolled his eyes on me before shaking his head.

“I can’t help it Mr. President. The girls just love to scream whenever they see me.” I proudly said.

“I won’t say anything about that anymore Mr. Vice President.” He said, giving up, that made me laugh. He pointed to the freshman and sophomore swimmers. “You do the prep talk. I might really consider passing the baton to you next school year.”

He pushes me slightly. I look back to him as he just nodded while a smirk formed to my lips. “It’s not considered Mr. President. After all, no one is fit for the next President role,” I glanced back at the swimmers before looking at him again with a proud smirk. “Other than me, don’t you think?”

I can see how done he is to me already. He just shook his head as a disbelief laugh escaped his lip with my playfulness. He motioned to just go to the freshman and sophomores in which I obeyed.

“Okay, everyone! Listen up!” I yelled to catch their attention. They immediately look at me and stand politely. “Freestyle, back and forth. Whoever finishes up first,” I look back to kuya Jameson who raises his brow at me. A smirk appeared in my lips as his eyes narrowed, sensing a not so good outcome. “Mr. President will treat you.”

And of course, I will hear a complaint.

“Hey! Why do I have to? Do you think they aren’t capable of buying their own foods?” He complained as I turned to face him.

My arms crossed and side lips rose up. My teasing eyes are looking straight up to him as he waits for my response. “Who said anything about buying the winner some food? That will be just an easy thing for us kuya. That’s not how we should play this game.” I tease.

“Then what?”

I turn back to face the freshman and sophomores as I can see in their faces how they are looking forward to hearing what I’m about to say. “Whoever comes first will receive… a free ticket to Fiji from Mr. President. That would give you guys some more stamina to come first, right?”

“You asshole! Asher!” The guy behind me complained once again. Suddenly, I felt an arm circling around my neck. He strangles me there playfully as I just keep on laughing. “Why don’t you be the one to give them a ticket instead?!”

“I’m not the one whose family owns an airline! We own a hotel not an airline!” I yelled as I can feel his hold getting tighter now but instead of pushing him, I can’t stop laughing still.

“What is going on here?” We heard the familiar voice of our coach behind us that made kuya Jameson let go of me immediately. He has his eyes on the two of us as I keep my hands on the front politely. “I ordered to proceed with practice Mr. President and Mr. Vice President. But I see you two joking around once again.”

“Sorry coach,” We said in unison.

We proceeded with practice as the girls who were watching have gone back to their classes as well. The freshman goes first as kuya Jameson escapes from giving one of the freshman or sophomores a free plane ticket. There are few freshmen who have been part of the swimming team in their past schools but nonetheless, all of them are doing a great job for just three months since the try outs started. Their strokes are slowly starting to get cleaned and some are getting faster already. Maybe it’s the advantage since all of them got swimming classes way back when they were younger.

There will be a swimming competition in a month so our practice is longer now than usual. Most of the competitors will come from the seniors since this year will be their last year to complete before graduating. They choose half front the juniors including me and a few from sophomores. From the freshman, they picked one who was a swimming champion before entering Elite. There are times when everyone goes for training but the ones to compete will stay in the school up until 7pm for added practice.

“Juniors, you are all up.” Kuya Jameson announced to everyone. I was about to step forward already when he suddenly gave me a tap on my shoulder. When I looked back at him, he gave me a nod. “Clear your mind. Understood?”

“Don’t worry too much,” I told him with a playful grin.

He let out a scoff before letting me go. I stood into the starting block as I roamed my eyes to my fellow juniors. Each of them gave me a short nod as I returned the same. My eyes went to the water in front of me as I inhaled deeply before releasing it. I wore my goggles as I closed my eyes while inhaling and exhaling continuously to clear my mind.

“Take your marks.” Kuya Jameson command. I put my one foot in front of the block while the other at the back as I curled to reach the edge of the block. I keep my eyes on the water as I let out one more deep breath before I heard the whistle as I dive in.

I stroke at my best like how I always do. I don’t know whether I am leading or not but considering that I am one of the speedest swimmers from our batch, there is a big possibility that I might lead. I flip turned when I reached the other side of the pool and stroke once again to go back where I started. Everything was going well until it came back.

“Oh my God!” I heard a yell as I just found myself struggling into the water.

I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to swim and the only thing that is almost keeping me from drowning is the safety jacket I have on. Minutes later, I felt it slowly loosen up because of my struggle.

“H-help m… me,” I helplessly called as I struggled to keep himself from drowning. “P-please… h-help,”

The waves are a little big for me that I was carried away from it. I cannot see the boat I was in already as the safety jacket loosen up from my body. The water ate me as I tried to swim up but it was no use. I don’t know what to do. My eyes are barely open because I don’t have goggles on. My breathing is slowly disappearing as the next thing I knew, I was out. No one is here to save me. No one.

“Asher! ASHER! You f*****g bastard! Wake up!”

Indistinct voices echoes through my ear. Water came out from my mouth as I kept coughing and coughing because of it. I felt a hand on my back as it helped me get up in a sitting position, patting it softly to help me. My heart beat is fast and my breathing is still unstable. What the hell happened?

“Breath in and out carefully,” I heard someone say as I obeyed so.

Everyone is on the far side when my vision gets clear. Kuya Jameson is on my side, worriedly helping me, while coach is watching the situation. I heaved a sigh as kuya Jameson helped me stand up from the floor.

“What happened?” I asked him. He looked at me worriedly again before glancing to coach.

“Everyone!” Coach says. “The practice for everyone will end here. Get some proper rest and we will continue tomorrow.”

“But what about the ones who will compete coach?” I questioned.

He looks at me as a sigh escapes his lips next. It’s making me anxious already. “Just like I said, everyone. No one will remain here today until evening. But for you, get change and come to my office. We need to talk.”

It’s the only thing he said before passing by us. Kuya Jameson handed me to my fellow junior as he helped me walk back in our locker room. I took a short shower and dried myself up before changing into a simple top and sweatpants.

“Do you want me to wait for you?” Kuya Jameson worriedly asked.

Among all the members of the swimming team, it was kuya Jameson who I am closest to the most. I don’t know if it’s because his family is close to mine or it’s because he was the one who convinced me to join the swimming team despite being hesitant before. No matter how I like swimming, I just can’t help but hesitate many times.

“You should go and take a rest kuya. I’ll be fine.” I assure him as he nodded.

I worriedly and nervously made my way to our coach office. I don’t know what is in store for me there. No matter how much I don’t want to think about it and just think that it’s just nothing, I just can’t help it.

“I will go straight to the point Mr. Ferrer.” I gulped nervously when he said that after asking about my condition. “I need to replace you for the upcoming competition.”

My eyes widened and felt my world went down when he said that. Those countless hours of training were suddenly gone into waste. “But coach… I trained for months for this competition.”

“I understand Mr. Ferrer but you need to understand. You had a total of three incidents such as what happened earlier in just a span of one month.” He reminded me. My mind went back to my first attack this month. I was mid way when I just first dived in then it suddenly attacked me and the second one was I just flip turned. “I understand where your trauma came from. You are one of the best swimmers in the team so it’s hard for me to make this decision as well.”

“But coach… I promise that I won’t do what happened earlier during the competition.” I said in panic. My mind is not totally processing properly now. I am a mess!

“How can you make sure of that? The last competition, we were lucky because you had after the competition. I cannot take the risk for this one Mr. Ferrer. I can do that if you only had one attack but… it’s three.” He says in a low tone. “I think it’s much better for you to take a rest for this competition. There is still plenty of competition after this one and you still have next year to compete too, after all, you are just a junior.”

Those nights of body ache and tiring days. All gone because of this stupid trauma. I became small because of this.

“I hope you understand my point Asher. This is for your own good as well. You wouldn’t want a bad record if you want to pursue this athlete career in college.” He advised me as I nodded.

A bitter and forced smile formed on my lips. I look up to him and sigh. “I understand, coach. Thank you for your care.”

Just like that, I was out in the line up for next month’s competition. The excitement in competition for the second time in there disappeared. All of my hard work during training turned into ashes. I was really looking forward to this one because my siblings agreed to watch for the first time. How am I supposed to tell them that I won’t compete?

“Ash?” I heard the familiar voice that I told earlier that I will be fine. He stood just a meter away from me with his duffle bag hanging on his body and already changed into a much more comfortable clothes.

“I’m out of the line up.” I simply said as a sigh immediately escaped his lips. He looks at me in worry as I forced a smile to hide the pain and disappointment to myself. “It’s okay kuya. There’s still next year anyway. I’ll be fine… i’ll be fine.”

It won’t.

I’m Asher Charlie Ferrer, a 17 year old Vice President of Elite International High School swimming club. Besides being a swimming athlete who competes in different swimming competitions may it be regional or by district, I’m also part of a renowned family. It’s probably the reason why I was also able to enter this school of richest.

My family owns a five star hotel called Grand Ferrer Hotel that has been owned by our family for two generations now. Being the youngest and third among the Ferrer siblings, I am not the declared heir of our family business but instead became a major shareholder. The heir is my older brother who is the eldest among the three of us. I am lucky because I was able to do whatever I want without.

My swimming athlete career first started when I was in middle school. At that time, it was just small training in the school and no competitions. I only joined the swimming club to make friends and because I see it as the place where I can be my usual carefree self. When I entered this high school, kuya Jameson pushed me to attend the try outs so I did and I was accepted. Ever since then, I became the school’s one of the aces swimmers but despite that… I have my greatest fear.

Deep water.

It’s funny because I am a swimming athlete who has fear in deep water. It wouldn’t develop if it wasn’t because of my childhood trauma. I can still remember it clearly especially if I am in the water. It was when I was 6 years old and being that age, I was curious and played around. We were in a boat while going into an island in Boracay when I wanted to touch the water. I didn’t know that my curiosity can lead to my biggest trauma because the next thing I knew, I was already in the ocean, struggling and praying for my life.

Ever since then, I have been afraid to go deeper in the ocean despite being good at swimming. It was first even hard for me to learn how to swim because everytime I get into the water and close my eyes, that accident is what always comes to my mind. Every competition, I would have an attack but it mostly happens when we are in the locker room already after the competition. I don’t know what I did to trigger my trauma now to make me have an attack three times this month.

“Hey,” A beautiful girl who has narrowed eyes and deep dimples on her appears on my side, leaning to the locker. Her natural wavy hair is tied up in a bun. She is wearing the regular white long sleeve blouse tucked in a grey pleated skirt with suspenders only. I guess she decided to not wear the blazer today. “I heard what happened yesterday.”

A small and short chuckle escapes my lips when she says that. “There really is no issue that doesn’t spread easily in this school.” I took my math book from the locker before closing it. I turned to face her as my eyes went to her black ankle boots with heels. “Using a heel again to make yourself taller, I see?”

“Stop teasing!” She pushes me as I just laugh along and passes by her. She followed and stood next to me while walking along. “Seriously though, how are you?”

“Are you worried for me?”I teased that earned me glare from her. A satisfied laugh escapes my lips before a sigh replaces it. “I won't compete in the competition next month.” I simply said.

“What? Already? Why did they make some rush decisions? You are one of the ace swimmers of the team! How is that even possible?” She exclaimed that left me amazed.

“As much as I am glad of your outburst and your compliments, it’s not a rush decision.” I revealed. I can feel her eyes on me, waiting for me to continue. “The attack yesterday was for the third time this month already.”

It made her stop on her tracks. I look back when I realize she wasn’t on my side anymore. When I look at her, her eyes scream worry and pity as a small smile just formed to my lips. In this school, only a few know about my condition and my trauma. That few includes her because I couldn’t miss not telling her about it. She is special for me to not so.

“But what about your efforts? You practiced every day even during the vacation.” She worriedly said. There goes her personality again. It’s just what amazed me. She never fails to appreciate even the slightest and obvious effort everyone makes. “You complained a lot after your training but… you gave so much effort just to prepare for that competition.”

A small, sincere smile formed to my lips. I approached her as a sigh escaped my lips. I lower down a little to match her. Because of her added two inches from her heel, I don’t need to lower down more since she is normally just on my neck. My hand finds its way to her few bangs that covers her forehead. I ruffle it a little as she slaps my hands away because she doesn’t like it when one does it to her bangs.

“Don’t worry too much. I can still compete next year. It’s not like I am a senior like your great brother.” I told her.

“Kuya Jameson is worried for you too, you know.” She revealed as I nodded slowly. I know that well. Except having my own older brother, he is like my own one as well. “Don’t you think it’s better to attend a psychologist now to help you with your trauma?”

My hand slowly lowered down when she said that. Psychologist. I considered that a lot but… I’m not really comfortable opening up fully about my trauma. It triggers me. “I'll reconsider but for now.. .stop worrying too much. Don’t you have plants to take care about?”

“They are growing nicely so stop talking about them.” She answered which made me smile as I nodded.

“Then… I have to go now. I need to go and meet Liam. He is… not in a good mood.” I told her. A disbelief scoff escapes her lips as she crosses her arms to her chest.

“When is he even in the mood anyway? That giant cold guy just won’t smile unless it’s Eli who asks him so.” She pointed out that made me laugh.

“Give him a break, flower girl. The guy has his own problems to deal with.” I defend.

Being Liam’s best friend, I am already used to his cold personality but most are still not. He rarely smiles or pays attention to whatever people say. He would keep his blank expression on in every chance he could get. It’s not a new thing for me if he is quiet because William is much more. That is why it’s really unbelievable that I am friends with those two. It’s like our combined personality can create a person alone. One is cold and almost isolates himself from others because he is just not in the mood to be with anyone except the people who have been in his life for long now while the other one is as quiet as a water when there are no huge waves around. He would play with his instruments more than talk with people. Both of them are different with me because I am talkative and carefree.

“You and Liam are not really a match. You are glad you have me as your friend or else, you might be infected by his coldness.” She exclaimed.

I look around before leaning forward to her ear. I felt her frozen up to her spot when I did that. “And I told you that you aren’t just a friend. You might have rejected my feelings already, it doesn’t mean my feelings have changed.” I created a small distance between us but I can still see her face closely. “If you won’t like me back, stop making me fall harder Zee.” I ruffled her hair once last time that earned me a smack on my shoulder as I just laughed. “I have to go.”

The world we live in is different. Even though I am not declared as the heir of our family business, I still have my own responsibilities. There are times when my brother sees me as his competition despite being close. It happens when dad would compliment me and discourage him but when I try to talk to him about it, he would tell me that he understands it. When I asked him once if there would be a day that he would be mad at me, he said that there won’t… unless I took what he cherished from him.

What he cherished… is that crown. The crown of burden that was created by our father and our grandfather. It’s what he wanted to carry with him.

“Will you be using your motorbike today, sir Asher?” The hotel staff asked me when I finished my breakfast.

Being the son of Grand Ferrer Hotel, I was given a chance to live in our hotel penthouse. It’s supposed to be for my brother but he doesn’t want to live here since he has his own unit. He said that it’s already enough that he will be the one to handle the business in the future. He doesn’t need to live in the penthouse for now so I ended up just taking it from him, I represented him here. Everything I need is just in one easy call from the lobby. It’s really convenient.

“I’ll have someone to drive me. I have a feeling that someone will message me to pick him up today.”

And I wasn’t wrong. A few minutes after we left the hotel, Liam texted me to pick him up in their usual convenience store outside their village. Since we will pass by their village to get to school, it was just fine. I wanted to tease him so badly when I saw how he was not in the mood the moment he got down to his car but I just chose not so. I didn’t get a glimpse of what his brother looks like but based on their photos when they were young, both of them almost have the same features.

“I guess I already know who they are crowding at,” I whispered to myself when Liam walked first to get near the crowd of students.

A smirk forms on my lips when I finally saw his brother’s face. He is just almost as tall as Liam. This brother of his is pale already but Liam is much more. Maybe because Zane grew up in a different family that made him less paler but nonetheless, you can still say that they are brothers.

“I can tell already that he is blood related to you.” I told Liam when he finished answering William.

He keeps his eyes on his brother, having eye contact with one another for a while. Being in his usual self, he turned and walked out from the scene to enter the school building and get away from the crowded student that might have their eyes on him any minute now.

“I’ll just follow him,” William told me as I nodded.

I had eye contact with his brother but he avoided my eyes when I looked at him deeply. He might have recognized me because he was probably wondering who picked up his brother when he thought they would ride to school together. He must have a lot of questions in his mind right now.

“Is it just me,” Zee suddenly appeared next to me. I raised a brow as I caught her eyes observing Zane. “Or he actually looks like Liam?”

A small laugh escaped my lips as I told her to come closer. I went near to her lips to whisper something that made her lips part and look at me in disbelief.

“That’s because he is Liam’s long lost brother.”