To Become Number One

Chapter 22

Fight your fear.

As we got where Sapphire and the others are, I slightly wavered as I saw Killian's with them— I mean, this couldn't be helped, right? After all, we've been on an only section so yeah, this might happen right?

And it's not as if… I'm affected… yeah, maybe I should convince myself with that.

Sapphire quickly lifted her head from what she was reading when she felt our presence as it was transferred to Yuki before she comes into her.

“This is the list of when we will use our ability and when we will not. Remember when they said that the games in these intramurals have twists? Like, there will be a game that we wouldn't allow to use our abilities, then there will be a game where we will use them? That's it.” She said in which Yuki got the paper from her before she started skimming every page from it

Yvonne and Zariyah look at it too while I remained standing beside them, as my gaze accidentally met Killian who's frowning but when he met my gaze, his frown deepened as if he doesn't want to see me before he turned his back on me in which, my eyes widened in shock.

I mean, that's how he acted earlier and I thought it was because I was talking to Lucian back then, but right now, when it's just I and Lucian's not here… I mean, what the hell was that for?

Just as when my gaze transferred into those two who are as if going to laugh any minutes from now, looking at me and teasing a little that I pouted to them. That's the cue when they laughed as Killian glared at those two as if he knows that they are laughing because of us.

“Let's see… so, we wouldn't use our ability at outside games aside from a special one… what's that?” Yuki asked Sapphire who just shrugged.

“No idea,” She said.

Yuki suddenly in deep thoughts again. “While on inside… who would play for those games?”

Just as when we heard the familiar voice of my other classmates that caused us to look at them.

“We've actually talked about this earlier and we have a plan for that,” Ashton said as I saw them walking towards where we are right now. Lucian gave me a smile as I gave him a smile too, just as when they started to explain what they were talking about earlier that of course, we patiently listen to whatever they are explaining.

They are asking for our opinion but of course, since they've already planned it, we don't have any say regarding this one. We trust Ashton's decision and he wouldn't be our president for nothing, right?

Just as he stopped in the middle of a sentence as if it's the only problem before I saw Ashton transferred his gaze on our back.

“Killian, I learned that you know how to play chess,” He said that made the smile on my face faded as I heard whom he called at.

Just as when Killian's voice surpassed through my hearing.

“What are you trying to say, you four-eyes?” His way of saying those words remained the same— harsh and sharp, with his deep voice yet it was as if his voice is always made for shouting.

I saw Ashton sighed deeply— as if letting that pass since yeah, we all know how Killian usually acts, and this is one of the examples of them.

“Compete in the chess game, Killian. As for woman, Yuki can you do it?” He looks at Yuki who nodded and smile.

“Sure! Leave it to me!” She said merrily, just as when we heard Killian's bored tone.

“I'm not in the mood to play,” Killian said as if he doesn't care about what will happen if ever he doesn't play on this one.

Ashton sighed heavily again. “No one will be our representative for men's game for chess then. Should we forget about being on top?”

All of us lose our voices since we don't know the answer to this one.

I look around to look for whoever's suitable to play with it. Lux and Zion couldn't be trusted… I mean, they are already shaking their head as soon as my gaze stopped into them as if they already know what I'm thinking. My eyes transferred into Keanu as he shook his head too. Same as Dashiel, Bruno, and of course, Lucian.

“I have a game for men's table tennis,” Keanu said as it was followed by Bruno.

“We are doubles,” Bruno said. I nodded my head.

Dashiel will be playing at dart too and his schedule is just the same with it. Lucian, on the other hand, said he'll participate in swimming which is on a different venue on that day.

“I learned that chess is hard, and so it means there are still things you couldn't do, huh?” Lux suddenly said for a while that made us look at them, as I saw him grinning from ear to ear. Wait, what the hell are they… oh…

We both saw how Killian's expressions changed as he glared at Lux who just spoke those words. “Who said I won't be doing it? Tch!” Just by hearing it, I know he'll accept it since yeah, it's Killian, and he loves challenges. As I confirmed it when he looks at us, his crimson eyes are glaring sharply, just as he spoke. “Give me the schedule, motherfuckers!” He said so loud that some people look at our place but we just didn't give them some attention.

Yvonne nudges me, “What's with that smile?” She said so teasing that I've only noticed that I'm really smiling. I quickly hide it by pouting before turning my back into her. Cheeks heating up from embarrassment.

“I'm not,” I said a little defensively.

Wait, why am I being embarrassed at it?

“Yes you are,” She insisted instead. I look at her and glared.

“I didn't—” I wasn't finished at what I'm saying when I heard my name being called.

“Artemis, volleyball?” Yuki said after a while that caused me to look at her, as I saw her looking like begging with her eyes on me.

Instantly, I felt those memories rushing back to me. How we lost when I joined and it's the championship. And after that, I lost my will to play volleyball again since I always thought that it was me who made us lost that time.

Yeah, we fought for our school since there are benefits that could help us especially we're just a community school after all, and the benefits would be good for us, but then, we lost, and up until now, I blame myself for the reason why. If only I didn't play.

Because I was the last one who made the mistake— the reason why we lost.

I look at them, hesitantly. “Maybe we will lose if I join…” I look at her, after all, she knows about it already as I've told it from one of the girl bondings we did. Selene looks at me as I could see the concern on her face since she knows the story.

But Yuki just shook her head. “Trust yourself, please? And no one's going to play aside from you,” She said as I saw Zari nodded.

I sighed deeply. “Fine,” This will be the last that I will play it.

“Wouldn't it conflict her archery schedule?” Yvonne asked as she looks at me, really concerned right now. I gave her a smile in assurance.

“No, she might not be able to watch the board games since she'll become busy playing,” Yuki said as slowly, I saw her wicked grin appearing on her face. I threatened her using my eyes, followed by Lux and Zion's coughing and Yvonne, Zari, and Selene's small chuckles.

“Uh… okay? So it's all set?” Ashton, who's clueless, said. As we all nodded to answer him. Before he nodded his head and smile. “Alright, I'll pass this one so everything will be set. Maybe we could watch our Seniors for today or so,”

“We'll picnic, right? Maybe you forgot guys!” Yuki reminded us that's it'll only come into my mind after she said it.

“Right… I almost forgot!” Zanea said, chuckling. I chuckled too.

“Let's go!”

As we spent the whole day enjoying because the following days will be hell… I think.

And I was right since the first schedule will be our game.

“Remember to do your best but don't be too pressured, okay?” Yuki reminded us as they remained at the side of the court.

I was really nervous, and I think Yvonne saw it that she tried to cheer me up. “Remember that it'll be a challenge you must face to step forward, okay?” She reminded me what she told me last night to cheer me up and help me find my courage for this one.

Since she's right. The fear of losing has been eating me and Selene's the one who said it. The idea that I'm the one who made us lost in that game is what's making me doubt myself even when I could still try and try and do my best. After all, it's a game. There will be winners and losers but you can always try and improve yourself.

“It's okay to lose, after all, there will always be next time. Don't listen to Killian, okay?” Yuki looked at me as if she's really pertaining that one to me, that I bit my lower lip. Just as when she looks at others again. “Remember that it's just a game,”

“Goodluck, everyone!” Yvonne said again as we proceed to the referees who will give us an anklet that they said, it'll restrict our abilities so that we wouldn't be able to use it, and everyone's allowed to use it so there will be no cheating with this one.

As I've done placing it to my feet as I sighed heavily and made a little stretching. This is it, Artemis! You can do it!

“Don't be too pressured, we got you!” Wilhelmina said as she winked. I chuckled. We lined up as Zariyah's in front of me who even has a gut of whispering.

“I'll do my best. Look, there's a handsome guy on the opposite team. I'm planning to seduce him with my actions,” She whispered and laughed evilly. I look at her questioning.

“I thought it's Lucian?” But then hee eyes widened as she forcefully looked at me with wide eyes.

“Shh!” But Zanea, who's at my back, chuckled as if she heard it.

“It's already too obvious after all,” Sapphire said as Selene, who's in front of Zari, chuckled. Yeah, the Princess will be participating since she knows how to play volleyball.

“Let's have a good game!” We all said in unison as we bowed our head, as my brow raised when I saw Zari who even seductively move as I saw her seldomly gaze at the handsome man she's pertaining earlier that I saw that even looking back at her!

We we're going to our place when she whispered, “I'll be getting a boyfriend, Mamsh,” As she giggles which I just shook my head.

As we are already in our position, my heart started beating fast again as I felt nausea in nervousness. I have this feeling of these people looking down at me as if they're becoming black shadows with red eyes as a personification of fear which is engulfing my whole body.

Until I heard Yvonne's voice. “You can do it, Class 1-A! I believe in you!” As the hope inside me slowly ignited like a little hope that blazes after hearing that voice.

As I've said, I will continue to move forward as long as someone continues believing in me. Even she's the only one who's remaining.

“Go! Go! Class A!”

“Win that fight!”

It was as if a warm hand touched my heart after hearing those cheering, and it was right. At the time when your darkness is slowly conquering you, creeping through your whole body and engulfing your whole being, the voices from someone who believes in you is the only thing that could make you fight for it.

As I lifted my head inside the court, followed by the whistle of the referee, just as when the woman from the other section who raised her hand for a serving.

And before I know it…

The wind blew that's causing my hair in a whole ponytail to dance through both my follow and from wind, as I successfully landed on the ground after from that spike that I just did.

The sound of whistle engulfed my hearing, followed by my classmates' shouting after I spike that one that the opponents of us didn't follow before we heard those words.

“Winner for today, Class 1-A from Mages course!”