Swapped

Chapter Eleven - Nicknames

Terry Laine Pierce

I’m currently wasting my time researching some facts about the mysterious phenomenon that is happening between Ethan and me.

It’s hard to be oblivious to this strange thing that is happening between us, I really want to know how to fix this, I feel ashamed of intervening in Ethan’s life.

He's a famous, influential, rich basketball player while on the other hand, I’m just a regular girl with a normal life that wants to graduate peacefully. There’s nothing more special that I could offer.

I’m starting to get noticed by his fangirls too, I also knew that this would happen most especially because Ethan always approach and ask me to eat lunch with him, they kept on sending me messages or questions on my different kinds of social media about what we have, I tried to ask Ethan to stay away for me for a while but he didn’t agree with it.

He reasoned out that we should always be together because of what is happening between us two, if only he knew about his fangirls, he would understand me.

I just sighed and continued on researching, after typing some questions, I was astounded by the lots of conspiracies and theories that were made up by many people.

“Swapping souls is done by God SHIV only in 5000 years”

“One soul can choose a body to swap their souls into those who have just died”

“Those are called the walk-in, it's infrequent that they have the ability to switch souls with another human being”

“Yes, two souls can swap their bodies. This is true from ancient times and now too. In fact, the association of divine guru and disciple is the relation in which souls of both the persons are swapped together. This occurs under the divine guidance for the divine purpose only. These two souls are called twin souls or twin flames. This association facilitates both of them to talk silently and feel instantly without any delay. In this swapping both the souls live in their bodies as well as in the bodies of their twin flames too—”

Wait, what? Who the hell is God SHIV? Swapping souls mean someone died? Ethan and I are both still alive, and about walk-in… is that a closet? Ahh! And someone said that it’s an ability, I’m pretty sure that neither Ethan and I don’t have any powers, the last statement does make sense.

I wanted to brush it off my mind but I think... I sometimes can feel what Ethan feels, most especially if he’s far from me, sometimes when he gets too scared the emotions were so powerful that I feel scared too because of what he feels, most especially if Dave and him we’re having a horror movie marathon.

I just shook my head and was about to delete the history of my research when a statement caught my eyes.

“Swapping souls is not an ability but a curse that will only be broken if one of them is willing to pay the price”

My systems have stopped when I have read that message, why did my hair stood at ends when I have read that? I just sighed before shaking my head, goosebumps are after me because it’s too cold here.

I distinctly remembered that the fortune-teller told me the exact words, one of them has to pay the price… what does it mean?

Maybe it’s because I didn’t pay that woman? But I didn’t want her to read my fortune! It’s really a low judgment if someone wants to curse me so badly that they have included Ethan.

This is madness! I really need to find that fortune teller, she has to break this curse as soon as possible in order for things to go back to normal.

I just shook my head and gathered all of my stuff including my laptop before leaving the Library, it’s Monday today and all of my classes are done. Luckily, Ethan’s training is scheduled in the afternoon because they often train in the morning.

He texted me that I should watch their training first at the gym so that I could have a wider perspective on how to play basketball, we’ll be training again at his private court tomorrow, so I slightly want to thank God for it, it felt like my body was being tortured multiple times today!

After I went inside the gymnasium, I noticed that there are only a few people around, some were watching and the others just wanted to be alone or sleep. I glance on the other side of the basketball court and that’s where I saw the benches and Ethan who is looking at me intently.

I also saw some of his teammates who are busy stretching their athletic bodies and talking with each other about the stuff that I can’t relate to.

My insides got nervous when Ethan ran to approach me, it gave me the time to witness his whole appearance.

His whole body never ceases to amaze me, it really feels like it was marvelously sculpted by the Gods, I didn’t know that his jersey would let out how broad his shoulders and toned his muscles are, his expensive-looking shoes probably made him look even taller.

He looks attractive as hell that I could melt on my knees… Imagine? I’m using that body every Friday! I still can’t believe that it’s happening to me!

“Laine? Are you with me?” Ethan pulled me back from reality so I shook my head before nodding, I feel so embarrassed! I spaced out in front of this guy! 

“A-Ah um y-yes, yes… I heard you!” I lied so he just shook his head before playfully smirking at me.

“Really? What did I say?” he asked so I flinched while frowning at his playful smirk at me.

"U-Um… I’m sorry, I really didn’t hear it” I nervously chuckled while scratching the back of my neck so he just laughed that sounded like a classic melody into my ears.

“Come, sit on the benches” he grabbed my wrists that caused sparks as he pulled me near the benches where I saw their expensive-looking tumblers, I took out my notebook after I have seated, I have to take down notes on what they’re about to do.

“What the hell is that?” Ethan asked while raising his eyebrows, pointing at my notebook so I widened my eyes at him.

“Notebook? You really haven’t seen one like this before?” I curiously asked so he just shook his head while stopping himself from laughing, what’s so funny? Sometimes I really don’t get this guy.

“N-No, of course, I know what a notebook is, what I meant was… what is that for?” he said so I widened my mouth before nodding at him. I finally got what he meant.

“I’ll take down notes to what you guys are about to do, what else?” I said while grinning ear to ear, so he just shook his head and snatched my notebook away from my hands and hid it in his duffle bag.

“H-Hey! What are you doing! Give it back!” I complained but he didn’t mind me before staring at my eyes.

“You won't need that nerdy ass, you just need to watch us train and look closely on our techniques that we'll do that you need to see clearly, it would be helpful aside from writing it silly,” he said before messing with my hair so I just frowned before nodding.

Do I have any other choice? He already took my notebook away from me, I flinched when I heard someone screamed at our sides.

“W-Woah! Guys! Guys! Captain brought a girl!” a man exclaimed so I glanced my eyes over there and was astounded that his team was almost crowding me up.

“Wait? Captain brought a girl here? Is that true? Woah… it is true and it’s a beauty!” those who were stretching got curious too and check me out.

“What?! There’s a woman? Is that a woman?” I think this guy was named Henry if I’m not mistaken.

“Jeez dude, why are you not sure? She’s a woman not a man for God’s sake! Just look for yourself!” this guy is probably Chris, sometimes we’re classmates at minor subjects.

“Terry! What are you doing here? Are you here to watch me? Have you moved on? Are done crying every night because you’re broken?” I was astounded when David popped out like daisies out of nowhere.

I was really embarrassed about all the questions that he fired at me, everyone started questioning me and I got too overwhelmed that I didn’t get a chance to answer anyone of them. I shyly smiled and lowered my head, why am I here… I want to go, they’re all crowding up on me!

“Leave her alone square asses, she just have some important business to do, let's go one hour jog now!” Ethan intervenes to what they were asking so his team suddenly ran away from me and started jogging.

So this is the power of the Captain huh? They’re all so disciplined and it's making me proud that I’m studying here, wait… did Ethan said one hour jog? Ten rounds are already killing me! Are they superhumans?!

“Laine, watch me carefully okay?” Ethan said so I glance at him before tilting my head, is it required that I should just watch him alone?

“Eh? I thought I should watch each and one of you?” I curiously asked which made him stop before nodding.

“O-Oh right, well enjoy watching” he was about to run away from me when I remembered something.

“EJ!” he suddenly eyed me after I said those words, he looks really surprised at what he has heard from my lips.

“You’re calling me Laine so from now on, I'll call you EJ!” I happily said while gesturing a peace sign at him, it’s not fair that he only has a nickname for me plus it sounds nice right? It’s the initials of his first and second name.

I don’t know why my heart started beating so fast when he smiled at me genuinely, he looks like he was down to earth by something.

“It sounds special, I'll take that nickname,” he said before running towards his team to lead their jogging around the court.

I clutched to my chest, why am I so getting hyped? I should calm down… do I have a sickness? I know that there’s a sickness like this that I have read before.

Was it… Arthritis? Nah, that’s not it for sure it’s an ailment of the knees, A.. Arrhythmia? Arrhythmia! That’s right!

“An arrhythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat. It means that your heart beats too quickly, too slowly, or with an irregular pattern,” I remembered reading it on some science books.

I think I need to see the doctor soon, this is not normal anymore. Their training has started and even though I’m only watching them, I’m starting to feel so tired and tortured because of their brutal routines.

After watching that, I immediately went back to my apartment to study in advance for my different subjects, even though Ethan and I are busy taking care of our own reputations, were both aiming for honors that’s why we can’t neglect our studies.

I really can’t stop myself from admiring Ethan, he’s handsome, popular, has a great body, excels in sports and studies. He’s the perfect definition of perfection.

After hours of reviewing the doorbell rang at my apartment, I glance at my wall clock and it’s almost ten in the evening, who is that?

I stood up and went to check who it was at my peephole and was astounded upon seeing Ethan right in front of it so I immediately opened the door.

“EJ? What are you doing here?” I asked while before fixing my hair, my eyes noticed how he gleamed upon seeing me, he scratched the back of his head before giving me something, it’s a frappe from my favorite coffee shop and a cupcake delicacy that it looks like someone made it.

“W-Woah is this for me EJ? Thank you, but it’s not my birthday today” I stated a fact before accepting what he gave to me so he just laughed while shaking his head.

“Um, the thing is... I want you to help me review this time... I'm having a hard time dealing with Biology, I heard that eating helps our mind work well so I made us cupcakes and coffee would help us not to be sleepy and be alert at all times” he said so I just smiled, I didn’t notice how he stared at my lips intently, he made these cupcakes? How thoughtful!

“You should’ve told me on the text! Come in, you’re just in time because I’m literally studying Biology as of this moment” I said and prepared what he brought for us before studying together.

That night was filled with jokes, laughs, and studies. Ethan immediately understands what he didn’t get because those were just scientific words that he needs to remember.

I didn’t know that studying was this fun when I started studying with Ethan, I got nervous for a moment because days are passing by and I’m really starting to be comfortable with his presence.

To be continued...