My Ever After

float

Stay and wait. While he tries to understand, he knows that he hurts too. It's been more than a week since Tay left. New has not received any word from him but he is settled knowing his whereabouts. He's been in a lot of stress but knowing that Tay is safe relieves him somehow. He still feels at a loss and finds Tay's actions unreasonable, but he continues to remind himself of the promise he made, that is, to stay and wait.

Hello Coach! You're on speaker phone.

What's up?

Boun and I are in the city. So, we're crashing your place in a few.

You're in the city? What brings you here? Trying to babysit me again?

Naahhh, it's a long weekend. It's a quick drive to the North and some cold air will be good for the lungs, Ohm explains.

New sends a laugh. Spoken like I don't know guys. Told you I am fine.

Ohm responds with another laugh. Spoken like we don't know you too. New can hear Boun laughing as well.

Fine. I'll see you later then. Buy groceries before you come here. I don't have any plans of spending on you.

Already did. See, we know you too well, Ohm confidently replies.

----

They had dinner and decided to have a few drinks at a rooftop bar. It's one of Tay's favorite places in the city. It may get cold at night, but the beauty of the city lights is one for the books.

Ah, I miss this, Boun remarks. It's been a while since all three of us chat over some drinks. Just like the old times.

Yeah, sure does feel like the old times. Including those few nights when we would get drunk during off training days, Ohm adds.

Ahh... and those nights when you would force us to accompany you because you and Prem had a fight over useless matters, New reminds him.

Haha.. yeah, I remember, Boun laughs. So, how are you Coach? Has PTay reached out already?

An awkward silence spread on air. You know him longer than I do.

What's on your mind though? Ohm asks.

I promised Off and Gun that I would give Te the time that he needs. If he needs space and some air to clear his mind, I'm giving him that. But I cannot completely say that I like this set up. A piece of me wants to explode, New replied very sharply. Do you understand where I'm coming from?

Ohm and Boun stayed silent for a few moments. They wanted to give New his own space to air out whatever he is keeping in.

Trying to understand further what has been happening has caused him overwhelming feelings of frustration, and maybe even anger. He is scared. Fine. But did he ever think that I am not? Is he the only one who had been hurt in the past? How can he be so unfair? Suddenly, it felt like a knife slow-cutting his heart. New's eyes misted with tears.

Long silence sustained the minutes that followed. Coach, Boun silently responds, do you remember that time when we wanted so much to win the championship during our last year? The team was working so hard to the point we were exerting too much that was already beyond our limit. Some of us were overtraining which nearly caused over fatigue and could have done great damage to the team.

At that time, it felt like we were treading so much to keep our heads above the water, Ohm recounted. Do you still remember what you told us that day? You told us to stop treading and just float. It was your way of reminding us that sometimes we need to learn to let go of what is unnecessary and just trust ourselves and find comfort with the thought that the water will bring us to where we should be.

We know how you are feeling Coach, Boun pointed out. But maybe you can look at this with a different eye. Rather than keep treading and demand for answers, why not just float, respect time, and trust the love that you have for PTay.

Yeah, you said so yourself that we know PTay. He may be a dork at times, but overall, I'm pretty sure he's not that stupid to not know how you feel for him. And I'm more than sure that he won't be a totally stupid idiot to put aside what he also feels towards you, Ohm reassured him.

The words surprisingly comforted New. He looked at his two boys with awe. Since when did you two learn to talk a great deal of sense? Can you tell me, when did you two grow up? New was laugh-crying.

We learned it from our Coach, if that's any good news, Ohm says with pride.

Come on, it's a good night. I know that things will be well. Get those glasses and let's toast, Boun directs. Cheers to people who stay and wait.

Ohm raises his glass, cheers to love and time.

New takes his glass and joins in, cheers to swimming coaches who know how to float.