Dancing With Our Hands Tied: The Series

Let Go

Loud screams and chants of support already fill the large area where in a few minutes, the continuous hard work of the women's swimming team will be put into the final test. Looking  around the space, Minjeong is so sure that yesterday's event with the men's swimming team was already a full house but seeing the amount of students that came in to support the home team, she was proven otherwise.

The home team has been doing great so far. They have dominated the last four categories after losing the first two. They're obviously ahead when it comes to points and no matter what the result of the next match they'll win nonetheless. But the next match isn't an ordinary one. Minjeong can hear the chants echo in her ears which tells her that this is really the most anticipated match of the day.

Not more than a minute later, Minjeong sees Jimin walk towards the bench where Coach Kwon and the rest of her teammates are gathered around most likely waiting for her. If the screams earlier were loud then Minjeong can tell they got louder this time, deafening even once the crowd saw Jimin walking her way to her teammates.

"Huddle up!" In a second all of the members of the women's swimming team gathers around to form a circle once they heard their coach's order.

"This is the last match. Last match. We've been doing great." He says in a loud voice trying to stay above from all the cheers inside the pool area as he give each of his team members a glance. His gaze finally lands on the main event. Jimin. "No pressure, Yoo. No matter the outcome we will still win, we will still be proud of you." Coach Kwon says and gives the captain a warm smile. The rest of her teammates nodded and says words of encouragement to cheer their captain up.

"Safe waters Jimin." A voice speaks as Jimin was trying to get her goggles inside her dufflebag. She knows that voice well. And she isn't surprised either. Of course he will have free access around the pool area Jimin says in her head before turning around to face the owner of the said voice.

"Thanks Jongshin. Also congratulations for the team's win yesterday." Jimin answers before flashing him with a smile.

"Is there anything else that you need?" Jongshin asks as he take a glance at the dufflebag that Jimin is currently holding. 

"I'm all good, Jongshin." Jimin says as she once again look for her goggles and finally finding it this time. After zipping up her bag and placing it carefully on the bench so it wouldn't fall, Jimin once again faces Jongshin and smiles. The latter seems to get the hint so for the last time he wished her goodluck and walked to the direction of the rest of the spectators.

"You'll do great, Jimin. Be careful okay?" A bit of sadness flashes on her mother's eyes as she caress Jimin's face. It's the look that she knows too well. The look that will haunt her every waking day of her life. Jimin tried to ignore it. It was just for a second. Just a second she told herself but that one second was enough to rattle her thoughts. And in that moment she knew that talking to her parents before her match was a bad idea.

Water. A lot of water. Arms flailing trying to stay afloat. The voice of her mom screaming for help and the look on her dad's face after rushing home from work and finally realizing what happened.

"Baby, Jimin, you got this okay? I'm already proud of you." It was her dad's voice that broke her out of her reverie, out of her thoughts. She forced a smile to let them know that she was okay, a forced smile that was also intended for herself to calm her down for the moment.

She was grateful once again for the crowd. She appreciates the support but more than that she is more grateful for the distraction that the sound of their cheers brings. The sound that drowns out her thoughts, the sound that fills her head and eventually pushes away past and hurtful memories.