Correct Aim

Part 6: Frozen

Heat, tension and a little bit of intimidation made my hands sweat and even though I wiped it repeatedly it will just find its way back. An audience also doesn't help me. It just doubles the anxiety. However, I kept my gaze at the target and tried to block everything out. Tried, I did and it didn't work.

For some reason, I was not comfortable in this year's competition. And that some reason was kind of... a guy.

I exhaled and erased my thoughts. I was thinking that I will never miss my goal. I won't.

I glanced at the bleachers and saw my schoolmates watching how I draw my arrow except one. Him. He was staring at me in the eye and it felt like he was controlling my breath ... and my silly heart suddenly pumped as I became flustered.

What is this guy doing to me? What have I done to him? None! I haven't done anything to him. He's just.... there....just lazing around the campus! Thinking that he's far better than everyone else! With his money and fame he could do that! With his ego and um... looks... he could do anything! Then he joins the club? Out of the blue, without a warning he just did and-and things started to get weird. Specially after that time! That time that... ugh! How can he stare at me like that? He could stare as if staring wasn't a rude thing to do. An embarrassing memory flashed.

That day I was at the club with everyone... and... him. Half year ago, I caught him staring daggers at me while making faces....the thing he did a while ago before he relaxed. I always thought it was rude staring so I stared at him and some huge bug blocked my sight. The bug started to get near him and this made me feel weird.

It was...I was irritated.

Soon, the stupid bug was forcing herself to sit beside him. Calmly but quickly I stretched, aimed and shoot. Unknown heat was burning inside me and .... I was ... I was pissed.

Calming myself took time while I was shooting other targets. I don't want to be seen embarrassed specially by a certain someone.

Seeing all targets made me confused. My aim was correct but... but why can't I perfect 'that one'? Weird but.... my ears aren't fooling me. I was hearing a foreign thudding. Before red would invade my face, I started to walk away.

I fully composed myself in the lady's changing room by myself. I was hiding myself from weary eyes. Abruptly, a pair of eyes flashed and I knew whom it belonged.

"Miss are you okay?"

I was back to reality again,this time, together with my brain. I realized I was staring at my arrow two spaces away from the red dot. My aim was wrong because my mind was somewhere else. I was somewhere else.

"Miss Samantha? Are you okay?"

I was in a world of realization. My weird heart condition, him, a warm feeling, him, a gaze that always finds his, him, the club...with...him, getting pissed because.....I liked him. I like him. I li-

"Y-Yes."

Yes, you like him.

I took a deep breath.

I liked him.

Stretched my arms.

I liked him.

Aimed my arrow.

I .... love? I'm too young for that.

Breath.

I'm too young for.....love? Maybe not.

Determination crept its way through me........Only one thing to find out.

I released the arrow and hit the bull's eye. Claps and cheers erupted everywhere. My nervousness never swept away because after this, I will be honest. I will accept. I may cry or smile ... but I will be brave. I will spill the beans and I will finally free the cat out of the bag.

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The host started to announce the end of the female archery competition and my hands started to get even colder. If I could just have the same calm and collected feeling I had a while ago when I was staring at her.....

"Now gentlemen, let the competition begin."

That announcement just didn't make things better.

When I stood up, I froze. Cheers, shrieks and.... well...er-... cheers erupted. This made me realize one thing.

I forgot there was an audience.

Damn audiences don't help me well! It just doubles the anxiety.

Oh boy, things were about to get colder. At least the cold never bothered me anyway... not.