Lost and Found • mikhaiah au

02. Pushing Limits and Buttons

For the next week, Agnes threw herself into training with relentless intensity. She arrived at the pool before dawn each day, her body aching but her mind set on one goal: surpassing Maiko.

She swam lap after lap, her strokes powerful yet graceful, the sound of water splashing in her ears becoming a familiar rhythm.

Her friends, Fons and Ria, noticed the change in her. They watched as she skipped meals, sacrificed sleep, and pushed herself to the brink of exhaustion. Her determination was admirable, but the toll it took on her was evident. Dark circles formed under her eyes, and her usual vibrant energy seemed to wane.

One afternoon, Fons and Ria decided it was time to confront their friend. They headed to the university pool, where they found Agnes sitting at the edge, her shoulders slumped and her breathing heavy.

"Hoy babaita! Magpahinga ka naman, kulang na lang higupin mo tong tubig sa pool eh, inuulam mo na te." Fons remarked, his concern clear.

Ria nudged Fons, who rolled his eyes in exasperation. "I mean it, Agnes. Sobra ka na sa OA."

Agnes shrugged off their concerns, her focus unwavering. She had been relentlessly training ever since her defeat at the last swimming conference, determined to come back stronger.

"Agnes, you're being stubborn," Fons continued, his voice now rising.

Ria nodded in agreement. "We're worried about you. This isn't healthy. You're pushing yourself too hard."

Agnes shook her head stubbornly. "I can't afford to rest. I need to be better. I need to beat Maiko."

"Maiko, Maiko, Maiko nanaman! Crush mo ba 'yun te? Wala ka na ibang inisip kundi si ate girl eh," Fons remarked, his tone attempting to joke and lighten the mood, but his frustration was evident.

"Seryoso, Agnes, you're driving yourself into the ground over her."

Agnes stood up, brushing off their concerns. "I'm fine, bawi ako sainyo next time. I just need to keep pushing pa. I can't let her win again."

Without waiting for a response, she dove back into the pool with determined strokes. Ria and Fons exchanged worried glances, watching as Agnes resumed her grueling training.

Reluctantly, they turned and left the pool area, the sound of Agnes's splashing gradually fading behind them.

Meanwhile, Colleen has been observing them from a distance, her worry growing with each passing day. She saw the strain in Agnes's strokes, the fatigue in her movements.

"Navarro, we need to talk," Colleen said firmly, pulling Agnes aside after practice. "You're overdoing it. Your body is clearly exhausted, and you're ignoring the need for rest and recovery."

Agnes's eyes flared with defiance. "I can't stop, Coach. I have to be better than her."

Colleen's frustration was evident. "Your determination is admirable, Navarro, but you're putting yourself at serious risk. I don't care how driven you are, you're heading straight for injury. Hindi 'to about isang competition lang; it's about your entire career."

Agnes's resolve wavered, but she stubbornly pressed on. "I just don't want to be second again."

Colleen's expression grew more serious. "I understand that you're frustrated, but continuing down this path isn't going to help you. In fact, it's going to make things worse."

Agnes looked confused and frustrated. "What are you saying?"

Colleen took a deep breath, her tone resolute. "I'm banning you from training for one week. That means no pool, no workouts, nothing."