Above Par - Olympic Edition

Chapter 17 - Back in the Swing of Things

Frederic:

The final day of the tournament had arrived, and with it came a weight of expectations. I stood on the first tee, the morning air crisp and charged with anticipation. Today was the culmination of everything I'd worked for, the moment to prove myself on the Olympic stage. But as I glanced over at Felix, I felt the lingering tension between us, an unspoken rift that had formed in the wake of this morning's incident.

Felix was quiet—too quiet. His usual witty banter and easy confidence were nowhere to be found, replaced by a silence that seemed to thicken the air around us. I knew he was still reeling from what had happened, but his withdrawal was affecting my focus, leaving me distracted and unsettled.

To make matters worse, I could feel my father's eyes on me, a constant reminder of the expectations he carried for me. He stood by the edge of the course, arms crossed, watching every move with an intensity that only added to the pressure I was already feeling. His presence was both a source of motivation and a weight on my shoulders, pushing me to succeed while reminding me of the consequences of failure.

As I took my swing, the familiarity of the motion helped ground me, the driver slicing through the air with precision. But my thoughts kept straying back to Felix, to the awkwardness that had settled between us like an unwelcome guest.

We moved through the first two holes with little conversation, Felix's attention fixed on the task at hand. Yet, I could sense the tension beneath his calm façade, the way his eyes flicked to me with uncertainty, the stiffness in his movements. It was unlike him, and it threw me off balance.

By the time we reached the third hole, my concentration was beginning to fray. I could feel the mounting pressure, the eyes of spectators and cameras on me, but all I could focus on was the unspoken divide between Felix and me, and the looming presence of my father watching my every move.

As I lined up my shot, I knew something had to change. I needed to break the tension, to find a way to reach him and restore the easy camaraderie that had been our strength throughout the tournament. More than anything, I needed Felix's support—his cheerleading—to help me push through the pressure.

After hitting the ball, I turned to Felix, determined to bridge the gap. "Felix," I said, keeping my tone light despite the seriousness of my intent. "I can't concentrate if you're not yourself. What's going on?"

He hesitated, eyes darting away from mine. "I'm fine. Just focusing on the game."

I shook my head, knowing there was more to it than that. "Come on, Felix. You're not fooling anyone. Talk to me."

He sighed, finally meeting my gaze. "I just... I don't want to mess things up for you, Frederic. Not today."

"You're not going to mess anything up," I assured him. "We're a team, remember? Whatever's going on, we'll figure it out together."

His expression softened slightly, the tension easing just a fraction. "I'm just trying to be professional, that's all."

"I appreciate that," I replied, stepping closer. "But I also know that we work better when we're not tiptoeing around each other. I need you out there, Felix. I need your energy."

Felix gave a small nod, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Okay, I'll try to loosen up. For the sake of your concentration, of course."

"Of course," I echoed, grateful for the return of his familiar humor.

By the time we reached the ninth hole, Felix was starting to find his groove again. His light-hearted banter began to fill the gaps between strokes, his usual quick wit returning with each passing moment.

"Alright, Fred," Felix said with a teasing grin as he handed me a club. "Think you can handle this one without my expert advice?"

"I'll do my best," I replied, smirking as I took the club from him. "Though your encouragement does wonders for my game."

"Well, don't get too comfortable," Felix shot back, his eyes twinkling. "I might have to start charging for my motivational speeches."

"Worth every penny," I quipped, catching his gaze and holding it a moment longer than necessary.

The banter lifted my spirits, the familiar rhythm between us easing the tension that had weighed heavily on my shoulders. With Felix back to his old self, I felt a renewed sense of focus and determination as we continued through the course.

And as we moved on to the next hole, I couldn't help but feel grateful for Felix's presence, his energy infusing the day with hope and possibility. Despite the pressure of my father's expectations, I knew that with Felix by my side, cheering me on, we could face whatever the day might bring.