Swimming back to you

chapter 2.

I arrived at the entrance of the sports academy a little early, taking a moment to enjoy the crisp evening air. Maddy had needed to head home to see her mother off before she left town for a few days, so I was here alone. I wandered over to the admission counter, which was about to close in just five minutes. I quickly grabbed two admission forms—one for me and one for Maya—just in case.

As I stood there, the anticipation of what we might discover inside buzzed in the back of my mind. I had always been excited about the idea of joining a sports class, but today felt especially significant.

Soon, Maya appeared, her face lighting up with her characteristic energy. "Hey! Sorry I'm late. You know, life and all that," she said with a playful grin.

"No worries," I replied, holding up the forms. "I got these before the counter closed. Looks like we're both set to join something."

Maya glanced at the forms in my hand and raised an eyebrow. "So, you're joining badminton with me, huh?"

I looked down at the form and hesitated for a moment. "Actually, I think I'm going to go for swimming."

Maya's curiosity was piqued. "Swimming? Why swimming? I thought you were all about badminton."

I smiled, feeling a little nostalgic. "Well, it's not that I don't like badminton. It's just that swimming has always had a special place in my heart. You know how some things just feel like they're meant for you? For me, swimming is one of those things."

Maya tilted her head, listening intently. "What do you mean?"

I took a deep breath, trying to put my feelings into words. "When I was a kid, I used to spend hours in the pool, just floating around or playing around. It was like the water had this magical way of wrapping around me, making me feel calm and free. I always felt so alive and happy when I was swimming. It's like the water embraced me and let me forget everything else."

Maya's eyes softened as she listened. "That sounds really beautiful. I had no idea you felt that way about swimming."

"Yeah, it's something I've missed," I admitted. "I had to wear glasses when I was younger, and I couldn't swim with them. And then, well, life got in the way—people's judgments, expectations, you know how it is. But now that I've got my eyesight sorted and I'm trying to reconnect with the things that make me happy, swimming just felt right. It's like coming home to a piece of myself."

Maya nodded thoughtfully. "I get it now. It sounds like swimming is more than just a sport for you. It's a way to reconnect with something important."

"Exactly," I said with a smile. "And it's something I'm really looking forward to."

Maya grinned, shaking her head. "Alright, you've convinced me. Go make a splash, literally. I'll stick to my solid ground for now, but I'm cheering you on."

I turned to Maya with a mischievous grin. "You know, you should totally join the swimming class too. It'd be fun to have us both in the water."

Maya gave me a look that was half amused, half horrified. "Oh, hell no. Swimming is thrilling but also terrifying. I mean, have you seen how much water is involved? It's like, drowning just waiting to happen."

I laughed, nudging her playfully. "Come on, it's not that bad! Plus, it's a great way to get exercise and have fun. You never know, you might end up loving it."

Maya shook her head vigorously. "Yeah, well, I'm still haunted by my one and only swim lesson from back in school, I nearly ended up more like a floating disaster than a graceful swimmer," she said with a dramatic shudder. "I'm more of a land creature, thank you very much. I'll leave the swimming to you, brave soul. I'll be over here on solid ground, where the most dangerous thing is a paper cut. Plus, have you seen my hair after swimming? No thanks!"