Lost and Found • mikhaiah au

27. Between Laps, Longing, and Jealousy

Days blurred into each other as Agnes tried to drown herself in the routine of her training.

She threw herself into every lap, every stroke, pushing her body to the limit. She wanted to forget, to escape from the mess she had made, but no matter how hard she tried, Maiko was always there in the back of her mind.

The sting of their last confrontation haunted her, echoing like a cruel reminder every time she closed her eyes.

Maiko, on the other hand, had gone quiet. There were no more late-night texts or surprise visits. No calls, no messages. It was as if Maiko had disappeared from her life entirely, leaving a gaping hole in her heart that Agnes couldn't ignore.

And despite everything—despite the harsh words she'd thrown and the cold front she'd put up—Agnes missed her. She missed Maiko's warmth, her teasing, the way she could make Agnes laugh even on her worst days.

Nights were the hardest. Lying alone in her bed, Agnes would find herself staring at her phone, longing to hear Maiko's voice, to see her smile again. But she knew she had no right to reach out. She was the one who had pushed Maiko away.

After another grueling set of laps, Agnes pulled herself out of the water, panting heavily. She shook off the droplets clinging to her skin, trying to clear her mind.

But even as she stood there, water pooling at her feet, she could feel the emptiness gnawing at her. Her body ached not just from the exertion, but from the absence of something—or other, someone—who had become so important to her.

Colleen approached her with a concerned look on her face. "Agnes, your stats are still not where they need to be. You're falling behind your usual records." Her tone was soft but firm, worry evident in every word.

Agnes tried to muster a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. She knew Colleen was right. Her performance had been slipping ever since the fallout with Maiko, and no matter how much she tried to focus, her mind kept drifting back to that night.

Maybe this was her karma, she thought bitterly. A punishment for pushing away the one person who had always been there for her.

"I'm sorry, Coach," Agnes murmured, her voice heavy with guilt. "I'm trying my best, I really am. I just... have a lot on my mind right now."

Colleen's expression softened, and she nodded in understanding. "I know you do. But you need to sort it out, Agnes. Whatever's holding you back, you need to deal with it. It's affecting more than just your swimming."

Agnes nodded, knowing her coach was right. But how could she deal with it when the very thought of Maiko made her chest tighten with regret? All she could do was force a small, apologetic smile and hope that one day, the ache in her heart would finally subside.

Colleen folded her arms, her gaze still fixed on Agnes with that familiar blend of concern and authority. "Look, Agnes," she started, "The championship is right around the corner. You've always been one of the strongest competitors in the pool, but right now, you're letting something or should I say someone get into your head."

Agnes bit her lip, nodding slightly, but she didn't meet Colleen's eyes. She knew her coach was right. She had been distracted, her mind swirling with everything but her training.

"And speaking of the competition," Colleen continued, her tone more serious, "It's not just Maiko you need to worry about. There's someone new, you've heard of Jasper, right?"

Agnes' brows furrowed. "Jasper?" she echoed, the name unfamiliar but already tinged with a sense of challenge.

Colleen nodded. "Jasper Chua. She's been talking big, saying she's going to take Maiko down this year. I don't know if it's all talk or if she's got the skills to back it up, but she's been making a name for herself lately. If Maiko's your main rival, then Jasper's shaping up to be hers. Maybe even yours, if you don't get your head back in the game."