Flashlight

Chapter 4- Seeking Vanilla

"ROUND 12, MAT 2. Daphne Parker in yellow from St Joseph All Girl School, Ashley Ronald in brown from Campbell Co-ed High School,"

I took a deep breath and proceed to the mat. I adjusted my gi to make sure I look good in this pure white "bathrobe". I stood at the red area and rei then step another two steps into the green area and rei again.

The referee stood in the middle of my opponent and I then raise his both hands. " Hajime!!" The referee gestured us to begin.

I bended my body slightly lower and stood in a fighting stunt. I panicked when I found out my opponent is a yellow belt judoka. Trying to hide my fear, I stared at her. I cursed in my heart: God! Why do you give me higher ranker for my first fight? How I wish she is a white belt. Suddenly, my opponent attacked me. She grabbed my sleeve with her left hand and my collar with another hand.

My mind went blank and resist is the only thing I did. After a few times she almost tripped me, the referee stopped us. He instructed us to return to the original position and said a few Japanese terms which I don't understand. Great, we are starting the fight again. I'm totally well prepared this time.

"Hajime!!"

My opponent and I went closer to each other and grabbed on each other's gi. I felt her strength pushing me off balance. I pulled her from right and left to make her dizzy.

"Daphne, you have to attack. Or else you will get penalty again." I heard Kim shouting behind me.

What?! I got a penalty?! Holy, means my marks had deducted from zero to a negative figure.

I heard my schoolmates cheering for me. I can't lose. I told myself. I chipped in all my force and pushed my opponent; we both ended falling on the floor and started a ground fight.

The timer has finally rungs. I felt wobbly and return to where I sat just now. I am very frustrated. I don't even bother to ask for the result. My friends pat my shoulder and congratulate me, some said "good job". This is totally insulting. For the first time, winning is so hard.

"Lacy, who won the fight just now?" In the end, I decided to get the answer from Lacy.

"I'm not sure. I saw the referee lifts up his right hand to your opponent's side. Your opponent has won the game I guess." Lacy didn't answer me right into my face; she is watching the fight after mine.

She doesn't dare. She knows I'm pissed.

Sherene Albert is fighting for this round. She used to be my favourite junior in the cheerleading team. We were as close as sisters. How sweet? Even my biological sister is jealous of her. However, things changed seven months ago.

Each day, I will recall those days she started to address me as her sister, those days we were chasing each other on the school field. Chatting with each other, making jokes to entertain the cheerleading team in practices. Until the day, other juniors wanted to "snatch" me from her by addressing me as their closest senior. That time, I acted as the cool senior who everybody wants to have a bond with. Something I had regretted doing it. I know, she is truly hurt since that day. The moment she told me she wants to pull out from the team, I felt utterly disappointed. I had skipped my meetings to give her extra training, broke my principle as a leader to protect her from gossips, spent my self- enrichment time to listen to her stories, immediately reply her message when she says she need help. Literally gave up my whole life to train her to be the best cheerleader.

Until she has finally left my circle and cut off the friendship between us. Pretending we are just strangers who understand each other very well. I had nothing left. Teachers started to lose faith in my ability; question my efficiency.

For twice, I held the knife in my hand to cut off the blood flow in my arteries.

Twice, I almost die.

For almost one year, I'm battling with depression on my own.

Wake up, school, home, cry, sleep, repeat.

I didn't eat except I do have some biscuits on weekends. My sister doubted that I have anorexia.

I'm tired to fight with my other friends who play tricks behind me and wish to takeover my position. All I want is friendships. I'm tiring of my school life. I needed a peaceful life.

I resigned from all the duties and quit my biggest passion, cheerleading. I know I need to stay alive and away from the knife. I needed time to recover. Most importantly, friendships.

I received a lot of messages and questions on my action from the school community. I told them I quit the service team, to focus more on cheerleading team. After that, I lied to them about my family needed me to spend more time at home, so I left the cheerleading team.

Staring at the Sherene Albert's fight, I smirked. In my heart, I am wishing her to lose and I know she will lose the game. At the same time, I hope she don't get injured.

Seems like there is no need for a loser to fight for another round. I start playing Hotel Story again.

All of a sudden, I felt guilty on whatever I had done in the past. I'm a useless hoe.

I sighed and rested my head on the seat of a chair beside me. It's soft but solid enough to support my tired neck and sored heart. There is vanilla fragrant around and it puts me into a totally relaxing mode. All those fights in front of my eye had become a romance movie of lovers cuddling each other.

The last time I experience this was at the age of twelve while my family was travelling to the south. I was sleeping on my grandfather's lap with his hand touching on my silky hair.

I felt sleepy with my head on the seat; I can barely open my eyes. I placed my hand on top of the seat in order to switch my position. The skin of the chair was...

Sh*t!! It's not a chair... It's somebody's leg. It's so embarrassing!! I lied on somebody's leg for so long...

I quickly sat up and wanted to apologise.

" Daphne." Kim called out.

"Ah." I stared at her with my eyes wide open.

"Are you ok? Daphne"

"Hmm no.. yea hmm...."

I turned and looked around, that person has gone. Kim is telling me something important but I'm too anxious tracing back the person who was sitting on that chair and my eyes busy searching for that leg.

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Foreign Flash

gi- uniform worn in the practice of martial arts (Usually white)

rei- Bow. All judoka has to do so before start fighting. A way to show respect to opponent.

hajime-Begin

judoka- One who learns/ practises Judo

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Author's Flash

he update for this chapter is slightly slower because I was struggling with the title for this chapter until I finally named it. 

Maybe it sounds a bit draggy for not revealing the guy yet but he will be out in the next chapter.

STAY TUNED FOR ANOTHER BOOK "LOVE PURGATORY" It will be written based on the guy's POV. See y'all there!!!

VOTE, COMMENT AND SHARE TO SUPPORT. MUACKS!!