The Experience Buddy [Completed]

Chapter 29

"How was practice today?" I asked as Hero was driving us back to his place.

"Was good." Hero answered.

"So...uh...," I paused and hesitated for a second. "Who was that girl just now?"

"Who...Oh, Sierra. She's like this self appointed team manager, or at least that's what she calls herself. Her dad is an alumni and he donates back to the school and especially the club frequently. She had just graduated so probably why she's hanging around more lately." He explained.

Makes sense why she was around but still doesn't explain why she was wiping Hero's sweat. Hero must have noticed that I went silent. At the next red signal, he around his pockets and wallet then he put a penny in my hand.

"Uh...don't get mad okay? Promise?"

"Yeah, okay." He sounded confused.

"Why was she wiping your face?"

"I did tell her not to, but she was so insistent then I was just like, whatever." He said. "If you are uncomfortable, I will avoid her next time."

My heart says yes. My mind says yes. But my mouth went against my entire being and told him it's okay.

Which I immediately regretted.

What was I trying to prove? That I won't get jealous? That I am that super open minded girlfriend? That I don't find that Sierra girl a threat to our relationship?

I didn't understand myself.

-----

My shift ended earlier than expected, like last week, I headed to the indoor court directly from the cafe. Since they weren't done with training just yet, I found a spot on the benches at the side and sat down quietly. At one point, Hero spotted me and his serious expression was replaced with a huge grin. I did a small wave in response.

Finally, they were done and Hero was making his way towards me when Sierra stopped him in his tracks.

I should have known she was going to be here too.

"Can you open the bottle for me? My nails might chip." She asked flirtatiously.

"Like seriously? Before the bottle chips your nails I might just break your fingers first." I thought, my insides fuming, steam about to come out of my ears like those shooting out of a kettle.

Hero shot me a nervous glance which I responded with a fake smile and a slight nod. So he twisted the bottle cap and passed the bottle back to her.

"Wait for me. I'll get changed quickly." He pecked the top of my head and jogged off to join the rest of the team for a debrief before changing out of his sweaty jersey.

As much as I wanted to gawk at Hero's abs, the other guys were changing as well. I thought it would be impolite of me if I stared so I looked in the opposite direction.

"You must be Hero's girlfriend." Sierra came up to me and asked.

"Hi, yes." I answered politely although I was actually refraining myself from strangling her scrawny neck.

"Must have been hard on you. Dating such a popular guy." She pouted.

"What do you mean?" I asked, as I used every ounce of strength in me to hold back my fist from coming into contact with her face.

"You would have to constantly worry about him leaving you for someone prettier. Girls constantly flock to him. He has plenty of choices."

Was she referring to herself?

But she was not exactly wrong though, everyday I worry about Hero getting bored of me then he would leave. At the beginning, maybe he might have liked me more than I like him. As time passed, I felt that my feelings have grown much deeper while his remained the same.

"Let's go." Hero told me as he put his hand out towards me. Then we left the place while holding hands, fingers interlocking.

I guess, at least for now, my hands were still the one that he's holding.

Although I know that it's not very good to keep overthinking, I supposed hearing from a person directly was the last push in addition to all those hate messages. Things like "you don't deserve him" and "he is too good for you" constantly flashed through my mind. Afterall, if it wasn't because I became Nat's roommate and started hanging out with them, he probably wouldn't even have glanced at me if we walked by each other.

I also hate myself for considering sex as one of the factors of our relationship's progress. We've only done it once in the months we were together but Hero had hit the home run with several girls, I think. And possibly even girls whom he only met that day, or night. Not that I don't trust him. Believe me, I really wanted to. It's just this internal conflict was on a whole new level that I have never experienced before. Considering the hardest part of being single for me was that I had to decide whether to have pancakes or french toast for breakfast.

It was then, it struck me. No wonder the name sounded familiar. No wonder she looked familiar.

Sierra was there at Hero's party before. She was that blonde girl in a ponytail.

Suddenly, I felt disgusted at myself. Not sure why. But more than disgust, I think I felt so conflicted that I might cry. It was all kinds of feelings mixed and bottled up inside me. I know that was before we got together but I couldn't help myself.

If I had to describe Sierra as an insect, she is no doubt a bee. A busy bee buzzing around the flower all the time. When a bee feels threatened, it will try to sting you despite it being a suicide mission as they die once they lose their stinger but it will make sure to try and take you down with it.

And I could say, she's done it.

I might self-destruct soon. And possibly at the same time, sink my relationship, like the Titanic ship.