Human: Paradigm (COMPLETED)

JEON

Hallway’s packed as usual. Peeps are blabbering, chit-chatting, just messing around like normal while am here, all over the place.

Shit. I hope am not obvious. Silly events last night really turned me. Argh. Damn it. Damn it.

In mah eyes, I see the room am finding. I stop and knock.

There are 7 students inside. 4 boys are resting while 3 girls are staring. This a little number for swimming team.

“Oh! A new member?” boy in glasses says.

“Good afternoon. I would—”

“Great!” says glasses.

He looks to nother boy with long hair. Long hair boy comes to me.

“Good afternoon. I’m the president of this club, Daeshin Rae, a 3rd Year. Nice to meet you.”

He gimme his hands. Shaking it makes me feel solid callus and it’s rough... Don’t tell me he’s letting out every day.

Ah. What am I thinking?

“Good afternoon everyone. I am Jeon-chun Myers. A 1st Year student from the pilot section. It is nice meeting you all.”

Peeps give me smile.

“Jeon?” a girly voice calls.

That voice...

Together with other peeps is a red hair I ain’t wanna see. Heck. Am outta here.

“I didn’t know you’re interested in swimming,” red hair says.

“You know him?” glasses boy asks.

“Yes! He’s my friend, and we also belong to the same section.”

“For real?”

She nods.

“That’s good. At least you already have an acquaintance.”

President turns me. “So, you’d like to join right?”

Tsk. Am unaware that red hair’s a member of this club. Should I try nother one? What would I do? Books?

Nah. That’s too much work. Science and stuffs are out too.

How bout movies? It ain’t be so bad cuz I like them in the first place.

“I am sorry, but I cannot accept your offer,” I say.

Peeps round me bob their head while they open eyes wide. President tilts to the side.

“What? I thought that you wanted to join the club?” he asks.

“I am just curious about the swimming club, but I really do not have any experience in swimming.”

“Aww... we could really use new members now. She’s our only new recruit here.” glasses boy’s pointed red hair.

She’s the freaking reason I can’t join this club!

“We understand your concern. But we can teach you how to.”

“Please accept my apology. I have already made my decision.”

“We understand. But in any case, if your mind changes, please visit this club again.”

“I will. Thank you for your understanding, and I apologize for wasting your time.”

“No problem.”

“Bye Jeon!” red hair says.

“Goodbye, Pamela. Endeavor in your interest.”

She looks away. “Y-yeah. Thank you.”

Can hear em sigh but I walk to the door. Halfway in, it suddenly moves.

Creak

“Excuse me~”

Noisy voice echoes the room. Ugh, this voice... Not another one.

“Ooooh! Chun-chun!”

A shadow tackles me in a hug.

“I am sorry—”

“It’s been a long time, chun!”

I look away. Don’t use that name again. Sides, it’s just 3 months. 3 freaking months.

“We’re gonna be teammates again~”

Stupid shit.

“What did you say?” someone asks from the back.

“Teammates. Chun-chun and I used to be teammates in swimming team back when we’re in middle school.”

“Chun-chun? You mean him?”

“Yep~ This is Chun... chun!”

“And you’re teammates?” nother one asks. “Huh? Introduce yourself first.”

“Pardon, but can you please free me from your hug?” I say.

“Ah.” idiot moves away. “Sorry. Sorry. I just really missed you.” he grins.

Sigh. Finally.

“Allllllrrrright!” his voice stabs mah drums.

“I’m Hwan Bhakyae. 1st Year Student, Section A. Former member of O-gun Junior Swimming Team!”

All eyes go wider than office slut’s pu... than the world. Feeling the coming doom, I slip past idiot.

Suddenly, a force pulls me back.

“O-gun Junior Swimming Team?” president repeats what just said.

“Yep! Me and Chun-chun are teammates back then.”

Glasses boy jolts. “Eh? Really?”

“Yeeeeep!”

This is bad.

“But that 1st Year student over there declined our offer and claimed he has no experience in swimming.” president says.

Idiot blink eyes like hypnotized or something. “Ah! Don’t worry. Chun is nervous.”

Heck am not.

“Yeah. He’s just nervous.”

“What do you mean?”

“See, he’s kinda introverted. He doesn’t like getting with too many crowds.”

Quiet passes.

“So, Chun denied his swimming experience because he’s afraid to be judged. You know. You are new people to him and this a new en-vi-ron-ment!”

“This club doesn’t even have an audition, and we’re just accepting new members with swimming experience,” president says. “But, I think I do understand his feelings.”

Faking like this is gross. Fine. This enough fake shit for mah decency.

Bow down em.

“I apologize. Mr. Bhakyae is right. I am just scared of the new environment, and that is the very reason why I misled you. It is my fault. Please, I beg for my audacity and inappropriateness to be forgiven.”

President darts to peeps. Glasses and two girls nod. Red hair almost rips her head off cuz of her headbang. On other hand, three homies shake their head.

“Alright. Majority wins. You can join our club Jeon. But that is, of course, if you want to. We’re not forcing you into something you dislike. We’re not putting you under pressure either.”

“So, what do you say, Chun?”

“I would be honored if I become a member of the swimming club.”

“Woah. Did you all hear that?” glasses boy asks.

Red hair jumps. “This is great!”

“Just a minute.” president breaks. “Don’t think that I’ll let you go easily.”

“What’s up with you?” glasses boy asks.

“Yes?” I say.

“Tell us information about yourself first. I’ll decide after knowing you better.”

“Huh? I thought you already asked us? Daeshin?” he asks.

“I asked for your opinion, but my decision still matters the most here. So please speak up.”

“I understand. Good afternoon everyone. I am Jeon-chun Myers. A 1st Year student from the pilot section.”

“We already heard that.”

Just wait. “I started swimming when I was 9 years old.”

“That’s a considerably long time of swimming experience.”

“I know right!” idiot says.

“As Mr. Bhakyae had mentioned, I am from O-gun Junior Swimming Team.”

“O-gun Public Middle School was it?”

“Yep~”

“That sounds familiar.” glasses boy says.

All peeps become serious like they’re using brains or something. Suddenly, red hair gasps.

“Isn’t that middle school the champion of Junior National League for the last 2 years?” she points out.

“Yes. That school holds the title last year and last last year.” president says.

“Our team’s great! I do 200 Backstroke, but I swear, Chun’s super duper amazing!”

No one’s asking, idiot.

President crosses arms. “What event do you specialize in?”

“I started in 200m Butterfly back in grade school, but when I reached Middle School, the coach of O-gun’s swimming team changed my practice to 400m Individual Medley.”

Peeps raise their eyebrows.

“Eh?!” red hair covers mouth. So that means—”

“Yep~ Chun-chun’s the one who beat the Prodigy. Great, isn’t it?”

All jaws drop the floor because Pewton messed up his gravity thing.

“Wow. I must be dreaming. This is finally happening in our swimming team.” glasses boy says. “Don’t let this pass up Daeshin.”

“Very well then. You are a—”

“Excuse me. I want to join your club.”

To the voice, I turn back. A face shows up and it reminds me of money... also kisses. Tell me this ain’t reunion.

“I can’t believe it!” red hair says.

“Oooh! Haven’t seen him for a while.” idiot says.

People’s eyes are on smooch as if they’ve seen a ghost.

“What did you say?”

“Good afternoon. I said that I wanted to join this school’s swimming club.” smooch blabbers while standing straight.

“That’s incredible. Who am I to decline a prodigy like you?” president says.

“Thank you for your consideration. But I have a request to make, may I?”

“Sure.” glasses boy says.

President glances at glasses boy.

“What is it?” president asks.

“I wanted to undergo an audition.”

“There’s no need to. With the skill you have, you’re automatically accepted.”

In movies, normally, peeps like him tryna scheme something. And I can really feel it today on him.

Smooch lowers his head. “Thank you for the unnecessary praises, but as you all know, my specialty is 400 IM.”

“Yep. It’s in several magazines and shown on TV many many times.” idiot says.

“And as you also know, we can’t have two swimmers in a club doing 400 IM.”

So, he wants to beat me?

He directs at me. “2 years ago, I lost completely to this master.”

Master? Am I braggart?

“So I want him to compete with me in 400 IM in order for us to see who is deserving to represent the school in competitions.”

I shudder.

“It’s okay,” glasses boy says.

“That’s... reasonable.” red hair says.

“Gotta have guts to win.” guy on the corner says.

“No!” korean girl says.

“I disagree too.” nother korean girl says.

“That just sounds right to me.” korean boy says.

“Alright. Majority wins. The competition between Jeon and Jules is decided.”

“I don’t agree with him” idiot yells. “That is just so unfair. It’s like he wanted to avenge for his loss to Chun-chun!”

“Avenging or not, the reason doesn’t matter but the skills. We can’t have two 400 IM swimmers, the National Sports Commission ordered that. Besides, the votes are already 5-3. It’s in favor of the audition.”

“Is it?”

You’re stage 10 hopeless. “Are you not paying attention?”

Smooch scratches his backhead.

Dumbass.

“Also, my personal vote is in favor. That makes it 6-3. With the audition being decided, I like to inform you that it will take over tomorrow. 1 in the afternoon.”

W-wait, hold up hold up. What?

“The loser won’t be able to join this club.”

Damn. 3 months had passed without me swimming like fish. Guess I’mma just end up in film club for real.

“Do you understand?”

Smooch clasps hand and bows the president. “Thank you for your approval.”

This whole scheme’s pain in the ass.

“What about you, Jeon?”

“I understood all of your words. In my humble opinion, I do think that Mr. Lee’s request is just and appropriate.” I say calm but deep down, mah head’s becoming messed up.

Ahhhhhh! Jetflicks have to suffer tonight.