Swimming

Everything she is is all I'd ever want in this romantic strife. Now that Miles and his girl head out after that boys' night out eating steak and playing pool, drinking light beers and shouting when our song came on. We had to catch up, It was a fine night. Calm and cool. Just the sounds of our steps as we walked on by. We walked down the road to some of the spots we used to visit as kids, like down a certain bridge, it was dark but the darkness was comfortable in a weird way. Miles imitated hyena laughs and laughed along with him, the voices echoed through the night. We got back to my car and headed for the house.

Miles grabs Val for a friendly hug, I smile at her as she pulls away too soon. Damn! Her cheeks flush and gives Ann a sisterly hug, the act like they are sobbing for a minute before they actually pull away and wipe their eyes simultaneously. Are they that deep already? Life's inexplicable sometimes, I thought those few hours of catching up wouldn't do anything but turns out females get along faster than I thought.

Waving at miles and Ann as their Ford Ranger pulls out od the driveway, we got back to the house feeling a bit empty. Val looked into my eyes and she hugged me so warmly, she patted my back and said it will be okay. Not that I doubt what she said but is because I can't heal from this void caused by Miles.

"Swimming later in the afternoon sounds perfect?" I happily nodded as Val slid into the kitchen to make us lunch, but it was pretty early. I busied myself with FIFA. I was up against an online opponent who had all my tricks in check, he had mad skills and his team was mad strong. I struggled to get shots in, set pieces and all that crap didn't work.

Second half began, I managed to get a through ball sneak in behind Marcelo, his team was Real Madrid, and paced forward with Timo Werner, dribbling the ball so swiftly and built a shot towards the goal. It curved and landed into the damn net squarely, I felt Mt forehead hot, I was sweating. "Goooooal"

I paused the game to cool off the steam. My chest was heaving, this game was connected emotionally to me. Sometimes I'd play with Val but she wasn't such a big fan of the game, I was used to playing alone most of the time especially when she was in the safe haven of the kitchen. Where was food anyway? And Val?

"Val, baby? Where are you?" I inquired as I peeped inside the kitchen like a thief. The crackling sound of eggs in a pan rode my appetites high, and the aroma wafted in the air. It was playing with my bile. I greedily pounced on a plate fixed myself some bread and attacked the sweet smelling eggs. I guess I was too busy eating to notice Val speaking but I was sure as hell she spoke because I saw her lips move, just wasn't sure what's she said. I opened the fridge, took out my orange juice yand poured myself some, sipped and slurped my lips, Val shot me a death glare and I put down the glass.

"It's noon, probably we should get going" Val was suggesting we make leave for the pool. She packed our towels in the bedroom as I stalked her cooking further. I didn't need that much packing anyway, just lotion and my swimming skills.

We left the house heading for the pool, it was a five minute walk away from the house. The sun was seriously hot and blinding as we stepped out, it took a second to readjust in the sun. We walked slowly with measured steps on the sidewalk. Val was sipping some cold water once in a while, she looked into my direction and winked, raised the bottle asking if I wanted some.

We walked as our hands were laced together, telling bad jokes.

"What did Ann say about herself?" I found myself asking absentmindedly.

"Well she's cool for starters, she's a school teacher, just got employed, and seems like nice person."

"Nice is another word for boring don't you think so too?" I liked to annoy her, make her debate, and give a thousand useless thoughts why she wasn't boring. We we approaching the hotel with the damn pool.

"Let's just get in the pool and do what we came to do, we will talk later about other people." She said with a crisp finality. There wasn't a trace of her being mad anyway but she wasn't making threats either, it just wasn't her day today since Ann left. I agreed with boss mama and entered the gate.

Yellow green flowers lit up the compound and graced it with beauty. Cool breeze slapped our faces at the entrance signifying a new atmosphere.

Swarms of people buzzing in and out of the hotel in such orderly fashion, flowing so flawlessly, just good from this place. It was captivating with aromas of roast meat, good food made my stomach grumble. I stared at Val as she took the lead, I was on the other hand stuck with the bag and looked like a lost puppy. Never seen so many people at this place, it was Saturday, and a particularly warm one at that.

I paid at the counter for two swimming tickets and went to the changing room. I felt eyes on me, big brown eyes were looking at me from across the pool when I came out and sank into them, Val was scrutinizing me. I looked at her perfect body and smiled. We got into the water, it was surprisingly cold, she was underwater way too long and when she came out, it was on the other side of the pool, the deep end.

Something is going on but I don't know what, she's awfully quiet now. She hasn't said a thing since we got to the pool. I know because I saw it in her eyes, some sadness trying to cover the warmth in them. I know something is wrong with her.

It is hard enough for both of us to stay this quiet, she was now basking and applying sunscreen on herself, I offered help and she obliged, I smeared the liquid slow and firm, torturous. She stretched and smiled and turned to look at me. Sipped juice and cleared her throat.

Boom here it is.