Chapter Six [ The trainings for competition]

Chapter Six [ The trainings for competition]

Ericka is already developing into a remarkable, stunning, and intelligent high school student. She studied alone at night and listened to radio dramas and music during the day since her parents, brothers, and sisters prefer that she stay at home and defend the house and their flock from predators during vacation months.

She picked up many positive character traits, etiquette, and human qualities from actors and actresses in radio dramas, and she learned to sing songs by listening to radio music and news.

As she began to learn about the human body and developed age-appropriate curiosity, she also learned about love, sex, and marriage. As a result, she began to wonder what gender she was and grew resentful of boys who teased, bullied, and made-up slanderous stories about her as well as of her male classmates.

One day, one of her huge, stunning male classmates sends her a love letter. That was after singing a song in front of the class when they organized a class officer and made her the class muse.

“I don’t know how to convince Ericka that I love her and I am willing to marry her if she accepted my love proposal.” Ericka’s’ classmates told her by using one of her best friends in High school. It made Ericka terrified idea that males are not just a joke to be friends but they are created as partners in sex which she is surely unprepared yet.

” Surely my father will reprimand me and forces me to stop going to school as what he was been telling my elder sisters when he caught up with her entertaining suitors that Sunday afternoon before she go the town proper for secondary education schooling. I would not allow that same horrible scenery to happen to me. Never! So, I should get rid of that persistent suitor who only knows sex.”

 That was Ericka’s’ perspective made her completely aloof to others.

 Lately, Ericka received another love letter not for her but from her which was falsified and written by somebody with Ericka’s’ signature saying that she is in love with one of her male classmates.

”That’s a complete lie! I never fall in love yet with a guy. I do not expect such ridiculous issues to make me like a twisted idiot!” Ericka is furious and decided to avoid her female and male classmates as she started to remain solitary by visiting the library where the librarian prohibited noisy gangs and chatmates.

 ” I would rather read books, practice English Languages and explores my horizons through these books in the library. “

Ericka smiles while being alone as she avoids creating such malicious issues that made her agitated and stressed. Ericka frowns all the time. And her female teacher adviser noticed it.

“She is a gifted and intellectual person but I am wondering why she always likes to get rid of her former best friends and classmates. They already started to create bad issues that she is not nice.” Her teacher ponders.

One day, foundation day is approaching. The student council and teacher staff usually organized extra-curricular activities to develop their learner’s personality and social responsibilities.

"Ericka Mendel, we assigned you to be the representative in Chess competitions and swimming games for 100 meter-dash as well as in ball games and track’s field competition because you look energetic and athletic.”

Her female teacher adviser announces before the whole class as she submitted it to the Foundation organizers.

” What can I do to oppose such an assigned task? I never know how to play Chess nor knowledgeable about each part. That is ridiculous! I like more to compete in swimming, running in track ‘n field, and playing ball games!” Erickas’ gloomy face turns brighter as the sun as her mind works from a negative to a positive perspective.

” Okey, it’s time for chess players’ competition. Calling on Ericka Mendel as a representative player of the First year Section ‘A’ class now to compete with male representatives from First year section ‘B’Class.Proceed to the Guidance and counseling office right away.”

The speaker announces as Ericka stopped to copy her science subjects new lesson pack up all her learning tools and rushes towards the Guidance and counselor's office. Many students are already there to witness the competition. Ericka never expected she is the only focus of the assigned Guidance counselor saying,

” Good morning beautiful girl now a young attractive lady and a beauty representative of section ‘A’ class!”

 Ericka is astonished hearing such familiar male voice of her elementary Mathematic teacher and she feels inspired to join such a Chess player competition.

 “Okey, listen first to our guidelines!”

The Chess master interrupted explaining,

“Each of the Chess players should be well acquainted with how to play Chess. “

He introduces each piece from Pons to King and how to move it to win the games. Ericka is shattered because it is his first time to see such things but because the Chess master is kind and appreciates each one’s uniqueness, Ericka developed self-confidence to try playing Chess. As she started the first move, her opponent with the cheering squad seems so boastfully taunting her because she is very slow to think and confuse which chess representatives move to get the officials.

“I made a choice now. Get what you want and finished the games. I am not interested to win the game and become a champion. I am just trying to obey the organizers as representative of my Class. “

Ericka whispered trembling as the Guidance Counselor interrupted saying,

” Ericka, you fight until the end, never give up in the middle of the competition! “

The guidance counselor exclaims as her male opponent smiles knowing that Ericka is not a threat to him to win the prize. Ericka is still trembling as she stands up and smiles at them saying,

” I made it although I am declared to be the loser!”

She exclaimed as her face looks shattered controlling her tears for unexplainable mixed emotions. She rushes towards the classroom where most of her classmates are done copying the new lesson in science subjects.

” How are you, Ericka? “Her female teacher adviser asks her in a low tone of voice.

”I’m okay, teacher . Thank you!” Ericka replies respectfully

“Tomorrow morning, you come early for the preparation of the swimming competition in the 100-meter dash. You proceed immediately to the nearby beach where the organizer is. Your name is already on the list and they expected you as one of the player participants. Can you get what I mean? “

As Ericka nodded.

Her female teacher adviser continues,

“Don’t worry, the organizers are also male teacher in higher education and they will let you practice the swimming first with the guidelines to follow. No one is an expert here. You all are under training. Be confident and alert. We trusted you, Ericka.”

 As Ericka listens quietly to her teacher, she is in a terrible situation again thinking about her swimsuits to wear for the competition.

” You just wear short pants and a T-shirt athletes uniform which our class represented so that everybody can recognize you as from our Class Section, okay?”

    Ericka finds relief nodding as she slowly left the classroom to find a relaxing place that late afternoon after the class during the first day of the Foundation week.

Ericka won the second prize for the events making her male Trainor focus on her swimming skills. They require her to attend the swimming skills training every morning on the beach because Ericka has been chosen to represent the school’s swimming competition for the provincial athletics group to compete against the international swimming group.

But to her innocent, the trainer became interested in her appeal and started to tease her matching her with the previous suitor who humiliates her because she disappointed him. They even visited her ball games team on the field and interrupted their games by grabbing the ball and throwing it to Ericka who at that time is in the catcher position at the back of the player who hit the ball.

Everybody notices their interest in Erickas' beauty as the cheering squad screams and yelled with their own prepared slogan to disgust the opponents as well as the trainers who suddenly emerge in the arenas. Ericka tolerates them all as she focuses on winning the games.

She is aware that the victory lies within the groups' cooperation as others seem so reluctantly to play enthusiastically because it is not their priority.

During beauty competition, her teacher adviser sends her to represents the class section to compete with beauty titles among the school's most beautiful students.

 “I am not beautiful! Why do you vote for me? “

Ericka grumbles as she steps hastily in Infront and when she won the votes, she is reacting negatively as she is frowning and twisting her upper lip made all the students laugh at her attitude saying,

” You deserve the beauty title because you made us all smile and joyful, Ericka so you accepted the trophy now. Tonight, we will have a dance party and you will be the princess of the night.”

The student council president stated smiling as Ericka reacted by saying,

” What? You are creating additional burdens and problem on my shoulder. I am unable to carry it anymore. Where do you think will I get the dress for the dance floor? It only made me a clown and source of laughing stock for all students and teachers as well as school personnel and employees. “

Ericka stated with her eyes wide open protesting.

” You just wear school uniform and pretend innocent. I will be the first one to take you on the dance floor for my first dance tonight. I can protect you and no one can dance with you after me!” The student council president suggested as Ericka agreed with full trust and confidence to what he stated.

That night, Ericka attended the dance party confidently of his words. The student council president is older and belongs to a higher secondary school level. He is not handsome but because of his officiating position in school as student council president, Ericka unconsciously seems excited to experience his kind treatment and protection.

The first call for dance with a sweet, love song music rhythms belongs to him and as he mentions, he grabs Erickas’ hand who is standing behind the crowd. He searches for her.

 There are many beautiful, elegantly presentable students and teachers for that dance night as they are all well-fitted in gowns with complete face makeup. They are all excited to expect that one of them will be lucky to be chosen by the President's student council's first dance. Ericka feels disgusted though deep inside feeling lucky because he told her to wear school uniform.

“You are embarrassing me and yourself for tonight’s great events. You better get one among those beauties sitting Infront. I am not appropriating to dance with you, Manny!”

Ericka tried to set herself free from her firm clutches. But he insisted saying,

” You are our chosen princess and all of us voted for you because you possess the criteria as intelligent with brains and beauty. Look at them when they stand up wearing 6 inches high-hilled shoes and I find it hard to dance with such ladies because I might step on their high-hilled shoes feet. Look at you! You are using school flat shoes without face make -up. you look very simple but beautiful as you  stand with a height taller than anyone else. You don't need high-hilled shoes to emerge in the crowd because you are the tallest among them all.”

As he outburst chuckles of what they look like while dancing together in the middle of the dance floor. Suddenly the music turns hastily in a faster rhythm and they separate with modern, changing music made both of them compatible to dance in fast-changing dance steps.

“You see, you can accompany me with the fast music without fear of falling because you wear flat shoes! Come on! Let us enjoy the dance party tonight.”

He exclaims as Ericka feels confident of that event although fear persists because something might happen unexpectedly as people watch their steps and intimate relationship.

 When the next music announces to be in change partner, Ericka finds the chance to sneak out quickly behind the dark shadows and her aunt invited her to go home because she has to return home to the farmland that week end as usual.

The music played with a love song consecutively made all people present excited as they all waited to see who is the most beautiful among them all that night after Foundation weekend. Ericka disappeared immediately as she gives others chances to enjoy the night.

Ericka is required to be trained for athletic regional competition but she  stops attending the training and focuses on her academic subjects’ study until she earned academic accolades at the school year end.

Manny is a graduating student in secondary education and Ericka knows well that he has a girlfriend who is also graduating that year-end.