HIS SUICIDAL GIRL
❝I met the guy with his smile when my pen started to phlebotomize, and my fate has begun writing a new story.❞

10 – Bandaged Wrist

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●ZACHREY●

"Xiamin, Zach, it's good that you're here now. You three have to know something."

I gulped and all of a sudden, I could feel the nervousness covering my whole body. Xia and I glanced at each other before sitting beside Bea who was silent all along.

"What happened?" I heard Xia whispered to Bea. She was keeping her voice down so Coach will not hear it.

"I don't know, Big Sister Xiamin," she whispered back. "I already asked Ma'am Jehr, but she said that we should wait for both you and Big Brother Zachrey."

Xia looked at me again like there was something she wanted to tell me, and I could sense that she was nervous, too.

"Xiamin, Zachrey, Bea?"

"Y-Yes, Ma'am!" The three of us immediately answered.

Frankly? I hated it every time she starts calling our names because there will always be bad news coming right after that.

"Chill. You three look like your souls just left your bodies." She raised a brow at us. "What I'm about to say is not a matter of life and death."

"But, Ma'am Jehr," Xia spoke. "you sound so staid. It's not like you."

"I agree, Coach." Ma'am Jehr faced me. "Also, every time that you call us with our names just like what you did a few minutes ago, it will always be followed with a piece of bad news."

She closed her eyes and sighed. She even massaged her nose bridge. Our coach looked pretty stressed up.

"Seriously. I just wanted to tell you that there will only be a single winner per school that could win in the Division in all categories." She opened her eyes and eyeballed each of us. Even if you crack a joke in front of her, I doubt she would laugh. "Meaning, even if you captivate the hearts and minds of the judges with your articles, only one of you three will be chosen for the Regionals."

Her humorless eyes suddenly changed into gloomy ones, and what Coach just said stuck in our minds like it was on repeat.

Xia, Bea, and I were here in the classroom where we usually train. Coach was in her faculty, while the three of us were just spacing out. Ma'am Jehr already gave us some topics to write about, but none of us were writing. We were just too occupied by what our coach said.

Until now, we were still flabbergasted of what she said, and we could not seem to find the right words to say.

After reporting the news to us, her gloomy eyes did not escape ours. It was like her tears were about to fall but she was just trying to hold it back. Why are they only targeting a single student per school for the Regionals? It is so unfair to me.

What about those students who have potential, but because only a single student is allowed to win per school, they will just give up in a blink of an eye since they already have a thought in there mind indicating that others are way too better than them. I believe, five slots are enough for every one of us. But one winner per school? I do not think that is very helpful at all.

My only point is that some students might lose their self-confidence because of this. This year is my last year in Junior High School and I want to enjoy it as much as I can. Like any other campus journalist, I also wanted to experience the National Level.

But I guess that is impossible.

I glanced at Xia who was spacing out. Her mind was flying somewhere else, and her eyes had a spice of sadness.

Yet, I know you can, I thought, and I wanted to say it to her, but I could not.

In my two whole Sci-Tech years with Xia, I noticed her improvements, and Ma'am Jehr was so happy about it. I also wanted our coach to be elated. The last time she attended Regional Level with me was two years ago, and I let her down. However, I did my very best at that time. Only, it was just not enough.

"Big Sister Xiamin, Big Brother Zachrey," I looked at Bea when she suddenly called me. Even Xia whose mind was flying on the outer space earlier also diverted her attention to Bea. Bea was just too cute. Her cuteness somehow drives my stress away. "let's just do our best, okay? Division Level will be tomorrow. Win or lose, the most essential part is that we enjoy everything we do. This doesn't happen to us every single day, so let's live to it to our heart's content."

Xia and I exchanged glances. Bea was being optimistic, and it was a good thing because she was not like this before. Even without saying anything, it was obvious that Xia and I were both happy about it.

Bea then looked at me and smiled. It was so genuine and sweet.

"This will be your last year in Kamiya High, Big Brother Zachrey. Together, we'll make memories that you will never forget," Bea said.

Xia abruptly stood up. Her ballpen even fell and met the solid ground. It looked like her energy has been replenished.

"She's right." She came closer to Bea to wrap her arms around her. "Let's just enjoy life. No pressure. The important part of this chapter is that the three of us are together, right, Zachrey Mizuno?"

She gave me a smirk and a wink. I felt kind of weird when she calls me by my full name. Though, it is way more outlandish when she calls me with honorifics.

I just chortled to the both of them. At least, they cared about my memories.

"Well then," I said. "let's start our training. Let's make tomorrow one of the best days of our lives."

Bea was right. Win or lose, neither of them was essential. What is important is life's one of the greatest teachers─experience. Also, the happiness we feel in doing our passion. I am contented as long as deep inside, I am more than aware that I did my very best in writing and of course, Xia and Bea are with me.

◊◊◊◊◊

I immediately went straight to bed when I arrived home. What a drag! Our training was so tiring. I was pressured to the core because today was our last day of training. After Bea shared her optimism with us, we were all fired up to write articles. Coach was even shocked because we were able to finish all the topics she assigned to us.

Most specifically, because I am too lazy to write articles, and pass it on time. Of all the articles I have written in our training, I was not sure if I still have a hand to use tomorrow for the contest.

Because I was so drained, I slowly felt my eyelids becoming so heavy to hold. However, I almost jumped out of my bed when my Messenger tone suddenly rang. My drowsiness was half driven away because of that.

J E H R • Active Now
CX Sandoval • Active Now

Lady Beariza • Active Now

My Messenger rang once more, and something popped up on the side of my phone screen. It looked like a message has been sent to the Sci-Tech Writers' Group Chat.

Zachrey Mizuno
| Active Now |
Sci-Tech Writers

J E H R:
Good Evening, Sci-Tech Writers! Division Level Press Conference will be tomorrow, so, I want you to sleep early tonight. Bring chocolates and more importantly, pray to God. I trust in you, Sci-Tech Writers. Win or lose, let's all do our best.

CX:
Copy, Sensei!

Lady Beariza set her nickname to "Bea"

Bea:
Noted, Ma'am Jehr.

J E H R:
Zachrey Mizuno, please, sleep early. Save your movie marathon for later right after DSPC. Let's make this presscon a priority first, okie? :)

I jumped out of the bed for real when I read Coach's message.

Zachrey:
Aren't you a bit too harsh for me, Coach!

CX:
Movie geek buddies.

Bea:
UwU, Big Brother Zachrey, Big Sister Xiamin's also a movie geek. #PerfectMatch

CX:
Lady Beariza, stop it. That's a different story.

Zachrey:
Romantic excitement, Xia?

CX:
"Romantic excitement?" Oh, please. In your dreams, Jerk.

Bea:
For me, you two are more than compatible with each other.

CX:
Hell, no.

J E H R:
My writers, go to sleep now. Save your gossips for later, okay?

Zachrey:
YES, MA'AM!

I put down my phone. I just laid down on my bed again and sighed. Eventually, a smile plastered on my face. Despite Bea always saying that Xia and I are compatible with each other, both of them never fail to make me smile every single day, and they always give me hope. Even if the way they move is child-like, they are still delightful to look at.

I just took a deep breath until drowsiness slowly came back to get me.

◊◊◊◊◊

We are now riding in Coach's car to our contest venue. Xia and I were sitting beside each other at the backseat, while Bea was in the front seat. While we were inside, my heart was pounding so fast. I was so nervous about the contest like there was no other tomorrow.

The other journalists were riding a jeepney, and since our coach has her car, she suggested that we will just take hers instead. At least, our budget money for commute will be used for us to buy some cravings.

"Big Brother Zachrey, you're a cineaste, aren't you? What's your most favorite movie ever?" Bea suddenly asked out of the blue. Even if she was at the front seat, it never became a hindrance for her to ask me.

"Let me see..." I thought for a moment. "Prolly, Fast, and Furious."

"Hm? How about you, Big Sister Xiamin?" No one answered her, so she turned around to face si Xia. "Hey, Big Sister Xiamin!"

"What, Bea?" I was surprised when she suddenly raised her voice at Bea. Even Bea herself was surprised as well. I was not able to witness Coach's reaction to her attention was focused on the open road. 'S-Sorry... I was just flabbergasted."

Bea looked at me as if she was asking me, "What's happening to her?" I just shrugged my shoulders, and we both looked back at Xia. She was now looking outside the window, and my forehead creased when I realized she tightened her grip on her wrist.

"Xia, is everything alright? Why are you holding your wrist so tight?" After I asked her that, she turned her gaze on me. I could not read the expression in her eyes. It was as if she was feeling blue and infuriated at the same time.

However, the next thing she said shocked me very completely.

"Mind your own business, Zachrey. You'll be useless, anyway."

Bea gasped in surprise, and I could finally feel Ma'am Jehr's gaze on the rearview mirror.

"Are you angry at me again?" I confusingly asked.

She averted her gaze from me and looked outside the window anew. I just neglected her actions and also focused my attention back on the outside.

She is so hard to deal with sometimes. You could not comprehend what's going on deep inside her mind.

None of us ever dared to speak again after that. Xia was very cold like ice, and I do not know why. Why is she mad? Maybe she was annoyed at Bea's question about her favorite movie? If so, why would she get upset by that, anyway? It was not that offensive at all. Also, why is she holding her wrist so tight?

With me thinking very deeply about Xia's sudden weird actions, I did not realize that we have arrived at the contest venue.

"Guys," Our coach broke the deafening silence. "we're here."

I was thankful she broke the silence. It was so unbearable. It ached my ears.

Coach drove the car inside the school, then after that, she parked the car properly near the gate because it was the only vacant lot. There were also people from different schools who have their cars, so it was not such blurry speculation that the parking lot will be full. After our coach parked her car, we went out of the car one by one.

The school was nice, clean, and spacious. Many contestants were heading to the school gym, and some just arrived.

I looked at Xia when she suddenly grunted, her face painted with pain. Even though it was quite obvious that she was angry at me for some reason that I was incognizant of, I still could not help but worry about her.

"Xia, are you okay? What's wrong with you?" I immediately came to her, and my eyes landed on her bag that was dropped on the grounds. I was about to pick it up when she stopped me.

"Don't pick it up. I can do it," she said. It was still obvious from the way she spoke that she was really angry.

When she picked up her bag, her right sleeve slightly lifted, and I noticed a bandage wrapped around her wrist. I got confused and curious because it was not there on her wrist yesterday.

Did she injure herself? Is it the reason why she held it tightly?

"Guys, let's go. Let's proceed to the gym. Let's just wait for our other comrades in there," Coach said and walked ahead of us.

I even noticed her looking at Xia before she walked ahead of us.

I think Ma'am Jehr did not notice the bandage wrapped around on Xia's wrist, but I was sure that she noticed that something was off about her. I did not even notice it when we were sitting beside each other the whole time inside the car. Our uniforms are long-sleeves, so maybe that is the reason why I did not notice it.

The three of us immediately followed Coach's back. Xia was still acting odd and cold, and she did not talk to either Bea and me. I just looked around my surroundings, hoping to see some old friends from different schools. Because if I would ask Xia about what happened to her, things would turn out beyond terrible for sure.

"Big Brother Zachrey." I turned to face Bea beside me, and she slowly pulled me away, so Xia went walking ahead of us.

"What's up?"

"What happened to my Big Sister Xiamin?" she asked.

We also did not worry because we knew that Xia could not hear what we were talking about since the music from the gym was too loud. If I did not know that today was presscon day, I would think that this school was hosting some party because their music was screaming too much party vibes.

"Who knows. Her mood suddenly altered, and she didn't talk to either one of us," I said.

"I know right. I was very nervous in the car for I thought she was irate at me." I could barely even hear what Bea was talking about.

"Bea, have you noticed the bandage on Xia's wrist?" I asked her despite how loud the music was.

"Come again, Big Brother Zachrey? I can't hear you clearly because of the music!" I checked on Xia, and she was quite far from both Bea and me because she was tailing Coach.

I looked at Bea to ask her again when I realized it was safe for me to slightly raise my voice for her to hear my question.

"I said, have you noticed the bandage on Xia's wrist?!"

"Bandage on Big Sister Xiamin's wrist?" she reiterated my question, so I just nodded to her. "I didn't!"

We could not help not to bump into each other's shoulders because of the crowd. I signaled Bea that we would talk later because it became arduous for us to hear each other's voices for the music became even louder as we approached the gym.

The gym was so crowded and luckily, Bea and I were able to find Ma'am Jehr and Xia right away who was standing at the side.

"Oh, Zach, Bea, where the hell have you been? Good thing you found the both of us," Coach saw us when she saw us.

"Yeah, there are just too many people here," I said, trying to ignore the loud music.

"Let's just wait here at the side for a moment. The registration table is way too crowded for us to add up to the line." The three of us all nodded to Coach.

She even raised her voice just for us to hear it. I even had a feeling that loud music could collapse the facade at any time.

Xia caught my attention when she suddenly coughed. It looked like I was the only one who heard that since Bea was looking at something and Coach was observing the registration table.

"Xia, you okay?" I asked, slightly raising my voice above average.

"Yeah, not that I can't handle!" She also raised her voice.

When I looked at her face, my eyes widened in surprise, and my heart pounded faster when I saw how pale she was, and her eyes... were dead.