I left my father's territory and started walking back to the school premises in tears. I seemed to be left alone in this world. My mum had been imprisoned just for my disobedience. She was striving hard to make sure I didn't reveal my hidden abilities, but I disobeyed her and caused her a lot of trouble.
The journey back to school was a solitary one, with the cool air drying off my sobs. Each step felt like a painful reminder of the choices I had made, the consequences now haunted me. My mind is disorganized anytime I replay the events that led to this moment: the heated arguments between me and my mum, the unforgiving accusations, and the disastrous decision.
Arriving at school, I hesitated at the entrance, contemplating whether I had the strength to face the challenges awaiting me. The next phase of our contest started today, and the realization struck hard being a reminder of my shattered world, and the expectation for my performance was like a hard bone in my neck.
As I entered the school premises, whispers and sidelong glances followed me like baby ducklings following their mum. I was no longer the girl who reveled in the cheers of her peers; I was the girl who had torn her family apart.
The school field beckoned, opening to a stream of students who were eager to see me. I navigated through the students, my steps hesitant. The school proprietor alongside some elders stood at the edge of the field. My trembling hands clutched the edges of my skirt as I approached, the words forming in my mind, but refusing to escape my lips.
"Amaya, we are sorry for the arrest of your mum. All you need to pray for is for Cena to wake up back to life else she remains there," he greeted, his voice carrying a mixture of authority and curiosity. "Anyway, are you ready for your performance?"
The lump in my throat increased, and I struggled to meet his gaze. Instead, my eyes wandered to the school field where the spotlight awaited its next victim.
"I'm sorry, but I can't," I whispered, the unexpected words escaping like a fragile breath. The proprietor's stern expression shifted to one of confusion, impatient flickering in his eyes.
"What do you mean, you can't?" he demanded, the students hushing as they sensed the tension in the air.
"I won't perform unless you release my mother," I declared, my voice quivering but mean. The students muttered, fueling my determination. I could not allow my talent to be a distraction from the injustice that had befallen my family.
The proprietor's brows furrowed, and for a moment, he seemed taken aback. The weight of the decision rested not only on my shoulders but also on his. The struggle between duty and compassion played out on his face, and I held my breath, waiting for his response.
"So you better stop all these dramas of yours and get your butt on that field. We must not lose the game, remember?" The Proprietor said and sighed.
"Your mum's selfishness brought this to her. Now that she's imprisoned, this is the time you have to show the world what you have, Amaya!" The proprietor continued.
"But I can't now that my mum is imprisoned. I am bothered about her, and she did that because of me," I said to him in a shaking voice, more or less, like I was about to cry.
The proprietor drew nearer to me and rested his arms on my shoulder. "Your mum would be released. All I want from you is to make us proud, and your name will never leave the records of the sports contest."
I sighed bitterly and moved up to the school field. As I passed, I glanced at Jeremy by the left, glaring daggers at me as though he would just gash through my neck. The hatred he had for me was beyond what I could ever imagine. The next sports contest was that all the runners would run around the school field twelve times, and dodge the obstacles that would be in front. I sighed as I stared at the great obstacles in front of me.
I stood at the starting line, my heart banging with a nervous anticipation. The field stretched before me, a challenging landscape with obstacles strategically placed to test our agility and endurance once again. I looked up to the sky as though I could tap courage and energy from it, but I was just left with myself alone. I could not even feel my abilities anymore.
As the whistle was blown, cheers from the students echoed through the air. I took off with a burst of energy. Even as my ability seemed to have failed me, my athletic prowess became immediately evident as I passed through the first obstacles with grace.
However, as I entered the midsection of the race, a familiar voice cut through the sounds of my exertion. It was Jeremy, standing at the sidelines with a vivid smirk on his face.
"Give it up, Amaya. You can't win this. You are not as strong as you think," he called out, his words planting seeds of doubt in my mind.
I looked at him in annoyance and gritted my teeth, trying to block out his discouragement. I knew he would never want me to win this again. His intentions were surrounded by the fact that he wanted to revenge the death of his mum who was allegedly killed by my father.Lap after lap, Jeremy's taunts continued. "You were never cut out for this. Just accept defeat and save yourself the embarrassment."
I didn't know maybe it was because of the feelings I had for Jeremy, but I could now feel that his words had begun to wear on me, and fatigue set in, slowing me down, and my opponents, from the strongest to the weakest, had begun to overtake me.
"Amaya!!" Students screamed my name in nervousness as I was retarding with immediate alacrity. My legs were weak, and I was just about to fall to the ground when another familiar voice sneaked into my ears.
"Don't listen to him. You are stronger than you know. You can do this". That was a stranger on a veil. He encouraged me.
Suddenly, a newfound determination seeped into me as I locked eyes with the veiled figure. "Who are you?" I called out between breaths.