Kiss of A Titan
Chapter 28

When I got back to class after recess, it turned out that the next lesson hasn't started yet and the class was still scanty with a few of the students still not yet back from wherever they went around the school vicinity particular Richard who probably was still practicing with the rest of his teammates at the gymnasium. With nothing left to do after several minutes of waiting for the teacher to come for the lesson, I took my shoulder bag from the seat and left the class heading to the bottom floor to where my locker was. I decided to spend some quality time alone in the library since there wasn't anything useful to keep me busy and the class was too quiet for me to stay.

As soon as I got there, I opened the locker and took out the mp3 record player I had bought the same day I went out Chloe to the boutique. I found two books inside as well and kept them in my backpack. As for the mp3 player, it was fun

listening to the music from it which I had tucked in my left jean pocket with one of the earpieces stuck in my ear before I left to find where the library was in the whole school. Luckily, I found it within a couple of minutes and went inside to explore the books I had wanted to read to keep my mind busy for the meantime before heading back to class.

There was an aura of total dead silence duly presence in the library hall when I walked inside most likely because of an instruction given to the few readers from the librarian who was quite engrossed in scribbling some write-ups on her notes as she sat quietly on her desk at the farthest corner of the room near the open window. She didn't notice when I walked past a guy reading on a broad round table which was placed in the middle of the room surrounded by the colossal cupboards that was arrayed in a sort of way for easy movement nor did anyone disturbed me when I strolled to the other table by the open window to save a suitable spot for myself to read the books I wanted to take from the shelves. I settled down and left my handbag on the table to scour for the books that I wanted to read while still listening to music through the earpiece I had plugged in the Mp3 player inside my pockets.

It took me several minutes to scour around the bookshelves for the suitable book of interest I had in mind to read and little by little, I partially occupied the table with the little pile of books I could find in the shelves and succeeded in transporting a lot of them back to the table where I had left behind my handbag. I went for the fourth time to find something to check for the last book I wanted to read but found it at the other side of the hall after carefully maneuvering through the set of bookshelves arrayed in the room.

I kept glancing through the pages of the book as I tread back to my seat by the window, someone unexpectedly ventured into the same aisle I was walking with my eyes glued to what was written in the pages of the book and we accidentally collided into each other. He too wasn't looking and the book that he was reading, including mine as well, fell off instantly at the first impact of the accidental collision.

At once, I lost my balance the moment we hit each other and spun around but he caught me before I could crash into the next bookshelf. His arms were already around by the time I regained my lost balance and I stared in bewilderment at the culprit. I felt a flutter wave of strong emotional distress in my chest and my heart skipped a beat when I saw that it was Richard who grasped me by the waist with his left hand.

He was surprised as well and was highly puzzled as I was that we met coincidentally at the library. At first, he flinched nervously upon the sudden realization that he wrapped his hands around my waistline and it only occurred to me that he was too close enough for him to give me a kiss on the lips. We stared blankly at each other as we stood at each other arms with my back resting against the bookshelf, waiting for the first person to let go.

Not only did I feel uncomfortable in his arms but he was finding it hard to resist the temptation that lingered in his eyes as we both peered at each face to face. Before we could break free from each other's arms, the librarian walked to the scene of the accident after hearing the crash of books falling from the bookshelves and saw us standing at a close range.

At the unexpected appearance of the librarian, we quickly let go of each other and felt even more guiltily embarrassed to be caught by the old lady who seemed quite obnoxious at the sight of us trying to feel comfortable around her. "Sorry for the mess, Ma'am", I said apologetically but Richard was too embarrassed to even say a word out of his mouth. To my greatest surprise, she only sneered at us and took a spiteful look at the muddled books lying on the ground. "Clean this mess up, both of you!", She said and walked back to her desk in haste without finding out if we really wanted to obey her. After she left, we were too embarrassed to talk to each other while we picked up the books and arranged them back to their places on the shelves.

"Now...where is that book?", I said to myself after we were done getting all the books from the floor and looked around for the book I was reading earlier before the collision occurred. I saw it on the ground near the aisle and moved forward to get it but Richard somehow got to it first.

"How to become a good Athlete, by Mitchell Jordan",

He silently read the title printed on the front hard cover of the book but I wrenched it off his hands before he could read the contents. He was dumbfounded when I took the book from him and walked away but he trotted after me even when I tried to shake him off my tail and somewhat caught up with me at the table where I had left the other books lying open next to my handbag on the table.

"Hold on a sec...Rosalie, right", He said in a low tone, and stood next to me catching his breath. I didn't answer him as I settled down for my personal study even though it struck me greatly how he figured out my name. I soon figured that he must have heard it during the chemistry experiment that ended not quite long ago before recess.

"Are you preparing for group study or what exactly are you doing with all these books?", "Are you trying to be funny or getting on my nerves?", I replied back with a question but he boldly ignored me even when he clearly saw that I frowned at him.

"So...it's not group study, huh?", "Yeah, it's not. Group studies are for underage teenagers", "Nice viewpoint", "Drop the compliment and say what you want. I thought you were still practicing at the gymnasium", I replied flipping the pages of the book instead of answering his question.

"I'm already done with that...I'm curious to know though... You ain't really planning on joining the team, are you?", "This is very much unexpected... What's with the sudden interest in my activities?", "I'm just curious that's all", "And what's it to you if I want to join the team or not?", "No offense but you don't pretty much look like someone that can even pull stunts let alone acrobatics", "I don't feel offended by your honest opinion and neither am I interested in talking, so leave me alone", "Come on, now. We may have gotten on the wrong foot in class but it doesn't hurt to give me some answers", "I believe you don't deserve one", "How so?", He asked further and sat on the seat close to me.

"Because I feel irritated whenever I see your face", "Speaking from experience, I'm not sure if that's true", "Don't get so cocky about it. I really do mean it",

"Alright... To make you feel better, I too feel the same and I believe you must be following me around for something you and I know won't happen", I scoffed and evasively returned my attention back to the book I was reading, not too concerned if I was rudely ignoring him on purpose. He spread his hands further on the desk and brought himself forward.

"You really must hate me now after all that happened", "At least you now realize why I don't want to talk to you", "But you could at least share with me the reason why you pick that particular book...after all, we already met a couple of times before now", Then I raised my head up and peered straight at him on the face. He returned the look, staring at me blankly with every bit of his handsome visage taunting me profoundly.

"Look here, Richard, you started this first when you refused to tell the truth that day in the hallway and the fact that we are classmates doesn't mean that I should really explain my needs to you because we aren't....", "Friends?", He rejoined and his eyes sparkled at the sound of the word coming out of his lips.

"Yes...and I would be glad if you can give me a bit of space", "And how much space are we talking about here?", I closed the book and thought about his question which sounded to me as though he was willing to accept whatever I wanted to say.

"Let's say...a lot and lots of space", "Trust me, what you want might not happen because we...attend the same class and we see each other", "I'll make sure of it...so please don't bother me any longer", We both stared deeply at each other and by the way he gazed at me, I was sure that my earlier thought of him doing what I asked of him to do turned out to be inconclusive.

"Fine if that's what you want but I bet we'll cross paths again", He said getting ready to leave after a long moment of silence between us.

"Even if it does happen...I would still avoid you. The school is big enough for us not to see each other", "We'll see",

He said and a smirk appeared on his lips as he was heading out of the library. I didn't wait for him to look back before resuming what I came to read about.

***

It was in my aunt's car that I arrived at school two days later just like the rest of the previous days. She had brought me to school in her saloon car before going back home to take her two kids to grade school a couple of kilometers away from the town's central park. I had mentioned to her of my interest in joining the athletic team the night before going to bed and she was skeptical about it just like I had thought she would feel about it.

Her reaction on hearing this directly from me was by far not encouraging and we were in a bit of an argument about the whole issue the entire night before she drove me to school in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

As she drove on the way, she kept humming to a song by Faith Hill titled "This Kiss", playing from the radio but I was too concerned with sightseeing the surroundings that I didn't pay attention to aunt's amusement. Soon, we arrived at the school thanks to aunt's safe driving skills and she parked the car a bit further away from the main road to allow the flock of teenagers trooping into the school to pass safely without having to obstruct their way through the broad fields of the school yard.

"Thank goodness, we are here", I felt relieved after a long drive the moment my aunt turned the engine of the car off and carefully removed the seatbelt so as not to rumple the jacket I wore to cover my spotted blouse whose loose fabric ended a bit above my knees. I got ready to leave as I took my handbag but Aunt got hold of my hand before I could open the car door.

"Aunt, what is it this time?", "Rosalie, we haven't finished the conversation we had the other night", "I can't recall having talked to you about something", "You did mention something to me last night and it has to do with you trying out for the athletic team", She replied and let go of my hand when she noticed that I was eager to hear what she was going to say.

"Oh...that, I thought we've already concluded on that", "You have but I haven't", "What do you mean?", "I really understand where you are coming from with this whole acrobatic idea thing but it is way too early for us this year...Maybe next session will be more accommodative for us, don't you think?", Although I felt disappointed by her remarks, I wasn't ready to adhere to her demands even though it was clear to both of us that she was right in her judgment. She knew I was going to be upset if she declined supporting me to be a gymnast which seemed too big for her to handle.

"But aunt, you should understand why I want to do this", "You could barely even catch Tom let alone running a marathon", "Nobody said I was going to run", "If that's not it, what was the actual reason behind your decision?", "Because I can't swim", I answered without being intimidated by the queer look on her face. She shook her head off and drew closer to me. Her looks suddenly became serious as she came close to me, trying to read my thoughts.

"I know you were traumatized by the accident but this is just too much. Athletics isn't your thing", "Let me the judge of that", "Please for once, listen to me. This clearly doesn't suit you and.....", "Aunt, I know what's best for me", I snapped and daringly looked at her squarely.

"And you feel joining the Athletic team to overcome your fears is the best solution?", "Practically, yes...", "I don't believe this", "I'm doing this to help myself with this opportunity. Can't you see that?", "There are other clubs or groups that can help you fit in the new school, athletics just too much for you", "That's what everybody including Chloe been saying to my face that I don't have what it takes to be a better athlete and aunt, you are telling me the same thing", I retorted and folded my hands in irritation.

"I don't mean to hurt your feelings but I'm so not in support of this", "Fine then....But I'm still doing this with or without your consent", "There's every chance the coach will not accept you, you know that?", "Maybe but the odds are still in my favor...and talking about the coach, I'm going to see him after school", She was astonished at my behavior and watched me slam the door of the car in bewilderment. And truly after our heated conversation in the morning, I waited behind after lectures before I went to see the coach at the gymnasium in the late afternoon just like what I had told my aunt during our brief argument. I had heard from Ruth that the whole athletic team was mandatorily told to show up for practice as usual when I was at the cafeteria with Chloe and her two friends outside the school building and was sure that he had something planned to tell them but that wasn't what I had in mind when I slipped into the gymnasium through the large open doors without being accompanied by Chloe and Amanda who had to leave the school grounds to their house like the rest of every students whose lectures ended with the school bell.

Thankfully, the athletes were already practicing in the fairly dark hall by the time I walked in through the door and they didn't take notice when I first strolled inside until a few of the boys swimming and those practicing some acrobatic stunts in the training area saw me approaching towards where the coach stood near the empty seats reserved for the audience. They were perplexed as to why I had ventured into the gymnasium uninvited but none of them said anything particularly Richard who saw me walking stealthily straight towards where the coach stood facing the trainees with his back turned around whilst scribbling something on a scrapbook after receiving a tap on his shoulder from Clyde who recognized me at first glance before his two other buddies did apart the other trainees.

Eventually, my presence became known to all the trainees as I walked further into the room and from the look of things, it didn't quite too long for me to figure out that I have been spotted by everyone except the coach whose head was fixed on the scrapbook with his back facing towards the direction of the closed doors but I didn't pretty much pay attention to the glances I kept receiving from members of his team especially one of the female athlete I shortly came across at the side of the swimming pool when heading to meet the coach whose statue was not hard to figure out in the spacious room.

Everyone in the hall had become fully aware of my presence in the whole except for the coach but they were all anxiously busy with their routines that they couldn't stop me from walking towards their coach and as for the coach, I met him still busy with his notepad to the point that he didn't notice when I walked up to him and tapped him on the back.

He turned around and saw me standing there with a bit of wonder on his face as to who touched his blue T-shirt. At the first impression when he first set his eyes on me, he appeared to be expecting to see someone more threatening and less innocent but he was disappointed that it turned out to be a girl whose innocent appearance in her loose spotted gown and a pompous grin on a blotched face without a proper makeup made him feel uncomfortable.

"Huh...Who are you and how can I help you?", "I... um.. am Rosalie by name and....I know this might sound crazy but I want you to let me join the athletics team", He scoffed after I responded and I felt more nervous than ever. "Look like to me, that you must be new around here", "Yes...I am, how did you....?", "Figure that out? Trust me, I've been in this school long enough to know the people around here", "I guess that explains why you gave me that weird look", "That was nothing and there's nothing crazy about joining the athletic except if you are going there for other reasons", "I don't get you", "Forget about it. I suppose we can make a brief interview even though this isn't the right place for entries”, “Okay...I'm listening", I replied, getting a bit confident of his demeanor and tightening the grip on my handbag.

"First and foremost, I would like to know if you got skills", "Like?", "Swimming, any Acrobatic skills, experience and whatever relating to athletics, you know what mean", He answered with a lazy look on his face and he placed his hands on his waist eagerly waiting for my response. I thought for a second about what he said and realized that I totally lacked what the requirements for "Nope, not since fourth grade", "But you did engage in sports in middle school", "Never did, not even once", "Let me get this straight. You're saying that you have never been good at sports since grade school and you want to do athletics in high school ... .Tell me, how's that going to work?", He asked, feeling quite puzzled just like aunt did when I told her about it.

"I know it sounds silly because it's true I completely lack what it takes to be an athlete....", "And the potentials",

He added, cutting me in the halfway but I continued despite the interruption.

"But what I frankly want is a chance to do something new and I heard that anybody with less experience could have a shot at becoming an athlete with proper training", I explained waiting to see if he was persuaded by my words. He kept quiet pondering on what to decide and he knew I could see that he was contemplating accepting the flimsy excuse to show up right in front of him.

"Nice try but I can't just enlist you based on the words you just spoken", "Really? What else do you want?", "If I am right, there must be something that had pushed you to make that decision to meet me here instead of my office and unless you tell me what it is, I honestly can't help you", He clearly said and spread his hands wide to emphasize his point.

"I...", "Know this, no one becomes a good athlete without the passion for it and from what you said, it's quite clear that you aren't passionate about being an athlete", "So, you want passion?", I asked feebly.

"Yep, it's a perfect tool for this kind of sport and it's important that you have it before coming to meet me", My gaze fell from his face and felt despondent at his remark. I understood what he wanted and I wasn't sure that I possessed what he was asking for but I didn't want to back out from this after being stubbornly dogged enough to discredit what my aunt and the others told me before now.

"I.....actually can't swim and recent happenings haven't been...that favorable for me....", I took a slight pause to see if he was still listening and he folded his hands across his chest waiting to hear the remaining part of my speech. ".....and I feel learning how to swim will help keep me from dying...", I explained further with a bit of rejection staring boldly at me. He frowned at the mention of the word but I could see that he was somewhat convinced of my response. "And you believe learning to be buoyant in water will help save your life", "Sounds lame, right?", "Umm...a bit lame coming from a girl who is almost an adult", "I'm far being an adult, you know besides, I'm only twenty two", "That's a year less than the age Richard won his third gold medal but it will be enough to get you on the team", "Wait, you mean....?", "Yes, you're accepted. Everybody needs a real reason to do something and I'm not blocking your way to help yourself out of the danger of waters", "That's great, thanks", I said feeling relieved and elated enough for a smile to appear on my lips.

"You're welcome but we got to straighten some things out first", "Anything will do as long as I can be allowed to get wet", I said grinning broadly.

"Don't get too excited about this. Listen, what I want is simple and it involves you trying out for other acrobatic stunts like our female gymnastics other than swimming. I don't expect you to learn everything but at least something alongside your main focus will be perfect for me, so what do you say?", "I say I'm in", "Okay...you can start your drill tomorrow during recess. That's if you are eager for it but take your time to get your things prepared for the training and don't forget to tell your guardian or parent about our agreement. It really important that they consent to this otherwise my words alone won't be able to convince the Principal of your participation in athletics", "How important are we talking here?", "Very. Their acceptance must be guaranteed in person and it is mandatory that they agree for you to be on a safer side because it is a school affair and they are responsible for your training gears and the stuff you require for training", he explained and left me standing there. The smile on my face suddenly disappeared at the thought of my aunt declining against what I wanted to do though I was sure she would come around if I told her that the coach did accept my unofficial application into the athletic team and to make things worse for me, she held the final say in my entry into the team.

I contemplated briefly on what to do and decided to try the best I can to persuade her to come to terms with me entering the team. Then I left, heading back the way I had come towards the exit. I saw Richard watching me as I was leaving but I ignored him and walked on till I exited out of the building.