Unbreakable

punishment

Ryan Garcia

It was almost dusk, but I still saw her laying on the ground of the stadium. When she completed her 20 rounds, I saw her laying on the ground. Oh sorry! not 20 rounds she ran 28 rounds today. Even though I didn't see her running those 8 rounds but I know she ran them. I could tell, looking at her state that she did run those rounds. I didn't agree at that time because I was mad at her. A few hours have passed but still, she is here laying on the ground. Is she that tired?

That she didn't even go to her room. Soon I saw her opening her eyes, hearing the sound of the phone ringing. She was talking with someone. I couldn't listen to her because I was standing far away. I saw, that as soon as she completed her talk, she stood up.

At first, she couldn't get up, maybe because of the pain. She was trying to get up. At one moment I thought of helping her but I restrained myself. I remembered how she was the reason for Casey going.

She managed to get up and started to walk. She was walking a bit by bit. Maybe, for the past 2 years, she hasn't practiced that's why she is so stiff and in pain now.

****************************************

Next Morning

We all gathered for our training at the playing court except for Laura.

She was still not here. She is again going to be late and again she will be punished.

"That will be interesting," I whispered snickering.

"Did you say something?" John asked.

John and I are the partners for the doubles match and we also share one room. We have known each other for the past two years and we are good friends.

"I didn't," I replied in a little confusing way.

"That new girl, she didn't come today." He asked to search for her.

"Why, Are you interested in her?" I asked rudely.

"What are you saying? I am just curious because she didn't come." He replied while glaring at Lisa.

I saw him staring at her. I asked, "Are you guys still dating?"

"Yes.." He replied while smiling.

"W-What..... Who is dating? I am not dating anyone." He replied again hastily when he realized what he replied earlier.

"Stop the act, I know you guys are dating., I said while sighing.

"How did you know that?" He whispered in my ears.

"I saw you guys last year kissing on the rooftop," I replied while giggling.

"What you saw us kissing? He asked shockingly.

"I did, and let me tell you that you are such a bad kisser. How is she still with you? " I spoke while chuckling.

"Am I a bad kisser?" He asked shockingly while raising his brows.

"Yes, you are" I replied again while laughing.

"What do you know about kissing? You still haven't even kissed anyone." He said while snickering.

As soon as he completed his words, It hit me hard. It wasn't because of kissing but it was because of Casey. Our first kiss happened on the day she died. Casey, Laura, and, I were great friends for almost a year. It was just after a few months of our friendship that I started to like Casey. At first, it was just a likeness toward her but soon it changed into love. Our feelings were mutual, so we decided to take things slowly. In our team, it was prohibited to date a teammate. So we never told anyone about us except Laura because she was also a close friend of ours. Our relationship started, one month before the accident. It was going smoothly. We were a sweet and a decent couple. Apart from our training, we used to meet on the rooftop late at night. We used to go on a date at weekends.

The night we kissed was a memorable night yet a tormented one. The kiss lasted just for a moment but it was so special that I could give anything to last that for a few more minutes. The night was pretty long. We were celebrating my and Casey's one-month relationship and the gold medal I won in the singles (one on one) match.

I, Casey, and Laura went to the bar to enjoy, celebrate, and have fun there. Laura and I both were quite drunk. On the other hand, Casey was only a little drunk. She was very particular about her game so she always had control over the drink. It was almost midnight and I got a call from my house to visit my dad as he was not feeling well. At first, I offered Casey to come with me to my house but Laura said that they both had to practice for the doubles match. I still urged Casey to come with me, at some point I thought she also wanted to come with me. But Laura forces her to go with her. Then I offered girls to drop them at the girl's dorm but Laura insisted that they can manage their way to the dorm.

Laura was drunk but Casey was sober and after many times Laura insisted, I agreed with them. I even gave my car keys to Casey as I was also drunk. I took a cab and went home leaving the girls with my car. That was the biggest mistake I made that night. I shouldn't have listened to Laura and should have dropped them first in the cab then I should have gone to my home, leaving my car in the parking of the bar.

"Ryan....... Ryan....... Ryan......." John calls my name.

Hearing his voice, I came back from my thoughts.

"What were you thinking? You were zoned out." John asked in a concerned way.

"Nothing" I uttered while slightly rubbing my finger on the edge of the eyes to stop the tears flowing.

Soon the Head Coach came and we all assembled in a line.

"From today you all will start to focus on your exercise more. Soon the fitness test will be held for you guys. Whoever will be best in the fitness test will surely be on a national team. So focus on your fitness more and don't forget to practice your game as well." The Head Coach speaks while walking right to left, folding his hands on the back.

"Go on," Junior Coach asks us to go on practice.

"We are missing one person?" Sam asked to look at the Head Coach.

Listening to Sam's question, no one moved from their place. As if they were interested in the topic.

"Laura is not well, so she is on leave." The Head Coach replied.

"Gosh, just one day running and she is already sick," Maria uttered.

"She is an ex player and she has a lot of connections. It's just her second day and she is on leave." Char sighed.

"Maybe she is that great at playing." Katherine snickered.

"Don't you have your practice to do, focus on that." The Head Coach shouts at the girls.

Everyone went to do their warmup exercises.

"She must be tired from cleaning her room," Char whispered while giggling.

"That was a great prank." Maria giggled while giving a high five to Char.

"What prank?" Sam asked shockingly.

"We just messed with her room a little," Katherine spoke while smirking.

The three girls were laughing loudly. I could hear them talking as I was standing close to them.

"Who told you to do that?" Sam asked angrily.

"No one, but we did that for you," Char replied.

"You are mad at her, right?" Katherine asked.

She paused for a second and then, "Yeah, I do." She replied while focusing on her exercises.

At first, I smiled a bit hearing what the girls did to her room. But for a moment I felt bad for Laura because the thing that happened in the past is not related to these girls. They shouldn't bully her. But I know Laura as well, she probably must have also messed up their rooms. Just like an action always has an equal and opposite reaction.

****************************************

Laura West

"I have already told you to take care of your legs for a while." Doctor Nate said in a concerning way.

When I woke up this morning, I realized my right leg was already swollen. So I came to my doctor who had previously performed surgery on my legs, two years ago.

Because of the accident that happened that night, my right leg bone got broken completely. At that time I didn't realize that, I thought it was a minor crack. I could feel pain in my leg at that time but when Casey died that night, It was nothing compared to the pain I felt in my leg. I ignored the pain in my leg but later when I wasn't able to walk anymore, I realized that it was broken.

My doctor suggested surgery at that time. They put a support nail inside my right leg in surgery so that could help me walk. After the surgery, I was on bed rest for almost six months. After that, I went to physiotherapy for two months, and then I started to walk slowly. It completely took a year to recover the leg.

"I know, you told me to take a rest for a while but I can't do that. I have joined the team, I have to practice to play again." I replied in a lower tone.

"I know but your leg is still injured, you can't force your leg too much by running, exercising, and playing again" He uttered explaining to me.

"You have run too much and because of that, your leg is swollen. Your leg is now not the same as earlier. Earlier you were walking, running, and even playing on a normal leg but now after the injury, your leg is working on a certain support system. It can't take that much force to run and play. You should understand that." He said calmly while rubbing his hands on mine.

He sighed. I was just sitting there watching him talking. My eyes were filled with tears. It reminded me of the night of the accident.

"It will take time for your leg to be normal again. Just give a little time and a little exercise at a time. Not overdoing the exercise, your leg can't take it. Just have patience. Everything will be fine. I am giving you an ointment and a few painkillers, just take that on time and apply that ointment regularly. And most importantly, If you don't take care of your leg now, it will become worse and it will be difficult to operate again. Maybe you will never be able to walk again." He talked politely and explained to me, still gently rubbing his hands on mine.

Listening to his words that I maybe would not be able to walk, if I didn't take care now, was scaring me a lot. Tears were falling when I was leaving his office. I should take care of my legs properly. I can't risk it anymore. After everything that happened that night, maybe I deserved this. Maybe it's my punishment after what, everything that happened.

****************************************

I was coming back from the hospital. I reached the dragon team stadium. I was walking inside, I saw Ryan coming from the playing court. I was not in the mood to talk or to even greet him. I was already upset with everything. I just avoided him and started to walk inside.

As soon as I crossed him, he stopped me by grabbing my wrist.

To be continued...