章 55: Chapter 55: Survival of the Fittest
Akuma had a hard time not looking at Angelie as they entered the pool and dipped themselves in the water. Angelie kept on reminding him to not look at her. They went to different lanes in the pool.
"Ok, remember the bet? One lap!"
Akuma used his hand like a blinder to cover his vision on the left side, since Angelie was on the lane on his left. They were floating at the end of the pool. Once they started swimming and reached the other side, that would comprise one lap.
"Yeah. I know. Let's just get this over with!"
Angelie looked straight at the other side of the pool.
Akuma started to count down. When he reached counting down to one, the two of them started to swim using the freestyle stroke.
(It's been a while since I used the pool to swim like this. Anyway, I am against an amateur. What can a week of training do for her? Even if I am out of practice, I'm sure someone like her can't beat me—)
Akuma peeked at Angelie's lane to see how far she was lagging behind him. He didn't see her beside him. The immediate thought he had was that Angelie was so far behind he couldn't see her. He then continued to swim until he reached the other end of the pool. He touched the side of the pool and then floated upright.
"What took you so long?"
Angelie was already floating calmly on the other lane beside Akuma.
"What?! Don't tell me you finished the lap faster than me?"
Akuma pointed at Angelie.
"Yeah. I was waiting for you this whole time. Anyway, I win—"
"Wait! I demand a rematch! I have been out of practice while you were in top condition after training for a week. That was just my practice run."
Akuma hit the water with his hand.
"Eh. Fine. But this means that we're doing the swimming training session in our club, okay?"
Angelie condescendingly looked at Akuma.
"Sure, whatever! Let's just have another race!"
Akuma hurriedly got out of the pool. Angelie shook her head and followed after him.
The two of them went back to the side where they started their first race. This was because they should only swim in one direction. They waited for others to finish swimming in the lane before they entered the pool again.
Once it was their turn to swim again, Akuma wasted no time and counted down immediately. After his countdown, the two of them began to swim. After a while, he reached the other side. Angelie was once again waiting for him.
"I won again."
Angelie smirked at Akuma.
"Grr… I'm just out of practice! Again!"
Akuma got out of the pool and went back to the other side. Angelie just sighed and followed after him. They did the same routine and began to swim. Akuma lost again.
"What the hell is happening here?! How can I lose to you, who is an amateur?!"
Akuma gritted his teeth as he glared at Angelie.
"After all your talk, you're just a slow swimmer? And here I thought you were some swimming pro or something."
Angelie shook her head as she raised her hands at her sides.
"Let's go again! This is the last time! I've warmed up enough already."
Akuma pointed at their starting point.
"I don't think the result will be different. And you're already going to work hard during our training sessions since I beat you three times—"
"I don't care about any of that! My pride is the one thing on the line here!"
Akuma got out of the pool again.
"This is a waste of time!"
Angelie shouted at Akuma as she got out of the pool.
They went back to their starting point for the fourth time. The two of them started swimming. Angelie got ahead again in no time. Then, she noticed something. She didn't hear the splashing sounds from Akuma's lane. She stopped and looked back. There was no one swimming on Akuma's lane. Angelie immediately thought that something might have happened. But even before she could move from her spot, a life guard suddenly dived into the pool. After a few moments, the life guard came out with the unconscious body of Akuma.
---
Akuma slowly opened his eyes. He looked at the ceiling and then at his surroundings. He realized he was lying down on a bed inside a clinic. He also saw Angelie sitting on a chair beside him. She had her eyes closed and her hands on her lap.
"Damn it, my leg cramped."
Akuma closed his eyes again.
"Because you're an idiot! Didn't you stretch before you started swimming?"
Angelie glared at Akuma.
"No! Because I thought I could beat you easily!"
Akuma looked at Angelie.
"You really are an idiot!"
Angelie punched Akuma in the forehead.
"Ouch! Hey! I was just unconscious! Do you want to make me permanently comatose?!"
Akuma touched the lump on his forehead as he glared at Angelie.
"If that was a choice, then yes. As long as I'm not the one who causes it."
Angelie looked away.
"I'm definitely sure you're not a Saint."
Akuma closed his eyes again.
"Why is it that you can only try hard on meaningless things? Your pride? What does that have to do with anything? It's a useless sentiment."
Angelie crossed her arms across her chest.
"You don't have to understand. Anyway, it's not like you were affected or anything."
"You're right. I wasn't affected. I could care less what happens to you. It's just that I'm always the one who has to explain to others what happened to you. It's as if I'm obligated to watch over you or something. That's the part I don't like the most."
Angelie made sure to avoid any eye contact with Akuma. Her hand also gripped her arm tightly.
"I hate to do this, but I guess I should apologize. Sorry."
Akuma stared at the ceiling.
"W-what…? Did you just say 'sorry'?"
Angelie turned her head toward Akuma as her jaw dropped.
"For making you feel responsible for me or whatever. You're not. I'll just have to make sure we don't spend time together unnecessarily so this won't happen again."
Akuma stared into Angelie's eyes.
"Yeah… That would be nice…"
Angelie averted her gaze from Akuma.
"So go out there and enjoy or something. Don't waste your time in this cramped clinic."
"Oh, I will change from this swimsuit. I can't take it anymore."
Angelie stood up and looked at her revealing swimsuit.
"Why? You look good in it. Just enjoy the stares they give you."
Akuma raised his eyebrow as he looked at Angelie's body. Then his face turned red again.
"Hey! Where are you looking at?! As if I can enjoy people looking at me!"
Angelie's face turned red as well. She then smacked her fist into Akuma's forehead again. He fell unconscious this time.
---
After a while, Akuma regained consciousness. He looked at where Angelie previously sat down. She was no longer there.
"That barbaric Saint. She really wants me to have brain damage…"
Akuma grimaced as he touched his forehead. He then sat up from his bed and stood up on the floor. He then exited the clinic and headed to the changing rooms.
While on his way to the changing rooms, he saw that a group of four guys were surrounding someone.
"Hey, Miss. How about you hang out with us? It's a shame you're alone and all. We'll keep you company."
One of the guys leaned closer to Angelie. She was still in her swimsuit.
"Sorry, I'm not interested. Please let me through."
Angelie tried to go through the men surrounding her but they didn't move.
"Don't be like that. What's a hot babe like you doing all alone here, anyway?"
Another guy leered and smirked at Angelie.
"I'm not—"
"She's not alone. I'm with her."
Akuma approached from behind the guys circling around Angelie. They all turned around and looked at him.
"What? You really think we'd believe that? She's way out of your league!"
Another member of the guys surrounding Angelie sneered at Akuma.
"What are you doing? Let's go, you damn Saint."
"I d-don't need your help, you stupid Demon Lord!"
Angelie glared at Akuma even though her face was flushed.
"Eh, what's with those weird pet names? These guys must really be together. Tsk."
The four men walked away from Angelie while complaining about the wasted opportunity.
Akuma approached Angelie.
"I said enjoy the stares, not attract unwanted attention."
Akuma glared at Angelie.
"I can handle myself! You didn't have to interfere. And it's not like they could do anything while we're inside here."
Angelie scoffed at him as she looked away.
"I don't like being in debt. I just took responsibility for you. Now we're even."
Akuma walked away from her and headed again to the changing rooms. Angelie stared at him for a while before snapping out of it.
"Then don't leave me alone! They might come back! Wait for me!"
Angelie ran after Akuma.
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