Prologue

Prologue

"Almost perfect for Ms. Ashford!"

I looked up when the announcer shouted that. Almost, she would have been a perfect 10. I don't think the look I made was good because my chest seemed to throb even more. I am very nervous but I need to compose myself. We exert a lot of effort for this and all I need is to keep myself motivated for this one.

The previous ones were good and I know the next ones are also good. I’m sure that even how thorough our training and practice were, it was more than others did. All of us here are deserving because we all worked hard for it.

Can I do this?

For Rourou right? So you can do that Dea!

"We're now back here at Mall of Asia Arena for our 18th SEA Games Gymnastics Competition!"

Applause once again filled the entire arena. They all cheer him on, all support each other. There are so many people, different races but only Filipinos dominate the crowd. I have to redouble my efforts because I don't want to disappoint the viewers. In fact, this is a homecourt advantage for us.

Participants lined up in front of me as they took turns after performing. I stared intently sharply every time they finished. here was a group of spectators they were turning to.

They all have a group to go home regardless of the result of the competition.

"Our next performer from the Philippines, Ms. Dea Amore Benitez!"

I stood up when I heard my name. I am confident in my own ability to do it because I spent a few months here with the team to get a good performance.

"Go Dea!"

"Queen of Triple-Double!"

"P-H-I-LIPPINES!"

When I heard the cheers of my team mates, it was as if the anxiety I had felt before had suddenly increased.

I made a sign of the cross first before preparing the pieces of equipment brought by the assistant coach.

"You can do it Dea! We believe in you" said the coach and hugged me tightly. I nodded and took a deep breath.

I looked around to see the judges' faces. Others are familiar because they have also been judges in my previous competitions. One of them is the president of the sports commission, he was also a judge in my competition in Vietnam a few years ago. The other three, although I don't know, they are already familiar. If it's not a jury then they are members of the committee for gymnastics athletes.

Would I have looked away when I saw a man who was formally staring at me, right? I looked around and maybe I wasn't the one being watched but the other participants were far away from me because I was the one to perform. Suddenly my chest tightened and I could hardly breathe when I saw his eyes. Eyes that used to calm me, eyes that gave peace to my being.

Suddenly, I ran out of energy for this competition. My knees trembled as I stepped on the mat when the coach motioned for me.

A staff handed me a powder so that I would not slip while performing. I thought I was drenched but it still didn't seem to have any effect, and I just noticed that my hand was getting wet from the extreme nervousness.

I took a deep breath and then positioned myself for the performance.

When I heard the first beat of the music, my groupmates were shouting at the same time. I took another deep breath and raised my head. I smiled at the audience and positioned my hands.

I started the performance on two consecutive cartwheels. Then jumped into the dance that the coach himself taught. I made sure that my chin is up and I smile nicely at the crowd.

"Benitez is doing good!"

I made a double backflip with double sunset twists. When I go up I smile widely at the judges.

It was a mistake for me to turn to the judges' table. I saw his eyes as if judging me. There was a trace of hatred in his eyes. At the same time, my legs were shaking and my senses were throbbing.

I continued the routine, I did a double straddle with a split. The crowd was now high and it made me more anxious.

I made a handstand before doing a front roll. I'm more nervous now because I'm next to the triple double. My team and I go a lot for this stunt. This one needs to be perfect.

I did the dance part still with a smile and grace in my moves. I made a triple cartwheel to prepare for my last stunt.

I'm doing my last cartwheel when I step on the wrong foot. I have an injury to my right foot that I have been working on for a long time, this injury was also the reason why I almost stopped being a gymnast.

I can feel the pain now, it really hurts. I tried moving it a bit while waiting for the beat. It hurts.

I look at my team, they are all standing. Probably saw my wrong foot. I'm dancing facing the crowd ignoring my foot.

When I saw that the mat is now ready for my last stunt, I inhale deeply.

"Here comes the Queen of Triple-Double!"

I positioned my hands facing the ceilings. Chin up, smile widely, I scan the crowd and ready myself.

The crowd is so hyped now! They are all screaming for the main event.

I'm doing the triple double now in an international competition. This is my main course. I won a lot of competitions because of this and I can't afford to fail this one.

I did a double backflip gracefully and did a double twist for my last backflip.

I was about to land when I feel my knees weakened. I land on the edge of the additional mat and it twists my ankle more.

I was able to raise my left hand which I shouldn’t have done. The audience shouted as well as the announcer. I screamed in pain. Pain enveloped my body. My foot hurts, my arm hurts so much and my head is throbbing badly.

"Dea!"

The medical team immediately went to me and trying to put me on a stretcher.

I tried to move my right foot but it hurts more. I cried because it really hurts.

I'm crying because I can see the face of my team.

The nurse was about to lift me when a man wearing white corporate attire came in.

My tears can't stop flowing now. I'm crying even more because I don't like to look weak in front of him.

He pats my hair and wiped my tears. He lift me up and put me on the stretcher waiting for me. He was about to release me when I grabbed his arm tightly.

I don’t want him to leave. The faces of the people around me were already mixed in my brain.

The viewers were appalled and oppressed by what happened. My team definitely was disappointed with me. They worked so hard for this competition and it just ended like this. Because of me it will break and just disappear. Olympics is supposedly the prize of this. What happened? What happened to me??

I still gripped his arm and he looked at me intently. He caresses my hair and seems to be saying that everything will be fine.

"Don't leave, please. Those people are staring at me" I said to him while still crying.

"Stop crying" we were already in the ambulance and there were only two of us behind it. He held my hand while still wiping away my tears.

“You still did a great performance” I couldn’t believe it. I know he's just saying that to make me feel better.

"What will happen to me? To my dream? What if I can't walk anymore?" How about me? 

"I know you'll be very angry with what I will say," he said with a slight grin.

I was surprised to look at him and was shocked when I moved my right foot. It is not a wise decision because it adds more pain.

He checked me if I'm okay and looked at me again. "Please don't, but if that accident stops you from your passion then that would be better. I can carry you in my arms."

What the hell?

My heart suddenly hurts. He wants me to suffer? He wants me to be like this?

"Are you really like that ?! You just want me to be like this? You're so evil!"

"Is it fun to you? Is it fun to see that I'm having a hard time?" I keep crying because of the pain in my legs as well as my heart is hurting too.

I was about to wipe my tears when I feel the pain in my left hand. I forgot that this one was also injured.

He grabbed my hand and put it in his hand. "Stop it already. Rest first we're near in the hospital"

He patted my head and it feels good. I close my eyes and go to deep sleep when I hear him say the words that he told me also years ago,

"Sleep and I'll take care of you."

-------

Thank you for reading!

Triple-Double stunt credits to Miss Simon Biles ❤️