Two Manipulate

10:00 AM

SPORTS GROUND

“When are we going to start?” I asked myself, as the Principal gave out a long speech.

“Hi!”

I turned around and saw Camila.

“Hey,” I said. “Did you arrive just now?” I asked.

“No! I was looking for a place to sit - some girls didn’t want to share their seating space.

Seeing that no one was seated between me, I invited her to sit next to me. Just before that, however...

“Sorry, this seat is taken.”

Karlos came up and swiftly sat down!

“Karlos, this seat was empty this whole time.”

“Do you guys, know each other?” Camila asked.

“Shhh!” the other students behind us said.

“You can sit this side,” I whispered, gesturing to the empty seat on my right. “There’s no one. That’s if no one comes and steals the seat too,” I said, keeping my eye on Karlos.

“Thanks!” She sat down.

“The competition will now begin!”

Everyone stood up, clapping hands as we stood up and went to the sports field.

“You will all learn how to cooperate as a class, starting with “Match The Description.”

Since it was a competition between Year 10 and 12 students, we had to give our best. The game started, and everyone put on their A-game. Everyone seemed to know each other until Karlos had to pick a card.

“Go Karlos!”

“You can do it!”

Everyone in the class cheered for him. My mind was focused on the game that I didn’t catch sight of Karlos extending his hand.

“You match the description.”

Confused, I stood up, hesitantly of the description that made him think of me.

“Go, people! We are in it to win!” Pedro shouted.

We then saw the Year 11 student approach his class.

“Let’s go,” Karlos said.

I nodded, and we made a run to the finishing line.

“Karlos! Karina! Karlos! Karina!”

Our class was cheering for us.

We didn’t realize the obstacle that was in front of us. Karlos fell and everyone gasped.

“Karlos!” I quickly rushed to his side.

“Here, take the note - I will go to the infirmary.”

I looked at the 11 Year students still talking and the Year 10 student was nowhere in sight.

“Go, Karina!” I heard my Mom shout.

“We are in this together Karlos,” I said, taking his grabbing his arm to support him. “No way we are backing down.”

With a smirk on his face, he looked at the finish line which was meters apart from us. “That’s more like it.”

I simply chuckled as we slowly made our way to the finish line.

“The Year 11 are making their way to the finishing line!”

“Karina! Karlos! You can do it!”

I heard Camila’s voice.

“Let’s do it. We can’t let this free holiday pass us,” Karlos said.

“Let’s go.”

With more determination, we forced ourselves to get to the finishing line. The Year 11 students were closing in on us.

“Will throwing ourselves over win us through?” I asked Karlos.

“Princess really wants a vacation,” Karlos replied. “As long we get to the finishing line, it doesn’t matter.”

“Who will win?” The Year 11? Or Year 12s?”

“We will!” I shouted as we made our last limp, causing us to fall over, and cross the finishing line.

I fell on top of something soft. As I opened my eyes, I realized it was Karlos. Staring into his black-brown eyes, we were interrupted by the commentator.

“Year 12 has won the competition!”

I quickly took myself off Karlos and helped him get up. Our parents cheered in excitement while our classmates cheered up.

“That was a bold move, Karina! Great job!” Camila said, hugging me. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah, just worried about Karlos, his fall was rough.”

“Yeah,” Camila said, taking a look at me. “Karlos really protected you I see.”

She gestured to my outfit. I was surprised he did that, which made me happy he was willing to take another fall to win.

“Yeah,” I replied. “Guess I owe him a trip to the infirmary.”

“You do.”

Camila quickly replied, with a serious expression on her face. “He helped us win.”

“But I did most of the work.”

“Since you both don’t know each other, then just take it as a thank you for taking the fall.”

I folded my arms.

“Besides, you said you don’t know each other.”

“Camila, what’s that supposed to mean?”

I rolled my eyes, as I looked for Karlos. He was with the boys who were praising and thanking him. I walked up to him and Karlos caught sight of me.

“Will talk later guys,” he said, limping, reaching for my shoulder for support.

“You owe me a lot princess,” Karlos said, smirking.

“Yeah - a trip to the infirmary room,” I said.

As I walked at Karlos’ pace we quietly slipped away into the infirmary room. I placed Karlos on the bed as I looked for some bandages and ointment for his knee.

“You had a rough fall,” I said, wanting to start a conversation.

“That was nothing.”

I ignored him as I took a stool, applying his knee with surgical spirit before bandaging it.

“Gracias Karlos... por asumir la culpa por mí.”

“En cualquier momento,” he said. “Besides, I need the vacay too.”

“Far from everything?” I asked.

“Far from my parents.”

I looked at him as he spoke. He reminded me of the very reason I wanted to win. It seemed to them that we were keeping the family reputation high but I also wanted a break from them - a chance to forget the actual reason as to why I am attending Everest Academy.

“You feel the same, princess?” he asked.

“No - I just want to see a different place.”

“Lie all you want,” he said as he stood up.

Packing away the bandages, I shook my head, “Now you are taking it far.”

“Whatever you say, princess.”

I rolled my eyes as we left the infirmary room.

“Gracias Karina, por cuidar mi herida,” he whispered in my ear. A second time today.

I glared at him as he simply looked into my eyes.

“Karina! Karlos! We need to go, they are giving the prizes!”

Camila called our names.

“Oh, sorry. Am I disturbing---”

“No, let’s go,” Karlos said, walking away.

Letting my irritation go, I followed behind them. As we approached the podium, all eyes were on us. Especially my parents, and the Ramirez Family.

“We would like to present this award to you, Karina Hernandez, for not leaving your classmate and teammate alone. We appreciate qualities like such and will be expecting much from you.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“We would also like to present this award to you, Karlos Ramirez, for being a very good team player, despite your injuries. We will be expecting much from you as well.

“Thank you,” he said, accepting his award.

“By the way, the committee told me that you never read what your description was that made you choose Karina. Would you please share with us?”

He looked at me as I took out the note and returned it to Karlos, who gave it to the principal.

The principal gave me an impressed look as he looked back at Karlos, and then at the audience.

“What a befitting description!” he exclaimed, peaking everyone’s and my interest.

“It says,”

“A girl who shines brightly than the sun.”