The cool breeze blowing Valery's hair made the girl happy and she stuck her hand out. The car with the open roof was traveling at a moderate speed, passing through the windy deserted streets with a view of the beach on the side.
"This is so fun!" Valery said happily.
"Are you happy?" Asked Keenan who was focused on driving with his sunglasses on.
"Yes! It's been a month since I left the house. I even thought that the world had no color anymore." The girl closed her eyes, feeling the soft coastal breeze touching her face.
"Because of your family's death?" Keenan asked.
"You're right!" Hearing that answer, Keenan let out a small sigh and refocused on looking forward. He gave a little advice so that the girl would at least feel a little better,
"Being abandoned by the people we love is sad, but that doesn't mean the world becomes colorless afterwards. You're still alive, that's a good thing! Do fun things. And when you meet your family again in the afterlife, tell them what happy things you've done during your life. They will definitely be excited to hear it."
"Really?" asked Valery now reopening her eyes and looking at Keenan.
"Of course! Who would want to see our loved ones suffer after our death? They want you to be happy!" Said Keenan adding
Valery was silent and contemplated for a moment afterwards. Soon, a thin smile formed on both corners of her lips. Then the girl closed her eyes again and enjoyed the pleasant trip that would become her story in the future.
...
A private villa by the beach was the destination Keenan's car stopped at. he got out of the car and took off his sunglasses, then took out the key ready to enter the villa.
"Wow, how cool! There's even a swimming pool with a view of the beach!" Valery said in amazement, walking towards the large swimming pool inside the villa.
Keenan took back her glasses, walked to the pool lounge chair near the pool, and lay down. She put on her glasses while applying sunscreen to prevent her skin from burning.
"What are you looking at? Do you want to swim? I heard you're a swimmer. Go get your swimsuit inside! You can swim in this pool all you want." Keenan said, starting to close his eyes and relax after applying sunscreen to his skin.
Valery was silent for a moment as she stood looking at the pool in front of her. The trauma of the day her family died, which coincided with her swimming race, made her retreat hesitantly. Would she be able to get back into the pool? The girl doubted herself.
"What's going on? Why are you silent? I might invite you here very rarely, you know. You should go swimming now because after the afternoon, I will take you back to the mansion," said Keenan, still with his eyes closed.
Valery sighed heavily. She couldn't continue to live in fear; she had to fight against it and get back to realizing her dream of becoming a professional swimmer. That way, her whole family would also feel proud of her.
Vallery turned around and stepped inside. She found a swimsuit lying on the table and quickly picked it up. The blue swimsuit with string ties fit her body perfectly. This was Vallery's first time wearing a feminine style swimsuit, and she was amazed when she saw her reflection in the mirror.
"This swimsuit is great!" said Valery, turning her body once.
The girl walked out of the room and walked towards the swimming pool while gathering courage. When she saw her reflection in the water, she hesitantly dipped her toe. Her scared expression suddenly made Keenan, who witnessed it, laugh out loud.
"Hahaha... are you crazy! Didn't you say you were a swimmer? Why do you look like a cat who's afraid of water now?" she teased while holding her stomach that hurt from laughing too hard.
"You're mocking me? You didn't even go down for a swim and just relaxed like a lazy person! How dare you mock me! You shameless bastard! You're worse than a pig!" Valery ranted angrily, until her words pierced right through Keenan's heart, making him cover his mouth in shock.
"This girl...! Be grateful, I owe your parents a favor! Otherwise, with that rude mouth of yours, I would have tied you up and thrown you into the middle of the sea for sharks to eat," cursed Keenan irritably in his heart, only able to stop talking and lie back down on the pool lounge chair and close his eyes.
"Never mind, I'm too lazy to talk to you!" Keenan said after losing badly.
Valery paid no attention to the man. Now she was walking down the cold pool steps. Getting back into the water after a month of not going to the pool made her nervous.
"You can do it!" The girl encouraged herself in her heart.
Slowly her body entered the pool, trying once again to overcome the trauma after the accident that happened to her family on the way to her swimming competition. The girl began to move her body, and as an avid swimmer, the swimming strokes came very easily to her. She was able to swim for two minutes without any problems. However, when the girl tried to dive in, the dark memories of the competition day suddenly came rushing back to revive the feeling of fear in her heart,
"Just because you have a photo shoot, mom and dad have to accompany you! I don't care! You all have to come today!" (I shouldn't have said that..!)
"Valery, there's going to be a storm today. Didn't you tell your family?" (I should have... called them again...)
"Ah, I wanted to. But my cell phone is in my locker. Maybe later!" (If time could be reset...)
"The competition is about to begin! All participants prepare at the starting blocks immediately!" Slowly, the girl's legs cramped, and she began to sink.
"Valery! Your whole family died in the storm on the way here!" (I don't want to go to the competition...)
"Valery you won the competition!" (I just want my family back!)
"VALERY...!!! VALERY...!!!"
"VALERY!!!"
"OPEN YOUR EYES!!!"