Chapter eighty eight

Dallas

“You've gotten really good,” Lisa said as she swung her sword at me. I dodged the strike and took a strike at her with a double swing of my sword.

6-3

“Of course, I'm good. I was an instructor, remember.” I smirked at her despite that she couldn't see under my mask.

It's been two days since my birthday, and a few days closer to Lisa's departure. We decided to have a friendly match in Oliver's private training room before she left.

But she was so out of practice that it was ridiculously easy to win against her. An amateur could easily wipe her off the piste, which was a huge surprise because she loved the sport. She was never out of practice. Maybe I wasn't the only one who changed in the past few years.

We circled each other on the piste. I knew what she was doing. We've played the trick on each other a lot of times over the year. She was bidding her time and waiting for me to strike first so I'd expose my vulnerable spot, giving her easy access to strike.

Okay, her strikes might have gotten dull, but her strategies were still good. I would have fallen for it if I didn't know the move well.

I decided to play into her trap and use a trick of my own. I charged towards her and she fell to her knees and made to cut my knees, but I jumped, avoiding her sword by an inch. She lost her balance and fell. I took the opportunity to quickly take a strike to her shoulder.

7-3

“Okay, I give up. Don't kill me, please.” She rose to her feet and tore off her mask.

“Bam, you're already dead.” I said, removing my mask. We both chuckled.

“How the hell were you able to move that fast? I barely noticed you coming.” She brushed off the strands of hair on her face and tucked them away.

“I wasn't that fast. You could have caught me. You were too slow.” I shook my head.

She rolled her eyes and chuckled.
“My, my, now she's been humble. What happened to the Dallas Valencia I know? The one who would be gloating that she beat my ass.”

“She's on her way. Give her some time.” I smiled. “Aren't you practicing anymore?”

“I'm not.” She said and sat on the floor, dropping her sword and mask to her side.

“But you love the sport. Why did you stop practice?” I sunk into the space beside her.

“Well, between my engagement, getting a job, getting married, there wasn't enough time for fencing in my life. I spend most of my days at the homeless shelter I work in. And I'm also studying to get a degree.”

I understood her plight. I was in similar condition until I started working for Oliver. But I had the advantage of not being out of practice because of my job as an instructor, and Atlas's determination to get me back into the Olympics.

Although, it's crystal clear now that he was only concerned about it so he could kill me there. Nope, not going there. I swallowed past the lump in my throat. I wasn't going to think about him or feel sad. He doesn't deserve it.

Lisa sighed.
“Dallas, I'm really sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me most. I'm sorry I didn't notice something about Atlas earlier. I'm sorry I couldn't help you when you needed to go home then. I'm sorry I wasn't here. I'm sorry for…everything. I'm sorry, Dallas. You're my best friend and I..I failed you.”

I cut her off before she could continue.
“I don't know where all these is coming from but none of these is your fault. You were there for me, Lis. You were there for me when I had no one, when my own family abandoned, you were there. Don't blame yourself for Atlas. I trained with him and I didn't notice a thing…” I chuckled.

“But I advised you to train with him. I basically shoved you in his hands, remember. When he first approached you, you didn't want to train with him, but I advised you to. I thought it would be a great way for you to deal with your grief. Also, I didn't want you to be cut off from the one thing you loved the most. I went as far as telling our coach at the academy to put it in a good word for you, Incase Atlas changed his mind because you refused him. I'm sorry I did that.” her voice dropped into a whisper, a somber expression on her face.

My lips parted. I had no idea she did all that for me.

“You met with coach Bradley?”

She nodded.
“Yup, and he almost cut my head off because of how I was pestering him.”

We both chuckled. I could totally see Lisa torturing our coach because of me. She was the only person who could talk to our scary coach. Bradley was the scarier version of Atlas.

“I thought I was doing the right thing. Maybe if I didn't do that, Atlas would have left you alone.”

“Don’t blame yourself, Lis. You didn't fail me. You've never failed me. You were only looking for me and I appreciate it. I would have don't the same if I was in your position. You are the best friend anyone can ever have and I'm so grateful for you. I love you so much.”

I pulled her in for a hug and squeezed her tightly. We disengaged from the hug after a long time. There were smiles on both our faces.

“Now that we have that settled, where did all that come from? And don't you dare lie to me, missus.” I stared with her, an eyebrow raised.

She sighed.
“Lately, I feel like I've been pulling away from everything. The things that used to matter to me just don't matter anymore. Everything is happening so fast and it's overwhelming. I was afraid that I was a bad friend to you because I was so wrapped up in my issue.”

“You’ve never been a bad friend to me, Lis. And it's okay to be afraid. Life is scary sometimes. If you're feeling overwhelmed, maybe you should take some time off and just be yourself. Do the things you love. You'll feel like yourself again. And I'll always be here for you to help you through anything.” I took her hand in mine.

She smiled at me.
“Thank you, Dal. I love you.”

“I love you too.” I smiled at her.

I was happy that we had this conversation. It's been so long since we were together physically and we've missed out on each other's life alot. Texts and video calls are nothing like talking physically.

“Now let's get off this piste and go eat something. I'm starving.”

“Agreed”

We walked out of the training room and headed towards the main house.

“Okay, now to the next topic. I knew I was drunk during the game on your birthday, but I'm pretty sure you wanted to raise your glass to the ‘ been in love’ question.”

I opened my mouth and shut it. She hadn't spoken about it since all these days and I thought she didn't notice.

“Start talking. And don't you dare lie, missus.” She said, using my words against me.

“You were drunk. Pretty sure you saw wrong because I wasn't going to raise my glass. I'm not in love with anyone.” I said with a certainty I don't feel.

The last word felt wrong almost as if I was…lying? Nope, definitely not. I was hurt because Oliver didn't raise his glass, but that doesn't mean that I love him. I was only hurt because…

Jenna. What Jenna said at the mall must have gotten to me and that's why Oliver not raising his glass hurt that much. It's not because I love him. I don't.

“I've seen the way you look at each other, Dal. You stare at him with this dreamy look in your eye. When he's around, he's the only person you seem to focus on. While he stares at you like you're the most precious thing in the world to him. And he's done every thing that shows he has strong feelings for you.”

He didn't admit to loving me, but he did say he ‘cared’ about me. But care is not love. Though his actions prove differently, but I'm going to believe his words.

We were a few feet away from the stairs. I increased my steps, partly because I don't trust myself not to say something I didn't mean to Lisa. Or I'm afraid I would mean I say. Lisa's chuckles trailed behind me.

I stopped just before I climbed the stairs when I caught a glimpse of Oliver. A smile etched on my lips and I headed for the living room.

“Hey, you're …”

I halted in my steps when I noticed he wasn't alone. He was with the last person I would ever want to see. Not that I'm bitter or anything.

“Hello, Dallas. Good to see you again.” Jenna said, a bright smile on her face.