Mighty Warriors

Pearl’s P.O.V 

I wake up in the morning, go to the bathroom to do everything I need to do, put on my uniform, eat my breakfast really fast (but not too fast), leave my dorm, and while I’m walking, I wave ‘hello’ at anyone I know. 

That’s when I see Bernie and decide to approach him. 

“What’s up Bernie? Good morning, how are you?

Bernie’s P.O.V

After I was done with everything I’m used to doing in the morning after I wake up, I was just sitting on the floor of the training room stretching when I heard a familiar voice. When I recognize it, my heart skipped a beat, and I smiled lightly.

“Hello Pearl! Good morning, I'm fine, I think, and how about you?” 

Pearl decides to lie down on the mat and look at the ceiling right after he looks at me with a smile. 

“I'm fine, but why do you think you're fine? Is there something bothering you?” - Pearl says looking at me with a worried expression all over his pretty face. 

After I finish stretching, I get up.

“I'm glad to know you're fine. Well, to be honest, I don't want to bother you or disturb you, much less worry you. So, I'm going to lie and say ‘no’.” 

I smile lightly and start training with strong punches on the punching bag.

Pearl smiles and sits down, watching my training. 

“But you wouldn't bother me. After all we're friends, aren’t we? Besides, I'm a great listener. So do you want to talk about it? - He says. 

I let out a light sigh and stop. "Friends", the word that kept echoing in my mind. Too bad I want to tell him how I feel, but I don't want to ruin our friendship even more if it's not reciprocal.

“That's really true, we're friends... And yes, you are an excellent listener...”

I smile lightly while looking at him.

“It's just that... Well, the coach has put a lot of pressure on me, more than on the others, even though, he knows that tied with you, I am the best student.” 

I sigh heavily and punch the punching bag again.

Pearl’s P.O.V

Him saying that gave me a pinch in my heart.

“Look, you don't need to put so much pressure, on yourself. The coach knows that you're doing your best. You're one of the best fighters we have on our team, and it's not always that we win a competition, defeat is also part of it, so we just need to accept it and move on.”

I keep thinking about it and open a slight smile. 

“At least you're still going to compete. I haven't been to the championship for two years, but that was my decision.”

I approach Bernie and put my hands on his shoulder. 

“Relax a little, you need to.”

Bernie’s P.O.V

I hear Pearl's words and punch so hard that the punching bag falls to the floor. Obviously, I end up hurting my hand, so I place the other on top of the hurt one while holding back my tears caused by the pain.

"If we’ve lost at least once, it's never my fault. I always win our competitions, even on my worst days.” - I feel a tear run down my face but I make it go away quickly.

"Why did you want to stop competing? Besides, I can't relax when everyone is counting on me, even the younger students and teachers." - I can't stand it and start crying because of the pain.

I see Pearl approaching me and hugging me.

"You punish yourself too much Bernie. You train so much that you forget to rest and take care of yourself. We athletes need rest, there will come a time when not even your own body can take it." - He says. 

I see him getting up, going to the cabinet to get the first aid kit, and coming back to sit in front of me. 

I shrank in Pearl, still crying.

“Give me your hand, let me see it.” - He says taking my bruised hand, then he gets a Kleenex and puts some alcohol on it. 

“I hate it when you're right.” - I say sitting on the floor and showing him my hand.

“It will burn a little.” - He says as he starts to clean it with the Kleenex, then he puts a Band-Aid on my hand, followed by a bandage. And he  looks at me as he blushes a little. 

“It's hurting a lot.” - I cry  even more, since the burning is making it worse. 

“Oh, a little?” - When I see that it's over, I try to speak between sobs.

“Good, and answering your other question…” - He was blushing, but his expression changes to a mix of fear and sadness.

“Thank you P, but the pain in my hand is also internal.” - I say and start to listen what he has to say.

 “There was a championship you didn't go to, and long story short...” - He takes a deep breath as he tries to calm himself to say the rest. 

“I ended up putting my opponent in a coma, and I almost killed him. Ever since then, I’ve felt guilty, I can't even... train anymore...” - His eyes show regret, and he allows some tears to run down his face.

 “Because of me, he had to go through physiotherapy, but because of the injury I caused him, he won't be able to fight anymore. And honestly, I don't want that to happen to anyone else, so I stopped training and participating in competitions.”

“Why didn’t I really go?” - When I was finally managing to stop crying because of the pain, I bust into tears again when I hear his words, and I hug him tightly not caring about the unbearable pain in my hand.

“P... It wasn't your fault, this kind of thing happens to any athlete, it's normal. You just used more force than you should have... Or did he say something that provoked you?” - I say as I still cry.

“You almost killed someone in a competition, but that’s not a crime... I think... Don't blame yourself. If you can't even train anymore, then what are you still doing here?” - I ask curiously, but without the intention of being rude or offensive, while I wipe his tears with my good hand.

“I think that after the injury I caused myself, I will also have to go through physiotherapy, and I wish I had been as lucky as him... The one of not being able to fight anymore. And I don't think this will happen to anyone else... P, you're not a killing machine, I want you to know that very well. Also, that was only once. You don't need to stop training and participating in competitions...” - I notice the other students arriving, but I don't care, comforting Pearl's heart at this moment is more important than anything. 

Pearl’s P.O.V 

I return the hug, allowing myself to feel the sadness and guilt I was carrying, without caring about the students. After letting it all out, I pull away from the hug and look at him. To me, it felt as if the universe had stopped at that moment, and there were only the two of us. 

“You didn't go because there was an urgent unforeseen event.” - I sigh continuing. 

“Maybe we should go to the doctor for tests.” - I reflect on Bernie’s words. 

“I know it was just one time, but I can't stop feeling guilty. And I know I'm not a killing machine, but I think at that moment I couldn't control my strength, and it happened.” - That was one of the truths, but I was omitting the rest of the story. Like I would tell Bernie that my opponent had also provoked me. 

“And I just keep coming here because of you and to monitor and help students with tips and questions.” - I take a deep breath. 

“Besides, there are 2 other things: no one else wants to train with me for fear of me, and the other is that even if I'm forced to fight, I just defend myself and never attack. So in the end, I don't fight, I just get beaten.” - I say facing Bernie. 

“Bernie, if you feel so overwhelmed and wish you were lucky enough to stop, why do you keep going to the competitions? And if training seems like it's not what you want, it seems like you're just doing this ‘just because’, so why don't you stop?” - I only asked because I was worried. And I was just talking and asking because, after all, I care a lot about Bernie. I didn't want to seem rude or invasive, and I have feelings for him, but I don't want to ruin our friendship.

I see Bernie separate from the hug and staring at me while he stops crying little by little and dries his tears.

“Oh, it is! And I don't want to take any exams! It always takes a long time, and I'm almost becoming the exorcist's girl from so much pain.” 

When he finally manages to stop crying, he looks at the floor.

“So stop blaming yourself, and why couldn't you control your strength?”

Bernie’s P.O.V

Again, I ask curiously, but without the intention of being offensive or overly nosy, since I just worry about him and care for him. 

“What do you mean, because of me? And how cute, to monitor the students and help them.” - I say as I keep staring at the floor.

“Pleasure to meet you, I’m no one.” - I say referring to myself while I try to give a light, silly smile as I keep facing the floor. But unfortunately, I end up failing because of the pain.

“P, no one here is afraid of you, not even the 4-year-old boys…Quite the opposite. They adore you.” 

When I hear his words while I keep staring at the floor, however, this time my hand hurts at the same time, and I let out a heavy sigh.

“You know the reason... My father... You know that he is one of the owners and directors, and has already been a world champion and—” - I try to finish the sentence, but I am interrupted by a student sitting next to us, who says that the training has begun.

Pearl’s P.O.V 

I give a silly smile to myself. 

“And I love them! In fact, I love children!” - I say taking a deep breath.

“Then we’ll talk more calmly, and you won't escape me. Let's go to the doctor, yes, and stop being stubborn.” - I say getting up and starting the children's training, helping whenever necessary. 

I see Bernie getting up. 

“I know!” - He says, walking to the exit door, turning around, and staring at everyone while letting out a heavy sigh.

“Who said so?”

Bernie’s P.O.V

I leave the training room and start walking around the place until I find an empty training room, enter it, lie down on the floor, and close my eyes, having flashbacks of my last fight.

Pearl’s P.O.V 

I ask an adult to keep an eye on the children, and run after Bernie. When I find him, I approach him. 

“Why did you left the training room like that? So you don't want to take care of yourself? Bernie, what are you thinking?” 

Bernie’s P.O.V

I hear Pearl’s voice and snap out of my thoughts.

“That's not it... It's just that... Do you remember when we were kids and loved to fight and practice together? It was so much fun... Remember when we were 4 years old and you accidentally made my nose bleed during a workout? Good times... Now it seems unfortunately, that it has already lost its fun... - I say letting out a heavy sigh.

“Okay... Maybe this last fight was my fault... I wanted so much for this time to have you as my opponent... Or that your opponent that day had been me... Maybe I really deserved to hurt my hand. Maybe that was something good, in a way.” - I say opening my eyes, sitting down, and looking at Pearl.

Pearl’s P.O.V 

I'm perplexed by every word, and I blush, giving a small smile as I look at that room. 

“Of course I remember, like it was good times. I loved training with you. I remember that we trained every day, and I even remember that I was always second, and you were always first. But you also had your moment.. It was unintentional, but I remember a time when we were training, and you ended up making me twist my foot… That hurt.” - I start laughing remembering. 

“I was jealous of you. You were always perfect in everything you did.” - I say looking at him with a smile.

“I would also like to have been your opponent in that fight.” - I say and my expression changes to a serious one. 

“Hey, don't say such a crazy thing. No one deserves to get hurt, but I think you're just frustrated, I just don't know yet, but, I'm going to investigate.” - I say starting to laugh a little. 

Bernie’s P.O.V

I blush a little when I see Pearl’s smile.

“From what I remember, we both got first. And yes, it was unintentional, and I've apologized for that several times, and I still apologize to this day... So... I'm sorry again.” - I say raising an eyebrow. 

“We were both always perfect in everything we did.” - I say blushing at Pearl’s smile… Again!

“I wanted it. It's not for the reasons you're thinking that I wanted you to be my opponent that day... And about being frustrated, maybe you're kind of right, even though I've already told you one of the main reasons...” - I say getting up and leaving the room.

Pearl’s P.O.V 

I get up. 

“Would you like to remember the old days?” - I ask a little nervous, but I control myself.

“And did you plan to avoid me?” - I say raising an eyebrow. 

Bernie’s P.O.V

I sigh lightly as I close my eyes. Of course it would be cool if that happened and would make me happy in a way, but that's not exactly what I meant. That's what I think to myself. Then, at the same moment, I open my eyes again, turning around and looking at Pearl. 

“I would love to!” - I say staring at my good hand.

“Of course not. Why do you think so?” 

I see Pearl hit his forehead. 

“Bro, it's true, your hand. Let's leave it for next time.” - He says approaching me. 

“Shall we eat something? Anyway, the children's class is over, and the instructor with whom I left them must have already released them.” - He says extending his hand. 

“Shall we go to the cafeteria?” - He says pointing with his head. 

I'm silent for a while. "No P, it has nothing to do with my hand, are you really that clueless? Never mind." I think to myself.

“The point is that I'm not hungry...” - I say lowering my good hand, smiling lightly, and turn around again starting to walk to my room.

Pearl’s P.O.V 

“Hey B! Wait!” 

He ignores me and just leaves. I go to the cafeteria and sit at a random table. 

"Maybe he needed a little time to be alone." - I think to myself, while humming.

Bernie’s P.O.V

On the way to my room, I see a bench glued to a tree. I go to it, lie on it, and stare at the sky as I start thinking…

End of chapter 1!