Aretta & Secrets

Tournaments

About eight rounds we went through. That's equivalent to a distance of 6 km. The breath of our gym teacher already seemed breathless, although it was true that he was in first place.

"So give it up" shouted one of the students who had been sitting with the others in the middle of the field, "we don't want you to have a heart attack" he continued.

"Yes. Ye. Ombongo. Just now. Sign in. Intellect," he said weakly, faltering, "Father. Hitherto. Naw. Younger. Again."

He immediately slowed down his run and moved out of the field to rest. As me and a student passed by, he gawked in disbelief. Maybe he felt stupid for being deceived or he might not know if there were still strong people running behind him.

Everyone's focus was on the two of us. I glanced at them a little. Some seemed to be cheering and some seemed to be talking while whispering while pointing at me, and the rest just shouted aimlessly to enliven the atmosphere. It seemed that the group of people who were pointing at me was curious about who I was and how I could do it.

After 10 rounds, I started to feel tired. The man in front of me looks the same. But it looks like our determination to win was unwavering. I started to focus again to stabilize my breathing. I can still run. It was still strong surrounding the three rounds and back then the man competing with me seemed to give up. I'm win.

This is not a big race, just sheer fad to train the students in school. But for me who was not even strong to run around the house, this is an extraordinary achievement even though no one joined in celebrating this victory.

As the euphoria of victory that came my way began to subside, I was already back to reality. No one made a sound and when I switched 25 pairs the other looked at me in amazement with my mouth perfectly open.

"The sport is over. Please go back to class," our gym teacher instruction.

It took a while until they finally came to their senses and started to turn around leaving the field towards the dressing room to clean themselves up. I started following them from behind before the master teacher suddenly became my friend.

"Aretta, I didn't know that you have incredible stamina when you run. I'm really surprised to see that you can even beat Rendi the athlete at this school" he said.

"Thank you sir" and after we had a long chat, "can I excuse myself to change?" ask her. I have decided to live an ordinary school life. I don't want to be the center of attention.

After the teacher said yes, I immediately covered leaving.

When I entered the dressing room, everyone suddenly fell silent. I don't know the meaning of their silence. Whether it's a good thing or a bad thing, but it really makes me feel uncomfortable. I immediately went to the bathroom to clean my body before this room was used by the other classes. From inside here I could hear the noise outside and also the sound of bells ringing along with the students who started to leave the room.

I quickly sped up my bath and hurried to change clothes. I want to rest and then come back to class.

Finished with all my activities inside here, I immediately stepped out. Just as my feet were climbing on the floor outside the room suddenly a voice called out to me

I immediately ignored him because there was no way anyone would start a conversation with me. I thought the call was for someone else and quickly stepped back.

"Why is the road lo cepet really? Slow down, there's still time to rest." He used the opportunity to get back to me when I stopped. He also stopped when he was in front. I stared at him with one of the raised Eyebrows. I didn't know what she wanted and just waited for her to speak for herself and tell me straight away.

Lest he feel threatened by my existence which now makes his running points decrease. Is he going to tell me to give up? If that were so, I would have done it. I prefer to keep myself away from things that will harm me in the future. Just like I always did with Mama and Gio. I only received all complaints and swearing from them without any intention to retaliate.

I see no benefit if I repay them, even I will be repaid worse than before.

Free to fight because all I got was a slap in return. So for now when anyone cornered me using words I would take it for granted, as long as he didn't use his hand to repay me. That's what I always did in my old school.

"Finally, you responded to me. I know Rendi Firawan, call me Rendi to be like the others," he said as he reached out to me. I was a little surprised and did not immediately accept the helping hand, until I finally gave myself to return the helping hand. He clasped my finger.

"Gue Aretta Evelyn's. Commonly called Aretta," I replied.

He smiled a little and understood. He watched me for quite a while, perhaps astonished that I just kept quiet and did not return to asking questions, normally a transfer student would have a lot of questions. To him I must look arrogant and seem reluctant to socialize. But that's not the real reason. I'm just not good at communicating.

"Lo was very quiet as it turned out," he chirped. Maybe he was confused about what kind of response to see me just silent, "what the hell is this lesson?" tanyakanya.

"Geography if not wrong" I replied slowly.

"Mending lo come with me. If you go this way you will be late to enter the class. You don't want to be late on your first day of school, do you?" said it.

He doesn't know yet if you've deliberately missed the first lesson. But I just kept quiet not intending to tell. Rendi pulled my arm and forced me to follow her. He also opened the conversation again even though the response from me was not much.

"Where did you learn to run like that? What is natural talent?" He asked quickly.

At first I was a little surprised at his very frank question. I guess he'll start off with a small talk as an opener.

"There's talent, there's hard work, just like I don't have any friends" I replied honestly.

The first time I ran, I never thought that I would finally be able to survive to that stage. Truly incredible progress.