Constellations of Love

Chapters 16. Competitions

This Sunday morning's ball practice is not as usual. Kang Jamil suddenly had to take the mother to her brother's house in another district, at dawn.

Her pregnant older sister contracted and suffered amniotic rupture as well as bleeding outside of childbirth.

Kang Jamil's father was unable to deliver due to diarrhea and weakness.

At six in the morning, Laras was on Jamil's phone about the incident. The man apologized and handed the decision to Baras, whether the exercise was canceled or continued.

Laras is determined to continue the exercise plan. The competition is getting closer.

The barrel goes on the motor to the ball field. He brought three banana combs of ambon, a crop in the back of the house a few days ago.

Luckily Reno's parents, whose house is close enough to take a basket of balls at the home kang Jamil and bring two drinks for the player. Sofyan's father, the main goalkeeper, is willing to help train the children.

The girl led the exercise on instructions by phone from the main trainer. First session of physical exercise. Run around the field, gymnastics to flex hands and feet. Also****up, zig zag running while dribbling.

Free-kick and penalty practice especially for strikers. Make the goalkeeper there is a practice of catching the ball from various angles of the goal as well as from the point of penalty.

After the break and drink continue the second session of the two-team match. With green rhombi and without vest.

Today there are not many spectators on the side of the pitch, like last week. The factory anniversary event yesterday afternoon until afternoon turned out to continue until night with dangdutan music performances. The show lasted until more than midnight. Maybe the residents around, many are still asleep this morning.

Among the spectators tucked Pandu there. From a distance he observed kang Jamil absent.

Pandu felt sorry for Laras who had to handle all by himself. Even with the spirit of the girl running here and there, shouting instructions and blowing whistles to make the children's players pay attention to his direction.

His empathic full style is still visible. Patting - pat the player's back, do toss, or just wipe the head of the boys. Laughs. Bring two thumbs up, if there is a sportive action of the players. Also slightly demeaning when talking to children, in order to make eye contact.

As a referee, Laras had to run to and fro following the direction of the ball, paying attention to the players who sometimes make unsportsmanlike movements and maneuvers. It takes energy and high level of focus.

I want Pandu to help Laras. But how is it going?

The man then went to one of the parents who waited for drinks and bags of backpacks or supplies of players behind the goalpost on the right side of the field. Meet a father and sit next to him.

"Mbak Laras is great, strong and independent" said Mr. Elan, Reno's father the child striker.

"Yes." Yeah."

"Son, this is his friend."

"Yes, sir."

" How can you rarely see?"

"I'm new here."

" Mbak Laras kok not just dating with nak Jamil, if you want to be a compact coach couple. If you are married and married, you will have children as a national player. Ha, ha, ha!"

Deg. Pandu. He pretended to laugh, but his heart churned to hear the words of his father.

Is there anything special about the coach and the assistant? Whereas previously Pandu had ruled out Jamil as his competitor in seizing the heart of Laras.

Two players came to them for a drink. The guide gave two glasses of mineral water. Immediately they gulped down the contents, then rejoined the middle of the field.

Two goals are created for each other. Match tensions increased. A player fell down. The barrel blowing the whistle paused for a moment the match.

Pandu could not help himself. Run immediately to the middle of the field. He checks the player's condition. Pale and limp. Eyes closed. He tried to pat the cheek of the boy. There was no reaction.

"Let me take him to the side first, find a cool place. "

"Yes, thank you."

"Please give it all up!"

Pandu gave orders to Laras. Then the man led the player who had been able to open his eyes, sat down and stood up slowly and walked to the edge of the field.

The barrel stopped the match, asking everyone to rest and drink. He also gave orders not to contact his friend who had fallen just now.

The girl immediately took the medicine box while carrying two glasses of mineral water towards Pandu.

"Drink first, Janu. Then take a deep breath! ," said Laras.

Pandu told Janu to sit down and straighten his legs. The player's right knee was slightly injured. Similarly, there are blisters on the right hand.

The doctor talked to the boy. Ask if he is dizzy, or if there are other parts of his body that hurt.

Janu shook his head and grimaced with the wound that was being cleaned and plastered by the doctor.

" What's the condition?" Baras asked Pandu.

"good. Just a little cut and scuff."

"Thank God."

"But it seems dehydrated too."

"Please take care of it, ma'am. I'll continue in a minute. The competition is close."

Pandu just bobbing heads watching Laras determination.

Pluit. The players gathered. The barrel seemed to give some instructions. The match lasted for almost half an hour.

There's an extra score. Two-on-one comparison for green vest team.

The sunlight is getting stinging. Ten o'clock past. After all drinking and eating bananas, Laras evaluated the exercises today. Finally, they prayed and cleaned the field for a moment.

The location of the exercise slowly cleared. Mr. Elan and Reno have brought the basket and delivered it back to the main coach's house.

There was Laras and Pandu, who chose to rest and sit side by side under the trembesi tree. In the distance there was a teenager who was learning to ride a motorcycle, with his father. On the other hand some boys played kites.

"Thank you Pandu wants to come."

Pandu smile.

Baras looks tired. Both of his legs are on the line. His face was hot.

" Don't be so self-exciting, Laras. You also have to maintain stamina."

"Yes. I know my body skills, mas."

"The theory should be applied in real conditions, yes with matches. "

Pandu. Barrels are pretty stubborn too.

The barrel sipped the mineral water back. Wagging his hat to reduce stifling. Then massage his own calves alternately.

Pandu actually wants to help. But that intention was broken. The man did not want Laras to get angry again, if he tried to touch him.

"Has his leg hurt?"

"Little bit. It's gonna get better soon too.

"You're strong running, yeah. How do you maintain your physical endurance?"

"I run around the dam three times a week, a minimum of five rounds. Interlude afternoon gymnastics, behind the house."

Pandu salut's. Typical barrel of a true athlete. It looks healthy and fit. Compared to her who rarely exercise, Pandu so a little embarrassed.

"Mas Pandu, it's noon. I'm going home."

" When did you get on the bike?"

Laras turned towards Pandu, "Yes, I want to rest all day. Just go home, yeah. Thanks for the help."

Pandu. The barrel does need a break after the grueling activity of training the ball. Although Pandu really still want to chat and be near him.

The girl did not discuss the matter yesterday. That kiss.

Baras is no longer angry about that. Pandu.

They walked towards the parking lot. The barrel got on the bike first. The guide waited for her until the girl was ready to slide. After that, he left the field. He decided to stop at the store in front of the market that would be passed to buy some personal needs.

Days pass. It's the fourth day of the week. Work at the puskesmas is still routine as usual. Walk normally, under control. There were only two cases of referral to the city hospital. General hospitalization no patients. Similarly, patients give birth, there is only one. It has been handled well by midwives. Sometimes the doctor has to check the condition.

Pandu had asked the daily news to Laras through a chat message. Replied with short words. Not as usual.

Similarly if Pandu tries to call him. Sometimes there is no response. If ever answered, Laras no longer seems like a lot of stories. The girl changed a little.

Pandu wonders, is Laras still angry with the first kiss incident?

Unable to bear this condition, Pandu wants to meet the girl at his house. Afternoon after office hours.

The man drove his car to the girl's house. Arriving there Bik Jum replied that grandma and Laras went out. They go to the house of relatives who will marry their children. It's ten kilometers from home. It's been since noon.

Pandu wants to wait. But because Laras could not be contacted while chat and message has not been deliv.

Bik Jum doesn't know what time they'll be back. Grandma just messages that if they haven't come back until six, bik Jum is asked to stay at home.

Indeed Pandu wants to convey also that tomorrow on Friday morning he will return to Jakarta until Sunday.

Laras' attitude these few days really tormented him. Why does the girl keep her distance. Not enthusiastic about being contacted.

Until nine o'clock at night Pandu could not be heard.

The man decided to sleep and rest. Tomorrow he will leave by plane at nine in the morning. The journey from this puskesmas to the airport in the provincial city is about two hours. So at six in the morning at least he should've been sliding. One day's permit on Fridays only. Mr. Leo is willing to drive her. Using a personal car Pandu. His colleagues looked at his family who were being treated at the provincial city hospital.

Sunday night he will take a trip from the provincial city back to this puskesmas.

Meanwhile, Laras wants to devote time and energy to focus on football competitions. Exercises and discussions formulate training strategies with the main coach. Other preparations such as preparing uniforms, transportation plans to district cities to consumption. Management of operational funds given from village treasuries and sub-district parties. Also, the donation from the factory must be effective.

Routine at TK. Plan and realization of library facilities.

In April, there will also be a celebration of Kartini's day in the square of the district. There are various competitions for children. Coloring, singing and parades. It takes extra preparation and training.

The competition is the most energy-intensive. Four Kindergarten students attended, the rest were elementary school students where Kang Jamil taught. Involving many children. Also intensive training and considerable fund management. This experience Laras coached also manage everything.

The girl wanted to put aside personal matters first. About feelings on Pandu. Laras does not want his emotions to hijack rationality and reality.

Drifting in a sense that still hangs, hastily reacts or dissolves in uncertain beliefs will be very energy-consuming.

For Laras better now the priority is to live the reality that is in sight.

Let time determine where this flavor is headed. Laras does not want to repeat the same story with his past records.

Kang Jamil's proposal for the children to train at the site where the competition will be approved. On Sunday afternoon they will train at the city's stadium which is an hour away from where they all live.

"I have rented a minibus with a capacity of twelve people. The rest of us borrow Reno's father's car, can fit eight crew, "report Kang Jamil, when calling the assistant.

"Good Kang. I will take care of consumption. "

"Children need to know the atmosphere of the stadium so as not to have too much stage fright."

"Yes, Kang."

"We can wear the stadium at three in the afternoon. So leave half one. Sunday morning practice moved to the afternoon."

"Ready, Kang."

" All the children's parents have been in contact with me about this plan. They're enthusiastic."

"Thank God, hopefully the children will be more excited and can achieve later."

Friday morning while waiting at the airport, Pandu tried to send a chat to Laras.

Pandu said that he was on his way back to Jakarta. It was eight in the morning.

Long time no answer. Pandu understand, Laras is teaching at that hour.

The message was answered at half-twelfth, with the sentence," Ok, be careful on the way."

Disappointed palu. That'sallthatis. Though he wanted Laras to ask how many days it went, what event. Or maybe the girl will send greetings to the Pandu family.

Guide too much hope. But all evaporated. There was a sense of ferocity in his heart now.

"Did Laras really consider himself a close friend?"