Scratches of Ink on my finger

Injuries

"Sister Rian, the proposal that was delivered?"

"Udah, Chief. They said the money would be liquid a week from now."

In this mading room there are some colleagues who did not enter because of illness. The atmosphere became quiet, many were just struggling with their respective jobs and only spoke as necessary.

"Chairman, we'll watch, yeah. I've invited the other kids to watch it later in the afternoon."

"Yes, Brother. Please."

***

Ball hulled.

The ball race is fierce. Eagles and passes look nimble from the basketball players on the court. The sports teacher who used to wear an Adidas branded hat was ruffled around the waist to pay attention to every movement of his students. Without much talk of direction, the middle-aged man only occasionally warned the players on the field to continue to focus and set the formation well.

Ten minutes of running without any point increase from either team. Those shock-filled steps continued to pay attention to the opportunities they could take to grab points.

"Well, it's so fierce. Until now the score is still 0-0." One of the spectators spoke to a friend beside him. His eyes continued to focus towards the players on the field who looked nimble and cool while playing the game. His friend at the side did not pay him much heed, in return he only muttered short without turning his head.

"Well, great chief too, yeah, brother."

"Yes, I just found out too." Rian's brother was in the audience there with the other mading colleagues. His eyes were fixed on the basketball player up ahead.

CRACKS.

"Woooo." Shouts from the audience as one point had been scored. Hysterical screams and a wave of hands splashed across the line of spectators.

"Good." One of the players from my team gave his thumbs up, while the other patted my shoulders while giving a smile of admiration.

"Yetoooo!" A fellow mading stood up while shouting hysterically at me.

I looked towards him, throwing a smile.

"Yetoooo! I'm a fan of kamuuu!"

Game continues. This exercise is getting more intense. Mr. Damar's shout at the players again gave a warning not to let your guard down and take advantage of every opportunity.

Sweat has flushed all over the body, the roar of hunting breath counterbalance the pounding of the legs. The attention of the players is focused on the ball that changes hands every second. Each basket was heavily guarded with formation rules.

My feet kept moving following the flow of the game which was more tense. The spirit of playing that never receded at all made the gap of opportunities very minimal to be able to achieve points.

I'm going to take passes from my team-mates now, but suddenly an accident comes to me.

"Aackh."

The audience was surprised. Their eyes glared at the sight on that basketball court.

"Wood!"

"Please!" Shouted another player. They swarmed over me who had fallen suddenly. Mr. Damar went into the field to check on me who was still sitting in the field. My hands rubbed my ankles which were painful.

"Can you stand up, son?"

I tried to stand up, my ankles were painful which made me sit down again. My ringing sounded, my breath choked withstanding the pain in my ankle right now.

Mr. Damar was quick to do me a favor. The other players were still clustered watching me and what Mr. Damar was doing.

"Of course, we're training today. Take Bayu to the seat there." Mr. Damar gave orders to other players.

I was swept to a seat off the pitch by two of my teammates at the club.

"Keseleo." Said Mr. Damar who was in front of me now, watching my injured leg. He helped a second time for a while.

"After this rest."

"Yes, sir." My head was fixed staring at my feet that were drooping in pain.

"Get together for a minute." Mr. Damar called out to the other players who were sipping their drinks. Those who felt called then ran over.

"Today we've had a workout even ten minutes earlier than usual. I hope this time it can be a lesson, in the future you must be careful again. The spirit must be, but you must not forget to pay attention to safety in play."

We who heard him understood.

"Yes, now you can go home. Be careful on the road. Bayu, you want me to drop off?"

"Sir, let me drive Bayu home." Brother Rio volunteered among the other colleagues.

Mr. Damar nodded, "Yes already, come."

"Come, sir."

Mr. Damar left the field. The other players approached me.

"You're Bayu, right?"

"Ah, Yes, Brother."

"Don't call brother, we're the same age, really. I know, I'm Leo."

It turned out that he was Leo, as Genta had said before. We shook hands with each other at the meeting. After a few days of practice, we met this time. She smiled at me, I replied with the same thing. The other players go home first.

"I go first, yeah." Leo waved his hand.

"Yes." Yeah."

"This is your bag, Bay." Brother Rio put my bag beside me.

I grabbed the tumbler of drinking water in it because it was thirsty from earlier.

"Yuk."

I nodded at Kak Rio's invitation to take me home. I put the tumbler back in the bag. Rio's brother has me walking.

"Chairman. The chairman is not papa?" My fellow comrades came up to me who walked.

"Just a little sprain."

"This has to be sorted out fast, Chief."

"Yes." Yeah."

"If you go home with me. I'm the one who delivered."

I turned to Brother Rio beside me. He smiled, "Let me drive by, my house is near here. I'll drive you by car."

"Oh, that. Thanks though. So be careful."

I nodded at them then continued my way outside the gate.

"Wait a minute here. I'll get the car first."

"Oh, yes, Brother."

Brother Rio ran forward there. Not far from the school gate he opened the fence of a house, maybe it was his house. It was only a short while that a black sports car came out of there. I watched the car as it approached me who was standing leaning against the school gate.

Brother Rio got down from the car, ran a little towards me. "Yuk."

I nodded, and he put me back in the car in the front seat, and I was driven home afterwards.

***

I'm so uncomfortable walking lame like this at school, my legs still have pain walking. Some of the students were watching me while poking around with them. Inevitably I had to accept every pair of eyes that saw me walk like this all the way to class.

"Wood!" Yoga was chasing me from the school gate. "Bareng." He put his arm around my neck.

"Yuk."

We started walking.

"Eh, are you the way?"

"Because sprained a little basketball practice time, Ga."

"Mmh you, Bay. If until Love finds out, you're done with it again."

"If so don't tell me."

"Judek. Sooner he'll know too." Yoga brings me to class.

***

"Chairman!" Today Genta has gone to school again after previously being sick.

I was just sitting in my chair in this room, arriving earlier than usual.

"Chairman got injured in basketball, huh?"

"M."

"Can't you, Chief?"

Inevitably I had to explain to him about the incident yesterday.

"Oh, Chief. Present too today? Are his legs healthy?" Brother Rian just entered the mading room.

"Yes, brother. Not too bad, though."

"Thank God. Brarti won't be training, will he?"

"Yes, Brother. I'll wait to recover."

I looked back at the papers on the table. Rather than no work at all, my hand reached for the worksheet there, reading the writings of other colleagues hoping to catch my attention.

"Babies!" Rian's brother who was sitting by the door called out to me. He then signaled that there was someone out there who wanted to see me.

Genta was still struggling with his paper, probably because he was too focused so this time he was not aware of Kak Rian who gave a code that Love was outside, which usually he will be very excited to poke me all-out.

I see Love out there waiting. How am I supposed to get out of this? For a while I was still sitting on my seat in this space, while Love was still standing out there. Brother Rian has already coded to quickly exit now.

The clapper suddenly looked outwards. "Mrs." Then he looked at me. "Chairman! Lady tu!" As expected, he would be a fuss in this room, he grinned at me who looked nervous.

I can't stay here to see Love still waiting out there. Finally, I decided to walk to that door with these lame steps while enduring the pain in my ankle that came back while walking, and he was there watching me walk that way.

I stared at him feeling bad while holding on to the door frame, then crouched down slowly about to put on shoes.

"Aackh!"

"Bay." Brother Rian came to me quickly. Love suddenly grabbed me.

"Wood." Love has held my arm that has been trembling because it holds the pain in my legs. I saw him with that worried face again. How many times do I have to see it like that in front of me. Everything I experience always gets his attention.

Please forgive me for worrying you so much, I feel your feelings for me. Sorry again and thank you.