Secretly Loving You's

Ch 27 - Injured

The last game starts at exactly 10:00 WIB. There were 30 teams involved. Each team has a different bandana color. The organizers set different departure times to avoid competition between teams.

Each team is equipped with one simple map to avoid getting lost. We became the 13th team to leave. The committee took us off in the woods. Our task is only to find various passwords that have been spread by the committee at various points as much as possible.

"Our target is to win. You must follow all my orders. I have more experience in this than you." Arkan walked in front of me as he brushed away the bushes that blocked the road.

"I don't accept defeat. I was made a winner. I also do not tolerate mistakes. So you have to follow all my orders so that this team can win. Okay?"

I misjudged Arkan. Behind that friendly and smiling face, stored such a strong competitive soul. Her external carrying is deceptive. He is not the kind of man who can accept defeat. For him, everything is a fight. Everyone must obey his orders. In other words, he's a dictator.

"The first plan to do is, we need to split up."

"Y-yes?"

"This is Arsha." Arkan pulled my arm and took me to a fairly roomy place. "Where's the map?" tanyakanya. I pulled out a map.

"The committee said, there are 100 passwords spread throughout this point. That means 30 teams fighting over 100 ciphers. When hit flat, chances are one team will get 3 to 4 passwords. That's a normal calculation. But, I'm not the kind of person who would accept such a flat division. I have to be more than the others. This team has to win."

"For that, I have a plan." Arkan paused for a moment. She's staring. My feelings became unpleasant. "We're going to split up. We'll collect as many passwords as possible. We'll gather here, at exactly three in the afternoon. Understood?"

"What's? So you mean, I was told to look for a password until three? Four hours looking for a password in this forest?" I spread my eyes around. Although the forest has been touched by humans and is often used as a place for outbound, but there are some parts that are allowed to grow wild so that the scary impression is still there.

"Not you. Me either. See that banyan tree? We'll meet under that tree at exactly three o'clock. Now, split. I'm going this way, you're going there." Arkan turned around and started to step in the direction he was going.

"But sir, isn't the goal of this game team work? How will it be team work if we go alone?!" myrag. I wish Arkan could hear my voice. Turn around and change his weird mind. Arkan did turn around, but without stopping his steps.

"Team work is important. But if the target can be achieved faster by itself, why not?! Don't be spoiled. We'll meet here at exactly three." Arkan waved his hand and resumed his steps.

Argh!! I think I want to say harsh words. Apparently there is a guy like Arkan. A selfish man who attaches importance to his own interests! If it's like this, it's better for Mr. Armand to go anywhere. Although his attitude was cold and flat, at least Mr. Armand would be gentle. Won't let a woman go alone like this.

What did he say?! I'm spoiled?! Basic sucks!! I'll show you how barren a country girl like me is!

"OK, fine! Let's see, who will get more ciphers! Huh!"

***

Ever since I separated from Arkan, I've forgotten one important thing. Map!! How foolish. Why would I let Arkan have that map? How do I read directions when it's like this?

The battery is still 70 percent. Unfortunately, there is no network at all. There are two red cross marks on the top right of the phone that has two simcards.

"Huh, relax. It is impossible to get lost in a forest like this. When you see the hoard, even more lush hills near the house. This forest is nothing." I tried to calm myself down and think clearly. Convince yourself, that there must be a committee watching.

"Let's find the password and get out of here!"

Stepping without a map is enough to make me a hassle. I marked every road I walked to avoid getting lost. I drop every bush that blocks the road. Spreading his eyes here and there, hoping to get a cipher.

When my gaze turned upwards, there was an unusual sight I saw. In a tree branch, there is a red ribbon tied. From the looks of it, it was impossible for the tape to be tied just like that without any intention in it. Could it be a cipher?

The tree grew right on the brink. The height of the tree is approximately five meters with a sturdy trunk and lush branches. The embedded ribbon is in a twig with a height of two meters. An adult man as tall as Mr. Armand would have easily reached the ribbon without having to climb it. Since I was short, I needed to climb up to grab it.

Judging from the height of the tape, there was nothing to worry about. The chances of falling are also very small. The committee must have thought about the safety of the participants. It is impossible for the organizers to lay passwords in dangerous places.

As far as I am concerned, I only need to rely on myself. Since childhood, I have been used to climbing trees. So climbing like this, is not a big deal. I just need to focus on looking at the map and ignore the abyss below.

With that confidence, I started getting ready to climb. Putting a backpack on the ground. Roll up the sleeves and strengthen the grip on the tree trunk.

"Yeah, start."

Now it's summer. I'm sure the tree trunk is dry enough to tread so I don't have to take my shoes off, but it turns out my prediction was wrong. The tree is very slippery. My sneakers lost their grip so in a split second, I slipped.

"Akhh!!" Spontaneous screams just came out. I closed my eyes. Letting my body fall and roll over. I don't know how deep I fell before my body stopped at the river.

"Youwww!!" Pain and tenderness begin to take over the whole body. Pulsing painful. The pain is centered on the right calf. The warm flow I could feel. I peeked to see the source of the pain. And, the view is quite surprising.

My pants were torn to the thighs. Among the tears, there was a bamboo measuring one meter, two inches in diameter with a pointed tip, splitting my pants and right calf. The ten inches more transverse tear and the pouring of fresh blood became a terrible sight that I had to see.

I'm wounded. Being under the abyss with a cell phone that has no signal. Only a miracle can find me.

***

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