The CURSE: Deadly Games

● TWO ●

10:15 A.B.

His body began to shrink one by one, everything returned to normal. The coarse hairs also shortened and disappeared without trace, whether where it went all that, is still an unsolved mystery.

If you think about it further, all this is unfair. The pain he had to endure every day left only a torn cloth that was originally a whole garment.

With those little clothes of materials, Eleanor walked towards her room. Sometimes he suddenly fell because of fatigue that he could no longer stand.

His hand moved open the glass-filled minimalist closet. Her eyes began to look for the same clothes and skirts she had worn earlier. Yes, Elanor always bought the exact same pair of clothes, avoiding the suspicions of her office mates.

***

"Corn, Ma'am," said Eleanor, who had just returned, in a dress that was exactly and neatly arranged.

"Why was this day so long, Nor?" asked the manager, a little annoyed by the behavior of his men on that one.

"Sorry, Mom. My tire broke, so I had to stop by the garage for a while to patch it up first" he replied lying, pretending to be sorry while lowering his head.

"Oh, jude. Now quickly go back to your desk and finish the files on your desk" the manager ordered.

"Well, ma'am," replied Eleanor, naive.

"One more thing, Nor. Later in the afternoon, when you come home, rest well. Your face looks pale, "anxious manager. Although he looked resolute, but deep down, he was very affectionate and considerate to his employees.

"Good, Mom. Thank you very much, ma'am," replied Eleanor, excited. He himself even forgot when the last time he was happy, noticed by others.

Then, Eleanor immediately rushed to her desk. His eyes were fixed on a stack of files that were not too high. I don't know what makes him so sure that he can finish it on time that he doesn't have to spend his time overtime.

Just as he was sitting on his soft chair and preparing to fight his work, he felt a little uneasy at the persistence of the creature opposite him who was tirelessly staring at him. Well, that person is Baylor, his best friend who he has tried to forget, even the risk of not meeting forever he willingly passed for the peace of his beloved life.

"Extm ... Baylor, just continue your busy life and don't spend your time staring at it constantly. I know she's pretty, but you don't know her yet" said Favid.

"Hey, watch your talk, man. Maybe you don't know him. Isn't that right, Eleanor Devacio?" satir Baylor while playing next to his eyebrows.

Eleanor who heard the conversation of her co-workers pretended not to ponder their words and was busy focusing on her work.

"Emank you ready, Lor?" ask Favid, start to wonder. Turn his body completely toward Baylor.

"You know, Favid. I used to have a friend, we were so close. She is a beautiful girl, very beautiful. But for some reason, on his 18th birthday, he suddenly disappeared forever from me, never coming to see me again. He kept me waiting and waiting, waiting until I got sick and went to the hospital.

I thought he would come see me, or at least send me a message. But what do I get? It turned out that all my waiting was in vain. But, forget all that, now I want to start a new chapter with him, start all over, even though I am still disappointed with him" Baylor said, sounding sad in every letter of his speech, his heart ached remembering all that.

Eleanor who heard Baylor's speech was glued to the spot, her hand typing the computer keyboard stopped, her eyes were fixed on the computer screen also stopped, not least her mind which also came to a halt instantly.

It felt like he was eager to vent all his emotions, to vent all his complaints, to explain the reason behind it all. But what's the power? He can't tell anyone about it. No one, including his best friend.

***

"Hey, Baylor, Eleanor. Cusss, eat first," Javid bargained to the two rocks that were being washed away in the stream.

"Emm, sorry, Vid. Maybe not today. I have to get this all done right away" said Eleanor, trying to reject the pleas of Favid as subtly as possible.

"I'd guess. You always spend your lunch alone in the office, along with the files. All right, I won't bother you anymore. Just continue your busy life, Nor," said Favid, who was answered only with a nod and a faint smile from Eleanor.

"Maybe I'll keep him company, you know...."

"All right, then I'll go first. Bye," Favid's kekeh who understood the veiled meaning as he walked away from the two.

The sound of clockwork was clearly heard in the middle of the silence. All the employees who were refilling their bellies left only a lizard at the very corner of the wall as their witness, two points of life visible in the vastness of the room, Eleanor and Baylor.

They let a clockwork noise fill the room for nearly 15 minutes, before Baylor decided to break the silence.

"Ele, can I talk?" baylor asked, starting the conversation carefully.

The question was not answered by Eleanor. So he decided to ask again. "Ele?"

"I'm sorry, don't you see I'm busy? Moreover, I am in a hurry right now," Eleanor replied like a stranger.

"Lord, please help me. I'm really stuck right now. I never thought Baylor would accompany me here. Lord, please help me so that this bondage of fear is soon released from me," Eleanor prayed sincerely in her heart, begging that all this restlessness and fear should come to an end.

"You ready?" baylor asked again as Eleanor's finger movements began to slow down. "If you're not ready, I'll wait again. I don't mind if I have to wait for you in 1 hour or even 100 days. I think my wait for you all along has taught me the meaning of patience in waiting."

Eleanor felt sorry for her friend. How could he be so selfish. He did not even think about his friend's feelings.

But ... NAY! He cannot give her false hope.

"Alright if you don't want to talk to me. Can at least one answer you give me? The reason behind it all, your departure left me all this time. I could no longer bear Nor .. ti-dak sang-gup any more," his cries overflowed, the cry from the teenager he had endured.

"Sorry...." Eleanor's voice sounded hoarse.

"I didn't mean to, really. Only an apology can I say to you, and I'll repeat it again and again" he continued. The feeling of regret and sadness was clearly visible and real on his pure white face.

"Then you have to explain this to me. Didn't you think about how I felt before you did this to me? Do you feel that our friendship is so easily broken, so easily destroyed? Don't you ever know that I miss you? What are you-" his words were cut off when the person opposite him stood up and was about to leave, again.

"I'm sorry, Baylor. Really, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I-I can't explain this to you. If I could do it, then I wouldn't make you wait, wait so long. I'm sorry" sobbed Eleanor inwardly, she was speechless. His legs started to run faster and faster.

Not just a pair of legs, but two pairs. Baylor, unwilling to see the same back vanish again, continues to chase after him.

He managed to block Eleanor's hand and stop her movement.

But....

"Sorry, Lor. Really, sorry...."

Unconsciously, a tear flowed from his eyes.

"Don't cry, Ele. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you" Baylor sighed in a soft voice.

"I'm the one who should be apologizing, Lor. But, a-I can't explain everything to you right now, I'm not ready yet. I'm sorry."

Baylor's hand was swept away by Eleanor. Again, the same shadow, the same back, left it again.

Baylor's strength also floated along with that back. His knees were bent and his body was bowed on the cold floor.