THE PERFECT TIME TO DIE

(CHAPTER 6) SINCE THAT INCIDENT, I'VE BEEN IGNORING IT

SINCE THAT INCIDENT, I HAVE IGNORED IT.

After returning home from school, I always accompanied Ani's mother to do activities in the kitchen, while waiting for Joseph to go home from school. I get bored sometimes, because Ani's mother just focuses on her cooking and makes me not know what to do.

But Joseph was never late, and always saved me from the torturous silence of my time with Mother Ani.

Today Joseph came with a sheet of paper in his hand, and out loud he said that he would make Mother Ani a landlord, the word made a smile on Mother Ani's face.

I asked about it, and with excitement, Joseph told the contents of the sheet, to both of us.

Arsenal Soccer School Indonesia is a football school that facilitates young Indonesians who want to start training as professional footballers. Not only as a means of learning football, this football school also bridges its students to a career towards the Professional Team.

And Yusuf is very excited because Arsenal Soccer School Indonesia opened a scholarship for talented children by holding a mass selection, and this program is free of charge.

After making a noise in the kitchen, Yusuf then went to the football field. And as usual, I followed Joseph and went to the field with him. In addition to football, Yusuf also likes and hobbies reading a book.

He once said to me, a sentence quoted from the book he read. Don't do something that's easy for me to do, or something that's popular, but do something that I like. And at this time, Joseph was doing it. He is pursuing his dream, to become a professional footballer.

Day after day, Joseph continued to practice and continued to brag about his dreams. And Joseph's spirit grew even more, when Ani's mother bought him a pair of football shoes. Joseph was very happy about the gift, he also wore the shoes where the punia went, when in the field, while bathing, even the shoes he wore when he slept.

And after a long wait, today is selection day. I woke up from my sleep, because of the sound of the alarm that Joseph set. Joseph set the alarm at 5 a.m. And I hated it so much that morning, because the selection was just about to start at 10 a.m.

In spirit, he took his football boots and prepared for light training that morning. With eyes still drowsy, I just followed him and we both went to the porch. Joseph was very excited to start the morning practice, and I just stared at him.

At once I was very surprised, as I stared at Yusuf practicing. My vision of his future came up, and kept me awake. In my Vision, I saw that Joseph was about to have an incident when he entered the selection.

A horror tackle from a player numbered back 5, will make Joseph's leg broken. And after that, Joseph could not walk normally anymore.

And he'll spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

When I woke up, I still saw the euphoria on Joseph's face. The sky took away his dream, and a smile on his face. I was tormented just by looking at her, and imagining her smile would disappear from her face, making it hard for me to breathe.

I just left Joseph, I was not strong even just by looking at him. I lay my body back on the bed, and be silent about the harsh reality. I had various strategies in my mind, to prevent him from going to that selection.

But a question has returned as to whether the horrific event could have been prevented. Grumbling I'll investigate the situation that keeps passing in my mind. And I made up my mind to prevent that from happening. I don't want to lose anyone I love anymore.

The morning began to dry up, and Joseph returned home with sweat flooding his body. After putting his football boots on the shelf, he walked into the bathroom. This body, simultaneously moved when he saw Joseph's football boots.

And without warning, I took the shoes and hurried to get my feet out of the house. Maybe this is all I can do, in the hope that he won't go to that selection, because his shoes don't exist.

“What do you want?” Joseph asked, holding my hand.

The question immediately made my tears spill, I could only cry and continue to cry, hoping that Joseph would understand the meaning of my crying.

I did hide my abilities from them, I was afraid that their attitude would change, if they knew, I could see the future. I knew I was selfish, but there was no other intention, other than that I just didn't want to lose them.

“You why cry?” Ask Yusuf.

The question of Joseph again tormented me, simultaneously raised various questions in my mind. Will he believe what I am going to say.

And will he abandon his intention, if I say that he will be doomed, if he goes to the selection. It was urgent that I would be worried, but I could not gamble on this.

“Sorry to me Brother.” I said, holding Joseph's hand.

This is all I can do, to save Joseph from his nestapa. I went out of the house and brought Joseph's football boots. The heat of the asphalt and the gravel of the streets, kept tripping me in my footsteps.

From behind, I saw Joseph chasing me. Seeing that, I just ran and ran until my steps were stopped by a crowd of cars and motorcycles passing in front of me.

“Rasya, danger!” Shouted Yusuf.

The warning from Joseph, did not stir my intentions. Little by little, my feet stepped into the highway that was almost full of cars and motorcycles that passed by.

The car and motorcycle horn slightly grabbed me and rebuked my steps to keep away from the pursuit of Joseph who was right behind me. But a fragment of Joseph's vision of the future, strengthened my footsteps and I made fuel for me to cross into the corner of the highway.

Lirih and not in rhythm with my footsteps, while trying to get away. Several times my steps had to stop, to avoid the car and motorcycle strikes.

But my fear of Joseph's future vision kept me going.

I kept running to the end of the road, until a loud noise stopped me. And as I turned to the source of that voice, I realized God had killed me once again. I could only stare at the scene, and I saw Joseph lying helpless on the asphalt. Blood began to cover his body, before long a group of people began to swarm Joseph.

And that day, was the last day I saw Joseph. I remember an old saying that Joseph used to say to me, and I hated it. When man plans, God laughs. I, who wanted to save Joseph, believed that fate could be changed, killed him with my own hands. Joseph died after two weeks in a hospital coma.

And it's all my fault, maybe it's my punishment for trying to change a line that's been set.

And after Joseph died, Ani's mother returned to her village. And the dark clouds began to return, after leaving for a moment. After that incident, I could only curse myself. Because of me, Joseph died.

And because of me, Ani's mother lost her smile and hope. And I had no other choice but to make peace with that line. And from then on, I started to ignore it, every vision of the future I saw.