The Times New Romance
Chapter 16: The Match of Self-Esteem
Chapter 16
Self-Esteem Match
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“Why do you challenge Nata to play basketball?” gerutu Ayna on Zayn who sat in the basketball stadium audience seat. Anger enveloped the tall boy. He was humiliated by Nata. Zayn could have been silent just because of the words of Nata.
“You're gonna make me bet, again. I'm not an item huh, Zayn!” babble Ayna was not finished with the way the guy's mind. He is no longer an SD child who likes to challenge his friend, why does he do this? Ah, Ayna remembered. Even senior and lecturer killers can be resisted by Zayn, let alone Nata who is at his level. Zayn is not afraid.
Zayn waits for an empty basketball court still filled by SME basketball boys. He drew and exhaled quickly and looked Ayna in the eye. “Ya continues, is there any way you can go as far as Nata? He's not a good guy, Ayna. I've known Nata longer than you and she doesn't have a good side in the least.”
Ayna sneered, “You're overreacting, Zayn. Nata is not like that.” Zayn made a gesture to vomit. “This must be just your wits that I see as suffering.”
Zayn hissed, “See, right? You won't believe anything I say. I'll fight back again. So,” Zayn stood up from his seat. He broke the distance between himself and Ayna. The girl widened her eyes. This distance was so close that the mint scent of Zayn's body inhaled his sense of smell. Zayn whispered in Ayna's ear, “Doain I won yes, Antivirus.”
Zayn got off the bench when Nata called him from the bottom. Ayna who had time to sculpt was able to restore her consciousness. He shook his head trying to brush off the heat that crossed his two cheeks. Basic Zayn handyman mode!
***
There are only Zayn, Ayna and Nata in the stadium. The sound of the reflection of the basketball and the squeaking of shoes was heard echoing in a large room that was now quiet. Nata and Zayn fight each other for the ball with half room and one ring. The winner is the one who gets the most points in fifteen minutes. A thrilling one-round match.
Ayna bit her deep lips to a reddening. He's not on anyone's side. It makes no difference whether Zayn or Nata wins this match, but what makes Ayna worried is Zayn. He remembered Zayn's leg was swollen pretty big. Does that guy have no pain jumping and running like that?
Fifteen minutes later, the game was stopped. Zayn and Nata's bodies were flooded with sweat as their breaths became stingy. Ending the match, Nata smirked in satisfaction at Zayn.
Zayn who held the last ball also slammed the ball rough to the floor until the ball reflected high. The man dragged his way to the sports locker room inside the stadium.
Zayn's eyes began to twitch. His head felt dizzy as if hit by a large beam, but Zayn still walked upright pretending to be strong. He could not let anyone witness his defeat, especially the girl. The real match is going on between Zayn and his illness.
Arriving in the dressing room, Zayn's body decays to the floor. His chest feels tight. He clutched the collar of his clothes and tried to strangle, but not a single word could be spoken. Slowly, his consciousness faded until darkness embraced him.
***
"Five hours. Sleep well too. You awake, Zayn?" hatch a man who is busy playing a leaf in a small pot installed near the window of the nursery.
Zayn blinked his eyes once more to be able to clearly see the guy he was talking to. The back belonged to Nata who had changed into a casual outfit. "Where's Ayna?" ask Zayn. This is all he thinks.
Nata chuckled and turned to face Zayn who was lying on the clinic bed. No panicked look flashed across his face as if he could have guessed beforehand what would happen to Zayn after a match with him. "Silence, Zayn. I've taken her home. I said you needed a break. So she doesn't know you fainted."
Zayn let out a disappointed breath. He should've driven the girl, but shit! Because his actions instead provide an opportunity for Nata to escort Ayna.
The fierce match that occurred between the two obtained a twenty to ten result with Nata being the winner. Zayn couldn't keep up with the nimble play of that gentleman who had shrewdly moved there and there. In fact, it was the first time Zayn held an orange ball and played basketball. Zayn only guessed the pattern and procedure of playing SME basketball children before. If Soraya finds out, Zayn will definitely be banned from college again.
"Why do you want to play basketball. You're not strong for that, Zayn" said Nata. He has known Zayn since SD. They often play together, but Nata visits Zayn when he is trapped at home with a bed, a heart machine, mouth coverings, and various breathing tubes wrapped around him. Zayn's disease was still severe at the time and needed intensive care.
At first, Nata considers Zayn a strange creature that cannot get out of the house. Nanar, Zayn's view. Stuck in the window glass, Zayn could only watch a child his age run and laugh. Nata was moved to greet Zayn who gradually made him understand that there was nothing different between him and Zayn. The guy was just unlucky not to be born with a healthy heart.
"It's for Ayna's sake. Let him not fool me like Handini," replied Zayn sharply. "But unfortunately I failed to get rid of you. I have to find another way."
Nata chuckles bland. "Handinis? The opposite complex girl you ever liked?"
Zayn snorted, "I don't like him, Nat. I'm just sorry he likes assholes like you."
Zayn looked at Nata who was grinning at him. The guy wasn't offended. Whereas under normal circumstances, a guy called a jerk should probably throw a fist at Zayn's cheek, but, yes because this is the real Nata. It seems, only Zayn knows the true nature of Nata.
Nata approached Zayn as the man slowly got up and sat on the edge of the bed. "I've changed, Zayn. I really like Ayna. I don't want to hurt him."
Zayn smiled in anguish. He removed the infusion needle in his left hand and stood up to match his position with Nata. "Five years ago, you said something similar."
***
