Your mouth Harimau

After the Match

I ran to the dressing room with a big smile. I was almost done changing clothes when my team-mates were dragged in.

Yuni walked over to me and leaned against my closet. He looked at me with a suspicious look.

"Why are you so excited?" his insistence.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Come," I said. "My feeling is fine. As usual."

Sweat was flowing on Yuni's forehead. Hair on his face because it was wet.

"What's up, Bird?" his insistence while yawning. "I don't understand."

"Maybe you got the flu or something," I said, trying to cover up how happy I was. This is really great!

"Ohh, I'm so tired," Anna said as she approached Yuni.

"I'm sure you'll be better tomorrow" I said cheerfully.

"There is something strange here," muttered Yuni weakly. He tried to look at me sharply, but his eyes were too tired to focus.

"See you tomorrow!" I said happily, I took my things and walked outside. "May be fast, friends!"

I stopped outside the dressing room. They'll feel better tomorrow, I assure myself. They'll be back to normal. They can't possibly stay as they are now?

The next day bad news hit me like a ton of bricks. Yuni and Anna are not in school. I looked at their empty seats while walking to my seat in the front row. I kept looking, looking for them. But until the bell rings, they remain non-existent. Absences. Both absent.

I want to know if the other players in my team are absent as well.

I shudder.

Are they weak and tired? Too weak and tired to not go to school?

I have a terrible thought. What if they never

back normal?

What if his magical power never runs out?

Then I had even more horrible thoughts.

What if Yuni, Anna, and the other players keep getting weaker?

all because of me?

Everything's my fault. Everything's my fault.

My whole body feels cold. All my life I've never felt so guilty, so guilty.

I tried to get those thoughts out of my head, but I couldn't.

I just kept thinking about how they would die because of my careless request. I will be a murderer, I said in my heart, trembling. Assassin.

Ms. Selvie, our teacher, was standing right in front of me, talking about something. I can't hear what he's saying in the slightest.

I kept moving around in my chair, looking at the two empty seats in the back. Yuni and Anna, what have I done to you?

At recess I told Colin everything. Of course he laughs at me. His mouth was full of food, he almost choked with laughter. But I don't want to joke. I'm really worried.

I look at my food that I haven't eaten, I feel unappetised.

"Seriously, Colin," I said. "I know this sounds ridiculous.

"You mean you mean it?" he asked, his eyes watching

my face. "I thought you were kidding, Shop. I thought that was a story for

creative writing or something."

I'm shaking.

"Listen Colin, if you were watching a girls' basketball yesterday, you'd know I wasn't playing, I wasn't kidding" I said, leaning against the table and whispering.

"They were walking like they were sleepwalking" I said.

"Truly terrible!"

So confused, my shoulder shook. I covered my eyes so I wouldn't cry.

"Okay, let's think about it," said Colin slowly, his cute smile suddenly gone, his forehead wrinkled. Finally, he takes me seriously.