PERIPLES
13. Hospital

I was standing in the middle of a field surrounded by many spectators. At the very center there were two referees in yellow shirts and black pants carrying balls and whistles. To his right is Cita, Niken, Caca, me, and at the very end there is wenda. To the left of the referee, there is a yellow Mahen school team.

This is the final round. The sky outside I think it's getting dark, too. As intentional as it was, fate brought my school and school together in the fiercest round of this competition.

Our team picks the ball, while the opposing team gets the goal. We started to do the strategy, when the referee blew his whistle. Exciting songs from supporters began to be heard.

Feeling my goal was threatened, while Wenda was too focused on keeping the right goal, I kept one of my opponents who was ready to receive the ball on the left. I just realized, the woman in yellow jersey with the number 15 in front of me is the girl who was with Mahen in the minimarket at that time.

He smiled cynically. Instead of the ball, which I got even a hard push to the goalpost I felt hit my head the back. It hurts a lot, and it can't breathe. Samar, I heard the sound of an ear-bending whistle, followed by the noise of the people who witnessed all this. After that, I couldn't hear or see anything anymore. As blind and deaf, slowly the world darkens and turns into silence.

...***...

My eyes ached, as I slowly opened them, and adjusted the light of the over-highlighted lamp. Nose attached with oxygen hose. With a heavy head, and a neck that was difficult to move, I glanced slightly beside the bed.

I found Luke lying his head on the side of the bed, using his hands as a cushion. I turned to look at the wall clock, it's twelve o'clock at night. About seven hours later I was asleep.

On the sofa not far from the bed, I saw two men sleeping in a sitting state. They were far apart, one on the left, one on the right.

I moved my hand, and it woke Luke up.

"Vell? Don't move yet. I'm calling a doctor."

She rushed out of this room, and returned with one doctor and one nurse.

"Try to sit, will you?"

I'm nodding. Helped with Luke, I did what the doctor asked.

"Try to make a shit. Which side hurts?"

"Neck, Doc."

"Is there any other pain? Dizziness or pain in other parts of the head?"

"Slight dizziness, but no other pain."

The doctor smiled, "Later the dizziness will gradually heal. Lie down again. I'm checking again."

"Tension, heart rate, and temperature are normal. Actually, I can go home now. But it will be bright in the morning. Can she come with me?"

Luke nodded, "Well Doc."

"Sleep no more." The doctor said, and passed away followed by the accompanying nurse.

Lukas approached with a relieved smile, his hand stroking my hair, "Sleep again huh. I'll see Doctor first."

I'm nodding. He lifted the blanket up my chest.

I smiled at Luke's back which was starting to disappear from this room. I sit myself back. I saw Mahen and Sister Harris sleeping. They seem to be exhausted.

Why are they here? How did Lukas know I was in this hospital? Why would Sister Harris wait for me to get late? And why is Mahen the bike with me?

I put my foot on the floor. Approaching the sofa occupied by the two men. I blanketed their burly bodies with a blanket that was supposed to be for the patient.

They're waking. The eyes that had originally narrowed, were now wide-eyed.

"Vella?" Say them simultaneously.

Sister Harris and Mahen were in the fog to get out of place, and approached me.

"Lo was a human?" Ask Brother Harris

Mahen clucked, "Fuck luke. Where'd he go anjir? Patient to hang around gini. I was the only one who took care of you."

Door opens. Luke came running up to me, "Kok got up?"

Plaques

Mahen slapped Luke in the head, "He was sober instead of Alhamdulillah was asked 'kok wake up?'. Wherever you go until Vella wakes up you're not around."

I grimaced to see it, I glanced at Kak Harris who was also staring at them with a voiceless slash.

Lukas snorted, staring intently at the man who had just clapped his head.

"Vel, why are you sitting here anyway? I said sleep again." Luke said while holding my shoulder, but was immediately removed by Sister Harris.

The three of them stared at each other fiercely. I snorted, then got off the couch.

"Where are you going?" Ask them three compact. I saw them staring at each other in turn.

"What lo?" Well again. I think they are brothers who have been separated for a long time. And thank me for meeting and clarifying it here.

I stepped my foot, and was followed by three men who had argued. They laid me in bed.

"Laper isn't it?" Ask Mr. Harris to interrupt.

Mahen and Luke nodded. "Vella hasn't eaten yet" Luke said.

Mahen looked at me, "But why don't you eat one gini in the morning?"

Lukas pulled his jacket over the chair where he was waiting for me earlier, "Yes rather than die of slackness. Want lo?"

Luke moved, but at the door he stopped, "Who would want me?"

"No." Sahut Mahen and Sister Harris together.

I got up, "Gue aja."

"Can't!" Ban them again.

"Let me just." Sister Harris relented, took her jacket on the sofa, and walked over to Lukas.

Me and Mahen. Five minutes passed, with no one to say a word. I cleared my throat and pulled the blanket over my head. I leaned my body against Mahen.

"Vell. Mother came here. Worrying about your circumstances. But we told you to go home, get some rest."

I'm unmoving. Pretend sleep.

"I'm sorry yes. Sorry if as long as you're with me, you never lose what's called happy. I'm sorry I always make you sick. I'm sorry I can never always be there for you."

I still don't answer. Maybe as far as Mahen knows, I'm asleep.

"I love you, Vel. The girls around me are just friends. You are the only one in my heart. You're the only one who can understand me."

Mahen let out a long sigh, "I have a lot of friends, whose girlfriends are always required to be picked up at all times, ask for skincare, ask for money to buy this, and possessive that the guy deket same girl. And I just realized, you've never sued me at all."

"I lost you. I know you purposely stayed away from me. And I never looked for you not without reason. I want you to calm down first. I want us to start all over from the beginning. I used to be mad at Ica, because she oversaturates my life. She doesn't like it when I'm close to you, when my girlfriend's status is you."

"And the same girl I was at the minimarket was my classmate as well. Name's Dina. I can't help but he's also told Ica. Too bad he's gonna set me up on purpose to meet you the same fucking Harris."

I smiled, my tears began to drip.

"After the meeting, I thought of you. Why are you going to go with another guy? Why don't you ask me to come get me? Malemnya I asked your number to David. But David did not want love. He said, if he gave me your number, Rena would break him. The idiot, he's a very bucin, why should you also say the same Rena."

He chuckled, "I know you're not sleeping, Vel."

I rubbed the remaining tears on my cheeks. Scramble the blanket violently, and sit facing Mahen.

"What a hell are you talking about? After a few months you did not hear me, did not appear at all in front of me, and even when I was with the others you deliberately did not come along. You're suddenly talking like gini?"

Mahen looked at me pushyly, "I'm afraid you're getting screwed up Vel, if I always show up in your life yesterday. But after I saw you with Bang Harris, I didn't want to. I don't want you to be taken by anyone. I don't want you to be happy with anyone else."

"But I like everyone else, Hen."

Mahen bowed, "I'm sorry. I think I'm a bitch. Come out of your life so easily, without asking if there is someone who occupies my position first. I was too scared of the answer you gave me. But, it turns out that without me asking, you already told me first."

I held my head up when I thought my tears were starting to drip again. I blinked. I still love him. But it's been half the way for me to forget Mahen. In fact, I have no certainty with someone I maxed out to be Mahen's replacement.

I feel comfortable with that guy. Although not as comfortable as Mahen, but I never feel the pain of being with him. I'm always happy, he always has a way of letting me laugh. He could always make the worries of life fade away just like that.

I love Mahen, but I also love him who is always there for me.

Can I be selfish this time?