Yellow Flags
Badminton and the Aleia Problem

🚩 Jacob

My breath was heavy to breathe. My heart rate is also beating fast. Sweat has washed my palms. Fortunately, the stifled emotions made me spill some resentment at every smash.

*Tock touching opponent's floor. “Yes! Match point*!” the Eagle next to me. I smiled knots, while playing the racket in the grip of my left hand. “Keep calm!” hissing Eagle. “Before winning must be calm,” he said while glancing at both opponents.

"Stay focus!" mummify slowly. Maybe the eagle won't hear me.

The face of the opponent looked tense. His eyes were on me and on my right hand. Austin wiped the sweat off his forehead. While Vero, staring intently at the white object in my right hand.

I relax the handle, give a little energy to the punch. It floated in the air, slightly above the net.

Vero swiftly advanced, fending off my lowly attack. Back on the air, towards the Eagle's side. My friend fended off the soaring attack, by doing a smash into the opponent's area.

“Yes!” the eagle shouted, sounding too excited.

I spread a smile. Doing high five with the Eagle.

“Woooo!! Congrats duo handsome boys meuh!” kim shouted from the penoton area. The boisterous applause from some onlookers sounded loud in my ears.

There were only about twenty people, and on average they were Eagle's office companions. I only knew my two friends who were sitting on the front bench.

“Good game...” Vero said as we shook hands. Those narrowed eyes disappeared as a small smile was drawn at the corner of his lips. I drew a smile, nodding lightly.

Austin just nodded. He seemed to hold back a little. I don't blame Austin. If I were him, maybe I would be upset about losing two sets.

“If I play with Heru, it must have been battered in the initial set!” said the Eagle while walking side by side with me. His smile never faded. “Yesterday it was Vincent. He is the same Vero playing so cute,” said Eagle in a low voice.

“Smash you brutal bang!” comment by Heru when we are near. His hand swung in the air, then mimicked the smash movement. The thinly-floated face was slightly tensed, looking at me with a surprised look.

He sighed, then the look in his eyes turned anxious. “Lu have a problem? Bring it to the emotional person.”

Heru is indeed the most ridiculous, as well as the most sensitive. “Tau aja lo...” gruncku. Next to my hand pulled a towel from inside the bag. I wiped the sweat that had soaked the nape and neck.

Kim's eyes were wide. “Eh, are you yes? I think adrenaline rush, make your smash...” Kim came swinging his hand in the air. Her cheerful face looked without burden. “Shoo... shoo..” he sighed sharply. A glance of Kim's eyes caught the figure of Heru standing beside his right. “Luck you are playing, if Jeju..” His head shakes quickly. “Well, definitely lost!”

“Not necessarily,” Reply Heru while elbowing Kim. “Gue has diligently ngegym. Could win us!” Heru raised his hand, revealing the wrist of the maroon red shirt he was wearing. Biceps are the result of fat deposits, not muscle mass.

Kim chuckles. His hands are massaging Heru's muscles. “This is rubbery njir! Where there is such a muscle!” he laughed off.

I took the phone from inside the backpack. 9.05 PM, on the screen. “Gue back yes. Tomorrow Monday, you guys are on your way to work too right?”

Kim nods weakly, “besok lo first day of work ya?” Kim widens his eyes, “lo there's an office right? What hybrid?”

I nodded, “gue there is an office. But yes... still basic really.”

“Spirit bro!” said Heru while clenching his hands in the air. “Merintis emang should be troubled at the beginning.”

I breathe heavily. “Thanks yes.”

...***...

The night was long. Especially when the mind torments this mind. Winona's last words were like a curse spell on the head.

Those eyes of disappointment made me not be able to look at him for long. I don't know how to make Winona not feel sad anymore.

I rubbed my face rough. Turn your body to the right. Snarling low, I got up to a sitting position.

I opened the glass door that connected the room with the balcony. Breathing the night air from a polluted city. There is no freshness, only tightness that increasingly grips the upper reaches of my heart.

I went back inside, picked up a cigarette from inside the drawer. Then I went to the kitchen, took the minerals from the fridge.

Even the refrigerator contained nothing! I should have stayed in the mini market.

Back on the balcony, I pulled a small round bench located in the corner, placed it near the trellis.

My mind wandered back, staring blankly at the lights of vehicles that were still passing on the main road. I want to refute Wio's words. But the girl looked angry.

I really love him. Otherwise, maybe I'll leave him without any news, just like he accused me of! Although in fact, the misunderstanding made Wio even more hurt and disappointed in me.

If you want to win her heart back, there is only one way. Time!

Slowly, I smoked a cigarette. Enjoy every pull and gust of burning tobacco.

I've always believed, the feeling begins to grow with the time we spend together. So will relationships form, when time forms a moment. Carve out a special event, which will later become a memory.

And I also believe, my memories with Winona will make that girl come back to me! And by time, I'll get Winona's heart back!

I pulled a small smile. Remembering how possessive I am. If I dare to guess, I'm the only one who's ever been in Wio's heart. It strengthened my resolve to make it part of a wonderful moment in my life.

But how do I get time with Winona? Ah, I remembered the meeting plan with Sepia. The meeting was a little anxious for me. Sepia is good at role playing. I admit, just now when I saw his face that looked depressed, it made me feel sorry. I feel sorry, that she married a bastard like Gema.

My phone rang, making me turn towards the room. Who called me this late at night?

I turned off the cigarette, then placed it next to the mineral bottle that was still intact.

Aleia's name was on the screen. Tumben once he called so late at night?

“Hallo,” male voice heard from across the phone.

“Job! Don't touch me!” aleia's cry sounded in the background. Likewise with the sound of disco music that sounds loud.

My heart rumbled after hearing Aleia's voice. “Hallo, who is this?” ask me with an urgent tone. My steps swung fast, towards the wardrobe. Taking the black leather jacket, I let go in my body.

“I waiters from Frederica’s Bar and Lounge, mbak this mintak please same I contact last contact.”

Last contacts? I pulled the phone from the ear, lowered the notification bar. Aleia's name is on the description of misscall.

“Jagaian adek me yes. I am now there!” I took the keys to the bike, then turned off the room lights.

“Good.”

It's not usually Aleia to the bar! And who did he go with? Did he go there himself? It's dangerous! I have to go there right away.