The Ball Behind the Love of the Court
142 . Missed Ani

Every time Ari and Yuri visit me, surely they do not forget to stop by my mother's house. And I always leave something to me, I'm the one who doesn't let mom and dad here. Because I don't want them to be exhausted.

While mbak Nike is busy with taking care of her wedding preparations that are just a few months away. And Mbak Yeni is busy preparing for KKN. And I'll keep myself busy to prepare for the tournament.

"How are you guys full?"

"Already dong Key, your mother's cooking is always a champion" Yuri and Ari selau enjoy mother's cooking. Especially about the barge. Those who do not like fish will love fish.

"Oh yeah you guys came in the stadium, because your screams can get me excited"

"Ready" Sahut Ari and Yuri simultaneously.

The screams of the two of them boomed in the stadium. Makes me more excited about playing ball. It feels in teriaki one village even though only two people.

"How about school? "

"Regular, David and Adel"

"Hmmm" Even though I'm not in touch with him. My heart still asks me news about him.

I think this heart is empty with the name of another man who wants to come into my life. Unless David's name is still attached and hard to forget. Adit also talked several times to want to be my girlfriend but I always refused.

"Did anyone bother you at school?"

The worry for them was deeper, because as long as I wasn't in school it was very foreign to my thoughts. I was afraid something bad happened to my two best friends because they couldn't protect them.

"Calm down, I'm not afraid of Adel" Yuri said.

"calm key, they no longer oppress us" continued Ari.

From the look on their faces I can read that good things always accompany their days at school without me. I hope it keeps happening, because if anyone hurts my best friend then I'm the bet.

"Good then, I hope you're okay. If anyone hurts you then yell at me"

"Siapppppp" Their smiles are the entertainers as I saturate this dormitory.

"Well, we go home first, Key. You take good care of yourself because soon the game will start"

"Every ri, you also don't forget to come" Ari smiled.

"Remember not thinking about David. Think about your career, he says he wants to be in the national team" Ejeknya with a laughable smile for me.

"Ihhh, you're so annoying to Yuri"

*Tlak*I occasionally snap his head while joking cheerfully. Ari also snapped Yuri's head until they forgot to go home soon.

"After all, my breath stayed a little" Sure enough Yuri's breath was panting as she continued to run from my pursuit and Ari.

"I want to go home" she hugged me.

"I want to go home too, Key" So does Ari and we always hug the three.

It must be the guy who saw us as amused by hugging two girls and one guy. What is clear is that this hug is just a sign of our strong friendship at any moment.

They are the place where I am sad, happy, disappointed and whatever it is. We are like a triumvirate that always blends all tastes in life into one that is joy at the end.

Come in for my first game at this city club. I became a core player with the same position as a left-back. In this match, what I hope is teamwork and a high sense of adaptation.

We come from several different villages, from several SSBs in this city. This is where we were brought together and this match was early to test our cooperation after training a few months earlier.

"Assalamu'alaikum mother"

"Waalaikumsalam, how are you son"

"Thank God, ma'am, please pray for key yes because today will compete"

"God willing, my mother will always pray for you to be given safety and smoothness in the competition"

I don't feel my tears dripping, I want to hug my mom and dad. I have not lived there for a long time, usually stop by my mother's house sometimes to the stall and sometimes also a walk to the market.

"Key, Key, Key you have to keep your spirit up. Don't forget to say my name if you win"

"Hahahah" I laughed at Yeni's silliness every time on the phone. Sometimes Nike too.

Instantly my tears mixed with laughter because of the silliness of Yeni. I miss joking with them but I have to see an opportunity to go even higher.

"Yes, ma'am, Key wants to prepare for the stadium"

"Okay son, take good care of yourself"

I turned off my phone and got ready for the main match of the tournament. On the bus we all prayed together before leaving. To be given safety and smoothness. The rest of the winnings are a bonus to me.

\*Pritt\*

The beginning of the whistle sounded, the beginning I had to start the concentration completely to play in this place. The main task is definitely to keep the defensive line behind and not to be missed by the opponent.

"Good, up. Focus ahead" After all a coach will not be silent. He will always monitor from the side of the field until the final whistle is sounded.

Even though the field is entirely ours. Then still have to see the condition and full concentration should not be left behind. There is a slight error that must be corrected according to the instructions of the coach.

"Bagusss," he shouted loudly.

Until the final whistle of the second half was sounded we got a win in this main game. All the players immediately cheered happily approaching the ranks of the staff and coach.

"Ari, Yuri" Shouted happily when he saw on the bench Ari and Yuri. I smiled happily because they were one of the encouragement of my life.

All the players immediately turned to the dressing room for discussion and evaluation of this initial match. Even if we win, the evaluation of the coach needs to be given. This is done to anticipate repeated mistakes.

"First of all I congratulate you on this victory. But do not be discouraged because there are some evaluations from me"

"Good coach"

We are calm about what our coach will talk about. Every game there will be an evaluation of either losing or winning.

"Your game is good, but the finishing must be repaired again. This applies to all of you who try to shoot the ball into the opponent's goal"

"Good coach"

I admit that many opportunities are wasted. Therefore we all have to learn to do a good finishing in order to produce as many goals as possible.

"Each coach"

Everyone packed themselves up to go home. I was also opening my football boots and cleaning myself in the dressing room. This victory will make the mother and father smile happily.

"Key is very good at your defense, I hope the future will improve. Coach didn't pick you wrong to play full-time" Dara suddenly came to me.

He is one of the captains of the team that occupies the right-wing midfield position. He was very enthusiastic when I played. When we first entered the dormitory, we were not close. But gradually closeness made us like a family in a team.

"I give the game as much as I can, and I think your passes are very good too. And your most powerful physique you are trusted to be captain in a full match"

My father returned to praise him. Because among all of us only Dara has a strong physique compared to me. He also often provides motivation and even exchanged opinions with me.

I salute her hard work. He can also hold back emotions than I do. Because I like to be provoked by emotions when there is a hard offense. Seeing her I became reminded of Ani.

"Hmmmmfffuuu" I took a deep breath and exhaled.

Remembering about Ani who always gives me spirit in the game and we complement each other. Now it's just the memories I hold of him. What a poor friend.

\*tlak\* I was surprised when I picked up the bag to insert the shoes, a small red box dropped under the floor. I immediately picked it up and looked at the contents of the box.

"David" I muttered after seeing that the box contained the DK necklace that David had given me first. Why the necklace could be in this place. It looks like David is here.

"Why Key" asked Dara who saw me daydreaming while holding the necklace.

"Hmmm, do you know who put this red box in my bag? "

"Oh that, Bela put it down. Just ask him, who knows he knows"

I immediately approached Bela to ask about this box. Because there is no way David can enter the dressing room because the only participants and staff who enter here.

"Do wait, did you put this box in my bag? " I asked him as he wanted to rush out of the dressing room.

"Oh that, there was a man this tall. His skin is white but he wears a mask and a hat so I don't know him. And he left this to me to give you in your locker key" he explained at length.

"Thank you for your explanation Bela" It's true that the one carrying this necklace is David.

From the traits that Bela gave me I'm sure it was David. But why did he come here and give us this necklace, hadn't we been greeting each other for a long time.

"David, if this is you then come out" I murmured in this small heart. Lying if I don't miss him, all this time I've missed David but it's better that I stay away from him.

"Key, let's get in the bus quickly"

"Oh yeah sorry" I immediately kept the necklace and immediately ran in the bus.

In the middle of the trip Yuri and Ari immediately went home after the game. We haven't had a chance to meet because the border between the sporter and the player is very complicated to break.

They sent me a short message and said they wanted to go home because it was hard to see me. He said there were still some who wanted to enter but had to pay more. It's better they go home than pay in vain just to meet a player like me.

"Should I wear it? But it's impossible, because my heart still feels the same pain. Moreover, David has not yet appeared to me" I muttered to myself in the room.

Tonight is getting late, I immediately sleep to rest my brain, mind and anything to keep stamina. After calling the family trying to sleep together tonight.

In the morning we will do eating activities, rest exercises. Next are materials and exercises. That's how it goes to keep up the ability and train the body to continue to be strong to welcome the upcoming match back.

During the day I saw the necklace David gave me. My hand is also busy holding the phone, it feels hesitant to call David or still maintain the ego.

"Key, Key, was told to take a break but still pacing around like an iron" said my roommate Sonya.

We were divided into one room occupied by 4 people and I was one room with Sonya, Lili, Raisa.

Lili and Raisa are already asleep because they really like to take a nap. Sonya is not sleeping either. Maybe he was busy watching me from earlier because he had a very high curiosity.

"Yes son, I'm going to sleep again"

"Hurry to bed before the coach checks" I followed Sonya's call. Because if we are caught not sleeping then it will be fined.

This club has a very strong sense of discipline. So no one can fight it. Maybe the bigger the club, the bigger the rules given and must be obeyed by the ranks that follow it.

By nightfall we had finished meeting to discuss the material given by the coach. Although our coach is non-Muslim, the tolerance given is great.

Practice and conversation will cease when the Adhan is proclaimed. We also do our duty as a Muslim by doing prayers 5 times a day.

"Key we're out for food"

"Come, Lili and Raisa didn't come? " I asked the two of them who were cool themselves playing mobile phones.

"You guys go first, I'll catch up with him"

"Right, me too" You're a slacker.

They are very difficult if invited out because they are always cool with games and their girlfriends. And later tonight I'm sure that they'll both starve and continue foraging. That's when me and Sonya will laugh out loud.

"Yes, I'm with Sonya first"

"Yes, be careful on the road"

Every night we would go out breathing fresh air. This city management allowed us to go out for the night as long as we were home on time with the agreement that was given.

"Key"

"Hmmm"

"I want a story"

"Look" I said as I devoured the hamburger and sat in the small restaurant across the street.