Part :1
[Present Day]
(Phone Rings)
"Umm..Mmm.. Ahh… My head hurts. I don't want to wake up. Who is it at this hour?!"
(Phone continues to ring)
Damn! Where is it?! I just woke up. I forgot when I fell asleep.
Ahh.. My room's a mess. Oh! I slept on the floor. Quite a surprise! There are books and garbage all over my place. I need to clean my room today.
(Phone rings)
Where is it? The sounds coming from the left. Is it on the bed? Is it under the bedcover? The ringtone's so annoying. Yep here it is!
"Hello?!"
"Hello! What have you been doing? This is my fifth call to you."
On the other side of the line is my current only friend 'Chris Elsher.' He is one of the reasons I go out frequently.
Ignoring the fact that he takes me against my will. The reason he called me might be silly given the experience I had with him for years.
"Yeah, I see! I was sleeping "
"And here my fragile heart was about to break. For a second I thought you left me in this malice and evil world alone. Ignoring it for an instance who sleeps in the middle of the day ".
I forgot to tell you that he watches too many fantasies and starts using its accent time to time.
I didn't accept what he said until from the right side of the window, a ray of light from the corner of the curtain flashed at me. I have known my habit of sleeping in the middle of the day and yet I didn't care much.
"Yeah so what is it?"
"Oh right! We planned an event to commemorate our badminton racket's first arrival. So the chief guest must be present tomorrow at morning sharp at 6:00 am to inaugurate and to illuminate the event with your presence. "
WHAT THE HELL!! Couldn't he speak like a normal person! And what's with this 'Event'. Normally I would have said no but he would make a big fuss out of it and in the end he would drag me out in the morning anyway.
To avoid the hassle, I should say yes and surrender myself to him.
"Ok! I will be there."
"Thank you! Come to the nearby park. Ok! See you tomorrow."
(Phone clicks)
So now the real problem for me is-How am i going to wake up at 6 am.
I could set the alarm for an interval of 15 mins from 5 am to 6 am and so there will definitely be a possibility that I would wake on time. But no, I already slept in the day, so this option is a no-no! So if it has come to this , the only way out of this is: To stay awake till 6 am in the morning.
Yess!! Now this is possible for me. Anyways I love staying up at night; because it's so quiet! From the chaos in the day,the only escape to my peace is the quiet night. It's the rainy season, so the rain will keep me company and there are a lot of TV shows which I have been waiting to watch. So this might be a great opportunity to finish all of them. It's decided then.
Part: 2
[The next day]
(Yawns)
I want to sleep now. After binge-watching TV shows all night long, my eyes are giving up on staying wide open.
But I just can't cancel it. I will play only for 2 hours. Then get back to my room to sleep. I open my window to let my body get the vibe of morning.
What I witnessed was the magnificent sunrise. Sunrays flashe at me and narrow my eyesight which I was hoping would widen up after I opened my window.
Ahh.. I have seen this view many times. It's a very sorrowful sunrise. Every morning when the symbol of hope rises up, I go to sleep. Killing all the hope and sheltering myself in the sorrow. I hid myself into my very own den of rules. But it's peaceful and I don't regret it.
To wake up my nerves, I came myself to the park.
"My eyes! They aren't opened fully" I rubbed them as I said it.
Am I the only one who came to the park? I made sure that I was 15 mins late but still there's no one beside me.
It's still early in the morning but I see many folks wandering in the park. It's quite a surprise for me. I didn't expect anyone here besides us. The park is square-shaped with fencing around it and divided in two sections with a path in the middle . With trees along the perimeter to make it more visitable.
Small swings and slides for children right in front of it; surely a comfortable place for parents. Hmm, the ground's still wet. I guess it rained last night. Will we be able to play properly here? I went and sat on a bench. I waited for them but they didn't show up any sooner.
The morning scenery kept me occupied for a while, so I didn't get bored with lush green bushes and trees as a topping to it.
When the wind blows the leaves rustle and makes an unforgettable soothing sound. Birds singing their songs and insects giving them a proper tune.
All these made me forget the time and purpose of coming here. In the midst of all of these, I witness some wrestlers entering the park. The outfit and their muscles were giving their identity. They contain many members of different ages and gender. I see them running and exercising and competing with each other. Neither of these activities bothered me until I saw them having fun with what they were doing.
At this point in my life I had lost interest in doing anything. I wasn't able to understand what fun is anymore. So whenever I saw someone having their best time of life I always criticised them or mocked myself for not able to do the same.
"Good! At least someone can enjoy their life unlike this shit sitting here and whining about everything." I should try to love myself more.
It's already too late. How much are they going to make me wait? I should at least give them a call. As I moved my hand down the pocket, I realised that I didn't bring my phone with me. I recalled and remembered that I left it on charge.
"This is too much hassle for me. I am done. I am not waiting anymore, I sacrificed my sleep for this! "
Annoyed and frustrated. I left the park.
I came home and the first thing I did was to check my phone. Only one notification! What would you expect from an antisocial guy like me. It was from none other than my clingy so called friend. The message goes like this-
[Dear Chief guest. I am sorry but the event is postponed and will take place tomorrow morning. Yours sincerely, Chris.]
"GO TO HELL! And what's with this letter format? I am done. I am not coming anymore."
This is how I would like to react but I am out of energy. I just need to rest..
I lie on my bed and fall asleep instantly.
In the evening, he comes to meet me at my apartment.
"Sorry! Please show some mercy on this tiny and disrespectful being."
As if I am gonna let off the hook so easily.
"This fellow follower of yours is ready to accept any punishment for his crimes. So please bestow your kindness and come to the park tomorrow."
He thinks begging on his knees will melt my heart. But you don't know the supreme cruelty of this brilliant living being. Ahh.. What the heck! Why am I talking like him? I will surely go insane if I stay with him anymore.
"Can't you hear what I am saying? I am not coming and that's final!"
HA! Now he will roll down and cry like a baby to convince me. But I will remain firm on my statement.
"Okay! If that's what you want. I will leave you alone."
Huh?! That's it! He surprised me by saying this.
He left without any other word. This wasn't normal.
I smelled something suspicious. Something which even I wasn't able to perceive.
I felt uneasy. I knew something was coming at me.
Part: 3
[The next morning]
(Banging on the door)
Argh..! What… What sound is it? I hear a loud banging on my door in the very morning.
Man!!
What time is it? It's still 6 in the morning. I fell asleep half an hour ago.
It's so annoying. Who could be at this hour?
Somehow, I know who is behind the door.
(Banging continues)
"Coming! Coming!" I open the door and see an idiot, self-reclaimed friend of mine with a big disgusting smile on his face.
"You idiot!" says the one who is annoyed.
"Hehe!! Didn't I say that we will play today for sure! So please come with me, our very Chief guest. I will escort you to your destination."
I knew he wasn't one to give up so easily, so this was his plan from the beginning. Barging in and taking me out forcefully.
"Didn't I say no yesterday. So leave at once. Ahhh… Owaaaa.. Let me down at once! What are you doing, let me down now!" He lifts me forcefully in his arms.
"I can't hear you, Sir Chief guest." He won't let me go this easily. Someone save me from this monster.
"OK! OK! I am coming, let me wash my face first."
I don't know why he involves me in whatever he does. When I want to let myself be alone, he comes out of nowhere and invades my privacy.
From the beginning, I have never even once liked him. I wish we had never met, so I would have enjoyed my solitude in peace. But what a hassle!
"Sure!" He lets me down.
After getting ready we walk towards the park.
Including us two, there were a total of five of us present. We decided to play in doubles. Obviously, one of us has to be the ball man. I willingly volunteered for it.
The game starts, for unprofessionals, they were pretty decent. But to me they were just hitting cocks which were coming at them at a turtle's speed.
When one of them got tired out, my play came. But the rules were altered, and now it is a one-on-one play.
There are moments when times goes very fast and moments when time goes very slow. The initial one suits me this very moment.
I am the last one standing.
Muscle memory comes in handy sometimes. I haven't practised for a long time but my body didn't forget how it moved.
One of Chris's friends, astonished by my play, compliments me by saying,
"Whoa! How cool! Why don't you join a club? I am pretty sure that with your skills you can be a champion. Really! If I were born with such a talent, I would have been a star by now ."
An overly exaggerated statement. That is how you give excuses for not working hard enough. I know this cause it was who i was before. But not anymore.
"That's a great idea, I will think about it."
The best way to avoid it is make to them believe that it's gonna happen just like they suggested.
Another one adds,
"He is right! Where could we get this talent whose worth is immeasurable? So give it a shot, at least you will be reminded of us when you get famous." Grinning all the way through his talk, he gives me another bunch of invaluable words.
"Hm. Sure I will give it a try."
"I think it's enough, guys." Ha! Finally, Chris realised.
"Your compliments are so low. You don't know but he is gonna be a legend among legends. If he wants, he can surpass the current champion right now. Right?" What should I do about this dumbass Otaku?
"Well, who knows?!" with a weird face I stated.
"Man, I am thirsty!" Yes!!
"I will get it."
"Sure!"
Man! What was up with them? They literally tired me out. As i was filling the water bottle with the water tank nearby, I spotted some wrestlers playing with water. (They came again today what a surprise.)
After filling the water botle I head back to others. And we left the park after resting for a while.
The same day, in the evening, I came out to take some fast foods to refill my energy for another round of sword fight(An online game). The store was in front of the park and that was the closest store here. And that's when I see the wrestlers from the morning practising again. Surprisingly, there were more of them from the morning.
"So they came in the evening too! Their main class is right now. Then why do they bother coming at the dawn? Ha! " I smirked and headed toward my room.
Not that I was interested but just wanted to know how they can make themselves to work hard and what's the joy in it, at the very least.
So i stayed awake all night and went to see if they came or not. And to my curiosity, they are present! But this time, something else takes my attention.
There is a girl with a boy cut. Bangs.. meddling with her vision, looking so fit as an athlete should be. And she is the only girl present among the boys. Is she stupid, brave or passionate? These are the thoughts that popped up in my mind.
But surely I want to ask her about it. But who would go out of his way for something like this? I would definitely not. I watched them for a while and left because I felt sleepy.
I quite liked the park so I frequently visited it from time to time. There was no one to bother me and I was able to enjoy that peaceful morning atmosphere. One day the boycut girl came alone. No boys, no girls. I got quite surprised.
"Why is she alone today?" I don't know how I felt at that moment but the sadistic me wanted to know.
(That very night)
I am trying to sleep.
" Argh.. But why is that girl from earlier in my head..... I mean it's wrong why would she go alone and if not alone why should she come? For what? Practice? Ugg..! Just forget about it and go to sleep. Hmm.. But...on a second thought ...if I recall, She was interesting though. Yeshhh! Got it! It's decided I will talk to her."
For the next few days, I didn't go to park. Sleep was a more important thing to me. Alone I ate, alone I did everything. Never got interested in anything, never bothered to do anything, but this time it is different. I don't know why but this girl got me to ask her something. Even if something like that is normal, it is like an achievement for me. So I want to find out what I am trying to look into her.
The day to ask her finally came. Ok it is another regular day for which I stayed up and got to the park. The wind is blowing harshly. It seems like something gonna change today. This is so sudden. This day came very fast than I imagined. The wrestlers came as usual. It is another practice day for them. This time, the boycut girl came with her friend. They started running around the park. Just the same as every day.
Cool down! It's the usual day, just like every day. I start to walk in the opposite direction so I can stop and talk to her.
"Here she comes!"
Ok, just say "Hey! I want to talk to you for a second."
Ok, this sounds good.
They are running toward me, and I am slowly approaching them. Now we are close enough. It's now or never.
I look toward her, and our eyes meet. For a while, I get lost in her black and beautiful eyes.
Say it!!
And I lost my voice too, and I walked past them.
"Huh!? What happened??"
Why couldn't I ask her what I wanted to? I was prepared, then what happened? I tried for the second time, but the same thing happened again, and I wasn't able to talk to her.
Despicable and pathetic. Anxiety hit me very hard.
Why is this happening now? Of all times...? I finally made up my mind for something, but still fate is forbidding me from achieving it. This is unacceptable! I will give it a one more go....And I failed again.... And why is my heart racing fast..
After a while, at last, without acquiring anything, I went home. And the question 'How am I going to talk to her?' still remains unanswered.