Five

August 2019

At this month, we have sports event. The school does not have plenty of sports, I mean what to expect? It's just a small community school after all. We only have football, basketball, volleyball and badminton. And I am on the badminton team since I was first year.

Mr. Led, the handler of the badminton team, called all the students to go to the field, "Folks, we are participating at the ASC19 or the Annual Sports Competition 2019. I am the handler of the badminton team, anyone who likes to join, please come and talk to me." he explained.

The other coaches have also stepped in to inform us about their specific sport handling.

Students started murmuring and were talking about what sport they will join. The other students seems to not have any interest.

After the teachers talked they started forming groups on each sports. Mr. Led called me and Rheley. He told us that as captains of the team we need to be responsible for the members of the team.

That's it, I'm promoted as a captain. I've been waiting for years and then I finally got the place.

I almost forgot that my brother loves badminton too. I mean his on a team actually. He joined a club way back on 2016. His now a pro player and also joined a lot of leagues. Rheley's brother is also a badminton player.

Basically, my brother and Rheley's brother are best buddies since they first saw each other. The badminton team gathered atleast 10 players. In my surprise, Lea joined the team too.

But before they can enter the team, a tryout will happen. They need to show off their skills before the training.

Here's the truth. I'm not into badminton now.

I've been playing the sport for 5 years and along with that 5 years, I'm starting to lose interest. It's like I'm just pushing myself through the sport and playing it because I don't want Mr. Led to be disappointed.

Rheley and I are the only persons Mr. Led can trust by now that's why he promoted us into captains. I wanted to quit since last year, but I can't do it. I don't know what to say and I don't know what Mr. Led will feel.

Days past by until the day of tryouts came. We went to a private badminton court where I've been training on for 5 years. It's a good place to play. The rent is cheap, it has 3 courts and it has proper cleaning.

We then proceeded to the tryouts. Mr. Led planned a match where we can test and show our skills. Everyone is doing really great within their plays. And I'm here wondering if I can still play just like before. Then my time has come.

As I enter court, the atmosphere suddenly changes. I'm nervous.

Shaking. Trembling.

They've been cheering for me and for my opponent. I'm against my brother's best friend. The play starts. He swung his racket and hit the shuttlecock towards my direction. My feet are ready, so, I stepped up front and hit the shuttlecock up.

Shit. That was a mistake, I gave my opponent an opportunity to have the first point.

He was going for a smash, I can see his body forming for it. What I did is stepped back into the middle and positioned myself for defense. He hit the shuttlecock with all of his strength and didn't even notice it flying through me because it was really fast.

But, I have an advantage. I have fast reflexes. And as the ball reached my court, I quickly swung my racket and hit the shuttlecock.

That felt good. My defense state never disappoints me. The ball was going upfront and he quickly dived for it and saved the shuttlecock. This boy also has fast reflexes.

The shuttle was flying up so, that's a perfect opportunity for me. My eyes were locked to the ball. As my opponent got up he positioned himself into defense. I jumped as high as possible and hit the shuttle with all my might.

That went fast and the shuttlecock passed through the side of his ears. Everyone was shocked, I can see it in their faces. I thought it was a score.

"Out." Mr. Led said with a hand signal.

Seriously? I think I focused on the power and didn't even notice that it will be out of bounds if I hit the shuttle too hard. That's okay, atleast I knew I can still play.

The play goes on. I'm catching my breath.

I looked at the score. 11-21, then I looked back to my opponent. I'm really embarrassed. 10 score gap and I'm playing against a first year. I think it was just luck earlier. My play really got extinct.

The match was done and I lost. I went to my opponent and offered a hand shake. He took it with no hesitations and both smiled to each other.

"Hell, you're one of a player, Trev." I said, shaking his hand while smiling.

"I maybe good now but you're still a legend, Asher." he responded, letting go of the handshake.

"Dude, that label only goes for the dead. I'm not dead yet."

"Oh, does it?"

His face was poured with confusion. I shook my head and patted him in the back. After that, players took turns on playing and after hours being in there, the whole tryouts ended.