The Accident

After lunch, I went back to the studio and continued working. Around 4 pm, Adi knocked and stuck his head in.

"Hey aga. We are playing a game and we are one player short. Are you interested?"

"Really? I'm working."

I sounded more annoyed than I had intended.

"Come on. It's the New Year."

He went inside the studio and started massaging my shoulders.

"Lana suggested the game."

"Let me guess. A snowball game."

"Close. A throwing game actually. Everyone's joining. Ms. McCrae too."

Ms. McCrae? But she's hurt.

I stood up from my seat.

"Alright. Where are we playing?"

"In the pool," Adi grinned before going out.

I put on a jacket then went out after him.

At the pool, everyone already decided their teams and I got to be in Ms. McCrae and Lana's team. I get to be in their team because of Lana. Alikhan, Dias, Raya, Tatiana, and Diana are the opposing team.

"Alright everyone. Let's have one representative each to play rock paper scissors. The winner decides whether to play first or play second," Dias facilitated.

I push Ms. McCrae to the center and Tatiana stepped forward as the opponent from the other team.

"Alright. The best out of three."

Dias stood between them as the referee.

"Show hands at the count of three.. 1.. 2.. 3.."

Ms. McCrae showed a paper while Tatiana a rock. Tatiana won the next match but Ms. McCrae won again in the third match.

"Okay. The winner is Ms. McCrae. Will you go first or go second?" Dias asked.

Ms. McCrae looked at us from behind her and said,

"We'll go second."

Ms. McCrae, me, and Lana stood together while Adi and Ayaru stood on the other side. Ms. McCrae held the volleyball first and she threw it at Dias. He managed to dodge it.

The ball went back and forth until Dias's alarm went off, signaling the end of five minutes. Only Dias survived.

It was our turn to stand in the middle. I looked at Ms. McCrae's way, worried. She'll be okay right? She's not limping anymore. The ball went back and forth for five minutes and Ms. McCrae and Lana survived. I kept guiding them and eventually took a hit when I blocked the ball for them.

"The winning team in this round is Arystan aga's team. I say... How about a consequence for the losing team? Any suggestions?" Dias announced.

"That would make the game more thrilling aga. How about a performance after the game is over? You can sing or dance," Diana spoke up.

"Even better, the losing team could perform something as a group later on New Year's eve," I put in.

"Deal!" Diana gave a thumbs up.

"Is everyone okay with it?" Dias addressed the group.

They hesitated except Diana.

"Come on. It will be fun. And if you don't feel like doing it, your team just need to win," I told them.

"Okay then," Raya said with a determined look.

The others voiced their approval too.

The second round of Dias's team finished with huffing and laughter. Diana fell down on her bottom as she was retreating back while watching us. It was a pretty hard fall even with the snow as cushion. But she survived, her and Dias. They won the second round. Only Adi managed to survive in our team.

Dias walked to the center after we all managed to calm ourselves down.

"The final game everyone! Remember, the losers would prepare a very good performance for tonight and I say... our team won't be the losers."

"Let's see about that. The game's not over," Ms. McCrae said to him.

He gave her a playful shrug.

Dias's team played first and the two of them survived, Dias again and Alikhan.

"Team, try to evade the ball as much as you can alright? Unless you want to sing and dance tonight," I said as the five of us stood at the center.

"I don't want to," Ms. McCrae said.

"Nor me," Ayaru seconded.

"Okay. We'll start at the count of three," Dias shouted from the side.

"One.. two.. three.."

We managed to evade and scramble away from the ball for about four minutes, looking as serious as ever and out of breath too.

"You're doing quite well," Dias shouted from the side.

I saw him try to aim for Lana and Ms. McCrae for the third time and I made a run for them. We managed to evade the ball but when Tatiana took hold of it on the other side, she aimed for the two of them again. And so did Rayana.. and Alikhan and the ball is back on Dias.

They really don't want to perform tonight.

He threw the ball at Ms. McCrae and Lana again but they were preoccupied at the moment. She is lifting Lana up to her arms, probably because the little girl cannot keep up with all the running anymore. I made a split second decision and ran to them, enveloping them in my arms. We made a twirl then fell down on the snow. It was a pretty hard fall.

I disentangled my arms around Ms. McCrae and sat up, facing them.

"Are you alright?"

The rest gathered around us.

She didn't answer and checked up on Lana first who looked shocked.

"Are you okay baby?" she asked her, wincing.

Lana just nodded without a word.

Ms. McCrae grimaced when she tried to sit up, bringing Lana with her.

"Are you okay?" I asked her again.

She nodded.

"Well, I guess we need to find a good dance number tonight," Dias said.

Ayaru and Adi cheered. Raya and the other two girls sighed.

"Alright. Let's go back to the house and drink something hot," I said, helping Ms. McCrae on her feet.

"Ow!"

"You're not okay!" I looked at her feet with worry.

"I'll be fine Sir, just take Lana please," she said to me.

I took Lana from her and carried her in my arms.

"And uh.. Can I hold your arm Sir?"

I offered her my right arm. We entered the family room and she gestured at me to let her sit down on one of the sofas.

"I'll bring Lana to the kitchen first. I'll bring you tea then we'll check out your ankle," I said to her.

She only nodded in response.

I walked on, Lana still in my arms.

"You okay baby? I'm sorry," I told her.

She hugged my neck.

"I'm okay aga," she said a few seconds after.

"Alright. We'll drink something warm. Milk for you because you already had a cup of chocolate. Okay?"

She nodded without a word.

After a sip of milk, color went back to Lana's face and she joined everyone, talking about the game.

"What about Dahlia?" Leila asked me.

"She's in the family room. I think she hurt her ankle. I'll bring her tea and check it out," I answered.

"Okay. This is for her."

She handed me a cup of tea on a saucer.

"I'll go after you when I'm finished preparing the biscuits," she said.

"Thank you Leila."

"I hope it's not bad. Now go."

I found Ms. MCrae on the same position as I left her.

"Does it hurt a lot?"

"Thank you Sir," she said as she took the tea I handed her. It must hurt. If it doesn't, she'll just brush it off.

"I will look at it okay?"

I squatted down on my toes and took her left foot in my hand.

"Ah!" she winced.

"Sorry."

I gingerly loosened the shoelaces.

"I'll take it off now. Tell me if it hurts."

I started peeling the shoes off her feet and she pursed her lips together and grimaced.

I was shocked when I finally saw it. Her ankle is colored purple and blue. It looks serious.

"It must hurt an awful lot," I said to her, worry creasing my brows.

She nodded.

"Uhm.. An ice pack would help with the swelling Sir, if you can get it for me. Please."

I stood up.

"Sure. Just a second."

I made a run for the kitchen and I ran into Leila on the way. I halted.

"Is it bad?" she asked.

"Yes. It looks pretty bad. Can you get the first aid kit please? I need the ice bag. I'll get some ice."

We both hurried towards the direction of the kitchen. Leila walked on to the spare room.

"Is something wrong koké?" Rayana asked me as I put ice cubes into a bowl in a hurry.

"Ms. McCrae hurt her ankle. It's bad."

"Oh no. I'll get the ice bag."

"No it's okay. Leila is getting it."

"Ms. Dahlia is hurt?" Dias joined in.

"Yes," I said in curt reply.

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