Chapter 17

After the introductory session, Mr. Handoko asked Nareswara to show his abilities. The guy looked happy and calm when he stood up while his gaze was focused on the face board. This is the first time I have seen Nareswara serious like this. It was as if he was preparing to shoot an arrow into the heart of someone he hated so much. The light in his eyes seemed to fade and the arrow shot straight at the number ten. He exhaled and moved his right arm, making a clicking sound.

All the archery members watched Nareswara's game and I'm sure they assessed their hearts to Nareswara's game. Especially, him. The male archery athlete is the idol of the teacher council and several female students. His name is Arthur, he pays attention to Nareswara as if studying Nareswara's playing techniques. It is very difficult to keep up with Arthur's game and it feels impossible to follow in Arthur's footsteps and become a national team player.

The second arrow managed to hit ten again and I was not surprised by Nareswara's ability because he was used to practicing archery for ten hours at school. Yes, Betari told it because the guy never sent messages about his life but instead asked about my life. As if my life was important to him.

"One more arrow," shouted Mr. Handoko enthusiastically while clapping his hands and we clapped too.

Nareswara made Mr. Handoko applaud loudly after the third arrow hit the number ten. The sound of applause from me and others followed, including Arthur. The guy smiled and I didn't know what that smile meant because it looked different.

"Great, Nareswara!" Mr. Handoko approached Nareswara by patting Nareswara's shoulder proudly while Nareswara smiled and announced his thanks.

"Since when did you start practicing archery," asked Mr. Handoko and I'm sure the other friends were also curious.

"Since I lived in Seoul for a week," he answered and I saw his eyes radiate sadness. Sadness about something that he has been holding alone for so long.

Why do I like guessing like this?

"How old were you at that time," asked Mr. Handoko to him but why was I even interested in answering him?

"Twelve years," I answered because I still remembered my separation from Nareswara and Betari at that time. Farewell made me feel sad and relieved at the same time. It felt the same as I feel now, only increased by annoyance.

"You guys get along well."

I looked at Mr. Handoko with a strange smile then I turned to look at Nareswara who was looking at me happily. I think he is starting to feel confident again now in our closeness as neighbors even though we are not very familiar and close because we have limits to our friendship. I don't mean friendship but conflict.

"This means that those who have known archery since they were under ten years old are Nayana and Arthur," said Mr. Handoko then he continued his words. "It's just that Nayana lacks enthusiasm and her ability to grow is slow. You should," Mr. Handoko pointed at me. "Be as enthusiastic as Arthur so you can accompany Arthur in the national team. Your abilities can grow like the others. I hope that Nareswara's presence will help you to be enthusiastic!"

Now Mr. Handoko saw Arthur. "Don't be proud too soon Arthur. Even though you are a national team player and rarely train here anymore, don't think I don't know if your progress is declining."

For an athlete to be scolded in front of other athletes is a normal thing to train mentally and grow the strength in oneself to try harder. Even so, my heart hurts but that's okay because this pain is only temporary.

Sometimes, archery athletes talk about me, who seems to be getting special attention from Mr. Handoko, and, Mr. Handoko has more hopes for me. At the archery tournament, Mr. Handoko was like my and Arthur's personal coach. This special treatment is very obvious and raises questions in the eyes of the student's parents and the teacher council. However, Mr. Handoko was able to overcome it because Arthur and I were more competent than the others.

Every time we practice, Mr. Handoko always thinks that Arthur and I's game is difficult to get better. So Arthur and I had to try hard again.

In my opinion, archery is a sport that can cure all heart ailments, but it creates anxiety in my brain and makes me anxious about all the possibilities. Like now, I shot arrows towards the face board, and already twenty arrows stuck but none of them hit the number ten. I realized that my abilities were indeed decreasing and my enthusiasm was starting to fade because other things interested me besides archery. I want to dance like an ornamental fish that swims in water but it looks like dancing in water.

My concentration broke and Mr. Handoko approached me and cleared his throat. "Focus, focus Nayana."

I exhaled heavily and then apologized to Mr. Handoko.

"I don't need an apology, I just need you to concentrate and be enthusiastic!"

I nodded then practiced again and before focusing on the face board, I accidentally turned to Arthur who was looking at me. He smiled and said encouragement to me and I smiled back.

My relationship with Arthur is very good because we have known each other since I first joined the school archery team. Previously, I took part in extracurricular archery, while Arthur, immediately entered the school's parachute team because he was an archery athlete. When the seniors and other athletes didn't like me because I got more attention from Mr. Handoko, Arthur was by my side as a friend. But I lost sight of him when he became a national team player and was rarely at school because he lived at the national archery team training facility.

"Nay, let's take a break first," said Arthur, and I nodded.

My throat feels so dry that the mineral water I drink can improve my mood.

Arthur and I sat on the floor with our legs extended. This is our habit during break time while drinking mineral water and chatting.

"How is the training there?" I asked first and this is a constant question I always ask him.

"As usual, full of enthusiasm and aiming for a medal," he always answered.

The same question will be answered with the same answer.

"It seems that Nareswara will take part in the national team selection because he is an Indonesian citizen."

Why didn't I think as far as Arthur thought just now? Maybe Nareswara came back here because he wanted to join the national archery team. It's quite interesting if that's true because Nareswara's abilities are not bad. However, yesterday Nareswara said that he came back here because of an inheritance.

"I don't know." My response was that I couldn't possibly say what I was thinking just now to Arthur.

"I'm looking forward to us being on the national team together." Arthur always says it and I know, this is his way of cheering me up.

I looked at Arthur. "Every time we chat, we always say the same sentences as if our vocabulary is only this and that."

Arthur turned to me and he laughed. "Is it because we are athletes," he asked between laughs.

"Don't use an athlete as an excuse." This is a sentence our Indonesian teacher once said when we were late in submitting our Indonesian language assignments.

We are in different classes but our Indonesian teacher is the same and our assignments are also the same.

"Nareswara, your absent name is Nareswara Dierja, isn't it Hong Ha Joon?"

My and Arthur's gaze turned to Mr. Handoko who was holding a personal data sheet.

Let me explain, Nareswara's real name and according to Nareswara's birth certificate is Nareswara Dierja while Hong Ha Joon is her second name and he prefers to use an Indonesian name rather than a Korean name. But when he was in Korea, he would use that name even though he didn't like it.

"You are Brotoseno Dierja's grandson," asked Mr. Handoko and this would make Nareswara feel Deja Vu.

Nareswara nodded and I hope Mr. Handoko doesn't ask more questions about his father's family.

"Okay, in the national team selection, your name will be Nareswara, not Hong Ha Joon."

I breathed a sigh of relief because Mr. Handoko knew his limits and didn't ask anything else. But I can see the curious looks from my friends about who Brotoseno Dierja is. Ah, why do I get so excited and I can't focus more and more?

"Mr. Handoko knows his limits with Nareswara but not with the two of us," complained Arthur and I responded with a chuckle because Mr. Handoko was like that.

"You two, don't be lazy," Mr. Handoko shouted at us and we immediately got up and went back to practicing again.