Weeks had passed since my arrival at NKSA, and with each volleyball practice, I began to feel more comfortable around my teammates. The evenings were still filled with laughter and high-energy drills, but tonight seemed different; we had picket duty to clean up the gym after our practice for the week.
I tied my shoelaces tighter and took a deep breath, stepping out onto the court where everyone was beginning to gather. The clatter of equipment filled the air as students chatted amongst themselves, their energy still buzzing from practice. I noticed Elice among them, leaning against a wall with a water bottle in her hand, her long hair cascading over her shoulders.
As I made my way over, I felt a sudden wave of nerves. Should I call her by her name? I hesitated, afraid I would stumble. Instead, I decided to keep it simple. "Kak," I began, using the Indonesian term for "senior."
Elice looked up, her green eyes sparkling with surprise and amusement. "You can just call me Elice," she replied with a warm smile.
I felt a rush of relief at her response, combined with a tinge of embarrassment. "Okay, Elice. I hope that's alright."
As we worked, I couldn't help but notice how our schedules coinciding for picket duty was just a happy accident. It was fascinating how routine tasks like this could lead to unexpected interactions. "I guess it's a good thing we both have the same schedule for picket today," I remarked, trying to keep the conversation flowing.
At my words, I noticed a flicker of caution in Elice's eyes, though she maintained her friendly smile. Perhaps my casual reference to our schedules felt more significant or loaded in her mind. I understood that for her, being close to a boy she hardly knew might bring up unnecessary worries.
"Yeah, it's convenient," she replied, her tone friendly but guarded. There was a subtle tension in her demeanor that I couldn't quite place—a protective shield she held up, as if weighing my every word.
Instead of pushing the conversation, I decided to focus on our task of tidying up. "Let's see how quickly we can finish this. I think I spotted a few volleyballs still over by the bleachers," I said, gesturing toward the far corner of the gym.
"Good idea! I'll grab the ones by the storage area," Elice replied, grateful for the shift in pace. We began gathering stray equipment, working side by side as our movements synchronized with a shared goal.
As we continued tidying up the gym, moving through the motions of picking up volleyballs and equipment, the comfortable atmosphere lingered. Each of us focused on our tasks.
Just then, Elice reached for her bag, rummaging through it with a frown forming on her face. I watched with curiosity, wondering if she was looking for a specific item.
"I can't find my phone," she said, a hint of frustration in her voice.
"Oh no! Did you check the last place you had it?" I asked, concerned. It was slightly alarming to see her visibly anxious.
Elice shook her head, her expression growing more worried. "I thought I had it with me when we started practice. Maybe I left it in the locker room?"
Without thinking, I offered, "I can help you look! It shouldn't take long." I felt a rush of determination to assist her, eager to ease whatever tension had suddenly surfaced.
"Oh, that's okay, really! I can manage," she replied quickly, brushing it off even as her brows furrowed in thought.
I didn't want her to feel alone in this, especially since her expression suggested it was bothering her more than she let on. "Come on, it's no trouble. Let's check the locker room together."
For a moment, she hesitated, weighing my offer. Then, with a reluctant smile, she nodded. "Alright, let's go then."
As we walked toward the locker room, I felt a slight uneasiness wash over me. I knew I was entering the girls' locker room, a place I had never been before, and it felt a bit awkward. However, the gym was empty at this hour, so I reassured myself that we wouldn't encounter anyone else.
"Are you sure this is where you last had it?" I asked, glancing around cautiously as we entered. The room was dimly lit, the sounds of the gym fading behind us. Rows of lockers lined the walls, some doors ajar, but it was quiet.
"Yeah, I think I may have left it here after practice," Elice replied, her voice tinged with apprehension as she started rummaging through her bag again. Her brow furrowed in concentration, but as she searched, I could see her confidence begin to wane.
When she opened the first locker and found it empty, a look of panic began to creep into her expression. "It's not here!" Elice said, her voice rising slightly. "Maybe I left it in another locker!"
She hurried to the next locker, her movements growing frantic. I could see her hands trembling as she fumbled with the door. "I can't believe this! I can't find my phone!" she exclaimed, turning to me with her eyes starting to glisten.
"Hey, it's okay. Let's just take a breath and think about where you might have put it," I said, hoping to calm her down.
But her breaths came quicker now as panic set in. "What if someone took it? Or what if it's lost for good?" Tears brimmed in her eyes, threatening to spill over.
"Do you have your number? We can try calling your phone; maybe it'll ring and help us locate it."
"Yeah, that's a good idea," she said, pulling out her own phone to give me her number. I quickly dialed, and within moments, the faint sound of ringing notification emerge in my phone.
"It's ringing!"
"But I don't see it anywhere!"
"Alright, how about we check with the school staff?" I suggested, trying to think quickly. "Maybe they can check the CCTV footage in the gym area. They might see where you left it."
Elice nodded, her features showing a glimmer of hope. "That could work! Let's do that," she replied, determination finally breaking through the worry.
We rushed toward the administration office, the unease in her expression gradually shifting to focus as urgency took over. I knocked on the door and called out to the staff inside, explaining the situation as Elice stood beside me, still clearly anxious but ready to take action.
After a few moments, a staff member stepped out. "What seems to be the problem?"
"Elice here lost her phone during practice, and we were wondering if you could help us review the CCTV footage to see if we can find it," I explained, hoping for a positive response.
"Of course, let's take a look," the staff member said, gesturing for us to follow.
As we walked down the hallway toward the monitoring room, I could feel Elice's tension beginning to release slightly. Maybe there was hope after all.
The staff member clicked through the footage, rewinding to the start of our practice, which, of course, took a lot of time. Elice stood beside me, her nervous energy palpable as we both focused on the screen.
Just as we were beginning to feel the weight of waiting, my phone rang unexpectedly. I glanced down, noticing a number I didn't recognize. Curiosity piqued, I carefully answered the call. "Hello?" I said cautiously.
"Oh, sorry. Is Elice there?" the voice on the other end asked.
Elice's eyes widened in recognition. "It's Kelly's voice!" she shouted, excitement cutting through her earlier tension.
I handed over the phone to her, feeling a surge of hope. "Take it!"
"Hey, Kelly! Is my phone with you?" Elice asked, her voice now steady and clear.
"Yeah, sorry! I mistakenly took your phone when I finished at the club," Kelly replied, and I could hear the slight panic in her tone. "I thought it was mine because you put it near my bag. Really sorry, Elice. I just noticed it now that I checked my bag."
"Oh, okay, if it's with you, I thought I lost it," Elice said, relief flooding her voice.
"Once again, I'm really sorry. I can return it to you soon. Should I deliver it to the school dorm?" Kelly offered.
"Yes, please! That would be perfect," Elice replied, a smile breaking across her face.
"Okay, I'll be there soon," Kelly assured her before they ended the call.
Elice took the phone back from me, relief shining in her eyes. "Thank you! I was so worried. I can't believe it was with Kelly this whole time."
"No problem! I'm glad it's not lost," I said, happy to have helped in some way.
Elice turned to me, her expression softening. "Really, thank you for being here and helping me look for it. I appreciate it, Hamza."
Her gratitude warmed my heart, and I felt a sense of satisfaction knowing I could help. Even if only a little.
We started heading home to our respective dorms. As we walked side by side, I could feel the sense of camaraderie lingering in the air. We reached the point where our paths diverged, just between the girls' dormitory and the boys' dormitory.
"Thank you again for everything," she said, her smile genuine as we faced each other. "I really appreciate your help today."
"No problem! I was glad to help. Have a good night, Elice!" I replied, feeling a little bounce in my step despite the approaching darkness.
"Good night, Hamza! See you at practice tomorrow!" she called back, waving slightly as she started toward her dorm.
I watched her go, a sense of satisfaction filling me. As I turned and made my way to the boys' dormitory, I reflected on the day's events.
That was the very first of our interactions, and I couldn't shake the feeling that it was the beginning of something special. This would lead to my most unforgettable experiences in this school.