Sitting on the sidelines of the volleyball court at Kuala Baru National High School 07, I watched closely as the NKSA boys' volleyball team faced off against their rivals. This was the first away exhibiton match against other school this season. The atmosphere was electric, filled with cheers from the crowd and the sounds of the game in full swing. Even though I was just a substitute today, the excitement of the match made me lean forward in my seat, eager to see how it would unfold.
Across the court, I spotted Elice in the stands, her gaze fixed on the players. She wasn't competing in this match because the girls' game would come later after the boys', but the pride and support she exuded were clear. Her calm face showed focus, and her analyzing eyes seemed to catch every move on the court, ready to evaluate the plays and players.
While I followed the action closely, I noticed a familiar figure making her way toward me—Kelly Wijaya. With a slight smirk playing on her lips, she approached, her curious expression revealing her intentions.
"Hey, Hamza! Mind if I crash your little viewing party?" she asked, her tone light but tinged with a hint of sarcasm. Her eyes were sharp, observing everything about me.
"Sure! Grab a seat," I replied, attempting to sound welcoming as she settled beside me.
"How are you feeling about the game? Looking forward to playing when it's your turn?"
"Yeah, definitely. It's exciting to see us play against a different school," I said, glancing back at the court. "I'm just trying to learn from watching."
"I get that," she said, her voice light, but I sensed an undercurrent of scrutiny beneath her friendliness. She was observing my reactions closely.
"You're friends with Elice, right?" Kelly asked, tilting her head curiously.
Caught off guard by the sudden question, I raised an eyebrow. Why was she asking? Was she trying to gain some information from me? My mind flickered back to the phone incident a few days earlier, the very act Kelly had been involved in when she had mistakenly claimed to have Elice's phone.
Not really, I thought. We'd only interacted once, and I didn't want to give her the wrong impression. "We just had some conversation the other day, that's all," I replied, trying to keep my tone casual.
"Just a conversation? It looked like there was some good chemistry there," she remarked, her voice playful yet probing.
I felt a subtle shift in her demeanor, and it made me wary. "I mean, we're teammates. It's nice to support each other during practice."
"Sure, that's one way to look at it," she replied, a teasing smile on her lips as if she sensed my discomfort. "But it's important to have friends in the same club, you know? It helps you grow as a player."
"Absolutely," I said, nodding but feeling the need to clarify further. "But honestly, we hardly know each other yet."
"Right," she said, her tone still light but carrying a hint of scrutiny. "Just... be careful, okay? Elice can be delicate sometimes."
Caught off guard by her choice of words, I followed up with a question. "What do you mean?"
"Oh, just that she has a lot of expectations on her," Kelly replied, brushing it off. "I don't want you to get caught up in whatever pressure she's under."
I sensed there was more to Kelly's words than just casual concern. As the matches continued on the court, my own thoughts remained conflicted.
"I appreciate the advice," I said, careful to keep my response neutral.
Kelly leaned in slightly, her tone dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "So, what about you and Elta? You two seem pretty close lately. Are you actually dating her?"
"No way! We're just classmates and friends who play volleyball together," I clarified, my voice coming out a bit stronger than intended.
Kelly raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the moment. "Just friends, huh? Because the way you two interact looks a little cozy to me," she said, a teasing smile spreading across her face.
"Seriously! You're reading way too much into it," I replied, trying to brush off her comments and not let her get under my skin.
it felt like I was being interrogated, and I couldn't help but shift uncomfortably in my seat. I needed to break the tension. "Erm, Senior Kelly..."
"Just Kelly!" She glared.
"Kelly, what exactly do you want to convey? Is there something you want to talk about?"
A smile of amusement danced across her face. "You are sensible, aren't you?"
"Just trying to keep things straightforward," I said, hoping to steer the conversation back to safer waters.
"Fair enough. But you know it's not something I can talk about openly like this, right?" she replied, her expression serious now, the hints of teasing fading somewhat.
"Absolutely," I agreed, appreciating the shift away from the playful banter.
"Are you free this evening? You already have my phone number, and I have yours too. I can text you later, Hamza."
"Sounds good!" I said.
The thought that we would speak more openly later filled me with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. I could feel the dynamics shifting, and I reminded myself that these interactions were just as crucial as any play on the court.
As the game continued, I focused back on the match, waiting for my turn to be played.
****
The clear evening sky cast a soft glow into my room, the gentle breeze flowing through the open window felt refreshing against my skin. The weather had been perfect today, a serene contrast to the thrill of the match I had just witnessed. While I enjoyed the calm, I felt a flutter of anticipation in my stomach about the conversation I was about to have.
As I settled down, my phone buzzed, breaking my moment of peace. The screen lit up, and I noticed Kelly's name displayed as "Kelly 2-B" in my contacts. With a deep breath, I opened the chat.
"Good evening, Hamza," her message read.
"Good evening," I replied, my fingers typing quickly.
"Have you eaten yet?"
"Straight to the point, please," I shot back, adding a winking emoji to lighten the mood. I knew Kelly loved to tease, and keeping it playful felt like the right approach.
"I just want to be friendly, you know," she responded, a smile likely playing on her face as she typed.
"Of course, what kind of friend would I be if I skipped dinner?" I replied, letting my own smile grow as I thought of her relentless teasing.
There was a brief pause before she replied, and I could picture her chewing on her thoughts. "Honestly, I wanted to talk about Elice and the whole phone incident."
Before I could respond, I felt my phone vibrate again. This time, it was a call from Kelly. "I think it's better if we talk over the phone," she said when I answered, her tone lowering as if she were concerned about someone overhearing.
"Alright, I'm listening," I said, curious about the urgency in her voice.
"I just wanted to reiterate that I had nothing to do with putting Elice's phone in my bag," she said, her sincerity coming through loud and clear.
I paused for a moment, wrapping everything she said in my mind. It felt different from what she had claimed that day. But rather than pressing her for answers or doubting her words, I decided to let Kelly explain further.
"Okay, I hear you," I replied, my tone encouraging. "If you didn't do it, then we need to figure out who did."
Kelly took a breath, seeming to appreciate my understanding.
"An unknown number sent me a message about Elice's phone being in my bag. Here's the screenshot of the message for you to check," she explained. "After I got it, I opened my bag, and it was true."
I took a look at the message, feeling the weight of its implications. I pondered over who might have sent it and why someone would go to such lengths.
"Why didn't you tell Elice about this?" I asked, curiosity lacing my tone.
"You really ask that?" Kelly replied, a hint of incredulity in her voice.
"Well, I get it," I said, realizing the challenge. "Sharing it might only lead to confusion and further misunderstanding."
"Exactly," Kelly said, sounding relieved. "I didn't want to add to Elice's stress or make her distrust everyone around her."
"Smart move," I acknowledged, understanding her point of view. "But keeping it secret is also tricky... it could muddy the waters."
"I know, but I want to gather more information first," she replied, determination clear in her voice. "If we get any more odd messages or find another link, it would be easier to connect the dots without dragging her into a messy situation."
"That makes sense," I agreed. "If there's anything else you find, let me know. I'll keep an eye out, too."
"Will do," she replied, her tone softening. "Thanks, Hamza. I feel better knowing I'm not handling this alone."
"Anytime, Kelly. We're in this together," I reassured her.
After the call ended, I sat back, contemplating what we had talked about, then decided it was time to involve someone else who might help get to the bottom of this mystery.
I scrolled through my contacts and called a certain someone. The phone rang a few times before an enthusiastic voice answered.
"Hello, my love," came the cheerful greeting from the other side.
"We need to talk. Are you free?" I replied. Then, realizing the miscommunication, I quickly corrected myself. "Wait, you're not my love."
"Sure, when can we meet, baby? Tonight?" the voice teased, clearly enjoying the banter.
"Yes," I confirmed, knowing we needed to meet soon.
"Okay, let's go to a fancy restaurant."
"Hell no," I replied, chuckling despite myself. "I have no money for that. Let's go to the usual place."
"Roger that, baby," the voice responded with a playful tone.