[ KATE ]

"Here's your coke, miss. Have a great day!" The waiter smiled while handing me a glass of coke, which made him look quite cute behind that glasses he's wearing. Pointed nose, medium-sized eyes, and that typical smile which would make girls go crazy over him, he's too perfect by just being a waiter in a fast food restaurant.

Well, I didn't think I had much time to admire him because time's running up. I had better run.

"Have a great day too Mr," I looked at his badge, "Lewis!"

"Excuse me, Excuse me!" I went through the busy street which was full of people and crowded. Of course, it was a big day for everyone. I meant, it's Monday and the first day of the week had always been the busiest day, right?

However, it's a big sport competition for Eastford High School. I obviously couldn't miss this match because I was a senior, and this would be our last battle before we went to college.

Damn it's traffic light. I looked at my watch, and there were only three minutes left. As soon as the light had turned green, I hurriedly crossed the street, bumping to anyone who passed me. They swore, but I couldn't care much. I just kept mumbling 'sorry', until I spilled my coke to someone.

"Hey watch it, you dumbass!"

"I'm sorry!!" I was going to walk again, catching up with the time, but he grabbed my shoulder.

"Where are you going?"

"I have something to do and please, I'm sorry, 'kay? This is the money for your laundry, and let me go." I had met those people who always took advantages from others. What's his purpose of holding me? It was none other than asking for the money. I understood, so rather than beating around the bushes, it would be better for me to settle it as soon as possible.

"Eastford High?" He read those words written on my red sweater, which I'd just realized he was wearing the same sweat as mine.

"Yeah, now you know that and I'm late for the match. Let's talk again after the match's over, alright?"

"My pleasure, Kate." I didn't even know who he was, but I didn't think that was necessary enough to ask, since we were in one school though we were wearing the same sweater. Whoever he was, I didn't care. "And oh! I'll use the money well!" I barely could hear his voice as I rushed as quickly as possible to the school's fieldm

"Kate Reagan, have you lost your mind? You're the playmaker and I thought you wouldn't come!" Chesa Werner, my coach, probably went crazy at the thought I wouldn't show up.

"Sorry."

Didn't want to waste more time, I quickly changed and entered the field. It was exactly same how it looked like for the last three years; Everyone was wearing red shirt with 'Eastford High' written on it. Some girls modificated their shirt into crop tee, some just wore as how it was.

The atmosphere was full of tense between classes since every team represented their classes and it was as loud as a football match's audiences, but it wasn't a football game. It was basketball.

I was dribbling the ball when someone cornered me. Our teams were both seniors and we knew one another pretty much, but who this girl was? I was a hundred percent sure that I had never seen her before.

I glanced at my teammates. It seemed that they were fine. Therefore, I assumed that we should keep playing and the show must go on. Thus, I bent my back a little, dribbling the ball beside my thigh, keeping it low from her and waiting for an opportunity to pass it over towards one of my teammates. However, she stole my ball.

She didn't just stole the ball, but she slit my thigh. She had a pocket knife in her hand, but no one realized it. She turned head, as if mocking me, She smiled.

It was like a movie and everything had been paused. No one moved, all eyes were set on me, and I just knew one thing, that something moist were streaming down through my leg.

"It's blood!!!" The audiences were panicked after they realized that I was bleeding. In my opinion, it was a pretty bad day. They sent me to an emergency department and held an operation. I got eight stitches and they said the wound wasn't long, but pretty deep.

My teachers, friends, father, and even the polices had asked the same thing about how I could get hurt, but those people wouldn't believe with the story I had told them. They said that they had been searching for the girl who slit me. Nonetheless, it was bullshit.

"Darling you're tired and you were hallucinating. There's no girl matched with your description and no one was standing in front of you at that time, Kate."

"What about my scar? Was it a hallucination too? Can't you see that I'd just received eight stitches on my thigh and you're telling me that I was hallucinating. Good job, dad. Congratulations you've succeeded to persuade me! "

"Everybody saw it! No one cornered you, and the polices had checked the camera footage!"

I couldn't believe what Dad had just said. He was surely doubting me. "Have I gone crazy to make up that story on my own? Or maybe did you guys assume that I slit my own thigh and- and trying to fool the polices? Are you going to send me to asylum now?"

"That's not what I mean,--"

"Fine, dad. I understand that I'm just a daughter picked from the backyard of your farm, but I hope you feel happy after admitting me to an asylum!"

"How dare you-!!" He swung his hand, and he slapped me. For the very first time in eighteen years he had raised me, he did that. I thought I was going overboard, but I was just too hurt. No one believed me even my dad, who was always supported me, no matter how bad the condition was. I knew he wasn't just a stepdad for me. He was more than that, just liked a real father.

"Kate, I'm sorry!"

I left the emergency department in a hurry while my leg felt hurt to walk. It wasn't easy since the IV injection made me feel like vomitting. I heard dad's voice, calling for my name, but I prefer not to meet him for a while.

I needed time to heal myself and to check the truth. I was sure I didn't hallucinate, but there was no way for me to confirm it. I couldn't turn back the time, though.

With the hospital's outfit which looked like pajamas, I walked on the street. People were staring at me, probably questioning why would a wounded person wandering around rather than resting. This incident ruined the match. If only I won the game, I would receive scholarship to a prestigious college. Nevertheless, everything had gone. There would be no more game and no more chances for me.

I lifted my hand up, playing with the sunlight. It was supposed to be windy and cold, but I felt kinda hot. I sweated that my shirt damped. All of sudden I just lost my energy, and the last thing I could see, was that boy whom I saw earlier at the crosswalk.

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