Unfelt Words, Unfelt Love

As Nat sat on the cricket field, replaying Deun's image in her mind, a sudden thought sent a jolt through her. "Wait... Deun is my senior. That means... I'll face her in the match!" Nat's heart began racing uncontrollably. A nervous smile crept onto her lips, and her thoughts spiraled. "Oh god, this is real! I'll finally meet her! But... I need to play well. She has to notice me. She just has to!"

The next morning, determined and jittery, Nat arrived early for practice. As she was stretching, she noticed a small crowd gathering by the bulletin board. Intrigued, she walked over, and her teammate joined her.

"What's this about, Nat?" her teammate asked, glancing at the board.

"I don't know," Nat replied, leaning closer to read the notice. Her eyes scanned the announcement, and her heart sank.

Her teammate gasped. "What? No way! They can't do this!"

The notice read: "Final match cancelled due to unresolved issues in the association."

Nat's face fell, and her chest tightened. Her mind screamed in protest. "No match? No chance to see her?!" She had been so thrilled to play alongside—or at least near—Deun. But now, the opportunity was gone.

After practice, Nat trudged home, her spirits heavy. Sitting in her room, staring blankly at the balcony moonlight, she muttered to herself, "Why am I feeling like this? I've barely exchanged a glance with her, yet she's always on my mind. Why does she affect me so much?"

Suddenly, an idea sparked. "Instagram!" she exclaimed, sitting up abruptly. But her enthusiasm faded almost instantly. "Wait... I don't have an account." Determined, Nat created a fake account, uploading random pictures of actors, and named herself "Silent Killer."

With her newfound ID, Nat eagerly searched for Deun's profile. When she finally found it, her heart pounded so loudly she could hear it echo in her ears. But her excitement dimmed as she realized Deun's account was private. Mustering her courage, she sent a follow request.

The next morning, Nat woke up with one mission in mind: checking her phone. Her stomach churned with anticipation as she unlocked it. But disappointment greeted her—Deun had rejected the request.

"Why? Why did she reject me?" Nat's thoughts raced as she got ready for school. Determined not to give up, she edited her bio to read: "Sports Lover." Then she sent the request again before rushing off.

Throughout the day, Nat felt as though she carried a hidden treasure. She couldn't stop smiling. Her best friends, Sina and Gade, quickly noticed her odd behavior.

"Hey, what's with you today?" Sina teased. "You've been smiling like an idiot. Did something happen?"

Nat froze for a second, her mind scrambling for an excuse. "Um... I... I got an important wicket during yesterday's practice! It was crucial, so I'm happy about it."

"Ah, that makes sense," Sina replied, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

Nat sighed inwardly. "Sorry, Sina, I can't tell you about Deun yet."

After school, Nat rushed home like a whirlwind. Her heart raced as she unlocked her phone, hoping to see a notification. But once again, there was nothing.

Disappointment weighed her down. Yet, deep inside, her determination burned brighter. "I'll find another way to connect with her," Nat whispered to herself, clutching her phone tightly.