Hit and Run

When his cell phone was ringing Josh woke up with shock, realized that he had  the promise to pick up his gal from her friend house. Still in blurred eyes, he looked at  the wall clock. O, God! He shouted to see it was 8:10 PM. He grabbed the cell phone beside his bed. It’s right from April.

    “Yes, hello,” said Josh huskily.

    “Where are you?” said the voice on  another end.

    It was silent for a moment. Josh thought hardly to find the best reason.

    “Well, I am ready to go. I’ll be right there in several minutes.”

    “Do not be late. You know me, don’t you?”

    “It’s still  okay if a little bit late. You know the traffic. It’s unpredictable lately.”

    “Okay, I’ll be waiting. Bye.” April ended the call. Josh sighed deeply. As the matter of fact, he was still sleepy and exhausted. This afternoon he trained karate so hard for upgrade exam held next week. So, when he came home he succumbed to sleep right after. Before he took a towel, his room door knocked and his Mom's voice followed.

    “Josh, what is the time now? Why don’t you deliver the package to Mrs. Jennie yet?” his Mom sounded to his ears. Josh felt being trapped when to  remember she asked him to deliver a package to Mrs. Jennie’s house. She tapped sharply on the door.

    “Josh, what the hell are you doing inside? It’s almost at nine.” His Mom shrieked. Josh rushed to the door before she got angry.

    “Oh, lazy boy! Sleep all day long. Don’t you know what I told you this afternoon? Come on, Mrs. Jennie is waiting for the package.”

    “I am exhausted, Mom!”

    “I know, but who else to deliver it? If you hadn’t postponed it, surely it should have been there! Hurry up! The package is on the table in the front room.” his Mom yammered.

    “Okay, okay!” Josh dashed to the bathroom.

    “No need bathing! It takes so long! Just wash your face!”

    Josh wasted no time. Just washed his face, changed his cloth and no need to comb his curly hair, he got into the car in the carport. He put the package on the seat beside him. A second later, that silver Honda Jazz hummed and rolled out to the driveway.

***

    He looked his watch and his forehead puckered immediately to know it was 8:25 PM. He glanced the package beside him. Something came into his mind. Oh, shit! Mrs. Jennie’s house was located in contrary direction with Fatia’s homeway which far away. For a while, he slowed the car down, hesitated where he went first. Picked up April or to Mrs. Jennie’s house? In his position right now was enable for him to go to Mrs. Jennie’s and then to Fatia’s. In order not to make April waiting any longer, he took out his cell phone and called her.

    “I am on the way right now but probably a little bit longer because...”

    “Because you are stuck in traffic jam, aren’t you? How many times I told you that I hate waiting?” April' voice tensed with angry.

    “Look, listen to me! My Mom asked me to deliver a package to her friend, afterward, I’ll pick you up.”

    Disappointed  tone heard from her.

    “Okay, then. Promise me it wouldn’t take you so long. I’ll have a chemistry test tomorrow morning. I don’t study it yet. I should be home at ten.”

    “I’ll be there as soon as possible.”

***

    He just stepped out from Mrs. Jennie’s house when his phone rang again.

    “Where are you, Josh? Why you took so long?”

    “I do apologize, but I am on the way right now.”

    “I have told you, I’ll have a test tomorrow.  I do not study yet.”

    “So, you blame it on me for that? Why shouldn’t you stay at home and prepare for the test instead of going outside aimlessly?” said Josh began to tense up.

    “I am at Fatia’s house for something. Do the group assignment. Never think that I just hang around!”

    “Whatever! Just wait for me. Period!” Josh clicked the phone. He tossed the  cell phone to the dashboard.

    Fifteen minutes had passed. Unlucky for him as his car rolled into the wrong street. In front of him, hundreds of cars stood bumper to bumper. What the hell is going on? Josh didn’t believe what he saw. He intended to turn around but he stuck. He let himself follow the traffic slow motion.  He just wasted  time long enough.

     He reached Fathia’s house at ten but it looked so quiet and the porch was dark. He knocked the door and a few second later, someone came up.

    “You are too late. She has left already an hour ago,” said Fathia.

    “What? I had told her to wait for me!”

    “What’s wrong with you? Don’t you know your girl’s trait? If Madonna  is  Material Girl, you gal is Temperamental Girl?” said Fathia mocked him.

    Josh began an angry harangue, but Fathia calmed him down.

    “Get inside and have a drink. It would ease you up.”

    “No thanks. I should go.”

    “Are you sure?”

    Josh forced a smile and turned away. He storm off to his car and opened the door. Fathia shook her head sorrowfully and looked him till disappeared.

    She had to be taught how to appreciate his goodwill. Otherwise, she’s outrageous. For one year to be his girlfriend was countless she made him upset. He could bear it no more, didn’t care if it makes them break up.

    He drove the car unsedately. He chagrined for what April has done.

    In an intersection, he turned left to make  a shortcut. It was quiet street and low illumination of street light. Josh speed up the car. The adrenalin rose up inside him and pounding his chest.

    The street curved sharply ahead. Suddenly from contrary direction, a motorcycle came up. Josh steered the wheel to the left, but, oops! The biker took the left side, too. The crash was inevitable and sound of metallic collide was pounding his ears. Josh’s heart as though jumped over outside as saw the biker spilt to the ground and shuddered.

    Josh couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t see the face of the biker because the road was so dim. All he knew the biker became still.

    It happened so fast and he didn’t want to believe that it occurred to him. He was so frightening that he gave the car a gas and ran away...

***

    “What’s up with you, dude?” said Kimi his classmate wondered to see his look like  cadaver and weary this morning. Josh was silent.

    “You and April break up? Again? Nah..It is not news anymore. How many times had you guys breakup? In the end, you clicked again and again.” Kimi tapped Josh’s shoulder lightly. “C’mon! Cheer up!”

    Josh even indifferent. He slumped in his chair perturbed. The hit last night scared him so much. He kept mum about it. Nobody knows and promised himself wouldn’t let anybody to know it. Then, his another classmate known as a true gossiper, Annie, rushed into the classroom with top news this morning.

“Well, guys, today school is not held...” her face covered with sadness. Everybody in the class turned their head and looked at her.

    “Why?” said a voice in the corner. Alan puckered his forehead.

    “Don’t you know that Mr. Barry, our Math teacher was passed away? He is victim of a hit and run accident las night,” said Annie. Everybody was shock and classroom was uproar right after. They couldn’t believe what they heard.

    Josh flinched from his seat. What? Hit and run accident? Is this pertinent to him?  Suddenly he drooped off. His eyes blurred and he felt as though the sky collapsed and struck his head. When he tried to stand up, he felt paralyzed and clutched on Kimi’s shoulder.

    “O, my God? What’s up with you? Are you okay?”

    Josh said nothing. He went down beside Kimi (*)

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Cerpen saya ini dimuat di majalah Story ed:13