Disclaimer: This writing is purely fictional and created solely for roleplay and character development purposes. Any experiences, stories, or personal anecdotes shared are part of Michelle’s fictional narrative and do not necessarily reflect the writer's real-life experiences. All characters, events, and circumstances are fictional unless stated otherwise. Thank you for reading and respecting the boundary between IC and OOC. ♡

I've never really been a sporty person, to be honest. If you ask me to go jogging, hit the gym, or do any kind of exercise, my first instinct is usually to find a thousand reasons why I should probably stay home instead. I'm very much the type of person who enjoys being comfortable, and the thought of intentionally exhausting myself doesn't always sound like a good time. Tapi anehnya, kalau udah ada yang ngajak badminton, jawabanku bisa langsung berubah jadi, “YUK!” Like, where does all that enthusiasm suddenly come from? I genuinely don't know. Maybe badminton is just my one exception to the rule, and honestly, I'm not even going to question it.

There's something about badminton that makes me want to get up, grab my racket, and actually leave the house without having to negotiate with myself for an hour first. I like how simple it sounds when you make plans to play — tinggal bawa raket, siapin shuttlecock, cari lapangan, and you're good to go. Well, at least that's what I thought before realizing how exhausting it could actually be. WKWKWK.

The first few minutes are always the most exciting. Everyone's still full of energy, semangat banget buat memulai permainan, and somehow we all act like we're about to compete in an actual championship. I'd get into position, hold my racket properly, and wait for the shuttlecock to come my way. Sometimes I'd hit a pretty good shot, and for a brief moment I'd feel like, Okay, maybe I'm actually getting better at this! Terus mulai percaya diri, mulai berani ambil bola yang agak jauh, pokoknya berasa jago banget deh. Unfortunately, that confidence doesn't always last long. 😭

There have been plenty of moments when I was so sure I could hit the shuttlecock, only for it to fall right in front of me. Bayangin, the shuttlecock is literally right there, coming straight toward me, racket ready, and somehow I still miss it. Sometimes I swing too early, sometimes too late, and sometimes I genuinely don't know what went wrong. Like, I saw it coming! I had ONE job! At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if the shuttlecock itself was confused about what I was trying to do. The worst part is pretending nothing happened, picking it up, and getting ready for the next serve as if I hadn't just embarrassed myself in front of everyone. The confidence is there, guys. The coordination? Yah… kita emang nggak ada yang tau pergerakan selanjutnya seseorang.

And don't even get me started on the stamina. At first, I'd happily run from one side of the court to the other, trying to reach every shot and refusing to let the shuttlecock fall. But after a few rounds, things change. My legs get tired, my breathing gets heavier, and suddenly a short break becomes the most appealing activity in the entire world. Lucunya, setiap kali ada yang nanya, “Mau lanjut lagi nggak?” Somehow, my answer is almost always yes. Padahal baru aja duduk sambil minum, masih ngos-ngosan, dan dalam hati udah janji nggak mau lari-larian lagi. But the moment the next game starts, there I go again, running around the court like I've learned nothing. Apparently, I can be lazy about exercising but still have the energy to say yes to another game. Make it make sense.

I guess that's what makes badminton special to me. It's not always about winning, perfect shots, or being the most athletic person in the room. Sometimes it's about the little victories, the ridiculous misses that make everyone laugh, and the way a simple game can turn an ordinary afternoon into a really fun memory. I get to move around, spend time with other people, and laugh at myself when things don't go as planned. Maybe I don't love sports in general, but there's something about badminton that makes exercising feel less like a chore and more like something I genuinely look forward to. Capeknya dapet, keringetnya dapet, hiburannya juga dapet. Would I play again? Absolutely. Would I promise to stop missing the easiest shots? Also absolutely. Will I suddenly become someone who enjoys every kind of exercise? Let's not get ahead of ourselves. For now, just invite me to badminton and I'll probably say yes before you even finish your sentence.