That day I got grandpa's permission to go to school and return home with Jebat. It was easy and I received a phone as a bonus. Well, the scolding was not that much of a concern. If you ask, I may scratch my head and answer you. In brief, when mom and dad were arguing, I got irritated and went to the toilet with my phone.
Everything was alright until a sudden knock surprised me and I dropped my favorite android in the bowl. One splash and everything was gone. Well, back then, mom didn't say much, and neither did dad. But they didn't buy me any alternative either. I guess all of the scoldings were pending and turned into a thunderstorm later. I could tolerate all of these, but there was this Iyan standing and trying his best to not laugh. I was pissed.
The new phone wasn't as great as my former one but was working just fine for me. Thanks to that phone, I earned some freedom.
The peace was maintained for one week and a few days. I roam around places with Jebat. Food places, stores, farms, abandoned properties, lakes, and even the forest. Then came that one day. One ominous day.
Iyan somehow had some work to do near the school. And we had P.E. for our last class. So, Jebat and I sneaked out. When we were heading to the nearest noodles shop, we bumped into Iyan.
We, with our P.E. clothes on, stood still.
I was just shocked but Jebat's situation was quite the sight. He was trembling and sweating and looked like he would get on his knees at any minute.
Silence surrounded us. Iyan stood there, still. It felt as if the breeze had stopped as well. For some minutes, nobody said anything, only a pair of cold eyes stared at us.
At last, I gathered courage and tried to explain the situation. "Um, Iyan... as you can see... last class was P.E. and the teacher asked us to exercise on our own... which we can do at ho...me... as... well..."
"Okay, then we will do it at home. Now, let's go to the school, and grab your bags."
He dragged both of us by our shoulders.
"But I want to eat noodles," I screamed, struggling in his grip.
"I will make your noodles," Iyan said, in a nonchalant voice.
Hearing this, I wasn't happy at all. But it seemed Jebat's eyes lit up as soon as Iyan mentioned making noodles. He even stood up himself, obediently following Iyan.
I also stood straight and straightened my demeanor. It's not manly to be dragged around.
We made it quick, as Iyan wanted. On our way to Iyan's Jeep, I asked Jebat why the heck he looked happy. He grinned at me and said, "Master Iyan's noodles are the best."
"Ah, It's the food." I disappointingly said.
"There is something I am worried about," Jebat said.
"What?"
"Master Iyan gets really scary when disciplining anyone," He said, his face darkened.
'He won't do anything scary to me, right? After all, I am the grandchild of his employer.' I thought.
But it turned out to be my wishful thinking only. Iyan went as hard as he could on me.
I mean to a nerd like me, even normal exercise felt like hard labor work, how could I endure running fifteen laps around the house border? Ah! I couldn't imagine what else was waiting for me.
Just when I finished running and lay on the ground, grasping; Iyan poked me with the small tree branch he had in his hand.
"Tired already?" Iyan said.
I gave him a glare.
He smirked and poked once more, "Get up. We only started."
"What?" A muffled scream came out from me.
"This is enough for a day, isn't it?" I said, kinda mortified.
"Did you forget that you promised to exercise with me instead of taking P.E. classes?" Iyan reminded me.
"When did I make that promise?" I literally screamed.
"Huff..." Iyan puffed.
"Anyway, You are going to exercise with me if you don't want anyone to know," Iyan said in a cold voice. He turned his head and suggested, "If you do as I say you might need not attend your P.E. class anymore. And I will take you to many places and feed you much delicious food."
I couldn't understand if he was trying to threaten me or trying to coax me. In my bewilderment, Iyan again said, "We can go sightseeing and Jebat may come along as well."
Not knowing what to do, I just nodded my head.
Not long after my nod, Iyan again poked me. "Get up and do twenty push-ups."
I looked up at Iyan and plainly said, "I can't do push-ups."
"What?" Iyan yelled. "Why?"
"Well, I just can't. P.E. classes in other countries were not that tough. And I had some excuses to skip P.E. classes."
Iyan gave me a really complicated look and then as if he realized something, he said, "Whatever happened in past is past. We'll be thinking forward." He paused and again said, "Let's start with stretching."
I stood up. Iyan turned and started walking. After a few minutes, he turned around and saw me standing with a dumb look. He knitted his brows, "Why aren't you doing anything?"
"How should I stretch?" I said, dumbly.
"Don't tell me that you skipped your PE class so far?" Iyan looked at me with a 'are you serious?' look.
"Well, not all... most of it." I might as well tell the truth. Otherwise, who knows what else danger falls onto me?
Iyan looked as if he stepped in dog sh*t.
This time, unlike the other time, I didn't feel offended but guilty.
Iyan stared for a bit then responded, "Okay... then do as I say."
He started demonstrating the moves and I barely copied him. His disappointed look said I was not in the right way. However, he continued training and I continued my messy copying.
After a while, Iyan couldn't take it anymore.
"Stop," he said. "Do twenty... no ten push-ups and pull-ups."
"Ok," I lay down. "But Iyan I can't do either."
"Uhh..." with so much frustration, Iyan came over to help me.
"How come you are still a baby?
How come you are still as lazy as one could be?
How come your body is still this fragile?
Why am I still your nanny?"
He scolded me as much as he could. And I listened, thought of complaining, yet didn't. After all, I was a person with zero athletic abilities.
"You need much intense training," He said with a serious look.
We exercised for another thirty minutes. Iyan let me go only when I was exhausted to the core.
Iyan went inside while I kept laying in the grass. Only then did Jebat come running to me.
"Where were you?" I cried.
"In the garden, pulling the weeds..." Jebat whimpered. It seemed his situation was not good either. "Master Iyan could go a bit easier on us. It's so hot..."
"Hey, is Iyan gonna be this strict all the time?" I asked.
"I think so." Jebat lowered his head. "If it's you, Dean, I am afraid he is gonna be more strict than he usually is."
"And why so?" I snapped. "Does he has any enmity with me? Or did I do anything wrong?"
"Neither of it," Jebat shook his head. "He is just concerned about you. After all, you need to lead one day. You need to be prepared."
I stopped talking. Jebat's words reminded me of what Iyan said that day. 'They want me to be the lead.'
I stared at the blue sky and scorching sun. The smell of grass surrounded me.
'What am I supposed to lead? who am I supposed to lead?' Everything seemed absurd.
I closed my eyes, and a warm breeze blew past me, trying to collect my thoughts. But I couldn't do that for long as cold water splashed my face. I sat up abruptly. Iyan handed me a water bottle, both he and Jebat had one.
"Get up. Let's go home and eat." Iyan turned and started to walk away. "I cooked noodles."