I gathered the torn pieces of my paper, then I went to my seat. Lala hugged me while Genta immediately went out to find Bondan. Even so, I knew that his effort was futile. There was no way Genta could beat Bondan.
"Morning, students!"
Teacher Mahmud greeted his students, everyone returned the gesture lazily because they felt that his assignment was just too difficult. We had to write a paper not from literary sources but from an interview. Therefore, we could not rely on the internet. I felt distraught because I could not submit this assignment.
They were like..an incarnation of evil.
"We shall resume our study yesterday."
"Sir!" Ricky exclaimed while raising his hand. It was unusual for him because for most of the time, all he did was bullying Rian that happened to sit in front of him.
"Yes, Rick? You got a question?"
"Can we use a projector this time, sir? You can tell us the story of the Prophets, or maybe a sermon? Please?" I did not get it, why would he insist on it?
"I don't have my laptop with me, Rick."
"Use mine. I believe that you can do it without any specific preparation."
Teacher Mahmud, despite being a student counselor, who had to counsel Ricky time and time again, felt so happy when he saw Ricky wanted to study fervorously.
"Do you agree?" He asked the students permission, everyone nodded happily.
Ricky stepped forward and set up his laptop for the teacher to use. This was not like his usual self.
All students sat still on their chairs, while looking at the projected screen. It turned out that the projector does not play a video of a sermon or story of the Prophets, but a video of what happened to me, involving Bondan. Did he do that on purpose? Why would he want to let Teacher Mahmud know that I was innocent? Why? Why would he go out of his way for that?
"What is this supposed to mean!?" Teacher Mahmud asked angrily.
He looked at Bonda and then stood up, "Bondan! Get over here!"
"B..But, sir.."
"You are expelled from this class for two sessions, effective immediately! I will also have you write a 10 page apology to Nilam, understand!?"
"B-but. Sir,.."
"Bondan, do you understand!?"
"Y-yes, sir."
Everyone was whispering to each other. Ricky said that he had plugged in the wrong drive and replaced it with the correct one, then he apologized to Teacher Mahmud. It has been two years since me and Ricky studied in the same class and this was the first time he showed some care in this world, and that care was for me. Who would have thought that delinquent has a wild card up his sleeve. Ricky often did things his way, and that made people question who he actually was; what was his true personality.
@@@
On today's lunch break, Lala and Genta invited me to Aunt Lela's kiosk. She sold the best shumai in our school. We took the seat that was located on the far end of her kiosk. We wanted to have our lunch in peace. Our third year seniors often oppressed us, so if we took their seat, we would surely be done for.
For the minority members of the society like ourselves, sitting in the corner and being unseen was the best option. Here, we were safe from extortion and harassment. Same thing goes for Ricky as well, despite being a second year student, he was the student that was involved with the school fighting the most.
"3 shumai, please. Like usual!" Genta shouted, he already had his spoon and fork in his hands. He acted like a child impatiently waiting for his mom to cook him fried chicken.
He was so silly.
*TL note: Shumai is a Chinese steamed dumpling
"Did you see what Ricky did today, Nilam? You really have to thank him, he has helped you." Lala brushed my arm. Well, without being told by anyone, I would surely thank him in the best manner possible. Though I supposed that this was not the right moment.
"Hey Rick!" Several seniors shouted, "Give us some money, we're broke."
"How much?"
"Fifty thousand."
"Me too, Rick. My motorbike crashed the other day, I need three hundred thousand."
I saw Ricky pull out his wallet and dish out the money that they asked for without a second thought. They laughed and went on their way. Were they really good friends?
They didn't talk very loud, but I was close enough to hear what they were saying. Our table was not really far from each other.
"I need to go to the toilet."
"Ok!"
They laughed happily as if they had found a treasure chest. I could not understand why they were so happy.
"We're lucky to be his friends, his money seemed to be endless like a teller machine!"
"I know, right? Maybe he got his money from the back of a lorry or maybe from seducing old rich ladies. We can hang out with the girls with this money!"
"Not bad, bro. We can be famous like him and have a pawn to be thrown into the fray as well!"
What a disgusting 'friends' they were.
I never thought that there were friends like them, a pretentious friend. Acting all nice just so they dig his gold. Somehow, my blood boils when I see them. I hated it when I saw someone have to go through the same harassment like I did, even if it was not exactly the same as I had. Did Ricky know about this? If he did not know about this, then I would step up and tell him myself. I wanted him to just go and find new friends. But if he knew, then I must have made him realize it, just like he did to me days ago.
"I have to get back to the class, I forgot something." Lala asked me what I forgot, then she let me go.
I got out of Aunt Lela's kiosk, but it turned out that the person I looked for was leaning on the wall by the kiosk. Did he hear what his 'friends' just said? I believed that he heard it all loud and clear.
"Ricky." I said, he only glanced at me and walked away from the kiosk. He stopped by the pine tree behind the first year students' building.
"You heard them, right?" I asked. He didn't even turn around to face me. I was pretty sure that he heard them. "They are not good friends for you, Rick. They approach you just to take advantage of you. I knew that you heard them clearly, why don't you do anything about it? You should at least say something. Yesterday, you said–"
"Just because I treated you nicely, doesn't mean that you can interfere with my business," He interrupted me. "Whether they are being pretentious or just exploiting me, it has nothing to do with you, got it!?" He went on his way as if no one was talking to him.
Nilam, you dumb!
I should not have said that. He was right, I was nothing to him. Why should I interfere with his personal business? Why would I want to infringe his personal space and disturb his life? Ricky's life.
I was wrong, I should not have stepped out of the kiosk. I should have stayed where I was. I should have not approached Ricky. I should have stayed in my own space that was away from Ricky's. But I felt that this was my destiny; which has forced me to step forward. Somehow, I have this feeling that it was destiny, too, which had blocked my way back.
I grumbled to myself, I should not have spoken to him. I should have made a move on him. All of it had become the starting point of my unwanted nightmare. Ricky, didn't you realize that I missed you? No words could describe how much I long for you. If possible, please return to your usual self.