A few seconds into the video was enough to make my blood boil. The problem lies not only in the content shown. Had it been any other person, I might not be this angered. But the fact that it came from Laras, and the underlying motive posited from it, was what made me feel like throwing my phone out the window.
I inhaled and exhaled air roughly in an attempt to calm myself. I still couldn't accept it. Why did she send a video of Shakira changing into her jersey? Even worse, why did she send it to the class group chat?
It was clearly sexual harassment, no matter how a person might refuse to acknowledge it. The video was probably taken without consent, too, given the fact that the subject wasn't looking in the direction of the camera. With my palms squeezing on my phone, I typed with both thumbs as fast as I could.
'Delete it this instant!'
I sent the message, hoping that she would comply with my demand as soon as possible.
However, every second felt like excruciating eternal torture. As a result, I stood up from my bedside and started walking around in circles. But every revolution just made me even more restless.
I looked at the group chat once again. Several perverts started to show up and commented on the video. In a panic, I made a demand once again.
'Stop! Delete it, now!'
So I sent the message, but what followed was the booing of perverts. Though unlikely, I checked my message to see if she hadn't read the message. I examined the names of those who've read my message one by one. And then, my eyes were fixated on a certain name on the list. It was Shakira.
I grew even more anxious. Anger, sadness, concern, panic, and many other emotions welled up inside at once and overwhelmed me. I was totally in shock that without realizing it, I was already calling her.
I was unsure whether to hang it up when she picked up my call. This happened too suddenly, so I was reluctant to talk to her. I simply didn't know what to say. Nevertheless, I brought my phone to my ear.
I stayed silent for five seconds, but there was no voice from her side.
"... Shakira." I muttered her name, fishing for a response.
I waited for a few seconds, but she hadn't said anything. However, a faint weeping voice could be heard after I said her name.
My mind went blank, not knowing what to say to her. At a time like this, I wished that I was Indah instead. Encouraging people felt like her specialty.
Nevertheless, I had to say something. I racked my brain to come up with a sentence quickly, and what came out of my mouth was, "There's no need to hide it any longer. This is clearly bullying."
The faint sobbing I heard before turned into a full-blown wail. She was holding her pain too long, that everything burst out because of a single act, much like how an inflated balloon would pop from a mere touch of a needle.
My mouth was shut tight as my ears were listening to her grievance. Even though it hurts both my eardrums and my heart, I stayed on the line. I waited for her to calm down. In the meantime, I put my back on my room's sky blue wall to cool my head a bit. It took her a few minutes of lament before she started to speak with a trembling voice on the phone.
"Why...? I don't understand..."
Presumably, she asked about Laras' motive. But I had no way to answer that question. "I don't know either." That was all I could say.
"Uril," She called me, but then it was interrupted with a snivel. When she once again felt ready to talk, she asked again, "Did you watch?"
The question that she had shot struck me with bafflement. Being a boy, I felt guilty for seeing her body without her permission. I considered the option to lie, but on second thought, it was futile. I had made a response in the group, after all.
"I... did," I confessed. However, before I let her make a response, I quickly added, "But I tried to feel what you may feel. It was mean of her to do that to you, so I got angry."
'That felt like a niche excuse.' I facepalmed myself after I finished my sentence.
Shakira didn't respond at all to my answer. All I could hear was her weeping. Vaguely, I started to hear someone else's voice from her side. Perhaps someone in her home had noticed Shakira's unstable mental condition.
I was unsure if someone had distracted her from our conversation, so I tried to gauge her focus. "Um... Shakira?"
"Mm?" She said, her voice still trembling.
"Maybe I'm not much of a help, but if there's anything I can do, just tell me. I'm on your side."
"... Okay." She said.
And thus, our conversation came to an end.
The amalgamation of feelings that happened inside me had started to stabilize. However, the rage I felt had yet to subside. I violently threw my body on the bed with a single thing in mind.
'I'm going to claim responsibility from Laras.'
****
I went to school at my usual time. There was no need to rush. Since the festival was held on Saturday and Sunday, the traffic in the morning was more lenient than on weekdays. As a result, I arrived at school earlier than ever.
There was a major visible change compared to Friday on the school ground as soon as I entered the vicinity. Right in the middle of the field, a typical performance stage stood majestically. There was nothing on top of it yet, but student council members could be seen preparing things up. At the time, they were setting up this year's festival for the backdrop.
Based on the flyer distributed, Besides performances from the students, several guest performers were invited by the student council. Some of them were quite famous, while a few of them were no one I ever heard the name of. For example, an indie Youtube singer named Homeless Traveler. It was estimated that our school will be packed with a lot of audiences, as it should. In fact, our school's culture festival was one of the most over-the-top and crowded festivals among schools in Jakarta.
Outside the student hall on the right of the field, several students could be seen setting up stands. The whole student hall and its vicinity would be utilized as the market ground for students. Handicraft club was one of the sellers.
I went towards the student hall to prepare the handicraft club's stall. The entire 11 members of the handicraft club would take turns in attending our stall, and my turn happens to be on Saturday morning, along with Jiwo and Ayunda.
As soon as I reached the big wooden arched double doors, a gust of chilling air from the air conditioner went past my body. It was basically like a fart, but a cold one.
There weren't that many students inside the hall, much like outside. It was only half past six in the morning, after all. Meanwhile, the festival starts at nine, so the gap in time was quite long. I looked around at the students' faces to see if Jiwo or Ayunda was already present, but I couldn't find them. Knowing that I took out my phone and texted a message in the handicraft club's group chat to let them know of my arrival.
I exited the hall and sat down on a nearby bench. Then I began to remember what transpired last night and what I was supposed to do about it. Laras hadn't deleted the video she shared on the group even when morning came. I tried to call her, but she didn't pick it up. She even left my messages at read and didn't bother to reply.
So I tried to seek assistance from Indah and called her, but she didn't pick up. I was kind of frustrated about it, but later that night, she said that she was talking to Shakira on the phone. I was relieved when she told me that she'd do something, though I didn't know the details of her plan. Nor did she disclose anything to me, even though I asked.
"... Ril."
The whole situation puts me in a confused state, and I was unsure of what to do with Laras. To think about it, there was no guarantee that she would even show up at the school festival. Even if she did show up, what can I do? She might even deliberately avoid contact with me. Violence wouldn't resolve anything. My moves were limited. Thinking all of these things made me couldn't look forward to enjoying the festival until the matter was resolved.
"... Ril."
Moreover, what would become of our class performance? Shakira's one of the two stand-up performers from our class. I did tell her this morning not to force herself to turn up here, considering her mental state. But, who knows? I feared that she would come to school no matter what. It sounded unlikely, but the chance was still there.
"Uril!"
Without warning, a shout entered my ears from proximity, making me jump in surprise. Thus, my thoughts came to a halt from the sudden disturbance.