Sunday night, Rama was seen copying Leo's notebook while grumbling. The reason is, why doesn't Mr. Rudi provide a clear photocopy that will make it easier and shorten the study time? But it seems the homeroom teacher doesn't like seeing his students lazing around. Plus Leo's writing looks like chicken feet, making Rama quite difficult to read it.
It was still eight o'clock at night, Rama's cell phone rang again for the umpteenth time.
Again that number. Rama was annoyed.
This is the seventh time an unknown number has called Rama's cell phone since yesterday afternoon. And when Rama picked up the phone, the line was immediately turned off. It happened several times until finally, Rama decided to ignore it. Even the message he sent was also not answered by that number.
Rama reaches for his cell phone when the ringing finally stops. He then checked the chat messages which were again always quiet. Who would want to send a message to a weird kid like him? He then saw the messages in the class chat group that had piled up in the hundreds because Rama rarely opened them.
He scrolled down and skimmed the message which contained only chats, jokes, and also talk about games and other unimportant things. Rama never joined, even his whereabouts were never asked by his classmates.
Rama still scrolls down and finds his friends' chats today. Rama seemed to frown when he read the chats of several people who complained of not feeling well. Then they discussed the antibody injections they received during their visit to the laboratory. This is not unusual, because immune vaccines usually have certain side effects such as fever and body aches.
After that Rama immediately turned off the cell phone and tidy up his books. Rama goes to the kitchen for a while to get a drink. He saw his mother who seemed to be asleep on the sofa with the television still on. All this time, only his mother remained. Rama was the only child and his father died three years ago due to illness.
His mother owns a drugstore business and also a small shop which is located right in front of their house. Sometimes when Rama is not busy with school activities he always helps his mother to keep watch at the stall.
After all, Rama is not a child who likes to hang out in the dark. Because he doesn't have any friends to talk to let alone share about his life.
Rama then took a blanket into the room and immediately covered his mother who was still asleep. He then turned off the television and went into his room. Once again before going to bed he saw the latest news on Youtube. He sighed again because what was discussed was only about a strange disease outbreak that was increasingly spreading and had even reached Southeast Asia. He listened to the news for a while, until finally, he fell asleep on his own.
*****
The next day Rama left as usual. Riding the automatic motorbike alone. Yes, always alone. Who wants to be ridden by a stiff person like him? And Rama himself was also reluctant to give anyone a ride.
Rama parked his motorbike in the school parking area behind the teacher's room. The day was bustling, as usual, the sounds of shouting and noise certainly never missed filling every class. Rama greeted Mr. Teguh, the school gatekeeper who was watching all the students who came.
"Good morning, sir."
"Morning Rama, why are you alone?" Mr. Taguh quipped, which made Rama's already sluggish face look even more gloomy. The security guard knew that Rama was always alone everywhere.
"That's a good satire, sir," said Rama annoyed, which was greeted by the middle-aged man's laughter.
"Sorry Rama, I was joking hehe.."
Rama then walked unsteadily to his class which was on the second floor. He had to pass through a crowd of first graders who always looked noisy and rowdy. Again, Rama immediately stuffed his ears with a headset and covered his head with a hoodie.
At that time, Rama saw that Indra, who had just arrived, was seen walking lazily with a pale face.
"What's wrong with you? Why is your face so pale?" asked Rama. But Indra didn't answer and just passed by Rama with languid steps. Rama unmoved with a shrug rushed into the classroom.
The atmosphere on the terrace was so quiet when Rama entered the classroom. Once again he glanced at his watch and also the clock on the wall in his classroom. Nothing's wrong, it's almost eight o'clock.
But in the new class, there were ten of his friends who also looked lethargic while laying their heads on the table. Even Rama was touched to see that Novan, who was usually always noisy, didn't talk much.
Rama glanced at Tania's bench and saw her Hello Kitty picture bag on the table. He then chose to sit after arriving at his bench in the corner of the class. Rama then took out a notebook, he saw Leo's book that he borrowed yesterday.
"Unlike usual, the class president hasn't come yet," Rama muttered quietly when he saw Leo's table which was still empty. Even though he is usually the most diligent child and always sets a good example as class president. Rama then decided to put Leo's notebook in his desk drawer. After that, Rama will send a thank you message via chat.
Rama saw Bagas, Leo's roommate, looking pale and sick. Rama shook his shoulders but Bagas did not respond at all. What happened? Why all of a sudden all his friends fell silent and buried his face in the table?
"Hi, Ram."
Rama turned and found Tania already standing behind him smiling brightly.
"Hi, running a routine errand?" asked Rama while looking at the sheet of paper in Tania's hand. The girl nodded with a laugh.
"I just delivered Arin and Micah's sick leave."
"They're absent together?"
Tania seemed to sigh. "It's not just the two of them. But almost half the class missed because of illness."
"What?" cried Rama in surprise. "Then what do the teachers say?"
"The teachers know about the visit to the laboratory and also the vaccine that we got. Although we were surprised by the number of absent students, the teachers understand. Even now Mr. Rudi is also not coming. Do you think this is not strange?"
"I thought so. But this is normal, they just got the vaccine. Everyone's immunity is different. This is a natural reaction like a baby who has just received an immunization vaccine."
"Then why am I feeling fine? Didn't we get the same vaccine?"
"Let's just say our bodies are ready for it," replied Rama. "Never mind, there's no need to think about it. After all, when else can we enjoy a quiet atmosphere like this."
Rama smiled a little at the joke he just made. He said that so Tania wouldn't worry too much. But it seems the girl looks at it differently.
The lesson that day was awkward and weird. In class, there were only fifteen students present, and even then only Rama and Tania paid attention to the lesson. Indra, who was sitting opposite Rama, just looked down, even though he usually couldn't stay still.
Rama was curious, what had happened to his friends?
To be continued...