"Um, your name is..?"
"Agus."
"Right, can you help me?"
That's how a usual conversation starts for me.
I'm a typical loner high-school student. Not because I'm shy, but of choice. I've got good grades and attendance, but not particularly close to anyone.
Today was just like any other Tuesday. I overslept and woke up seeing the clock at half-past seven, leaving me half an hour to get to school. Took me a good minute to be conscious, but after realizing how screwed I was, I hurriedly got ready.
After showering and putting on my white and black uniform for the day, I left the rental house I've been living in for the past year. School's a quick 15 minute ride away, which fits perfectly with how much time I took.
After taking out my bike from inside, I took a glance at my house. It's not my dream house or anything, but it has its perks. With its white and blue aesthetic, and being just affordable enough, it's perfect for me. Would've liked something bigger, but I've got other things to buy. Putting that aside, I locked the house, sat on my bike, and went to school.
The road was peaceful, fresh air brushing past me. I'm starting to get used to the area here.
Many shops were just opening up, making a nice scent of different kinds of food. Thankfully, the way to school's just a simple L-turn, where you turn right in front of the cheap bakery, then go straight until you see the school on the left.
I'm quite bad with directions, but I can at least put up with that. I'm planning to skip breakfast and eat some light food at the school later.
Usually I'd have bread, but perhaps something sweet would be nice today.
The scenery here's also pretty nice. It's a suburb with many houses decorated with plants, so it's not polluted and industrialized, at least for now. Before I knew it, I had now been in front of the school's gate.
I got down, brought myself to the bike parking area, then locked my bike to the given area. Before going in, I took a deep breath, and I'll try to do my best.
***
I went inside to my classroom, 11A, then sat down at my table on the bottom left. It's a comfy place, far from view.
Checking my time on my phone, I've made it just in time. But I also noticed a chat message on my notification. It was sent by my friend, Reza.
"Say I'm in the toilet"
I cracked a smile. He's consistently 10 minutes late during morning class every Tuesday, and I always had to excuse him, saying he's in the bathroom.
Just on time, the class went quiet and sat down after the English teacher came, except 2 tables that were empty.
"Good morning students."
"Morning, miss!" The class replied.
"I'll be taking attendance now. Agus Hauza?"
"Present." I said while raising my hand.
After 10 or so more people, it's Reza's turn.
"Reza Kusumo?"
Just when I was about to reply, the door opened loudly.
"I'm sorry miss! I was in the bathroom." He said, while putting his head down.
"Ah, sit down." He did so, while the entire class looked at him. Though, he didn't seem to care.
His seat is to the right of mine. After sitting, I teased him a bit.
"Not too late, are you?"
His eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Have you played the update?"
"What update?"
"Tower of Chronos, Klifka just released yesterday, and I got her!"
Aha, so this is why he's always late. Playing a weekly-update gacha game that releases new characters every Monday.
"You're jealous aren't you, Agus?" Mischievously laughing.
"Not really, I'm not a big fan of games." I said.
"What? Manga or manhwa don't compare to games." He nonchalantly blurted.
I looked at him dead in the eyes. How dare he insult art like that?
Unlike him, I'm a man of taste, that's why I distance myself from foul, energy-wasting activities like those Gacha games.
Before replying, the teacher interrupted us.
"Quiet down please."
We stopped at once. Tsk, good for him. I was just about to eat him alive right then and there. Well, so be it. I continued on like nothing had happened; not knowing just what tragedy was coming.