Agus said, "Gosh, this is difficult."
Shana rubbed her nose and earplugs because her friends might scream soon. She rolled her gaze to the opposite table, where they were also playing the same game, throwing dice at each other for an 'Uno' game that would consume their time.
The rest of these wasted lesson hours have wasted the monthly money given to the school because students did not study properly. Shana also spent more time contemplating the most terrible anxiety of her life.
Shana's mind started to get confused; she couldn't calm down last night after hearing from Crystal that Dirgan—her lover—would go back to school after a year off. The man with pitch-black hair became Shana's boyfriend with a compulsion that was emphasized by Dirgan. The man is obsessed with this beautiful creature that grows slim with shoulder-length hair.
Since entering tenth grade, Shana's experience has been incredibly gloomy. Dirgan relentlessly pursued her affections despite her clear disinterest. His persistent attempts to impose his will on her caused Shana significant distress for months.
Then, one day, Dirgan was involved in a serious motorcycle accident during a race with his gang members on the highway. He fell into a coma and missed an entire year of school.
However, rumors now circulate that Dirgan is returning to school. His gang members are planning a large party to welcome him back. Unsurprisingly, classes have become chaotic as teachers are preoccupied with orchestrating a grand welcome for Dirgantara, the principal's child, whom they hold in high regard.
Approximately half of the student consists of gang members loyal to Dirgan. Shana struggles to understand why the school's student organization remains understaffed and lacks support, especially considering the effective control exerted by Dirgan's gang over the school.
Not many principals or teachers openly criticized the community that Dirgan established. Shana must admit they provided significant assistance. However, the only obstacles in Shana's path now are herself and Veri.
Two months ago, Shana attempted to end their relationship because Veri, a deceitful man, had cheated on her three times.
Despite her efforts, Shana remains trapped in this forced relationship, a situation that fills her with frustration. The thought of Dirgan discovering her affair with another man while he was in a coma is terrifying.
Shana fears the potential consequences – severe punishment that might force her to withdraw from school, unable to endure facing Dirgan.
"Shana!" Agus shouted. Startled by Agus's booming voice, Shana instinctively removed her earphones.
"What the hell, Gus?" she exclaimed.
"There are new students," Agus announced. "Mrs. Novi said to go to the office!"
Shana then opened the class twelve social telegram chat group, where she was designated as the class leader responsible for guiding the new students around the school.
"Shana, call me later if he is handsome," Lisa declared, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm. Shana rolled her eyes at her four friends, who were engrossed in a heated card game, their self-esteem hanging in the balance with every lost hand. Shana had never been tempted to join their boisterous competition.
She strolled down the second-floor corridor, her gaze drawn to the Science building, a riot of color. Gas balloons bobbed playfully, welcoming banners stretched across the façade, and holographic paper shimmered, adding an electric vibrancy to the atmosphere.
If only her friends knew the truth about Dirgantara, it would surely curdle their excitement. Winter City's renowned school was a sprawling campus, boasting six distinct buildings: Science, Social Studies, the Teacher's Lounge, and a building housing the library, the student council room, and the laboratory.
Two buildings, however, remained eerily abandoned. Legend has it that the right-wing building, infamous for its ghostly hauntings, was home to the spirit of Siska, a student who tragically perished within its walls. Her spectral form, clad in a bloodstained uniform, was said to frequent the room that now served as Dirgan's domain and his gang's headquarters.
Shana remained entirely unfamiliar with the left-wing building. In the year since she had arrived at the school, no student had ever ventured inside, except Dirgan himself, who had inspected it on a single occasion. The two neglected buildings stood isolated at the edge of the school, shrouded in an aura of mystery and fear that kept students at bay.
Arriving at the teacher's room, Shana smoothed her hair, straightened her uniform, and attempted a sweet smile. The room was already bustling as teachers prepared for the start of classes, but the schedule was delayed due to a welcoming ceremony for the principal's child.
"Oh, Shana. Come here," called Novi. Shana approached her teacher, who was engaged in conversation with a student from another school. This student, a potential Winter School enrollee, would be assigned to Shana as the class leader to give him a tour.
Or perhaps, more precisely, a potential member of the 'Dirgan gang.' This was Shana's initial impression based on the boy's appearance: a bruised face and a disheveled uniform earned him a low grade in her estimation during their first encounter.
"Introduce yourself, Shana," instructed Novi. Shana extended her arm to the new student, who responded with a receptive and gentle gesture.
"Hello, I'm Shana, the head of the second social class. I'll be assisting you here. Please don't hesitate to ask me if you have any problems," she explained.
"Hi, I'm Joshua. Thank you for your help," he replied. The two then left the teacher's room, as the noise had become overwhelming. Mr. Herman, in particular, was loudly protesting because the sports field had been vandalized with colorful spray paint.
"Ignore the commotion," Shana advised.
"It seems there will be an event here?" Joshua inquired innocently.
Shana shook her head. She walked with the new student to their class, waiting for a more suitable time to introduce him to the school.
"Yes, the principal's child will come. I don't know, you won't understand even if I explain why there should be a celebration like this. I will explain later. We start the tour from the class," invited Shana.
One of the things that gave her pleasure was welcoming new or transferred students and introducing classes that had received many award trophies.
"Oi! Down!" shouted the student. Shana and Joshua spontaneously turned their heads in the direction where the students started screaming and shouting in the middle of the field.
Suddenly, the other students in the class scattered when the atmosphere suddenly turned into a commotion because a student stood on the roof of the Social building. Shana was even confused when she found out. Her classmates were on the roof, sobbing loudly at her shabby uniform.
"Intan!" Shana shouted. She hurriedly stepped up to the top of the building when the other students shouted at each other without doing anything.
The next second, the teachers also scattered. Shana climbed the stairs with all her might to reach the roof of the fifth-floor building. She didn't realize that Joshua also chased Shana up to the roof.
"Intan!" called Shana. The owner of the name also rolled her gaze to Shana who was panting when she had just arrived at the roof. Shana tried to control her breath and pay intense attention to the sobbing Intan.
"Come here, Intan. Stay away from there. It's dangerous," said Shana. Just remembered by her, Intan does look moody these days. She also asked Shana to talk, but Shana delayed because she was also thinking about Dirgan.
"I'm sick of it, Shana," said Intan. Shana swallowed hard. She slowly approached Intan, who was getting closer to the edge.
"It's okay, talk to me. We will solve it. Okay?"
Intan shook her head, there was no longer a place for her to live. Her family would be embarrassed, and all her friends would distance themselves from Intan. This problem would end when she died.
"I'm pregnant," said Intan.
To Be Continued