It was the seventh time I ventured to the cozy coffee shop with Elta, a place that had quickly become our unofficial hangout spot. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the sound of light chatter and laughter from other patrons.
As I pushed open the door, I scanned the room for Elta, hoping to find a familiar face among the usual crowd. To my surprise, I spotted her, but sitting across from her was someone I hadn't anticipated—Safira Natasia.
My heart sank slightly at the sight. Why is she here? I thought, feeling annoyance creep in. Just as I turned to leave, hoping to avoid an awkward encounter, Elta caught sight of me and waved enthusiastically. Without a moment's hesitation, she rushed over, her steps quick and purposeful, before reaching me and clinging to my arm with cheerful insistence.
"Hamza, come here!" she exclaimed, her voice vibrant and welcoming.
Confused by her closeness, I leaned in and whispered, "Why is Safira here?"
Elta giggled, brushing off my concern. "Well, just a coincidence," she replied, her tone lighthearted.
Before I could arrange my thoughts or protest further, Elta clung to my arm again, practically pulling me towards their table. "It'll be fun!" she chirped as if sensing my reluctance and eager to put me at ease.
As we approached the table, I took in the cozy setup—warm drinks already laid out.
"Hi, Safira," I said, offering a polite smile as I took a seat. It felt strange to greet someone who wasn't part of my usual circle, but I tried to be courteous.
"Hello, Hamza," Safira replied, her voice smooth and welcoming. Her eyes seemed to assess me, though her demeanor remained friendly. "Glad you could join us."
"Join you guys?" I echoed, trying to mask my surprise.
I glanced at Elta, who simply nodded with a knowing smile. "Ali is coming too, soon," she added, as if reading from a script of surprises tailored just for me.
"Wait, what?" I blurted out, unable to hide my incredulity. My original plan was to have a laid-back conversation with Elta, and now the dynamics were changing before my eyes.
The unexpected addition of more people left me feeling slightly overwhelmed. It seemed that everyone was part of this impromptu gathering except me. I couldn't help but feel like the lone piece thrown into an organized set.
"I'm planning to chat with Fauzan Ali later about the class leader election prep," Safira said casually. "But I bumped into Elta here and thought I'd say hi."
"Yeah, that's right! It's not like I'm on a date or anything, right, Hamza?" Elta chimed in, her tone playful. "So when Safira said she wanted to talk about the class leader election, it was a great chance to include me! Well, it's Safira who invited me anyway."
"Exactly! Sorry for interrupting," Safira added, flashing a quick grin.
"Seriously, it's all good, Safira. It's not like Hamza and I are dating or anything, hehe," Elta teased, giving my arm a light elbow jab.
"Okay, let's make this a double date then, just wait for Fauzan, right?" I added with a playful grin.
Safira didn't react much to my comment, keeping her cool demeanor intact. She truly was a composed person. In class, she always radiated an aura of diligence and loyalty that was hard to ignore. Her long hair pulled back into a neat ponytail framed her face perfectly, making her incredibly charismatic without even trying.
Elta chuckled at my jab, but Safira merely smiled slightly, seemingly unfazed by the banter. "I'll take that as a compliment!" she replied.
"Let's just wait for Fauzan to join us. He should be here any minute." Safira said.
Not long after her comment, Fauzan arrived, slightly out of breath. "Sorry, guys! I'm late. Oh, Hamza and Elta are here too. Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Next time, please be more considerate of time," Safira commented, her voice firm but not unkind.
I couldn't help but notice the way Safira delivered that line—her strict demeanor flaring up for just a moment. There was a natural authority to her presence, an air of discipline that came from being someone others quietly respected. Her ability to switch from casual conversation to a more serious tone highlighted her dedication and diligence.
"Let's not let my lateness derail our plans," Fauzan said, winking playfully as he settled into the seat next to Safira. "What's on the agenda?"
"Okay, first of all," Safira started, her tone becoming serious as she looked around the table. "The class leader election will be decided next week. But most importantly, I want to clarify that everyone here understands the importance of this role. This is not just usual school, after all."
"I'm aware of it," I interjected. "As we attend this school, the classmates are permanent. And so is the class leader. Once elected, they are in until graduation, unless there are special circumstances like health emergencies, class transfers, or voluntary resignations that can disrupt the elected leader."
"Exactly," Safira affirmed, her eyes scanning our faces to ensure we were all on the same page. "And the class leader can elect a vice leader once every year to maintain a balance of power."
"Right! That way, if anything happens, we won't be stuck in a tough spot. It's about ensuring our class runs smoothly," Elta chimed in, showing her support for Safira's stance.
Fauzan nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I think it's crucial that we choose someone who can handle those responsibilities effectively. We need someone who can unify our class and represent us well."
"Definitely," I added, feeling the energy of the discussion ignite. "This is our chance to influence the environment we're all a part of. We should pick someone who genuinely cares about our well-being and the quality of our school experience and to make our class be at the top of the Class Nurturing Points."
Safira nodded, taking the lead in clarifying the importance of the situation. "Yeah, I don't know if many students care about this, but as stated in the entrance ceremony, the Class Nurturing Points are accumulated from year one to year three. They're based on academic performance, sportsmanship, and disciplinary points."
"That makes sense," Fauzan chimed in, furrowing his brow in thought.
"It's crucial," Safira continued, her voice firm and clear. "These points are combined using a formula to determine the Class Nurturing Points. This is very important, as only selected students from the classes with the highest points can receive honors, high-ranking academic scholarships, and recommendations for their career paths. The sports clubs are important, indeed, but not all students will receive the same degree of recommendation."
Her words hung in the air, each point resonating with the reality we all faced. "I want our class to seriously aim for a prosperous future!" Safira declared, her eyes filled with conviction.
"I completely agree," Elta said, her spirit shining through. "If we can foster a cohesive environment, we'll thrive in all aspects—academically and athletically. Let's make sure our chosen leader embodies that commitment."
"Therefore, I would like to volunteer myself as a class leader candidate," Safira announced, her tone confident and resolute. "I want you guys to seriously think about that. If elected, I will also choose someone competent to be my vice leader."
The room fell silent for a brief moment as we absorbed her proposal. I could see the determination in her eyes, and it was clear she believed in her vision for our class's future.
"Wow, that's bold, Safira," I said, breaking the silence. "But you're right; we need someone with your drive and experience steering us through this."
"Exactly! I've seen how passionate you are about our future, and I think you'd make a great leader," Elta agreed, looking genuinely enthusiastic.
Safira nodded, her expression serious. "The vice leader takes control of the class situation in the leader's absence. It's also there to balance power when crucial decisions are needed. After some consideration, I would like to invite Fauzan as my vice leader if I am elected. That's why I invited him here in the first place. But of course, I'm open to any of you who may want to nominate yourselves for leadership roles."
"Fauzan would be a great choice—he's reliable and knows how to strategize well," I said, glancing over at Fauzan, who appeared both surprised and flattered by the nomination.
"Thanks, guys," Fauzan said, a hint of modesty in his tone. "I'd be honored to support you, Safira. But you know it's important that the whole class feels involved in this process."
"Absolutely," Safira replied, her expression earnest. "I want everyone to feel included, and if anyone else has ambitions or ideas, I encourage you to speak up. This class leader position should represent all of us."
I raised my hand slightly, curiosity taking over. "Is there anyone else in our class that seems to want to nominate themselves?"
Safira glanced around the table, considering. "So far, I haven't heard any other names being thrown around for nominations. It seems like most people are waiting to see how things play out. But you never know—sometimes people surprise you at the last minute."
Elta added, "Some students might be hesitant to put themselves forward because they aren't sure about their own abilities."
"I can see that," I said, thinking about the others in our class. "A lot of students might feel unsure, especially when it comes to leadership roles. Most student will not even bother thinking about it."
"I think tomorrow you should ask everybody in class about it, Safira. I'm sure everyone will support you." Elta said
"That sounds like a solid plan! I think if I can get everyone talking about their thoughts on the leadership role and what they want from it, it could create a good foundation."
"It'll show everyone you're approachable and open to collaboration! That's a key quality for a leader!"
"I really appreciate all this support. It means a lot to me. I want to make sure we all feel represented and that our ideas matter."
With that, Safira pulled out her laptop, navigating to the official school website. She quickly opened a public ranking page that showcased the latest standings for each class.
"Check this out," she said, her voice tinged with excitement. "This is how our class is doing compared to the others."
We gathered closer, leaning in as she pointed to the rankings displayed on the screen. The bright graphics highlighted several categories, and I could see various rankings that were updated weekly.
"Right now, our class, 1-A, is in the first position out of the three classes in grade one," she explained, scrolling to reveal the statistics. "We have 0 academic points, 10 sportsmanship points, and 50 disciplinary points."
"That's odd," I frowned, noticing the numbers. "How is it possible we're ahead with no academic points?"
Safira didn't miss a beat. "Well, look at the second rank—class 1-B. They have 200 academic points, but no sportsmanship points and only 10 disciplinary points."
"Interesting," I mused, observing the disparity.
"The third rank is class 1-C with 50 academic points, 20 sportsmanship points, and 25 disciplinary points. It's clear that the academic points don't hold as much weight compared to sportsmanship and disciplinary points," Safira continued, her tone analytical.
"So, what does that mean for us as a class?" Elta asked, tilting her head slightly as she processed the information.
"It means that sporting events and how well we conduct ourselves take precedence. Our position relies heavily on how we behave and interact as a class, not just our academic performance," Safira explained, tapping her fingers thoughtfully against the table. "It also shows that we need to prioritize our participation in sports if we want to maintain our ranking."
"So, in a way, our efforts in volleyball and other activities are just as important as academic success?" I clarified, feeling enlightened.
"Exactly," Safira replied, her confidence shining through. "And that's why it's essential for our class leader to understand these dynamics. If we want to keep our top position, we have to encourage more involvement in sports and volunteer activities."
"This is a solid point," Fauzan added. "It means we should really discuss how to boost our sportsmanship points in the upcoming events."
"Well, not that academic points can be forgotten altogether. Look at this!" Safira said, her enthusiasm reigniting as she sorted the rankings again, this time displaying them for all grades.
The screen updated to reveal the comprehensive standings, with a notable disparity in the numbers. "Check out class 3-A at the bottom," she pointed out, her finger hovering over the dismal statistics. "They have academic points at -750, sportsmanship points at 150, and disciplinary points at 100."
A collective gasp filled the table, and the mood shifted as we stared at the stark reality of their situation. "Wait, how is that even possible?" I asked, incredulous. "How do you rack up negative academic points?"
"It usually happens due to various infractions or failing grades—they can accumulate penalties," Safira explained, her expression serious. "It's a tough spot to be in, and it shows how critical it is to find balance. They clearly have issues that need addressing."
"That's harsh," Elta said, shaking her head in disbelief. "It'd be tough for them to recover from that."
"Exactly. And that's why we can't take our positions for granted," Safira emphasized. "If we don't encourage both sportsmanship and academic excellence, we risk falling behind. It's easy to overlook one for the other, but both are crucial for our overall ranking."
Then Safira leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "Guys, I actually have the exact formula for how the nurturing points are calculated based on research from last year's ranking system. Everyone can do this if they are smart enough, though. So, academic points have a weight of 1, sportsmanship has a weight of 3, and disciplinary has a weight of 5. You can prove that for yourselves!"
A buzz of excitement rippled through the group at her revelation. "Wait, really? That sounds pretty concrete," I said, intrigued by the information. "How did you find that out?"
"I did some digging on the school's website and even spoke to a few seniors who seemed to know the ins and outs of the system," Safira explained, clearly proud of her efforts. "It's all about knowing how to play the game—if we understand this, we can make informed decisions during the election process."
Fauzan leaned back in his chair, processing this new information. "So essentially, if we focus more on sportsmanship and discipline, we can significantly boost our class's standing. It makes sense why those points are weighted so heavily."
Elta nodded, her eyebrows raised. "That's smart. It means our approach to both academics and extracurricular activities matters more than we might have realized. We should bring this up with our classmates and strategize accordingly."
"Exactly!" Safira affirmed, her excitement contagious. "If we work together and support each other, I truly believe we can maintain our standings or even improve them. We'll have to make this a team effort."
The discussions continued, filled with energy and ideas, but my focus shifted to Safira. I could see the determination in her eyes, a drive that suggested she would lead with integrity and purpose. This was just the beginning of what felt like a transformative journey for our class.
I glanced over at Elta, who was animatedly discussing ideas with the others, a thought crossed my mind. Well, I'll talk about that thing next time with Elta.