After He's gone

six. Ananta disease

Alana takes Ananta back to their class. They were greeted with the gazes of their classmates who looked demanding an explanation. Previously they only knew Ananta was often allowed to go to the hospital. They do not know clearly what disease makes Ananta have to go there often.

"Alana, what pain is Ananta?" Tanya Fira opened the chat after letting Ananta sit in his place.

"Ananta's heart is sick..." Alana said, she felt strange being stared so intensely by her friends. That attention and enthusiasm, it feels foreign and makes it uncomfortable.

They were still clustered while occasionally noticing Ananta who could already smile and was slightly joking with his male friend.

"Friends" Alana emboldened herself to stand up asking for more attention she felt needed.

"I want to tell you, that Ananta... It hurts." He said with a little doubt. He did not want to make it sound too serious, as it would sound excessive. All the children looked towards Alana, including Ananta. Ananta did not forbid or support Alana's actions, he only paid attention in silence.

"As you know, Ananta never took part in sports, because it's dangerous for his heart." Furthermore Alana, it feels like there are many things that he must convey in order to keep bad things from happening to Ananta again. He does not want to be sad because of trivial things anymore.

"Ananta also should not fight, strenuous activity should not. In short, we can't make him do things that make his heart work too much." Well, this time Alana doesn't care anymore that the atmosphere is turning out to be very serious. They need to know the real situation.

"So, I beg you all. No one would provoke him to do those things. It's really about life and death..." Alana's eyes began to glaze over at the end of her sentence. His voice trembled, but he had to finish what he wanted to convey.

"Help me take care of Ananta, yeah..." Continue Alana. He took a deep breath to hold back the tears that were about to fall.

"Thank you." He said back to the chair. That sentence marked the end of what he wanted to say. Fira and her friends approached Alana while rubbing her back to calm Alana down.

This was the first time Alana had received this much attention from them, and Alana was grateful for that.

The whole class was filled with silence, some began to look at Ananta with meaningful gazes.

"Ananta, you're lucky to have Alana" said one of the boys.

That day the cold classroom atmosphere continued to last until the last lesson hour. They just showed a smile when they went home.

Although it feels strange it still needs to think Alana. Because of today's events, not entirely because of Ananta, but also the actions of his friends. Alana secretly realized that without admitting it.

after school, a group of boys approached Ananta. Some of the children Alana recognized as the one who doused her earlier in the day had a brief chat with Ananta.

"gm.. Nan... we are sorry, because the fight was sick you so relapsed" said Arga, our classmate who is like the gang leader in the class.

"hmmm.yeah, I'm sorry, but you should apologize to Alana, not me" Ananta replied still staring intently through the corner of his eye. Alana who was just about to approach Ananta stopped hearing about it. Standing clumsily, he intended to just run away rather than have to get involved with the situation.

"Na.. I know you're coming here!" ananta's orders that see Alana will turn away.

"uh. i-yes..." Alana stepped up again doubtfully.

"ehm, Lana. I'm sorry we were jahilin you. His intention was just to joke, not to know it even make a fight. I'm sorry" Arga looked at Alana and apologized in a soft tone that sounded weird for a boy's size. Awkwardly filled the classroom, Alana nodded slowly.

"yes I'm sorry.next time don't do it again, same as anyone." said Alana.

"Nanta..". "go home." continued Alana dragged Nanta away from the place. Ananta simply complied and followed Alana obediently. Ananta pouted slightly as Alana pinched lightly on her stomach.

"i'm embarrassed because of you." angry Alana.

"yes, but it's still."

"we should not be ashamed if we are real." Ananta replied firmly. Alana stopped walking in annoyance. But now replace Ananta who is staring coldly at him.

"lana. went home" he said reaching out his hand to be held by Alana, Alana took it immediately. They walked back with a little smile.

Things felt better in the following days. Alana feels no alone looking after Ananta. Because even though he did not show up, his other friends also took care of Ananta secretly.

They look more accepting when Ananta does not participate in sports activities. Some even told him to eat in the cafeteria instead of going out to the field and watching from the stands.

Once a boy in their class was put up when a child from another class approached Ananta with a look of hate. 'Well, it looks excessive, but it's necessary.' Alana thought while shaking her head when the activities of 'keeping Ananta' by her friends began to overdo it.

Provided Ananta doesn't mind Alana letting him go anyway. Sometimes Ananta actually looks happy because they make it as a typical joke material for boys. What's more, it makes him look like a gang leader who is protected by many people.

***

Classes are pretty crowded. Today is the time for teachers to share their midterm grades.

Red marks are widely seen on his answer sheet until his hands itch to tear or throw it if he does not remember if he had to ask for an old man's signature on it.

Having been busy worrying about Ananta now he has to worry about himself. He had to pass to do the plan he had in mind long ago.

"Well, perfect all kill" Ananta teased him.

"Not to tease me." Ketus answer.

The end-of-school exam is fast approaching, but the grades are getting worse. He is not very talented in learning.

Actually it happened because Alana did not really care about the value. He had other plans, things he had dreamed of for a long time.

"After graduation... Which High School do you want to sign up for?" Ask Ananta.

"I don't want to go to school anymore. I want to stop." Answer Alana steadily. Ananta was a little worried about that answer. In her heart she hoped Alana was not serious about her words.

"You?" Ask Alana back.

"Ra-ha-si-a." Spell Ananta with her nosy look.

"That's a secret, mysterious pretender."

"Later also know yourself" replied Ananta final. Alana knew after she said such words, it must be difficult to force her to speak again. Like Ananta's do'a on the dandelion that he never knew until now.

"Ta, teach me later. Even if I don't go to high school, I still have to graduate." Yes, he had to work hard to just graduate with his current grades. Ananta just nodded, after all he couldn't possibly refuse such a request.

***