Alinea: Ideas, Love, and Stories

MATH

“Nara, is this anything? Your math score why can it be zero like this?”

“Ma, that's the wrong teacher, talking about just one. Yes the choice is only two, if not get zero yes get one hundred.”

“Ya you should get a hundred dong, why even get zero.”

“Ma, it's hard. After all it's just a daily replay. Tomorrow Nara will study hard for the semester exam.”

“Nara, do not underestimate the daily test, you are already SMP you know, later how do you want to get a favorite SMA if your score is this?”

“That's new, Ma Nara dapet Zero. Tomorrow is no longer.”

It was the first time Mama and Mas Nara had fought. I was in 1st grade in SD. Mas Nara 1st grade Junior High. During Elementary School, Mas Nara was always the class champion and got good grades. So when entering the first semester of Junior High and getting bad grades, Mama was immediately angry at Mas Nara. I stole the conversation from behind the door.

“Nara, only a stupid child whose MTK value can be zero, and Mama does not want to have a stupid child, you know that right?”

“Iya, Ma.” There was a voice Mas Nara said lazily.

That time, their quarrel ended with Mas Nara's promise to no longer get a zero. In the future, Mas Nara's value is good, even proud. However, when stepping on the 3rd grade of Junior High, all of Mas Nara's achievements declined. Mas Nara and Mama fought more and more over worsening values. Even Mama had held back Mas Nara's guitar.

“Why if Alin is not a regular Mama class champion, why if Nara Mama is angry? Mama choose kasih!” I once recorded the sentence in memory, an incident that I don't know when.

At that time, I was jealous of Mas Nara because Mama paid more attention to Mas Nara, because Mama had never been that careful with my grades. Even when every rapist I don't make the top ten, Mama's just plain. I thought it was because Mama didn't care. Until when Mas Nara's question was recorded, recorded also Mama's answer, “You are a boy, you are also the first child, you are an example for Alin. You have to succeed Nara. Mama doesn't want you to be like your Papa, a poor writer who has no future.”

“But, Ma.”

“Ngga there but-but, Mama will bring a private tutor for you let you learn more. Your guitar will be confiscated. Mama doesn't like yes Mama's boys become guitar players, so artists that have no purpose and no future.” Mama just left without allowing Mas Nara to talk, as I recall.

At that time, when my mother had passed away, I was about to approach Mas Nara, but my steps stopped when I heard Mas Nara say, “Mathematics, why should there be such subjects in this world.” Mas Nara's voice shrieked, he then opened the door of his room without turning his head.

That day, I only knew one thing, Mas Nara was just like me. We don't like math.

***

“You don't really like math, do you?”

My eyes turned to Shaka. She's still my best friend without Mom's knowledge.

“Regulation number two.”

“Gosh!” Shaka scratched his head. We are friends, but rules are rules.

I looked back at Mister Jay in front of the class who was busy explaining the Mathematical Logic materials, occasionally I noted down the important parts that Mister Jay explained. Then with the corner of my eyes I glanced at Shaka who also began to focus on listening to the lesson. He no longer draws cartoons when the lesson clock is high.

Shaka's question a moment ago just passed by. How did that chatty guy know? I always studied with passion when I was studying mathematics. Although sometimes some kai I can yawn anyway. But, does it evaporate when the lesson can be an indication we do not review the lesson? No right?”

“Someone who can give you another example?”

I watched Shaka suddenly raise his hand. Rarely does the child want to be active in school, what else is mathematics.

“Iya, Shaka, please.”

I don't know what he meant, he glanced at me for a bit, then smiled a glance before looking back at Mister Jay.

“Premis one, Alinea will evaporate a lot when not liking a subject. Premise two, in mathematics lesson Alinea much evaporated. Withdrawing his conclusions, Alinea does not like mathematical projections.”

I frowned, she could have said so in front of Mister Jay. The whole class became rowdy. Many children laugh. Mister Jay's face was originally red, it seemed like he was holding back angrily, then smiled and said, “Exact example. So Alinea, you don't like my lessons? Is the mathematical logic material so boring?”

I stammered. If you can be honest, yes, absolutely right, the material Mathematical logic is very boring, what else Mister Jay repeated this material for a month and a half just because on a daily replay last week many students were getting bad grades. Of course I'm getting bored. During last semester break, even every Wednesday, Jihan also explained the same material.

“Not so, Mister. I only...” I was confused to continue the words.

“Quiet Mister, that was just an example. Alin doesn't yawn, Mister.” Shaka laughed amusedly. My eyes looked at him as if they were about to pounce on that annoying guy. The other kids are still laughing.

“OK we proceed to Tautology and Contradiction section.”

Mister Jay continued with the material, as soon as Mister Jay faced the blackboard, out of control, I just yawned.

“Nah right!” Shaka chuckled, pointing at my face, making me realize how much I really yawned.

My hand that had originally closed its mouth immediately turned towards Shaka's head, wanting to knock the boy's head off. Shaka is lucky that Mister Jay turned to the rest of the students.

Throughout the math lesson, I ended up not really focusing on listening to material from Mister Jay anymore. It is precisely Shaka's words that ring out. I'm not just tired of math logic, but I don't like this lesson.

The math lesson ended and then, without such a long pause, Miss Fitri, our Indonesian teacher immediately entered the class. Miss Fitri is an Indonesian teacher in class X first, she is a teacher who is always on time to enter the class and rarely absent.

“Good day, Children.” Miss Fitri spread a bright smile. He is already 5 years old, he is the senior teacher at this school. Even so, Miss Fitri is still healthy and fit, oval face wrapped in a wide hijab is always bright even though Miss Fitri has a dark skin color. Wrinkles on his aging face are also not too visible, it seems he is doing treatment to keep looking young.

“Today we will go into chapter making essay. No one understands what is called warrants?”

This is what I like about Miss Fitri and the Indonesian language lessons, she is different from other teachers who will explain the material first, then give questions. Miss Fitri would only mention the Chapter of the material, then without any explanation, she would ask directly. If no students ask questions, then Miss Fitri will immediately give assignments.

“Seakarang, because you are already in High School, you must make an essay about the future. So our theme is me in the next 10 years. You can make up your picture in the next 10 years. Hows it? Exciting right?”

The whole student remained silent. I was still silent and my brain started to think. Ten years to come? That means when I was 22.

“Wah, it seems you guys have been thinking straight away. Calm down, the task is not in the collection now really. Miss will give you three weeks. But you can install from now on. Incidentally Miss today had to go to the hospital because Miss's husband entered the hospital, so you guys please start making up and Miss permission yes. Remember, no one goes out of class, no fuss too. Your homeroom teacher Miss Regan is next door, so she'll be watching you. The willingness to the canteen will get a punishment next week yes, as well as if this class is noisier, then all students will miss law next week.”

Such is Miss Fitri, she is rarely absent. But once you have to leave class, always be firm with punishment. I am not worried about this class if left by Miss Fitri, believe all students will not dare to go out to the cafeteria, unless they go to the toilet. And the class won't be noisy. It all happened after our class, X one, and, in the beginning of the semester violated Miss Fitri rules and resulted in the punishment of one class who had to stand on the flag field and clean the canteen and compile books in the library. The information of the punishment spread throughout the class so that no more children would break the rules of Miss Fitri.

Miss Fitri then left the class. Children do not fuss in the slightest, not as violent as if left behind by another teacher. They only discussed each other about the next 10 years.

Shaka, tumben once the boy is quiet. Usually he would talk to me when there was no teacher in the class. I saw Shaaka writing in the book, he had already started writing his essay.

I'm at 22 years old. So the title that Shaka wrote in his notebook.

I read the first paragraph that Shaka wrote with a messy writing.

I'm 22 years old, still single. Because I intend to get married at the age of 27.

I looked at Shaka in disbelief, the first paragraph was about marriage, like no other topic.

Nadav and I have become a famous band. I have already released a few songs on major labels. We have our own training building and we don't rent it.

Both words made me smile. Shaka really likes the music world. He had a clear dream.

“Hey, you want to cheat?”

My hand finally managed to also knock Shaka's head. He grimaces. Ah exaggerated, even though I just knock slowly, do not use super energy.

“You who cheat even mukulin me anyway? This weird chick of yours!”

“You're the weird one, since when can fabricate tasks cheat?”

“Trus why write me? Your book is also empty.”

I saw my book, it was empty.

“It wants to be written.” I shifted, started focusing on the book myself.

“Btw, what are your ideals, Lin?”

“So doctor. Mama said I should be a successful person by becoming a doctor like Mama.”

Shaka laughed, “Lin, success does not have to be a doctor. There are so many successful musicians out there. My father was a soldier and my parents were nurses, they were also successful.”

I'm silent. Actually, when I started to grow up at this time, I also started to know other professions besides doctors. I know that there are a lot of successful people out there even if they're not doctors, like my teachers, for example?

“Eh but how can you be a doctor? You just don't like IPA.” lessons Shaka laughs. I was surprised. How could Shaka know about my dislike?

“I like IPA really, the proof is that I'm in the IPA.” department

Shaka laughed again. This time, shaka's laughter sucks more than her disappointment. “Ah lied, surely you entered IPA because of your Mama, right?”

“You really know.”

“I've been your friend for a month and a half. I have eyes, Lin. I can see you're trying hard to learn, but you're not really happy. Your eyes only sparkle if Miss Fitri frenetic, fitting the bell break the sound, the same as the hour home. That's it. Aye right?”

I let out a breath. I didn't even realize what Shaka said. After Shaka said that, my head started to remember.

“Looks like ten years to come you won't be a member of Nadav Band, but so fortune teller.”

“Yee, good aja.”

“You yourself why enter IPA? Why not go to music school?”

“I went to music school. I got into IPA because of what? Nothing special, anyway. Just yes, besides music, I prefer to study natural science rather than history or social science, what else is language. I only do based on what I like.”

I just do it based on what I like. That phrase stuck in my mind. Makes me silent for a moment. It made me ask myself a question, a question that came out of Shaka's mouth.

“What do you like? I mean, is there something you like, Lin? Something that wasn't because of your mom. Something you really like, you want, like a dream. Like my dream to be famous with the Nadav Band. You, what is your dream?”

I'm speechless. That's the question I asked myself. What do I like? What was I dreaming of?

I don't know the answer.

“I want to go to the toilet first kebelet.”

At that time, I might be able to avoid Shaka's question. However, I can't avoid the questions asked by myself. All day, I kept thinking about it.