Asta Brata: Kartika

"Your arrival can't make things go back to how they were,"

The Kartika mind drifted far away. Ismaya ignored him now. Kartika knew, Ismaya was angry because Kartika was absent from the call of Ismaya. Kartika knows Ismaya is disappointed in him.

"Gue asks you to stay away from Ismaya. You made him like now. So, after you benefit him, you don't expect much!"

Gaby said the night Mark left her and Ismaya helped him. Kartika knows that. And that bitch Gaby reminded Kartika of it.

"Why are you here?" Gaby asked cynically when Kartika came in the morning after Ismaya sent her a short SMS about her grandmother's death. Kartika destination one, entertain Ismaya. But the girl even resuscitates Kartika on a boundary she shouldn't have crossed.

"Your arrival cannot make things go back to how they were" Gaby said. He even smiled slantedly at Kartika.

"Gue can't change things. But, I can at least make Ismaya re-discover her world," Kartika replied trying to defeat all trepidation in facing the girl in front of her.

Gaby smiled cynically "Lo thought Ismaya would be fine after you made her third?" Gaby asked which made Kartika speechless in her place.

"Lo didn't think, after Ismaya ranked third, she would be expelled from school" Gaby said. Kartika immediately shook because of Gaby's words.

"That's what you call restoring Ismaya's world?" Gaby. Kartika is getting quiet.

"Huh, you shut up. You better leave before you make Ismaya more ruined than this!" Gaby's sweat. Feeling devastated, Kartika left from there.

"Testes, call to Ismaya Putra Diwangga from the eleventh grade of IPA one, to go to the principal's room now. Again, to Ismaya Putra Diwangga of the eleventh grade IPA one, please go to the principal's room, now. Thank you,"

The calls from the school speakers make Kartika fully aware of her daydream. The girl looked at Ismaya. Likewise with the teacher and classmates who also looked at Ismaya.

"Sorry, sir. I'm permission to go to the principal's room now" Ismaya said unkindly to the teacher who was teaching. The teacher disturbs me.

"Yes. Go ahead" said the teacher.

Ismaya stood up and left the classroom. Suddenly Gaby's words enter Kartika's mind. Ismaya was summoned by the headmaster. Let's hope Gaby's words aren't true.

...****************...

"Excuse me, sir," Ismaya knocked on the door of the principal's room before entering.

"Oh, Ismaya. Please come in, son," said the man. Ismaya came in and sat down in front of the headmaster. This is the second time Ismaya has entered this room. The first time he registered came in. A signboard with the inscription Airlangga Adiasla and a series of titles are displayed on the table.

The headmaster was a man in his forties. This guy is very authoritative. His face line was firm. Just like his son, Surya, who inherited good looks from his father. The principal is a fair man. Everyone feels disinclined by him.

"You don't know why I called you here personally, do you?" Ask the principal.

Ismaya actually knew what was the reason she was called. This risk he had thought maturely for a long time. But, the guy shakes politely. "I don't know yet, sir," replied Ismaya.

"Ismaya, you're a student on an achievement scholarship that we recruited after the national science olympiad last year, right?" Ask Mr. Airlangga.

Ismaya nodded, "Right, sir," the man replied again.

It looks like Mr. Airlangga is nodding. He then took out a paper containing a report.

"After we monitored your progress during your schooling at Makuta Rama High School, your grades have been fine for half a year. But, in this odd semester exam, your grades dropped dramatically," explained Mr. Airlangga. "This is a question for us teachers. What is the cause of your drastic decline in value. Our board of teachers also needs to follow up on this case. You know, right, what's the penalty for scholarship students who experience a decline in achievement?" Mr. Airlangga looked seriously at Ismaya.

Again Ismaya just nodded.

"The default for achievement scholarship students who experience a decline in grades, is Drop Out,"

Ismaya nodded in understanding. He must be willing to be expelled from Makuta Rama High School. This is all his fault which is stupid and worth expelling.

It looks like Mr. Airlangga is breathing heavily. "It's hard for us to bring out outstanding students like you. We're the board of teachers, you're a very potential student, Ismaya. Therefore, we ease the doubt for you. You will not be expelled from Makuta Rama High School with a note you have to restore your achievements that had dropped,"

Ismaya looked up at the headmaster. His serious expression made something in Ismaya come back to life. Mr. Airlangga smiled and Ismaya returned the smile. Happiness smile.

Mr. Airlangga extended his hand. Ismaya received the teacher's hand. "Congratulations that you can still go to school here, Ismaya. Hopefully your achievements will increase in the future" said Mr. Airlangga. Ismaya nodded.

"Thank you, sir. I will do my best" promised Ismaya.

"It has. Please continue your study," Mr. Airlangga cast out the delicate Ismaya. Ismaya resigns.

"Oh, yeah. I am so sorry for the passing of your grandmother" said Mr. Airlangga. Once again Ismaya nodded.

Kartika sees Ismaya from a distance. He was worried about that guy. What if Ismaya gets Drop Out? Kartika could not focus throughout the lesson. The girl felt calm when she saw Ismaya's smile. Until then Ismaya caught his figure. The guy stopped his movements even his smile. The guy was staring at the old Kartika. Making Kartika can not move and stay in place.

Ismaya regained her senses and threw away her gaze. The guy put on a smile again. Then walk toward the kartika without staring at the kartika. Ismaya even passed through it. Dealing with kartika as if it were just the wind. Kartika smiled wryly. Ismaya has every right to treat Kartika like this. Kartika can only turn around. Look at the guy's back who's getting away. Even she had to watch Ismaya greeting Gaby warmly at the end of the corridor.

"When" called Mark who knew he was standing in front of him.

Kartika jumped in shock and looked resentfully at Mark. "Why come here?" Tanya Kartika cynical.

Mark raised his eyebrows. "You take my girlfriend to the cafeteria" said the man.

"Gapain come here?" Ketus Kartika's.

"My boyfriend is here" Mark replied.

Kartika looked at Mark sharply.

"Gue's not your girlfriend" Kartika said.

Mark laughed a little. "We haven't broken up, Tika,"

"Yes already. I want us put_"

"Shttt, no" Mark put his index finger on Kartika's lips. "You're my boyfriend. My only boyfriend. There's nothing else,"

Kartika was silent to Mark's words.

"My only boyfriend" Mark repeated.

"Promise?" Kartika stretched out her little finger.

Mark chuckled a little before finally linking his pinky to Kartika's pinky. "Promise" said the man.

...****************...

"You're not out of it, are you?" Gaby asked and ate her food.

Ismaya. "No,"

Gaby just nodded. Ismaya was upset by herself. "Why is that a response?"

Gaby looked at Ismaya. Swallowed her food and spoke. "Why should I? Jump around? Pargoy Joget? What crank?" Said Gaby flat.

"Well, at least my deal or something. Don't slab it in the face" Ismaya wants so much.

"What I'm supposed to buy you," Gaby went back to eating her food. Not ignoring Ismaya who looks upset. Gaby doesn't have a heart what, anyway?

"Snap eaten!" Gaby pointed at Ismaya's chicken noodles with her chin. Ismaya according. He had only eaten three mouthfuls when Gaby closed the foam.

"Gue is over. You pay, right?" Gaby finished her drink which stayed a little.

"Eh, uh, where are you going?" Ismaya rattled herself to see Gaby standing up.

"If I go. Thanks for the treat" Gaby left Ismaya in her place.

"Heh, look out for Gaby. I'm not going to take you home" threatened Ismaya who is not cared about by Gaby. It even draws the attention of the secantin. Plus Aru and Candra who grinned wide while sitting at Ismaya's table.

"Not so in DO. Buy my food, yes!" Pinta Candra's.

Ismaya breathed a sigh of resignation. He would really fall poor after this.

While Kartika who was sitting with Mark felt hot alone with the proximity of Gaby and Ismaya.

...****************...