Asta Brata: Kartika

"Thanks for the Note, "

"Until here's our lesson today, I hope you're ready for Monday's test tomorrow. Wassalamualaiku warahmatulli. Happy learning," Ms. Tia closed the lesson.

"Waalaikumussalam warahmatullahi wabarakatuh," replied the class XI IPA 1 student accompanied by Bu Tia who came out of the class.

Immediately heard crasak krusuk. The students talk about the exam. Who said 'faced, dizzy me' someone said 'movable me if until my value is ugly. My pocket money must have been cut' and others were mostly complaining. Ismaya just stayed in place. He glanced at Kartika who was copying notes from the blackboard. That girl is serious. And Ismaya knows very well the meaning of the record for a Kartika.

Ismaya chose to leave the classroom. Looks like Baruna and Candra are already in the canteen. Rather than Ismaya dizzy about Kartika, it is better to just eat. Not risky!

"Heh," called someone as Ismaya passed through the corridor of class XII IPS 2. Ismaya found a guy staring at her from the door. With crossed hands and an understated look. "So, you're Tika's boyfriend?"

Ismaya looked at Mark who was now walking out of his class. Stop in front of Ismaya. Ismaya realized, she was nothing compared to this guy in front of her. But, Ismaya bravely returned the view of her upperclassman. "Gue Ismaya, Kartika's boyfriend,"

Mark chuckles. "Gue hope so," the man patted Ismaya on the shoulder before finally walking ahead of Ismaya toward class XII IPA 1. Ismaya gritted her gritted teeth.

For a few minutes, Ismaya stood still withholding emotions. Make people who see it frown. Some even make bad comments.

And with a long gontai, Ismaya again walked to the canteen. His mind raged, until he hit people for not focusing. Ismaya just apologized and walked back.

Ismaya slams her body on the chair, keeping Candra and Baruna busy with their affairs - Chandra with her HP and Baruna with her textbooks - in unison. Seeing Ismaya's red face, they knew Ismaya was upset.

"Why?" Tanya Baruna who had fully paid attention to Ismaya.

Ismaya rubbed her face rough. "How should you go?"

Realizing the direction of Ismaya's question, Candra clucked in annoyance. "Gue told you a long time ago. Just drop! Very repot," said Candra lightly who immediately got a soft kick in the shin from Baruna.

"Obviously I'm kidding. Hehehe," Candra immediately responds when she realizes Ismaya's angry look. Ismaya just gawking. The anger goes back up.

"Ishow_"

"ISHMAY!"

Baruna's words were cut short by the words of a girl in her class who ran hastily towards her. The girl stopped. Breath is intermittent.

"Why?" Ismaya frowned. The girl is still panting.

"Kartika.... Mia... Kartika... Rooftop," said the girl.

Without a word, Ismaya immediately ran towards Rooftop. Ismaya ignores the call from Baruna and Candra who ask her back.

Ismaya climbed the stairs at the speed she could. Passing two stairs at once. Up to the second to third floor. Hanging people who are blocking their path. Ignoring when someone protests his actions. Ismaya stops at the rooftop door. Breath hunting. And he saw a bunch of girls-five guys-surrounding something. Ismaya can't see it.

"Thanks make the note. I'm back" said Mia. The group of girls laughed before leaving. They stopped when they saw Ismaya.

"Ups, the prince is coming," Mia covered her mouth with a pretended expression of shock.

"Uh, so sweet really try," added Disa who followed the call 'uuuu' others.

"Where's the Queen?" Ask Mia to their gang leader.

"Skip, ah. Let the prince help his daughter," said the Queen who went straight through Ismaya. Followed by the others.

Ismaya soon realized. He went out to the rooftop and found Kartika crouching down to look at the notebook half of which had been reduced to ashes. The girl reached for her book which melted in her grasp.

"Kartika" call Ismaya. Kartika looked back with a teary face.

Without the cue Kartika immediately rose to embrace Ismaya. Makes the guy surprised. "Note me, Ismaya."

Kartika's hand that was hit by ash rubbed Ismaya's uniform. Leaves a black-gray stain there.

Slowly, Ismaya released Kartika's embrace. He sat her down on the side. Then gently rubbed Kartika's head. "Yes. I know," whispered Ismaya in the middle of Kartika's sobs.

...***...

Kartika closed the book after finishing her notes. He breathed a tired breath. This morning, his father was angry. He advises Kartika on many things. Demand this-that. Honestly, Kartika is tired.

"Borrow a notebook" someone asked. Kartika looked up, found the cheerleader queens and the rose-centered extending a hand.

"Make what?" Ask Kartika wonder. As far as Kartika, Queen of Languages. Why borrow Math notes across his interests?

"Got long!" The queen snatched Kartika's book on the table. Kartika. He doesn't like the way the Queen borrowed. But the Queen has already walked over to Mia's desk. There four men - Mia, Disa, Lusi and Karina - stood.

"Nih, lo's book," the Queen handed it to Mia.

"Reverse my book," said Kartika who had followed to the table Mia.

"Oh, this is lo's?" Ask plain Mia.

Kartika looked at Mia not like it.

"Gue borrow it for a while, really,"

"Please!" Kartika. But two against one remains unbalanced.

"Slow away," the Queen ordered. The girl dropped out of the class followed by Mia who was carrying Kartika's notebook.

"All the bags" Mia ordered. Lusi turned the eyeball before taking the Kartika bag lazily.

"No release?" Kartika's orders to Disa and Karina.

"Lo's real bad," Karina was upset. The girl from Ceerleader showed her true nature.

They're taking Kartika to Rooftop. Dragging exactly. Lusi dropped the contents of the Kartika bag on the Rooftop floor. Mia throws the notebook in her hand with Kartika's stuff scattered about.

"Take the locket," the Queen ordered. Mia took.

A locket? Kartika frowned in wonder.

Kartika looked at the thing in Lusi's hand. Star-shaped pendant gift from Ismaya first. Kartika at that time put it in a bag because it did not care. And now it's still there. Deliberately set aside by the Queen.

"Take gasoline with matches" the Queen ordered. Mia immediately picked up the object that was already prepared in the corner of the rooftop.

"What are you doing?" Kartika Fizz.

"Burn!"

Mia poured gasoline on Kartika's books. Makes Kartika glare. Mia replied with a shitty smile.

"Stop. Don't burn my book." Kartika is struggling again. But he still failed. "Take me off!"

Mia threw a gas bottle carelessly and lit a match. Fire was thrown at Kartika's belongings. Instantly the fire lit up. Burned Kartika's books. The five girls laughed immediately.

Disa and Karina took off their grip. Kartika immediately looking for goods to mengdampan fire. Kartika found her bag lying near her leg. Kartika grabbed it, then tried to put out the fire by hitting her bag. The fire was successfully extinguished. Kartika immediately sat down. He looked at his book, which was now half to ashes.

"Nih, eat tuh, lo star pendant," Lusi threw the pendant on Kartika. But the girl just silently stared at the ashes in front of her. His eyes began to water.

"Thanks make the note. I'm back, all right," said Mia. They laugh again. Slowly, they left Kartika still with an evil laugh.

...***...

"When the record is very important for me," said Kartika. After she finished crying, she told Ismaya the chronology. Ismaya is a good listener. After Kartika cries, and as a good boyfriend, Ismaya tries to calm her down.

Kartika glanced at Ismaya. "Gue can't do anything without my notes," Kartika paused. "Papa najuk I make number one," Kartika stopped again "Last year, when I was second, papa was angry,"

Ismaya nodded in surprise.

"And if this semester I can't rank one," Kartika began yerisak "Papa will move me to the dorm," Kartika cried again.

"Kartika" call Ismaya lirih. Kartika rubbed her eyes. Making his face dirty from ashes.

Ismaya took off her uniform. Leave a white T-shirt that fits on his body. Gently rubbed Kartika's face using her clothes.

"Don't cry" said Ismaya.

Kartika. He looked at Ismaya who was also staring at him. A fragrant smell poured from Ismaya's clothes into Kartika's nose. The smell that Kartika has never tasted anywhere. The scent, ah! I don't know. Kartika.... Loved it.

Ismaya soon realized. She turned. Pouring his shirt at Kartika. "Clean your face. Same hand you. It's dirty" said Ismaya.

Kartika looked at her gray hands. Receiving Ismaya's dirty clothes. "Sorry, your clothes are so dirty gini." Kartika rubbed her face, then her hands.

"It's okay. I've been wearing it for two days, really, the uniform" Ismaya said. Kartika. Ismaya's laughter broke.

"It's still clean, though,"

Kartika manyun heard it.

"Go home, yuk" asked Ismaya who realized it was afternoon. Kartika. The girl walked ahead of Ismaya. For a few moments they walked together.

The school is deserted. Turns out they've been in Rooftop too long since school.

"Lo to the parking lot first," said Ismaya. Kartika. Ismaya goes to her class, picks up her bag and follows her to the parking lot.

"Sorry for a long time" said Ismaya while riding his motorcycle.

"No," Kartika climbed into Ismaya's arms.

Ismaya immediately runs the bike. It felt, just now Kartika hugged him since they were dating. It felt like Kartika had just been frank about something to her. It seems, only this time Kartika ride the bike since they are dating. And, it feels new this time Kartika hugs him tightly while riding the bike with him.

And, what did Kartika say? His father would move Kartika to the dorm if he didn't get a first place? Alright. Ismaya is willing if she has to give up her first rank position to Kartika.

...***...