Chased Om Om

Enchanted

You like to read novels, right?" the teacher said while presenting a novel with a woman's cover image and the big writing "Love is Never Wrong".

"This book is for me, sir?"

"Yes. You just read it. You must love the story."

"But sir,"

"Then, take it. You want to go home." Mr. Ardi took my hand, and put the book in my hand.

I just kept quiet, dumbstruck without being able to resist. While Mr. Ardi has returned to start his motorcycle parked on the streets.

I went inside the house. Change clothes and check my dawa. There are some incoming messages.

Damar: "Pearl, I need to talk to you."

Damar: "Call me right away."

Damar: "I'll wait."

Aih, does he think it's a holiday. He did not go to school because of the strike. But I'm still in school.

I pressed Damar's name on the wire. And the connecting tone reads.

"Hello, is this Damar?"

"Yes Tiara. I didn't go to school today. Mr. Ardi was not welcome to me. Every hard question always calls my name. Always give me more portions of duty. And the slightest mistake, he told me to drop out of class. Like I don't want to be in her class and figure out a way to get me out."

I just listen to his complaints.

"Tiara, are you still there?"

"Yes, Damar. Your papa visited Mr. Anwar seemed to be talking about this."

"Papa?"

"Yes. Then how long are you going to strike school?"

"Okay, maybe two or three days. Until there is a decision. At least move the class or whatever."

"You're gonna miss a lesson, Damar."

"Don't worry. I have a good tutor here. Papa found me a teacher at home."

"All right, good luck to Damar."

"North."

"Yes, Damar."

"We won't see each other for a while, but I miss being together when we rest" Damar said with a laugh.

"Hindu crowds yes. If so, just cancel the strike. Let us eat meatballs again in the cafeteria together" I replied with a laugh.

"Already ah, my stomach has protested to be filled. Yuk, bye Damar"

"Bye Tiara's."

Ting.

There's another incoming message. From the om.

"Tiara, are you home from school?"

"Gedhe's sister rest first huh. Ntar afternoon call."

I ignored that message. Go to the dinner table and open the hood.

"Hmm, smells. Fried chicken, sambal lalapan." I said to the mama who was busy doing monthly expenditure calculations.

"Yes. Wash your hands before eating" he said as if indifferent focus on his cash book.

"Ma," I said, washing my hands in the sink near the dinner table.

"Hmm, uh,"

"I'm not pretty, ma'am, mediocre right? There is also a teacher who has a crush on me. Make illfeel."

Apparently my words made my mama fail to focus. He immediately put down his writing instrument and closed his book. Then looked at me who had returned to sit ready to execute fried chicken.

"Teacher? Who, Tiara?"

"Sir Ardi, ma."

"Then what are you doing?"

"I told the principal. Mr. Anwar ma." I said as I poked the chili and packed the ointment into my mouth.

"Huhah. Where to drink, drink." I said running to get a glass in the kitchen.

"Be careful, watch out for choking."

"Uhuk... uhuk.." I patted my own chest.

"That's right. Slowly drink it."

"Trus ma, Damar's father, my friend, went to school as well, met Mr. Anwar. Because his son was made slack in school. Though relocating. Every day punished with Mr. Ardi," I continued. "His room is on strike, he's not going to school."

"Yes ma, Mr. Ardi may be reprimanded yes the same Mr. Anwar or do not know, it is flanked. Tiara said she wanted to go home, teach in her town."

"Yes, teachers are human too, Tiara. And every human has feelings. Anyone has the right to love. But also entitled to accept and refuse."

"Yes ma. Tiara knows it."

"And remember, even if you have the right to refuse, you still have to subtly. Don't hurt other people's feelings."

The pearl was silent, not answering. He thought whether the way he was wearing was a subtle way?

"But if I use subtle ways but he doesn't feel, then how about ma?" ask Pearl while gulping her water again.

"Say clearly your rejection, with clear words that don't offend her. Not an obscure subtle way, Tiara."

"Oooh..means the less obvious way Tiara may be yes ma'am." Tiara nodded her head in understanding.

"Mama's son is big, nih. Started a lot of who glanced at ya." mama smiled seductively. His eyes glanced at the flat reaction of his daughter who was washing her hands.

"Ah already. My mom is not serious. I'll go to the room first ma, want to continue reading the novel."

"Yes, if tired stop. Poor same eyes. Not beautiful anymore if his eyes are glasses."

"Haha. yes ma. If you're tired too, Tiara's taking a nap."

"Hi gedhe's sister, how are you today."

"Ih. Um, call him Tiara. Don't be all sister."

"Yes. Sister Tiara. Tiara, if there is a cool culinary place. Cool view. Instagramable the term."

"Oh. The new cafe isn't it, om? The one on that slope?"

"Yes. Bener. Have you been there?"

"Not yet."

"OK. We go there yuk. Ntar om pick up. Ready to be."

CLICKS

Well, closed without being able to answer. Without being able to ask or refuse. My grunts in my heart.

Soon, a message from the application appeared with a green symbol.

About Alfred: "4pm. Let's not stay."

I didn't respond to the message, and stayed cool with my blue app.

At 4pm, I'm ready for my fine clothes. My mickey cartoon shorts and t-shirts.

"Tiara came out first ma," I said when I saw that Mitshubisi Xpander's car had parked in front of the house.

"Who's the same, Tiara. Om Alfred ma." answered me who immediately passed out of the house.

I got in the car, and sat in the back seat. The car moved immediately, when I realized I didn't see Aunt Ratna.

"Oh om, Aunt Ratna ain't coming?"

"Yes. Your aunt is busy. His work is again he said. No matter what, we go there ourselves" Om Alfred smiled at me.

"But not the nights. Ntar Tiara wanted with mom papa. Especially tomorrow there's a test."

"Yes. Ja. You moved ahead yuk. Ntar om thought Grab driver."

"Haha... It's okay, om. A part-time job," I said and laughed. Unconcerned, I moved to the front seat.

"Om, play guessing yuk. Guess what fish the road likes to get jammed."

"Ah where is there. All the fish swim as well. It's not stuck."

"Udah om, guess what. Oh, um, ah."

"Fish ****** ride in the old car."

"Hahaha, where is there such an om."

"It's going to be a red light!"

"Oh, um ngaco ah."

"Keep what dong?"

"The whale's fish. Nice swimming, uh on pause." I said laughing win.

"Already ah, the guess ngaco. Replace the ones that make a guess. Why is the tower of Pisa tilted? Hey, can you answer me?"

"Yes from there it's slanted om."

"Where is the architect who makes the building sloping."

"Well why try, how can it tilt?"

"Because of being fascinated with your smile."