Chasing Stars

The Maniac Delon

It took about 40 minutes for Laura to travel from her home, in a small town, to school. Laura opened the window of the bus, closed her eyes, and let the morning air hit her face.As her eyes slowly reopened, she took a breath, filling her body with the same air. Along the way, the leaves danced to follow the wind as if they were to drive him to his destination.

Laura thought, if he had to spend 40 minutes of his time almost every morning, passing the same route, wouldn't it be better if he enjoyed it?

Laura loves nature in the morning, when the sun begins to surface, and birds chirp in the air.

When the bus she was riding stopped at a stop, Laura came down with a smile knowing she would experience the same thing again tomorrow. now he is ready to wait for another bus that will take him to school.The next 10-minute trip is completely different from before.the leaves are changed into skyscrapers that can withstand the wind.

Not long after, he arrived in front of his school, a 3-storey building that had stood for decades, not that there was no school where Laura lived. Only mom wants the best education for her, even if that means a 50-minute commute to school every day.

 Laura doesn't mind. She will do anything for her mother.As a single parent, you have sacrificed a lot for her that makes her object, even the students at the school. They have known each other since Kindergarten to High School. And Laura as a stranger who had entered early July the previous year could not directly fit them.Additionally, her house was 30 km from the school made her predicate ''campungan school''. So in conclusion, Laura was just an ordinary student. But today, fate will bring him together with someone extraordinary.

It all started when Laura was sitting in the school garden reading a physics book in front of her. The newton formulas from the book filled his mind and Laura let out a faint sigh. He looked up, saw the leaves on it, then closed his eyes slowly. A few days ago he read on a website on the internet that Newton got his theory of gravity sitting under a tree and an apple fell on his head. Laura smiled faintly, she was sitting under a tree now, but not a single formula from the book she understood.

''I don't think I'll get inspired under a tree like a newton'', his sigh in the heart of a leaf fell on his forehead. Laura opened her eyes slowly.she still had to memorize the formulas in the chapter, if you want to get a good value when the physics replay after this break. That is, he must memorize everything in the remaining 5 minutes.

''This is really impossible,” his sigh again, “why should newton create this much formula?''. The class entrance bell rings. Laura rushed up from the park bench and ran towards her class, suddenly her body hit someone, making her hand open and her physics book fell on the floor.

''Sorry'' he said slowly. Then his eyes looked at the pair of the most beautiful brown eyes he had ever seen. After that he was almost speechless.His heart was racing, his breathing was irregular.

The owner of the beautiful brown eyes smiled gently, then leaned over and picked up the physics book that had fallen on the floor and gave it to Laura.

''This is your book, '' he said kindly.

Laura took her book by the hand in front of her. ''thanks, '' he said.

Then the man, the owner of a pair of brown eyes, smiled, and left Laura stunned for a moment. Laura looked at the guy's back as he ran and disappeared behind the door, then his gaze fell on the book in his hand and he rushed to class.

When the replay takes place, Laura cannot concentrate on the problems that are on the board. His mind floated at his meeting with the brown-eyed guy in the park. He wanted to know who that guy was.

***

On the way home. Laura smiled a little. He knew today was the most effective day at school. Today, for the first time, he met someone he liked there.

Arriving home, as usual, he lifted the clothesline, ironed it, then cleaned the living room. After that, he took a school bag and started his housework. When the wall clock was 5pm, he tidied up his bag and went to the kitchen to cook and warm up for dinner with his mom.

Then he brought a towel to take a bath, Laura sang slowly. Coming out of the bathroom, the front door of the house opened. A middle-aged woman with brown hair entered the room.

''Welcome to ma!'' hello Laura smiled.

Mama smiled back.You look happy today.Something fun happened at school?''

While picking up the bag to put on the guest table, Laura smiled again. ''I met someone today.''

Mama looked at her daughter with a frown. ''Cowok, yes?” tanyakanya.

Laura nodded. ''She has the most beautiful pair of brown eyes I've ever seen.”

Mom held Laura's hand. ''Is it time for you to explain about the dangers of relationships between women and men if you are not careful?''

Laura held my mother's hand while laughing. ''You don't have to think that far. He doesn't even know me.''

''But you want to know her, don't you?'' ask mama.

''Yes,”Laura nodded.

Mama looked at her daughter and took a deep breath. In her heart she always felt Laura was a child and needed her guidance. But now Laura says she likes someone. Mama looked at Laura and convinced herself that her daughter was an adult.

''Promise me, if you want to start dating, you have to tell me, '' said mama reminded.''

Laura nodded. ''I promise I'll tell my mom.''

''And at that time, Mama will tell you about how to date healthy, '' said mama. “Mama believes in you'', reply mama ''but mama doesn't just believe in the guy who will be your girlfriend.''

Laura led Mama into the dining room. ''Mama don't have to worry. I don't even know his name yet.'' Laura pulled out a chair and told mom to sit down. ''Mama must be tired. So now it's better to eat first.''

Mama saw the food that had been served at the dinner table and smiled. During dinner, she looked at Laura and said in her heart how lucky she was to have a daughter like Laura.

''Enak ma?” ask Laura.

Mama nodded. ''Feel good, Laura''.

Afterwards, she went to the bathroom and Laura washed the dishes. The ritual happens every day. Laura doesn't mind all the housework she has to do. She loves her mom and she will do anything to make you happy.

Meanwhile, in the next bedroom, she opened a box in her desk drawer. Tears ran down her cheeks. He picked up a card he bought this afternoon. Before long she took a pen and wrote something. When finished, he put the card into the box and closed the box.

In a different room, Laura smiled. Before going to bed he was determined to find out what the name of the guy he met this afternoon. His eyes are tired. That night Laura slept with a smile on her lips.

***

The next morning, Laura entered the schoolyard cheerfully. When he was about to enter the classroom, his gaze was fixated on the announcement on the school floor. His hand touched the glass.

''He's the guy I met yesterday'', he said in his heart.

Laura's eye turned on the next caption. Tampakanya Niko won an inter-regional physics race a week ago.

''Excuse me! Excuse me!'' the voice behind Laura. Laura moved from where she stood.

''That's Niko, huh?'' said the girl who told Laura to shift earlier.

''Yes!'' reply friend.

''Oh, I think he won the physics race a week ago. Wow, that's great for him. Since Junior High has always been the general champion. My mom and dad are famous doctors. Erika is lucky to have a boyfriend like Niko.''

''They are a good couple. Erika beautiful & Niko handsome.''

''I heard they've known since TK. Duh, if only I could be as beautiful as Erika.'' the two were talking again regardless of Laura who was looking down. Laura was sad. He did not think that on the same day he knew the name of the guy he liked, he also had to accept the fact that the guy could not be achieved.

Smart, handsome, rich, popular. Niko has everything. As for him, he doesn't have all of that. She's just an ordinary girl. Laura knows she shouldn't be this sad, but she doesn't know Niko yet. Why does his heart hurt? he likes the wrong people at the wrong time.

***

As the physics replicas were shared, Laura could only grimace looking at the red 5 values that added to her sad list today. When the break bell rang, Laura did not move from her stool. His eyes looked at the laughing pair of boys and girls in the school field, Niko and Erika.

He saw his physics again. He saw the rumu-rumus scattered there. His view falls on a formula of attractive forces between two objects. Unknowingly he took the questioner and began to write.

TIME ONE (M1): I: 42 KG TIME TWO (M2):NIKO :+/- 50 KG G(GRAVITY SETTING): 6,672 X 10 DEGREES -11 N.M RANK 2/KG OF RANK 2 R (DISTANCE BETWEEN M1 & M2):............INFINITE. CONCLUSION: F(attractive force between m1 & m2)\=G times m1 & m2 divided by square distance is. ''Since anything is divided, multiplied, added, minus an infinite number, the result is infinity as well.''

Laura laughs sadly.Ironically, now he understands what is meant by NEWTON with the formula.Styles inversely proportional to the distance.The greater the distance between two objects, the smaller the attractive force between the two.

***

''You look sad today, ''' said mom when she saw the look on Laura's face that was different from yesterday.

''She already has someone else, said Laura slowly.

She sat down next to Laura and hugged her. ''Oh, Laura,'' she said sadly. I know who Laura meant. The guy he liked yesterday. ''Mama knows you must be sad.''

''She's so perfect, Ma.'' Laura tried to hold back her tears. ''Smart, handsome, and has everything. While I.....''

''Don't talk like that, Laura, '' said the mother as she stared firmly at her daughter's eyes. ''You are very special. Never forget that.''

Laura looked at her mother sadly. ''Only for the first time I like someone, it turns out that person already has someone else.''

''So you're going to give up?'' ask mama.

''I will not snatch someone who already has a girlfriend, '' said Laura firmly.

''You know, you always have a mama no matter what, my mama tried to calm Laura down.

''I know, ma''' said Laura softly, ''but now I don't know what to do. Mama would want me to stay away from her, wouldn't she?''

Mama smiled gently, then shook her head. ''Mama doesn't want you to experience sadness anymore. But it's all up to you.''

''I just wanted to get to know her, '' Laura said later.

''Then be his friend. If he doesn't like you until then, let him go. That way you'll have a love, '' suggested mama.

''Of course you will be heartbroken. If you dare to fall in love, you must also be prepared to bear the risk. Mama just doesn't want you to regret it. Do what you want, Mama will support you. Mama just wishes you had a memorable High School period.''mom stroked Laura's hair slowly.

 ''Mama is the best, Laura said. Mama just smiled gently.

''Now, smile.'' looking at my mama's smile, Laura also smiled.Thank you ma, for everything.''

 

***

Today is the first day of school. Laura is in 2nd grade today. All this time he had only seen Niko from a distance. He never talked to that guy. But he was determined to know her. And today, it was possible that the opportunity could come to him. Laura hopes to be in class with Niko.

Each year, the school opens 2 classes for IPA majors, 50% chance Laura will be in class with Niko. This year Laura learned desperately to get into IPA. Although not mastering the exact science, he tried as much as possible. He even dared to ask the teacher if there was a lesson that he did not understand. Laura was a shy student. Never dared to ask.

Laura realized, it was a little silly to want to enter the IPA class just because she wanted to be in class with Niko. But for the first time in her life, Laura was really trying hard. Whatever the reason, when the homeroom teacher told him that he was entitled to enter the IPA department, Laura felt happy & proud.

Impatiently, Laura looked at the list of names displayed in the school mading. Laura searched Niko's name first and got it on the list for class 2 IPA 1. Then his finger went up, hoping to find his name there. After passing 10 people on top of Niko. Then he looked at the list of names in the other class and looked for his name. His name turned out to be on the list of class 2 IPA 2.

His pace slowly approached the class he would occupy for the next year. In heart. Laura was sad. He won't have a chance to get to know Niko for another year. After putting down his bag, he touched the white wall in front of his class. Slowly he stepped up while counting in his heart. His steps came to a halt in front of the 2nd class IPA 1. He took a deep breath.50 steps. Throughout it, the distance that separates itself from Niko.

The following months, during extracurricular activities, Laura saw Niko playing basketball on the court, while she was cooking food in the dining room. After her extracurricular activities, Niko always comes home with Erika, who enters the marching band club. Laura jg watched as Niko was appointed chairman of OSIS. And inwardly, Laura was pleased with it. Of course, because he also chose Niko to be the chairman of OSIS, when all students were asked to enter his choice of sound box 2 days before.

The only chance came back when Laura was about to move up to third grade. Classes will be randomized, and it is likely that students will also move classes. Hopefully, if he is a classmate later, he will talk to Niko and finally have a chance to get acquainted with her. Although she will eventually become Niko's only friend, Laura knows she has at least one chance to be someone special.

''Wait for me, Niko,'' Laura's determination in her heart. ''I will definitely be your friend next year''.