ECLIPSE LUNAR

Episode 8

I rushed to see Ken in his class. It was best to hear firsthand the explanation of his meeting with Kinan from her. Unfortunately, that guy wasn't there. The bell screeching three times the sign of the ceremony Monday morning already makes the atmosphere boisterous. All of the disciples scattering walked one way in the corridor towards the field.

Closing myself to the door of Ken's classroom, I observed one by one the faces, hoping that one of them was the most wanted narcissist. Nil. Maybe the guy had already taken to the field, considering his role as the class leader who had never dropped since class X.

I exhaled tired, feeling stupid for being too familiar with the habits of the guy I didn't know. We never greeted each other. She may never even know there's a student named Serena at this school. Just as I was about to join the ranks of students running around in haste because of being late, my tail caught the figure of Miss San waving from the end of the dark corridor. The ghost called me.

When I was sure that no teacher was watching, I sneaked up on the ghost with the kimono. He grinned wide when I looked in wonder. His face was as pale as paper, so contrasted with his narrow eyes that stayed in line when smiling. Miss San and I have been friends since the incident involving Class X. He became one of the ghosts of this school that I often ask for help.

“What's up, Miss San?”

Miss San's pale face looked anxious. He moved his index finger, asking me to follow him. The ghost flew down the corridor. While I was still in the corner, momentarily ascertained the situation, then walked down behind the floor dividing wall to follow him.

I was surprised to see Miss San stop at the very end of class, Ken's class I just left. He broke through the door, then opened it up a little bit for me who was walking on all fours. When I arrived at the class, I could breathe a sigh of relief. I found Miss San already sitting sweetly on the third table from the front on the second row near the door. He waved his hand, telling me to come closer.

The ghost pointed at the table he was sitting on. I raised an eyebrow, puzzled, peeking at the table he pointed out. For a moment we were silent. Miss San was not pointing at the table, but the inscription on her desk. The shape is irregular like carved with the tip of a nail.

“Ken?” I asked to voice the carving there.

Miss San nodded, her face grim.

I'm trying to confirm, why is Ken here? But immediately nodded so aware of something. “This is Ken.”'s class

Miss San's pale face seemed furious as if she wanted to say something. His eyes looked around the classroom, like looking for something, then stopped at the window. Why don't you just tell me what he's thinking?! He usually talks long.

I followed Miss San's line of sight, then was stunned as soon as I realized there was another figure in the room. The figure of a brunette girl on her back, sitting in the row of the third seat at the very end. The figure that was clearly not human turned his face to the window so that it did not appear to me. The morning sunlight casts the figure into a kind of pseudo-shadow that is real but absent.

Miss San looked at me with both eyebrows raised, again pointing at the engraving of Ken's name on the table. I concluded doubtfully. “Who wrote this girl?”

Miss San nodded enthusiastically.

“Why did he write Ken's name here?” many confused. Miss San shrugged her shoulders.

Curious, I looked back at the figure near the window. Slowly approaching to see his appearance. The figure was in uniform, but not this school uniform. His skirt was plaid maroon, his white shirt collar sticking out from behind his dongker blue suit. She wears a matching colored tie with a skirt. My chest is pounding. I think I've seen a uniform like that somewhere, but I'm not sure where.

As soon as I arrived beside the table he was at, the figure turned his head to look at me. His round eyes trembled the moment he met my wide-eyed. I shook my head in a daze, walking backwards until I finally got stuck on the table behind me.

The beautiful paras of the figure, his long wavy brown hair, his thick eyebrows that form a beautiful indentation—all I know. Although never met in person, the shape of the eye is firm and deep it is similar to Karen's. They deserve twins. This figure is really a female version of my best friend. Her figure is similar to the photo Karen sent the other day. The uniform he wears. If only his face wasn't as pale as paper, I would feel so lucky to find him.

My lips are cuddly, unable to speak his name. I blinked many times hoping that what I saw was a hallucination. But the figure did not go away, it was more and more clearly looking at me with a sad look.

I refuse to believe my eyes. Kinan is not dead. There's no way this is Karen's sister we're looking for. That ghost can read my inner war. Almost imperceptibly, she moved the tip of her lips, giving me a barely-feeling smile. My surprise is not gone. From his eyes, the figure let out red colored tears.

My body is shaking violently. The tears of blood grew more and more, continuing to flow until the girl's uniform was covered in blood.

I closed my eyes, then screamed with all my might until finally my body could not cope with the shock, completely surrendering to the subconscious.

***

“KAREN phone, said she wants to come here.”

That information forced my newly awake brain to work digesting everything. Aunt Risma gently stroked my hair. My body was full of warmth by the friendly embrace of a thick blanket. From the window of my room I knew it was dark outside the sky. As I recall, it was still early morning when I came to school and discovered that Adriana Kinanti was the full name of Karen's sister. I went to Ken's class, followed Miss San. Then ... the girl sitting by the window, crying blood. My brain stopped working until there. I closed my eyes while easing my heart beat.

Aunty Risma's warm hands fingered my forehead. “You're already down. You were brought home in the same stupor Mr. Revelation, Vina, Yola too. Why didn't you tell Auntie you weren't feeling well, Ser?”

Mr. Revelation is my homeroom teacher. I smiled calming my tantalizing worries. “Because only soy sauce, Tan. Maybe because lately busy helping Karen find her sister. It's okay.”

“Karen Aunty tell me to come in, huh? You're sick again.” Aunt Risma gave a suggestion.

My head is still a little dizzy. I sat up and shook slowly. “Nevent gone, Tan. Usually he does not want to stop by if it is a gini mall. What time is it?”

“Almost eight o'clock. You want to get out sick again like this?”

Aided by Aunt Risma, I wore a thick sweater and scarf around my neck. “Someone wants Serena to talk to Karen. It's better outside.”

My Tante's forehead is wrinkled, it's normal that he's anxious.

“Serena not long kok, Tan,” I said calming, “before nine o'clock must have gone home.”

My aunt held out a pinky. “Appointments, yes?”

I put my pinky on her. “Appointments.”

Outside, a cold wind pierced the skin even though my body was wrapped in warm clothes. As soon as I opened the fence, Karen who was still sitting on her red CBR greeted me with a smile.

“Hai,” sapanya lightly.

I smiled as much as I could, but my lips felt stiff. “Hai.”

Karen smiled so widely, as if ready to spit out happiness. Seeing me silent, he got off his bike and unexpectedly immediately greeted me with a tight hug. “Ser, I just got word from Kinan!” shouts semringah. Shortly after, she let go of the embrace and took a step back to look at me. His eyebrows are adrift. “Body load angle?”

I felt like a frozen block of ice as his warm hands perfectly closed my forehead. My tongue was muddled by the information he had just thrown out. “What news, Ren?”

Karen gave a smooth sigh. His hand held me. “Let's talk in dalem aja. Lo's sick again, right? Here cold.”

I'm unmoving. Refuse to move.

Seeing my determination, Karen gave up. Her face that I last saw was so pale and desperate, it had now returned to the way Karen had been. The sparkle in his eyes made my heart seem to be sliced into pieces.

“Lo knows Melanie, right?” tanyakanya.

My eyebrows wrinkled. Why are you suddenly talking about our best friend? Of course I know Melanie. The girl is quite accomplished in the IPS department. Although never in class, since X class the girl often asked for my help if there was a lesson she did not understand. Lately I just realized, actually Melanie approached me to be close to Karen too.

“Kinan follow club astral project. A kind of secret online club where people of similar interest gather and share experiences. Because I told Melan about Kinan, Melan happened to say, he had an acquaintance who also joined the club. Said his acquaintance Melan, there is a planning of a nightclub meeting this Friday at one of the cafes in Bandung.”

I didn't react. Karen's smile grew wider. “And that makes me smile, Kinan's name is listed on the list of members who will be present!”

How come? My throat's stuck.

“Melan convinced me if actually Kinan deliberately run away. Maybe he has a problem.” Karen's voice was a little grim. Then back to ordinary. “But I know he's fine, Ser. My family seems to be calmer when I get this news. On Friday, I'm going to the cafe to meet Kinan. You're coming, right?”

I hope what Karen said is true and the figure I saw at school was just an illusion. The wind felt piercing the eyes. I quickly took a look from Karen so I realized my eyes were wet.

“I'm not feeling well, Ren,” sergeku, “tomorrow we say again.”

“Yes, you rest yes. I'm going to school tomorrow. Thanks for everything.”

“You too.” I waved briefly, then hid a cry behind the fence.

God, help me. How do I tell him that his brother is dead? []