Flavor Anomaly

5. Flashbacks

8 Years ago ...

Jeslin looks cute in his gray white uniform which is now full of colorful signature graffiti, the work of his school friends. This year she graduated from High School and is just about to go home.

He walks alone, down the lonely sidewalk of the street. Usually when he leaves school, he will be escorted by the Papa with Daniel. But because Jeslin and Daniel's school is different, the two rarely go home together. Especially with each activity that is quite time consuming both.

The teenage girl with shoulder-length hair seemed to be walking without a burden. His face was shining with sparkling eyes. Along the path he walked, Jeslin looked happy. Because it turns out he just got a fairly satisfactory math score. So that the learning process last night for what he did yesterday was not in vain. Jeslin is one of the people who like to stack tasks and become a routine deadline pursuer. He can not do something casually, but if hunted for time, then the results of his work actually become better. So he will only learn when there will be a repeat. Beyond that, Jeslin prefers to read novels or street in the gramedia to hunt for these objects.

He arrived at the gate with the words Satria sports arena. Seeing the situation inside desolate, made his heart move to enter. The place is indeed quite spacious with several spots of good and well-maintained sports venues. Jeslin did not want to jog, basketball, or rock climbing, but just to sit and read the novel he always carried in his bag. Jeslin was very picky in determining the place where he wanted to read the fictional story of his choice.

Jeslin walked straight inside, past the deserted beach volleyball court, then continued past the rock climbing arena, where he was, and the view is fixed on a pendopo where there are some children who are practicing taekwondo there. Jeslin sat on a fence with a small spruce tree in the middle. Just sit while watching the child train very compact. Occasionally Jeslin pulled both corners of his lips watching them. Moreover, the child is still classified as cute and adorable.

This time, Jeslin recalled his original purpose. He immediately reached into the pink sling bag on the left side of his shoulder, and picked up a thick book that he could instantly recognize without looking into.

This time Jeslin brought a teen novel titled Hijab Spears, by Herlinatiens. A teenlit novel that he is currently enjoying. Maybe because it is in accordance with his age as well who is still a teenager. He had only read a few pages during his school break, and now wanted to continue the curious story.

Not feeling the day getting late, Jeslin closed the novel in the hand ending with a bone rustling that he created because of the aching feeling of looking down too long. The sun has shifted from its place, making some places start to dim and the atmosphere is no longer too hot. Time to go home to Jeslin.

The taekwondo training ground is over. Although some young children still sit while enjoying a snack, but the place is not as crowded as before. Jeslin looked around, the conditions were getting crowded in several corners, making him have to immediately lift foot from the place. Because at this hour, there are indeed many people who want to exercise. And Jeslin is one of those people who doesn't like crowds.

Jeslin moved, patting his slightly dirty skirt in the dust. Faintly he heard the sounds of people fighting. Of course Jeslin turned his head which turned out to be a pair of lovers who were fighting nearby. The woman's voice was quite loud, making Jeslin able to hear clearly their fight.

"Great pity. Just dating, already wanted to be mastered. But the girl is so, mostly," her inner self.

The pair of lovers were still quarreling while pointing. Jeslin started walking away.

"Yes, don't dong! The time I want to practice is not allowed!" snapped at the man, annoyed.

"So, you promised to watch me!"

"When?"

"Yesterday!"

"It's time!"

"Yes! Your time has forgotten! We just dated! How about we get married later? You'll surely kiss me!" the girl's nagging.

"Curtain, crazy! I'm crazy to marry you!"

"What do you mean, Ben? How do you say that?"

"Yes. We will not marry! Understand lo?"

"Why are you? Are you not serious about me? You just play? Huh yeah?" the woman pulls Ben's school uniform to make one button off her shirt. Ben who was about to leave was detained with all his might by Chika, the lover he had just dated for one month. It was also because of the work of Daniel who continued to be the matchmaker of the two of them. Chika is beautiful and attractive, but Ben does not really want the girl.

"Eh, Miss, you think it's far away. We're still in school! I can think of marriage! Yes, when I graduated High School, I married. Want me to eat dried leaves? Think dong use brains! Don't be tacky!" ben's words were too harsh, so Chika began to show her dramatic actions. His eyelids started to pool because of the tears that were about to spill.

"Bbj ... You don't love me?" chika asked started to show her weak side.

"No" replied Ben, firmly.

"Keep this month ... We're what?"

"Lo think a relationship like this is called a healthy relationship, Miss? Where do you always stick me? You know, you are weird! I will not marry you! Okay I admit, early we deket, dating, it's because I'm chasing you first. But I don't think that's the character."

"Cock you are! Who do you want to marry? Don't let me cheat. That's why you're giniin me."

"Gue never did such a disgusting thing huh. But, I assure you, if I ... Won't want to marry a spoiled and possessive girl like you. Than I married lo, mending I married the same ... He!" show Ben to Jeslin who is helping one of his students tidy up the goods scattered due to falling from the bike.

"Who is he? You know him? She's your affair?"

"Gue doesn't know who she is, but at least my heart's eyes can see that she's much more hearted, you weigh. Boro boro lo want to help a small child fall, Tyas who just help you yesterday, right?"

"Why did it spread to Tyas? You like her?" Chika is back on the rise due to her uncertain assumptions.

"Tuh, right! This is what makes me feel the same. It's easy to judge that people are evil just by your narrow way of thinking!"

"But, Ben ...."

"Not there but but. We broke up!"

In contrast to the condition of Ben and Chika who continue to be filled with emotions, on the other hand there is a beautiful view between Jeslin and Aldo.

"Thank you, sis," said Aldo, who has now successfully pedaled his bicycle. He waved at Jeslin who had helped him.

"Be careful on the road, yes" said Jeslin, who now waves back at the 8-year-old.

Now only Jeslin had to step outside immediately. It was getting late and he had to go home soon. If it is not certain both parents will be anxious and have Daniel look for his whereabouts. Daniel's pity is always bothered by Jeslin's behavior.

Ben left without changing the double he was wearing. Even Ben went barefoot. He only managed to snatch the key of the car lying on top of his bag earlier. He failed to teach taekwondo because of Chika.

By driving the car, Ben immediately left the neighborhood sports arena, leaving Chika who continued to cry in front of the training ground. Time and again Ben cursed irritated, coupled with a wound on his left arm due to sharp nails Chika who managed to scratch deeply.

"Crazy woman! Wonder why I told Daniel the talk!" Ben continues to grieve the mistakes he made because of the friend's trap.

Ben is now out of the gates of the gym. The car turned to the right. On the sidewalk there are many views of street vendors lined up neatly.

In addition to the sports arena there is a kwarcab office that is empty in the afternoon like now. But there was a scene that made Ben distract him.

The girl on the side of the road was being bullied by some of her school thugs.

"Again what are you doing here?" ben asked while standing in front of them. The girl he saw a few minutes ago, was being bullied by them.

"Eh, you again you again! It's none of your business, Ben, we're doing it here. This is not a school. It's a public road, so you're moving aside, rather than why. Moreover, genk lo it's on nothing, right?" tease Agus while glancing at his friends.

They do look very trivial Ben who looks alone, without any of his close friends.

Ben smiled sinisterly, he stepped slowly closer while occasionally paying attention to the surrounding that was indeed quiet. Although there are some food vendors tent, but they seem not to care much about the events around.

"What if I'm alone now? You think I'm scared?" ask Ben with a relaxed-sounding sentence. He looked at the girl behind Agus who looked frightened and kept looking back at Ben with an expression pleading for help.

"Aren't you the coward of Pasgabat?"

Pasgabat is the name of Ben, Daniel and several other friends, which means the troops failed to repent. While Agus' genk was named Elite, which they interpreted as a difficult economy. Both genk are like earth and sky in school. Genk belongs to Ben and Daniel, does have members from the upper class. Their parents were all wealthy people who were famous throughout the school. While Agus' genk belongs to the lower middle class, therefore they call themselves the Elite group, which turns out to be the opposite of the true meaning.

"Sok knows. Huh, mending you guys off it's a girl. Again my badmood, males noisily," said Ben as he pointed at Jeslin.

"What's? Lepasins? It's delicious lo. We get it first, eh you want the results? Don't get rich lo," said Agus. Knowing the arrival of Ben to save their prey, of course Agus and his friends will not stay silent. They're blocking Ben who's getting closer.

"Oh so don't want to. Okay, don't blame me, yeah, if you don't go to school tomorrow. I just happen to want to hit people!" ben said with a smirk on his face.

Within seconds there was a fight between them. One against five. For Ben beating the five of them is not difficult, especially because he is a black belt holder now. Sure enough, in just a few movements, Agus and his friends were sprawled with bruises on several parts of their bodies, especially the face.

"Where? Satisfied?" asked Ben squatting over Agus who was lying on the sidewalk while holding his injured cheek. He just kept quiet, didn't respond. But just looked at Ben with an annoyed expression.

What Ben did was very embarrassing for Agus, because now many eyes look at them in the streets. It's funny to see one person knocking down five people on the sidewalk. But of course the audience finally nodded in understanding, because the Dobok used by Ben, showed that the young man was not a random person.

As Ben walked closer to Jeslin, he reached out to the girl and got her into the car.

"Where's your house?" ben asked as soon as his car started walking away from the place.

"Housing the Green Gem," Jeslin replied briefly.

"Oh, okay."

The mood was silent again. Ben only focused on the steering wheel, while Jeslin kept turning to the side window glass. Both of them were silent, especially Jeslin. While Ben occasionally glanced at the girl beside him.

"It's okay, isn't it?" ben asked trying to break the silence.

"It's okay." But Jeslin did not stare at the young man's helper for even a second. His eyes were fixed on the atmosphere outside the car. Where he can freely see the vehicle on the side that is racing forward.

"OKAY. Good." Ben snorted bitterly as he ruffled his hair in frustration. There was no goodwill from the girl he had just helped. Though Ben did not expect anything, only a good response from Jeslin only. But seeing Jeslin's cold response, made Ben lazy to continue the conversation again.

"Well, stuck. What is it, yes, where there is no other way," grumbled Ben talking to himself, trying to look forward, although he knew that it could not be seen clearly from his place.

Jeslin was interested in looking ahead, just like Ben. "It looks like there's a road fix. Just as I was leaving school there were heavy equipment at the end of the road there," pointed Jeslin.

Ben was surprised to see a different Jeslin response from a few minutes ago.

"Paved-way? Or a repair of the culvert?"

"Paved road. There was a smoke smell from the asphalt."

"Oh. Hm. Hopefully not long, the traffic jams. It's gonna be night soon."

Jeslin turned to his right and left, realizing that Ben had a point. However, the girl was silent. But it is clear that he began to fidget with the surrounding conditions are almost dark.

"Let's relax, we'll be here soon" Ben said, trying to make Jeslin calmer. Jeslin automatically turned to the young man beside him. He nodded and tried to regulate the heartbeat that had been beating with a faster rhythm.

Ben grimaced, while watching the left arm that was still injured. It is not large and does not bleed much, but quite painful if left continuously.

"Why? Luka, huh?" asked Jeslin who was now watching the young man's arm beside him.

"Eum, yes. But it's okay. It's a wound before the fight with that fucking Agus."

"Tetep. It must be treated, it's an infection."

"Yes, tau. But later if it's at home. Ribet."

Ben turned to the right side, staring at the air with heavy traffic. He must endure the pain in his arm.

But suddenly, Ben's hand felt cold. When he turned to his left arm, Jeslin was cleaning Ben's wound with a tissue moistened with rice mineral water from Jeslin's drinking bottle. While blowing the wound, he cleaned slowly and carefully.

Ben who was surprised and did not expect to get such treatment from Jeslin, could only be fixated while continuing to look at the girl beside him.

"I don't have any medicine. I guess in your car there's no P3K box either, so I'm a plaster, yeah. I happen to have a lot" explained Jeslin as he grabbed three strips of plaster with funny motifs in his white uniform shirt pocket.

Jeslin immediately attached the object to Ben's wound. Ben who initially felt uncomfortable with Jeslin who was too indifferent, began to feel there was something strange in his heart. His heart beat faster, his blood rippled furiously, and his eyes seemed to not want to escape looking at the girl beside him. Things he had never felt before. Even though Ben had dated a girl at school, but he had never felt the sense that now comes when adjacent to Jeslin. Even now his breath seemed to be tight, and his throat was choked.

"Udah. Later, if it is at home, it is treated immediately. Love red medicine. Do not hit the water first, fearing irritation later," explained Jeslin at length. He looked at Ben who was also watching him. Ben who was caught watching Jeslin, hurriedly shifted his gaze, and looked nervous. Jeslin smiled, then turned to the left and front side. "Eum, I'm coming down here. It will be stuck for a long time. Thank you very much."

BRUGH!

The car door closed, as Ben was about to call Jeslin again, the girl had already run away. So far it is no longer visible.

Ben was still silent, not moving at all. Just staring at where Jeslin disappeared earlier. A few seconds later, Ben pressed his chest. "Crazy! I why is this? My heart is so painful. Where's the gini dry!" he said while wiping his forehead which was indeed wet.

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