Grizzled
Episode 20's
All this time I never wanted to know and interfere with other people's problems. Not because of apathy, but once I knew, it would be difficult for me to stop worrying as if I was also wrapped up in the matter. In the end I became too caring and the people I cared about did not understand my anxiety at all.
“Back to class right now, Lang! Miss Julia asked you!” I said in a text message I sent to a person who hasn't returned until the fifth hour of study. He types.
“Lies, Miss Julia is not in class. He as a homeroom teacher whose students were caught carrying cigarettes was in BK,” he replied. I growled.
“Alright, if you don't want to come here, let me go to your place. Tell me where are you?”
“If you meet me just to discuss something that I already know, you should sit sweetly in your place, Shir,” he replied. He re-typed, long enough.
“I also don't want to discuss anything. I already knew you were going to tell me about Erik bringing my bag to class this morning. Then he spread the slant about me, lucky you knew the truth, so you know he was just bragging. It's clearly revealed on its own, Shir. Erik did it all. He wanted me to be eliminated from the watchdog team. Is that what you want to say? I already know.”
My finger then danced quickly over the screen, typing in a reply.
“About Erik carrying your bag, it's true. He confessed without thinking twice. Where there are criminals innocently uncover his own tricks. Oh yes, you need to know, Erik got the slanted news about you from Mr. Hanri. I think the misunderstanding came from Mr. Hanri himself,” I replied. My message was sent a second later. There was a long time lag for the Eagle to reply after two blue ticks appeared.
“I'm surprised you defended Erik,” replied the Eagle. I took a long breath. Already I suspect indirect discussion —through chat like this— will lead to misunderstanding.
“Not him defending Erik, Lang! I'm just straightening you out of the wrong guess, so you can find the real culprit,” I replied removing a voicemail, lazy typing. I stepped outside the classroom, looking for a more airy atmosphere.
“Shir, you're pathetic. Why should your naive man know my problem? Is it just because Erik is compassionate, you think he really feels guilty and wants to make peace with me?” reply Eagle. He re-typed, but I quickly retorted.
“Saddened how do you mean ha?!”
“Oh yes, I am also sad to know Mr. Hanri is named as a source of fake news. Just so you know, Mr. Hanri fully trusts me,” replied the Eagle then off after sending the message. My brain's getting stuck. Reports from Erik and the Eagle collide with each other. Which is true about Mr. Hanri's perception? Who really misunderstood?
For some reason, usually in a random walk in any direction when I was confused, I would end up in the library. This time, I arrived at the sports hall. I can't guess the desire of my feet this time. The sound of the ball was heard from the basketball court. Not loud enough, but still strange. The fifth lesson should be no sports. I stepped closer towards the field with a ring 2.75 meters high on both edges.
The only person who dribbled the ball there stopped to look at me. Eeeh? This must be a coincidence. I had absolutely no idea that the Eagle would be here. Really, I went here completely without knowing the desire of my footsteps.
He just took a quick glance at me, then went back to dribbling and throwing it in the ring. His shot missed, leaving a disappointed crack to escape his lips.
“Ih, time just doesn't come in!” shouts from the sidelines. His sharp gaze was thrown at me, truly showing his bad mood.
“You messed with my play taste. Get out of here!” replied the cynical Eagle, re-picking the ball that was bouncing not far below the ring. Unbeknownst to him, the ball was captured and moved into my hand. He frowned, just silently letting the ball go.
“Actually you do not have a taste of playing. You just want to vent all the irritation you feel,”, I said while bouncing the ball to the floor several times, “you just play as if this ball is a burden of problems that you want to throw away,” connect me then shoot the ball into the ring. The round object had circled along the side of the ring and then finally fell inside, entering.
“Iya ‘kan?” my many. My opponent threw away my face.
“I never let my problems be known to others, it does not mean I do not need help, but it does share the problems do not always solve the problems themselves. Even sometimes it complicates it,” replied the Eagle who is now sitting in the audience stands.
“It gets complicated when you're not open to other people's input and thoughts. You want to insist on maintaining your own assumptions that are not necessarily true?” I answered still playing the ball.
“And you want me to accept your guess which is also not necessarily true? Remember the last time I followed your advice to escape to the front gate? What the hell's going on? I almost died being ganged up by monsters in their own lair. Then now I have to obey you again? Maybe this time I will think many times to hear your advice, Shir,” replied the Eagle stunned me. I stopped shooting the ball again because my hand was squeezing suddenly. The ball went out of nowhere. A moment of cloudiness hovered in that gray memory.
Eagle's right. I was always meddling and giving the wrong input. It is only natural that the Eagle behaves this way.
“You're right, Lang. I'm just complicating things. Maybe I should just shut up because I wasn't helping at all. Sorry for the incident at that time, but just so you know, up to this moment I still hurt my own guilt. I'm sorry .. I'm sorry,” I replied lethargic then turned away from the basketball court.
“What do my words offend you?” asked the Eagle suddenly just blocked my step, “sorry, but that is indeed a fact that has happened, you should not be angry.”
“I'm not mad, Lang. I just know myself, I almost lost your life. I realized I didn't know anything. This time I'll shut up,” I replied. Shit, why should anyone warm up in the corner of my eye?!
“Ah, my goodness! All right, I'm sorry too. I never knew about the guilt that always wanted to kill you. I shouldn't have brought up the incident either, but just so you know, I didn't mean to ask you to shut up. I just want you to think further, because ... well, you know ... You are too naive, Shir,” replied the Eagle. I just kept quiet. The eagle is not the only one who ever said that. Mr. Hanri also said that, Yasinta too, Nike too.
“Maybe this will offend you more, but I have to say it. You're too innocent to be involved in my affairs, Shir. This is not like a guessing game that you can win with verbal clues. You don't understand how great the actor behind all this is and you are easily fooled just because he put on a face of pity,” said Eagle still insisted on accusing Erik.
“You need to know this is how cruel life is, Shir. This is not how much, see later when we have worked and have a reputation, those who do not like our achievements will do various ways to get rid of us. I'm afraid you're still naive like this. You will be soft moons that are easy to execute. So, in the future act more defensive for yourself,” he said once again.
“Iya, thank you for reminding me,” I replied even though in this head there is still a lot of resistance. What harm? What is wrong with trying to trust others? Always being suspicious also does not have good results for inner calm, I thought.
“Oh yes, after all you should be more worried about our problems in the gray world,” said Eagle deliberately shifted the direction of the conversation. We decided to go back to class after a long discussion.
“Ah, sure you are! All this day I was just thinking about your problem, as if it appeared to forget me with the problem in the gray world,” my chirps just like that. Uh, anyway my words feel right. Do the two have a connection? This morning I was eager to talk about the Eagle who had been able to read the ancient script, but forgot about it after this matter was present.
“Lang, how can you read the manuscript in the ancient book?” I was a little whispering. I did not want to risk being heard by others even though the long corridor we crossed was quite quiet. Another class is underway KBM.
“Hm? How ya?”
“Lang, I do not want to hear the answer if you do not know how and suddenly can read it,” I replied.
“Wah, what a pity, but that's how it happened. I don't know since when, it seems like after I got caught by the monsters and almost became a part of them. It was as if there was a part of Sekti's soul mingling with me, which allowed me to understand the contents of the book,” he replied.
“Wah! Really?!”
“Yes, I also suspect a sword embedded in my back. Probably also thanks to that thing.”
I shut my mouth in disbelief. Eagles are blessed with many valuable abilities because of that great thing.
“I just can't figure out how you got that ultimate weapon, Lang? Sakti who has spent hundreds of years fighting against his own sister —symbol crime— in that place, never got anything. Even he was also surprised you could find that thing,” I said.
“Tickback?”
“Yes. That place was once created, then the time will come when it is destroyed. Evil has taken an innocent soul, and there will come a time when good brings it all back. Maybe this sword I have has something to do with that turning point.”
“That's great news, Lang! You can be proud, because after hundreds of years, the fate of the collapse of the cursed place chose you!”
“What to be proud of? I'm not a superhero who ends the scene in a fluttering robe and the evil will completely vanish after that. No, it's not like that, Shir. This is just a turning point, not an end point.”
“Ehh??”
“This life goes like a cycle that keeps repeating. There are times when the good loses, is at the bottom, but someday will also triumph again at the top point. However, it is not a sign of eternal victory. Good and bad runs side by side, allowing each other wins take turns.”
Without feeling we arrived at the class coinciding with the second break bell. The whole class was harassing us both, accusing us of truancy. Aih, maybe they're joking. How could they judge the two of us while sometimes they themselves also hang out in the cafeteria when the clock is empty? Haha, let! I was pleasant to ask Yasinta if there was any duty. Surely there is and once again I affirm that I am just a pleasantries. Even though I knew I had a job, I still didn't want to do it now. Fool, it's a break.
“You want to come to the library? We can discuss many things,” invite the Eagle to show me the ancient book. Ah, right, he can already read it.
“Lang, I just arrived in class. A moment yes, I'm tired,” answered I stretched and leaned comfortably in my chair. Mager suddenly because it was exhausting. The library is far away from the building.
“Wah, when I thought you were curious about the bright spot I have found from this book,” he replied. Hm, yes, but really mager!
“While Shira has refused, Lang. Are you begging Shira to follow you?” reply Yasinta.
“What, anyway, Yas?” sahutku lazy.
“Don't GR just yet, Ra! I'm just upset because lately you've been spending more time with the Eagle than with me!” yasinta answered so plainly. Ah, my goodness! What's there to worry about from that?
“Oh, boyish once! I'm not gonna take your best friend because ... well, what's it for? You want to be with Shira too right now? All right, we discussion three here, Shir!” the Eagle replied as if he had said so.
“Ide bad. Very bad! Already you two, stop this commotion! Now also stay away from me a minimum of two meters radius!” seruku firmly. Please, I need a break! I'm tired! You all spent my energy!
Feeling confused and forced, the two retreated to my word. I made myself as comfortable as possible by sleeping while hugging the bag, head leaning against the wall. This is the sleep plan I failed to do since the first break. If asked if I was curious about the clues that the Eagle got, then the answer is yes, I am very curious. However, whether it feels suddenly lost interest, as if ... as if yes? It felt less agreeable to the fate that the Eagle who could read the ancient script, the Eagle was so blessed because of the great sword that was paired with it. I mean, why the Eagle?
“His mood has suddenly changed,” comments Eagle faintly I heard.
“I think he started PMS,” replied Yasinta.
“PMS is what?”
Damnit damnit! I want to laugh. No ah, I want to sleep.
“Yeah! Seriously you don't know?”
“I'm worried there are my words that make him offended.”
“You always offend your opponents, Lang, but hey?! You only worry when Shira is offended? What if he's mad at you?”
“Ha? What's the reason?”
“Don't be convoluted, Lang! I know something has happened between you. Confess! I don't like Shira keeping something from me!”
Geez! I can't believe that I've been listening to both of them. Just watch if the Eagle gets to tell me about that gray world, then I'll be ready to throw him in the face with the Oxford dictionary.
“Eh? If you know why you still force me to confess?” reply Eagle. Ah, thank goodness! However, I do not know if the answer actually means double to Yasinta.
“Alright, Lang! Up yours. I don't forbid my best friend to be close to any man, but please don't make him your mistress! I also deserve to spend time with him.”
“Eh? What is bucin?”
“WOI! THE JAR CAN BE A BIT FAR, RIGHT?! FROM HERE IT STILL SOUNDS! GEEZ, NOT SMART!” shouts ngas. The whole class looked at me like a lion that had to be taken care of. Bodo!
I'm grateful not many annoying things happened during the seventh to last hour. At least I can save the remaining energy. At first I wanted to go straight home, but stopped remembering my PR book was borrowed by Nike. I have to take it because tomorrow the PR will be collected. Unfortunately, when I looked at the remaining MIPA 2 XI class were Pak Hanri and Natan, the MIPA 2 class president. Both of them seemed busy checking the books.
“If the amount is complete please bring it to my table yes, Tan! Erik, please help Natan bring all this yes!”
“Good, Sir!” erik answered, which is still inside. He throws a brief smile.
“Eh? Hi, Shira! Looking for who?” asked Mr. Hanri to realize my existence.
“Anu .. sorry, sir! Has Nike come home?” my many.
“That one child soon vanished upon hearing the bell home,” replied Natan. Huhuhuhu .. my PR book!
“Oh, is that it? Yes, well, then, I am also saying goodbye, excuse me!”
“Shira, wait a minute!” prevent Mr. Hanri, “ada whom I want to talk about...”.
.Seriate.
