Grizzled

Episode 51

One week ago it felt so short. Everything I went through was felt in the blink of an eye and the result made my alert alarm go off. About the competition I made with the Eagle, so far the maples we won are balanced. I'm surprised the Eagle can be that serious. I was surprised this time over worried about being defeated by an Eagle who had never even touched the top ten.

What I'm worried about is not my ranking position, but the outcome of this rivalry that leads to a life-or-death step. Sighing among the pile of books, I don't want to mess around anymore, in my heart praying that I win.

Wait, may I win? If I win it means that there must be a strategy that I must prepare to obey the Eagle. Eagle may have thought of a mature final investigation plan, focusing his attention on Miss Lasmi whom he suspected –which I did not approve. While me? Even I haven't come up with an idea about the disguise identity of the demon that created the gray world. There is no name I suspect. Initially intended to do an investigation during UTS, but it turns out I was sick and then this competition is getting fierce. I also felt like I could not do my own investigation, sneaking here and there unnoticed like an Eagle. It was impossible for us to move on our own like this.

 ***

The second week of UTS, the first day, English and a maple across economic interests. The estrangement between me and the Eagle is increasing. We are equally excited to be superior to the others. I'm not as good as Yuanda in English, but my grades aren't far below, being the second highest in the class, while the Eagle's almost in remission. There was a pang of frustration on his face after I sampled my grades.

“I would be embarrassed if the value of foreign languages is higher than the national language,” he replied lightly. Yuanda who heard it also ignited emotions because the value of Indonesian language is indeed lower than English, exactly like me.

“You're the only one who doesn't know English easy keys, hey! After all your Indonesian language grades aren't the only ones that are best in class! You think bla bla bla ...”

I tried to calm Yuanda whose scolding was only considered wind past by the Eagle.

“Sabar, Nda! Aren't you his ally?” my word.

“What?! Who wants to make an alliance with someone who can't appreciate my hard work?! What does he think is that I don't fight in those two language maples, huh?! Bla bla bla ..”

I just grin. Shit, Yuanda's nagging cannot be stopped. Luckily the entrance bell made him have to go back to the bench.

The second hour begins, economy. As a cross-interest maple, this maple is the only B-value in my interest column report card. If it doesn't exist, maybe my report card is pretty with just an A on the whole interest maple. I did consider the maple cross one eye interest, but since I had intended to defeat the Eagle, I no longer underestimated any maple. Just last night it felt like in the long history of my life, I was seriously studying before the exam. All this time I always thought it was silly things that added stress, but if my opponent is determined to be strong like an Eagle, it seems okay if I add a little stress by studying again.

However, there was no attempt to betray the results. My economic test that never touched ninety times surpassed it.

“How much?” ask the Eagle at the end of time. I'll show you my score box I haven't closed yet.

“How much are you?” I said ask back.

“Damn it, you won again,” replied the Eagle with a grim face.

“Sure, I will indeed win the rest of the existing maples. Be ready to fight if I win overall yes!” my answer. The eagle just clucked and then left.

“Anu, Ra ...” Yasinta said as we prepared to go home, down the stairs.

“What's up, Yas?” many of you realize the anxiety. Someone suddenly grabbed me from behind, startling me.

“You're in good health ‘kan, Ra? Not hot, here! We are learning together, right? My other nightmare is not over yet, tahuuu!” the sound of the capper was enough to disturb my ears.

“Heh, just surprise!” I answered taking off Nike's embrace. I just remember tomorrow there's a general math maple. Being in the interest of MIPA does make us have to face two types of mathematical maples – which are basically equally calculating. For a moment I also understood Yasinta's unease. The harsh reality of last week's eye-catching math test should put him in remission. I can't imagine if he had to solve two math maples at once.

“Alright, this time in whose home?” I agree to Nike's request.

“At Shira's house, yuk! Last week I was at my house and Yasinta's house!” answer Nike.

“Wah, no! This time at my house I couldn't. At Yasinta's house, I've decided!” I replied immediately, not wanting these two to know that mom came home and was home. I don't want them to know something I'm gonna do. Mother's return alone had become a strange thing, they would definitely wonder.

“It's okay, Yas? I promise I won't spend your chocolate wafer, kok!” my word. The moment of unease in his eyes disappeared. He also agreed. I will try my best to help my friends because .. because after UTS I will not have time to help them finish the remidi. The investigation of my way out of the gray world can't be delayed.

 ***

Two points ahead of the Eagle, at least two more maples that I won in order to absolutely defeat the Eagle as a whole, but my plan is to win the rest. If I notice, the remaining four untested maples are still within my reach. Today, general mathematics and temporal physical education tomorrow biology and ICT. If the math of my interest is not fit and can still be good, it should be with my healthy condition now, I have to get a perfect score.

“Come, spirit, Ra!” yasinta said next to me. Good thing, he's a little confident today. I log in immediately, start working on the. Forty-five minutes, then all the work is done. It is a bit longer than the other mathematics. The portion of general mathematical material is indeed more. The rest of my time is not small, but I choose to be careful and not rush. Remember what the Eagle said to me. It is precisely the easy matters where I often do wrong. However, it turns out that saturated also examines the problem repeatedly. Fifteen minutes before the break, I logged out, believing there was nothing I needed to fix. And then what happened next, I regretted the decision. My grades don't touch ninety. It was quite disappointing for me because my friends scored above me a lot.

“Eighty-five, Ra! Oh, I'm so grateful! Thank you very much yes, helped me a lot yesterday!” yasinta said hugging me happy.

“Wah, yes, good! I wish I could help you more next time!” my answer.

“Ciee deals yes! You definitely can get a hundred ‘kan?”

“Ti .. not really,” I replied smiling blandly, “our value is the same, Yas.”

“LHO? UH, DON'T KIDDING! You're drunk or what, Ra?!”

“Hehe, I don't know,” my grin. Rather curious as to where my fault lies, Yuanda discussed it with me. He took a screenshot of all the problems. Three things I suspected were done wrong were wrong. Now I realize how valuable the fifteen minutes I spent free were.

The eagle who appeared to be the highest scorer in this maple appeared in front of me with his arrogant grin.

“Wah, whereas I thought you were right below me, it turned out to be much more below. What did you eat wrong today, Shir? Didn't you say you'd win the rest of the maples?” taunted.

“Okay, very happy huh? Nice, deh! I deliberately gave up a little to share a few points so that your defeat is not too crushing, worried you are too embarrassed if it happens ..”.

My words were cut off when the Eagle suddenly pulled the rough crate of my uniform.

“Which will lose?!” she said softly with fused eyebrows, “you will lose and will follow all my plans!”

Unhealed from the shock, her forehead kusentil who was too close to me.

“Keep dreaming!” I answered out of his sight. The whole class was watching us earlier. Yasinta also had a chance to stand up to hurt me but it seems to be closed. So far what always attracts the attention of friends is the behavior of the Eagle itself. Ah, basic!

I try not to deny my words. The second hour I won the physical education maple. Indeed, if in practice the field I am weak, but if the written exam and theory is not a problem. The Eagle's regret did not decrease in the least. This way I'm three points ahead. Just win the biological maple tomorrow, then absolutely I have won the whole because even though the Eagle won the ICT maple, still my more points.

“Ra, I don't think it's funny anymore,” Yasinta said.

“What's not funny, Yas?” my many.

“You and the Eagle,” answered. My eyebrows cringing. Are we joking?

“Your quarrels are no longer funny. Please stop provoking the Eagle's emotions. Rehan said he was in trouble because of his papa. He can forget himself and seriously why-what-you, know!” Yasinta. I just chuckle softly.

It sounds terrible indeed, but it feels impossible if the hand that repeatedly saved me actually hurt me just because of a trivial problem. I myself had forgotten that the Eagle was being watched by his papa. Maybe he couldn't stand my words.

“Ra, I'm serious! If you can just cancel the challenge or competition what is it. I'm sure you won, but I'm not sure the Eagle will if that happens. Cancel it!”

“No, Yas! Can't!”

“Indeed why should you compete like that?!”

“Surely there is a reason alone and you do not need to know!” my reply made Yasinta even more pouty, “calm down! The eagle is not the monster I fear because he will not act beyond his limits. Don't worry, okay?”

Unfortunately, my rivalry with the Eagle could not suddenly be void if tomorrow was the most decisive day. Accept it or not, whoever loses has to follow the will of winning. I believe the Eagle is not a person who likes to renege on deals.

 ****

Apparently there was someone who was much more worried than Yasinta. Who else if not Sakti. My dispute with the Eagle has been a nightmare for a long time. I tried to act as if nothing happened in front of Sakti so that he would not worry too much, but the Eagle really could not cooperate.

“Please, I was glad a turning point prophecy sign appeared on you two, but if you can't be compact and continue to quarrel like this, it still won't end well!” said Sakti anxiously.

“It won't end well because you and Shira trust something else!” reply Eagle.

“You still feel the most right! There is no guarantee that what you believe is also true!” my reply won't lose.

“THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF TRUTH IF YOU FIGHT ALONE!” bengak Sakti surprised me. The eagle also finally fell silent. I feel guilty for making people who never get angry end up angry.

“Entah how many times have I said like that, but you two do not understand at all,” Sakti said this time looking desperate, “Shira more agree with my opinion, I think, The eagle is more in agreement with Sekti, basically the source that you two believe in the same. Me and Sekti both believe in that turning point. If there's a slight difference, can't you reconcile and find the midpoint?” pinta Sakti's.

“Which middle point can be taken if it is related to the most important settlement?! Someone has to be sacrificed while you believe something different! Tell me, what middle ground can be taken?!” reply Eagle. Sakti looks increasingly dizzy.

“Ah, forgive the Eagle who has justified all the writings of Sekti in the ancient book, Sakti. Had your opinion also been written there, perhaps his head would have been slightly exposed!” I said half insinuating.

“I also wrote the same book, Shira. My writing is there,” Sakti replied.

“Nothing, Sakti. Until the last copy that Eagle translated, all the notes were written from the point of view of Sekti, there was no name there. I was surprised because you replied to each other through the book, then your writing should also be there, but there is no,” I replied.

“Of course, Shira. The records I made were indeed separate from Sekti's. We each have our own records. If you match, our notes are like messages reciprocating and referring to each other. Try you guys again!”

Eh? What did he say just now?

“You mean, there should be two books?” ask Eagle.

“Yes, both of them were robbed of the demon creator of this place,” Sakti replied.

“The reality is there is only one!”

“True, there's only one I found!”

“Yes, it looks like Sekti's book arrived in Shira's hands. I myself wonder how it could be like that,” answered Sakti.

Instantly my rivalry with the Eagle was forgotten. When I wake up, I want to find out about Sakti's book. The eagle itself fell silent, seemingly thinking the same thing.

 ****

Someone came into contact with me at the bottom of the stairs. It seems like we are both thinking about something deep in the head so as not to pay attention to each other's path. Not saying hello and not reprimanding, we continued to go up to the same class. Something I wanted to say was that he should just give up and hear what I said, but it would look like I was afraid of being defeated, begging for victory by asking him to give up.

Yasinta waved to me from his stool, looking very bright.

“Well, you two are leaving together huh? Already improved?” tanyakanya. I glanced at the Eagle heading towards his stool.

“No, we didn't leave together as you thought, Yas! Just happened to be on the stairs,”, I replied without taste.

“Oh, yeah ... When is it better?”

“Tck! Where do I know, Yas!”

“Why, anyway, often cringe like this?” ask Yasinta.

“Why, anyway, do you look so happy?” I said ask back. Yasinta was holding back a laugh.

“Aduh, yes, deh, sorry! I shouldn't look like that in front of my upset friend. So if you can't stand a fight, just mending better!”

“Ah, Yasintaa! Please understand, I'm not upset about being hostile to that person!” I answered with my head with both hands. All trouble strikes me from all sides, I can't stand it!

I'm not even sure I can focus on doing the biology exam that's my target. Sentence after sentence about suddenly read strange and I do not understand. The choice of answers that are similar to each other is so entrapping, demanding my thoroughness and memory of specific things.

As if there was smoke billowing from my head, it felt like UTS this past day was putting a lot of pressure on. The pressure to win, the pressure of thinking about the next step to find the gap of light, plus new clues from Sakti about his book. It is likely that the book is still in the hands of the devil, but why is Sekti's book there for me? I tried to recall the chronology I found the ancient book.

I suddenly stood up as soon as I remembered it, as if being whipped to find out immediately. The entire class turned towards me with an odd look, the examination supervisor as well.

“Anu .. sorry, I have permission to go to the toilet,” if I am nervous leaving class, it is a lot of dumbstruck in the toilet. I remember that old book was originally a race prize novel making recensions. Just one night I brought it home, the next day it turned into a book that was so strange. Right, if I were to ask the race organizer where the book came from, I would definitely be able to aim for the demon's disguise! The eagle must know! Ah, no! I have to win this competition first! Geez, I need to get back to class!

“You're sick, Ra?” ask Yasinta as soon as I get back. My answer is just a ringing. Continue working on the problem with half an hour remaining. I don't know what I can do to answer the remaining half. Today I'm really fucked up and getting fucked up knowing my worth at the end of time. Seventy-six, that's the worst interest maple score throughout the exam. My head was lying down when the message from the Eagle came in, sending a screenshot of its value. Perhaps Iav was too lazy to show off his value as usual. I am the same, not too proud to show off the value of mediocrity like this.

The eagle can be seventy-eight. Different thin, it seems he also felt the same stress. It is rare for a rote lesson of this value not to touch eighty. He still wins. I'm getting more unsettled, if the maple of ICT will be the Eagle who wins, then the most worrying conditions are what happens! Our points are again balanced and disputes have not met their end. I have tried to make peace if I had to follow the will of the Eagle, but my pride that once said I would win this competition refused to make peace. I demand victory myself.

Then the last maple of the exam that I should have fought half-dead passed as if in the blink of an eye. I don't even remember racking my brain to do it. I was still stuck on the spot when the bell came home was heard. I already know my grades. Maybe the Eagle wins again. It's impossible for a kid who knows so much about computers and technological things to be below me.

“How much?” asked the short Eagle, occupying an empty bench next to me whose owner had gone nowhere.

“Show yours first!” my door. He dropped his head on the table after handing over his phone.

“I was depressed once today,” said the Eagle.

“Ya, same ..” answer me. We do not dare to know the value of each other, “... should we cancel our deal?”

“It just made my head dizzy this whole day go to waste! You know if my score this time is higher, it doesn't mean I won, it's our position to draw. The situation is much more difficult. I think it's best that you win,” said the Eagle took my phone, looked at the value box hesitantly. I closed my eyes, equally finding it difficult with any outcome.

“If indeed I am the loser ...” said Eagle paused. There was a hand landing on the top of my head, patting gently.

“ ... I'm willing to listen to anything you believe in! Congratulations yes!”

Eh? Eyes open. What say?

“You won, Shir!” the Eagle said it showed its value which was five numbers below me. I still can't believe it. Is that true?!

Not yet had time to say anything related to the continuation of this deal, my phone first vibrated, one incoming message from someone. Reading it for a moment and then I looked at the side of the road in front of the school through the window. I immediately took a thousand steps.

Really, is he there?!

.Seriate.