Intermissums

Chapter 4

Kaiva :

Are you on the Olympic list?

I was surfing on Instagram when Kaiva's message appeared on my notification bar. I frowned. To my knowledge, I'm just saying that I signed up for the Olympics only to my three friends. Is it possible that one of them told Kaiva?

The tring!

Kaiva :

Aye, no?

I immediately typed in a reply.

Me :

Know where?

A few seconds later, the notification came back. As of now, I have not yet received an answer as to why Kaiva has been able to respond so quickly to messages from me. Always, he always replies to my messages not until a minute, although I often disappear and only answer the message a few minutes later.

Kaiva :

What the hell don't I know?

I frowned when I read the message.

Me :

That's not the answer to my question just now.

Kaiva :

You are the same. I just went to the Olympics, and I know where I'm coming from. That's not an answer.

I smiled obliquely, then re-typed in a reply.

Me :

I can remember my words.

Kaiva :

Hehe. So then?

Me :

Yes, I'm in the Olympics.

Kaiva :

Kan. Must be mathematics?

I raise an eyebrow. My fingers moved back over the phone screen. My curiosity was growing about where Kaiva got the information.

Actually I don't intend to hide this from his other friends, including Kaiva. Wh-wh-what for? Everyone will know. Either from Hito who became my Olympic friend or from me who was planning to bring an Olympic book to school to learn.

Nope. It's not like that.

I still have doubts about my decision—more precisely Mama's decision that I say—although actually nothing can be changed again. I am afraid of people's views. I don't know if they'll support me or secretly assume I'm too desperate to be in the Olympics.

Me :

Do you know where the hell it is? Eris, do you know? Or Nara? Or Qia?

Kaiva :

Nebak.

I managed to get upset. What kind of answer is this?

Me :

Nebak's? Shown by kali ya. Not likely.

Kaiva :

Yeah, consider me a psychic. Believe me not believe me, if I guess something must be true.

"Ngawur," I said in my heart. It's getting upset because Kaiva's never serious. Instead of answering correctly, the man said something illogical. Where there are people who keep right. Unless he has a sixth sense. Does Kaiva not have any?

Hurriedly, I shook my head, trying to eliminate the strange thoughts that suddenly appeared in my brain.

Me :

Whatever. Tomorrow I will ask my friend.

Kaiva :

I don't believe in being a person. Yes whatever, ask.

Me :

Yeah, how to believe. The answer is ngaco.

*

"Can anyone do the number one thing?"

Ms. Tati—master class and maths teacher— lifted her marker and pointed it at all of us. Waiting for one of us to come forward to answer that question.

"Nothing? If there's none, I'll point."

There aren't. No one raised their hand to come forward. I turned towards Eris, then towards Nara and Qia, lastly towards Hito who was bowing down on their respective benches, there was no sign of them going forward.

"Hara?" I looked up, looking at Bu Tati who was now pointing her marker at me. I also saw people staring at me. From his gaze they seemed to say that I should just go forward so that Bu Tati stopped pointing at anyone who would be his target—fear they were chosen—.

I'm standing. The sound of my stools rang out between the quiet of the classroom atmosphere. While carrying my notebook, I advanced to the front of the class, received the marker that Ms. Tati thrust at me, and wrote down my answer on the blackboard.

I don't know if my answer is correct, but I keep writing it because I've lost the responsibility to ask anyone.

It didn't take long, I returned the marker to Bu Tati, then returned to my seat.

I saw Bu Tati facing the blackboard, checking my answer while moving her marker in hand.

"Your answer is the same? Or is it different?" ask Bu Tati to my friends.

"Sama, Ma'am," Hito replied firmly. I don't know if he just got the answer or has actually been working, but just shut up when Bu Tati offered to move forward.

"OKAY. Yes, Hara's answer."

I just nodded, then went back to doing what I hadn't done.

A few seconds later, I heard footsteps approaching me. I looked to the right and saw one of my friends, Andra.

" Hara, can I do it, can't I?"

*

I put the bag away, then walked out of class with my three friends. We walked down the stairs, then Qia waved her hand and walked in the opposite direction to us as we had to collect OSIS.

"Eh, yes, Nar, Ris. I want dong."

They both set their eyes on me. Please allow me to ask.

I just opened my mouth and wanted to make a sound before someone called my name from behind.

"Byh! Haraa!"

I'm looking. Nara and Eris. "Eh, what's up, To?" my many.

Hito bowed and I heard her breathing gasping. I guess he just ran to call me. It made me wonder what he was going to say.

"Lo's at the math olympics, right?"

I'm nodding. Then, he continued, "We are told to go to the library now."

I frowned. "Don't the gathering just start next week?"

"Not so. I was told by the next grade that today all of us who participate in the math Olympics are asked to take a selection test."

I'm appalled. My eyes are getting rounder. "What selection? Yesterday when I registered, Ms. Tati did not say that there was a selection. I guess we just need a list."

Hito sighed. "It was so. But like the list of math olympics a lot, so the school wants to filter who has the potential to be enrolled to join the competition."

I started to panic. "Gue has not prepared. Why all of a sudden?"

"Gue hasn't. I don't know if our class is too late for information. I'm so confused about what to do" replied Hito.

I rubbed my face. I cannot resign. How do I tell Mama that I'm off because there's a sudden selection?

"You guys go with me. Come, spirit. I know you can," exclaimed Eris who from just now just silently watched our chat.

Nara also spoke. "That bet, come along. There is no harm. If not, it may not be sustenance. But if it's good enough."

I looked towards the two of them. Then, towards Hito who seemed to be starting to consider his decision.

"Udah, you will not know the results if you have not tried. Go to the library quickly, don't think much. Then the selection of the hunt begins," said Eris again.

I was weak in the end. Hito too. We finally turned towards the library, while Nara and Eris waved to us while encouraging.

I walked behind Hito. Get involved with what is going to happen. I can't even consider anything anymore.

As I passed the stairs connecting the ground floor with our class on the second floor, I saw Kaiva by accident.

And again, he smiled. His hand extended towards me with his thumb.

I don't know what to pay back. So, I kept walking straight ahead, a few meters away from Hito who was unaware of the thing that had just happened.

Uh, by the way, I forgot to ask Nara and Qia about where Kaiva found out that I was at the Olympics.

"What's from Hito, huh? How does Hito know from whom?!" I was stirring in my heart.

*