Just Playing

Chapter 6. The Past 3

Campschool activity was still running in the following days. The agenda is set for the next two weeks until the first winter arrives which is expected to snow on December 5.

A few days passed, my group only had 4 people left. He could not participate in this activity because it was still under the supervision of doctors and his parents. I heard the news, he said he would be taken home after being allowed out of the hospital.

That day my mom called me, asked me how I was doing and how I was doing during the activity. Mamah apologized for not contacting me in those two days because there was a problem in Papah's office. Its branch in Central Jakarta suffered a fire.

The deg! I was reminded of the threat that Madame Wirawan said the other day while in the hospital.

Is that maybe because?

No, it's impossible. It was just a coincidence.

Mamah said that it was purely the result of worker negligence, so I should not be prejudiced.

There are three days left in the land of Sakura. Tomorrow is a night of peaks and gala dinners, and the day after tomorrow we have to return to Indonesia. In the afternoon, I asked Eliza to accompany me out of the hotel and into the souvenir shop near this hotel. From above this, it looks glittering lights from the souvenir shop. I found it online, and it's a small shop selling souvenirs.

It is permissible if students want to get out of the hotel and take a walk, still should not be alone, must get permission from a companion teacher and should not exceed 9 pm. Eliza and I went down to the Lobby, looking for Mr. Anderson as our group's companion teacher. I got permission and was able to get out breathing the night air at the end of autumn which was already cold because a few more days changed with winter.

However, my eyes were distracted when I saw a coffeshop that was still open in the afternoon before tonight. I saw him sitting with his friends who used to gather together.

"He didn't come home?" I said, asking myself.

"Huh? Who?" Eliza scowls.

"Oh, no. There aren't. Come on!" I pulled Eliza's hand and slightly ran towards the souvenir shop.

At the souvenir shop, I saw exactly what made the store sparkle in the afternoon like this. It turns out that a lamp looks like a clear-colored lantern and can change color because of the lights inside. It was hanging and spinning near the exit of the souvenir shop. The light is nice, bright, but not dazzling because the light is refracting instead of radiating that can puncture the retina of the eye of the viewing visitor.

But that thing is not for sale. It was privately owned by the shop owner who was the shopkeeper. Until I came across a glowing object similar to the lantern, but a miniature version of it. The thing I'm holding right now can be hung and twisted with a certain button at the bottom of the light.

There is a colorful light if the lamp is spinning, it would be great if installed as a sleeping lamp in my room later. I bought one.

"Call who?" Eliza asked as I pressed the phone against my right ear.

"Mommy, maybe you want to buy this souvenir."

Phone's connected, "hello, Mah?"

Srek, gesreks. The phone across there is very noisy. It seems like the connection is ugly or how I don't understand. However, after that the sound of mamah sounded clear. "Yes, what is Vita?"

"Well, Vita's at the souvenir shop. Mama want to buy you something?" I asked Mamah.

"I'm video calling Mah?"

"Eh, no! Don't-don't. Mama's got a meeting." She refused to make a video call.

"What do you want to buy? Vita buy a lamp that can rotate and be colorful." I told Mamah and turned the lamp in front of me.

"Buy mamah plate only, patterned yes."

"That's it?" Much

"yes, that's all. Yes, you have to go."

"Okee, Mamah will be bought --. tut tut tut tut tut." Connection interrupted.

"Are you busy?" Eliza was behind me.

"Usually no, maybe I'm the one who called me in the middle of the afternoon."

I found a pink plate, a cherry blossom patterned antique plate that had two left from the store. I bought both.

Coming home from the store, it was already dark. However, Eliza asked me to get into the coffeeshop because she wanted to buy caffelatte. I will, though I know there is still that man and his friends inside.

I was standing behind Eliza who was ordering at the barista table, she wanted to see firsthand how the Caffelatte art was made.

"I went to that table, El?"

"Yes, just wait for me there." Eliza answered without seeing me behind her.

I picked the table closest to where I was standing before. Turning my attention aside, I saw a collection of photos I took this afternoon together with my friends in Shiseido's painting gallery, Tokyo. I love the place, the classic feel and the smell of the past is so smelled there. I love the smell of emptiness that brings calmness.

However, when I shifted some photos, there was one photo that caught my attention. The photo where I stood alone next to the hand-painted frame and I imitated the shape of the hand. I remember if Rania was the one who photographed it, but the photo turned out to be him, the annoying guy who stood behind me in a sideways position opposite to me so that it was like facing indirectly.

He looked at me, but...

"Hello, Pravita."

Jeder!

"Ah auh's. You you? What's up?"

"May I sit here?"

"Hem, that's the seat...."

"Eliza, yes I know, I'm just for a moment because I want to tell you something."

"What's wrong?" I was confused, why did he suddenly invite me to speak? Him, that shitty guy. Was it not wrong of me to let him sit in front of me, facing off like this?

"I just wanted to apologize to you." His words that make me flinch.

"I'm sorry?" Is that true? Really, is it not wrong to say that?

"I know I'm wrong, I'm insensitive. I'm sorry for that."

"you mean? What does this mean?" My toot.

"Yes, I've been hurt a few times because of you." That sounds so strange. I suspect he's gonna mess around.

"Confession?"

"The recognition that you exist and everything you do to me is a form of effort for me to pay attention to you, right?"

"Huh?"

"You succeeded. It's not even just my attention you get, it's everyone's attention. Are you satisfied now?" His words were so calm, but I could hear there was a mocking tone from each of his sentences.

"Why do you think that?"

"I know exactly what it is that you're doing this for."

"What?" Much

"All because you like me, right? And you wish I could see you, right?"

I growled, looking at him with a lazy look. He is narcissistic

"As long as you know, the decisions of the heart cannot be forced, Pravita. If I like then I say I like, otherwise I say no. Don't try so hard that I like you, it's impossible. So, please don't do crazy things like this again." Her speech.

"There's no need to think I'm going to see you as an angel and stuff like that with you doing stuff like that. I just wanted to let you know that I already have a dream woman who is always in my heart. He doesn't have to preen, be pampered to everyone, doesn't need to be what everyone else wants him to be. I like that woman for her innocence, because she's not overdoing it, because she's already beautiful with simplicity and what it is." After speaking, he moved on and returned to his seat.

I stared at him until he returned to his friends. They laughed for a while and then left this place.

My eyes were hot remembering those words, I felt so humbled here. My mind was upset, I was crying in that place right then and there. Eliza can only stroke my back a few times. As a result of the incident, I forgot the parcel containing the lamp and the antique plate.

---

The next day is the preparation of the peak night, the event in the title in a star-rated hotel meeting room. Preparations were made by the committee including the board of OSIS. At four o'clock in the afternoon, all students must enter the room. With decorative trinkets and space decorations that look festive with colorful designs like a birthday party. The event began with a few remarks, then the appearance of the teacher and the committee. There followed dinner and other dancing and singing performances.

After that, the man also showed his teeth by performing a song, not he who sang but a perempan of the OSIS board as well. The girl sings and she accompanies him with her guitar.

One of the other Celine Dion titled My Heart Will Go On boomed filling the room with a rousing and echoing applause all cheered with the stunning performance of the two.

After that, there is a dance event that is followed by all the participants of the gala dinner. Teachers, staff, and students enjoy these activities, everyone got out of their seats and started moving their bodies in rhythm with quiet music and sometimes good fast tempo music for salsa dancing.

I just smile at the behavior of those who dance, dance, and joke. I don't want to move much at the moment, just sitting and looking is enough.

Suddenly there was a hand sticking out in front of my face. "You wanna dance with me?"

I looked up, saw the owner of the hand. It turns out, I breathed heavily. I'm shaking.

"Really, don't you want to?" But his hand still grabbed my left hand and forced me to get up from my seat.

"I don't want to." Protestsku. However, in vain when all eyes have focused on me and him who became the center of attention and received cheers, as well as a standing ovation.

"Smile, Pravita. If you don't want to be said to be a psychopath, at least smile at the person you've made sick so many times." He said in front of me. I was astonished by his mouth that could and always smoothly spy on me at will, even when his head was still wrapped in bandages he was not covered with me who until now still wanted to beat him every time I saw him.

"That's enough, let go." I tried to take his hand off my hand, but failed. He gripped her even more tightly.

"Wait for the music to end. Can't you see there's a principal in front of us?"

"Sucks, I hate you so much you know."

"I'm not."

"I don't care, you're the worst man I've ever known."

"Because you don't like you, then you call me evil?"

"Yes!" My answer.

"Huhahah." He laughed softly. Everyone applauded after I finished his move at the end of the music. I'm ashamed, I'm out of that place.

I was on the balcony looking at the outside view of the glittering building in the night sky. The air is cold, but it feels fresh.

"Not in?"

"Why are you here?" I mean, did he follow me? It's a long way from the meeting place.

"I can be anywhere you know."

"You stalking me?"

"Where do I know you're here, next to this is my room. I can get in and out of my room from that door." He pointed at the door he meant.

"You coming tonight?"

"What?"

"Customing method in the lower court. Peak event."

"For what? Who's coming?"

"Yes, maybe not so bad. Who wants to."The answer.

"but more freely because only students, no teachers or staff.it is purely an activity organized by the children of OSIS." Evidently.

"I can't, I want to sleep." Then I left that place. Whether the party was over or not, I don't know because I fell asleep in my room.

Call Eliza.

"Eliza, where are you?"

"I'm downstairs, the barbecue. You fell asleep earlier, so I went down by myself. Sharia, it's crowded here."

I'm sleepy, but it's a pity that this pink dress I'm wearing is just for a little while. All right, I'll catch up with Eliza downstairs.