L A T E

4

Fara's sleep was interrupted by the ringtone sound of her cell phone alarm. Fara's hand moved irregularly in search of a flat object that still made a sound.

Fara continued to search with her eyes closed.

Where the hell is it? batin Fara gaunty.

Not long later—

Got it!

It turned out that his phone was right on the right side of Fara's stomach.

Fara felt the phone in her grasp vibrate. A slight sting was felt as the cell phone's light slipped through Fara's half-opened eye. Immediately Fara shifted her thumb to the glass screen in front of her.

Fara pushed her hands up along with her legs which were pushed down; stretching the stiff muscles of the body.

Still in a recumbent sleeping position, Fara stared at the ceiling of her room, then yawned. 10 minutes Fara stayed in that position. Until finally in the 12th minute with forced Fara to move from the mattress to go to the bathroom.

30 Minutes Fara spent preparing. In Fara's body is attached to the typical white uniform of High School children. Fara bowed her body, her hand picking up the brown backpack lying on the floor. Without wearing it, Fara walked to the door.

Fara stepped her foot down the stairs. After reaching the bottom of the stairs, he immediately spurred his feet towards the dining table.

Fara only saw her papa when she was already in the dining room. Fara pulled one of the chairs furthest from the chair where her father was, and sat herself there.

Abhipraya glanced at his youngest son who was sitting in the seat farthest from where he was sitting at the moment. Her gaze shifted from Fara who closed her eyes to the phone she held. Abhipraya's left thumb moved up and down on the 6.2-inch glass screen. His eyes focused on reading the writing there, while his right hand held a cup containing coffee that he occasionally drank.

While waiting for the food to come, Fara closed her eyes. Both of his hands he used to support his chin. His mouth would occasionally evaporate.

Fara is still sleepy.

Dilla walked slowly towards the dining table followed by Rere following her from behind. Their hands were full of food.

Dilla put a large bowl of rice and a plate of stir-fry beans on the dining table.

Fara looked at both. Fara's nose smelled various delicious aromas from her mother's cooking. His eyes saw a plate of fried eggs and fried tempeh that Rere put on the dining table and then followed by a plate of potatoes that still reflected smoke.

Soon Fara confirmed her sitting position and prepared for breakfast.

***

The morning air is indeed the best if living in a metropolitan city like this. Fara is already out of the house along with her favorite blue and white motorcycle. The helmet was already perched sweetly on his head. Fara was ready to leave for school, before her ears caught the sound of the little boy greeting her.

"At first, Brother Fara!"

In front of Fara there is now a boy in a white and red uniform typical of SD students. The boy's hand was overhead; waving to Fara.

"Morning, Io." Fara answered the greeting and then smiled sweetly. His right hand was waved to the boy he called Io.

The boy was still waving his hands, his untidy teeth were visible as he smiled.

It's adorable!

"At first, Fara."

"Oh, morning too," Fara clumsyly replied with a strange smile to the woman who had just greeted him.

Her son is so adorable, that I didn't realize his mother was next door.

Fara was still smiling, while deepening.

These are the new neighbors to the left of Fara's house. That adorable little boy named Mario, he's still in 1st grade of Elementary School. While the woman who still smiles at Fara is Mario's mother, her name is Aunt Wulan. She is a single parent. They just moved in a month ago.

"Io's going to school first, Sister Fara be careful on the road." Mario's right hand, free from his mother's grasp, waved to Fara.

Fara wanted to laugh hearing that. Fara waved her hand to Mario.

"Yes, Io be careful too." Fara smiled sweetly at Mario. Then his gaze shifted from Mario to Aunt Wulan.

"I'm sorry, then."

Fara only gave a nod to reply to the woman's words.

Immediately Fara turned on the engine of the motor, and drove slowly.

"Drug, Brother Fara."

Fara turned her head for a moment, then smiled. "Drug, Io."

***

Fara took off the helmet. He breathed a sigh of relief, as nothing else would block the wind to provide coolness in his head.

Fara got off the bike. While walking slowly Fara put the motor key into the backpack he had previously moved in front of the stomach.

Coinciding with the closure of the zipper pouch where Fara put the key to his motorbike, he accidentally hit someone. Fara's head that was originally lowered was immediately raised.

"Ah, sorry not intentionally," Fara told a man she hit.

"Yes." Yeah." After saying that, the man immediately passed leaving Fara.

Fara looked at the back that was getting further away, then relaxed the shoulders. Immediately Fara spurred his pace to get to class.

Fara found her class conditions were already crowded. Today is Monday, which means flag ceremony.

Fara walked towards the bench in the third row of the corner beside the wall. Fara saw a purple bag on the next chair, a sign that her best friend had arrived.

Fara did not care where the owner of the purple bag was. Fara put her bag on the table, and then she put her head up there.

Nova saw the bench next to him was already filled with someone. Soon Nova approached Fara. Nova held onto Fara's left shoulder, then pushed her impatiently.

"Fara, don't sleep! This is a ceremony." Nova said to Fara who was still drowning her head on the table.

Fara raised her head. His left hand raised to cover his mouth which evaporated, then a flat gaze he gave to Nova who was smiling widely.

They both kept quiet. No one wants to start a conversation.

Fara had no interest in speaking, as she had forgotten to bring drinking water from home. Fara did not want to feel thirsty. He will buy drinking water when the ceremony is over.

The usually noisy Nova was currently silent as well. No desire to talk, at least for this saai. Nova still feels bad for Fara over yesterday's incident, plus Fara who looks like she always does. At least show an angry expression to him, so that Nova is not too sorry.

"Fara, are you still angry because I didn't come yesterday? Then, sorry." Nova's small voice, getting smaller as she apologized.

Fara looked at Nova who had a sorry face. Actually Fara no longer cared about the incident. Because for Fara if still angry with Nova there is no benefit. It will also contaminate the heart of Fara and then end in vain. Nova also apologized and looked very sorry. Fara felt that was enough.

However, it seems that Fara's silence has another meaning for Nova.

"Just be angry, Farah sorry I dong." Nova's voice tones sulked. His eyebrows are almost united. Fara can also see a frown on Nova's forehead.

"Hm." Fara manatap Nova who suddenly returned a smile.

"Thank you Fara, I'll take it. Promise!"

Fara felt a squeeze of Nova's right hand on her left shoulder

Fara smiled happily. His hand immediately hit Nova's soft hand which was still squeezing strongly on his Shoulder.

Nova. Soon he put his hand off Fara's shoulder. Nova just wanted to convince Fara not to hurt Fara.

Nova was immediately busy telling me about the reason for reneging on the promise that Nova made. Every now and then an apology comes out of her pink lips.

Fara just silently listened while occasionally nodding. Although Nova had told him yesterday via chat, at least Nova's voice kept him awake and helped reduce the drowsiness that hit Fara.

The conversation continues. Until the sound of the bell marking the start of the flag ceremony is heard.

***