Laboratory - Red

Chapter 20 Maria Aggy

It was Wednesday morning, with the morning hours, or it could be too early to close the gates of my vast school. I wake up at 4am, then take a shower, have breakfast, wait for the bus, and I always leave in the morning. But alright, with me admitting this irritated and vengeful feeling, this despicable ceremony of Emmi's corpse made the school close the gates early.

"You're 2 minutes late. Come inside! Today alone, if you're late again your teacher will punish" the security guard said forcefully telling me to come in. Only a few kids outside are 2 minutes late. 2 minutes only, man!

After putting the bag with the weight of my thick books and stationery in the classroom, I walked half a run towards the front room. It's been a lot. From all directions, teachers prepare their students to perform the ceremony immediately.

It did not take long, all the students had been prepared to line up neatly. There are many groups of class.

After reading the prayer at the beginning of the session, the speech of the headmaster immediately began. Strictly speaking, the ceremonial attendant told us all to pay attention.

"Good morning everyone" my principal began. "Of course you already know the purpose for which we are gathered in this room".

"This school has been awake for a long time. From time to time, students boast always and forever present beautify the name of our school.

"And, as we know, yesterday a man confessed his wicked deeds to the authorities. We're still discussing the case of our friend, our proud student, Emmi Hannabelle. An only child of the X city official.

"This ceremony, as well as the dutiful students who have fallen, is not only carried out in our beloved school, but also in the country" he sighed for a while.

"I only hope for you to be able to perform like them. And I hope that this incident does not happen again. Our school records first, many students also experienced similar cases".

Implemented in the country, right? I didn't even find the word "Adil" in this middle of nowhere. Only the sons of officials and governments, and honorable men, receive this kind of respect. So, ordinary people and people of no interest just escaped like dust.

Gradually, everyone will be forgotten in memory. But our little hearts will still hold their own memories.

Only justice. For a person like Emmi, son of city official X. An accomplished child seems to be the one that all teachers are proud of. His name is famous, then sometimes everything must be Emmi, Emmi, and Emmi. Justice, comfort, hospitality, I think only for people like Emmi. So, it's okay if I take part in this Wednesday's ceremony in earnest.

"Pratama Aditya, with a similar case two years ago. Annellisa Key hanged herself in the princess' bathroom three years ago. And the last and the subject of our discussion is Emmi Hannabelle, whose case was finally solved" he continued.

"All children, once again, we pray for the spirits of all those who are honorable. Make them exemplary disciples. Maybe if, that's all I can say this morning." He finished it eventually too.

After a few minutes, the ceremony disbanded. At once all students return to their respective classes (somewhat rowdy).

Trouble is poking my head. I can't solve everything yet. Emmi's supposed happy death gave me a lot of mystery.

Starting from who Marcues was and whether I was his daughter, about the laboratory and arguments by Ms. Neny who finally until today does not see the tip of his nose, why the novel by Mark Stefanno in protest by the publisher, and why, and what intrigued me most was the perpetrator who claimed to be Emmi Hannabelle's killer.

***

Maybe it's true, my home today feels not the same as my old home. I became less comfortable if I continued to lock myself in the room and accompanied by several books and gadgets.

I decided to go out. There is no other favorite place that is comfortable other than the stall owned by Uncle Agung. In addition to the friendly and carefree owner, the pirated books are also very many and varied. There is no way if I go home from Uncle Agung's stall without buying a book alone (minimum).

I picked up the soda in the fridge, a piece of money I handed over to Great Uncle who greeted me with a chuckle.

"It's a shame there's no change" he said.

"Give me some candy, uncle"

"What do you want to taste?"

"Minten".

I sat outside after finishing the purchase. A book with a light blue cover was already in my hands. No other, the last book Agam told me about. A gaam? Yep. That guy has been in my daydream lately.

How I can't control my anger yesterday at him. Or am I exaggerating about yesterday? But still if I hate Emmi, even if she's dead, anything I'll do.

"Agg" the man in my daydream came again. With an encyclopedia book.

He sat down next to me, reached out and said good afternoon. Without a second thought, I replied.

"I'm sorry about yesterday afternoon"

"What's wrong".

We were silent for a moment. But then he realized the novel I had just bought.

"I told you, you must like it" Agam chuckled.

"Ah yes.I was just curious, nothing more" I replied quickly.

"Still in the afternoon, you want to take a walk?" He offered me, while standing with a backpack and encyclopedia, Agam stuck out his hand. I grabbed and stood up. Who wouldn't want to know the outside world? From the past, I have always stayed at home and rarely do fun activities. Especially after my family problems came over my mentality. Then my brother worked and I had to do everything alone.

"Where are we going?" I followed Agam from behind him.

"Follow it".

A few minutes passed. I managed to guess that this trip was going towards the hill. A bit tired indeed, but at least the rice fields, lush trees, and birds refreshing the view. To wash the eyes. This place alone is already good, especially if later it has arrived, I am sure it will be more beautiful.

"You okay with coming home after sundown?" He turned his body to see me.

"Yes".

So I guessed again. We may see the sun setting from the top of this increasingly uphill hill. Ahhh.how sweet he has been lately.

"Until" he answered while sitting panting in any place.

Unmistaken. The view is more beautiful. A breeze hit my short hair. The birds (of whatever kind) are flying and chirping like soothing music. The trees danced in the wind. And the most beautiful sky with an orange color indicates the sun is soon setting. Realizing that, I immediately sat down side by side with Agam.

"When I was a kid, Dad used to invite me here to see the sun go down". Although the pronunciation sounded friendly, still his sour face could not lie. Agam has a less wearing past, probably the same as me.

"Happy is simple" I added. "What about your father now?"

"Dad died a year ago. Surprising, but it's God's destiny. How else, I must immediately explain" the eyes of Agam withered.

I rubbed his back slowly, smiling. Smile! Just this time I smiled for someone else, and the other person was Agam. Just Agam.

"Thank you, Agg. I am sure everyone has their own story. Similarly to you, I feel that you are special and have a different story to others".

The sun was already beginning to sink, darkness was beginning to envelop the earth. The birds fly very fast, in order to return to the nest to rest.

"You're different from the others, Agg. And you're sweet".

The sun was completely replaced by the moon. The darkness enveloped required Agam to turn on the flashlight that was already inside his all-purpose backpack.

"I'm taking you home"

"No, it's okay"

"But it's night"

"I'm used to it.

***

A few minutes that made me drift away. I can't lie to my feelings and my teenage soul, I'm in love with Agam. Even if this happens, my world feels more meaningful, more colorful as well.

The trees beside the highway danced in the wind, like they were following my mood. The wind blew fiercely, and the beautiful full moon that shone like it followed my steps alone.

Several kilometers passed and I had already entered my courtyard. The lights of the house seem to have been lit from any space. It seems like I haven't turned it on this afternoon.

Or thieves? Either intruder? Whoever enters this house is so lazy. I was in a hurry to open the door violently. It's my fault I didn't lock for a while before I left. You see, yes.I think the house in the middle of the forest will not be entered by anyone but wild animals if possible.

Not the robbers, not the thieves, or the wild animals that are inside. The living room was so bright it shocked me half to death at this supposed beautiful night.

"Good night" said Neny with his wheelchair, and of course his legs were puffed up by the incident a few days ago in his laboratory. He looked at me with a single smile. Dear this crazy English teacher is not alone.

About 4 men of upright and gallant stature accompanied. They were wearing laboratory clothes and his views were certainly unfriendly.

"You're surprised to find me here?" He smiled wider at me, then approached with his wheelchair.

"Look at what you did with me, but my intention was to help you, inject the strengthening liquid"

"You want to harm me!" My objections while preparing by grabbing the baton that is beside the front door.

"Maria Aggy, the daughter of Marcues, whom your dear mother does not recognize at all. Unfortunately, his fate became a trial material, just like you, son" Miss Neny chuckled. But not funny, of course, 4 employees still look at me fiercely.

"Do you know how much I hate your father Edward Marcues?"

"You don't come any closer, you fool!" I cried out again, half frightened as the woman drew closer to the roar of her wheelchair.

All turned sharply. Like a wheel, sometimes on top and sometimes on bottom. Sometimes my luck with fighting him makes this woman lose one of her legs due to amputation. Sometimes my position is below because this cunning woman is able to also make me cornered like now.

"Marcues is high lust, he is rash. One secret I know is that all the technological tools of his creation written 'made by Marcues' are lies. How smart he is to lie to society, Agg. All the technological tools such as the powerful super small cctv were made by his first son.

"Marcues wants to be flattered. Marcues has big ambitions to..."

"You shut up!!!" I called out louder before the woman continued. The wand had already swung violently against his face. That face is red. He was bowed with thousands of swearing and anger.

No need to be given a cue 4 employees exclaim towards me while carrying a syringe. Maybe dope. This stump can't even afford a wart.

Agilely, I repelled all attacks. The red color is coming back, the deep red makes me more passionate.

All the kicks, punches, and all the ordeals to stab me with this syringe failed miserably. One of them even fell and finally broke apart being stepped on by me.

My target is not these 4 employees, but Neny. And by dodging, I hit Neny again with a baton.

He could only retreat with his crummy wheelchair. He yelled angrily at his 4 employees.

"You want to inject me so I don't wake up? Dad, you're Neny!" And once again the rod violently hit his back head. Fresh blood poured down on the floor of my living room.

"You're all guests who don't know manners".

I finish. Once the bad boss is uprooted, then the employees certainly do not care about their enemies. Or, these 4 officers look like servants of Neny.

They ambushed with Neny who was almost out of blood. The head! Good goal and hopefully the woman dies. Very useless, disturbing a night so colorful.

***

All of these endless problems are still writhing my mind. Forcing me to finish immediately so I can calm down. Two weeks went by and nothing changed.

I was looking around for Mark Steffano, starting from his social media accounts and others. Perhaps because of the impact on my exclusion from his rejected novel, Mark was happy to plan a meeting agreement with a high school boy like me.

Not fancy, and very simple. We both met at noon after school at a fairly low budget cafe.

Mark, who may be 25 years old, is tall and thin. His face was pure white without a mustache and beard. He was carrying a jacket hung on a chair, seemingly silent waiting for me.

The seat in front of him was empty. I sat in front of Mark.

"Good afternoon Mr. Mark Stefanno, I can't believe I've met the writer I idolized" he said. The man even laughed.

"Yes, noon too. Do you like me or do you like Jean Martin?"

"Eh?"

Before long, two warm coffees in a cup had been provided at the table by the waiter. Of course Mark ordered it.

"Please drink. Your name's Aggy, right?"

I'm nodding.

"I'm not writing now, although I have a lot of ideas that I have to pour into my story's verses" she hid her smile. His warm coffee was slowly being shaved.

"If I could ask, why was your novel banned from publication and heavily censured?" I asked the origin, even though that was my purpose in meeting him. That is to know the continuation of Jean Martin's journey and why season 3 was banned from publication.

"This is going to be a very interesting discussion. Many people argue that my script is too sadistic. Yeah, it makes sense. But that was not the reason" he exhaled while looking in all directions either looking for what.