Nagara Nusantara's
Chapter 3: The First Day
Every human has a past. Some tell stories, some,
some lock it as deep as possible. Tasteless, ashamed, until the dark secret is
some reasons. No wonder we meet someone who wants to live
“normal”, painting the darkness of the past with bright colors to prevent human
without honor to find it.
I remember a story from a novel I read
before you get here. He hated himself and his surroundings because of his past trauma.
Knowing this tenderness, he hopes to become a better figure in the
future date.
But a cliche strikes like a chronic disease,
makes him timid and lazy out of his little shell for the sake of fixing
the soul of the wreckage is like someone who is pursuing the knowledge to become.
a hypocrite.
Words are something
the cheap.
We may not experience any change in one moment
just snap a finger, but weak will and effort will not reward
anyone, even with the luck and destiny of a concerned realm
saw it.
It helps readers understand and empathize with
such figures are boring reasons that are always expressed by the people
no wonder I get annoyed over and over again adjusting myself.
with a loser like him. It was a good decision to donate the novel to
a garbage recycling installation.
Back on word “normal”. People around
including myself would like to find a normal life.
what is the meaning of normal life here? The cliche and boring life with
an easy end to guess? The life of a background man who became a slave of
a totalitarian ruler?
“—Dika.”
Failing to find the meaning, that sharp familiar voice
piercing both of my ears, resuscitating me back to the current situation. Seek
the origin of the voice, I found Kiki's figure sulking to me.
“Again, Kiki. Looks Like.
I daydream.”
“Haah..
your first school was like this, but please prepare Dika! J-Don't
call Kiki too!”
“...Of course, Ms. Amanda.”
Watching Kiki enter a room, I decided
to capture the world around me, to find me standing alone on something
the deserted antique corridor.
“Not wrong. This is
my first day of school.”
Finishing the flag ceremony on the main square, I
return to Kochi's office at 8 a.m. Apparently he wanted to
gave me a guide about this school system and some “unikan” that
had it.
Reading a glance, apparently the Kusumajaya National Academy
held a banquet to celebrate the struggle of the students during
monthly exams, training of various skills that the learner can choose from, the,
internship activities in real-world jobs, to freedom of travel in
in the island.This makes Kusumajaya Island as a playground for the.
students here.
(“Kids! Today
we have new students!)
Kiki's voice echoed from the classroom before me,
followed by a curious and surprised noise of its inhabitants. Peeping from
the door window, I found Kiki now nodding slowly at me.
“Good.”
*Creak*
“““…”””
Entering the classroom, the atmosphere of the market was immediately
replaced by solitude that can be broken using thread incisions.
Looking to the left, I found about two dozen middle students
set their razor sharp eyes on me.
“…”
Want it or not, a newcomer like me would
be a highlight for the residents. At least through first impressions, they
will assess appearance, speech style, body language, to self-expression,
before determining my hierarchical level among them.
Standing on Kiki's left side, I watched the entire class
which is full of students with red alma mater and their shiny decoration,
staring at my soul. I thought of a play, in which for a moment
the main character will introduce himself.
“My name is Andika Raylan,
you can call me Dika. I am 15 years old. My hobby is reading books, though,
listen to music, and play.
with all of you.”
(“...15 years?? Real young
he... Do you think accelerant or nukar?)
(“Maybe a child of the accelerator
moving from outside..”).
(“T-But.. Kok his face.
flattened? Eman, I think he's cute..”).
“Thank you. That's all
from me.”
“You can sit on the chair
that, Raylan.”
Kiki pointed at a chair located on the part
behind the classroom, leaning right against the walls and windows facing the
outward. Sensing a deja vu, I found an empty seat on the side
middle of class, also empty seat next to my place. Subjectly
simultaneously, I could feel the gazes of my classmates disappearing one by one.
“Good kids.
will resume trigonometric derivative material last week.”
Kiki now plays the role of homeroom teacher and teacher
mathematics at this school. Ignoring that hot easy head, Kiki
devoted his loyalty in spending 5 months after his marriage only
to go undercover and work as a “guru”, help me and Niki
re-realize a “normal life”.I sighed knowing.
life has allowed itself so that we can all enjoy it.
“—Raylan, how much
the result?”
“-2.”
I just wish
everything can go according to plan.
…
“Hm.”
Within
on the one hand, mathematics has an equation with abstract painting, where
they can only be understood by certain humans. Apparently some of
my classmates have gotten used to dealing with problems like Kiki pointed them at
board, seeing their lack of reaction.
An instant,
I observed the outside of the window on my left side. Because of the position of the sun
high enough, I don't have to adjust my eyes to fight the rays
blinding him. The school's main garden fountain is the first object to be
I found, followed by rows of trees, gardens, greenhouses, to the river
the art that surrounds it.
Observing
one of the trees, I found a bird's nest with a mother in the middle
feeding her children. Seeing them made me wonder if I could
protecting Niki and Sidorova, after all the tragedies I've been through.
I thought back to that recycling story, though,
looking out of the window and asking some pessimistic questions
her... Do I deserve everything? Why I became trash
this rotten? Is there any way I can get rid of this pain?
Thinking about it made me think that all that was
it's bullshit. But knowing this hypocritical self, I decided to
hold it.
*RING*
“Good kids.
just from chapters one and two. Please prepare for the exam next week.”
Observing the classroom, I saw Kiki tidying up the tools
taught him. After that, he gave me mouth movement for “enjoy” day
this, before leaving the classroom with a smiling look. I also found a needle
“I can not nanya?”
“…”
Apparently some of my classmates had
their time to cover me. I'm starting to guess some questions that
can be thrown by them.
“Please.”
“—Replacement from where?”
“Makassar.”
“—Like anything from
your hobby??”
“Novel romance, music
classic, and chess.”
So far, the questions they have asked are pretty straightforward
to be answered by me. I don't want to divulge any information and secrets
which can be used to stab me in the back, but at the same time I
you also need to build a reputation in this school.
“I asked you, Raylan.”
Directing eyes at the middle row seat, I found
a student proudly folds his hands and lifts his neck when
put those words out. Observing his appearance and body style, I think he
he was the local ruler of this class. The woman who previously occupied
the chair by his side now also stood up giving the man a massage, while
giving me a cynical look.
“Hm.”
“...Novel love-love,
huh huh? Do you have a boyfriend?”
“““…”””
Uh. The million dollar question arrived. Unsurprising
from a figure who wanted to subject anyone to his shoes. I found
almost the entire class returned their eyes to me, with the students
the student who had the biggest reaction.
“Do not worry. I
have a girlfriend.”
Hearing him, I found my classmate whispering with
to each other. Meanwhile, the man started to nod
playing with a woman's face is like a balloon.
(“No need to think about it
dia, babe”)
Looking around, I found some of my friends
my class is doing their resting activities. Of course, we need to utilize
this one hour is to refresh yourself, as well as prepare a skills program
next school.
“…”
Standing up from the chair, I reached for my backpack to pick up
a small white bottle. Put it in my pants pocket, I
step towards the classroom door to leave it. Without long thought, though,
apparently I have learned that the garden is visible from the classroom window
become my destination for rest.
…
“Hm~ Hm~ Hm~”
Mopping the floor of the room belonging to Brother Dika, I was a moment
remembering his appearance yesterday. The disheveled black hair was still
found a way to look good yesterday afternoon. Besides, the clothes
the white shirt and the black pants he was wearing seemed to make him feel like he was going to
applying for a job in this place. Moreover, his surprised expression after realizing.
my position as his personal servant.
But also to remember, why do I have
aspirations to be a servant? I think the only answer that can
I give is the desire to help papa and mama at home. Follows
this servant trace has helped me do a lot of homework
at the same time showing my efforts to be a useful figure.
this is because of the service program at this school. Looks like anybody
you can see that Brother Dika became my first master.
*RING!!*
“Ah!”
Hearing the sound of a bell resting from a hardener
installed in the corner of the room, I immediately tidied up the cleaning tool inside
a special closet right next to the door of Kak Dika's room. After that, I rushed
get out of the room, lock the door, and immediately walk towards the greenhouse.
(It's time!)
“…”
*Tap* *Tap* *Tap*
…
\~\~\~
*chirp!* *chirp!*
*chirp!*
The chirping of the bird that drowned this peaceful silence,
shady trees that block the rays of life from the sun, to the bench
a clean and well-organized garden. The combination makes the garden
this school is perfect for finding an escape from the violence of this world.
*Rustle***Rustle*
“…”
Surrounding this huge park, I could hear a voice
the rustling of the bushes that instinctively made me fade away existence
my body. But the voidness of the aura of blood and hostility can make me lower
my vigilance, along with my slow steps towards the origin of the sound.
“Haah.
anyway?”
Apparently I found a male student
crawling towards the bushes in front of him, not far from my position.
Red alma mater as well as white pants that have some ground stains, too
heavy breathing while wiping the sweat signifies how long he has been doing
this..Thinking what he had done to the messy bushes in the.
the surroundings are enough to make me exhale.
“Haah.
you did?”
“EH!?”
It's like getting a smudge from an electric pole,
the man immediately twisted his body to meet my eyes. The gold badge motif on that left arm
it marks his position as a 3rd grader.
“O-Oh gosh surprised me
deck! Fuuh... A-I'm melting the cat here..”.
“...Cats?”
“Yep.
have moved. Hup!”
Jumping from that semi-crawling position, 3rd class man
it cleaned his school uniform from the dirt stains, before extending a hand
right me.
“—My name is Bagas Galang
Saputra, 3B.. Commonly called Galang or Bagas only.”
“...Andika Raylan, 2A.
Call, Dika.”
“It looks like I didn't
have seen Dika before.. Ah! The scholarship boy, right?”
“True.”
As I shook my right hand, I apparently
forgetting what my main purpose is calling him.
“...So... Is Bagas.
have a grudge against a cat?”
“Hahaha…
It's just that the cat was the seller of the store across the street. Said he
saw her cat come in here this morning.”
“...Since morning?”
“Mhm.”
“…”
“T-Quiet! Me too
follow the lesson! But since empty hours, I've only been here.”.
“...What if I
help you find that cat?”
“B-really?! What no
mind?? The school garden is huge!”
“We still have 53
minutes again.”
“Wah, thanks Dika…
Let's find him!”
…
