Paper Dove

The Dew of the Stove

Hi introduce, my name is Dew!

Today I officially became a son of SMAN 5 in a small town called Ruteng, in the Manggarai area of NTT.

How did I get here? I used to be a metropolitan kid. But my cruel stepmother threw me here on the grounds that I was independent.

When I got here early and went around town without any interest, I thought I was going to get depressed. There is no big mall like in Jakarta, only a few supermarkets in the middle of the city.

I who used to be often in the shuttle driver to everywhere, finally had to feel the angkot ride to school. There is no taxi or taxi online.

What makes me even more amazed is that this city does not have a cinema or a place to hang out like a cafe. At 8 pm the city is deserted, everyone lives in the house because the cold air pierces the bones.

Crazy ! Crazy ! I cried 3 days and 3 nights because of stress. 

Good thing at my house his wifi fast at least I can watch movies at home, although sometimes wifi problem.

I can't imagine where the school kids are going to be dating.  

Today is the third day I go to school. Before setting my foot on the school gate, I looked towards the school shoes I was wearing.

' Better Lah'.

I'm waiting for my friend, her name is Elisabet.

Since the orientation period many students always glance at me like curious. Only Elsa dared to get acquainted and invite me friends because we were also a group during orientation. 

" Dew...have arrived since?", Elsa patted my shoulder slowly. 

" Hi. . . Just now anyway", I smiled kindly towards Elsa. 

" Yuk. I think we have started praying together in the field. Later we get scolded late", Elsa pulls my hand.

I walked along with Elsa while telling her about this and that. Elsa's a nice person, just a few days together it's been seen that she's a good-natured kid. I like being friends with him.

Sure enough, many students had already gathered in the school grounds. From grade 1 to grade 3. Elsa and I walked to class to put the bag down. When going back to the field some of the upperclassmen walked behind us noisily. 

Elsa pulled my hand out to get close to the wall so that the horde of upperclassmen could pass.

The one who walked the very back stopped his steps right in front of me.

" O..Your class is here ? 1 C is it? ", a voice I've heard somewhere.

I raised my face. Juan stood before us while looking at me without blinking. 

" Hey... .... How are you? ", Juan the upperclassman grinned. 

I was shocked but tried to calm down while continuing to cling to Elsa.

It seemed Elsa looked amazed at Juan's face but at the same time was afraid of him. And I was of course scared to death but I put up with all my abilities.

' O Lord, when he was vengeful because of the events of that time, please keep the evil out of my sight, ' I pray in my heart. Reluctant to have problems with the status of a classmate.

" Oi Juan. come on. "one of Juan's friends shouted. 

" Just go first. I again have important business ", Juan shouted back without turning his head. 

" Ha.. ai. .k.ak", I said timidly. 

"Yali you're great too huh…. KU'S...KANGS..Your name is a sloth, right?!", Juan read the name tag on my uniform. 

I grinned awkwardly "No. Oh, I started praying. Come on Elsa", I pulled Elsa's hand quickly and flushed towards the field without looking at her at all. 

When he arrived at the field Elsa held her chest because of tightness. " Crazy you..he is not .. our school thug... What problem do you have ... with him?", Elsa stammered.

I also ngosan just brushed hands into the empty air "already anyway. Most ...tomorrow he forgot".

Elsa nodded her head in agreement with my words.

***

What happens is not in line with our words, it is always like that.

I don't know why I even get to meet Juan and his gang more often. In the cafeteria, on the way to the toilet, when going to the teacher's room, even somehow our exercise hours are the same on Friday morning. 

Every time he met Juan, he always called out with a shout

" Lorches"

" Hey.. Lorises.. ".

" Eh there's a slow.. ".

" Ku.kang.kang meatballs... kang cilok"

"K U K A N G...".

Of course it made everyone who was with him look at me curiously.

One bright morning amid the exasperation I was praying on the field, somehow he was in the ranks of the 1st graders and lightly whispered behind my nape.

" Morning Kukang.he prayed a long time".

The action shocked me and caused my head to accidentally hit his nose. The incident made the dispute between us even more so.

Because of that incident as well, I had to hide my cat and even turn the direction when I saw Juan. Elsa who was always with me also got her sap to play hide and seek to avoid Juan.

One day Elsa who can not stand because it was brought bread continues by me so as not to the cafeteria so protest. 

" Dew why we mengumpet mulu anyway. Juan didn't do anything ".

I pouted "I think that meeting him is like meeting a life-rowing angel. His eyes were like if you squirm me, like there is a grudge against that". 

Elsa bit her bread "loh instead of Juan's eyes are really good. His gaze was sharp, his eyebrows thick, his facial lines hard. What a man ", Elsa plays her hand as if she's drawing in the sky. 

" Eh, maybe he doesn't have a grudge. Because he said that I heard the hell yaa. denger-denger you're the first girl and the first junior to say 'sister is not my type'. His wife as the most handsome child throughout her school immediately smeared" explained Elsa.

I begged to hear Elsa's strange words "she's not my type anyway. I'm like Chris Brown. Sweet legit". 

Elsa nodded listening to my words. Then start chewing one more loaf.

***

In the heat of the afternoon when all classes were allowed to go home and my class had to have extra tutoring, I met Juan without having time to run or hide.

" Dew please dong grab the marker again at TU. Merry's mom is coming in" class president asked me for help. 

" Okay", I looked around looking for a friend to TU.

Everyone was busy eating and sleeping chickens at their desks. All equally unfortunate follow this additional lesson. 

In the end I walked alone confidently without thinking back then 3rd grade also started to take additional lessons often. 

I casually walked back and forth to reply to the chat on my phone and until then I forgot that in order to get to TU I had to pass through the 3rd classroom of the IPS and Language Department.

When passing through the classroom that was quite crowded because many students were relaxing in front of the class, I put my phone into the uniform pocket and accelerated my pace.

" Juaaaannn…. It's your gebetan lewaaatttt...... mo what are we doing?". 

So loud was the voice of the upperclassman that I looked to the side and Juan stood there. It seems like he ran out of class because of that call. 

I looked at Juan Bego, not yet aware of what was happening. Who is Juan? A few seconds later I realized they were talking about me again.

Juan stood blocking my way with a proud look.

" Where else do you want to run?", Juan spoke to me who was about to turn around. 

I kept quiet while walking back to my class. Juan followed from behind.

" You're going to TU, right? If you turn around you have to exit the school gate, the way of the muter trus enter through the back gate can only get to TU. You want me to drive you on a bike?", Juan blabbed behind me.

I'm stopping. Then turning the body back to walk towards Juan's class without commenting a bit, only my footsteps accelerated. 

" Good decision. Indeed, the fastest way to TU must pass the IPS class really. Yes, be careful on the road, brother wait here", Juan stopped in front of his class while waving to me who half ran to TU. 

When I was going back to class I wanted to go through the back gate of the school, but I was far away until the class was over.

I peered over the wall trying to see if IPS 3 kids were still gathered there. 

" Thank God it's quiet" I muttered. 

" What's lonely?", a voice made me jump. 

I was shocked, almost let out a swear word immediately shut up because Juan was right behind me. 

" you…. Slovenly by the way? What are you saying to me?", Juan accused.

" No really. Anyway why did my sister keep me up like that", I defended myself and walked away from Juan. 

Juan followed behind "you were talking slovenly to me, huh? I think you said what?", Juan spoke as he followed me. 

" No. I heard wrong".

" Yes I'm being horrified. You dare to be the same senior".

I hastened my steps. While passing Juan's class one of Juan's friends scolds him from the classroom window. 

" Eh cow, where are you going?".

" Through this class. Afraid of being bullied on the street", Juan casually replied as he continued to follow my steps behind.

I just kept quiet, kept walking. 'Of all the inhabitants of this school 'you are the most disturbing', I'm insisting.

" Hey Loris, where do you live?", Juan asked seriously.

" At home", I answered quickly as I continued walking.

Juan kept trailing beside me "emmm.... Whose house? Papa's house, mom, grandpa, grandma or headmaster?".

I sighed not answering while speeding up my steps. My classroom door was already visible but it was like a long way away.

" Kang... Are you mute?", Juan kept asking. 

" No, again strep throat. Uhuk", I reasoned. 

" Oh pity. You must seek treatment, so as to heal quickly. Trus can answer my question ", Juan ngockeh is not clear. 

Finally in front of the class. I quickly entered and the lesson had already begun. I placed the marker on the teacher's desk and hurriedly sat down without looking at Juan. 

" Good afternoon Merry" Juan greeted Merry's teacher of chemistry and of course it made the whole class look up and I was shocked. 

" Acong afternoon Juan. You don't have any extra classes? Why come here", Merry asked Juan who was standing at the door.

" There's mom, it's 3. I helped that classmate. He got lost out of the TU", Juan answered lightly while pointing at me  

" Oh so. Thanks to Juan for helping out with his underclassmen", Ms. Merry smiled kindly. 

Some kids clapped their hands. I who heard that glared at Juan unhappily. Juan cuek's. 

" I'm sorry ma'am" Juan said goodbye politely.

Merry nodded then continued the lesson. While Juan passed by with his leisure leaving a gerrymandering in my heart. 

***