Red Threads

New Students

"Meeting always has a parting as an end. However, I don't care. As long as I am kind enough to meet you, I am happy."

♥

Almost every new school year, Pelita High School is always the arrival of new students. Like today. A transfer student with a slightly messy appearance, walked over from the direction of the school gate. His uniform that was only inserted on one side as well as his slightly shuffled hair, made him instantly the center of attention. Not a few who throw a look of wonder and dislike— mostly come from the guys who feel they got a new rival. However, not a few were instantly mesmerized by his handsome face.

Mika watched the new student from the edge of the field. There is no enchanted look. Only one of his eyebrows was slightly raised. “Who is he?”

Raga took her eyes off the phone in her hand. Then, he followed Mika's direction of view. “Cowok who wears a blue Sonic picture backpack?” ask Raga. Then, Mika responded with a nod. “Murid new, maybe. Why the hell did he move here?”

Mika turned her head towards Raga, after hearing the guy's answer. There was a dislike tone implied in Raga's tone of voice. “You know him?”

“Ngak. I was astonished. Why is a bad guy like him acceptable in this school.”

“Maybe he's smart. We can not judge someone from outside, right, Ga,” said Mika, who responded Raga with a shrug of indifferent shoulders. The bloke had absolutely no interest in the presence of the new student who managed to attract the attention of those dozens of pairs of eyes.

Mika turned her gaze back on the new student who was walking towards the headmaster's room. He couldn't help but smile on his lips, as he looked at the man's backpack. Sonic's picture is quite large plastered sweet on the front. Very contrasted with the appearance of the man who seemed naughty.

“Not to worry about him!” Raga's voice surprised Mika. He immediately looked at the guy. Raga was looking at him with a glare of flat, but sharp eyes.

“You're jealous?” ask Mika. He showed a wide grin on his bright face. Very inversely proportional to the look of Raga's face that is always bent—this time more severe.

“Ngak. I'll go to class first. This time the doorbell comes in.” Without waiting for Mika's reply, Raga left her original place. Behind her back, Mika could no longer hide her wide, amused smile. Because, during their courtship, this was the first time he had seen Raga jealous.

♥

The clink of the guitar sound that Mika played sounded quite melodious. Not at all disturbed by the noise that occurs in the canteen every time the break.

As usual, Mika always came to the cafeteria with a guitar she borrowed from the art room. Almost all of his friends at school know his habit of holding impromptu shows every Tuesday. Mika never said her reason for choosing Tuesday. However, as long as no one protested his behavior, he felt no problem.

Mika raised her head for a moment. Distracting his gaze from the elongated guitar strings in his hands. His eyes were directed at all the canteen visitors who were stealing glances at him. Some of them even gestured for Mika to start her game immediately.

*♫ I want always, love you.

Even if we can't be together.

Although the weight took you off

But you will always

In my heart forever♫*

Mika's soft voice made the fanfare in the canteen instantly vanish. All eyes were on him. Not a few who are willing to stop activities for a moment, for the sake of listening to his guitar playing. Some of them also sang, following the music that was played.

Mika raised her head. He smiled slightly at the dozens of pairs of eyes that were pointing at him. If someone else heard the song as just entertainment, then not for him. The song has deep memories. The song was sung an hour before Nagra's funeral. It was the first song he sang, when Nagra taught him to play guitar.

The sound of applause broke the silence that occurred for a few moments. Calls for Mika to sing again, began to be heard from some students. Being the center of attention and appreciated by many people is warm and fun. However, that feeling remained incomparable to the one he felt when Nagra gave him a round of applause for the first time.

“Luck sound lo cool, Ka. So, I do not need to worry if suddenly the food I just swallowed back again.” Someone's voice makes Mika have to get rid of thoughts about Nagra. He turned to Satya who let out a small grin.

“Ntar lo aja I invited to sing in my wedding yes, Ka.” Samuel added.

"Anyone wants to be the same?" Satya replied, which was immediately answered by Samuel.

Mika was about to laugh in response to the actions of her two upperclassmen. However, his desire disappeared when his eyes collided with someone's dark eyes. Someone he just saw this morning. One who now sits between Satya and Samuel. Someone who threw an untrue look at him.

Just as Mika was about to throw a smile, the guy already took his eyes off. Then, move to the place of the drink seller.

“Who is he?” Anggita nudged Mika's waist. The movement of her eyes followed Mika's direction.

“Murid new. But I don't know who. Wh why? Fancies?” ask Mika.

A little laugh. “Ngak. Kak Raga is cooler.”

Mika snorts. Then, throw a sharp look at Anggita. “Do not care if you do not want to go home as minced meat!”

"Who?" ask Mika.

Two of her friends replied, Their conversation had to stop when someone suddenly put a glass of warm orange in front of Mika. Mika. His eyelids widened when he found the new student who was the center of attention this morning in front of him.

“Let your voice not hoarse because of screaming,” said the guy with a flat face. But a few seconds later, a rancid look appeared on his face along with a small grin.

“Ha?” Mika could not hide her astonishment and confusion. He stared alternately between the glass filled with warm orange and the man's face. "You want to pay me to drink hot orange?"

“Because, I have no money. So, you could say so." The guy laughed. Meanwhile, Mika is getting more confused. Not only Mika, even Anggita and Raya also showed the same expression. “Gue no malicious intent. I just want to meet lo.”

Knowing Mika who had not reacted for a few seconds, Raya finally elbowed the girl's waist.

“Gue Kai. New student grade 12 IPA 5. Lo who?” Kai extended his hand in front of Mika.

Mika looked at the hand for a moment. Then, greet him with a slow movement. “I Mika. Mika Arestia. ”

Kai smiled. Then, sit on the empty bench next to Mika. Without waiting for approval, he took over the guitar from the girl's lap. His fingers went to pluck the strings one by one. Soft grooves again sounded in the crowd.

“Come sing,” said Kai gave directions.

Mika looked at the astonished guy beside her. They had only met for a day, but the man behaved like they had been friends for a long time. When compared to the iceberg-like Raga, then the guy was more like the twilight sun. Bright, but dim. Warm, but cold. That's what Mika discovered from Kai, when their eyes met a moment ago.

Mika smiled a little. Although still a little hesitant, he ended up following Kai who had already sung first.

Kai who sings in a low tone, is able to keep up with Mika who sings in a high tone. Their voices sounded round and unified. Combined with a soft guitar sound. They were able to bewitch the students who were in the canteen. They were too engrossed in singing, not realizing that someone had been throwing a dislike gaze at them.

Just a few seconds after they finished one song, someone suddenly just stood before Mika. Raga threw a sharp glare at Kai and Mika. His face is unreadable. His eyes were cold and dark. Made Mika shudder and gulp with great difficulty.

“Raga.” Mika said slowly. He could not look into Raga's eyes any longer. However, he could not take his eyes off those eyes. Raga seemed to lock her gaze, thus making her unable to switch.

“Udah finished his fun?” ask Raga. His voice is really cold.

“Ga, don't get me wrong. We're just—”

Mika had not yet finished her sentence, Raga had already cut. “Sit's just the same with him. Continue, sing along. Yes?”

"But, there's an Angita sama kok." Mika turned her eyes to the side. He only realized, if Anggita and Raya were no longer nearby. I don't know when they left. And, that made him no longer able to dodge.

“Sialang. Where the hell are they?” Mika looked back at Raga. The man raised one eyebrow, demanding an explanation.

“Not wrong him. I invited him to sing.” Kai tried to explain.

“I'm not talking to you!” said Raga, with a slight snarl. The clash of Raga is not hard—even no one is aware of the feud between them—but heavy and freezing.

Raga looked at Kai with deep eyes. Raga's gaze wasn't on him. However, it still made Mika uncomfortable. Several times he gulped with great difficulty. Hoping that it could reduce her tension and fear at Raga's gaze.

"Cowok Kayak Raga is dangerous. He looks so cute. But if he is angry, he will not hesitate to ignore people who have been looking for because of him. So, you don't make him jealous."

Raya— warning one day after he dated Raga—terngiang in his ear. Making him realize, if he has to immediately keep the guy away from Kai.

Before the larger war, Mika immediately pulls Raga away. "We're leaving. It's not good to see friends."

While pushing Raga away from the canteen, Mika turned to Kai once more. He threw a wry smile, as their eyes met. Without a sound, he said, "Thank you, Brother Kai."

♥

Kai leaned against the balcony divider in front of his class. His gaze was fixed on the students passing by on the lower floor of the—on the row of the eleventh classroom. His lips smiled faintly, as his eyes caught the figure of the woman he met this morning. Mika was standing in the doorway of the classroom while playing a cell phone. The girl looked unconcerned, even though her body was blocking the entrance. Mika even seemed annoyed when there were other students trying to reprimand.

“Funny too.” Kai chuckled, as he looked at Mika who jumped in joy. Probably because he just won the game.

Mika jumped, like she had just won a lottery of tens of millions. The girl looked so happy that the phone in her hand slid freely onto the floor. Mika. His happy roar was instantly replaced with a stifled expression. Mika rubbed her phone. It was as if it was the most precious treasure he had.

Kai chuckled, shaking his head. He did not take his eyes off Mika, until she disappeared behind the walls of the classroom. Without taking his eyes off the door frame of Mika's class, he said slowly, “Finally, I found you here.”