Second Road

Episode 10: I went to school?

"I don't really remember either, and I don't really understand either. But it felt like someone was controlling me until I could get out of there."

I exhaled slowly. I am so glad I could say something like that to someone. It turns out it is true that holding something is not good for the body.

"I understand it more or less so far. But about something that controls you, what does that mean?"

I thought Grandpa was going to ask that, but I also didn't really understand the situation when it happened before.

"Okay, cake. At that time, my mind was confused and suddenly my eyes were blurred and my head was in pain. My body moves without my control. I forgot most of the details. It's just that when I realized, I was already in a faraway place."

"Hmm.., yes. Is that because there's some kind of ghost in that place? You know, like possessed. There's a spirit that goes into your body and controls you."

Grandpa laughed softly. He even made it a joke, even though I have told him seriously. I puffed my cheeks, not accepting being laughed at like that.

"Don't take it too seriously, I understand. Now that Haru doesn't have to worry about such a thing anymore, grandfather will help you. If they want you back, I'll hide you."

He rubbed my head slowly. He's trying to make me feel comfortable. Is this what it's like to have a grandfather? Shit.., I was even affected he said.

"Grandfather won't let anyone hurt you, not even touch you."

Somehow I reflexively hugged her after she said that.

I think I want to cry. In this world, there are still many good people. Why am I always late to realize it?

Stupid me...

If I act like this, I look like a child.

"Mh...Haru, what do you want to eat tonight? I'll cook dinner."

I let go of my embrace. I think I've been doing that for too long.

Duh.malunya.

"I don't want to eat. I was full of cookies."

"Can't be, it's just a snack. Anyway you should eat something. I'll cook something light for you."

I'm nodding. If the matter of eating grandpa is firm. He always said that I was very thin, but it was only because of my stunted growth. I can't grow tall and mature.

Sorry my stomach, hang on a little...

"There's one more thing I want to know. That's.about your hair. In this photo your hair is white and now..."

Grandfather noticed a piece of photo in his hand. That's the photo Maheer gave me this afternoon. In the photo was me with an expressionless face and white hair like gray.

"My hair.it used to be black, like most people. Slowly there are some white strands, maybe because I'm a little stressed there. Then, after Miss Agnes said I would never go back to my home, my hair turned all white in the morning."

I looked at the floor, trying to remember the incident.

"After running away from there, my hair slowly blackened again as it is now."

I felt my own head. Make sure my hair is still dark like people in general.

"But, if you look at it, it's not black."

Grandpa looked at my head more closely, then touched my hair.

"It's like..brown? Yeah, dark chocolate. Are you sure before it turns white it's black?"

I immediately stood towards the mirror. Grandpa's right, my hair isn't black, it's dark brown. It's a little weird.

After dinner, I went to bed. Trying to forget the guy named Maheer and his friend who was looking for me.

But I remember Hana's sister. What is he doing now?

***

The next morning

"Haru, Haru.ayo get up."

I try to open my eyes when someone calls my name.

I immediately got up and sat down when I realized the person calling my name was grandfather. My eyes are still sleepy, why did grandfather wake me up now.

Wait a minute, it's only six o'clock. I immediately confirmed once more, there was a wall clock in my room.

"What's up, cake? Isn't it still too early?"

I am trying to collect my own life and consciousness. Grandpa doesn't usually wake me up this early. I usually wake up by myself around half-time.

"Yes, Haru. It took me half an hour to get to school by car. And you should take a shower and have breakfast too. I don't want you to be late."

Grandfather looked at me who was still half conscious. Wait, school? A car? A half-hour?

"What grandfather mean?"

"Huh..., didn't I tell you last night that you were going to school today? Didn't we do some shopping yesterday?"

I'm shaking. Grandpa said he would send me to school. But I never thought it would be this fast.

"I forgot to say, huh? Sorry about that. But you have to go to school today too. I told the teacher there that my granddaughter would come in today."

Grandfather rubbed my back, then revealed a uniform that seemed to have just been ironed. It was obvious because the cloth still felt warm.

"Go take a shower first, put on your uniform and have breakfast together. After that I'll drive you."

Grandfather immediately stood up and went out of the room. I also immediately got up and walked towards the bathroom while grabbing a towel on the back hanger of the door.

That morning was strange. Everything felt so suddenly. I was confused as to what to react to. This was my first experience in school.

I've never been in Tk or SD before. Not even with any kind of school package. How can Grandpa register me?

I immediately went to the dining table after getting dressed. Grandpa sat there alone. He stood up when he saw me coming.

"It's not like this to wear it. Why are you tying him up like a ribbon? It's Haru's tie..."

Grandfather tried to hold back the laughter when he saw the tie on my collar. Then she let go and put it on again. The tie I had tied like a ribbon was already dangling down.

"This is better, let's eat."

I'll take my place soon. This morning there was bread and jam on the table. Lately when I saw bread, I remembered when I was silently stealing bread in my grandfather's closet.

No need to linger, Grandpa immediately drove me by car. It was cold that morning, so I had to wear the jacket that my grandfather bought yesterday.

The jacket is not too thick, but enough to withstand the cold that sneaks into between the body.

"Mm..grandfather..."

I looked at my grandfather who was driving the car.

"Yes, Haru. Are you gonna say something?"

"Are you sure about all this?"

I doubt I'll say it. To be honest, it felt so sudden and I felt unprepared.

"About what?"

Grandpa turned the wheel, made the car turn right at the crossroads. This morning the streets were not too crowded because we were out a little early.

"I never went to school before. So I thought I'd look pretty stupid later."

I breathe out slowly. White steam came out of my mouth, then disappeared without a trace.

"But you like to read, right? I always see you reading books in my closet and you're also quietly filling TTS and sudoku in the old newspaper in the warehouse, right?"

*Note: -TTS (cross-bend puzzle)

- Sudoku (The game fills the numbers 1 through 9 into a box that there should not be the same number in the box and if drawn lines vertically and horizontally there should be different numbers.)

I looked down, how did Grandpa know about TTS and his spoon too?